Make Big Change

TVs don’t always have to cost an arm and a leg. Sure, some of the best models that money can buy are top-dollar offerings from the likes of Samsung and LG, but competitive brands like Hisense, TCL, and even titans like Samsung all make TVs that offer rock-solid picture, performance, and features, and all for under $1,000.

One great pick is the 55-inch Hisense U8H. With its unbelievable brightness levels and rich colors, fast-motion capabilities, Google TV interface, and onboard support for both Google Assistant and Alexa, the Hisense U8H is the best TV for under $1,000.

And as the holidays ramp up, the U8H is going to be a perfect choice for most people, but it’s not the only TV that provides quality at an affordable price. If you’re looking to save even more, take a look at our picks for the best 4K TV deals and the best 4K TVs under $500.

55-inch Hisense U8H

The best TV for under $1,000

Why you should buy this: If you’re looking for a powerful mini-LED TV that delivers incredible brightness at an affordable cost, the Hisense U8H is for you.

Who it’s for: TV watchers that get a lot of viewing hours in when the sun is still out.

Why we picked the Hisense 55-inch U8H:

Hisense continues to top the charts when it comes to picture quality, overall performance, and other must-have TV features, and the U8H may be the very best TV Hisense has ever made, especially when it comes to the brightness factor. In fact, we’d be willing to pit the U8H against some of the brightest Samsung QLEDs currently on the market.

Building upon the specs of last year’s phenomenal U8G series, Hisense decided to hang onto several of the same core picture technologies, with QLED lighting and quantum dot coloring chief among the returning players. But in terms of nit output (measurable TV brightness), Hisense topped itself, seeing as the U8H peaked at just over 2,000 nits in our testing of the TV. And while this was a peak HDR reading, that says plenty about the U8H’s lighting power, with LED brightness figuring into the TV’s overall color and contrast capabilities, too.

In terms of sound quality, the U8H is also quite the rare gem, incorporating a full-on subwoofer into the TV’s chassis, in addition to two traditional TV speakers. No, you’re not going to get the pulse-pounding rumble of a dedicated woofer, but that extra onboard low-end may prevent you from having to invest in a soundbar, and it certainly adds to the sound-staging of the U8H’s Dolby Atmos capabilities.

Additionally, the U8H is optimized for next-gen gaming. Game Mode Pro automatically kicks in when an HDMI 2.1 input detects a system like the Playstation 5 or Xbox Series X, helping to cut down on screen tearing, frame rate, and other gaming essentials.

The TV isn’t without its small list of flaws, though. Off-angle viewing tends to cut into overall picture quality, making some colors a bit washed-out, and the out-of-the-box picture isn’t exactly ideal (we had to tweak a few settings as soon as we set the TV up). But once you get past these minor detriments, the Hisense U8H becomes a clear winner for the best TV you can currently buy for under $1,000. And while the 65-inch model tends to go for just over $1,000, you’ll be able to find it for a bit less from time to time. Check out our video review of the TV with the excellent Caleb Denison.

65-inch Hisense U8G

The runner up

Why you should buy this: You’re looking for an amazing TV from a reliable brand that often costs less than $1,000.

Who it’s for: Movie-lovers, streaming app devotees, sports fanatics, and elevated gamers.

Why we picked the 65-inch Hisense U8G:

Hisense has become an increasingly popular name in the TV marketplace, offering up some amazing sets for rock-solid prices. The 65-inch U8G delivers one of the best pictures we’ve seen yet from the company, and it’s built for nearly any kind of content you can throw at it. And while this is a 2021 model, very recently dethroned by Hisense’s U8H, we still think the U8G is worth shining some light on.

Coming in at 1,500 nits, the brightness levels of the U8G are simply jaw-dropping. Normally, QLED TVs can get a little oversaturated when brightness levels get pushed, but the U8G’s 360 zones of articulate local dimming (compared to the 90 zones of the U7G) and quantum dot backbone makes for a picture that looks powerfully luminous and colorful, regardless of what content you’re watching and in what room of your home.

And thanks to the native 120Hz refresh rate, Game Made Pro, VRR support, and HDMI 2.1 on two of the TV’s four inputs, this is also one of the best sets you’re going to find for any and all next-gen gaming.

In terms of smart TV features, Hisense comes loaded with the Android TV platform, with support for Chromecast casting, as well as Google Assistant and Alexa compatibility. Whatever your streaming needs, you’re sure to have them satisfied with the U8G.

While it’s not too different from the U7G (our next pick), the Hisense 65-inch U8G comes out on top in terms of picture tech, processing power, and competitive pricing.

65-inch Hisense U7G

Another solid Hisense TV

Why you should buy this: You’re looking for a premium picture, unbeatable motion, and a future-proofed set for the gaming hardware of today and tomorrow.

Who it’s for: Any TV watcher, from casual evening viewers to gaming connoisseurs.

Why we picked the 65-inch Hisense U7G:

Picture-wise, Hisense has loaded the U7G with as much image tech as possible, including exclusive ULED technologies, and a suite of resolution-boosters that work with the set’s 4K panel to upscale colors, contrast, brightness, and motion. Quantum dots and accurate local dimming are some of the staples of a Hisense TV and the U7G is no exception. Be prepared for bold colors like you’ve never seen before — at least for this price.

One of the major considerations of any large-TV purchase is gaming, and rest assured, Hisense has got that covered, too. Game Mode Pro is a built-in picture preset that channels the U7G’s high-speed HDMI inputs to deliver top-notch motion, less input lag, screen jitter, and other kinds of gaming-centric distortions. Simply put, your PS5 or Xbox experience can’t get much better.

Add in Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos support, an intuitive Android TV smart interface for all your streaming needs, and Google Assistant, and it becomes clear why the 65-inch Hisense U7G is only second to the brand’s excellent U8G (our top pick).

65-inch Vizio MQX Series

The best for HDR performance

Why you should buy this: You want a 65-inch TV that delivers big when it comes to HDR performance.

Who it’s for: Longtime fans of the Vizio picture, and anyone looking for an LED with powerful lighting capabilities that shines brightest during HDR scenes.

Why we picked the Vizio 65-inch MQX Series:

When you dig deep into the design and specifications of the 65-inch Vizio MQX, you may be surprised to find out that the impressive TV actually doesn’t utilize next-gen tech like mini-LED lighting, and it doesn’t even offer as many local dimming zones as the rest of the competition, but that doesn’t stop Vizio from delivering an incredible picture.

The 65-inch Vizio MQX features bright and bold colors, minimal light blooming, fairly accurate contrast, and respectable black levels, too. The MQX also includes quantum dot technology for enhanced coloring, and uses a feature called Active Pixel Tuning for achieving near-perfect 4K upscaling when you need it most.

While it’s not the strongest set when it comes to motion capabilities and sound quality, where the MQX really shines is with HDR viewing. Capable of decoding popular HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10+, we were simply blown away by how arresting the image was when we took the MQX for our own test drive.

Brands like Hisense and TCL wrangle a bit more attention when it comes to budget TVs these days, but Vizio is still an awesome name when it comes to top-shelf picture and prices that are easier on the bank account.

55-inch TCL 6-Series

OLED-like picture for a great price

Why you should buy this: It’s as close as you can get to OLED picture quality for under $1,000.

Who it’s for: Anyone looking for the best possible picture quality and features for the lowest possible price.

Why we picked the 55-inch TCL 6-Series 4K TV (2020):

Previous 6-Series models were already so good, that they completely changed our perception of the TCL brand, elevating it from so-so budget territory to the status of a genuine competitor to brands such as LG, Samsung, and Sony.

This 6-Series solidifies that reputation, largely thanks to TCL’s pioneering efforts with Mini-LED backlighting. It effectively swapped hundreds of large LED bulbs for many thousands of smaller LEDs, which gives the 6-Series the ability to control local dimming at granularity we’ve only seen once before (in TCL’s own 8-Series). To say that it improves picture quality is an understatement. It brings QLED displays closer to OLED performance for black levels and contrast than they’ve ever been before.

There’s also plenty of format support to love: Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR10, and, of course, the excellent Roku OS running the show — they’re all here. (If you’re more of a Google TV OS person, you may want to check out the latest TCL 5- and 6-Series TVs, too) New for this model is a THX-certified gaming mode, AMD’s FreeSync variable refresh rate (VRR) technology, and auto game mode. Gaming at 120Hz is possible, but it caps at 1440p. Still, with the Mini-LED backlighting, shadow details are so good and the motion so smooth, you might not mind the lower resolution.

The Roku OS offers a ton of great features, from an intuitive interface to thousands of streaming apps. As such, it should come as no surprise to hear that it’s a one-stop-shop for live and on-demand content, providing an instant portal to the likes of Amazon Prime Video, HBO Go, Hulu, Sling TV, and Netflix, along with a wide array of lesser-known services, so you can stream to your heart’s content.

It’s compatible with both Alexa and Google Assistant should you wish to control the TV via one of these smart speakers, or you can simply use the remote’s built-in voice control. Just hit a button on the remote and you’ll be able to throw all sorts of vocal instructions its way, from commanding it to search a particular movie or show across all your preferred content providers to adjust the volume level.

Here’s a quick look at some of the commands the TCL 6-Series understands:

• “Find The Big Bang Theory.“
• “Switch over to HDMI 3.”
• “Play Designated Survivor on Netflix.”
• “Switch off after this episode of Friends.”

65-inch Sony X80K

The best value for size

Why you should buy this: You want a big TV that delivers a top-notch smart TV experience.

Who it’s for: Anyone looking for great picture quality, in a big size, for the most affordable price.

Why we picked the 65-inch Sony X80K Series:

The Sony X80K is available in several sizes, from as small as 43 inches, all the way up to 85 inches, so the 65-inch option seems to fit the “just right” dimensions that most folks can accommodate.

In terms of performance, the X80K is powered by Sony’s impressive X1 HDR processor, delivering a vibrant image that is packed with colors, excellent contrast, and a fair amount of brightness, too. In terms of HDR unpacking, the X80K supports Dolby Vision, leading to some of the most profound and colorful images for the price — although you won’t be getting the across-the-board HDR support of higher-priced sets.

For less than $1,000, you’re also getting one of the best smart TV platforms around — Google TV. Designed to curate and recommend content based on your typical viewing habits, Google TV is your one-stop-shop for all things Netflix, Hulu, and more, a bevy of apps that you’ll be able to control using both Google Assistant and Alexa.

Speaking of which: onboard voice assistant support means you’ll be able to raise and lower volume, switch inputs, and control your smart home gear, all without lifting a finger.

There’s even a dedicated Game mode that’s optimized to deliver the best-looking picture for PS5 gaming. And while the X80K only manages a 60Hz refresh rate across all inputs, don’t let that get in the way of all its other accolades.

55-inch LG QNED80

Xbox and PlayStation optimized

Why you should buy this: It has console-friendly features and great local dimming capabilities.

Who it’s for: Gamers who want the best results for under $1,000.

Why we picked the LG 55-inch QNED80 Series:

It’s not often you come across a TV that’s tailor-made for gamers, especially one for under $1,000, which makes the LG QNED80 Series quite the rare gem.

Right off the bat, the beating heart of the QNED80 is delivered full force by LG’s incredible a7 Gen 5 AI processor. In terms of 4K picture upscaling, color volume, and brightness, the a7 more than gets the job done, making for an all-around excellent picture (especially when you consider the price).

And in terms of gamer specifics, the QNED80 features two HDMI 2.1 inputs, FreeSync Premium, LG’s built-in Game Optimizer, and a native 120Hz refresh rate for lightning-fast response times. There’s even an integrated gaming dashboard that gives you an instant readout of vital picture specs like frame rate, latency levels, and more.

Running a smart home? With support for Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit, you’ll be able to control and manage a number of your devices using the QNED80, on top of using the voice profiles to soar through LG’s WebOS smart features.

65-inch Samsung AU8000

The best for 4K upscaling

Why you should buy this: Those who want to save without skipping on resolution upgrades.

Who it’s for: Those looking to buy into the Samsung lineup that don’t want to spend more than $1,000.

Why we picked the Samsung 65-inch AU-8000 Series:

Along with Sony and LG, Samsung continues to dominate amongst the biggest names in TVs. While a number of the brand’s sets are well over $1,000, the UN65AU8000 delivers a pretty impressive picture for under $700.

Image quality is one of the top laurels of the AU8000, with Samsung’s Dynamic Crystal Color processing delivering a rich and sharp picture that looks particularly great during dark scenes. Upscaling is another big win here, with the Crystal Processor 4K doing an exceptional job at up-converting standard HD content to as close to UHD levels as possible.

Running an upgraded version of Samsung’s 2020 Tizen OS, smart TV fans will find the best of the streaming basics on the AU8000, featuring apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, along with built-in support for popular voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Samsung’s Bixby.

Now let’s unpack some of the lesser points of this 2021 set.

For starters, this is technically considered a budget-tier Samsung TV, which means there are a few key features missing from the fold — notably, a lack of HDMI 2.1 inputs or Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) for the gamers of our readership.

And while overall colors, contrast, and upscaling score high, the VA panel design starts to suffer when it comes to off-center viewing.

It may not be Samsung’s most advertised triumph of 2021, but if you’re looking to buy into the brand without crossing the $1,000 threshold, the Samsung UN65AU8000 is a great place to start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Editors’ Recommendations