Best Cheap TV 2021

Introduction

There are plenty of cheap TVs that can do a job if all you need is a set to watch your favourite shows and movies on.

Here though, we not only have just best cheap TVs, but the best value sets if you can push your budget a bit further. From 43-inch sets to 65-inch TVs, everything on this list is under £1000, with the cheapest around £300. If you’re after the best cheap TV, these are the best.

Scroll down the page for summaries of each TV. If you need more help, then have a look out our in-depth reviews in the links below. We’ve also included prices for the best deals available so you can get the best cheap TVs around.



How we test

Learn more about how we test televisions Every TV we review is put through the same set of tests to gauge its picture performance, usability, and smart features.Tests are carried out over several days and are done by eye but supported with technical measurements. Testing by eye involves an expert watching a wide range of material to understand and determine a TV’s performance in fields such as brightness, contrast, motion processing, colour handling and screen uniformity.We’ll consider the design of the TV in terms of build quality, study the spec sheets and see if the TV’s connections are up to spec, as well as playing video and audio content to ensure that the set handles playback as it claims. We also take note whether a product’s compatible formats and features are in line with industry trends or not to gauge whether it’s relevant for you.Comparison to other related and similarly priced products is also important, to see if it’s missing any vital features and whether it impresses as a whole. After all this, we’ll come to a judgement on how the TV performs as a whole.If you want to learn more, please visit our detailed page about how we test televisions.








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Hisense 55U8QFTUK



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Pros


Enjoyable 4K HDR performance
Solid upscaling
Good build quality
Decent sound
Multi-HDR support




Cons


Iffy motion
Some backlight bleed off-axis
No native Disney+/Apple TV apps






£1099







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Hisense 65U7QFTUK



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Pros


Improved motion performance
Colourful images
Dolby Vision HDR
Affordable for a 65-inch telly
Excellent gaming performance




Cons


Average black levels
Some blooming, especially off-axis
Flat audio delivery






£799







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Hisense R50A7200GTUK Roku TV



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Pros


Good-quality, colourful picture performance
Wide streaming capabilities
Easy to set-up and use
Speedy gaming performance




Cons


Iffy sound
Inconsistent upscaling of SD sources
Limited HDR performance





£399







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LG 65NANO906



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Pros


Looks good with native 4K content
As future-proofed, games-wise, as they come
Half-decent sound
Good OS




Cons


Some backlighting issues
Not the most capable upscaler
Lacks UK catch-up TV services (for now)
Looks deep if wall-mounted




£1699$1499







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LG OLED55BX



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Pros


Superior gaming connectivity
Brilliant value




Cons


No Freeview Play
Presets favour dark-room viewing




£1199$1199







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Panasonic TX-50HX600



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Pros


Natural-looking presentation
Dolby Vision HDR
Easy assembly
Freeview Play




Cons


Average black levels
Limited brightness
Picture can suffer from noise
Imprecise motion




£599







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Philips 50PUS8545



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Pros


Bright, colourful picture
Multi-HDR support
Ambilight
Surprisingly decent Vivid mode
Solid motion processing




Cons


Aggressive HDR10+ performance
No HDR for Disney+/Prime Video app
Out-of-box settings need adjustment






£549







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Samsung QE55Q65T



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Pros


Enjoyable picture quality
Comprehensive smart platform
Thin design
Easy to set up




Cons


Limited black levels
Ordinary sound
No Dolby Vision
Omits VRR for gaming




£799







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Samsung UE43TU7100



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Pros


Easy setup
Solid picture quality
Amazing value for money




Cons


UI can be a little slow
Limited connectivity





£379







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Samsung UE50TU7020



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Pros


Detailed, natural-looking image
Easy to set up
eARC support
Affordable
Fast gaming performance




Cons


Slightly sluggish UI
Only two HDMI inputs
Limited brightness for HDR






£429







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Samsung UE50TU8500



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Pros


Intuitive, easy to use UI
Decent gaming performance
Simple setup process
Wealth of smart features




Cons


HDR performance could be better
Underpowered speakers






£599







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TCL 55C715K



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Pros


Vibrant image
Spacious sound
Super-fast gaming latency
Tidy design




Cons


Out-of-box settings need calibrating
Not bright enough for HDR
Inconsistent black levels, especially in dark rooms





£599







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Toshiba 43UL2063DB



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Pros


Affordable
Good size for second room/bedroom
Dolby Vision
Easy to set-up
Good sound




Cons


Middling black levels
Not bright enough
So-so gaming performance
Issues with motion



















LG OLED55BX


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The cheapest 2020 OLED from LG

Pros

Superior gaming connectivity Brilliant value

Cons

No Freeview Play Presets favour dark-room viewing

As we move further in 2021, LG’s 2020 BX OLED has dipped below the £1000 mark. Like the mid-range CX it’s primed to work with PS5 and Xbox Series X with its HFR and VRR features. WebOS has plenty of apps in its library too – and while Freeview Play isn’t supported, LG has updated the interface to include a selection of UK catch-up apps.We found picture quality to be terrific. Though the picture processor isn’t as refined as the one in the CX, we doubt anyone will be short-changed with the performance: detail is excellent, images are colourful and well-balanced and its HDR performance is good, especially as ever with an OLED TV with a good HDR performance when it comes highlights. It’s very solid in terms of sound too, good enough for casual viewing of TV and films.Reviewer: Steve MayFull Review: LG OLED55BX













Panasonic TX-58HX800


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Great for movie nights

Pros

Multi-HDR support with Dolby Vision and HLG Versatile Panasonic smart TV platform Low input lag

Cons

Limited deep black performance No Disney+

If you’re looking for a reasonably priced set that can add a bit of flair to movie nights, the HX800 is a prime candidate. Following on from 2019’s highly rated GX800, this edge-lit LED TV produces a performance full of fine detail and excellent colours.Upscaling is solid, bringing sub-4K sources up to par. Motion is respectful provided the IFC (Intelligent Frame Creation) setting is kept on a tight leash. When done so, there’s little in the way of overt artefacts and that makes this a solid set for fast-paced films and sports. HDR support is wide with Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG and HDR10+ under its umbrella, and though brightness is around average, it’s enough to give a good impression of HDR. Gaming performance is excellent, but you won’t find any VRR or 120Hz support for the next-gen consoles.What holds this set back is its limited black level performance, a result of the edge-lit panel. Sound is passable too, so you’ll want to marry this TV with a soundbar that can improve its sonic capabilities. There’s no Apple TV+ or Disney+, so you’ll need to consider a streaming stick to get those apps.Reviewer: Steve MayFull Review: Panasonic TX-58HX800













Hisense R50A7200GTUK Roku TV


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The Hisense/Roku partnership delivers another fine TV

Pros

Good-quality, colourful picture performanceWide streaming capabilitiesEasy to set-up and useSpeedy gaming performance

Cons

Iffy soundInconsistent upscaling of SD sourcesLimited HDR performance

In the budget TV field, the Hisense R50B7120UK Roku TV was one of the leading contenders, and with its latest effort, Hisense and Roku have served up another set that packs in even more value.The number of smarts the Hisense R50A7200GTUK Roku TV packs is only behind the likes of Samsung and LG. You have Freeview Play, which brings the catch-up apps into play, there’s a wide range of streaming apps (including Disney+, Apple TV+ among others) and new features in AirPlay 2, Apple HomeKit and Alexa and Google assistant compatibility. That’s a tremendous amount of value available in an affordable package.While picture quality is virtually the same as the B7120UK, that’s no bad thing given how good that set was. It lacks the contrast and brightness to produce a true HDR performance, but its native 4K performance is full of detail, with colours naturally portrayed. we don’t think many will be disappointed by what it serves up. Sound quality is a disappointment, and we’d recommend a soundbar to give it a boost.Reviewer: Kob MonneyFull Review: Hisense R50A7200GTUK Roku TV













Samsung UE50TU8500


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A affordable 50-inch set with a wealth of smart features

Pros

Intuitive, easy to use UIDecent gaming performanceSimple setup processWealth of smart features

Cons

HDR performance could be betterUnderpowered speakers

Like the Panasonic HX800, it’s an edge-lit panel, but it offers surprisingly good black levels that are free from backlight bleed. Once in the right picture mode (Standard and Natural are your best options), the Samsung offers fairly accurate colours for a presentation that’s more natural than most at this price. For HDR it’s not a set that goes particularly bright, and with no support for Dolby Vision (it does have HDR10+), you won’t benefit from a more refined performance on popular streaming services other than Prime Video.Overall, this is one of the best cheap TVs we’ve seen in recent times. The Tizen UI is easy to use and features an abundance of streaming apps. Build quality is unsophisticated and the set is easy to assemble. Gaming performance is just as strong here as it is on other Samsung sets. Consider a soundbar as while the TU8500 is adequate, adequate won’t cut it for films or streaming.Reviewer: Alastair StevensonFull review: Samsung UE50TU8500 review













Samsung UE43TU7100


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An excellent 43-inch 4K TV

Pros

Easy setupSolid picture qualityAmazing value for money

Cons

UI can be a little slowLimited connectivity

The UE43TU7100 is a small TV and it offers terrific value for its size and price. If you’re after a solid small TV, this would get our vote.Like every Samsung set it snubs Dolby Vision support and considering its size and price the HDR performance is no barnstormer either. However, picture quality is better than you’d expect, offering good black levels, good colours and a neutral presentation that makes it good for a range of content. Sound quality is fine with broadcast TV but timid – unsurprisingly so – with more dynamic content. Factor in a soundbar to go with this TV.Samsung’s Tizen OS offers a legion of apps and assembly is as simple as slotting the feet in. The Tizen OS isn’t the fastest though on this set, making for a less than snappy user experience at times.Reviewer: Alastair StevensonFull review: Samsung UE43TU7100 review













Samsung UE50TU7020


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Impressive features and performance for an affordable set

Pros

Detailed, natural-looking image Easy to set up eARC support Affordable Fast gaming performance

Cons

Slightly sluggish UI Only two HDMI inputs Limited brightness for HDR

Another Samsung makes this list, showing the strength in depth of its TV line-up. The most impressive aspect is how consistent its features are compared to the premium sets. Performance is of course downgraded, but the core feature set is intact.You still get class-leading gaming input with just 9.7ms of lag (no VRR or 120Hz though). eARC allows for the passthrough of high-quality soundtracks such as Dolby Atmos from the TV to a compatible soundbar for a better performance. The Tizen UI has all the apps you’ll ever need, including the UK catch-up apps; helpful considering there’s no Freeview Play.Picture quality is strong, boasting an upscaling performance better than some TVs at nearly twice the price. Pictures are relatively free from artefacts; colour tones are natural, and detail is good. This is also the case with native 4K content, with black levels holding up well, though we find this set lacks detail in the darker parts of an image, so you’re not seeing everything you ought to be.HDR performance is limited, as are viewing angles, but that’s to be expected. In terms of audio, it’s a good effort, but a soundbar would improve upon it.Reviewer: Kob MonneyFull Review: Samsung UE50TU7020













Samsung QE55Q65T


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Budget QLED = good performer

Pros

Enjoyable picture quality Comprehensive smart platform Thin design Easy to set up

Cons

Limited black levels Ordinary sound No Dolby Vision Omits VRR for gaming

Considering its features, performance and price, the Q65T is one of the better affordable TVs still available. Despite its status as the bottom tier QLED in Samsung’s 2020 TV range, there’s a confidence about its performance that puts its rivals.The 4K image is a pleasing one, with natural colours that are also expressively conveyed, there’s a punchiness to the Q65T’s performance that makes for attractive viewing. It’s an edge-lit display and not one with a particularly high brightness for HDR content, but it can deliver better black levels than the TCL TV that’s on this list and that helps produce images of decent contrast.The feature list is lengthy with class-leading gaming skills, extensive smart app selection and with Multi View it has a split-screen feature that no other TV brand offers. It’s not perfect, but it’s a pretty classy all-rounder.Reviewer: Kob MonneyFull Review: Samsung QE55Q65T













LG 65NANO906


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