Top 3 Best Budget TVs in 2023

Looking for the best budget TVs in 2023?

Today, we’re taking a look at the top 3 best budget TVs in 2023 if you’re looking to upgrade but don’t want to break the bank. 

Our Best Overall pick focuses on getting the best picture quality possible while keeping it at a low price tag. Considering how much it costs it’s surprising that it has some flagship-level features.

The Runner-Up, on the other hand, focuses on size. You get a bigger display size with 4K UHD at almost the same price as a smaller-screen TV. It also has 4K upscaling which is a feature you don’t see often in the budget segment. 

The 3rd pick makes the list for its smart home integration. It doesn’t do anything game-changing in the picture or audio quality, but it’s the perfect TV to complete your smart home. 

Each TV has its merits and downsides, so let’s get straight into it.

Best Budget TVs at a Glance

1. Insignia F50 50” QLED – Best Overall Budget TV 

2. TCL Class-4 Series 55” 55S455 – The Runner-Up 

3. Amazon Fire TV Omni 50” Pros

Top 3 Best Budget TVs Reviews

1. Insignia F50 50” QLED – Best Overall Budget TV 

Ranking in the top spot as the best budget TV is the Insignia F50 50” Fire TV. The stand-out feature is the Quantum Dot LED display panel. Unlike other TVs that typically use LCD displays, the F50 uses a QLED screen. 

This translates to improved color accuracy, depth, and contrast.

Colors look punchier and more vibrant than typical LCD displays. QLED panels also improve both overall brightness and color brightness. It displays colors that truly pop and fares well even in brightly lit conditions. 

In terms of size, the F50 has a decent 50-inch size with extremely narrow bezels and a slight chin at the bottom. Alongside the QLED panel, the TV features a razor-sharp 4K UHD resolution and supports HDR10. 

Picture quality is sharp and HDR10 helps improve color contrast, accuracy, and brightness. HDR10 is the most basic HDR format but it’s still better than no HDR support at all. 

The TV also supports Dolby Vision to improve image quality on compatible content. There is a lot of Dolby Vision content on streaming platforms like Netflix so it’s impressive we get it at this price range. We’ve seen pricier TVs missing the feature. 

Another important thing to know about the F50 is that it’s a Fire TV. This means it runs Amazon’s Fire TV platform and has access to its apps, movies, shows, channels, and Alexa voice control.

There’s a mic on the remote so you can use Alexa as you would on your phone or smart speaker. Fire TV is a fully-fledged platform and includes a ton of great content and apps. 

It’s not as comprehensive as Google’s offerings, but it’s still a solid option. 

In terms of audio, this model features dual 8W speakers that are fairly loud and clear. It isn’t up to par with more expensive speaker systems, but it’s perfect for everyday use. Don’t expect bass-heavy or crystal-clear audio at this price range. 

Nevertheless, it supports DTS Virtual:X sound which creates 3D sound from every direction. It’s a neat addition that helps improve the F50’s sound quality. As a whole, however, we think the audio is acceptable at best. 

Compared to another model, the Insignia F30 50”, the F50 50” has a QLED display panel, Dolby Vision support, and DTS Virtual:X sound, and is only marginally more expensive. 

The two TVs are so similarly priced that it doesn’t make sense to get the F30. If you’re already spending the cash, you might as well shell out a couple of extra bucks for improved picture quality and surround sound. 

Honestly speaking, the QLED panel itself was enough to sway us toward the F50. Considering that QLED is the very best implementation of LCD technology so far, it’s a substantial improvement in picture quality and clarity.

It’s really a no-brainer, which is why we’d recommend the improved Insignia F50. 

Overall, the Insignia F50 50” QLED TV is a fantastic smart TV at a great price. It’s got visually stunning picture quality, has Fire TV and Alexa built-in, and supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10 content, for a low asking price. 

Though the sound system leaves more to be desired and only HDR10 support isn’t impressive. But compared to other TVs in the price range, you’ll soon realize this is one of the best packages overall.

Rating 

• Value for Money – 9/10
• Final Picture – 9/10
• Sound Quality – 7.5/10
• Connectivity – 8.5/10
• Overall Score – 8.5

2. TCL Class-4 Series 55” 55S455 – The Runner-Up 

Next up for our best budget TVs, we’ve got the TCL Class-4 Series 55” smart TV. In contrast to the Insignia F50 that prioritized picture quality, the TCL Class-4 focuses on size. 

Both TVs have the same price tag, with the biggest difference in the display size. The TCL Class-4 sports a 55-inch panel and a 4K UHD resolution with HDR10/HLG support. 

HDR10 helps increase color fidelity but there isn’t much else to rave about. Colors are accurate and bright but can lack a punch, especially with vibrant scenes. This is because this model doesn’t have as wide a color gamut as other TVs.

Considering the price though, it’s an understandable omission. 

While it isn’t a QLED, the picture quality is still sharp and vibrant enough. Luckily, the TV also supports 4K upscaling on HD content. This automatically adjusts and sharpens image quality on lower-resolution content. 

It won’t be exactly 4K, but you’ll notice a significant increase in clarity. 

The TCL Class 4-Series is also an admirable performer in games. It has a dedicated Game Mode that automatically configures picture settings for minimal input lag. Response times are quick but we wish there was a higher refresh rate as well. 

The TV misses out since it supports only 60Hz. But as a whole, a great performer for the latest consoles and games on a budget. There are also 4 HDMI ports including an HDMI eARC port so the audio is up to speed. 

Speaking of audio, the TV comes with dual 10W speakers. The speakers sound full and are good enough for daily viewing. It also supports Dolby Digital Plus formats so you can take advantage of supported content. 

But if you want a proper home theater experience, we’d recommend looking for a soundbar. 

Additionally, this model comes with Roku TV built-in. This is a welcome platform since Roku TV has one of the most comprehensive app selections with over 20,000 apps. There are also a number of live channels, movies, and shows to binge for free. 

The UI is simple to use and intuitive. You can easily customize your home screen and pin your favorite apps, inputs, channels, and more. It’s very convenient to use and makes browsing the TV a breeze.

You can also connect your TV to the Roku mobile app. From the app, you can use the keyboard, a remote, or voice control. This makes it even easier to navigate apps and search.

Compared to the older model, the TCL Class-4 Series 55” 55S425, the newer 55S455 includes voice control support, improved speakers, HLG support, and a more complete port selection. 

While these features aren’t integral for TVs, they make a big difference when you need them. The model we’ve featured is the latest Class-4 Series TV so it improves on the already impressive hardware. 

The best part is, the TCL Class-4 Series 55S455 is currently cheaper than the older model. For improved performance and support, the latest model is the clear answer here. 

With everything we’ve gone over, the latest TCL Class-4 Series TV is a formidable performer. We especially like the larger display size, 4K upscaling, Roku TV built-in, and easy-to-use interface. 

It does suffer in terms of overall color vibrancy and sound quality, but these are normal concessions for a budget TV. If you can look past that for the bigger screen size, this is a fantastic option.

Rating 

• Value for Money – 9/10
• Final Picture – 8/10
• Sound Quality – 7/10
• Connectivity – 8/10
• Overall Score – 8/10

3. Amazon Fire TV Omni 50” Pros – Best Budget Smart TV

Amazon Fire TV Omni 50” is a solid budget TV with a focus on smart home integration. Similar to other TVs in the price range, this model features a 50-inch display with a 4K UHD resolution. 

The TV also supports both HDR10 and HLG for improved color accuracy, depth, and brightness. 

Unfortunately, the 50” variant misses out on Dolby Vision support. That’s limited only to 65-inch and 75-inch Omni TVs which is strange since the similarly priced Insignia F50 supports it.

At least it’s relatively powerful for gaming, with a low input lag and speedy response times. But the display panel only supports a 60Hz refresh rate which can be lacking for some. It isn’t ideal but it’s still ok. 

In terms of audio, the Fire TV Omni features a humble dual 8W speaker setup with Dolby Digital Plus support. The speakers have a good volume range and sound clear but if you’re planning on watching movies, a soundbar makes a world of difference.

Compared to the lower-end Amazon TV, the Fire TV 4-Series, the Fire TV Omni features improvements to functionality like hands-free Alexa control, a built-in microphone on the TV, and improved build quality without a big price increase.

Simply put, the Fire TV Omni is Amazon’s ‘mid-range premium’ line of TVs while the Fire TV is a budget line. Plus, the Omni is only slightly more expensive than the Fire TV 4-Series. 

Since you get improved functionality and a wider range of screen sizes to choose from for an extra $20 bucks, the Omni is a better purchase.

The main reason we’re featuring the Omni on our best budget TVs list is the Amazon Alexa integration. This is a perfect addition to any smart home that uses Alexa. The TV has built-in microphones so you don’t need to press a button to activate voice control.

Simply speak out loud and Alexa on your TV will pick it up and execute the command. You can use it to turn the TV on, set reminders and timers, find a new show to watch, and more.  

The best part is it works even when the TV is off. 

Plus, you can use the microphone for video calls without any additional mics/audio equipment. It’s a handy feature that can be extremely useful for smart home integration. 

You can even use Amazon Echo smart speakers as a makeshift surround sound system. Just pair your TV and speakers in the Alexa app and you’re ready to go. It won’t have groundbreaking audio, but it’s definitely an added bonus. 

But in case you weren’t a fan of Alexa listening in all the time, there’s a physical mic-off switch. This will electronically disconnect the speakers till you toggle the switch again. 

Overall, as a TV, the Amazon Fire TV Omni might not stand out as much as the other options on the list. But if you take into account how you can utilize Amazon Alexa and the built-in mics, it’s a total game changer for smart home integration. 

This is the only TV on the list that’s capable of doing it, so that’s impressive enough. 

It’s otherwise a decent smart TV that performs as you’d expect. It doesn’t do anything overwhelmingly better in terms of sound, picture quality, or color vibrancy, but it does it well enough to land on our list of best budget TVs.

Rating 

• Value for Money – 8/10
• Final Picture – 7/10
• Sound Quality – 7/10
• Connectivity – 9/10
• Overall Score – 7.75/10