Key takeaways
- Cheapest pick worth buying: Amazon Fire TV 55-inch Omni QLED Series ($379 – $549).
- Last year's models are often the best value just before new ones launch in spring.
- Panel type matters most: OLED gives perfect blacks for dark rooms, while Mini LED is brighter for sunny living rooms.
In this article
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Cheap 4K TVs can be a smart buy or a false economy. We picked the lowest-priced models in the US that still earn a buy or consider verdict from us.
Prices are typical ranges, not live prices. The button on each pick opens the current price.
Budget picks at a glance
| Product | Verdict | Score | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Fire TV 55-inch Omni QLED Series | Consider | 7.4/10 | $379 – $549 |
| Hisense U8 65-inch Mini-LED TV | Buy | 8.2/10 | $800 – $1,200 |
| Hisense 65-Inch Class U8 Series Mini-LED (65U8QG) | Buy | 8.6/10 | $899 – $1,399 |
| TCL QM8 65-inch Mini-LED TV | Buy | 8.4/10 | $900 – $1,300 |
| TCL 65-Inch QM8K QD-Mini LED | Buy | 8.7/10 | $1,299 – $1,999 |
Budget picks in detail
Amazon Fire TV 55-inch Omni QLED Series
Budget Alexa homes · Verdict: Consider · Score: 7.4/10 · Typical price: $379 – $549
Why we like it: Hands-free Alexa and local dimming at a low price.
Pros: Low price for a QLED · Hands-free Alexa · Dolby Vision support
Cons: 60Hz panel · Fire TV interface pushes ads and Amazon content
Buy it if you want a cheap 55-inch QLED with hands-free Alexa and Fire TV built in.
Skip it if you game seriously or want strong HDR; it's limited to 60Hz.
Hisense U8 65-inch Mini-LED TV
Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.2/10 · Typical price: $800 – $1,200
Hisense U8 65-inch Mini-LED TV is one of the 4K TVs we would buy in the US. It scores 8.2/10 in our ratings and usually sells for $800 – $1,200.
Hisense 65-Inch Class U8 Series Mini-LED (65U8QG)
Value Mini-LED · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.6/10 · Typical price: $899 – $1,399
Why we like it: Bright Mini-LED for well under OLED prices.
Pros: Very bright for the money · Up to 165Hz for gaming · Dolby Vision and HDR10+ · Google TV
Cons: Some blooming in dark scenes · Built-in sound is basic
Buy it if you want a bright, sharp 65-inch TV with real local dimming at a mid-range price.
Skip it if you need the best motion handling or wide viewing angles for a big sectional.
TCL QM8 65-inch Mini-LED TV
Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.4/10 · Typical price: $900 – $1,300
For most people, TCL QM8 65-inch Mini-LED TV is worth its usual price of $900 – $1,300. Our score: 8.4/10.
TCL 65-Inch QM8K QD-Mini LED
Bright rooms · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.7/10 · Typical price: $1,299 – $1,999
Why we like it: Very high brightness for sunny living rooms.
Pros: Extremely bright HDR · Strong local dimming · Google TV built in · Dolby Vision and HDR10+
Cons: Some blooming around bright objects · Viewing angles narrower than OLED
Buy it if you watch a lot of daytime sports in a bright room and want punchy HDR for less than an OLED.
Skip it if you watch mostly in a dark room and want the deepest blacks.
How to save money
Last year's models are often the best value just before new ones launch in spring.
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.
Where not to cut corners
Panel type matters most: OLED gives perfect blacks for dark rooms, while Mini LED is brighter for sunny living rooms.
Common mistake: Judging picture quality in a bright showroom on vivid mode; it looks very different at home.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best cheap 4K TVs in the US?
The cheapest model we would still buy is Amazon Fire TV 55-inch Omni QLED Series, typically $379 – $549.
Are cheap 4K TVs worth it?
Last year's models are often the best value just before new ones launch in spring. Do not compromise on the basics, though. Panel type matters most: OLED gives perfect blacks for dark rooms, while Mini LED is brighter for sunny living rooms.
When are 4K TVs cheapest in the US?
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.