Console gamers can pick up an affordable TV with an automatic game mode to help create a smooth and immersive gaming experience, while audiophiles can use Bluetooth wireless connectivity or HDMI ARC support to set up sound bars and speakers for surround sound. Some of the more budget-friendly options even have screen mirror capabilities to let you share photos, videos, and music from your mobile devices for more ways to entertain your family and friends. Take a look at our top picks below to see which is the right choice for you. With a crisp and clear picture thanks to 4K Ultra HD, high dynamic range (HDR), and direct-lit LED, you can watch movies and TV in brilliant quality. Plus, the built-in Roku provides access to over 500,000 movies and shows. And with multiple inputs, you can plug in your devices, thumb drives, headphones, and more to watch the way you want. The possibilities are endless with the TCL; you can download the mobile Roku app and control the set from your phone, any new apps you add from Roku upload quickly, and it even comes with an easy-to-use remote. Available in various sizes, you’ll be able to find the perfect fit at a price that won’t hurt your wallet. The voice-enabled remote has Samsung Bixby and Alexa built in for hands-free controls over your new television without the need for a smart speaker; it’s also compatible with Google Assistant. If you connect the TU8000 to the SmartThings hub, you can use the voice-enabled remote to control Blu-Ray and DVD players, game consoles, and other playback devices. With AirPlay2 and Miracast compatibility, you can screen mirror your smartphone or tablet for more ways to watch videos. The back of the TV has integrated cable management channels and clips to help keep your home theater or media center looking neat and organized. Yoona Wagener has a background in content and technical writing along with experience in providing tech support and help documentation. These skills let her provide detailed reviews for consumers who may or may not be familiar with the latest home entertainment technologies.
What to Look for in a TV Under $500
ResolutionA display’s resolution is one of the most important factors in determining picture quality. It indicates the total number of pixels a television or monitor is capable of displaying at once, and the density of pixels is incredibly important for determining how sharp or clear an image looks. An FHD/1080p display, for instance, boasts a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, for a total of 2,073,600, while a 4K set can, appropriately, display four times as many. HDRA TV with High Dynamic Range has access to a great range of not only colors but contrast as well, meaning it can potentially display more color-accurate images as well as deeper blacks and brighter highlights, to create a more vivid and realistic picture. Most mid-tier TVs support HDR, but it’s worth double checking, especially with less expensive sets. Refresh RateRefresh rate determines the number of frames a device is capable of displaying per second. Generally, the more frames, the smoother and more fluid motion and action looks on screen. This is largely a consideration for gamers, but anyone can benefit from a higher frame rate when viewing motion-intensive content like sports or action films.
The Ultimate TVs Under $500 Buying Guide
Some have Bluetooth connectivity for screen mirroring your smartphone or tablet or wirelessly connecting external soundbars, speakers, and subwoofers for a custom audio setup. There are even budget models that have dedicated game modes that lower input latency and boost color and contrast. In this buying guide, we’ll break down a few important factors to consider when looking to purchase a TV priced under $500 to help you choose what best fits your needs.
Smart Features
Screen mirroring is becoming more and more popular for home entertainment, and a few of the more budget-friendly televisions allow it via AirPlay2 for iOS devices and Chromecast for Android. Screen mirroring lets you share your smartphone or tablet screen for more ways to watch videos and view pictures with friends and family. Bluetooth connectivity also lets you stream music from your phone, tablet, or laptop to your TV for room-filling audio and a more immersive listening experience. Televisions with Bluetooth connectivity also allow you to wirelessly connect soundbars, subwoofers, and speakers so you can set up a surround sound system for the ultimate home theater configuration.
Screen Resolution
With 4K resolution becoming more and more mainstream, it’s easier to find budget-friendly televisions that support it. You can still purchase a full 1080p HD model if you like, but with the rise of 4K content, you’ll want a model with UHD capabilities to keep up with current video streaming trends. A full HD 1080p resolution television uses older technology to produce a middling resolution picture. This was popular several years ago when HD video first became available. Televisions that utilize 4K resolution give you four times the pixels as a 1080p television, allowing for better detailing and a more true-to-life picture. The difference between 4K and 1080p is clear to see, and when you do see it, you’ll want to opt for the better picture. Televisions that have 4K resolution often support HDR, high dynamic range, technology to produce color and contrast levels that closely mimic what you would see in the real world. This technology comes in four variations: HDR10/10+, HLG (hybrid log gamma), Dolby Vision, and Technicolor HDR. There isn’t much difference between each variation of HDR besides which company has licensed the use of the technology. Each variation uses the same basic principles to produce enhanced color volumes and contrast for better detailing and more life-like pictures. A high refresh rate is also needed to make a great picture. Models that support 4K resolution, as well as HDR technology, often have a refresh rate of either 60Hz or 120Hz. A refresh rate is how many times a TV changes the image on screen per second, so 60Hz means it changes 60 times a second and 120Hz means it changes 120 times a second. A high refresh rate makes motion blur a thing of the past, leaving you with smooth action even during intense and fast-paced scenes, so you never miss a detail. One downside is that you may get the “soap opera” effect when a video, show, or movie doesn’t support a high refresh rate. This gives the picture a fuzzy, inferior quality and brings movement into uncanny valley territory. To fix this, you can turn off automatic refresh rate options in your television’s settings menu when you plan on watching older movies and shows.
LCD vs LED
The technology that a television uses to produce a picture plays a large part in how much it costs as well as the quality of the image on screen. TVs that use LCD screens are generally much more affordable than their LED-based counterparts. But LCD screens are an older technology. They use an electrical current running through liquid crystals and a fluorescent backlight in order to produce colors and details. This results in a much less clear picture with muddier colors and contrast. Models that use LED screens have individually lit pixels, allowing for pixel-precise color, detail, and contrast. Televisions that use LED screens often have localized dimming zones that completely turn off the LED bulbs for deep, inky blacks to starkly contrast brighter colors. Another advantage of an LED screen is that LED bulbs are more energy efficient than fluorescent lights, meaning it costs less to operate, saving you money on your electric bill. LED televisions are also more lightweight and can be more thin than LCD models because of the newer technology, giving them a more sleek, modern look that will better blend into your home decor.
