2023’s best TVs for under $1,000 [wafact]

There’s no two ways about it: the best TVs, especially big ones, are pretty dang expensive. No matter what brand you go with, if you’re looking for something in the 55-inch range or larger, it gets tougher to find a reputable make and model without spending a mint (we’ve also got a list of the best TVs under $500 if that’s more to your liking). For some shoppers, investing upwards of a grand can really stretch the budget, and we completely understand. But there are several 50- to 65-inch-plus TVs out there that look great, perform nicely, and cost less than $1,000.

We’re not kidding, and we’ve done the tough job of vetting and testing the best TVs under $1,000 that you can buy right now. And guess what? One of the models is the amazing Hisense U8K, one of our favorite QLED TVs for 2023!

Hisense 55-inch U8K ULED

The best TV for under $1,000

Our favorite TV for under $1,000 is the incredible 55-inch Hisense U8K, and this wasn’t a tough call in the slightest. Our own editor-at-large, Caleb Denison, was totally blown away by a number of the U8K’s impressive features, but a true standout was its peak brightness capabilities. For those nit nerds who have a vested interest in those kinds of specs, we captured max brightness output at 2,000 nits (although it promises only 1,500), which is pretty darn good in our book! The U8K also scores big in the color accuracy and motion clarity departments (with the former being slightly better than the latter).

HDR connoisseurs will also be pleased to know that the U8K supports HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision. And as far as streaming content goes, we can never stop singing the praises of Google TV, which just so happens to be Hisense’s operating system of choice. Stream movies and TV shows from services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and Max, while Google builds personalized recommendations for you based on your viewing history.

In terms of sound quality, the U8K isn’t too shabby either. In fact, Hisense is really the last of a dying breed when it comes to TV companies that care about giving you decent speakers. No, it’s not a surround-sound replacement, but if you’re stuck without Dolby Atmos or even a soundbar, the U8K’s onboard audio will do just fine.

Hisense 65-inch U7K

The runner-up

The Hisense U7K is extremely close to being a carbon copy of the company’s U8K flagship, but there are a few picture and sound features that hold this model back just a tiny bit. But if you’re looking to score one of the best deals you can get on one of the best 65-inch TVs in 2023, these little demerits may work in your favor. On paper, the U8K has less local dimming zones (384 compared to 1,008 on the 65-inch U8K), a lower peak brightness (1,000 nits compared to the U8K’s 1,500), and two missing audio channels (the U7K is billed as a 2.1 system, while the U8K rocks a 2.1.2 array). Otherwise, the U7K shares the same mini-LED and quantum-dot tech for incredible color and contrast (with support for Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG).

Differences aside though, the U7K is still a phenomenal TV with next-gen gaming features, including its Game Mode Pro. which utilizes HDMI 2.1 that automatically adjusts to gaming with auto low latency mode (ALLM), and has a 144Hz variable refresh rate (VRR) for lag-free PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S gaming. Dolby Atmos support also means excellent immersive surround sound from your capable receiver and speaker system or compatible Atmos soundbar, which we have several suggestions for, should you need one.

The Hisense U7K, like all of Hisense’s latest TVs, runs Google TV’s smart interface for all things Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and more. It’s also Google Assistant-capable for searching for TV shows and movies, as well as controlling smart home devices with your voice.

TCL 65-inch Q7 QLED

An awesome TCL

TCL has been featured in this roundup for quite some time and, quite frankly, if some of TCL’s 2022, 2021, and even 2020 models were still readily available, they’d still have a home on this list because they hold up so well. The 2023 TCL Q7 QLED performs like an amalgamation of every great TV the company has ever made. The TCL name has come a long way to become one of the best TV brands on the market, and anyone looking for a powerful QLED TV for less than a grand will be interested in this TV.

Its arresting brightness performance has been improved thanks to its High Brightness Pro LED backlight at up to 1,000 nits peak. The Q7’s backlight also has more than 200 full-array local dimming zones that dynamically adapt to on-screen content. Boasting quantum dot-boosted colors, advanced HDR support (Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG), and gamer-optimized 240Hz VRR (the Q7 has a native 120Hz refresh rate), the Q7 QLED performs like it costs way more than a grand.

Google TV runs the show for all things smart and smart-adjacent (like Google Chromecast). Similar to Hisense’s duel of the U8K and U7K models, the only differentiator between TCL’s Q7 and QM8 is the amount of local dimming zones and peak brightness levels. If you’ve got the extra dough to spare, you may want to opt for the company flagship, but the Q7 is still an incredible pick.

Amazon 65-inch Fire TV Omni QLED

The best value

Amazon’s first-party TVs are pretty good when it comes to overall picture quality, but even better when it comes to saving you cash, and that’s where the Fire TV Omni QLED comes in.

Amazon has been making TVs for a few years now, and while they’re not the kinds of sets we’d point all our friends toward, these Alexa-powered displays are great when funds are limited. But you know what? The 65-inch Omni QLED is actually pretty awesome all-around, and it costs far less than the average 65-inch LED at around $800.

Perhaps the biggest win to write home about is that the Omni QLED supports each and every HDR format out there (Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, HDR10, and HLG). So whether you’re streaming your favorite movies from Netflix or popping in your 4K Blu-ray copy of Jurassic World: Dominion, the Omni QLED is equipped to push the kind of breathtaking brightness, colors, and contrast that one should expect from an HDR viewing. This Amazon Omni TV also has Amazon’s Adaptive Brightness feature that, if utilized, actively measures the lighting in your room and optimizes the TVs brightness. It also features the Fire TV Ambient Experience that turns the TV into an art display when idle — it can feature your photos, Alexa widgets, and more than 1,000 works of art.

Omni also has Alexa built in, allowing you to control all the smart home devices in your house. Yes, the Omni QLED has a little bit of trouble with light blooming, and the refresh rate only tops out at 60Hz, but it’s going to be pretty difficult to score this insane of a deal for a screen as big, bright, and colorful as this one.

LG 55-inch B2 OLED

An OLED for less

The LG B2 Series has been around for a minute, but that’s why you’ll get such an excellent deal on this mighty midtier set that features LG’s OLED picture technology.

We were eager to get an LG OLED on this list. No, the 55-inch B2 Series isn’t one of the company’s newest sets, but LG’s previous-gen models tend to stick around for quite some time. Put up against the 2023 G3 or C3 Series (or even the 2022 C2 Series), the B2 doesn’t deliver the same kind of brightness and picture processing that you’ll find on its higher-priced siblings, but don’t let that deter you. In fact, the a7 Gen5 AI Processor 4K does a really awesome job at bringing as much pixel power to the table as possible, especially when it comes time to upscale a non-4K source.

The B2 Series also includes a number of great gaming features, including Nvidia G-Sync, FreeSync Premium, and VRR support. Of course, it would be nice if we could say these features worked in unison with a 120Hz panel, but the B2’s native 60Hz screen is one of a few sacrifices to keep the price low. But if you’ve been dying to get into an OLED for a while, and money’s been the main limitation, the 55-inch B2 Series comes in at just under $1,000.

Samsung 70-inch C60 QLED

A big screen for less than $1K

It’s not an overperformer in the picture quality department, but for the size and the price, the Samsung 70-inch C60 QLED delivers a solid big TV experience, especially for fans of the Samsung name that want as big of a TV as they can get.

Sometimes the most important part of a new flat-screen purchase is making sure the screen is as big as possible. Unfortunately, most 65-inch-plus TVs cost a pretty penny, but we were determined to find a make and model that came in below cost, while still delivering an awesome picture, and so we’ve landed on the Samsung 70-inch C60 QLED. To be honest, we didn’t think we’d be able to include a Samsung in this roundup at all. We all know it makes amazing TVs, but for something on the bigger side, they’re usually way more than $1,000. The C60 really fits the bill though.

As far as picture tech goes, the Quantum Processor Lite handles all 4K optimization, ensuring that even SDR sources look crisp and colorful. There’s also some pretty decent HDR support (HDR10+ and HLG) and motion acceleration built in for good measure. The latter is much needed though, because a big part of your savings on the C60 comes from the set’s native 60Hz refresh rate. Yeah, it’s not exactly ideal for a larger screen, and we don’t recommend this TV for gamers, but there’s plenty to love about this Samsung (including awesome smart TV features and Object Tracking Sound Lite), even though it doesn’t have a 120Hz panel.

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