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    Cheap TVs That Aren't Worth the Money

    An inexpensive TV is no bargain if the picture quality disappoints you. CR tells you which sets to avoid—and what to buy instead.

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    TV Illustration: iStock

    Everybody likes a deal, and that can make it hard to resist an ultra-low price on a new 4K TV set. But as Consumer Reports’ TV ratings show, not all cheap TVs are great bargains.

    The low-rated TVs listed below don’t cost a lot. That might make them attractive, but you can get a better set by spending just a little more, and sometimes even by spending less.

    None of these cheap TVs are from major brands, such as LG, Samsung, and Sony. But don’t write off a less well-known brand just because one of its sets landed on our list. Some of these brands offer much better TVs, too.

    As a reminder, Consumer Reports is a nonprofit membership organization. We buy every TV we test at retail. We don’t accept freebies or hand-picked models from manufacturers, so every tested model is just like one you might take home from a store.

    More on TVs

    In our ratings, you’ll see separate scores for high-definition and ultra-high-definition (UHD, or 4K) picture quality, as well as high dynamic range (HDR) performance. We also judge a TV’s viewing angle, motion blur reduction, and sound quality, along with ease of use and versatility.

    We’ve also recently added scores for other important attributes, including reliability and satisfaction, as well as privacy and security, which is becoming increasingly important to consumers.

    Here’s our list of cheap TVs that aren’t worth the money—starting with the largest screen sizes—along with some better alternatives.

    Become a member to read the full article and get access to digital ratings.

    We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.


    James K. Willcox

    James K. Willcox leads Consumer Reports’ coverage of TVs, streaming media services and devices, broadband internet service, and the digital divide. He's also a homeowner covering several home improvement categories, including power washers and decking. A veteran journalist, Willcox has written for Business Week, Cargo, Maxim, Men’s Journal, Popular Science, Rolling Stone, Sound & Vision, and others. At home, he’s often bent over his workbench building guitars or cranking out music on his 7.2-channel home theater sound system.