4 Best Budget Smart TVs Under $500

It’s not hard to find a decent smart TV on a budget. The likes of Samsung, LG… all of them offer sets in various sizes and price points. Have a budget of $500? You’re in luck, as you can still get a lot of TV without crossing the border even into $501. Below, we’re going to show you TK under $500 that are worthy of your consideration list.

LG 55UM7300PUA

LG has not so quietly stayed in the shadow of it’s homeland competitor, Samsung, but makes some of the best TVs out there, especially if you’re on a budget. The 55-inch 55UM7300PUA gives you a lot of screen and smarts for the very reasonable asking price. Even better, if you’re not looking for a TV that large, you can grab this model in 40 and 43-inch variants as well.

Both HDR10 and HLG HDR formats are accounted for, but don’t expect much more than that. That said, if you’re a sucker (and stickler) for picture quality, you’re probably eyeing LG’s OLED TVs, so move along. You’ll also get access to LG’s WebOS smart TV software, with it’s Wii-like magic remote, which is easy to use and includes a ton of ways to get your favorite streaming services to your screen.

Samsung UN55RU7100FXZA

As mentioned above, Samsung tends to pull the rug from under LG, and for the most part, it’s warranted. That said, either brand a solid bet when you’re looking at TVs at this price point. The UN55RU7100FXZA is a great choice, and offers up the standard affair of features you’d expect to find in a TV of this sort. Best of all, if you can stand to shave off a couple of inches of screen, there are 50 and 43-inch versions available for even cheaper.

TCL 55S517

TCL is known for building budget TVs, and it’s damn good at it. It’s almost surprising how low it offers its TVs that have comparable specs to its competition. The 2018 55S517 is every bit capable and compelling of a buy than some of the 2019 models on this list, especially since this particular TV ships with Dolby Vision HDR — something that the aforementioned LG and Samsung TVs lack. Factor in that it’s cheaper than both and ships with the love it or hate, yet insanely popular Roku TV OS, and TCL is a brand you best have on your list if you’re in the market for a cheap smart TV.

Sony KD43X750F

While this Sony TV provides the least value for its size, it’s still a fantastic package. The 43-inch 4K Android TV combines the best of Sony that includes its 4K X-Reality PRO engine and Dynamic Contrast Enhancer. Just like the others, you’re going to get a host of smart features, including a voice assistant (Google Assistant comes included with Android TV, but you also have the option to use Amazon’s Alexa).

While you’re getting less screen for the price, Sony’s TV experience is unique and worth your consideration if you’re looking for something smaller than a 50-55 inch set.