Best budget TV 2022

On the surface, TCL’s Roku-powered TV is essentially the same as Hisense’s version but the RP620K pips it with slightly better brightness and support for Dolby Vision – the HDR standard best for lower brightness panels.

Upscaling from HD could be better but there’s lots to like here aside from the price. The image is crisp and vibrant from a UHD source and there’s decent sound quality, too.

Low input lag makes it good for consoles but it’s the Roku platform with its user-friendly interface and almost endless streaming options that is the star of the show here.

Many of The Frame options are out of budget territory but if you opt for the 32in Full HD model, it’s a very good value purchase.

Of course, you’ll need to be ok with its compact size and lower resolution but the size means it’s still crisp and vibrant with Samsung’s QLED technology. It’s perfect for kitchens, playrooms and bedrooms.

There’s no Dolby Vision and the speakers are nothing to write home about but there are plenty of streaming options via the Tizen OS, the Ambient Mode can display artwork when the TV is not in use and the bezel is customisable with different colours and materials.

The Xiaomi F2 does everything you might expect given the very affordable price. It combines the content-rich Fire TV portal with a generally acceptable LED LCD budget panel, and exhibits cookie-cutter dress sense – so looks fine but nothing special.
 
Consequently, it’s best thought of as a second set for a bedroom or kitchen space, or for non-critical viewing.  Images look sharp with native 4K sources but not so much for upscaled HD, and it sounds clear enough for a budget-friendly purchase.  
 
Good value overall then, but gamers should take their consoles elsewhere.

It’s not going to win any beauty competitions and it offers a basic plastic build but the Toshiba has a lot to offer and very reasonable prices.

Much like the U29, it provides a way of getting a large size – up to 65in – without breaking the bank and does it with decent picture quality on the whole thanks to brightness, Dolby Vision HDR and low input lag for gamers.

Upscaling to 4K is good too, and there’s a good range of streaming services and Alexa support to boot. Poor viewing angles and the lack of Disney+ could make you look elsewhere, though.

This is the best set we’ve seen from TCL to date, largely thanks to its inclusion of QLED tech for such an affordable price.

There are plenty of other good things going on, too, such as wide HDR support, the inclusion of Freeview Play and the excellent Android TV operating system. It’s pretty stylish to boot.

The C715K isn’t flawless though and the price means something had to give. In this case, it’s namely being limited to three HDMI ports and sluggish performance when using the interface.

There’s tough competition at this price point so rivals from the likes of Hisense and JVC can offer a more well-rounded experience.

It might be limited to 720p resolution, but the WK3D isn’t vying for a spot in the main living room. 

Instead, this telly is a great option for those looking for a screen in the kitchen, bedroom or somewhere like a kid’s playroom – albeit without built-in Disney+ support for the little ones. It’s extremely affordable and comes in sizes as 24in. 

Limited brightness means the inclusion of HDR is somewhat undermined but there’s a reasonable amount of streaming apps along with Freeview Play and the TV can even function as a Bluetooth speaker. 

As is so often the case with Hisense, the U7Q offers you the chance to own an excellent TV without breaking the bank, if you can still find one now it’s an older model.

Apart from simply getting a stylish set in large sizes for under £500, the U7Q has incredibly good HDR performance normally reserved for much higher-end TVs. Quantum Dot panel technology, Full Array Local Dimming, Ultra Smooth Motion and wide HDR standard support will leave you dazzled.

There’s good gaming performance too, even if it doesn’t support 120fps for next-gen consoles. Sound quality is mediocre but that’s to be expected and the combination of Freeview Play and Vidaa U4 OS gives you plenty to watch.