(Image credit: Hisense)

I love cheap TVs. No, really — I do.

As fun as it is to bask in the glory of a detail-rich, OLED-driven picture, or to park myself in front of the bright, borderline-psychedelic colors blasting out of an RGB LED TV, the best budget TVs offer tremendous performance. Regardless of whether you’re a sports fan, binge-watcher or competitive gamer, upgrading your leisure time without breaking the bank can be a massive win.

1. Hisense U65QF

(Image credit: Hisense)

Recently, a pub-owner and dear friend of mine asked me for help buying a TV ahead of the 2026 World Cup. They didn’t want to spend too much, but they needed a bright-enough screen for the set to sit outside (weather permitting). The Hisense U65QF was my first pick.

Now, my bar-owning friend was in the market for something big — like 75 or 85 inches. It’ll come as no surprise that these sizes are above $500.…