Budget TV Size Guide Under $500: Best TVs by Size in 2025 | Easy Compare

You don't need to spend $1,500 to get a great TV in 2025. The sub-$500 TV market has dramatically improved over the past three years — 4K resolution, HDR support, and smart TV platforms have all filtered down to budget price points. The challenge is knowing which size and model actually delivers value vs. which ones cut too many corners.

This guide breaks down the best TV options under $500 by screen size, with real recommendations and what to expect at each price point.

Budget TV Size vs. Price: What to Expect in 2025

Best 32-Inch TV Under $200

The 32" category is the easiest budget win. At this size, 1080p resolution is actually ideal (4K wouldn't offer a visible benefit at typical bedroom distances). The TCL 32S350G ($179 MSRP) is a reliable choice with Google TV, clean UI, and acceptable picture quality for a secondary room. Hisense's 32A4H is a strong alternative with Vidaa smart OS.

What to avoid: Off-brand 32" TVs under $120. They often have poor backlighting uniformity, slow smart TV software, and limited streaming app support. TCL and Hisense have dramatically better build quality and software even at entry prices.

Best 43-Inch TV Under $300

At 43", you enter 4K territory — and the difference from 1080p is noticeable at normal viewing distances of 5–7 feet. The TCL 43S450G consistently ranks as one of the best budget TVs period. It supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision, has Google TV built in, and performs well for casual gaming with low input lag.

The Hisense 43A6H is an alternative worth considering if TCL is out of stock. Both brands have excellent after-sales support in the US and regularly update their software.

43" is the sweet spot for bedrooms and small living rooms. If your viewing distance is 5–8 feet, 43" with 4K will look noticeably sharper than a 55" 1080p TV from the same era. Use easycompare.app to compare how 43" vs 55" looks at your exact viewing distance.

Best 55-Inch TV Under $400

The 55" category under $400 is where budget TVs shine brightest. The Hisense 55U6HF — a mini-LED budget panel — offers remarkable contrast and brightness for under $400 at sale prices. It's not OLED, but mini-LED backlighting gives it significantly better local dimming than standard LCD budget TVs.

The TCL 55S455 is a more mainstream alternative with solid HDR10 and a clean Google TV interface. For gaming, look for the 55" variant of TCL's 4-Series or 5-Series with HDMI 2.1 support — both handle 4K@60Hz for console gaming smoothly.

At 55", 4K resolution makes a clear difference compared to 1080p, especially at distances under 9 feet. This is the minimum recommended size for a main living room TV in most apartments and small homes.

Best 65-Inch TV Under $500

Getting a 65" TV under $500 is genuinely possible in 2025 — primarily from Hisense and TCL. The Hisense 65A6H typically retails between $400–$480 and offers solid 4K picture quality with HDR10 support. It's a good choice for large living rooms where picture quality matters less than pure screen size.

One trade-off at 65" under $500: local dimming is usually poor or absent. Black scenes will look gray, and HDR content won't be as dramatic as on a $700+ TV. If cinematic picture quality matters to you at 65", stretch the budget to $650–$800 for a Samsung or Hisense U8 series with quantum dot and better local dimming.

65" TVs require a minimum viewing distance of 8 feet for comfortable viewing. At 10–12 feet, 65" is the ideal living room size for most apartments and smaller homes. For precise size-to-distance recommendations, use our TV size comparison tool to visualize exactly how each size looks at your viewing distance.

What to Sacrifice at Budget Price Points

Budget TVs under $500 cut costs somewhere. Here's what you'll typically give up vs. a $700–$1,000 mid-range TV:

Peak brightness: Budget panels typically max out at 300–500 nits vs. 700–1,500 nits on mid-range. In bright rooms, colors look washed out.

Local dimming: Most budget TVs have none, or poor full-array dimming. Black scenes look grayish, especially visible in HDR content.

Refresh rate: Most budget TVs are native 60Hz (though marketed as "120Hz equivalent" via motion processing). True native 120Hz is rare under $400.

Build quality: Thinner bezels, more plastic, and less rigid stands are common at budget prices. Fine for a bedroom, less ideal for a heavy-use living room setup.

FAQ

Is a 65-inch TV really available for under $500?

Yes — especially from Hisense and TCL. The Hisense 65A6H regularly sells for $400–$480, and TCL's 65S455 hits similar price points. Picture quality won't match mid-range panels, but for casual TV watching and streaming, it's entirely serviceable.

Should I buy a 4K TV at 32 inches?

No — at 32", 4K provides no visible benefit over 1080p from typical viewing distances of 5–8 feet. You'd be paying more for pixels you can't see. Stick with 1080p at 32".

Which brand makes the best budget TVs in 2025?

TCL and Hisense dominate the budget TV market and consistently outperform Samsung and LG at equivalent price points under $500. Both brands have improved their smart TV software significantly — Google TV (TCL) and VIDAA (Hisense) are both smooth and well-supported in 2025.

What is the best TV size for a living room under $500?

For most living rooms with 8–12 feet of viewing distance, a 55" 4K TV under $400 is the sweet spot. You get a genuinely large picture with real 4K resolution at a manageable price. Only stretch to 65" if your viewing distance is 10 feet or more and you find a good sale price under $500.

Can budget TVs handle gaming?

Yes, for casual gaming. Modern TCL and Hisense budget TVs have input lag under 15ms in Game Mode, support HDMI 2.0 (some HDMI 2.1 on newer models), and handle 4K@60Hz fine. For competitive gaming or PS5/Xbox Series X at 120Hz, you'll want to spend $500–$700 for HDMI 2.1 and 120Hz support.