Can you buy a good TV for less than $1,000? Yes, you can, and they can be very good indeed, with enhanced picture quality and plenty of useful features. There are plenty of brands to consider including TCL, Roku, Samsung, Hisense and LG. The main technology at this level is LCD (also known as LED or QLED) but there are a couple of OLED TVs available too. If you want to stream TV and movies, then there are a number of smart TV systems to consider, but Samsung's Tizen, Roku and Google TV are the main ones. Based on my side-by-side testing, here are the best TVs available for less than $1,000 rated in terms of picture quality and value-for-money.
Our Picks
The TCL QM6K is the first sub-$1,000 TV I reviewed in 2025 and it's quite the performer. It has a really cinematic picture and with some of the best low-level shadow detail I've seen on anything but an OLED. The TCL has a great smart TV system in Google TV, with voice search onboard, and will also integrate with Nest cameras and smart speakers. The only downside is that the screen could be brighter but unless you watch TV in a room with all windows, you won't see any difference in normal use.
Pros
- Excellent picture quality
- Deep black levels
- Affordable
Cons
- Brightness and color saturation could be better
If you want a TV that has Roku on board then the best model you can get currently is the Roku Pro Series. Yes, you can add a Roku Streaming Stick 4K to any television but that's not as elegant or easy-to-use as having the OS integrated. This Roku may not have the best picture quality of the TVs here but its streaming convenience and excellent gaming capabilities help make up for it.
Pros
- Great interface
- Thoughtful usability features
- Low input lag for gaming
Cons
- Not the best value
- Competitors offer a punchier picture
The TCL QM851 may be a 2024 model but it regularly appears on sale for less than $1,000. It has even better picture quality than the QM6 above -- with excellent black levels, high brightness and eye-popping colors. While the stock on the QM851 will run out eventually, if you're choosing between the two TCL TVs here, get this one.
Pros
- Relatively affordable
- Excellent overall image quality
- Best-in-class brightness and contrast
- Capable Google TV system
Cons
- Not as accurate as some competitors
- Available only in 65-inch size and larger
TV DEALS OF THE WEEK
- $178 (save $70)
- $938 (save 1,062)
- $178 (save $70)
- $848 (save $152)
- $428 (save $20)
Read more: The Best TVs of 2025
Pros
- Excellent picture quality
- Deep black levels
- Affordable
Cons
- Brightness and color saturation could be better
The TCL QM6K is the first sub-$1,000 TV I reviewed in 2025 and it's quite the performer. It has a really cinematic picture and with some of the best low-level shadow detail I've seen on anything but an OLED. The TCL has a great smart TV system in Google TV, with voice search onboard, and will also integrate with Nest cameras and smart speakers. The only downside is that the screen could be brighter but unless you watch TV in a room with all windows, you won't see any difference in normal use.
Pros
- Great interface
- Thoughtful usability features
- Low input lag for gaming
Cons
- Not the best value
- Competitors offer a punchier picture
If you want a TV that has Roku on board then the best model you can get currently is the Roku Pro Series. Yes, you can add a Roku Streaming Stick 4K to any television but that's not as elegant or easy-to-use as having the OS integrated. This Roku may not have the best picture quality of the TVs here but its streaming convenience and excellent gaming capabilities help make up for it.
Pros
- Relatively affordable
- Excellent overall image quality
- Best-in-class brightness and contrast
- Capable Google TV system
Cons
- Not as accurate as some competitors
- Available only in 65-inch size and larger
The TCL QM851 may be a 2024 model but it regularly appears on sale for less than $1,000. It has even better picture quality than the QM6 above -- with excellent black levels, high brightness and eye-popping colors. While the stock on the QM851 will run out eventually, if you're choosing between the two TCL TVs here, get this one.
Pros
- Excellent black levels
- Minimal reflections
- Great for gaming
Cons
- Muted colors out of the box
- Not the easiest to use
The winner of CNET's best budget TV, the Samsung DU7200 delivers a really good picture for an affordable price. The black levels and shadow detail are excellent for the money, and while my test unit looked a little desaturated out of the box, that was easily fixed by adjusting the Color control. The TV has onboard streaming and the sound quality isn't too bad either. If you're looking for a bedroom unit or a gaming TV then the Samsung DU7200 is the model I would choose.
Factors to consider when choosing a TV for less than $1,000
The Roku Pro comes with a Voice Remote
As a step up from budget TVs, the models you find at this level add some of the features that make more expensive TVs so appealing. That said, there are still a few things that you'll want to consider when looking at a budget TV.
Price: TVs range in price from $100 to more than $2,000. Smaller screens are cheaper, well-known brands are more expensive and spending more money can also get you better image quality. Most mid-level TVs have a good enough picture for most people but TVs last a long time, so it might be worth spending more to get a better picture. It's also best to shop for a TV in the fall, when the prices for new TVs are lower.
Screen size: Bigger is better in our book. We recommend a size of at least 43 inches for a bedroom TV and at least 55 inches for a living room or main TV -- and 65 inches or larger is best. More than any other "feature," stepping up in TV screen size is the best use of your money. One of the most common post-TV-purchase complaints we've heard is from people who didn't go big enough. And we almost never hear people complain that their TV is too large.
Capability: Among midrange models, look for features such as full-array local dimming, mini-LED and 120Hz refresh rate, which (unlike some other extras) do help improve the picture in our experience. If you can find one, a TV with OLED technology is your best bet.
