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The holiday season is behind us, and while you might think that TV discounts have dried up along with the needles on a Christmas tree, there are still plenty of savings to be had on some affordable sets that are actually worth buying.
If you’re looking to upgrade to a big screen ahead of the NFL postseason, I’ve got good news: Five of my favorite budget-friendly TVs are available in 75-inch options for under $1,000.
1. Samsung Q7F
Samsung's entry-level QLED TV for 2025 doesn't deliver the contrast and color brightness you'll find on some of the Mini-LED options listed below, but the 75-inch version is worth spotlighting for folks who are dead-set on shopping for an affordable, Samsung-branded TV.
The 75-inch Q7F comes with some essential streaming features and decent out-of-the-box performance (though I recommend that picture purists take a gander at some of the Mini-LED TVs on this list before committing to the Q7F).
I'm still in the process of reviewing the Q7F formally, but I can confirm that its accurate picture and basic, direct-LED display is a notch above what you'll find on bottom-of-the-barrel sets. That makes it worth a look if you're trying to save as much money as possible, and it's an especially noteworthy option for football fans shopping for a Samsung TV.
2. TCL QM5K
The TCL QM5K is one of the cheapest Mini-LED TVs that debuted in 2025, and it’s a great fit for football fans who want to save money but would rather not scrape the bottom of the barrel for an ultra-cheap TV that won't look good on game day.
Most cheap TVs at or around the QM5K's low price point don't come with smaller, brighter Mini-LEDs, opting instead for garden-variety LEDs. This is the biggest difference between the QM5K and the aforementioned Samsung Q7F.
It's worth highlighting that the QM5K features three HDMI inputs rather than the usual four, but thankfully, the inclusion of Google TV somewhat makes up for its missing port. Google TV is one of my preferred smart platforms due to its easy-to-navigate interface and it's huge library of downloadable apps.
3. TCL QM6K
If you want something brighter and more colorful than the 75-inch QM5K, consider its higher-end sibling, the TCL QM6K. Like the QM5K, the QM6K offers Mini-LED backlighting, but crucially, it also offers a punchier picture than the QM5K.
Its modest array of Mini-LEDs is why the QM6K delivers higher brightness and better overall contrast than TVs with more rudimentary display types (like the aforementioned Samsung Q7F). The added cost over the more-affordable QM5K nets you a brighter picture with better overall contrast. If you do most of your sports-watching during the day, I'd say that the bump in price is entirely worth it.
Right now, the 75-inch QM6K is just a hundred bucks more than the QM5K. That's a tantalizing proposition for savvy football fans looking to maximize their dollar.
4. Sony Bravia 2 II
Sony's most affordable QLED TV is pricier than most options in its class, but the 75-inch version is currently on sale for around $799. I recommend the Bravia 2 II for sports fans who seek a clean, accurate presentation, as Sony's excellent picture processing is this Bravia TV's best feature.
The compromise here is that the Bravia 2 II (which we're still in the process of reviewing) doesn't get as bright as some of the Mini-LED based options I've included in this list, particularly when compared with the soon-to-be-mentioned Hisense U65QF.
Nevertheless, Sony's superb engineering and thorough attention to detail make the 75-inch Bravia 2 II an interesting candidate for viewers who want a decent viewing experience once game day is over and movie night begins. It's an especially good choice for viewers who watch movies, shows and sports in a controlled, home theater-like environment, since it shines more with the lights dimmed.
5. Hisense U65QF
If you're looking for the brightest possible picture on a 75-inch TV for under $1,000, Hisense's latest entry-level Mini-LED TV ought to be close to the top of your list of options. Of the five TVs on this list, the Hisense U65QF is the one I'd recommend to football fans with brighter-than-average living spaces.
In our U65QF review, we noted that this TV nearly doubles the brightness you'll find on its direct competitors, including the QM6K. This is why the U65QF is a great choice for budget-conscious shoppers with sunny living rooms.
Just remember: This TV is built around Amazon's Fire TV smart platform, which isn't the best software suite on the market. Hopefully, you'll appreciate its Alexa integration more than we appreciated the software's clunky interface, but it's also worth noting that Amazon recently announced major upgrades to Fire TV OS in the coming months.
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