We all love a good deal. But, some products we buy are going to be expensive regardless of how much research we put into searching for the best price. TVs are one of those items. When it comes time to buy a new TV, you can bet on spending a decent amount of money for a new set, especially if you want a nice TV that lasts for a while. To help alleviate your budget worries, we’re breaking down the best TVs under $1000. If your TV goes down, you’ll be glad you have a list of affordable replacement options.
For Americans, our TVs are almost like family members. Whether you’re streaming, binge-watching, gaming or your TV is running all day as background noise while you work, chances are your TV gets a lot of use. And, according to a recent study, Americans turn to TV for more than entertainment, we also watch our favorite shows and programs to relax. A recent poll of 2,000 adults reveals that 55 percent watch TV as a self-soothing technique for relieving anxiety or stress. That’s more than the number of respondents who relax by taking a bath (42%) or by doing yoga (33%).
If that’s not enough proof that we love our TV time, another recent study finds that watching certain shows can cure boredom and relieve depression symptoms. Specifically, watching nature programming actually reduces feelings of boredom and sadness. Sounds like you have a great reason to fire up your favorite nature show on the living room TV this evening.
So, which models should you buy on a budget? StudyFinds did the research, consulting 10 tech review and consumer sites in an effort to bring you a consensus list of the best TVs under $1,000. Our list comprises the five most frequently listed TVs from across these sites. Think the experts missed a great bargain? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!
The List: Best TVs Under $1000, According to Experts
1. Hisense U8H
The top spot on the list of the best TVs for under $1,000 belongs to the Hisense U8H. Hisense offers amazing TVs for an affordable price and this model is one of its best sellers. “The Hisense U8H Mini-LED TV is all about bringing high-end features to a mid-level price bracket. To wit, it’s packing a light sensor for Dolby Vision IQ that can raise or lower the brightness to match the ambient light in the room and a Mini-LED panel that has up to 528 local dimming zones. Its peak brightness exceeds any TV around that price, and its color reproduction is as good as some of this year’s best TVs,” writes Tom’s Guide.
Hisense is a Chinese-owned company that specializes in producing a range of electronics and appliances. “The Hisense U8H is a great value, delivering an excellent picture and an impressive collection of features at a good price. The U8H is a mini-LED TV with quantum dots, a hardware tandem typically found in higher-end TVs. Thanks to the U8H’s use of quantum dots, colors on this TV are bold and punchy. During testing, the U8H covered 97% of the HDR color gamut (DCI-P3). At home, you can expect both SDR and HDR content to look realistically colorful,” adds USA Today Reviewed.
You can’t go wrong with one of these Hisense TVs. Why? “High brightness isn’t the only thing about the U8H that impresses. It uses a Quantum Dot filter for enhanced color, and the 504 local dimming zones on the 65-inch model deliver deep and detailed blacks. Some backlight blooming – a typical artifact with LED-backlit TVs that feature local dimming – can be seen with challenging material, but that’s the exception rather than the norm,” furthers Tech Radar.
2. LG C3 OLED
LG is widely regarded as one of the top TV brands on the market and this affordable model offers everything you need for less than a grand. “Without a doubt, the LG C3 OLED is the best pick for folks who want the best performance under $1,000. You can find TVs with better sound, but there aren’t many out there that offer you this much for the same price. The LG OLED evo C3 is loaded with features that make it ideal for watching — or playing — anything your heart desires. The 42-inch model sport full arrays of HDMI 2.1 ports and uses LG’s evo OLED panel, which was first introduced on the LG G1 OLED TV,” writes Tom’s Guide.
Like most of the major TV brands, LG also manufactures a variety of other home appliances and electronics. But, as the experts explain, these LG C3 OLED TVs barely come in under the $1,000 mark. “We have a feeling we’re going to be removing this entry from our roundup over the next month or two, but only because we foresee the price going back up. For right now though, the LG 42-inch C3 OLED is available for less than $1,000, and we think it’s the absolute-best TV for bedrooms, offices, and smaller living rooms. that’s not to mention that LG’s EVO panels have come quite a long way over the last few years,” explains Digital Trends.
These LG C3 OLEDs are perfect for watching movies and gaming. LG also designed these TVs to support your audio system, so you’ll get a cinema-like experience. “The best 4k TV under $1,000 we’ve tested is the LG OLED42C3PUA. It’s a remarkable TV that delivers incredible picture quality, much better than any other TV in this price range. It looks remarkable in dark rooms thanks to its near-infinite contrast ratio. It has perfect black levels without any blooming around bright objects, making it an ideal choice for watching movies in a dark environment. It gets bright enough to fight glare even in moderately lit rooms, and the reflection handling is incredible. It’s a versatile TV with very good image processing, Dolby Vision HDR support with Dolby Vision gaming at 120Hz, and advanced DTS audio formats passthrough,” adds RTINGS.
3. Sony X90J
Sony is one of the top brands in home entertainment, so you know you’re getting a steal with this beautiful TV for under $1,000. “The Sony X90J Series is probably one of the best options in the 65-inch category. It’s a 2021 model, but it still packs in a bunch of advanced features that make it a strong contender in this round-up. The 4K TV has an LED display backed by Cognitive Process XR, which tweaks the picture quality, making visuals look more realistic. Plus, the display features full array backlighting, which should deliver better contrast and brightness levels compared to a regular LED TV. Much like some of the best Sony TVs, this model also has the XR Triluminos Pro, which should bring out natural colors in the content you’re watching,” explains PC Guide.
Sony designed these TVs with top-of-the-line picture quality and a load of features that will enhance your movie and gaming experience. Since Sony also produces the PlayStation, its TVs are designed to be compatible with your gaming console.
“Dolby Vision support helps with that, and really gets the most from the X90J can handle when it comes to brightness and local dimming. It’s equipped with two HDMI 2.1 ports for next-gen gaming, and is actually part of Sony’s ‘Perfect for PlayStation’ brand, which means it not only supports 4K 120Hz gaming, but also offers more precise HDR reproduction from the PS5 than other TVs. We also like the on-board Google TV software,” writes T3.
If you’re looking for an affordable TV for gaming, then you’ll love the Sony X90J series TVs. The 4K 120Hz display makes these TVs perfect for gaming consoles.
“The best thing about the Bravia X90J is it features two HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K 120Hz, which is great news for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X owners. The TV also offers variable refresh rate support and auto low-latency mode. These features will ensure you get a smooth picture while inputs respond quickly with little lag. To top things off, the X90J comes with Google TV, which we like as a smart TV interface, and offers easy access to services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and more,” adds Popular Science.
4. TCL 6 Series
TCL offers a wide range of affordable TVs and the 6 Series is one of this company’s top-selling products. “Complete with quantum dot film and mini-LED backlighting, the TCL 6-series is a solid 4K TV and the smallest, 55-inch model sits nicely under the $1000 mark. It features HDR support for Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG, and has a 120 Hz refresh rate. Gamers will also benefit from the dedicated THX certified Game Mode, which kills the video processing that often slows gaming performance,” raves T3.
This is another TV that gamers will absolutely adore and appreciate for years to come. The THX-certified Game Mode speeds up processing time and contributes to a better overall gaming experience.
“Whether you’re watching your favorite streaming show during the day or taking in a movie at night, the 6-Series’ picture quality is quite good—pairing deep black levels with bright highlights that reach as high as 1,300 nits during HDR content. Because it’s a quantum dot TV, colors are also well-saturated no matter the type of content,” adds USA Today Reviewed.
If you want a TCL 6-Series larger than 55 inches, you’ll probably pay a little more than $1,000. Still, depending on your needs and wishes, 55 inches is typically big enough to comfortably enjoy all of your favorite movies, shows, and video games.
“TCL’s 6-Series TVs are known for their combination of impressive picture quality and high value, and the latest version of the company’s flagship not just continues that tradition, but improves upon it. The new 6-Series arrived in late 2022, and it offers both movie fans and gamers on a budget a great big-screen option,” furthers Tech Radar.
5. Vizio M-Series
Rounding out the list of the best TVs for less than $1,000 is the Vizio M-Series. These affordable TVs are some of Vizio’s best-selling items and if you’re a gamer, you’ll love what this TV has to offer. “Vizio’s M-Series QX TVs are the most advanced sets the company has released so far in 2022. A clear focus for this series is gaming performance, with features like 4K/120Hz support, variable refresh rate (VRR), auto low latency mode (ALLM), and Freesync Premium Pro all onboard. Beyond gaming, M-Series QX TVs feature an LCD panel with a Quantum Dot layer for enhanced color and a full-array LED backlight with local dimming,” explains Tech Radar.
Most of the major TV manufacturers consider gaming when designing new TVs for the market. The popularity of gaming among people of all ages makes it necessary for TV manufacturers to incorporate these features into their designs. Vizio’s M-Series is just a great all-around TV that works for movies, gaming consoles, or any other media.
“Don’t sleep on Vizio’s offerings…Quantum dots and Vizio’s excellent local dimming make for one of the prettiest TVs in dark rooms. Also, it’s under $1000! And I liked gaming on this model, which has a 120-Hz refresh rate in 4K,” raves Wired.
Vizio uses Quantum dots for the display to create a clearer, brighter picture by reducing light losses and emitting purer colors. Vizio also equipped its M-Series TVs with Active Pixel Tuning that automatically adapts the screen for richer contrast and color accuracy.
“The Vizio M-Series Quantum X (MQX) is the company’s newest mid-range line of 4K TVs and they’re a good budget option as you can get a bigger model for less than Sony and TCL alternatives. These TVs have been upgraded with a QLED panel (similar to the latest Samsung, Sony and TCL TVs), although it lacks the same peak brightness and contrast of some TVs with mini-LED panels (like the TCL 6-Series). It supports multiple HDR technologies (including Dolby Vision and HDR10+) and is a good gaming TV thanks to its single HDMI 2.1 port and support for VRR,” explains Gear Patrol.
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Sources:
- Tom’s Guide
- Gear Patrol
- T3
- USA Today Reviewed
- Wired
- Tech Radar
- Popular Science
- RTINGS
- Digital Trends
- PC Guide
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This article may contain affiliate links in which we receive a commission if you make a purchase.