As someone who spends their days testing and reviewing everything from dirt-cheap TVs to the best TVs money can buy, there's one piece of shopping advice I routinely dole out to others: You don't have to spend an arm and a leg to buy a TV with impressive picture quality.
The landscape of budget-friendly 4K TVs is constantly shifting, but if you know how to separate the good from the bad, there are some seriously silly deals out there on TVs that are downright fun to watch.
That's where I come in. When I'm not tinkering with TVs, I'm keeping an eagle-eyed gaze at sale prices across the industry. Every TV on this list isn't just relatively affordable, they're among the best in their respective price ranges, too.
Quick List
- TCL 55" QM5K 4K Mini-LED TV: was $899 now $499 @ Best Buy
- TCL 55" QM7K 4K Mini-LED TV: was $697 now $617 @ Amazon
- LG 48" B5 4K OLED TV: was $1,299 now $749 @ Best Buy
- Roku 65” Pro Series 4K Mini-LED TV: $899 @ Amazon
- Hisense 65" U8QG 4K Mini-LED TV: was $1,498 now $1,081 @ Amazon
TCL QM5K
This entry-level Mini-LED TV is a Best Buy exclusive, and I'm kicking off this list with it because it's one of the most affordable ways to secure Mini-LED backlighting in 2025.
Why should you want Mini-LED backlighting? Well, this hardware offers better backlight control than LED TVs that don't have Mini-LEDs. If you want an impressive picture, this is a good place to start.
I've been recommending this TV to readers, friends and colleagues who don't necessarily need top-shelf performance and an extensive array of features, but who still want a picture that truly feels like an upgrade.
TCL QM7K
The QM7K gets much, much brighter than entry-level sets limited by standard-sized LEDs, and significantly brighter than the aforementioned QM5K. It's a great choice for folks who want a little extra oomph from a budget-friendly TV, so if you're concerned that the QM5K doesn't have enough juice, the QM7K might be for you.
I'd also be doing you a disservice if I didn't mention the fact that the QM7K offers more gaming features than most of those entry-level models, too, so if you're a gamer you stand to squeeze a bit more value out of this set.
If you want to learn more about TCL's mid-range Mini-LED TV for 2025, head over to our TCL QM7K review.
LG B5
The 48-inch LG B5 is the smallest TV on this list, but if you're in the market for a 42- to 50-inch TV that looks downright incredible, this is your best bet right now.
As LG's most recent entry-level OLED, the B5 isn't as bright or as colorful as higher-end OLED TVs, but it nevertheless delivers the benefits we've come to expect from OLED display technology, like perfect black levels, wide viewing angles and surgical contrast control.
If you're planning on doing some gaming on your next TV, the B5 has you covered, too, as it offers a full slate of four HDMI 2.1 ports that all support 4K gaming at 120Hz.
Roku Pro Series Mini-LED TV
Just a few years ago, most Roku TVs paired their simple smart platform with simplistic display hardware. As the name implies, the Pro Series sets itself apart with swankier technology.
This TV blends quantum dot-color with Mini-LED backlighting, the latter of which gives it an edge when it comes to brightness and overall contrast.
But the TV's built-in Roku functionality is the star of the show. If you've ever used a Roku streaming device before, you probably understand the appeal of the platform. Its bold, clean interface is easy to navigate and its app support is among the best in the industry.
As the 2024 version of the Pro Series, this TV is seeing some steep discounts at the moment. It's a great fit for folks who want an impressive picture for movies and shows in addition to an easy-to-use smart platform.
Hisense U8QG
You can read all about it in our Hisense U8QG review, but the first thing you ought to know about this Mini-LED marvel is that it's one of the brightest TVs we've tested all year. It's also brilliantly colorful, so HDR content looks vibrant and appropriately cinematic
But my favorite aspect of this TV is its relatively low price. It can go toe to toe with some of the best Mini-LED TVs on shelves, but it comes in at a price that's much lower than most of those competitors.
For these reasons, the U8QG will have you feeling like you made out like a bandit. It's a terrific performer and it's overflowing with value.
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