5 Best TVs Under $500 in 2024: A Buyer’s Guide

Are you looking for a new TV in 2024, but don’t want to break the bank? You might think you have to spend a lot of money to get a decent TV, but that’s not true. There are many TVs under $500 that offer great performance, features, and value for your money. Whether you want a TV for watching movies, playing games, or streaming your favorite shows, you can find a TV that suits your needs and budget.

In this article, we will review some of the best TVs under $500 in 2024, based on their picture quality, smart features, design, and user reviews. We will also give you some tips on how to choose the best TV for your home. Here are the main factors that you should consider when buying a TV under $500:

Size: The TV size depends on your preference, the size of your room, and the viewing distance. Generally, bigger TVs offer a more immersive viewing experience, but they also take up more space and consume more power. A good rule of thumb is to divide the viewing distance (in inches) by 1.6 to get the ideal TV size (in inches). For example, if you sit 8 feet away from the TV, you should look for a TV that is around 60 inches. However, you can also adjust the size according to your budget and availability.
Resolution: The resolution of the TV refers to the number of pixels that make up the image on the screen. The higher the resolution, the sharper and clearer the picture. The most common resolutions for TVs under $500 are 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) and Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels). 4K TVs offer four times more detail than Full HD TVs, and they are becoming more affordable and popular. However, you also need to have a 4K source, such as a 4K Blu-ray player, a 4K streaming device, or a 4K gaming console, to enjoy the full benefits of 4K. Full HD TVs are still a good option if you mainly watch cable TV, DVDs, or older content that is not available in 4K.
HDR: HDR stands for High Dynamic Range, and it is a feature that enhances the contrast, brightness, and color of the image. HDR TVs can display a wider range of colors and shades, making the picture more realistic and vivid. HDR is especially noticeable in scenes that have dark and bright areas, such as sunsets, fireworks, or shadows. There are different types of HDR formats, such as HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG, and not all TVs support all of them. You also need to have an HDR source, such as an HDR Blu-ray player, an HDR streaming device, or an HDR gaming console, to enjoy the full benefits of HDR.
Refresh Rate: The refresh rate of the TV refers to the number of times that the image on the screen is updated per second. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother and more fluid the motion. The refresh rate is measured in hertz (Hz), and the most common refresh rates for TVs under $500 are 60 Hz and 120 Hz. 60 Hz TVs can display 60 frames per second, while 120 Hz TVs can display 120 frames per second. 120 Hz TVs are better for fast-paced content, such as sports, action movies, or video games, as they reduce motion blur and judder. However, you also need to have a source that can output 120 frames per second, such as a gaming console or a PC, to enjoy the full benefits of 120 Hz.

Smart Features: Smart TVs are TVs that can connect to the internet and offer a variety of online services, such as streaming apps, web browsers, social media, games, and more. Smart TVs can make your viewing experience more convenient and enjoyable, as you can access thousands of content options with a few clicks. However, not all smart TVs are created equal. Some smart TVs have better interfaces, faster performance, more apps, and more features than others. Some of the most popular smart TV platforms are Roku TV, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Tizen, LG webOS, and Vizio SmartCast.

The Best TVs Under $500 in 2024

Now that you know what to look for in a TV under $500, let us take a look at some of the best models that you can buy in 2024. We have selected these TVs based on their picture quality, smart features, design, and user reviews. We have also included the pros and cons of each TV, as well as a link to where you can buy them online. Here are the best TVs under $500 in 2024:

Best Overall: Samsung 43-inch QLED Q60A Series Smart TV

The Samsung Q60A is the best TV under $500 that we have tested. It is a 43-inch 4K QLED TV that offers excellent picture quality, smart features, and design. It has a sleek and slim design, with thin bezels and a sturdy stand. It also comes with a smart remote that has a built-in microphone and voice control.

The Samsung Q60A has a QLED panel that uses quantum dots to produce a wide color gamut, making the colors more vibrant and accurate. It also supports HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG formats, and it can display a high peak brightness, making the picture more dynamic and realistic. It has a native refresh rate of 60 Hz, and it uses motion interpolation and black frame insertion to improve motion clarity. It also has a low input lag and a game mode, making it a good choice for gamers.

The Samsung Q60A runs on the Tizen smart platform, which is one of the best in the market. It has a user-friendly interface, a fast performance, and a huge selection of apps, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, Hulu, and more. It also has a built-in Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, as well as support for Apple AirPlay 2 and Samsung SmartThings.

The Samsung Q60A is the best TV under $500 that we have tested, and it is ideal for anyone who wants a high-quality 4K QLED TV with great smart features and design.

Pros:

Excellent picture quality
Wide color gamut and high peak brightness
Low input lag and game mode
User-friendly and feature-rich smart platform
Sleek and slim design

Cons:

Narrow viewing angle
No Dolby Vision support
No local dimming

Best for Gaming: VIZIO 55-inch 4K UHD LED Smart TV

The VIZIO V556 is the best TV under $500 for gaming that we have tested. It is a 55-inch 4K LED TV that offers good picture quality, smart features, and gaming performance. It has a simple and elegant design, with thin bezels and a solid stand. It also comes with a basic remote that has dedicated buttons for popular streaming apps.

The VIZIO V556 has a VA panel that delivers a high contrast ratio, making the blacks look deep and uniform. It also supports HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision formats, and it can display a decent peak brightness, making the picture more detailed and colorful. It has a native refresh rate of 60 Hz, and it uses motion interpolation and black frame insertion to reduce motion blur and judder. It also has a very low input lag and a game mode, making it very responsive and smooth for gaming.

The VIZIO V556 runs on the SmartCast platform, which is decent but not very impressive. It has a simple interface, a moderate performance, and a limited selection of apps, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, Hulu, and more. It also has a built-in Google Chromecast and Apple AirPlay 2, as well as support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.

The VIZIO V556 is the best TV under $500 for gaming that we have tested, and it is ideal for anyone who wants a large and affordable 4K TV with good gaming performance and HDR support.

Pros:

Good picture quality
High contrast ratio and decent peak brightness
Very low input lag and game mode
HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision support
Google Chromecast and Apple AirPlay 2 built-in

Cons:

Mediocre smart platform
Narrow viewing angle
No local dimming

Best 4K: TCL 50-inch 5-Series 4K UHD Dolby Vision HDR QLED Roku Smart TV

The TCL 5-Series is the best 4K TV under $500 that we have tested. It is a 50-inch 4K QLED TV that offers great picture quality, smart features, and value. It has a modern and minimalist design, with slim bezels and a sturdy stand. It also comes with a simple remote that has a built-in microphone and voice control.

The TCL 5-Series has a QLED panel that uses quantum dots to produce a wide color gamut, making the colors more vivid and accurate. It also supports HDR10, The TCL 5-Series has a QLED panel that uses quantum dots to produce a wide color gamut, making the colors more vivid and accurate. It also supports HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG formats, and it can display a good peak brightness, making the picture more detailed and colorful. It has a native refresh rate of 60 Hz, and it uses motion interpolation and black frame insertion to enhance motion clarity. It also has a low input lag and a game mode, making it a good choice for gamers.

The TCL 5-Series runs on the Roku TV smart platform, which is one of the best in the market. It has a simple and intuitive interface, a fast performance, and a huge selection of apps, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, Hulu, and more. It also has a built-in Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, as well as support for Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit.

The TCL 5-Series is the best 4K TV under $500 that we have tested, and it is ideal for anyone who wants a great 4K QLED TV with excellent smart features and HDR support.

Pros:

Great picture quality
Wide color gamut and good peak brightness
Low input lag and game mode
HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG support
Simple and intuitive smart platform

Cons:

Narrow viewing angle
No local dimming
Some banding and dirty screen effect

Best Full HD: LG 43-inch Full HD LED Smart TV

The LG 43LM5700 is the best Full HD TV under $500 that we have tested. It is a 43-inch Full HD LED TV that offers decent picture quality, smart features, and design. It has a basic and functional design, with thick bezels and a plastic stand. It also comes with a standard remote that has a number pad and hotkeys for popular streaming apps.

The LG 43LM5700 has an IPS panel that delivers a wide viewing angle, making it suitable for large rooms or wide seating arrangements. It also supports HDR10 and HLG formats, and it can display a fair peak brightness, making the picture more clear and vibrant. It has a native refresh rate of 60 Hz, and it does not have any motion enhancement features, but it still handles motion well. It also has a low input lag and a game mode, making it a decent choice for gamers.

The LG 43LM5700 runs on the webOS smart platform, which is good but not very impressive. It has a colorful and animated interface, a moderate performance, and a decent selection of apps, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, Hulu, and more. It also has a built-in Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, as well as support for Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit.

The LG 43LM5700 is the best Full HD TV under $500 that we have tested, and it is ideal for anyone who wants a simple and affordable Full HD TV with good smart features and a wide viewing angle.

Pros:

Decent picture quality
Wide viewing angle
Low input lag and game mode
HDR10 and HLG support
Colorful and animated smart platform

Cons:

Low contrast ratio and poor black uniformity
Fair peak brightness and color gamut
No motion enhancement features

Best Budget: Amazon Fire TV 43-inch 4K UHD Smart TV

The Amazon Fire TV is the best budget TV under $500 that we have tested. It is a 43-inch 4K LED TV that offers decent picture quality, smart features, and design. It has a basic and functional design, with thick bezels and a plastic stand. It also comes with a voice remote that has a built-in microphone and Alexa.

The Amazon Fire TV has an IPS panel that delivers a wide viewing angle, making it suitable for large rooms or wide seating arrangements. It also supports HDR10 and HLG formats, and it can display a fair peak brightness, making the picture clearer and more vibrant. It has a native refresh rate of 60 Hz, and it does not have any motion enhancement features, but it still handles motion well. It also has a low input lag and a game mode, making it a decent choice for gamers.

The Amazon Fire TV runs on the Fire TV smart platform, which is good but not very impressive. It has a colorful and cluttered interface, a moderate performance, and a decent selection of apps, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, Hulu, and more. It also has a built-in Alexa, as well as support for Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit.

The Amazon Fire TV is the best budget TV under $500 that we have tested, and it is ideal for anyone who wants a simple and affordable 4K TV with good smart features and a wide viewing angle.

Pros:

Decent picture quality
Wide viewing angle
Low input lag and game mode
HDR10 and HLG support
Colorful and cluttered smart platform

Cons:

Low contrast ratio and poor black uniformity
Fair peak brightness and color gamut
No motion enhancement features

Conclusion

These are some of the best TVs under $500 that you can buy in 2024. They offer a great balance of performance, features, and value for your money. Whether you want a TV for watching movies, playing games, or streaming your favorite shows, you can find a TV that suits your needs and budget. However, you should also keep in mind that these TVs are not perfect, and they have some limitations and drawbacks. You should also do your research and compare different models before making a final decision. We hope that this article has helped you find the best TV under $500 for your home. Thank you for reading.

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