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Best Budget 4K TVs Under $400
If you’re balling on a budget, check out these affordable 4K TVs for your living room.
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Not everyone has $4,000 lying around to spend on a TV. If you’re one of those money savers, you need to check out this list of best budget 4K TVs under $400. That’s all you need to bring entertainment to the living room without breaking the bank.
We chose our top five by price (of course), picture quality (we need that live-action), smart TV compatibility (no one wants a dumb TV anymore), and more.
- : Best value
- : Best smart features
- : Best color
- : Best picture
- : Best for sports

*Data effective 12/3/2020. Amazon.com List Prices (as of 12/3/2020 3:00 PM MST)
These are the factors we looked at to determine the best budget 4K TVs:
- Price
- Picture, color, and sound
- Smart TV compatibility
- Extra features
- Trusted company
TCL 50-inch 4-Series 4K TV: Best value
Amazon.com List Price of $249.99 (as of 12/3/2020 3:00 PM MST)
What we like:
- Best bang for your buck
- Built-in Roku TV
The best value award goes to the TCL 55-inch 4K TV. Why? First of all, it has two of the great features any 4K TV has—delivering HD content with great LED picture quality. But the bonus: this flatscreen is 55 inches and costs less than $300.
TCL’s 4-Series 4K TV also has a built-in Roku TV, which gives you over 500,000 on-demand movies and TV episodes. It’s also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can get what you want in an instant.
Also, the 4K Ultra HD picture quality will give you contrast, color, and detail for a life-like picture while you watch The Witcher. Or enjoy the smooth, life-like action scenes while you watch Keanu Reeves dominate other hitmen in John Wick: Chapter 3.
Built-in smart TV
The built-in Roku TV will give you hours of entertainment. You’ll be able to stream Disney+, AppleTV+, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and Prime Video.
All of our top 4K TV picks have a built-in smart TV. But hey, it’s nice knowing you don’t need to spend an extra $200 on an Apple TV to watch your favorite shows.
Insignia 50-inch 4K TV: Best smart features
Amazon.com List Price of $349.99 (as of 12/3/2020 3:00 PM MST)
What we like:
- Built-in Alexa
- Built-in Fire TV
“Yo, Alexa. Turn on The Bachelor.”
With the included Alexa Voice Remote, you’ll be able to demand what you want to watch in just seconds. Ask Alexa to launch apps, search for a movie, play music, and switch inputs. Woah.
You can also link your Amazon Echo to this Insignia 4K TV. So if you’re not close to your fancy remote, the Echo in your kitchen can come in handy.
Fire TV Edition
The built-in Fire TV lets you watch Disney+, Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Hulu, HBO, SHOWTIME, STARS, and more. Enjoy 4K Ultra HD picture quality while you binge-watch Disney movies over the weekend. Or every weekend.
Samsung 50-inch 8-Series 4K TV: Best color
*Date effective 12/3/2020.
What we like
- PurColor feature
- Compatible with Alexa
Great color with PurColor
PurColor will give your living room millions of shades of color that traditional HD TV can’t create. Imagine the vibrant color you’ll experience when you watch the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, and Marvel movies.
Even in our Best 4K TVs list, the Samsung was given the "Best for Gaming" title for its color and brightness.
Alexa compatible
Although this 4K TV has its own built-in Samsung smart TV, you can also connect it to an Alexa device. You can stream shows, movies, and games along with live TV shows. And the included OneRemote will let you control all connected devices, like your Amazon Echo and smart speakers.
Toshiba 50-inch 4K TV: Best picture
Amazon.com List Price of $360.99 (as of 12/3/2020 3:00 PM MST).
What we like:
- Picture quality
- Alexa voice remote included
True-to-life picture quality
The contrast and brightness of this Toshiba 4K TV are perfect for movie-watchers. The Ultra HD picture quality has over eight million pixels, so you’ll feel like you’re flying in the air with Harry Potter as he’s playing Quidditch.
“Alexa, open Netflix.”
Like the Insignia 4K TV, the Toshiba also has the Alexa Voice Remote included. So just use your voice to launch apps, find TV shows, and switch inputs. With each automatic software update, your 4K TV will get even smarter so you can enjoy the latest and greatest.
The built-in Fire TV is another bonus that has streaming apps like Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, HBO, and more. So plan a girls night, pour some wine, and throw on Big Little Lies.
Vizio 50-inch M-Series Quantum 4K TV: Best for sports
*Date effective 12/3/2020.
What we like:
- Quantum color, brightness, and refresh rate
- Built-in Smartcast and Apple TV compatible
Color, brightness, and live-action on point
When you’re watching football, you want ideal color and brightness. You want color and clarity that will really bring out the yellow and black on the Pittsburgh Steelers bumblebee uniforms.
And the clear, fast action on the Vizio 4K TV screen will make you feel like you’re sitting front row at the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors game. For sports fans, the extra money you’ll have to spend on the Vizio is worth it.
Also, the cool 178-degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles give a clear picture to anyone sitting near the side of the screen. That way, if you get stuck sitting in the corner at a game-watching party, you can still be part of the action.
Smartcast 3.0 and Siri
With Smartcast, you can browse Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and YouTube. And best of all, when you pair your Macbook, iPhone, or iPad with this Vizio 4K TV, you can mirror your Apple product’s content onto the big screen. That way, everyone at the party can enjoy your Disneyland photos.
Not only that, but if you connect your AppleTV or use Airplay on your iPhone or iPad, you can stream Disney+ or other streaming services on your TV. So sit back, relax, and use Siri to turn on the TV, turn up the volume, and play the latest episode of The Walking Dead.
Recap: Which is the best affordable 4K TV?
We sorted through more than a couple dozen 4K TVs to highlight some of the best for you. We considered pricing, picture and color quality, smart TV compatibility, and more to determine which 4K TV deserves your attention. Overall, we can say this about each:
- TCL 50-inch 4-Series 4K TV: The TCL 4K TV has the best value with its price, size, and features.
- Insignia 50-inch 4K TV: With a built-in Alexa and Fire TV, you’ll be guaranteed a smooth experience as you figure out what to watch next.
- Samsung 50-inch 7-Series 4K TV: The Samsung 7-Series 4K TV will give great color while you watch anything from Star Trek to The Lion King.
- Toshiba 50-inch 4K TV: You’ll love the excellent picture quality the Toshiba offers when you watch fantasy movies, action TV shows, and more.
- Vizio 50-inch M-Series Quantum 4K TV: If you’re looking for a TV for sports, Vizio M-Series Quantum will give you life-like picture.
Take these 4K TVs, for example: they all range from $250 to $400. And they all have a built-in smart TV. So you won’t need to spend an extra $40–$200 for a separate streaming device like a Roku only to have to connect it to your existing TV that doesn’t show 4K quality picture.
The 4K picture is also much better than 1080p with its higher resolution. Plus, the few hundred dollars you spend on going to movie theaters over several months would be better spent on a nice TV for the fam.
What do you think?
Did we miss something? Which 4K TV do you think is the best? Tell us what you think in the comments.
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