TCL S5-Series 43S551G 43"

The smartest cheap TV you can buy, with Dolby Vision and a killer Google TV interface. Just keep it out of bright rooms and don't expect silky-smooth gaming.

What surprised us most is how well the TCL AIPQ processor handles upscaling. We fed it some crusty old 1080p content and it looked cleaner than we expected on a 43-inch screen. The HDR performance is a standout in our database, landing in the 96th percentile, which is wild for a budget LED. Dolby Vision content from Netflix looks rich and punchy, even if the Direct LED backlight can't deliver the deep blacks of a pricier set. Gaming is solid with ALLM keeping input lag low, but the 60Hz panel means you're leaving some smoothness on the table if you have a current-gen console.

The TCL S5 goes head-to-head with the Roku Plus Series and the Hisense U8. The Roku Plus has a simpler interface that some people prefer, but it lacks Dolby Vision and the picture feels a bit flatter. The Hisense U8 is a different beast entirely with mini-LED and a 144Hz panel, but it costs two to three times as much. If you're a gamer with a PS5 or Xbox Series X, skip the S5 and save up for the Hisense. For everyone else just streaming shows and movies, the TCL's Google TV smarts and HDR quality make it the smarter buy over the Roku.

This is a no-brainer for the money. We're seeing prices as low as $190, which is absurd for a 4K Dolby Vision set with a proper smart platform. The price spread is wild though, with some vendors asking over $800. Don't get scammed. If you're paying more than $250 for this, you're doing it wrong. At the low end, it's the definition of a value buy.

The TCL S5-Series is the budget 4K TV to beat right now. For the price, you're getting a shockingly good smart TV experience with Dolby Vision and a genuinely intuitive Google TV interface. It's not going to blow you away with peak brightness or buttery-smooth motion, but for everyday streaming in a living room or bedroom, it punches way above its weight class. The one thing to know? This is the smartest $200-ish TV you can buy, and it makes spending more feel almost silly for a secondary screen.

If you're a serious gamer with a PS5 or Xbox Series X, this isn't your TV. The 60Hz panel and lack of HDMI 2.1 gaming features like 120Hz VRR will hold you back. Go grab a Hisense U8 or a TCL QM7 instead. Also, if this is going in a bright, sun-drenched living room, look for something with a higher peak brightness or a mini-LED backlight.

Buy it for a bedroom, a kid's room, or a secondary living space. The TCL S5-Series is the rare budget TV that doesn't feel like a compromise where it counts. The smart interface is best-in-class, the picture is vibrant with good content, and the price is low enough that you won't stress about it. Just don't expect it to be your main home theater centerpiece, and for the love of all things holy, don't pay more than $250.