15 Best Smart TVs Under $300 2023 – Amazing Smart TV Deals

Best TVs under $300 can cover a wide variety of uses. Including basic 720p and 1080p TVs to advanced 4k TVs, there’s plenty for almost every usage.

Every year, TVs in this price range are getting better and better. If you’re not having the best TVs of perfect picture quality, budget TVs are an affordable solution for secondary viewing locations, even if you have minimal space and budget.

Best Smart TVs Under $300

Below you’ll find our choices for the best TVs under $300 available for buy. If your budget is a little more flexible, check out our picks for the best smart TVs.

  1. Best TV Under $300: TCL 55S525
  2. Top Budget TV with Improved Viewing Angles: LG 43UM7300PUA
  3. Best Value For Size TV Under $300: TCL 55S425
  4. Best Budget TV Under $300 for Gaming: TCL 40S325
  5. Best Cheap TV for Kitchen: SAMSUNG UN32N5300
  6. TV under $300 for Watching Sport: Sony KDL32W600D 32-Inch HD Smart TV
  7. Best 4K TV Under $300: Toshiba Fire TV
  8. Best Cheap TV: LG UM6900 TV

Top Picks Budget-Friendly TVs

1. Excellent Value Smart TV: TCL 55S525

TCL 55S525

The best TV under $300 that we’ve reviewed so far is the TCL 5 Series 55S525 2019. It’s a decent overall Screen, providing excellent value for its price thanks to its strong image quality and user-friendly applications.

It has perfect out-of-box color quality, and you won’t need to calibrate your TV if you don’t want to. It displays a wide range of colors that is essential for HDR content, but it doesn’t get really bright in HDR and doesn’t make the highlights pop.

As for most VA panel TVs, the contrast ratio is outstanding and the black uniformity is also fantastic, rendering this TV an excellent option for darkroom watching.

TCL 55S525
Source: youtube.com

Unfortunately, this comes at the expense of the viewing angles, which are poor, so you’re going to lose picture quality as you watch from the side. However, gamers should be pleased with the extremely low input lag and incredible responsive time, which will result in clear motion.

Unlike the other TCL TV, this one has built-in Roku as its operating system, which is easy to use and has a broad variety of applications available, and you’re going to be able to find what you need. It’s a decent pick for its size, making it the best TV under $300 that we’ve reviewed so far.

Pros
  • Deep, uniform blacks
  • Outstanding low input lag
Cons
  • Image degrades at an angle
  • PWM flicker at low brightness levels
Feature Specification
Display Size 55 inches
Resolution 4K Ultra HD (3840×2160)
Display Type LED
Refresh Rate 60Hz (Natural Motion 240)
HDR Support Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
Smart Platform Roku TV
Voice Assistant Works with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa
Connectivity Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth
HDMI Ports 4
USB Ports 1
Other Ports Optical, Composite, RF, 3.5mm headphone jack
Audio 2.0 Ch, 16W, Dolby Atmos
VESA Mount 200 x 200 mm
Stand Width 48.9 inches (1242mm)

 

2. Best IPS Screen Budget TV: LG 43UM7300PUA

LG 43UM7300PUA

If you have a wide room and you need a TV with improved viewing angles, take a look at the LG 43UM7300PUA. It may not have the same dark room efficiency as the TCL 5 Series / S525 2019, but it has excellent viewing angles due to its IPS screen and is ideal for use in bright rooms because it has fantastic reflective handling and good peak brightness to overcome glare.

Its color accuracy is reasonable and has an extremely low response time to hold motion blur to a minimum.

Unfortunately, the contrast ratio is mediocre, and blacks appear to look more like white when seen at the night, but that’s anticipated from most IPS TVs. And although the input lag is small enough for a sensitive gaming experience, it does not support any variable refresh rate technology.

If viewing angles aren’t an issue, the TCL has better overall performance; if you tend to watch from the side, then consider the LG.

Pros
  • Outstanding low input lag.
  • The image remains accurate when viewed at an angle.
Cons
  • Can’t produce deep, uniform blacks.
  • HDR doesn’t add much.
Feature Specification
Display Size 43 inches
Resolution 4K Ultra HD (3840×2160)
Display Type LED
Refresh Rate 60Hz (TruMotion 120)
HDR Support HDR10, HLG
Smart Platform webOS
Voice Assistant Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa compatible
Connectivity Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth
HDMI Ports 3
USB Ports 2
Other Ports Optical, Composite, RF, 3.5mm headphone jack
Audio 2.0 Ch, 20W, DTS-HD
VESA Mount 200 x 200 mm
Stand Width 31.3 inches (795mm)

3. Decent HDR Performance: TCL 55S425

TCL 55S425

With the best value of price, the TCL 4 Series 2019/55S425 is the best 4k TV under $300. This 55 inches 4k TV has the good image quality and is currently just under $300.

Thanks to the high native contrast ratio, this TV provides deep blacks in a dark room, but can’t get really bright and doesn’t have a wide range of colors to provide decent HDR performance.

The response time is quick, and the motion is crisp. This is a perfect TV for gaming or using as a Computer display, mostly due to the very small input lag that makes it feel very sensitive. Just like the TCL 5 Series / S525 2019, this TV runs an easy-to-use Roku smart TV interface with a large number of streaming channels.

Unfortunately, a room with large seating arrangements is not a successful idea, as the picture degrades easily at an angle. It’s best suited for a dark environment owing to low light rates. Overall, this 55-inch TV is the greatest price option for its scale under $300.

Pros
  • Very low input lag, great for games.
  • Great smart features.
Cons
  • Can’t get bright enough.
  • Image degrades when viewed at an angle.
Feature Specification
Display Size 55 inches
Resolution 4K Ultra HD (3840×2160)
Display Type LED
Refresh Rate 60Hz (120Hz CMI)
HDR Support HDR10, HLG
Smart Platform Roku TV
Voice Assistant Works with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa
Connectivity Wi-Fi, Ethernet
HDMI Ports 3
USB Ports 1
Other Ports Optical, Composite, RF, 3.5mm headphone jack
Audio 2.0 Ch, 16W, Dolby Digital Plus
VESA Mount 200 x 200 mm
Stand Width 38.2 inches (970mm)

4. Best for Wide Range of Inputs: TCL 40S325

TCL 40S325

The TCL 3 Series 2019/40S325 is the best budget TV under $300 we’ve checked so far. It’s a passable entry-level TV with a strong contrast ratio, decent response time, and an excellent low input lag, both of which make it ideal for gaming. The 32-inch standard is limited to a resolution of 720p (with the exception of the 32S327 variant), although the larger versions have a native resolution of 1080p.

This TV has a wide range of inputs, including three HDMI ports and a dedicated composite outlet.  It has great smart features with hundreds of streaming channels available. This makes it an ideal option for a backup viewing location because you don’t have to think about getting a separate streaming box.

Unfortunately, this TV is not very bright, and the picture degrades when presented at an angle, which reduces its flexibility a little. Overall, though, this is a great budget TV, and it’s one of the best 40-inch TVs under $300.

Pros
  • Very low input lag.
  • Excellent pre-calibration image accuracy.
Cons
  • No HDR support.
  • It cannot get bright.
Feature Specification
Display Size 55 inches
Resolution 4K Ultra HD (3840×2160)
Display Type LED
Refresh Rate 60Hz (120Hz CMI)
HDR Support HDR10, HLG
Smart Platform Roku TV
Voice Assistant Works with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa
Connectivity Wi-Fi, Ethernet
HDMI Ports 3
USB Ports 1
Other Ports Optical, Composite, RF, 3.5mm headphone jack
Audio 2.0 Ch, 16W, Dolby Digital Plus
VESA Mount 200 x 200 mm
Stand Width 38.2 inches (970mm)

 

5. Great Viewing Angles: SAMSUNG UN32N5300

SAMSUNG UN32N5300

If you want a smaller budget TV, the Samsung UN32N5300 is a decent option. It doesn’t have the same color quality as the TCL 3 Series 2019, but it’s only available in 32-inch size and since it uses an IPS screen, the viewing angles are great.

This is a good choice if you choose to place this TV in a kitchen or a room where you’re going to be moving around a lot because you won’t lose any picture quality when seen from the side.

It’s a 1080p screen, which is only perfect for playing content from a cable box, and while it supports HDR, it doesn’t get really bright and can’t show a wide variety of colors. It uses the Tizen Smart OS that offers a ton of a smart OS.

If you’re looking for the best budget TV under $300, the TCL is a decent choice, but if you want something smaller with better viewing angles, look into the Samsung.

Pros
  • The image remains accurate when viewed at an angle
  • The screen has good uniformity
Cons
  • Poor HDR performance
  • Input lag is higher than most modern TVs
  • Poor dark scene performance
Feature Specification
Display Size 32 inches
Resolution Full HD (1920×1080)
Display Type LED
Refresh Rate 60Hz (Motion Rate 60)
HDR Support Not Supported
Smart Platform Samsung Smart TV
Voice Assistant Not Supported
Connectivity Wi-Fi, Ethernet
HDMI Ports 2
USB Ports 1
Other Ports Optical, Component, RF, 3.5mm headphone jack
Audio 2.0 Ch, 10W, Dolby Digital Plus
VESA Mount 100 x 100 mm
Stand Width 28.9 inches (733mm)

6. Sony KDL32W600D 32-Inch HD Smart TV

Sony KDL32W600D

You don’t have to track down TVs for sale to get this Sony TV for less than $300. It may offer a reduced screen size compared to the two models listed above, but it promises a crisp and clear image resolution and an impressive front-end navigation built off the Linux operating system.

Motion Flow technology means that it appears smooth even as you watch action movies or play AAA video games, and you can also use the USB port to plug in your thumb drive and enjoy home videos or share your photo galleries with friends and relatives.

Pros
  • Good for sports and video games.
  • The picture is good when watched from the side.
Cons
  • Poor movie experience, especially in a dark room.
  • Screen reflections can be harsh.
Feature Specification
Display Size 32 inches
Resolution HD (1366×768)
Display Type LED
Refresh Rate 60Hz (Motionflow XR 240)
HDR Support Not Supported
Smart Platform Sony Smart TV
Voice Assistant Not Supported
Connectivity Wi-Fi, Ethernet
HDMI Ports 2
USB Ports 2
Other Ports Optical, Component, RF, 3.5mm headphone jack
Audio 2.0 Ch, 10W, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Pulse
VESA Mount 100 x 100 mm
Stand Width 6.9 inches (176mm)

7. Best Picture Quality: Toshiba Fire TV

Toshiba Fire TV

Toshiba Fire TV 2019 is a good 4k TV entry-level. It has a decent design, quite close to last year’s edition, and it offers reasonable picture quality. It has a high contrast ratio, but just good black uniformity and some clouding are noticeable. This has good peak visibility in the SDR and very strong reflective handling.

This TV also has great smart features, like the inclusion of Amazon Alexa. Unfortunately, it has poor motion control and can not show HDR content very well, because it can’t get very bright and can’t view a wide range of colors.

Pros
  • Deep blacks.
  • Great smart features.
Cons
  • Can’t get very bright in HDR.
  • Image degrades when viewed at an angle.
  • Mediocre motion handling.
Feature Specification
Display Size 32 inches
Resolution HD (1366×768)
Display Type LED
Refresh Rate 60Hz
HDR Support Not Supported
Smart Platform Amazon Fire TV
Voice Assistant Amazon Alexa
Connectivity Wi-Fi, Ethernet
HDMI Ports 3
USB Ports 1
Other Ports Optical, Composite, RF, 3.5mm headphone jack
Audio 2.0 Ch, 20W, DTS Studio Sound
VESA Mount 100 x 100 mm
Stand Width 22.1 inches (562mm)

8. 4k Entry-Level TV: LG UM6900 TV Review

LG UM6900

The LG UM6900 is a good 4k entry-level TV with an IPS screen. Like other IPS TVs, it has a wide viewing range, but it doesn’t appear because impressive in a dark room because it has a low contrast ratio, bad black uniformity, and no local dimming.

It has a quick response time and low input lag, perfect for gaming, but the backlight always flickers, which creates visible duplication in motion.

Unfortunately, this TV can’t get very bright, and it uses a less accurate sub-pixel structure, which isn’t ideal for use as a PC monitor.

Pros
  • The image remains accurate at an angle.
  • Outstanding low input lag.
Cons
  • Not very bright.
  • Less accurate RGBW pixel structure.
  • Backlight always flickers, causing duplications in motion.
Feature Specification
Display Size 43 inches
Resolution 4K Ultra HD (3840×2160)
Display Type LED
Refresh Rate 60Hz (TruMotion 120)
HDR Support Not Supported
Smart Platform LG Smart TV
Voice Assistant Works with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa
Connectivity Wi-Fi, Ethernet
HDMI Ports 3
USB Ports 2
Other Ports Optical, Composite, RF, 3.5mm headphone jack
Audio 2.0 Ch, 20W, DTS-HD
VESA Mount 200 x 200 mm
Stand Width 38.3 inches (972mm)

FAQs

1. Do TVs come with stands or wall mounts?

Most TVs come with a stand included in the box, which allows you to place the TV on a flat surface, like a TV stand or a cabinet. However, wall mounts are typically sold separately. You’ll need to purchase a compatible wall mount for your specific TV model if you plan to mount it on the wall.

When buying a wall mount, ensure that it is compatible with your TV’s size, weight, and VESA mounting pattern (the arrangement of screw holes on the back of the TV). Wall mounts come in various types, such as fixed, tilting, and full-motion mounts, depending on your preference and desired viewing angles.

Remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for mounting your TV and, if necessary, seek professional help to ensure a safe and secure installation.

2. Which smart TV is the most reliable?

It’s difficult to determine which smart TV is the most reliable as it can vary based on personal experiences and preferences. However, there are certain brands that are generally known for producing reliable and high-quality smart TVs such as Samsung, LG, Sony, and Panasonic.

It’s also important to consider factors such as the model, features, and price point when determining the reliability of a smart TV. Doing research on specific models and reading customer reviews can also provide insights on the reliability of a particular smart TV.

3. Which is better Samsung or LG smart TV?

Samsung or LG smart TV

Samsung and LG are both reputable brands when it comes to producing smart TVs. Both companies offer a wide range of models with various sizes, features, and price points, making it difficult to determine which one is better.

In terms of picture quality, both brands are known to produce high-quality displays with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. Samsung’s QLED technology provides brighter and more vivid colors, while LG’s OLED technology offers better viewing angles and deeper blacks.

When it comes to smart features, Samsung’s Tizen OS is known for its user-friendly interface and easy navigation. It also offers a variety of streaming apps and supports voice control through Bixby or third-party assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. LG’s webOS is also highly regarded for its intuitive interface and convenient features like Magic Remote and Magic Zoom.

4. Are Roku smart TVs good?

Roku smart TVs are generally considered to be good options for those who are looking for a budget-friendly option with easy-to-use software and a variety of streaming options.

Roku TVs offer a simple and user-friendly interface that can be easily navigated through its remote control or mobile app. They also come with a variety of popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video pre-installed, making it convenient for users to access their favorite shows and movies. In addition, Roku TVs support a wide range of streaming services and provide access to thousands of free channels.

When it comes to picture quality, Roku TVs offer a range of display options with varying resolutions and sizes, including 4K Ultra HD and HDR support. However, some users have reported that the picture quality may not be as high as other higher-end smart TV brands like Samsung, LG, or Sony.

Final Thoughts

Our suggestions above are what we found is the best TVs to buy under $300 available in the market. These are the best budget TVs to buy for most people. We factor in the price, feedback from visitors, and availability. We have analyzed the features and functions of each product and reviewed our best for the buyers.

If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our reviews of TVs that are less than $500. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no TV is perfect, most TVs are great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.

Take a look at these products from the same price range, that are available right now on Amazon: