Best budget TV 2023

TCL has once again topped our affordable TV chart with another budget corker.  

The RC630K offers much better specs than you’d reasonably expect at this price point, especially on sizes 50in and larger. The headline combination of a QLED screen and built-in Roku software make it a winner. 

There’s also Freeview Play, no less than four HDMI ports and solid HDR support to boot. About the only thing missing, and understandably, is 120Hz for next-gen consoles.

Those looking for an Android powered TV in large sizes without straying into costly sums of money should consider this model from Sharp.

Even the largest 65in panel size comes in at just over our typical budget price cap of £500 with smaller models incredibly affordable. Either way, it’s a plain yet stylish set.

It’s not a good choice for gaming but you get a lot for your money with a razor-sharp 4K image and a subjectively high average picture level. There’s plenty of streaming options and a cinematic experience with Dolby Vision despite a limited peak HDR brightness.

There’s also above average sound thanks to the Harman Kardon designed system with Dolby Atmos support.

Samsung’s The Frame for 2022 is once again one of the best TVs you can buy and the firm still offers a budget-friendly option if 32in and Full HD is ok for your needs. 

At that size and spec, it makes for a great set for the bedroom, kitchen or similar and the 2022 model has a fantastic new matt finish on the screen making it seem even less like a piece of technology than before. 

As usual it has a customisable bezel, Art Mode, Tizen smart platform and now comes with a solar powered remote control.

It’s better value in the US thanks to high UK pricing but the Fire TV Omni series is worth a look if you can afford it and 43in is a large enough panel size.

There are plenty of affordable QLED rivals from the likes of Hisense and TCL, but the cheaper models don’t have features such as ambient light sensors for HDR10+ Adaptive, and you normally don’t get the luxury of four HDMI inputs.

Only one of those ports is HDMI 2.1 but that’s something of a moot point since the Omni doesn’t offer a 120Hz for silky smooth next-gen gaming. Still, it offers up solid HDR picture quality which can’t be said of many budget sets.

The choice of cheaper QLED TVs that come with Amazon’s Fire TV operating system are much thinner on the ground and don’t have hands-free Alexa or Ambient Experience. That means the Omni QLED is the premium choice for die-hard Alexa fans, but if you can live with Roku or another interface, your choice opens up greatly.

If you can’t afford Amazon’s QLED Omni model, the 4-Series of Fire TV will still make for a solid budget buy with sizes up to 55in.

Prices in the UK aren’t particularly competitive but Amazon will regularly discount these TVs and that’s when you can get good value.

Amazon’s popular Fire TV operating system is baked in so you don’t need to get a Stick or Cube making it very convenient. There’s also plenty of HDMI ports and Alexa as well, as long as you don’t mind the digital assistant not being hands-free.

Where the Fire TV 4-Series won’t do well is in brightly lit rooms with its mediocre peak brightness and lack of ambient light sensor found on the Omni model.

The Xiaomi F2 does everything you might expect given the very affordable price. It combines the content-rich Fire TV portal with a generally acceptable LED LCD budget panel, and exhibits cookie-cutter dress sense – so looks fine but nothing special.
 
Consequently, it’s best thought of as a second set for a bedroom or kitchen space, or for non-critical viewing.  Images look sharp with native 4K sources but not so much for upscaled HD, and it sounds clear enough for a budget-friendly purchase.  
 
Good value overall then, but gamers should take their consoles elsewhere.

This is the best set we’ve seen from TCL to date, largely thanks to its inclusion of QLED tech for such an affordable price.

There are plenty of other good things going on, too, such as wide HDR support, the inclusion of Freeview Play and the excellent Android TV operating system. It’s pretty stylish to boot.

The C715K isn’t flawless though and the price means something had to give. In this case, it’s namely being limited to three HDMI ports and sluggish performance when using the interface.

There’s tough competition at this price point so rivals from the likes of Hisense and JVC can offer a more well-rounded experience.

It might be limited to 720p resolution, but the WK3D isn’t vying for a spot in the main living room. 

Instead, this telly is a great option for those looking for a screen in the kitchen, bedroom or somewhere like a kid’s playroom – albeit without built-in Disney+ support for the little ones. It’s extremely affordable and comes in sizes as 24in. 

Limited brightness means the inclusion of HDR is somewhat undermined but there’s a reasonable amount of streaming apps along with Freeview Play and the TV can even function as a Bluetooth speaker. 

As is so often the case with Hisense, the U7Q offers you the chance to own an excellent TV without breaking the bank, if you can still find one now it’s an older model.

Apart from simply getting a stylish set in large sizes for under £500, the U7Q has incredibly good HDR performance normally reserved for much higher-end TVs. Quantum Dot panel technology, Full Array Local Dimming, Ultra Smooth Motion and wide HDR standard support will leave you dazzled.

There’s good gaming performance too, even if it doesn’t support 120fps for next-gen consoles. Sound quality is mediocre but that’s to be expected and the combination of Freeview Play and Vidaa U4 OS gives you plenty to watch.