10 Best TVs  Under $500 To Buy 

To kick off this list, we begin with the Samsung UN40J6200. This is a 1080p panel with an LED backlight, and it has a diagonal of 40”. This is excellent for smaller areas, where you can’t really fit a 65” TV. At this resolution, 1080p is sufficient and looks pretty good. The TV with a stand has dimensions of 36.5” x 23.9” x 9”. As far as specs go, you will get two HDMI inputs, and two USB ports on the device, and there’s a Motion Rate of 120. The J6200 also has a Wide Color Enhancer feature, which gives much richer colors, even if the content is older, non-HD. There is Samsung’s SmartTV software, which gives you access to content and apps, and you can enjoy content from plenty of sources. There’s also the Samsung Apps store, where you can get new streaming, as well as social media services. For connectivity, there’s integrated Wi-Fi, and even a browser that lets you surf the Internet from the comfort of your own couch. Two Dolby MS10 10W speakers take care of the sound, and they should provide a decent listening experience.

Next on the list is VIZIO’s E40-C2. Like the Samsung before, this is another older model that you can still get, which means that it offers quite a lot of functionality, and the price is lower than it was on release. You get what is standard today, a 1080p LED panel with a diagonal of 40”, which is completely sufficient for a decent viewing experience. The TV, with the stands, has dimensions of 36.1” x 23.4” x 2.6”. There are two HDMI inputs, but only a single USB port, which might be a problem for some. The refresh rate is 120Hz. The VIZIO features 16 Active LED Zones, which result in much blacker blacks, as well as brighter brights. This is also a Smart TV, and VIZIO’s software is very well made. There’s integrated Wi-Fi for downloading apps and streaming media, and there are plenty of apps for that. Within the smart software you get a full-screen app launcher, which makes organizing and finding everything very easy. A potential downside is that the TV does have decent speakers, but there is no 3.5mm port for connecting your own headphones, which may prove to be a dealbreaker for some.

TCL is one of those brands that doesn’t charge much, but gives you a lot of bang for your buck. With the 50FS5600, you get a 50” 1080p panel, which is indeed noticeably larger than the previous offerings on the list. Once again, we have an older model, but it is well worth it as a competitor to modern offerings. There is 120Hz effective refresh rate, and an edge-lit LED backlight. The TV’s dimensions are 44.6” x 27.1” x 1.9”, and you’ll notice that aside from the stand, it is actually super thin. As far as inputs go, you get 3 HDMI, 1 MHL and a single USB input. There is a 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio which ensures a pleasant viewing experience, and TCL True Color Technology for enhanced contrast and color. A potential downside is that you get no smart functionality, which is somewhat of a standard these days. You do, however, get multiple front firing speakers, which give a very wide range of sound. On the back, you will also find a 3.5mm headphone jack, which lets you watch your media content without disturbing anyone else. The design is excellent too, as there are very small bezels which fit a big screen into less space.

Even though this is a fairly old model, older than most offerings on the list, it is still pretty competitive and comes with quite a few features. There is a 46” 1080p panel, and there is a refresh rate of 120Hz. The Super Clear Panel gives you great colors and you will definitely enjoy your viewing experience. Dimensions are 44.5” x 30.5” x 11”, which, as you notice, results in some pretty disappointing bezels. This is one of the downsides of the TV. There is a 4ms response time, and you get plenty of connectivity to create a true media center. There are four HDMI inputs, which should be more than enough, and they support HDMI 1.3. The built-in Ethernet port lets you use InfoLink to get free RSS feeds, and there is a side-mounted USB port as well. The Transparent and Opaque Color bezel with infused color adds up to the sleek appearance of the TV, and there is a 178-degree viewing angle, which is enough for anyone. The speakers are hidden, and they have SRS TruSurround XT audio for a great listening experience.

The first 4K competitor on our list, the UN40JU6500 gives an incredibly sharp image due to the sheer number of pixels which you’ll find in the 40” panel. The 120Hz effective refresh rate is great, and everything is smooth, and there’s LED backlight as well. The dimensions are 36.1” x 22.9” x 9.5”. You get four HDMI inputs, as well as three USB ports, which is undoubtedly more functionality than you’d need. That 4K panel gives you a very lifelike image, and exceptional details are present everywhere. It is like you’ve crammed four Full HD panels in the same space, and it is excellent. The Smart functionality gives you a single place for all your media consumption, and you can connect it to the internet to download even more apps and social media services. The PurColor technology gives accurate and vibrant colors, and the ultra-clear panel will minimize glare. The TV also has a trick up its sleeve – any content that isn’t native 4K will get upscaled to near 4K clarity, which gives a much better picture. The quad-core processor can run all of this with ease, and you won’t notice it twitching.

With an effective refresh rate of 120Hz and a 40” 1080p panel, this is another worthy competitor. The design is great, and the TV’s dimensions are 36.5” x 22.9” x 6.6”. The edge-lit LED backlight ensures that you get rich colors, enhanced dark-scene details and outstanding contrast, which all result in a pleasant viewing experience. Sony’s Clear Resolution Enhancer picture engine reduces picture noise for crisper images, as well as greater on-screen depth. There is built-in Wi-Fi, so you can stream videos from popular services such as Amazon Video, YouTube, Netflix etc., which only enhances your media consumption experience. As far as ports go, there are plenty. First of all, there are two HDMI ports, as well as two USB ports. You also get a headphone output, so you can enjoy your media without disturbing everyone in the room. The viewing angles are great, and you will be incredibly happy should you choose to buy it.

A larger panel than the competitors, yet still 1080p. At this panel size, some people would rather pay a little extra for 4K, but with the UN50H5203 you might not have to. There is a Clear Motion Rate of 120 for a very smooth viewing experience, and the edge-lit LED backlight ensures great colors. The TV has dimensions of 44.8'' x 28.5'' x 9.8'', including the stand, and you’ll be able to fit it in plenty of places. As far as inputs go, you have two HDMI inputs, as well as two USB ports, which should be sufficient. Smart functionality works as expected, as services such as YouTube, Pandora, Amazon and Netflix all connect and configure easily and quickly, and work as you’d expect them. Built-in Wi-Fi is also easy to configure, and works flawlessly. For most functions, you can also connect a keyboard and mouse instead of using the remote. You get excellent picture quality, and the speakers are good as well. All in all, you get a pretty decent package for a competitive price, and all from a manufacturer that many know and trust.

One more 4K offering on the list. The VIZIO M43-C1 has an effective refresh rate of 120Hz and an incredible LED backlight array with 28 active LED zones. The TV’s dimensions are 37.9” x 24.0” x 8.3” with the included stand. Even though you might not be used to it, 4K Ultra HD is here for budget TVs such as this one, and it is incredible. This model by VIZIO is a no-nonsense 4K TV with plenty of functionality, and powerful performance. To put things into perspective, you will find 8.3 million pixels on that screen, which are a lot, by anyone’s standards. As far as the smart functionality goes, there’s plenty of it. You get a quicker and smarter revamped user interface, which ensures that every app or service you want to access is within reach, without you having to go through complicated menus. The expanded apps library gives you every app you might need, and the full-screen app launcher makes organization a piece of cake. There is also built-in Wi-Fi which is very fast and gives you an effortless internet connection.

LG is a brand that has constantly been at the top of the game when we’re discussing TVs. With the 55LB5900 they give you plenty of functionality and incredible quality, synonymous to their name, for a great price. The 55” panel is pretty big, and sufficient for a moderately sized living room or large bedroom. The 1080p resolution is the current standard, and you get a pretty clear image. The TV has LED backlighting which ensures detailed colors and great contrast. The native panel refresh rate is 120Hz, and you get a buttery smooth image without any blur. The TV has a 400x400 wall mount, which is great if you don’t want it taking up space on a table. With this TV, you get incredibly deep blacks, and the viewing angles are also great. The audio is actually good, which is a rarity considering most integrated speakers are either down, or worse, back firing, and offer tinny sound. You get two HDMI ports, which should be enough for most. There is also a single USB 2.0 port.

To finish up this review, this is a truly budget offering for people who don’t ask for much, and/or are limited with space. The 32S305 has a 32”, 720p panel, which some might feel is not sharp enough, but at 32”, 720 is actually decent. The dimensions are 28.9” x 19.2” x 7.2”, which means that this TV is great if you don’t really have room for a giant, 65” TV. The direct-lit LED ensures that picture quality is on point, and 60Hz refresh rate ensures minimal blur with fast moving action scenes. There are 3 HDMI inputs, one of which has ARC, and a single USB port, as well as a headphone jack for those times when you want to enjoy content by yourself. There is dual-band Wi-Fi, which is excellent for the included smart functionality. While we’re at it, there is Roku TV built-in, with a simple and intuitive interface, so you can find your way around it with minimal hassle. You no longer have to go through complicated menus to find everything.