Looking for an affordable smart TV? Check out these popular models
TV technology has improved to the point where most of the best features are no longer gated behind exorbitant prices. Features like 4K resolution, large screens, high dynamic range and a high count of ports can easily be found for under $500, though you may not be able to get all of these features together. The most cutting-edge features, such as 8K resolution and curved screens, aren’t available for under $500. That said, a cheap TV can still offer a great viewing experience. We rounded up the best budget smart TV options from the top brands, all with solid features for the price.
Shop this article: Amazon Fire 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV, Samsung Class Crystal 4K UHD AU8000 Series Smart TV and LG Class UQ7570 Series 4K Smart TV
Smart features
Smart TVs are so named because they can connect to the internet. They leverage that ability in different ways.
The main way is by streaming all your favorite content, usually by having an app for each service that can be downloaded from the TV brand’s online store. Smart TV manufacturers without stores instead include preinstalled streaming curating services, such as Apple TV, Google TV or Roku TV.
Some budget TVs are also compatible with smart assistants, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Using microphones in the TV or remote, you can tell these assistants to tune to certain channels or pull up a show from one of your streaming services without having to wade through several menus.
Size
TVs, whether they’re smart or 20 years old, measure screen size on the diagonal. Size isn’t a limiting factor for smart TVs under $500, you can find them as small as 25 inches or as large as 50-plus inches. That said, cheap smart TVs that are extra-large might have lesser resolution to stay at a sub-$500 price.
Resolution
For smart TVs under $500, there are three resolution points to choose from.
- High-definition: This is the lowest-resolution tier, but it is all you need if you’re on the tightest budget. Most TV channels broadcast video in HD.
- Full high-definition: If you want the biggest possible screen for under $500, you’ll likely need one with this middle-tier resolution. Most streaming services offer HD and Full HD quality streams.
- Ultra high-definition: Ultra HD, or 4K, is the highest resolution you’ll find in smart TVs under $500, though you’ll likely need to sacrifice maximum screen size to get it. Ultra HD has four times the pixel count of Full HD, hence the “4K” nickname.
Other image quality features
Two of the current major image quality features are Dolby Vision and high dynamic range.
- Dolby Vision lets a TV display images with greater depth, higher contrast and a wider range of color. Essentially, it makes your TV look closer to the quality you find in high-end theaters. However, the image also needs to be Dolby Vision-compatible.
- High dynamic range is similar but simpler than Dolby Vision and can be used in tandem with it. HDR improves the image’s contrast. In other words: The darks look darker, and the brights look brighter.
Ports
Smart TVs are technically just extra-large computer monitors, though they have built-in technology that lets you use them without plugging in any other devices. But most people want to hook up devices like Blu-ray players, cable boxes and game consoles, so double-check the range of ports a smart TV offers to ensure you have enough.
The most common ports are HDMI, the current cable standard. Other ports to prioritize include USB to power devices, headphone jacks and LAN cables for wired internet connections.
10 best budget smart TVs
Amazon Fire 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV
This Amazon Fire TV has Ultra HD resolution and HDR support. The remote has a microphone and built-in Alexa compatibility. This cheap smart TV has many ports, including four HDMI ports. For under $500, you can get it in 43- and 50-inch sizes.
Hisense Class R6 Series 4K UHD Smart Roku TV
This Hisense TV has Ultra HD resolution and Dolby Vision and HDR compatibility. It has built-in Roku TV service and is Alexa compatible. This Hisense smart TV comes in 43- and 50-inch sizes for less than $500.
Insignia Class F20 Series Smart Full HD Fire TV
This Insignia smart TV is an excellent option for those on particularly strict budgets, as you get a 32-inch screen with Full HD resolution, built-in Fire TV service and Alexa compatibility for less than $200. It has three HDMI ports and a USB port. This Insignia TV is available in 24-, 32- and 42-inch sizes, all under $500.
Sony 32-Inch W830K Series 720p HD LED HDR TV
This Sony smart TV‘s 32-inch size is ideal for small living rooms. The built-in Google TV service and Google Assistant compatibility make this Sony TV well-suited to streaming; that is, if you don’t pay for high-resolution content, since resolution is limited to HD.
TCL 40-Inch Class 3-Series Full HD LED Smart Roku TV
This 40-inch TCL TV offers Full HD resolution and has built-in Roku TV service. The ports on this TCL smart TV include a USB, three HDMI (with one supporting enhanced audio return), an AV and a headphone jack.
Samsung Class Crystal 4K UHD AU8000 Series Smart TV
This Samsung TV is among the most affordable from the brand, featuring stunning 4K resolution, HDR and built-in Alexa. Motion Xcelerator technology offers ideal viewing for fast-paced sports and video games. Q Symphony technology lets you pair this TV with a Samsung soundbar. It’s one of the sleekest, slimmest budget models on the market. The 43- and 50-inch models of this Samsung smart TV cost below $500.
Vizio V-Series 4K UHD LED Smart TV
With this Vizio TV, 4K resolution, Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10+ combine for an exceptional viewing experience. This Vizio smart TV is compatible with Alexa, and is available in 43- and 50-inch sizes under $500.
LG Class UQ7570 Series 4K Smart TV
This LG TV boasts 4K resolution with AI-enhanced picture and sound. It’s designed to optimize cloud gaming setups with built-in Alexa. You can get this LG smart TV in 50- and 55-inch sizes for less than $500.
Toshiba Class C350 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV
This Toshiba TV features 4K resolution enhanced by Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10. It has Fire TV built in, complete with Alexa voice remote, as well as Game Mode for optimizing your gaming experience. This Toshiba Fire TV is available in 43-, 50- and 75-inch versions, all of which cost $500 or less.
Roku Select Series 4K HDR Smart TV
This Roku smart TV has 4K resolution enhanced by HDR10+, with an automatic brightness feature that adjusts the screen based on the room’s lighting. This budget TV is compatible with Alexa, and is offered in 43-, 50-, 55- and 65-inch models for under $500.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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