smart tv
Looking for an inexpensive second television? Check out our picks based on an expert's recommendations and Amazon reviews for the best budget finds. Image Credit: Unsplash/Tech Daily

Wouldn’t it be a dream to snag a 4K smart TV under Dh1,500? Costing less than most flagship laptops or smartphones, these budget televisions do exist. Granted, you’ll have to make do with a smaller display, but more affordable ranges can carry the same internet capabilities and streaming apps sought after in 65-inch and 75-inch TVs.

Depending on where you'll be mounting the unit, the Dh1,500 range offers screens as big as 55 inches, all the way down to 32 inches. Without the eye-watering price tag, this is your chance to build your entertainment hub at home, whether for the kids’ bedroom or a studio living room. Below, we asked a television expert about the lure of Android smart TVs, image resolution and brand recommendations on a budget, to help you decide.

Editor's tip
Snag discounts of up to 20 per cent on televisions, on Amazon, from brands like Sony, Hisense, TCL and more.

We've curated a list of the best-rated cheap televisions that are also based on user reviews and experiences, so you can kick off your search right away. If you're an Amazon Prime member, avail yourself of free, one-day delivery on these TVs, some of which are also on sale. Amazon also lets you book an in-home TV mounting service by pros on checkout.

1. Best Overall: Samsung 55-Inch AU8000 Crystal UHD 4K TV

Pros

  • Access apps, like Netflix, YouTube, Apple TV, Prime Video, web browser and more
  • High Dynamic Range (HDR) picture quality, with 4K resolution
  • Upscales picture to 4K
  • Cast your smartphone videos and music with a tap
  • Display PC screen on TV to work from home

Cons

  • Only supports 60Hz refresh rate

Crisp, vibrant and smart, all 55 inches of this LED Samsung model give you the most bang for your buck. This TV is equipped with a Crystal Processor 4K, a clever chipset that upscales your favourite shows to UHD (ultra-high definition). Get the same premium bezel-less design as pricier TVs and a Motion Xcelerator, which adds more frames to deliver a smooth, clear picture. You can mirror your mobile streams, be it music or a yoga clip, by ‘tapping’ your Galaxy smartphone to the television. With a Windows 10 and up machine, you can take it further by converting your TV into a workstation, for a bigger, better monitor. Plus, its three HDMI ports allow you to plug in other home entertainment devices, like a gaming console or an AV receiver, along with two USB ports. Five-star reviews commend the TV’s excellent video and audio quality, noting the array of apps they can easily access with the Tizen operating system. They connect it to PlayStation consoles and love that the TV automatically switches to game mode. Check out other 50-inch and 55-inch TV options.

Bonus: Buy with zero per cent instalments and pay Dh103.75 for 12 months with select banks.

Warranty: The manufacturer offers a one-year warranty. Amazon offers a one-year extended warranty for Dh86, one-year accidental damage protection for Dh143 and a two-year damage protection plus one-year extended warranty for Dh182.

2. Best All-Rounder: LG 55-Inch UQ8000 Series UHD 4K TV

Pros

  • Has 4K upscaling and HDR10 Pro
  • Includes streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Apple TV and more
  • Automatically switches to game or sports mode to enhance viewer experience
  • Game dashbaord with quick settings
  • Works with Airplay2 and Apple Homekit

Cons

  • Its IPS panel struggles with displaying pure blacks
  • Only 60Hz refresh rate

Here’s another 4K 55-inch screen that offers excellent value for its price – the LG UQ80 TV features components found in its higher-end models, like the Alpha AI Processor 4K chip for upscaling content and the ThinQ AI that allows easy control with just your voice. Not to mention, LG's webOS is one of the more user-friendly interfaces you'll come across. This 4K TV has HDR10 Pro that adjusts any picture to the right amount of contrast, brightness and colour levels, even when you're logged into Netflix, Prime Video or Apple TV. Gamers will appreciate the dedicated game dashboard, which lets you tweak the FPS, latency, sound and other settings quickly. Only, given it's an entry-level television, the refresh rate is still low at 60Hz, much like our Samsung option. Reviewers are happy with the quality of the unit and mainly use it to play games. They do note that while the IPS (in-plane switching) panel of the screen is great for wide-viewing angles and colour accuracy, it does struggle with displaying pure blacks, a premium feature found in OLED TVs.

Bonus: Buy with zero per cent instalments and pay Dh123.25 for 12 months with select banks.

Warranty: The manufacturer offers a one-year warranty. Amazon offers a one-year extended warranty for Dh86, one-year accidental damage protection for Dh143 and a two-year damage protection plus one-year extended warranty for Dh182.

3. Best Android TV: Sony Bravia 50-Inch 4K Smart Google TV

Pros

  • Access thousands of apps with Google Play Store
  • Great picture quality
  • Upscales content to 4K
  • Three HDMI and two USB ports
  • Voice search via the remote controller
  • Supports Apple HomeKit and AirPlay

Cons

  • Black bars on video streaming content

Android TVs bring so much more content and variety to your screens, and what better way to enjoy a smartphone experience than on the Sony Bravia Google TV? This 2022 model is from the X75K series - it's still 4K in resolution with all the upscale technologies to ensure a high-quality picture. Running on an Android operating system, the TV gives you access to over 700,000 movies and TV shows on the streaming app of your choice, making it an ideal choice for the entire family or the bedroom as it's 50 inches in size. Don't worry, there's 16GB worth of onboard storage for plenty of apps. With Google, take advantage of the built-in Chromecast to cast all your favourite content from the phone, tablet or laptop instantly. It's also iOS-friendly, with support for Apple AirPlay and Apple HomeKit. Reviewers attest to the bright and vivid colours, finding it better than most TVs in a similar price range. Though it sports an IPS panel, users don't find any fault with black accuracy. However, a drawback worth noting for entertainment fans is that streaming content doesn't fit the screen, leaving you with black bars on the top and bottom.

Bonus: Buy with zero per cent instalments and pay Dh121.50 for 12 months with select banks.

Warranty: Amazon offers a one-year extended warranty for Dh86, one-year accidental damage protection for Dh143 and a two-year damage protection plus one-year extended warranty for Dh182.

4. Best Value Android TV: TCL 43-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart TV

Pros

  • Google TV with Google Assistant and Chromecast
  • Pre-installed apps like Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, web browser and more
  • Bezel-less design
  • Out of three HDMI ports, one is HDMI 2.1

Cons

  • Slow when browsing the internet

Another solid contender in the Android category, the TCL 4K Smart TV in the P637 series impresses with Dolby Audio support and Google TV. The model is smaller than our Sony pick, at 43 inches, and has slimmer bezels for an edgeless view. It upscales whatever you're watching, from live TV to video-on-demand, to 4K HDR Pro. You can even speak into your controller – tell the device to turn up the volume, play a song or display the weather forecast, taking voice assistance to the next level. If the kids game occasionally, then they’ll appreciate the game-optimised low input lag and compatibility with the latest consoles via HDMI 2.1. Reviewers say that you should expect slow speeds at times, when using the browser. Otherwise, Google features, such as Chromecast, Google Assistant and Play Store, are all present and work as usual. The TV also supports Alexa voice assistance.

Bonus: Buy with zero per cent instalments and pay Dh77.58 for 12 months with select banks.

Warranty: Amazon offers a one-year extended warranty for Dh57, one-year accidental damage protection for Dh95 and a two-year damage protection plus one-year extended warranty for Dh121.

5. Best Budget: Hisense 43-Inch 4K UHD Smart TV

Pros

  • Decent picture and sound quality with good contrast
  • Vidaa OS is easy and intuitive to use
  • 4K upscaling on videos
  • Built-in Alexa
  • HDMI 2.1 ports for game consoles

Cons

  • Smallest screen on the list
  • Doesn't have wide-viewing angles

A 43-inch TV is the perfect size for snapping up a 4K unit under Dh1,000. Unlike larger models, this Hisense smart television can squeeze into smaller bedrooms, the kitchen or the home office, delivering ultra-high definition 4K resolution despite its size. The TV runs on Hisense's Vidaa OS, which gives you access to apps like YouTube and Netflix. There's Alexa built into the system, too, so just speak to your remote controller to get the latest news, weather updates and smart home access. Reviewers find little fault with the picture and sound quality at this value, though some have resorted to adding a soundbar. It also uses a panel that doesn't do well with wide-viewing angles, meaning the screen might fade as you walk around the room. Gamers do add that it connects well with Xbox and PlayStation consoles.

Bonus: Buy with zero per cent instalments and pay Dh58.54 for 12 months with select banks.

Warranty: Amazon offers one-year extended warranty for Dh57, one-year accidental damage protection for Dh95, and two-year damage protection plus one-year extended warranty for Dh121.

Operating system: Is a smart Android TV better than any smart TV?

smart tv
Both are smart TVs, but because of the software that runs on each, only one allows access to Google Play Store. Image Credit: Pexels/Lisa Fotios

Nowadays, we can navigate our televisions with the same practised ease as browsing a smartphone. Darshan Sindhya, the owner and managing director of OMSR Electronics based in Dubai, says viewers who are content-conscious usually go for Android TVs. Sindhya's small business is an authorised TV servicing partner for Samsung and Xiaomi, handling everything from the repair of motherboards to panel displays.

"Just as how smartphones are broadly categorised into iOS and Android software, smart televisions are also software-driven," said Sindhya. "Samsung and LG TVs have their own, while Android TVs run on the Android software. People with kids at home will want to play rhymes and games on the television to keep their children engaged. Mums will want to catch their own, say, Indian soap series on a streaming app - these specific apps are only available on Android TV. It's like a mobile phone because it has Google Play Store."

Other, more expensive, smart TVs have a limited library of apps, granting you access to third-party apps that they're in prior agreement with. However, Sindhya says, if you're not picky about the applications, most smart TVs today (regardless of the OS), run the three basic apps we look for - YouTube, Netflix and Prime Video.

Which budget TV is the best for me?

smart tv
A common trade-off with budget TVs is the smaller display - however, this works quite well for small apartments, studios and rooms. Image Credit: Unsplash/Marques Kaspbrak

Since Android TVs offer a more personalised experience, they're best suited for the bedroom. If you're in search of an affordable living room setup, Sindhya says to opt for 4K resolution. "Viewers who want the latest technology, pertaining to screen resolution and clarity, go for Samsung and LG 4K televisions. They come with a voice-control remote, and have a good audio system," he added.

Sindhya recommends the AU series in Samsung for being relatively current and affordable, adding that the TV brand arguably has the best sound system, too. So, you can tuck away your soundbar. LG is a fierce competitor in the same budget range, while Hisense and Xiaomi follow suit as tier-two models.

Our recommendations are independently chosen by Gulf News editors. If you decide to shop through links on our website, we may earn an affiliate commission, as we are part of Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.