Daniel Oropeza
Daniel Oropeza Shopping Editor
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Daniel is Lifehacker's Shopping Editor covering tech deals and reviewing TVs, headphones, speakers, and projectors. He earned his master’s in journalism from Columbia University and has reported for the Miami Herald. He lives in Atlanta.
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When it comes to the intersection of price and quality, QLED TVs sit somewhere between LCD/LED on the low end and OLED TVs at the top. If you're not sure if you should be shopping for a QLED or OLED TV, you can see our breakdown here, but in general, QLEDs are a great option if you have the money to go for something better than an LCD/LED but can't quite afford a fancypants OLED. QLEDs tend to be brighter than OLEDs, but will not offer the same shadow detail, which is what truly sets high-end TVs apart. Still, they are a big step up from the brightness, color, and backlighting of LCD/LEDs.

If you're looking for a QLED on a budget, I've rounded up the best you can get, depending on how much money you have to spend. All of these options reflect the prices of the 65-inch models, as that is the most common TV size for living rooms. All come in below $1,500. Figure out what your budget is, and let me do the rest.

Table of Contents

My Top Picks
  • Hisense 65" Class U8
    Best QLED Under $1,200 Hisense 65" Class U8
  • TCL 65-Inch Class QM7K Series
    Best QLED Under $1,000 TCL 65-Inch Class QM7K Series
  • Hisense 65-Inch Class QLED 4K S7N CanvasTV
    Best QLED Under $900 Hisense QLED 4K S7N CanvasTV
  • TCL 65-Inch Class QM6K Series
  • Roku 65" Plus Series
    Best QLED Under $650 Roku Plus Series TV

Most people don't know the difference between an LCD, OLED, or QLED, and they may not even be able to see the difference between different contrast ratios or a refresh rate higher than 60Hz. Many are happy with a big screen that looks good and that works—but if you are upgrading from an LCD/LED to one of the QLED TVs on this list, you're likely to see the difference right away.

What do you think so far?

Best Budget Qled Tvs FAQ

What is a QLED TV and how does it differ from LED?

A QLED TV is an LED TV that uses quantum dots to improve color and brightness, making the image look much higher quality than a regular LED.

Are budget QLED TVs worth the investment?

Yes. You can get some great QLED TVs for great prices. Most people can't really tell the difference between an OLED and a QLED, but QLEDs offer much better technology and visuals than regular LEDs for not much more money.

How do I choose the right size budget QLED TV for my room?

Your TV size should be determined by how far your TV will be from where you're sitting. The further you are from your TV, the bigger the size you should get. To give you an idea, it's recommended to be 8 ft away from a 65-inch TV.

What brands offer the best budget QLED TVs?

TCL, Hisense, Samsung, Roku, and Sony all offer great budget TVs, but at the moment, TCL has the best selection of cheaper QLED TVs.

Can budget QLED TVs provide good gaming performance?

Yes. Budget QLEDs like the QM6K can offer a native 4K resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate, low input lag, and high brightness.