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Best cheap TVs: Eight great value TVs

In This Article

Not everyone can afford the best TVs, but the best cheap TVs are getting better and if you want the best, here are the screens we’d recommend above all others.

We’ve tried to ensure that the TVs that make it on this list are available for under £1000, and we look to cover a range of sizes from as small as 43-inches to 65-inch screens.

We test TVs by putting our favourite films and TV series to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the picture and sound. We use Spears and Munsil’s highly regarded Ultra HD Benchmark disc to test for brightness, colours, local dimming performance (where necessary) and viewing angles.

For sound we’ll use a variety of content and we’d always mark where we think you should consider getting a soundbar or not. We’ll also put the user interface through its paces, assessing the smart features whether they work as intended. For gaming we use our Leo Bodnar 4K input lag tester to measure input lag.

If it’s not just TVs that you’re saving for, be sure to check out ourbest cheap headphoneslist,best cheap earbudsas well as ourbest cheap soundbar.

Best cheap TVs at a glance

How we test

Every TV we review is put through the same set of tests to gauge its picture performance, usability, and smart features.Tests are carried out over several days and are done by eye but supported with technical measurements. Testing by eye involves an expert watching a wide range of material to understand and determine a TV’s performance in fields such as brightness, contrast, motion processing, colour handling and screen uniformity.We’ll consider the design of the TV in terms of build quality, study the spec sheets and see if the TV’s connections are up to spec, as well as playing video and audio content to ensure that the set handles playback as it claims. We also take note whether a product’s compatible formats and features are in line with industry trends or not to gauge whether it’s relevant for you.Comparison to other related and similarly priced products is also important, to see if it’s missing any vital features and whether it impresses as a whole. After all this, we’ll come to a judgement on how the TV performs as a whole.If you want to learn more, please visit our detailed page abouthow we test televisions.

TCL 55RC630K Roku TV

Pros

Cons

TheTCL 55RC630K Roku TVis only available in the UK, but it’s one of the best cheap TVs we’ve reviewed in the recent years.

The design that’s easy to assemble with its attachable feet, to the smart interface that puts the emphasis on simplicity. The Roku interface is a highlight because of its accessibility. It’s fast to scroll through and easy to navigate than interfaces on more expensive TVs. The Roku mobile app is even better, and also features a few more advanced picture settings. Plus the TV supportsAirPlay 2casting andApple HomeKit, for folding the TV into a smart home set-up.

All the big SVOD apps are available with the likesDisney+, Apple TV+, andNetflix, and the UK catch-up apps are covered throughFreeview Play.

For gamers the TCL 55RC630K only supportsALLMfor putting the TV into its game mode mode. We measured latency at 11.5ms, which is quick for any telly though not as fast as theQ80D.

Boasting a QLED screen, the TCL 55RC630K puts in a decent HDR performance (with support forHDR10+andDolby Vision) with a peak brightness that we measured at 386 nits on a 10% window. That’s far from the best HDR performance you’ll find, but we found theQLED screenpresents good-looking colours and accomplished looking skin-tones with HDR content.

If you can spend more, you’ll get a better sense of contrast. Upscaling is an improvement over the older55RP620Kwith more colour and vibrancy to images, as well as a better sharpness and clarity.

The audio system features surprisingly punchy bass, there’s fine levels of detail and clarity, and vocal clarity is good. There’s also a Dialogue Enhancer to help boost what people are saying, and we found it worked effectively.

Reviewer:Kob MonneyFull Review:TCL 55RC630K Roku TV

TCL 55C805K

Pros

Cons

TCL has been delivering relatively inexpensive TVs with an enviable high spec for the last couple of years, and we find theTCL C805Koffers a ridiculous amount of value for the asking price,

The design is pretty smart, and should be easily accomodated on various types of AV furniture. You also get four HDMI inputs, one of which supports refresh rates up to 144Hz, another up to 120Hz, and in a sensible move, the eARC input for connecting sound systems is available on another port, giving more options in terms of what to connect, especially if you’ve got plenty of gaming consoles at hand.

Google TVis the interface of choice, and while it has the big guns in the form ofDisney+,Apple TV+, andNetflix, the UK catch-up apps are mostly missing, with only My5 available at the time of review. You’ll want to consider purchasing a streaming stick if you do want those apps, and thankfully TCL will send one if you ask.

For gamers we measured latency at 13.3ms, which is quick but not the quickest you’ll find. TheSamsung Q80Dhits a speedy 9.8ms out of the box with its input lag. Nevertheless, there’s ALLM, VRR, high refresh support as well asAMD FreeSyncPremium Pro onboard for PC gamers.

Brightness is much greater than theTCL 55RC630K, hitting 966 nits on a 5% window. Our reviewer found black levels were reassuringly dark, with HDR content looking very good on this TV. Upscaling is solid, and motion processing is decent if you watch a lot of sports. You’ll want to mind where you sit with this TV. At angles the colour performance can fall off.

In terms of sound, this TV is fine, but we’d recommend adding another a sound system to beef it up.

Reviewer:Steve MayFull Review:TCL 55C805K

Samsung QE55Q80D

Pros

Cons

TheSamsung Q80Dis a 2024 release but it’s quickly fallen in price, so much so that you can get the 55-inch model for less than £1000.

This is a QLED and not theNeo QLEDsets that feature among Samsung’s premium line-up, so this model doesn’t boast as many dimming zones but for the money, we think it’s very good value.

It offers excellent black levels and contrast thanks to an effective local dimming system, along with vibrant colours, and impressive levels of detail. It’s bright enough to hit 1000 nits, which easily makes it one of the brighter TVs that features on this list. HDR support is HDR10,HLG, andHDR10+, with no Dolby Vision featuring, which is a shame.

We also found the built-in sound system to be decent for a TV, producing a large sound stage and bass that was free of distortion. There is Dolby Atmos support, along with the Q Symphony feature that combines the TV’s speakers with a compatible Samsung soundbar for a bigger sound.

For hardcore gamers, there is VRR support to improve visuals and latency, with the Q80D’s input lag is among the best TVs with a speedy 9.8ms. And whether you game on a physical console or through cloud gaming, Samsung’s Game Hub also drags in all gaming sources into one place to keep track of your gaming habits.

Build quality is good, with its compact central plinth alowing it to be perched on stands big and large. There’s also an area in the back of stand to filter cables through to keep the rear area tidy.

The Q80D is a very good and surprisingly affordableQLED TV. If you’re searching for a bargain, you may have found it with this TV.

Reviewer:John ArcherFull Review:Samsung QE55Q80D

Sony KD-55X85L

Pros

Cons

It’s not often we see a TV with a Full Array Local Dimming panel fall below £1000 until late into its product life cycle, but theSony X85Lhas been available for just over a year and you can now get it for a pound under the £1000 mark.

A Full Array Local Dimming backlight offers more precision in terms of black levels and brightness, but what really appeals with this Sony TV is its colour performance. It’s able to describe with a wide range of colours; although it’s not the brightest out of the box, reaching 738 nits in its Standard HDR mode. Nevertheless that still makes it the brightest HDR TV on this list.

Upscaling is an area we found this TV to be solid with SD and HD content, and although there is noise visible in the image, the Sony appears to keep it under control. HD content looks nice and clear, and its motion processing is very good to the point where we didn’t even notice that it was on.

Sound quality is merely ok with tis set. While it produces a crisp tone with voices it lacks bass, and we’d suggest getting a soundbar to go with the X85L.

Gamers looking for a premium experience can count onALLM,VRR, and HFR, while we measured input lag at 14.5ms. This is a set that plays nicely with the PS5.

For smarts,Google TVdelivers all the streaming apps you’ll, and we find the interface to be quick, responsive, and informative. The design is very accomodating with the stand able to be put together in two ways, either to allow for a soundbar or if you want to place it on a small surface.

Reviewer:Kob MonneyFull Review:Sony KD-55X85L

Hisense R50A7200GTUK Roku TV

Pros

Cons

TheR50A7200GTUKmodel repeats the same trick as itsR50B7120UKpredecessor in packing in even more value at a similar price.

The number of smarts featured in the Hisense R50A7200GTUK Roku TV is only behind the likes of Samsung models such asthe QN90AandAU7100. There isFreeview Play(which Samsung lacks), and that brings the catch-up apps into play like iPlayer and ITV Hub. There’s also a wide range of streaming apps like Netflix,Disney+,Apple TV+among others, and the Roku OS has been updated to supportAirPlay 2for iPhone screen mirroring andApple HomeKit, with Alexa and Google assistant also available.

Build quality is fine, the slimness of the rear panel means the Hisense Roku doesn’t jut out much when wall-mounted, and with most of the connections side-facing it’s easier to plug sources in. Assembling the TV is simply a case of slotting in the feet, tightening the screws and turning the TV on.

Picture quality is similar to the B7120UK. We observed it lacked the contrast and brightness to produce a dynamic HDR performance with its peak brightness of around 300 nits. But its native 4K performance was full of detail and colours naturally portrayed – we don’t think many will be disappointed by what it serves up.

Sound quality, however, was a disappointment, struggling to convey the action scenes in a film like Tenet with dynamism or excitement, and proving to be messy when playing music through its speakers. As is the case with many of the best cheap TVs on this list, asoundbar would help.

Reviewer:Kob MonneyFull Review:Hisense R50A7200GTUK Roku TV

Sharp 65EQ3EA

Pros

Cons

The65EQ3EAfeatures smarts are provided by Android TV, ensuring you’re not left wanting when it comes to films, TV and music. Though we found Android interface easy enough to navigate, in terms of curating content, we felt the results could have been more personal.

You also getChromecastandGoogle Assistantto both cast content to the screen and for voice control operation. If you’re a gamer, we wouldn’t recommend getting this screen as we measured lag at 50ms at 1080p resolution. That’s slow if you’re into first person shooters or any type of game that requires a quick response time. A TV like theSamsung BU8000is quicker, but that model suffers from a sluggish interface and inferior picture quality.

Unlike Samsung’s cheaper QLED TVs, the Sharp 65EQ3EA is kitted out withDolby Vision, and it results in a colourful image with shows such as Stranger Things and Wednesday onNetflix. We did note that there was a orange push to complexions in Dolby Vision, but found it a minor issue. With HDR content, black levels aren’t as firm as we’d like, and this affects contrast. Nevertheless, this is still a more vibrant performance the the Samsung BU8000.

The audio from its Harman Kardon sound system is much better than we anticipated, producing a big spacious soundstage with dialogue that’s always clear and mostly free from sibilance. Bass won’t rival a soundbar but it’s a punchy performance that provides some excitement. It’s also compatible withDolby AtmosandDTS:X, though you have to switch between the two in the settings to get the best performance.

All-in-all, this is a solid 65-inch 4K TV for the outlay, and well worth considering if you’re after good smarts, picture and sound in one affordable package.

Reviewer:Kob MonneyFull Review:Sharp 65EQ3EA

Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED

Pros

Cons

TheAmazon Fire TV Omni QLEDis part of Amazon’s own brand of TVs, and while it’s not perfect, it puts in a generally enjoyable performance across the board.

We’re not fans of the feet placement for the 65-inch version. They’re set at the edges which means you’ll need a wide surface to position the TV on.

The Fire TV platform presents plenty of apps is excellent, but the content is weighted too much towards Amazon’s ownPrime VideoandFreevee. If you subscribe to other streaming services, it’s not as easy to find what else is available in our experience.

Alexavoice control is reliable, and you can choose to call up Alexa with the Voice Remote or hands-free (which you can switch off if you don’t want Alexa always listening). The Fire TV Ambient Experience turns the TV into an Alexa-powered smart display where you can keep track of the weather, play audio, and change the background so you’re not confronted by a big black screen when the TV is ‘off’. We liked it as it makes the TV more living room friendly.

The Fire TV Omni QLED features supportsDolby Vision IQandHDR10+ Adaptive, two HDR supports we don’t often see at this price. The image quality could be more consistent as HDR10/HDR10+ performance is not the most colourful; while its Dolby Vision IQ performance is better, it suffers from raised blacks. It’s also not the brightest for HDR content as we measured it a peak of 529 nits. That is better than the 65-inchSharp EQ3on this list.

The built-in sound system provides a good sense of space to films and TV shows, though it is crisp in tone to a fault. Some sound modes fair better than others, but a soundbar will remedy that.

Reviewer:Kob MonneyFull Review:Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED

Amazon Fire TV 4-Series 4K43N400U

Pros

Cons

TheFire TV 4 Seriessits above the 2 Series models and below the Omni range, delivering plenty of smart features for those looking for TV screens sized 43- to 55-inches.

The model we reviewed is the 43-inch size, and our reviewer found it to be a stronger proposition than expected. The picture performance is a capable one with consistent brightness, and good colour accuracy. Contrast isn’t too good, but the average brightness of the screen is enough to make for a decent looking image, especially for a 43-inch screen. HDR support is only HDR10 and HLG.

We don’t find the current iteration of the Fire TV interface to be the most intuitive. The home page is dedicated to lots of ads and overwhemingly suggestsPrime Videoand Freevee titles at the expense of others. But the Alexa Voice Remote does bring an element of smarts in terms of searching for content.

The 16W audio system is pretty decent, able to fill a small room with sound, though we’re not fond of all the audio presets the TV comes with. Some have the tendency to mess with the original sound in less than welcome ways, but the presence of an eARC port means you can add a soundbar if you like.

We measured input lag at a very speedy 9.8ms, though there’s none of the more premium gaming features such as VRR and high frame rate available. There’s Amazon’s Luna game platform that you can access, offering a built in method of streaming games to the TV.

Reviewer:Henry St LegerFull Review:Amazon Fire TV 4-Series

We also considered…

A low cost LED TV with TiVo and Freely support

A pretty decent value Mini-LED TV but with a few imperfections

A solid, if unspectacular Roku TV from Sharp

Loads of features for not much money… what’s the catch?

We’ve reviewed

825

Televisons

FAQs

If you’re after a decent-sized set then the TCL RC630K Roku TV would suit the bill. Picture quality is very good with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support, Roku interface has a wide range of streaming apps and its input lag is very good. For such an affordable TV, its sound quality is better than expected.

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Kob began his career at What Hi-Fi?, starting in the dusty stockroom before rising up the ranks to join the editorial and production team as the Buyer’s Guide editor. Experienced in both magazine and …

Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.

Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.

Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.

We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.

Why trust our journalism?

Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.

Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.

Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.

We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.