If you have limited cash and are looking for the best budget 4k TV, you don't have to spend a ton of money to get a decent display that's good enough for watching your favorite shows and movies. There are many budget models on the market, and it can be hard to figure out which performs best. Whether a TV is high-end or entry-level, we put it through the same meticulous testing process to see how it performs. Through testing, we can determine which budget models stand out from the rest.
Although many 2026 budget models are now available to purchase, you may not see them in this article until the latter half of the year, since they're very expensive near release and most don't offer a significant improvement over their 2025 predecessors. Right now is a great time to buy a 2025 model, since they're on sale at much lower prices than newer models, allowing you to get a better TV if you're working with a limited budget.
Below are our recommendations for the best budget televisions. You can also see our recommendations for the best TVs under $500, the best TVs under $1,000, and the best-sounding TVs. Check out the best budget soundbars if you need a soundbar but don't want to spend too much. You can also vote on which TVs you want us to buy and test. To learn more about the latest televisions, check out our 2026 TV lineup page.
We buy and test dozens of TVs yearly, taking an objective, data-driven approach to deliver results you can trust. Our testing process is complex, with hundreds of individual tests that take over a week to complete. Most of our tests use specially designed test patterns that mimic real content, but we also use the same sources you have at home to ensure our results match the real-world experience. We use two main tools for our testing: a Colorimetry Research CR-100 colorimeter and a CR-250 spectroradiometer.
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Best Budget TV
Mixed UsageHome TheaterBright RoomSportsGamingBrightnessBlack LevelColorMotion HandlingGame Mode ResponsivenessProcessing (In Development)Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:144HzScreen Finish:GlossyPanel Type:LCDSub-Type:VADolby Vision:YesSee all our test resultsSizes:55" 65" 75" 85" 98"The best budget TV we've tested is the TCL QM6K. What separates it from similarly priced models from other brands is its effective local dimming feature, so you get impressively deep blacks in a dark room, although there's some noticeable glowing around highlights and subtitles that bleed into darker areas. Combined with its wide color range and decent processing, the TV provides solid overall picture quality. It even has good brightness, which makes it usable in a room with some lights on. However, some HDR movies, shows, and games can look a bit dim since bright areas don't pop out as much as they should. It supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+, so you're covered for HDR formats.
What's most impressive about this affordable model is its wide array of modern features. It has two HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4k @ 144Hz, 1080p @ 288Hz, and VRR, making it a great option for both console and PC gamers on a budget. It even has decently fast pixel transitions, so motion blur is kept to a minimum. The TV comes equipped with the Google TV OS, which has a ton of features and gives you access to a huge catalog of streaming apps. If you're looking for a budget-friendly TV that punches well above its weight class, the TCL QM6K is an excellent option.
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Best Premium Budget TV
Mixed UsageHome TheaterBright RoomSportsGamingBrightnessBlack LevelColorMotion HandlingGame Mode ResponsivenessProcessing (In Development)Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:144HzScreen Finish:GlossyPanel Type:LCDSub-Type:VADolby Vision:YesSee all our test resultsSizes:55" 65" 75" 85" 98"If you like the TCL QM6K but want even better picture quality, the best budget smart TV for those who can spend a bit more is the TCL QM7K. It has much better black levels than the other TCL TV, so you get deeper blacks in a dark room with a bit less glowing around highlights. It also displays punchier colors and has superior image processing, so it looks better in any context. Its biggest advantage over the lower-end model is that it's much brighter and handles reflections better, making it well-suited for use in bright rooms. That brightness advantage also means that bright areas in HDR content truly pop out against darker elements.
It has the exact same gaming features as the QM6K, so it's fully compatible with modern gaming consoles and pairs well with powerful gaming PCs. Pixel response times are a bit quicker than on the cheaper model, resulting in slightly smoother motion. It runs the popular Google TV OS, so finding content to watch is easy. If you're willing to spend a bit more, you likely won't be disappointed by the QM7K, as it's a very versatile model that performs well across the board.
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Best Cheap TV
Mixed UsageHome TheaterBright RoomSportsGamingBrightnessBlack LevelColorMotion HandlingGame Mode ResponsivenessProcessing (In Development)Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:60HzScreen Finish:GlossyPanel Type:LCDSub-Type:VADolby Vision:YesSee all our test resultsSizes:43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85" 100"The best cheap TV is the Hisense QD6QF. It doesn't have local dimming like the TCL QM6K and TCL QM7K do, so blacks look grayish, which leads to an image that looks a bit flat. Bright colors look muted, and dark colors aren't very rich, but since the TV still displays a wide range of colors, the image doesn't look lifeless. Unfortunately, it's too dim in HDR for bright areas to truly stand out, so HDR content looks flat and lackluster. The TV is just bright enough to use in a room with a few overhead lights on without being distracted by reflections, but visibility is an issue in bright rooms.
You won't find HDMI 2.1 or many other modern gaming features on this model, but it still supports 1440p @ 120Hz with VRR, which is a nice feature for gamers on a strict budget. However, input lag is quite high when gaming at 120Hz. You can also game in 4k @ 60Hz if you prefer a more detailed image with less input lag. Unfortunately, pixel transitions are a bit slow, so fast motion is quite blurry. It utilizes the Fire TV OS, which doesn't support as many smart features as Google TV and tends to run a bit slower, but you can still easily find a ton of streaming apps. This model performs better than other cheap TVs on the market, and you can get the 75-inch model for a very good price, making it the best budget 75-inch TV.
Notable Mentions
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Hisense U75QG:
The Hisense U75QG is similar to the TCL QM7K, but it offers better peak brightness. Unfortunately, the Hisense makes HDR content look much brighter than intended and has more apparent motion blur due to its slower pixel transitions. Since the TCL offers clearer motion and has superior black levels, it's the better TV overall.
See our review -
Hisense U65QF:
The Hisense U65QF is a brighter alternative to the TCL QM6K. Unfortunately, the Hisense really overbrightens HDR content, so it doesn't stay true to the content creator's intent. The TCL offers a more complete package, with better black levels, superior accuracy, 1080p @ 288Hz, and smoother motion.
See our review -
TCL S551G:
The TCL S551G is a good alternative to the Hisense QD6QF. The Hisense is brighter, has better black levels, and has an edge with colors, so it offers better image quality. However, the TCL supports 1080p and 1440p @ 120Hz with a full VRR range and low input lag, making it slightly better for gamers who care most about performance.
See our review
Recent Updates
Mar 31, 2026:
We revised the introduction and updated some text throughout the article for clarity.
Jan 16, 2026:
We confirmed the availability and accuracy of our current picks, and updated some text for clarity.
Oct 24, 2025:
Replaced the Hisense U6N with the TCL QM6K, the Hisense U7N with the TCL QM7K, and the Hisense A7N with the Hisense QD6QF. We also refreshed the Notable Mentions.
Jun 03, 2025:
We removed the TCL QM7/QM751G QLED from the Notable Mentions and mentioned it alongside the Hisense U7N instead since the TVs are so similar. We also added the Panasonic W95A to the Notable Mentions and updated some text for clarity.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think is currently the best budget smart TV for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (a cheaper TV wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no TVs that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, below is a list of budget TVs we've tested over the past couple of years, with a price limit of $650. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no TV is perfect, most TVs are great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.