The Best Budget-Friendly Smart TVs This Year
In the world of home entertainment, smart TVs have become an essential fixture in most households. These televisions offer a range of features, from streaming services to integrated voice assistants, all at the touch of a button. While the market for premium smart TVs is vast, offering incredible picture quality and features, there is also a growing demand for budget-friendly options that don’t compromise on performance. With a multitude of choices available, finding the best affordable smart TV can be challenging. However, with advancements in technology, many budget-friendly models now provide impressive displays, a variety of smart features, and excellent value for money. Here’s a look at the best budget-friendly smart TVs you should consider this year.
1. TCL 4-Series (S435) 4K UHD Roku Smart TV
TCL has made a name for itself by offering high-quality budget-friendly smart TVs, and the TCL 4-Series (S435) is no exception. This 4K UHD TV boasts excellent picture quality for its price point, offering vibrant colors and sharp details. It’s equipped with Roku’s easy-to-use platform, which provides access to virtually every major streaming service, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and more. The Roku platform is one of the most user-friendly operating systems available, and it offers thousands of channels for additional content.
With its 4K resolution, the TCL 4-Series provides four times the pixels of Full HD, offering an enhanced viewing experience. Additionally, the TV supports HDR (High Dynamic Range), which helps deliver a wider range of colors and greater contrast, improving the quality of the image in dark and bright scenes. For a budget-friendly smart TV, the TCL 4-Series offers exceptional value and is perfect for those looking to enjoy 4K content without breaking the bank.
2. Hisense 58H6570G 4K UHD Smart TV
Hisense has quickly gained a reputation for providing affordable smart TVs that offer solid performance and a user-friendly interface. The Hisense 58H6570G is a 58-inch 4K UHD smart TV that combines excellent picture quality with a sleek design. It features Dolby Vision HDR, which enhances the contrast and color of the picture, making it ideal for watching movies or playing games in various lighting conditions.
This TV comes with Google TV, which replaces the older Android TV interface. Google TV provides a more personalized experience, recommending content based on your viewing habits, and it integrates well with Google Assistant for voice commands. The TV also supports streaming services such as Netflix, YouTube, and Disney+, offering plenty of content options.
While Hisense’s build quality might not be as premium as some higher-end brands, this TV provides an excellent balance of picture quality, features, and affordability, making it a top contender in the budget-friendly smart TV category.
3. Vizio V-Series 4K Smart TV
The Vizio V-Series is one of the best budget-friendly 4K smart TVs on the market. Known for its value and solid performance, the V-Series delivers crisp, clear picture quality thanks to its 4K resolution and support for HDR. The TV features Vizio’s Smartcast platform, which provides access to major streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube, and also allows you to stream content directly from your mobile device using Apple AirPlay 2 or Google Chromecast.
The V-Series also comes with voice control integration through Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, enabling you to control the TV hands-free. Another advantage of the V-Series is its low input lag, making it a good choice for gaming. The TV supports gaming features like Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), ensuring a smooth gaming experience.
While Vizio’s picture quality may not be as premium as other models, the V-Series offers great performance at a competitive price, making it an excellent option for those on a budget who want 4K content, smart features, and solid gaming capabilities.
4. Samsung TU7000 Series 4K UHD Smart TV
Samsung is one of the most well-known names in the TV industry, and its TU7000 Series proves that it can deliver high-quality smart TVs at an affordable price. This 4K UHD TV offers great picture quality, with vibrant colors and decent contrast. While it may not have the advanced features of Samsung’s premium models, it still provides a solid overall viewing experience.
The TU7000 runs on Samsung’s Tizen operating system, which offers a smooth interface and access to popular streaming apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Hulu. Samsung’s smart features are easy to navigate, and the TV has integrated voice control through Bixby, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant. Additionally, the TU7000 has low input lag, making it a good option for casual gamers.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly TV with reliable performance and smart features from a trusted brand, the Samsung TU7000 Series is an excellent choice. It may lack some advanced picture enhancements like HDR10+, but it’s a great option for those who want a straightforward, high-quality TV without breaking the bank.
5. LG UP8000 4K UHD Smart TV
LG is known for its high-end OLED TVs, but its budget-friendly models like the LG UP8000 provide excellent performance for a lower price. This 4K UHD TV features a crisp display with support for HDR and Dolby Vision, which enhances color and contrast. The picture quality is great for the price, especially for regular TV viewing and streaming content.
The LG UP8000 runs on the webOS platform, LG’s proprietary operating system, which offers a clean, easy-to-use interface. webOS supports a wide range of streaming services, including Netflix, YouTube, and HBO Max, making it simple to access your favorite shows and movies. Additionally, the TV includes voice control via Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, so you can control it with voice commands.
The UP8000 offers great value for those who want an affordable 4K TV with good picture quality and smart features. While it may not offer the premium features of more expensive LG models, it’s a solid choice for budget-conscious buyers who want a high-quality viewing experience.
6. Roku Smart TV (Various Brands)
Roku Smart TVs are a great option for those who want a no-frills, budget-friendly smart TV. Many TV manufacturers, including TCL, Hisense, and others, integrate the Roku operating system into their smart TVs, providing a simple and efficient interface. Roku’s platform is known for its ease of use, and it supports a wide variety of streaming services, including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu.
The main draw of a Roku Smart TV is the Roku platform itself, which is intuitive and lightweight. Users can easily find content, stream their favorite apps, and even use voice commands to control the TV. Roku Smart TVs also support features like Apple AirPlay and Google Assistant, making it easy to integrate with other smart home devices.
Although Roku Smart TVs come in various sizes and brands, the feature-rich Roku platform and affordability make them an excellent option for those on a budget.
Conclusion
The market for budget-friendly smart TVs has expanded significantly in recent years, with a variety of options available to suit different needs. Whether you’re looking for 4K resolution, voice control, or streaming support, there are plenty of affordable models to choose from. The TCL 4-Series, Hisense 58H6570G, Vizio V-Series, Samsung TU7000, LG UP8000, and Roku Smart TVs all offer excellent performance for their price, ensuring that you don’t have to compromise on quality just because you’re working with a smaller budget.
When shopping for a budget-friendly smart TV, it’s important to consider factors such as display quality, operating system, voice control, and gaming capabilities. With any of these models, you can enjoy a modern, smart TV experience without the hefty price tag, making them great choices for those looking to upgrade their home entertainment setup without breaking the bank.