Movie nights, ball games, the premier of a new season of your favorite show on Netflix—there are a host of reasons to want a big-screen TV with ample features and high-definition image quality. The good news is that you don’t have to break the bank in order to achieve a home cinema level setup if you know where to look. That’s where we come in: Our experts have been testing TVs for decades, measuring critical aspects like black level, peak brightness, input lag, and more.
Not all TVs are made equal and some are better than others for specific use cases; an OLED screen will cost more than an LED, for example, but the darker contrast and higher picture quality is often worth the tradeoff. And don’t forget to compliment your TV with a soundbar to really expand your home cinema setup and really deliver the high octane excitement of watching your favorite teams go head-to-head.
If you’re looking to upgrade, the price difference between a 50-, 55- and 65-inch TV usually isn’t that huge, though prices start to creep upward for 75-inch-and-larger screens. It’s important to fit your screen size to your room: Don’t squeeze a 55-inch set in a bedroom where a 32-inch will do, especially for an hour or two of late-night TV.
For modern resolution, we recommend at minimum a 1080p screen, but most of us probably prefer to take advantage of all the 4K programming on streaming and cable these days. The number of inputs for game consoles and other devices also makes a difference.
Gamers considering a TV for their PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X should look for TVs with the following features:
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120Hz native refresh rate
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HDMI 2.1 ports for resolutions up to 4K 120Hz
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VRR (variable refresh rate) support
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HDR (high dynamic range) support.
Not all games require 4K 120Hz or VRR, but it may become the standard for most AAA games in the future, because developers love to push the envelope of hardware.
43-Inch to 60-Inch TVs
This 43-inch 4K TV won’t break the bank. The built-in streaming services, including Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and more, bring thousands of titles right to your fingertips. As an added bonus you can access them, totally hands free, with your voice thanks to your smart assistant. Gamers will be happy to have the 60Hz refresh rate and HDR 10+ while sports and action movie aficionados will enjoy the motion enhancement technology.
Key Specs:
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2 HDMI Ports
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60Hz refresh rate
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4K Ultra HD resolution with HDR (HDR 10, HLG) support
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Smart TV with multiple streaming platforms built-in.
The Vizio MQX-Series TV offers a wide color range and features designed for gamers at an affordable price. Our expert applauded the low input lag and fast 120Hz refresh rate, which make this TV a great choice for those with consoles. At 50-inches, this TV isn’t too large for a bedroom or too small for a living room and with built-in AirPlay and Google Cast, you have a wide range of things to watch as well.
Key Specs:
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4K Ultra HD resolution with HDR (HDR 10, HLG) support
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120Hz refresh rate
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Built-in Chromecast
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4x HDMI ports, 1 with eARC
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Compatible with Bluetooth headphones
A 58-inch 4K TV for less than $300? Now that’s a deal. The Hisense R6 series features High Dynamic Range (commonly known as HDR) to boost color and contrast, plus Motion Rate 120 technology which better tracks quick movements such as action scenes. This TV will be the heart of your family room entertainment system, especially since the built-in Roku TV OS gives you access to hundreds of thousands of things to watch. This TV is well-suited to casual consumers and those with tight budgets.
Key Specs:
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60Hz refresh rate
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4K Ultra HD resolution with HDR and HDR 10 support
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3 HDMI ports (4K@60Hz), 1 with HDMI ARC support
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Roku operating system with Google Assistant built-in
The Best Deals on TVs 43-60 Inches
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
65-Inch to 86-Inch TV Deals
The LG C3 is the perfect companion for console gamers thanks to four HDMI 2.1 ports and a 65-inch OLED panel with a native 120Hz refresh rate that supports true 4K @ 120Hz passthrough. The slim bezel makes the most of your screen real estate and the 4K resolution paired with wide viewing angles means on-screen content will look good no matter where you’re sitting. Also noteworthy is the built-in voice control via your smart assistant and the included magic remote, which makes powering up your TV and finding the perfect show to watch a no-brainer. For its excellent color and contrast and sleek design, our expert gave it an “outstanding” rating.
Recommended by Our Editors
Key Specs:
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120Hz refresh rate
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OLED panel with individually lit pixels for rich black levels
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4K Ultra HD resolution with HDR and HDR 10 support
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4 HDMI 2.1 ports with eARC and Dolby Atmos passthrough
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Gaming mode with AMD FreeSync Premium
Alexa fans will like the hands-free control available on this TV as well as the opportunity to easily connect with Echo speakers for surround sound. Sixty-five inches is a decent size for your living room or bedroom with enough screen space to accommodate multiple viewers.
Key Specs:
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4K Ultra HD resolution with HDR (HDR 10, HLG) support
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4 HDMI ports, 3 HDMI 2.0 + 1 HDMI 2.1 with eARC
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60Hz Native refresh rate. Direct LED backlight
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Fire TV smart TV functionality with Alexa voice remote
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Dolby Digital Plus audio support (via Dolby-encoded audio)
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16-Watt stereo audio (8W+8W)
Best Home Cinema Centerpiece
Bigger is better if your living room is the place to be on movie and game nights and this huge 85-inch TCL 4K smart TV will be the life of the party. With a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR Ultra support, image quality is bright and vibrant. Our reviewer rated the TCL Q7 a 4 out of 5, citing, “the TCL Q7 Class TV doesn’t live up to its predecessors’ brightness or value, but still offers a good picture at a reasonable price.”
Key Specs:
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4K Ultra HD resolution with HDR Ultra (Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, & HLG) support
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4 HDMI ports; 1 @ 144Hz, 1 @ 120Hz, and 1 with eARC.
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120Hz refresh rate.
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Smart TV with streaming platforms built-in.
The Best Deals on TVs 65-85 Inches
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
More TV Deals To Watch Out For
Which TV brand is the Best Value for the Money?
If you can’t afford to spend thousands of dollars on a new TV, TCL and Hisense offer high quality at affordable prices. The Hisense U8N LED TV, for example, offers flagship-level performance and an impressive array of features for a modest price. And the Amazon Fire TV Omni is a decent budget TV with a brighter QLED panel that offers high contrast and better color than its predecessor.
What is a Good Month to Buy a TV?
In the US, retailers will often offer deals ahead of the Super Bowl, so keep your eyes peeled in January and February if you didn’t snag a discount on Black Friday, another popular time to get a discount on a huge TV. If you want the best TV versus a discounted one, the spring is often when new TV models arrive in stores.
How do we Test TVs?
PCMag’s testing incorporates technical laboratory tests as well as real-world viewing experience. The tests include: light and color output, black level, peak brightness, input lag, and more. We test TVs using their most color-accurate picture mode available, which is typically a Movie or Cinema mode. Other default modes like Standard or Vivid can appear brighter, but they tend to skew colors significantly, and we recommend the Movie mode for watching most content.
What is the Best Budget Smart TV for Picture Quality
Our expert named last year’s Hisense U6K the “best picture for the price” and it was named PCMag’s Editors’ Choice for budget televisions. It normally costs $799.99, but you can snag one on sale for as low as $500. It’s being phased out for the newer U6N, which we’ve yet to test, but you can still find it from many retailers. Amazon’s Fire TV Omni QLED is another strong choice in this price range, and you can also find more budget TV options in our Best Cheap TVs article.
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