It used to be the case that the television was one of the most expensive household products that a family could purchase, but thanks to advancements in technology, the prices of televisions have dropped significantly, to the point where they’re surprisingly affordable at the ~500 price point.
Here are our favorite televisions under $500:
PC Magazine: “Vizio’s M-series of LED-backlit 1080p screens boast generous online services through Vizio Internet Apps Plus (VIA Plus) and well-designed and functional remotes.”
PC Magazine praises the Vizio television for providing decent online services through its VIA Plus service and also stresses the higher-than-average quality of the screen, especially given its lower price point.
Tom’s Guide: “Largely fantastic picture; category-best remote and straightforward implementation of smart TV apps for Web-based video and audio; modest price”
Tom’s Guide gave the Vizio high marks for its picture quality, which it considers to be excellent given the Vizio’s lower price point. The web based applications allow the television to benefit from live streaming applications and also serves as a browser for navigating the Internet.
LCD TV Buying Guide: “The new backlit remote even has dedicated buttons for Netflix, Amazon, and M Go. The whole platform has received a redesign with HTML 5 in order to achieve an intuitive user interface. We think it is an improvement upon previous iterations.”
LCD TV Buying guide loves the Vizio’s sophisticated remote control with dedicated backlit buttons for popular apps like Netflix and Amazon. LCD TV Buying Guide also emphasized the streamlined and simplistic design of the interfact, which makes the Vizio a painless experience to navigate.
TechRadar: “TCL Roku is one of your best 1080p smart TV options while you wait for 4K TV prices to drop. It’s a fantastic holdover television that’s extremely affordable.”
TechRadar was quick to admire the slick interface of the TCL SmartTV that offers over 1,000 apps to choose from. Considering that we’re still aways away from having 4K content on both live television and streaming services, TechRadar considers the Roku a great choice for the next 3 to 5 years before the true rollout of 4K will hit the market.
PC Magazine : “Roku has made it possible for budget-priced HDTVs to offer online features previously reserved for higher-end screens.”
PC Magazine admires the Roku’s modest price point, given its features are more commonly found on more expensive televisions. This makes the Roku TV a great choice for those who are unsure about purchasing a Smart TV given its low barrier of entry.
CNET: “The TCL FS4610R series Roku TV delivers the simplest, slickest, most comprehensive smart-TV experience on the market.”
The Roku TV also received high marks from CNET for its superior picture quality, as well as for the slick form-factor and abundance of applications that are geared towards watching content from streaming services.
PC Magazine: “Lots of Web apps and online services. Sleek design. Modest power consumption.”
PC Magazine stressed the design and online strengths of the Panasonic television, as well as the plethora of bundled apps that help both web navigation and streaming content from VOD services.
CNET: “The Panasonic AS530 offers competitive image quality and pricing among its Japanese and Korean peers.”
CNET gave the Panasonic television high marks for its great value when compared to other competing televisions, which often cost severa hundred dollars more while essentially providing the same picture quality and features.
LCD Buying Guide: “Strong color reproduction and contrast are high points for this LED TV.”
LCD Buying Guide praised the Panasonic television for its superb picture quality and vibrant colors, which are rare for televisions in the price bracket of the Panasonic S530U television.
