Look for a feature including full-array local dimming, mini-LED and 120Hz refresh rate, which (unlike some other extras) do help improve the picture in our experience.
Bigger is better in our book. We recommend a size of at least 43 inches for a bedroom TV and at least 55 inches for a living room or main TV — and 65 inches or larger is best.
Decide how much you're willing to spend -- even on a budget TV. Smaller screens are cheaper, well-known brands are more expensive and spending more money can also get you better image quality.
CNET staff -- not advertisers, partners or business interests -- determine how we review products and services. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.
While the high-end forges forward with the latest tech -- Quantum Dots, micro-LED and OLED -- you might think that budget TVs would be left behind. Based on my in-depth testing of four new TVs, I can say this is definitely not the case. In 2025, the “trickle-down” effect of advanced tech means the standard for budget models is set higher than ever. Here are my favorites so far.
For this roundup, I tested four 50-to-55 inch TVs side by side in CNET's TV lab. I compared picture quality, light output, gaming performance, sound quality and more. These TVs typically all have the basics: LCD panels with a 60Hz native refresh rate, 4K resolution and HDR playback plus smart TV streaming built-in. While most of the TVs I tested showed compromises in some way or other -- something that's inevitable with a budget model -- there was one real standout in the bunch.
Many of these TVs are currently at a discount due to Amazon Prime Day, and you can find plenty of other TV bargains here.
What is the best cheap TV overall?
Call it a win for the underdog, call it a win for consumers. Whatever way you want to spin it, this year Hisense has pulled off a coup of sorts against Samsung, which won last year's best budget TV honors with the DU7200. In 2025, the Hisense QD7 is my favorite budget TV because it offers very good picture quality for the price. Whether you need a cheap TV for a bedroom, game room, dorm room or your seventh bathroom, the QD7 has the best price-to-performance ratio of any model I have ever reviewed. It is heartily recommended.
Of the three remaining models, the field was much more even, and each of the Samsung, Fire TV and Roku models had their own respective strengths. Though of this group, I would say that the Fire TV 4-Series was the standout as it had the next-best picture quality of the bunch, but it's about to be replaced by a newer version (which should be very similar.) Want to know more about how these TV's fared? Read on.
Also see: Best TVs of 2025
Best budget TV of 2025
Photo Gallery 1/1 Best budget TV of 2025 Hisense QD7 8.2 /10 SCORE Pros Full array local dimming
Excellent contrast
Fully saturated images Cons Sound quality isn’t as good as the Fire TV, especially at volume Key to the Hisense’s success is full array local dimming -- something you usually only find in more expensive TVs. As a result, the Hisense boasts picture quality which I have never seen in a TV this cheap. The enhanced levels of contrast give images a solidity that meant the Hisense was unmatched among its peers. It’s like that kid who gets an early growth spurt and appears a full head and shoulders above the others in class photos. That, but for budget TVs. Adding to its superior picture was its higher brightness -- I measured the TV’s light output in Filmmaker mode at 600 nits, which was twice as bright as every other model. This boost was also beneficial in video games with a brilliant picture which was more immersive than the other TVs. As I write this, the QD7’s price is subject to some volatility -- and its retail price is $100 more than the others here. Try and get it on sale for around $300 if you can, but even if you don't it's still the best TV under $400. ... Show more Get it now $297 at Amazon Specs & Configurations Available screen sizes 50-, 55-, 65-, 75-, 85-, 100-inch Screen type Mini-LED Refresh rate 60Hz HDMI ports 4 Weight 24 lb Add to compare
Photo Gallery 1/1 Best budget TV for sound Amazon Fire TV 4 series (2024) 7.6 /10 SCORE Pros Decent sound quality
Best image quality after the Hisense QD7 Cons No local dimming
Stock is currently low due to incoming model This TV is about to be replaced by the 2025 Fire TV 4-Series, so stock levels are unpredictable -- it frequently goes in and out of stock. Yet from my discussions with Amazon it appears the two TVs are similar in terms of picture quality. The main differences appear to be that the new model has a couple of new features and a faster processor. As I expect the new Fire TV 4-Series to be the same or better, you can buy the 2025 version instead come October 22. Otherwise, this 4-Series is the 2025 runner-up to the excellent Hisense QD7 above, and the two have several things in common, namely the Fire TV OS and better-than-expected picture quality. I would still choose the QD7 instead, every single time, but there may be an occasion such as Prime Day or Black Friday where the Fire TV 4 is significantly cheaper. Or if the QD7 is out of stock. Two things helped the TV clinch its picture performance -- excellent contrast and well-saturated colors. While it doesn’t have the Hisense’s local dimming capability, the Fire TV still does well with dark scenes, and in my direct comparisons I found it was the best of the three remaining TVs for shadow detail.
... Show more Get it now $260 at Amazon Specs & Configurations Available screen sizes 43-, 50-, 55-inch Screen type LED Refresh rate 60Hz HDMI ports 4 Weight 20.57 lb Add to compare
Photo Gallery 1/1 Best budget TV for gamers Samsung Crystal UHD U8000F TV 7.3 /10 SCORE Pros Gaming is responsive irrespective of mode
Decent shadow detail Cons No local dimming
Desaturated reds
Poor reflectivity After winning last year’s budget roundup with the DU7200, I had high expectations for the not-quite-followup U8000. The DU7200 didn’t quite meet with these hopes, not through any fault of its own, but mainly because the competition is so much tougher. Even still, the U8000 is a likable TV, especially if you’re a gamer. The Samsung had some of the best input lag response times I’ve seen, even when set in Filmmaker Mode. I’m always forgetting to switch between Game mode and Filmmaker on my own TV, so if you also do this then the Samsung TV is great for gaming when using either mode. Picture quality-wise, however, it stands towards the end of the pack, with desaturated, paler-looking reds being its biggest problem area. ... Show more Get it now $298 at Amazon $298 at B&H Photo-Video $300 at Target Specs & Configurations Available screen sizes 43-, 50-, 55-, 58-, 65-, 70-, 75-, 85-inch Screen type LED Refresh rate 60Hz HDMI ports 3 Weight 18.3 lb Add to compare
Photo Gallery 1/1 Best budget TV for usability Roku Select TV (2025) 6.9 /10 SCORE Pros The Roku Select has the most useful features at the price
The Roku operating system is friendly and easy to use Cons Picture quality is only average
Not the best choice for gamers As was the case with last year’s Select model -- you would buy this Roku if you’re most interested in the TV’s usability features. From the excellent Roku interface to the handy, on-TV remote-finder the Select has the best feature set of any of the TVs here. To enable the remote finder, you press the button underneath the TV and then long press on the “find remote” option. While I’m on the topic, the remote control itself is still the friendliest one around -- with its large, colorful buttons and easy-to-use voice control.
The Roku was notable as the only 55-inch among a crowd of 50-inch models, but it didn't really convey an advantage to the Select. While its picture quality was acceptable, every other TV on this list looked better in a side-by-side comparison. What the Roku did have in its favor, however, was a high brightness. Even so, gaming was objectively the “worst”, though only four milliseconds separated first and last place in terms of lag.
The TV is ok for the money, nothing spectacular, but its friendliness should appeal to people who want a TV that’s designed to be dead easy to set up and use. Alternatively, if you're looking for the best Roku TV you can get, then the choice is ultimately between the Philips OLED Roku TV and the Roku Pro. While I haven't reviewed the Philips model you can look for a full review of the Roku Pro 2025 very soon, and based on my hands-on it's a very promising TV. ... Show more Get it now $258 at Amazon Specs & Configurations Available screen sizes 43-, 50-, 55-, 65-, 75-, 85-inch Screen type LED Refresh rate 60Hz HDMI ports 3 Weight 18.4 lb Add to compare
Smart TV systems: Budget TVs compared The Roku interface Ty Pendlebury/CNET When looking at the TVs for testing, I wanted to ensure I chose a decent cross-section of smart TV interfaces, and I chose three of the most popular: Roku, Fire TV and Samsung Smart Hub. All three boast a wide range of streaming apps, as well as voice assistants and smart home integration. Most users have their own favorite when it comes to smart TV, but Roku’s is beloved and boasts millions of users due to its simple, friendly interface. The remote control is the key to the experience, and the Roku Select's voice-activated remote finder works well. I've come to appreciate the Fire TV interface since its last major update a few years ago. Key to its usability is that mid-screen shortcut bar with your favorite apps and crucially the input icon. That shortcut makes it easy to switch between connected devices and having the apps right in the center means you don’t have to wade through acres of content suggestions. Of the three I tested, I liked the Samsung smart TV interface the least -- but it's at least the 2025 version which now includes a gaming option in the menu as well as link to Connected Devices (where the input selections live). The Amazon Fire TV remote, Roku Voice Remote, Hisense remote and Samsung remote Ty Pendlebury/CNET
Picture quality on budget TVs The Fire TV remote in front of the Amazon 4-Series TV (2024) Ty Pendlebury/CNET When setting up these TVs, I was impressed to see Filmmaker Mode on two of these TVs (Samsung and Hisense). As the closest thing the industry gets to standardization, this mode helps ensure some consistency when watching TV and movies. By comparison, the Fire TV only has a choice of Movie Dark and Movie Bright (lit rooms) while Roku has its own Movie mode. I tested the TVs by streaming movies, using Fandango at Home, including It and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. These two movies are tests for any TV -- the ability to display either moody, high-contrast scenes (It) or the vivid colors of a comic book (Spider-Man.) In general, I found that the Hisense had the best contrast and best color saturation, while the Fire TV and Roku are brighter in movie modes. Using the opening scenes of It, as Georgie descends the stairs, I found that the Roku had the poorest shadow detail of the four, with the details of intricate woodwork and wall under the stairs crushed into a blue/black. Meanwhile, it was the Hisense which had the best shadow detail -- with more of the under-stairs area visible over these few frames. The Hisense had a solidity to its image that the other TVs lacked. As Georgie moves into the basement the room looked real, whereas the other TVs devolved into grey fog with disembodied furniture In addition, black areas of the picture -- even on the black bars at top and bottom-- were truly black and not dark blue or grey as with the Samsung and Fire TV. Side-by-side picture comparisons (from left): Roku Select, Fire TV 4-Series, Samsung U8000 and Hisense QD7. Ty Pendlebury/CNET As with last year’s Samsung TV -- red areas of the U8000’s picture are a little desaturated, and this was most obvious during Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. At 32.48, during the memorial service for the old Spider-Man, Spidey’s suit looked a little more bedraggled on this TV as opposed to both the Fire TVs which had vibrant reds. Lastly, the Roku looked vibrant in its rendering of Spiderman’s red and blue, but the picture looked a little 2D and flat. The Roku did pick up a little during the blazingly-bright collider sequence, with the brightest picture of the four, but the Hisense had the best contrast. I did find one when testing the Roku, in that its off-axis response was quite poor. Even when I was sitting dead-center of the screen at a distance of six feet I was never on-axis to all of the screen -- there was always a part that’s just off axis. As far as bright-room performance is concerned, they all had some level of reflectivity though some were better at rejecting direct light sources than others. I shone my cell-phone flash on each of the TVs in turn and found the Hisense was the best here, with a bright center but reduced corona. The next three were similar to each other though the Fire TV’s reflections were dullest, then the Roku and the Samsung had the brightest reflections. Light output in movie mode (lumens) Brightness Hisense QD7 618 Samsung U800 291 Fire TV 4-series 300 Roku Select 355
Sound quality on budget TVs Ty Pendlebury/CNET I compared the sound quality of all four TVs using a mix of music and movie soundtracks, with a particular emphasis on dialogue. For music, I used Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, as it’s a dynamic track with a bassline that some TV speakers can run afoul of. For TV, I used a mix of daytime talk shows and the opening scene of Mad Max: Fury Road. None of them sounded “good,” and that’s to be expected of a budget model, but all buyers really need is for a TV to get dialogue right. Of the assembled models, the Samsung had the thinnest TV sound with reedy-sounding dialog and no real bass to speak of. WIth the Nick Cave track the TV was very quiet -- even at maximum volume -- but there was plenty of sparkly hi-hat. Finally, a TV for trebly percussion fans! Conversely, the Fire TV had a strong sense of stereo sound, and this was exemplified by the dialog during the beginning of Mad Max: Fury Road. The Amazon TV was able to lend the swirling voices a decent amount of space. In addition, when Tom Hardy spoke, it sounded fairly natural -- not throaty or mumbly. With music, the Fire TV didn’t get as loud with Red Right Hand but didn’t distort like my next TV, the Roku. The Roku was thin sounding with dialog as well -- none of the full-sounding voices of the Fire TV -- and it was especially weak at higher volumes. When playing the Nick Cave track, the bass guitar sounded very wobbly -- like it had been put through both a distortion and phaser pedal. Lastly, the Hisense was able to get quite loud, but given how great its picture was it was a disappointment for me to find the sound is anything but. Music was distorted and speech quality wasn’t up there with the Fire TV.
Factors to consider when choosing a budget TV Ty Pendlebury/CNET Budget TVs are cheap and often lack many of the features that make more expensive TVs so appealing. That said, there are still a few things that you'll want to consider when looking at a budget TV. Price: TVs range in price from $100 to more than $2,000. Smaller screens are cheaper, well-known brands are more expensive and spending more money can also get you better image quality. Most entry-level TVs have a good enough picture for most people, but TVs last a long time, so it might be worth spending more to get a better picture. It's also best to shop for a TV in the fall, when prices are lower. Screen size: Bigger is better in our book. We recommend a size of at least 43 inches for a bedroom TV and at least 55 inches for a living room or main TV -- and 65 inches or larger is best. More than any other "feature," stepping up in TV screen size is the best use of your money. One of the most common post-TV-purchase complaints we've heard is from people who didn't go big enough. And we almost never hear people complain that their TV is too large. Capability: Among entry-level TVs, the most important feature is what kind of smart TV system the TV uses. Among midrange models, look for a feature including full-array local dimming, mini-LED and 120Hz refresh rate, which (unlike some other extras) do help improve the picture in our experience. And among high-end TVs, OLED technology is your best bet. For more TV buying advice check out our guide to how to buy a TV.
Other budget TVs I tested
TCL 4-Series Google TV – 50S446: The TCL 4-Series is an older Google TV that I tested as part of last year's roundup. It's a decent TV, but it's outclassed by some of the competition here.