These High-Res TVs Will Cost You Less Than $500 (2024)

If you’re shopping for a primary TV for your home, this model from Samsung is one of the best options you’ll find for under $500. It offers a bright, vivid image with 4K resolution, and it's equipped with the brand’s proprietary technology that automatically adjusts the content’s colors and motion for optimal viewing.

The TV has Alexa built-in, plus it features the brand’s Tizen smart TV operating system, which is preloaded with a variety of popular streaming apps, and the Samsung Gaming Hub.

There are several other details that make this TV a standout at this price point. For one, it has a super-slim profile that’s just one inch thick so it sits flush with the wall, similar to the brand’s popular Frame TV. It also has a solar-powered remote control, a nice extra to avoid using batteries..

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The Hisense U6 Series Smart TV is an affordable option for gamers, with four HDMI ports, to hook up multiple gaming consoles. It also offers clear 4K resolution made up of mini-LEDs, providing a brighter all-around image.

That’s not the only reason it’s great for gamers, though: With the TV’s special gaming mode, it automatically recognizes gaming sequences and adjusts settings for smooth, uninterrupted play with minimal lag or frame tearing. Another plus is that it supports Dolby Atmos audio content to immerse you in your favorite games’ visuals and sound.

The only downside is that this Hisense model only has a 60 hertz refresh rate—unfortunately, at this price point, it’s uncommon to find a TV with anything higher.

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This 65-inch LG TV is a top choice for watching your favorite sporting events, as the brand has a few special features tailored toward sports fans. The smart TV gives you free access to LG Channels, with 300 live TV stations, including a designated NFL channel. It also features real-time sports alerts to get your favorite teams’ score in the corner of the screen. You can even create separate accounts for different family members, ensuring the TV always shows personalized (and age-appropriate) content.

Image is average for the price point, but it does automatically adjust screen brightness based on the ambient light. As for its downsides, there are fewer input ports than many other models, and the remote’s small buttons can be frustrating to press.

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One of the most affordable 4K TVs you can get is Amazon’s Fire TV. The lightweight 4-Series runs Amazon’s Fire TV interface for streaming shows and downloading apps. While it’s notorious for showing on-screen banner ads, it’s simple to use and helps keep costs down.

The picture quality isn’t as good as the Hisense, but the price is hard to argue with. Thanks to HDR support, colors can get deeper and more vibrant than most cheap LED TVs which lack it entirely. The real draw comes if you’re already in the Alexa smart home ecosystem, as you can control your devices, check camera feeds, and receive notifications right on your TV. It even has AirPlay so you can share videos, photos, and music from your iPhone or iPad.

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This 55-inch Samsung TV has a curved screen, a feature that can make viewing feel more immersive. It has standard 4K resolution and HDR for extra-vivid colors, and comes with Alexa build in. But what’s particularly notable is its wireless connection capabilities. For instance, you can quickly mirror content from your smartphone using “Tap View,” which involves tapping your phone on the TV screen, or wirelessly display your computer screen—handy if the TV is in your home office.

Another useful feature is the TV’s cable management. Any cables can be tucked into the TV stand, keeping them out of view for a clutter-free setup.

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We don’t recommend using the Vizio D Series as your main entertainment television. While affordable, the Hisense A6H offers a better experience in nearly every way at only a slightly higher price tag. That said, the Vizio D Series has some tricks up its sleeve like FALD backlighting for a more uniform picture and fast processing speeds. It’s also available in small 24-inch and 32-inch sizes. You won’t find any 4K TVs that small, hence the Vizio’s 1080p resolution.

For anyone looking to add a small screen to an office, guest bedroom or a porch, this affordable Vizio is a great option. With Apple AirPlay and Chromecast built in, it can easily play all your favorite streaming services. This is incredibly handy for sharing everything from a phone, like beaming up vacation pictures to playing a YouTube video.

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• Ignore what TVs look like on the retail show floor. Retailers brighten their sets to compensate for a store’s harsh fluorescent lighting. In addition, most stores rarely show 4K content on their TVs and often play animation, which always looks better than “live” TV, rendering comparisons useless.
• If you’re concerned about image detail, spend a bit more on a set with full array local dimming (FALD)—and ask how many “local dimming zones” when comparing models. The more zones, the more detail in the picture.
• To futureproof your TV, check for HDMI 2.1 compatible jacks. These allow robust video and audio information to travel from your HDMI-connected devices and the TV to achieve the best possible image.
• Finally, at the end of the year, when retailers are trying to sell off their existing TV inventory to make room for new models, inquire about a floor model, which can often be had for a huge discount.