Can you get a good TV for less than £300?
Martin has more than 10 years of experience and has tested more than 1,500 TVs, soundbars and speakers - few people know more about AV
It might surprise you to hear that there are quite a few TVs available from the biggest brands for under £300 – we've tested dozens. But don't rush out and buy the first cheap TV you see, because the majority aren't worthy of a spot in your living room.
High-end TVs with four-figure prices tend to do well, shocker, but we test almost everything from the leading brands, from entry-level to flagship, so we're uniquely positioned to tell you which cheap TVs are worth your money.
When you buy, the size of TV and the features you need all impact the price, and a TV that gives you change from £300 won't be right for everyone – but it might be right for you.
See our guide to the best cheap TVs for our favourite low-cost models at different sizes.
Why you can trust our TV tests
Testing picture at every resolution
We watch numerous scenes to highlight visual noise, clarity, colour, contrast, motion and more. We treat every resolution the same, so you'll know if a TV we've tested will do them justice.
More than just high-end models
Where other outlets focus on high-end TVs, we test everything from entry-level ranges right up to flagship, big-screen behemoths in the exact same way.
Sounds good
Do you struggle to hear dialogue, or wish there was more bass, more balance, or more spatial sound with good stereo separation? Good news, our comprehensive audio tests cover all of that and more.
We test everything
We check how easy a TV is to set up, how they handle your personal data, whether they work well if you're blind or partially sighted, what gaming features they have, and more. No stone is left unturned.
How good are TVs that cost £300 or less?
Honestly? It's a real mixed bag, which is why you need to be careful. They aren't exactly uncommon either, 40 TVs (around 10% of the total available models we've tested) are £300 or less.
You won't find a Best Buy here, although one or two come close. But what you can get is a Great Value set. That's when a TV scores at least 65% and is at least 20% cheaper than all the TVs of its size.
4K and audio quality are a problem for these TVs, but there are several that get four stars for all these tests, while others can only manage two stars. This is evident in the score ranges. The top scoring TV under £300 scores 69% and the worst is a Don't Buy managing just 33%.
How sub-£300 TVs shape up in our tests
- Average score: 55%
- Average overall picture quality: three stars
- Average HD picture quality: four stars
- Average 4K picture quality: three stars
- Average sound quality: three stars
- Average ease of use rating: four stars
Head to our TV reviews and use the Great Value filter to see what's on offer from 43 to 75 inches.
What compromises are you making for a £300 TV?
There are some quality sacrifices. You're not going to get five-star sound or picture quality at this kind of price and there are features you won't get either. However, if you're unlikely to use or need the features you're missing out on, you could really be primed to start hunting in bargain territory.
Displays, backlights and resolution
High-end display and backlights are out. We've never seen an OLED cost less than around £600 and it's a similar story for Neo QLED TVs. Micro RGB backlights are the latest thing, they use individually powered red, green and blue LEDs, rather than just white or blue ones, to boost colour and brightness. Unsurprisingly, this tech is costly and if we ever see it come to entry-level TVs, it won't be for many years.
Most of these TVs are LCD, but some have nanocell and QLED displays, which are essentially added screen layers aiming to produce more vibrant colours. Crucially, the majority of these TVs are 4K, and you shouldn't really be choosing a HD one anymore because the picture doesn't come close to what 4K models manage and they don't tend to cost much less.
Extra features
More basic TVs don't always have PVRs, so you can't record or pause live TV once a USB hard drive is connected. Gaming features are often lacking as displays top out at 60Hz (more high-end models go up to 166hz). The likes of FreeSync and variable refresh rates are uncommon at this price, too. These also help games look smoother and reduce how long it takes the TV to respond to button presses on a game controller.
Voice control isn't a given either. The majority of TV remotes include a microphone and have Google Assistant or Alexa built-in. Entry-level TVs often have more basic remotes.
HDR
HDR formats are split into two camps: basic and advanced. All TVs support HDR10 and HLG, but only pricier ones support HDR10+, Dolby Vision and Dolby Vision IQ. The exception is Samsung, all its 4K TVs support HDR10+.
The difference in these formats is down to how they adjust contrast. The basic formats have a set adjustment for each show or film you watch, while advanced formats are more dynamic and adjust contrast to suit each scene. Some even factor in the ambient light in your room. Having advanced formats can be a good thing, but it's not a gaurantee. We've tested high-end sets with every HDR format incapable of making good use of them, while some cheaper sets use the basic formats to their fullest and look excellent.
Check our guide on HDR and the different formats if you want to dive in deeper.
Who needs these features?
Ultimately, none of these things are essential.
If you're a passionate gamer who wants to get the most out of their PS5 then a more high-end set with a 120Hz display is recommended. Demanding viewers who can't relax unless they know they are getting the very best picture quality will want to fork out for an OLED.
Anyone who wants solid picture and sound, with a simple operating system and access to their apps and channels will find something suitable for £300 or less.
Accessibility features are often lacking on cheaper TVs, too. See what accessibility features are available on moderns TVs and the best TVs for people who are blind or partially sighted.
Member exclusive: three great TVs for under £300
Logged in Which? members can see our top recommendations for a TV that costs less than £300. Not a member? Join Which? to get access to these recommendations and more than 350 other TV reviews.
What if you spend an extra £100?
You'll find a few more Great Value sets at bigger sizes, with a few more high scorers around the 68% mark, but there are still no Best Buys. Beyond bigger sizes and more choice of Great Value sets (the amount more than triples from four to 15) there isn't much reason to spend another £100.
Our current cheapest Best Buy is £599, but it is a sizeable 55-inch model and still a Great Value set that's much cheaper than other TVs this size. It was released in 2025, so probably won't be on sale for too much longer.
Moving up to one of the cheaper Best Buy sets brings better sound quality and more consistent picture that looks good at every resolution.
How to get a TV at its cheapest price
The biggest factor affecting TV prices is time on sale. TVs tend to reach their cheapest price after at least a year on shelves.
They release in the spring and summer, so waiting until the following year will give you wider range of options at prices at or below £300.
New TVs replace ones from the previous year and the need to shift stock is why the prices plummet. Waiting too long will see you miss out entirely though.
Our expert has hand-picked today's bargains in our guide to the best TV deals.
Why are these TVs so cheap?
We were surprised to see so many TVs launching at low prices in 2026. Usually it takes several months for the prices to fall to more pallatable amounts, but the models we've recommended here reached sub-£300 prices remarkably quickly.
One reason is the amount of data the TVs collect. They track what you watch and the things you search for to build an advertising profile. This way, the manufacturers can continue to make money long after your purchase.
Thankfully, we've got a guide to help stop your TV spying on you.
