As a TV expert, I field my fair share of questions about the best TVs money can buy, but I get asked about cheap TVs from friends, family and readers more than anything else.
It makes sense: Not everyone is looking for high-end performance or fancy features they might not ever use.
With the summer winding down and the season of sales rapidly approaching, I thought I'd put together an up-to-the-minute, top-five list of my favorite TVs under $500. They're not peak performers, but they're much better than flimsy, bottom-of-the-barrel sets.
Quick List
- Samsung 55" Q7F QLED TV: was $527 now $447 at Amazon
- Panasonic 55” W95A Mini-LED TV: was $1,299 now $479 at Amazon
- TCL 55” QM6K Mini-LED TV: was $599 now $497 at Amazon
- Roku 65" Plus Series QLED TV: was $649 now $499 at Best Buy
- TCL 65" QM5K Mini-LED TV: was $899 now $499 at Best Buy
About the author
My name is Michael, and for over ten years I've been the person everyone in my immediate circle asks for advice when the time comes to upgrade their TV. I don't mind, though, because affordable TVs are often the hardest to shop for. There's a thin line between an low-cost, reliable TV and a cheap, undependable one — and I'm quite familiar with it.
Best TVs under $500
Samsung Q7F QLED TV
The Samsung Q7F is on deck for testing, so we can't speak to its performance metrics, but I've seen this TV in person and I'm confident that it's a reliable pick for folks shopping at or below $500.
The Q7F doesn't feature local dimming (or Mini-LEDs, for that matter), so if you can justify the extra $50, I still recommend the Panasonic W95A and the TCL QM6K over it due to their superior display technology.
Nevertheless, the Q7F is a quantum dot-enhanced Samsung TV, which should fit the needs of someone who's especially appreciative of the Samsung aesthetic.
Remember: No Samsung TV supports Dolby Vision, so adjust your expectations accordingly.
Panasonic W95A Mini-LED TV
This is by far my favorite TV on this list. The Panasonic W95A impressed me when it debuted last year at $1,299. Now that it's below $500, I think it's one of the best-kept secrets on the market.
The W95A not only delivers exceptional brightness (which is critical if you get a lot of watching done during the day), it also features terrific backlight control. These two performance features put it well ahead of every other TV on this list.
I should mention that the W95A is a Fire TV, meaning it leverages Amazon's Fire TV operating system for all of the built-in streaming features. Fire TV is not my favorite platform, as its UI is relatively cluttered and navigation can be sluggish at times. Still, at this price point, the W95A's sensational performance makes it easy to look past these shortcomings.
TCL QM6K Mini-LED TV
If you're shopping at the 55-inch size point and the Panasonic W95A doesn't suit your taste, check out the TCL QM6K, another Mini-LED TV that's currently on sale for a hair below $500.
You can peruse our TCL QM6K review for a full report, but here's what I love about this TV: It's just bright enough for the average living room and it comes with Google TV baked right in.
For most people shopping in this price range, Google TV is a great software suite to have in one's back pocket. It's easy to use and offers top-tier app support. If the inclusion of Fire TV scared you away from the Panasonic W95A, the 55-inch QM6K might be a better choice.
Roku Plus Series QLED TV
Roku TVs tend to be laser-focused at the type of TV-shopper who just wants a dependable, easy-to-use smart TV, and the 65-inch Roku Plus Series is just that.
Why do I love the Roku experience so much? There are three reasons: Its app support is among the best you'll find, there are minimal ads across the user interface and, as mentioned, it's incredibly easy to use.
From a performance standpoint, this TV isn't as impressive as the previous two, but you are getting quantum dot-color for your troubles. The Roku Plus Series' superb software is the real selling point.
TCL QM5K Mini-LED TV
If you passed on the aforementioned, 55-inch TCL QM6K because you're looking for a 65-inch model, why not go for the step-down QM5K?
Full disclosure: We haven't tested the QM5K yet, but given its place in TCL's 2025 TV lineup and some of its specs, I'm confident that this set is worth a look.
Like the QM6K, the QM5K arrives with Google TV. It also features Mini-LED backlighting (though it probably doesn't wring as much out of this feature as the higher-end QM6K). Still, it's a 65-inch TV for under $500, so it's worth checking out.
More from Tom's Guide
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
