5 Best TVs Under $500 for May 2026

Between its vibrant colors, high-quality speakers and sharp image, this budget smart TV has impressive features and a sleek design.
It works well as a streaming device, and the speakers sound great at high or low volumes.

CONS

The operating system has quite a few ads when connected to Wi-Fi.

Insignia

55-inch Class F50 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV

Easy Setup

This is an inexpensive 4K smart TV with a bright, clear picture and minimal setup.

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PROS

This Insignia TV is ready to use out of the box and makes logging into your various streaming services simple.
Three HDMI ports and Bluetooth connectivity allow you to connect multiple game consoles or speakers at once.
Can be mounted to the wall if needed.
Includes an Alexa voice remote.

CONS

The build quality could be better.
Sound is underwhelming.

Hisense

43" E6 Cinema Series Hi-QLED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV

Best Connectivity

This is a feature-packed TV that, despite being under $500, has a brilliant display that brings movies and TV to life.

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PROS

Excellent connectivity options and Wi-Fi 6 compatibility mean this TV plays well with entertainment systems, soundbars and game consoles.
Game mode and variable refresh rate make this a good choice for immersive gaming.
Dynamic light sensing adjusts screen brightness to the surroundings.

CONS

The operating system menu is laggy.
The 60 hertz refresh rate is underwhelming.

TCL

Class S4 Smart TV

Trusted Brand

Despite the simple design, this is a great choice that offers decent sound and visual quality.

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PROS

It comes in 43- and 55-inch sizes, with several high-end visual technologies supported, including Dolby Vision and HDR10.
It also supports Dolby Atmos sound and has an automatically enabled game mode when it detects a console.

CONS

Some had issues getting it to stay connected to their Wi-Fi for streaming.

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How We Tested

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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First Reviewed

July 16, 2021

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