Best TVs Under $500 of 2026
The Hisense QD7 is Tom’s Guide’s best TV under $500, with accurate color and Dolby Vision at $437.99. Gamers should get the 55-inch Hisense U65QF for 4K at 144Hz.
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Quick answer
The Hisense QD7 is Tom’s Guide’s best TV under $500, with accurate color and Dolby Vision at $437.99. Gamers should get the 55-inch Hisense U65QF for 4K at 144Hz. Best overall: Hisense QD7 QLED TV, $437.99. Best for gaming: Hisense U65QF Mini-LED TV, $500. Cheapest: Vizio Mini LED Quantum TV, $248. Best Google TV: TCL QM6K QD-Mini LED TV, $548.
Last updated Prices checked Oct 2026
Key facts at a glance
| Pick | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Hisense QD7 QLED TV | most people | $437.99 (Tom’s Guide) |
| Best for gaming | Hisense U65QF Mini-LED TV | gaming | Under $500 (55-inch) |
| Cheapest | Vizio Mini LED Quantum TV | the lowest price | $248 (Wirecutter, 55-inch) |
| Best Google TV | TCL QM6K QD-Mini LED TV | Google TV fans | $548 (Wirecutter, 55-inch) |
This list draws on Tom’s Guide’s[1][2] best TVs under $500 (August 2026), Wirecutter’s[3] 4K TV guide and PCMag’s[4] cheap TV picks, with prices checked October 2026. Sale prices for cheap TVs change often, so check before you buy.
Which should you buy? Our quick picks
How do they compare?
| TV | Price seen | Refresh rate | Smart platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hisense QD7 (65-inch) | $437.99 (was $499.99) | 60Hz | Fire TV |
| Hisense U65QF (55-inch) | Under $500 ($550 for 65-inch) | 144Hz | Fire TV |
| Hisense U6SF Pro (55-inch) | About $500 (Tom’s Guide) | 120Hz (144Hz VRR) | Fire TV |
| Vizio Mini LED Quantum (55-inch) | $248 at Walmart | 60Hz | Vizio (ad-heavy) |
| TCL QM6K (55-inch) | $548 (Wirecutter) | 144Hz | Google TV |
| Roku Plus Series (65-inch) | $449.99 (PCMag) | 60Hz | Roku |
The picks in detail
1. Hisense QD7 QLED TV
Best for: most peopleTom’s Guide[1][2] says the QD7 is one of the best TVs at any price for what it costs: accurate quantum-dot color, local dimming, Dolby Vision and surprisingly good audio. It was $437.99 for 65 inches. It’s limited to 60Hz, has no HDMI 2.1, struggles in bright rooms and runs a sluggish Fire TV interface.
Price (Oct 2026): $437.99 (Tom’s Guide) Source
Pros
- Accurate color
- Dolby Vision
- Strong audio for the price
Cons
- 60Hz only
- Slow Fire TV interface
- Weak in bright rooms
2. Hisense U65QF Mini-LED TV
Best for: gamingTom’s Guide’s[1][2] best 55-inch TV under $500 has two HDMI 2.1 ports for 4K at 144Hz and high HDR brightness. The 65-inch is about $550. Fast action, blooming and viewing angles are weak spots.
Price (Oct 2026): Under $500 (55-inch) Source
Pros
- 4K 144Hz
- Bright HDR
Cons
- Some blooming
- Fire TV software
3. Hisense U6SF Pro TV
Best for: brightness on saleTom’s Guide’s[1][2] TV tester says the 55-inch U6SF Pro is what he’d buy for $500: mini-LED with 1,200–1,400 nits peak brightness and two HDMI 2.1 ports for 4K at 120Hz (144Hz with VRR). PCMag[4] names it the best cheap TV overall (Editors’ Choice) but lists the 65-inch at $699.99 and the 55-inch at $849.99, so you’ll need a sale to stay under $500.
Price (Oct 2026): About $500 on sale (55-inch) Source
Pros
- Very bright
- Two HDMI 2.1 ports
- PCMag Editors’ Choice
Cons
- Often above $500
- Fire TV software
4. Vizio Mini LED Quantum TV
Best for: the lowest priceWirecutter’s[3] budget pick was $248 for 55 inches at Walmart, with about 1,000 nits of brightness. Tom’s Guide[1][2] liked the picture but found the software so loaded with ads it was a headache, and Wirecutter notes you need a Walmart account. It’s 60Hz.
Price (Oct 2026): $248 (Wirecutter, 55-inch) Source
Pros
- Very cheap
- Bright for the price
Cons
- Ad-heavy software
- Requires a Walmart account
- 60Hz only
5. TCL QM6K QD-Mini LED TV
Best for: Google TV fansWirecutter[3] lists the 55-inch QM6K at $548, a little over budget, with 144Hz and Google TV. Watch for sales to bring it under $500.
Price (Oct 2026): $548 (Wirecutter, 55-inch) Source
Pros
- 144Hz
- Google TV
Cons
- Often a little over $500
6. Roku Plus Series TV
Best for: Roku fans at 65 inchesPCMag[4] lists the 65-inch Roku Plus Series at $449.99 among its cheap TV picks.
Price (Oct 2026): $449.99 (PCMag, 65-inch) Source
Pros
- 65 inches under $500
- Simple Roku software
Cons
- Not a gaming TV
Also considered
Samsung Q7F: Tom’s Guide[1][2] liked that it avoids Fire TV, but its picture didn’t keep up with the Hisense picks.
Amazon Ember 4-Series: An affordable Fire TV option Tom’s Guide also tested.
What you give up under $500
Expect 60Hz panels (except the U65QF, U6SF Pro and QM6K), weaker bright-room performance and ad-supported software. If you can spend more, see best 55-inch TVs and best 65-inch TVs.
Sound
Cheap TVs usually have thin sound; a budget pick from best soundbars helps a lot. For a 75-inch screen near this budget, see the Hisense QD7 in best 75-inch TVs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best TV under $500?
What is the best TV under $500 for gaming?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Oct 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
- Tom’s Guide: The best TVs under $500 (tomsguide.com)
- Tom’s Guide: What I’d buy for $500, $1,000 and $2,000 (tomsguide.com)
- Wirecutter: The best 4K TV (nytimes.com)
- PCMag: The best cheap TVs (pcmag.com)
Related
Best 55-Inch TVs of 2026
The LG C5 OLED is Tom’s Guide’s pick for most people, and it now costs much less than the newer C6. On a budget, the Hisense U65QF and U6SF Pro are bright mini-LED sets with 144Hz gaming support.
best ofBest 65-Inch TVs of 2026
The Samsung S95H is the best 65-inch OLED if you can pay for it. The LG C6 is the OLED value pick, and the Hisense U6SF Pro is the best budget 65-inch TV at about $700.
best ofBest 75-Inch TVs of 2026
The TCL QM8L is Tom’s Guide’s best 75-inch TV for most people. If you want OLED, the 77-inch LG C5 is TechRadar’s pick, and the Hisense QD7 gets you a 75-inch screen for only a little over $500.
best ofBest 4K TVs of 2026
The Samsung S90H is the best TV for most people who can spend about $1,400. On a budget, Vizio’s Mini LED Quantum starts around $250, and TCL and Hisense mini-LEDs are the midrange value picks.
best ofBest Soundbars of 2026
Wirecutter’s top soundbar is the Vizio Elevate 7.1.4 Pro at about $450. The TCL S55H is the best cheap soundbar at about $110, and Samsung’s Q990H is the surround-sound upgrade.