Best TV by Budget
OLED vs QLED at Every Price Point (2026)
Updated April 2026
The OLED Entry Point
OLED becomes available around $900 with the LG B5 55-inch. Below that price, QLED is the only option. The meaningful OLED sweet spot starts at $1,300 with the LG C5, which has better brightness and 4x HDMI 2.1 ports. If your budget is under $800, focus entirely on which QLED gives the best picture for the money.
Budget Brackets
Under $500
No OLED available at this price
Hisense U6N 55"
Standard QLED with quantum dots, Dolby Vision, Google TV. Not Mini-LED but remarkably good picture for the money.
Alternative: TCL Q7C 55" ($550) - If you can stretch to $550, the Q7C adds Mini-LED with 480 zones and 4K 120Hz. A massive upgrade.
Verdict: QLED only. No OLED exists at this price point. The Hisense U6N is the best picture under $500.
$500 - $750
No OLED available at this price
TCL Q7C 65"
Mini-LED at 65 inches for $700 is exceptional value. 480 zones, 1,600 nits, 4K 120Hz, Dolby Vision.
Alternative: Hisense U8N 55" ($750) - If you prefer a smaller screen with better specs: 1,500 zones, 3,000 nits, 4K 144Hz.
Verdict: QLED only. Still below the OLED entry point. The TCL Q7C 65-inch is the standout pick.
$750 - $1,000
LG B5 55"
The cheapest OLED. Perfect blacks, infinite contrast, 0.1ms response. Lower brightness (800 nits) and only 2x HDMI 2.1, but the core OLED experience is present.
Hisense U8N 65"
65 inches of Mini-LED with 3,000 nits and 1,500 zones. Better for bright rooms. Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
Verdict: First OLED option appears. LG B5 for dark rooms. Hisense U8N 65" for bright rooms or bigger screens.
$1,000 - $1,500
LG C5 55"
The best-value OLED. 1,300 nits, 4x HDMI 2.1, Dolby Vision, excellent processing. The go-to for most buyers.
Samsung QN90F 55"
3,500 nits, 2,048 zones, Matte Display. The best QLED at any price. Ideal for bright rooms.
Verdict: The sweet spot. LG C5 for dark rooms and gaming. Samsung QN90F for bright rooms and sports. Both are excellent.
$1,500 - $2,000
Samsung S95F 55"
QD-OLED with the widest colour gamut. TV of the Year 2025. Exceptional for movies and gaming. 4K 144Hz.
Samsung QN90F 65"
65 inches of top-tier Mini-LED. 3,500 nits in a bigger screen. Hard to beat for bright room value.
Verdict: Flagship territory. S95F for the best OLED colour. QN90F 65" for the best QLED at a bigger size.
$2,000+
LG G5 55-77"
The brightest OLED ever at 2,800 nits. RGB Tandem panel. The premium choice for viewers who want the absolute best picture.
Samsung QN90F 75-85"
Massive screens with flagship Mini-LED quality. 75" at $2,300 is compelling when the LG G5 77" costs $3,800.
Verdict: If size matters most: QLED. If picture quality matters most: OLED. The LG G5 is the best TV you can buy.
When to Buy Last Year's Model
Previous-generation models at clearance prices are one of the best strategies in TV buying. The LG C4 at $900-$1,200 (clearance) gives you 95% of the C5's performance. The Samsung QN90D at $800-$1,100 is nearly identical to the QN90F. Best time to buy: September through November, when retailers clear stock for new models and Black Friday.
Budget FAQ
What is the best TV under $1,000?
For dark rooms: LG B5 55-inch OLED at $900. For bright rooms: Hisense U8N 65-inch Mini-LED at $1,000 or TCL Q7C 65-inch at $700. All three are excellent.
Is OLED worth the premium over QLED?
In a dark room, yes. The perfect blacks and infinite contrast are immediately visible. In a bright room, the premium is harder to justify since QLED's brightness advantage matters more.
Should I buy a smaller OLED or larger QLED?
If dark-room picture quality is your priority, a smaller OLED will look better than a larger QLED. If screen size and bright-room performance matter more, go bigger with QLED.
When do TV prices drop the most?
March-May (new model launches push old models to clearance), Black Friday/Cyber Monday (November), and Super Bowl season (January-February). Black Friday typically has the best deals.