Dreaming of a stellar home theater experience without a Hollywood price tag? You’re not alone! The world of TVs under $700 offers a treasure trove of options, but navigating features and technologies can feel overwhelming. Fear not, movie buffs and casual viewers alike! This guide is your compass, helping you discover the best TVs under $700 that perfectly match your needs.
Gone are the days when budget restrictions meant compromising on picture quality. Today’s market is brimming with feature-packed TVs under $700 that deliver stunning visuals, user-friendly functionalities, and smooth viewing experiences. Whether you’re a cinephile craving vibrant colors and clear details, a casual streamer seeking a reliable TV for your favorite shows, or a gamer prioritizing responsive gameplay, there’s a perfect TV under $700 waiting to be discovered within your budget.
This comprehensive guide equips you with the knowledge to navigate the exciting world of budget-friendly TVs. We’ll delve into key factors to consider, explore different display technologies, and unveil top contenders that reign supreme in various categories.
So, grab your popcorn, settle in, and get ready to transform your living room into an entertainment haven without breaking the bank! With the right guidance, you’ll be on your way to experiencing exceptional entertainment on a budget-friendly TV.
Sony 65 Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X80K Series
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The Sony 65 Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X80K Series is a budget-friendly option for viewers seeking a large screen and decent picture quality without breaking the bank. Here’s a breakdown to see if it aligns with your needs.
The X80K shines with its wide viewing angles, making it a great choice for living rooms where viewers might be seated off-center. This is a step up from budget TVs that often struggle with picture quality when viewed from an angle. The picture quality itself is decent for casual viewing, with good contrast thanks to a direct LED backlight. This delivers a noticeable improvement over some budget TVs that rely on edge-lit panels, which can have uniformity issues.
However, some reviewers found the blacks could be deeper for an even more immersive movie experience, especially in darker scenes. Additionally, the peak brightness isn’t the highest, so it might not be ideal for extremely bright rooms with lots of sunlight.
On the bright side, the X80K comes equipped with Google TV, offering a user-friendly platform with a vast library of apps and seamless integration with Google services. Voice control with Google Assistant makes searching for content a breeze.
While the X80K delivers a good picture for everyday viewing, keep in mind that there are stronger contenders in terms of contrast and peak brightness. However, if you’re a casual viewer on a budget who prioritizes a user-friendly smart TV platform and decent picture quality for movies and shows, the Sony X80K is definitely worth considering. It offers a good balance of features and affordability, making it a solid choice for everyday entertainment.
LG 65-Inch Class UR9000 Series Alexa Built-in 4K Smart TV
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The LG 65-Inch Class UR9000 Series Alexa Built-in 4K Smart TV caters to budget-conscious viewers who prioritize a large screen, good gaming performance, and a user-friendly platform with Alexa integration. Let’s see if it ticks all your boxes.
The main attraction is the massive 65-inch display, perfect for creating a home theater feel at an affordable price. While it utilizes LED technology, the UR9000 boasts decent picture quality with vibrant colors and good clarity thanks to upscaling technology that helps enhance even older content.
Gamers will be happy with the low input lag that minimizes input delay, keeping you responsive in fast-paced games. However, the standard 60Hz refresh rate might not be ideal for super competitive esports where every millisecond counts.
The built-in webOS platform is user-friendly and offers a good selection of apps, including all the major streaming services. The unique selling point here is the Alexa integration, allowing you to control the TV and access Alexa skills with your voice.
Some limitations are worth considering. Blacks could be deeper for a more immersive movie experience, especially in darker scenes. Additionally, the sound quality is just average, and audiophiles might crave a soundbar for a more powerful soundscape.
Overall, the LG 65-Inch Class UR9000 Series Alexa Built-in 4K Smart TV is a solid choice for casual viewers who prioritize a large screen, affordability, and a user-friendly platform with Alexa integration. It caters to gamers with low input lag and offers decent picture quality for everyday viewing. However, if you’re a cinephile demanding the absolute deepest blacks, a robust sound system, or the smoothest visuals for high refresh rate gaming, you might want to explore higher-end options.
TCL 65-Inch Q7 QLED 4K Smart Google TV
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The TCL 65-Inch Q7 QLED 4K Smart Google TV emerges as a compelling contender in the sub-$1000 market, offering a winning combination of picture quality, smart features, and affordability. Let’s see if it hits all the right notes for your home entertainment setup.
The Q7 shines with a bright and vivid picture, thanks to its QLED technology that delivers richer colors compared to traditional LED TVs. This translates to a more enjoyable viewing experience, especially for content with vibrant elements like nature documentaries or animated films. The good contrast adds depth to scenes, making them appear more lifelike.
While some reviewers found blacks could be deeper for an even more immersive movie experience, the overall picture quality is excellent for the price point. TCL’s AiPQ Engine further enhances visuals with upscaling technology that ensures even older favorites look watchable.
Gamers will appreciate the Q7’s low input lag, minimizing input delay and keeping you responsive in fast-paced games. It boasts a native 120Hz refresh rate on some models, ideal for high frame-rate console and PC gaming. Paired with VRR (variable refresh rate) compatibility on specific models, the Q7 offers a smooth and tear-free gaming experience.
The built-in Google TV platform is a major selling point. Renowned for its user-friendliness, Google TV offers a vast library of apps, seamless integration with Google services, and voice control with Google Assistant for effortless navigation and control.
However, the Q7 isn’t without limitations. Viewing angles aren’t as wide as some competitors, so picture quality might slightly decrease for viewers seated off-center. Additionally, the sound quality is just average. Audiophiles or those seeking a truly cinematic soundscape might want to consider pairing the TV with a soundbar.
Overall, the TCL 65-Inch Q7 QLED 4K Smart Google TV is a solid choice for casual viewers and gamers alike. It delivers a bright and vivid picture with good contrast, caters to gamers with low input lag, high refresh rates, and VRR compatibility (on select models), and offers a user-friendly Google TV platform. The affordable price tag makes it an attractive option for those seeking a feature-rich entertainment experience without breaking the bank. However, if you prioritize the absolute deepest blacks or a powerful sound system without a soundbar, you might want to explore higher-end options.
Sony 65 Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X77L Series
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The Sony 65 Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X77L Series strikes a balance between affordability and essential features, making it a good option for casual viewers seeking a large screen for everyday entertainment. Let’s explore its strengths and weaknesses to see if it aligns with your needs.
The main attraction is the massive 65-inch display, perfect for creating a home theater feel at an attractive price point. While it utilizes LED technology, the X77L delivers decent picture quality with good color reproduction for everyday viewing. Sony’s Reality Creation technology helps enhance details and upscale even older content, ensuring a watchable picture.
Gamers will appreciate the X77L’s low input lag, minimizing input delay and keeping you responsive during fast-paced gameplay. However, the standard 60Hz refresh rate might not be ideal for super competitive esports where every millisecond counts.
One of the X77L’s strong points is its sound quality. Customer reviews consistently praise the built-in speakers, highlighting clear dialogue and a surprising amount of bass for a budget TV. This eliminates the immediate need for a soundbar for casual viewers who prioritize sound quality.
The X77L utilizes Google TV, offering a user-friendly platform with a vast library of apps and seamless integration with Google services. Voice control with Google Assistant makes navigating content and controlling smart home devices a breeze.
However, the X77L does have some limitations. Blacks could be deeper for a more immersive movie experience, especially in dark scenes. Additionally, viewing angles aren’t as wide as some competitors, so picture quality might slightly decrease for viewers seated off-center.
Overall, the Sony 65 Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X77L Series is a solid choice for casual viewers on a budget who prioritize a large screen, good color reproduction, and a user-friendly Google TV platform with excellent built-in sound quality. The low input lag caters to gamers seeking a responsive experience. However, if you’re a cinephile demanding the absolute deepest blacks, wider viewing angles, or the smoothest visuals for high refresh rate gaming, you might want to explore higher-end options.
LG QNED80 Series 50-Inch Class QNED Mini LED Smart TV
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The LG QNED80 Series 50-Inch Class QNED Mini LED Smart TV brings innovative mini-LED technology to the budget-friendly realm, making it a tempting option for viewers seeking a step up in picture quality without breaking the bank. Let’s see if it scores high on your must-have TV features.
The key attraction of the QNED80 is its panel that combines quantum dots with mini-LED backlighting. While it might not reach the peak brightness of even higher-end mini-LED TVs, it offers a noticeable improvement over traditional LED TVs. This translates to deeper blacks and improved contrast, creating a more immersive viewing experience. Movie buffs will appreciate the increase in depth and detail, especially in darker scenes.
However, keep in mind that some reviewers found blacks could be deeper still for the most discerning cinephiles. Still, for casual viewers on a budget, the picture quality is good for the price point. LG’s α7 AI Processor Gen6 further enhances visuals with AI-powered upscaling technology that ensures even older favorites look decent.
Gamers, take note! The QNED80 offers a low input lag for smooth gameplay, keeping you responsive in fast-paced action. However, the standard 60Hz refresh rate might not be ideal for super competitive esports where every millisecond counts.
LG’s webOS smart TV platform is user-friendly and offers a good selection of apps, including all the major streaming services. Voice control with ThinQ AI adds another layer of convenience.
The sound quality is just average, and audiophiles might crave a soundbar for a more powerful soundscape.
With its smaller 50-inch screen size, the QNED80 is ideal for smaller living rooms or bedrooms. While it might not boast the absolute biggest screen, it packs a punch in picture quality for its size and price point thanks to mini-LED technology.
Overall, the LG QNED80 Series 50-Inch Class QNED Mini LED Smart TV is a compelling option for budget-minded viewers who want to experience the benefits of mini-LED technology in a smaller screen size. It delivers good picture quality with decent contrast, caters to casual gamers with low input lag, and offers a user-friendly smart platform. However, if you’re a movie buff demanding the absolute deepest blacks or a dedicated gamer needing the fastest refresh rates, you might want to consider exploring larger, higher-end options.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve embarked on a journey through the exciting world of TVs under $700. This guide has shed light on some of the top contenders, each with their strengths and considerations to help you find your ideal match.
For casual viewers seeking a large screen and user-friendly experience, the Sony 65 Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X77L Series with its excellent built-in sound is a solid choice. Gamers on a budget will appreciate the low input lag of the LG 65-Inch Class UR9000 Series Alexa Built-in 4K Smart TV and its large screen for an immersive gaming experience.
Do you crave a cinematic experience with a massive screen and cutting-edge mini-LED technology, even at a slightly smaller size? The LG QNED80 Series 50-Inch Class QNED Mini LED Smart TV might be your perfect fit.
Budget-conscious viewers prioritizing a user-friendly smart platform and vibrant colors can find excellent value in the TCL 65-Inch Q7 QLED 4K Smart Google TV.
Remember, the ideal TV under $700 depends on your viewing habits and budget. Consider factors like screen size, picture quality (including contrast and brightness), smart TV platform, refresh rate for gamers, and sound quality.
Armed with this knowledge and the insights from these reviewed TVs, you’re now well-equipped to navigate the exciting world of budget-friendly TVs. Now, go forth and transform your living room into an entertainment haven without breaking the bank! Happy viewing!
FAQs
What can I realistically expect from a TV under $700?
Gone are the days of sacrificing everything for affordability. Today, the $700 and under market offers a surprising selection of TVs that deliver decent picture quality, essential smart functionalities, and a smooth viewing experience. While they might not match the peak performance of high-end models, they can provide excellent value for casual viewers or those prioritizing affordability.
What are some key factors to consider when choosing a TV under $700?
Here are some crucial aspects to consider:
Screen size: Do you crave a cinematic experience with a large screen, or would a smaller size suffice for your living room?
Picture quality: How important are vibrant colors, deep blacks, and sharp details? Prioritize features like contrast ratio and panel technology (LED vs. Mini-LED) if picture quality is key.
Smart TV features: Do you want a user-friendly platform with access to streaming services and apps? Different TVs offer various smart TV platforms (e.g., Google TV, Roku, webOS).
Refresh rate: Gamers, pay attention! Refresh rate (measured in Hz) determines how many times per second the picture refreshes. Higher refresh rates are crucial for smooth, blur-free visuals in fast-paced games.
Sound quality: If you prioritize a cinematic audio experience, consider TVs with decent built-in speakers or factor in the cost of a soundbar.
What type of picture quality can I expect for under $700?
While you might not get the absolute top-tier picture quality of high-end TVs, you can still find options with decent color reproduction, contrast, and upscaling technology that helps make even older content watchable:
LED TVs: These are the most common type and offer a good balance of features and affordability under $700. Look for models with features like direct backlighting for better uniformity.
QLED TVs: A step up from traditional LED TVs, QLED technology can offer improved brightness and color compared to standard LED. However, they might not be the most common option under $700.
Mini-LED TVs: Emerging as a strong contender, Mini-LED technology offers improved contrast and deeper blacks compared to traditional LED TVs. While still pricier than standard LED, some options might fall within the sub-$700 range, offering a taste of this cutting-edge technology.
Are there any TVs under $700 with anti-glare technology?
While not as prevalent as in higher-end models, some budget TVs under $700 might incorporate anti-glare features. These could include matte screen coatings or technologies that reduce reflections. Look for TVs specifically marketed with anti-glare properties if glare reduction is a major concern.
Is it worth waiting for sales to buy a TV under $700?
Absolutely! Major sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer significant discounts on TVs, including those in the sub-$700 range. If you have some flexibility, waiting for a sale can help you stretch your budget further and potentially land a higher-quality TV for the same price.
Is there a big difference between 4K and 8K resolution in TVs under $700?
For TVs under $700, the difference between 4K and 8K resolution is minimal. Since most content readily available is still in 4K, the benefits of 8K won’t be as noticeable, especially on smaller screen sizes commonly found in the sub-$700 range. Focus on other picture quality factors like contrast ratio and panel technology when choosing a TV under $700.
