Who doesn't love unwinding after a long day by watching their favourite TV show? Sitting with a cup of tea or a glass of wine on the sofa, it's definitely one of our favourite forms of self-care.
If you're looking to upgrade or simply purchase a new TV, you have many different options to choose from. You've got to take into account screen types lke LED, QLED and OLED, but also whether you want a more compact option – such as a 32-inch TV. Or perhaps you're upgrading to a model with a slightly bigger screen, such as one of the best 40-inch Smart TVs or even a 43-inch TV or larger.
The best TVs under £500 at a glance:
• Best overall TV under £500: Amazon Fire TV - View on Amazon
• Best TV under £500 for speed: SAMSUNG UE50CU7100KXXU - View on Currys
• Best TV under £500 for gaming: HISENSE 43A6KTUK - View on Currys
Whatever you're looking for, we've listed the cream of the crop, and all for under £500, so you won't need to blow your budget to find your ideal TV.
Ready to start shopping? Purchase your TV below:
The best TVs under £500
Best overall TV under £500
If you're after a TV that can do a bit of everything, the Amazon Fire TV is sure to impress. The 4K display brings the best out of every show and movie you watch, and combined with the great refresh rate, makes this a suitable TV to game with as well. Our only complaint is that reaching the ports around the back will definitely require a bit of stretching.
Pros
- Brilliant 4K display
- Versatile, suitable for gaming
Cons
- Ports are quite far at the back
| Screen size | 43" |
| Display | 4K UHD LED |
| Connections | HDMI x 3, USB x 2 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz |
- Customer review: "Whilst this is a budget television, this still delivers an incredible viewing experience. The HDR colours just pop with vibrance and the clarity of images is as sharp as you'd expect from a 4k television. I tried my PlayStation 5 shortly after setting up the TV and this is where I'm most impressed so far, it exceeds my previous 4k/HDR10 television hugely."
Best TV under £500 for speed
www.currys.co.uk
Nothing is quite as annoying as painfully slow TV menus, which is why we adore the SAMSUNG UE50CU7100KXXU's speedy processor. It's more than capable of making menu navigation a breeze. We're quite fond of the design as well, with a sleek build that doesn't take up too much space even at this screen size.
Pros
- Brilliant processor
- Sleek, thin design
Cons
- Individual speaker power is so-so
| Screen size | 50" |
| Display | 4K LED |
| Connections | HDMI x 3, USB x 2 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz |
- Customer review: "An excellent television with all the facilities I wanted and many more. Be aware that the legs stick out several centimetres at the front and back and may cause problems depending on where you stand the tv. If wall mounting isn't an option, consider the space available before buying."
Best TV under £500 for gaming
www.currys.co.uk
If gaming is your priority, we recommend the HISENSE 43A6KTUK. It has fantastically low latency for TV, meaning your inputs will go through with minimal delay. It's also a plain good TV for value, so if you're on a budget, this is worth considering.
Pros
- Fantastic value
- Low latency
Cons
- Works best when paired with a soundbar
| Screen size | 43" |
| Display | LED |
| Connections | HDMI x 3, USB x 2 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz |
- Customer review: "It's a very nice TV, it's not my primary one but certainly does nicely for the bedroom, the PlayStation plays well through it and I like that I have multiple HDMI's for all my gadgets, I also have a soundbar to boost the sound as it's a bit tinny for my liking."
Best TV under £500 for wall-mounting
Mounting your TV on a wall is a great way to save surface space, and the Panasonic TX-43MX610B is a brilliant TV to do so with. It's easy to set up, both on the wall and to get running. Best of all, the sound quality is great here, which you want for a TV that'll sit a bit further away from you than normal.
Pros
- Easy to wall-mount
- Great sound quality
Cons
- Not the most energy-efficient
| Screen size | 43" |
| Display | 4K LED |
| Connections | HDMI x 3, USB x 2 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz |
- Customer review: "Was everything I hoped for and expected. Picture quality is very good even when upscaling SD or HD and watching 4K video streams is top drawer. Takes a while to tweak the picture to get it right as there are many options but would recommend getting away from the defaults very quickly and switching to "Cinema" mode which, in itself, is close to perfection."
Best TV under £500 for small living rooms
www.currys.co.uk
Another impressive product, the Sony Bravia KD32W800P1U has excellent image quality. Featuring Live Colour Technology which creates sharp and vibrant videos and images. Additionally, it boasts Google Assistant which can be accessed via the remote.
Pros
- A good number of connections and ports
- Great picture quality and refresh rate
Cons
- May be a bit on the small side for a larger living room
| Screen size | 32" |
| Display | LED |
| Connections | HDMI 2.0b x 3, USB x 2 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz |
- Customer review: "Excellent quality picture and sound quality also very good. No sound bar is needed which is a big plus when space is at a premium. Really good value for money."
What’s 4K and what is Ultra HD?
Both of these things refer to the resolution of the TV. 4K screens have four times more pixels than HD screens, which means you'll get clearer and more crisp images.
What size TV do I need?
This completely depends on the space you're working with, as well as your needs. However, if you're too close to a TV, no matter how high the quality of the image is, it's going to look blown out. Having said that, if it's too far, you won't be able to enjoy the film or show you're watching.
That's why we've decided to put together a short guide of the minimum distance you should have from the TV:
40-inches - 80 inches
50-inches - 100 inches
55-inches - 108 inches
60-inches - 120 inches
75-inches - 150 inches
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William Lobley is one of the Deputy Commerical Content Editor for What's The Best and a contributor to Yours. In this role, he oversees the best-of listicles, how-to guides and product reviews that appear across tech specialist areas.