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The picture quality of the TCL 4-Series Roku TV was a step behind the Vizio V-Series in our budget TV test, but the differences between the two are slight enough that you’d really have to have them set up side by side to notice anything at all. The 4-Series lacks the Dolby Vision, Bluetooth connectivity and AMD FreeSync with a variable refresh rate, all of which the Vizio offers. 

The 4-Series’ advantage over the Vizio is that it comes with the excellent Roku Smart TV system built in. That makes it a great choice for those looking for a one-stop smart TV solution, without having to add an external streaming device.

Note that TCL has been selling the 4-Series for the last few years with little to no change in image quality or features in our tests, although it has recently added some larger screen sizes, including an 85-inch option.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Excellent smart TV system

Cons: 

• Image quality and features lag some entry-level TVs

When we compared the best budget TVs side-by-side, the picture quality of Vizio’s V-Series clearly emerged as the leader of the pack. The Vizio offered the most balanced and accurate picture during our comparisons, and it comes with some useful extras such as Dolby Vision support, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth compatibility and variable refresh rate for potentially smoother gaming. The biggest downside of the Vizio is its smart TV platform, Vizio SmartCast. It’s crowded, slow and littered with ads for platforms such as Tubi and Kidoodle TV. Even when you factor in the cost of adding a new streaming device, however, the V-Series remains the best overall entry-level TV that we tested.

Vizio hasn’t announced a 2024 version of the V-Series yet.

Pros:

• Solid image quality for an entry-level TV
• Lots of features, including VRR and Wi-Fi 6E

Cons:

• Poor built-in smart TV system

The Hisense A6H Google TV, like the Vizio V-Series, offers some higher-end features at the entry-level price. This TV features a premium build quality and comes with Dolby Vision support, Bluetooth connectivity and DTS Virtual:X for simulated surround sound. The Hisense A6H comes preloaded with Google TV — which is our second favorite smart platform after Roku — but we found it ran slower than Google TV on higher-end TVs like the Sony X80K.

Although its image quality falls short of the TCL and Vizio, the A6H also stands out from the pack in design. The bezels on the TV are incredibly thin, and the display itself attaches directly to the back of the panel, leaving corners that are round and metallic. This gives the TV a more premium finish that I did not see with other units in this price range.

Ultimately, the Hisense A6H Google TV is a good choice for budget buyers who appreciate its design and want the Google TV interface.

Pros:

• Premium build quality
• Dolby Vision support
• Good smart TV platform

Cons: 

• Picture quality isn’t quite as good as others on this list

The Samsung Q60B is more expensive than the models above but it’s also better in pretty much every way. It’s got a slimmer, sleeker design, more features including a solar-powered remote and slightly better picture quality, with superior brightness, compared to the others. The TVs above are better values, but if you want something nicer in this size, and don’t want to break the bank on an OLED TV, the Q60B is a great choice.

This is a 2022 model, but the newer version, the Q60C, looks largely similar in terms of features, design and price. We haven’t reviewed it yet, but we expect it to have similar image quality.

Pros:

• Sleek design and excellent remote
• Bright image with solid contrast
• Informative status screen for gaming

Cons:

• More expensive than competing TVs with better picture quality
• Cluttered smart TV menus

It’s technically an inch smaller than any of the other TVs on this list, but if you want the best TV in this size range and money isn’t a major concern, look no further than the LG C2. Its image quality and features run circles around any of the other TVs on this list — and the price is more than double. We’d recommend getting a larger version of the C2 (48-inch, 55-inch or more) if you could, but maybe your size is limited while your budget is not.

The C1 was also an excellent TV that delivered similar image quality and features to the C2. We’ve also reviewed the newer model, the LG C3, but we recommend the C2 instead right now. Going with the C2 saves you a few hundred bucks and the two TVs were basically indistinguishable in features, design and image quality in my tests.

Pros:

• Better picture quality than any non-OLED TV
• Superior contrast and off-angle image
• Best-in-class gaming features
• Sleek styling with ultralight, thin panel

Cons:

• Expensive
• No major picture quality improvements over the C1 from 2021

The Fire TV 4 Series is one of the more basic TVs on this list. It doesn’t offer Dolby Vision or any perks for gamers, like AMD FreeSync. Instead, the Fire TV gives you a brighter image, an Alexa-powered voice remote and access to Amazon content. 

The Fire TV 4-Series offers the brightest screen and the best picture for gaming out of our entry-level models, but we liked its smart TV system least of all. That said, it could be a good fit for people with bright rooms or those who are tied into the Amazon ecosystem.

Pros: 

• Excellent brightness
• Alexa-powered voice remote

Cons: 

• Underwhelming picture quality
• Poor smart TV system
• No premium extras like Dolby Vision or any gaming perks

Our TV reviews follow a rigorous, unbiased evaluation process honed over nearly two decades of TV reviews. Our primary TV test lab has specialized equipment for measuring light and color, including a Konica Minolta CS-2000 spectroradiometer, a Murideo Sig-G 4K HDR signal generator and an AVPro Connect 8×8 4K HDR distribution matrix. We use Portrait Displays CalMan Ultimate software to evaluate every TV we review. In every CNET TV review, three or more similar TVs are compared side by side in various lighting conditions playing different media, including movies, TV shows and games, across a variety of test categories, from color to video processing to gaming to HDR. Our reviews also account for design, features, smart TV performance, HDMI input and gaming compatibility, and other factors.

One important aspect of image quality we test is overall brightness. Here’s how it compares in nits across select TVs listed above.

Check out our page on how we test TVs for more details.

With all of the TVs available today, and all of the technical terms and jargon associated with television technology, it can be tough to figure out what’s important. Here’s a quick guide to help cut through the confusion.

Price: TVs range in price from $100 to more than $2,000. Smaller screens are cheaper, well-known brands are more expensive and spending more money can also get you better image quality. Most entry-level TVs have a good enough picture for most people, but TVs last a long time, so it might be worth spending more to get a better picture. It’s also best to shop for a TV in the fall, when prices are lower.

Screen size: We know you’re looking for a 43-inch TV, but we have to say that bigger is better in our book. 43 inches is our minimum recommended size for a small bedroom. If you want a TV for a room that’s anything other than tiny, we advise going up to at least 55 inches  — and 65 inches or larger is best. More than any other “feature,” stepping up in TV screen size is the best use of your money. One of the most common post-TV-purchase complaints we’ve heard is from people who didn’t go big enough. And we almost never hear people complain that their TV is too large.

Capability: Among entry-level TVs the most important feature is what kind of smart TV system the TV uses. Among midrange models, look for a feature including full-array local dimming, mini-LED and 120Hz refresh rate, which (unlike some other extras) do help improve the picture in our experience. And among high-end TVs, OLED technology is your best bet.

For more TV buying advice check out our guide on how to buy a TV.