For the best picture
TCL QM6K (55-inch)
Best for: Movie nights and console gaming on a budget
- Deep blacks from a Mini-LED backlight
- 144 Hz panel for fast console and PC games
Catch: Sound is hit and miss, glare shows in sunny rooms.
Best 4K TVs under $500
Three 55-inch TVs: the best picture, the brightest, or the plain cheap one.
Updated November 7, 2026
For a bright room
Hisense U65QF (55-inch)
Best for: Living rooms with lots of daylight
- Brightest HDR highlights of the three
- Sound is better than most budget sets
Catch: Fire TV menus push Prime Video, some blooming.
For the lowest price
Samsung U8000F (55-inch)
Best for: A bedroom or a second TV for everyday shows
- Natural colour in Filmmaker mode
- Quick response for casual gaming
What buyers love: the picture.
Catch: Dim, no local dimming, no Dolby Vision.
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Good to know
What matters at $500, and the trade-offs to expect.
Room brightness
A sunny room favours the Hisense. A dim room shows off the TCL's blacks.
Sound
All three speakers are thin. Budget a soundbar if dialogue matters to you.
Size
Prices here are for 55 inches. Both 50 and 65 inches exist in all three series.
The trade-offs that matter
Mini-LED or plain LED
The TCL and the Hisense dim zones of the backlight, so dark scenes look darker. The Samsung lights the whole screen at once, so blacks look grey at night.
Gaming
The TCL and the Hisense each have two HDMI 2.1 ports and run games at up to 144 Hz. The Samsung stops at 60 Hz.
Smart platform
The TCL runs Google TV, the Hisense Fire TV and the Samsung Tizen. All have the big streaming apps.
Final buying advice: Best all-round picture and gaming: the TCL QM6K. Bright room: the Hisense U6. Just need a big screen for little money: the Samsung U8000F.
How they compare
Specs from each maker. Price levels come from shop prices we checked recently; tap through for today's price.
| Model | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price level | Premium | Premium | Premium |
| Panel | 4K QD-Mini LED | 4K Mini-LED, full-array local dimming | 4K LED (VA), no local dimming |
| Refresh rate | 144 Hz native, VRR | 144 Hz native, VRR 48–144 Hz | 60 Hz |
| HDMI 2.1 ports | 2 | 2 | 0 (three HDMI 2.0) |
| HDR formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, HDR10, HLG | HDR10, HDR10+, HLG (no Dolby Vision) |
| Shop | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ |
Questions people ask
Is Mini-LED worth it on a cheap TV?
Yes, if you watch at night. The TCL and the Hisense dim parts of the backlight, so dark films look far deeper than on the Samsung.
Which of these is best for a PS5 or Xbox?
The TCL QM6K or the Hisense U6. Both take 4K at 120 Hz on two ports. The Samsung tops out at 60 Hz.
Do I need a soundbar with a budget TV?
Probably. Reviewers called the speakers thin on all three, though TechRadar found the Hisense better than expected.
Related guides
How we reached this
We shortlisted 4K TVs that independent reviewers rate well and that we saw selling under $500 at a major shop, then compared them on the makers' specs.
We haven't tested these products ourselves. Our picks weigh independent expert reviews against each maker's published specs and the prices we checked. Opinions are ours; facts link to where they come from. How we choose.
Sources: TCL US: QM6K series, Tom's Guide: TCL QM6K review, Digital Trends: TCL QM6K review, Hisense US: 55-inch U6 Series (55U65QF), Tom's Guide: Hisense U65QF Mini-LED TV review, TechRadar: Hisense U65QF review, Samsung US: 55-inch Crystal UHD U8000F, Expert Reviews: Samsung U8000F review, What Hi-Fi?: Samsung U8000F (UE43U8000F) review.