Best budget TV 2024

If bang for your buck is what you’re after then the Toshiba UF3D is hard to beat with its eye-catching price, even if the design isn’t also eye-catching.

It’s cheaper than Amazon’s own 4-Series model and yet comes with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos which you won’t find on Amazon’s. Both are welcome and mean you can get an Atmos-enabled soundbar to use with the TV for spacious audio.

The UF3D comes with Fire TV and Freeview Play giving you plenty of options for entertainment and it does this via a reassuringly sharp image. Just don’t expect the most dynamic HDR performance or the deepest blacks but that’s fine at this price, it’s still a budget winner.

TCL has once again provided us 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.

It might be very similar to last year’s model and, in fact, identical in various ways, but The Frame is once again a hugely desirable lifestyle TV from Samsung.

Of course, we are recommending the smallest model here to fit with the budget nature of this chart so you’ll be getting a 32in model with a Full HD resolution.

Even without 4K, it’s an excellent QLED TV and perfect for places like the kitchen or bedroom. The wall-mountable design is gorgeous with the interchangeable bezel, matt screen and Art Mode for when the TV isn’t in use.

There’s plenty of streaming options, two great remotes – one of which is solar powered – and the 2023 model improves on energy consumption keeping your bills down and being more environmentally friendly.

Just keep an eye out for deals on The Frame (2022) since it is so similar and you should be able to find it with tempting discounts.

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.

Available at the upper-end of the price range for a cheap TV, if you’re ok with a 43in model, The One from Philips pretty much does what is says on the tin. That is, provide everything you need in one purchase without breaking the bank.

You get about the best quality picture you can expect without paying more money with a 4K Ultra HD resolution, IPS LED panel and even a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth gaming.

The design is much prettier than most budget TVs and the swivel stand could be a real boon to some users. Sound isn’t forgotten about either, as it normally is for cheap sets, with more power than previous generations.

Capping things off nicely is the Android TV OS, bringing you a range of streaming options and other useful features. And let’s not forget Philips’ ace up the sleeve, three-sided Ambilight LEDs on the back for an immersive viewing experience.

If you’re looking for just about the cheapest smart TV around then the JVC CR330 is one to consider.

It’s available at rock-bottom prices and has a sleeker design than you might expect for this kind of money as well as an above-average selection of ports including three HDMI ports with one supporting ARC (audio return channel). That may well be needed due to the poor built-in speakers.

Available in 40- and 43-inch sizes, the CR330 is suited to smaller spaces. The limited viewing angles mean it’s best placed somewhere like a bedroom where you’ll be looking at it directly.

If the downsides don’t matter too much for your requirements then the TV is excellent value and built-in Roku software provides endless streaming possibilities.

The MRD6000 is another cheap telly to arrive on the market with Roku’s popular operating system and although UK buyers might not have heard of Metz before, the brand is a stalwart in Germany.

If you are looking for a cheap 4K smart TV to simply ‘plug and play’ (or setup and stream) then it does the job very well with Freeview Play combining with Roku for an all-round experience. Easy access to the likes of Netflix, Disney+ and BBC iPlayer is the name of the game here.

A TV like this is never going to win on build or specs but the set is lightweight and the picture quality is both detailed and colourful.

It does have HDR but limited brightness means you shouldn’t get too excited. The basic panel means you’ll want to be watching straight on and the terrible speakers mean a soundbar is pretty much a necessity unless you plan to put this in a kid’s room or kitchen where they may suffice.

There are better Roku-powered cheap TVs out there but the low latency does make this a particularly interesting choice for cheap 4K gaming – just not at 120Hz, of course.

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.