5 Cheap HDTVs You Should Avoid at All Costs
You aren't getting and OLED or QLED, that is for sure.
It’s true that everyone loves a great deal. But sometimes, you have to look past the actual dollars spent and really try to analyze exactly what you purchased.
The worst feeling after buying a TV is when you know that there is a tiny regret in the back of your mind – and it continues to grow as the days pass. Yes, you saved a few bucks, but you’re going to have to stare at this lackluster panel for the next five years.
To save you from future headaches, here are five TVs you should probably stay away from.
The first TV might be a surprise to some because it’s Insignia, which is a Best Buy brand. Sort of like the Frankenstein of the TV world, this brand uses parts from past-year versions of LG, Toshiba and Samsung TVs. Sometimes, you don’t exactly know what you’re paying for.
As for the Insignia 50-inch LED HDTV, it will only set you back $310, and you will get a decent picture for the relative small price. The design is pretty pedestrian on all fronts, but what really irks many consumers are the tin-can-like speakers. Many have gone into the settings to boost the sound, but mostly with no luck. The best option is to spend a few more dollars on a passable soundbar.
Next up is the ultra-cheap Sceptre 50-inch UHD TV. Priced at only $210, you really can’t go wrong here, but if you really desire blow-you-away picture quality, you better look elsewhere. In fact, the picture quality is quite mediocre, mainly because of a combination of terrible backlighting and poor image processing. But hey, if $210 is all you can scrape up, then go for it.
If it’s smart capabilities you’re after, then you better ignore the Hitachi 43-inch HDTV. In short, there are no smart capabilities, and then it goes downhill quickly from there. Its HD picture quality is quite poor and it doesn’t even support HDR technology. Perhaps Hitachi forgot we’re in the 21st century.
Another HDTV that best belongs in the trash bin is the Westinghouse 55-inch HDTV. You’ll have to fork over $400 for this product, but at least you will get HDR support. It’s a ho-hum viewing experience and the high-definition picture quality and 4K are both mediocre. If you have wraparound seating, keep in mind that this TV has a narrow viewing angle.
At $380, the RCA 60-inch UHD TV might seem like an amazing bargain. But if you hold any expectations for picture quality, you’ll surely be disappointed with this purchase. “4K” was in the description, but you’ll wonder where that kind of resolution is hiding. To kick you while you’re down, the HDR is also highly ineffective.
Ethen Kim Lieser is a Tech Editor who has held posts at Google, The Korea Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, AsianWeek and Arirang TV. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife and two cats.