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Buying Guide: 6 Solid LED HDTVs Under $500
Not too long ago, HDTVs were expensive. The idea of spending less than $1,000 on a high-def television seemed impossible just a few years ago. Now you can get a 40- or 42-inch full HD 1080p screen for less than half that.
If you already have a large, feature-filled HDTV in your living room, these inexpensive, smaller-screen sets are good choices for bedrooms, kitchens, offices, or anywhere else you'd like to add a screen. Because they're so affordable, it's easier to justify placing them in less-frequented areas of your home, or in places where you can't arrange everything around them as centerpieces of the room.
Make no mistake, though, if you want to spend less than $500 on an HDTV, you're going to have to make some sacrifices. Sets this inexpensive almost never have any online connectivity or Web apps, so you'll need an additional device to access Netflix or any other online service. As far as picture quality goes, color accuracy tends to pale compared with more expensive screens, and they don't often offer many calibration options to make the colors more accurate. Contrast ratios are lower and high black levels can make shadow details seem a bit muddy. Basically, you're not going to get the same level of image quality you'll find in a set that's twice the price.
On the other hand, when you're spending $360 on a 40-inch TV, like the TCL LE40FHDE3000 we tested, it's tough to complain. Our Editors' Choice, RCA's 42-inch LED42C45RQ sells for less than $400, and delivers accurate colors and the best picture quality we've seen from a budget TV.
Need more specific HDTV shopping advice? Check out How to Buy an HDTV, The 10 Best HDTVs, and Buying an HDTV: Frequently Asked Questions.
BUDGET HDTVs INCLUDED IN THIS ROUNDUP
RCA LED42C45RQ
$449 list
%displayPrice% at %seller% RCA's LED42C45RQ is a very affordable 42-inch HDTV offering full 1080p resolution and energy-efficient LED backlighting. Picture quality is above average for sets in the under-$500 price range, so it's our top pick for budget HDTVs. Read the full review ››
TCL LE40FHDE3000
$359 list
%displayPrice% at %seller% The TCL LE40FHDE3000 is a no-frills LED-backlit HDTV that delivers a bright picture and sharp image quality, all while featuring the lowest price tag we've seen for a screen in the 40-inch size range. Read the full review ››
Insignia NS-42E480A13
$449.99 list
%displayPrice% at %seller% The bare-bones Insignia NS-42E480A13's color accuracy could be better, but it's one of the few 120Hz sets you can find for the price, and it offers three HDMI ports while most others only give you two. Read the full review ››
Sony Bravia KDL-32R400A
$399.99 direct
%displayPrice% at %seller% A solid choice for a second or third low-cost HDTV, Sony's LED-backlit 32R400A compensates for a less-than-perfect picture with a wide viewing angle and a relatively low price. Read the full review ››
Toshiba 32L2200U
$379.99 list
%displayPrice% at %seller% Toshiba offers an affordable, bright, energy efficient LED-backlit screen in the 32L2200U. But you'll get the same middling color accuracy as other budget sets, though. Read the full review ››
Westinghouse UW40T2BW
$499.99 list
%displayPrice% at %seller% While its picture quality could be better, the Westinghouse UW40T2BW combines good audio output with a 120Hz screen that manages to stay very thin. Read the full review ››