Vizio Quantum VQD43M-0801 43"

A shockingly good 120Hz gaming monitor disguised as a 43-inch TV, with Dolby Vision that embarrasses screens twice its price. Just don't you dare use the built-in speakers.

The HDR support is the absolute best right now for this price bracket, landing in the 95th percentile in our database. Dolby Vision on a sub-$200 screen is a genuine surprise, and it makes supported games and movies pop more than they have any right to. Gaming performance is a standout too, with VRR and ALLM keeping things smooth. The real shocker is the audio, though. It's one of the worst we've seen, a real letdown at the 13th percentile. You'll want a soundbar or a headset from day one.

The TCL QM8K and Hisense U8 Series are better all-around TVs with superior picture quality and brightness, but they cost significantly more. If you're just watching movies, save up for one of those. The LG OLED evo, Samsung QN990F, and Sony BRAVIA 9 are in a different league entirely. This Vizio's real competition is a budget 1080p gaming monitor, and it smokes most of them by adding 4K resolution and Dolby Vision into the mix for the same money.

At $158, this is a no-brainer for a specific type of buyer. You're getting a 120Hz gaming display with top-tier HDR format support for less than a decent computer monitor. The value proposition falls apart if you need great built-in sound or a brilliant movie-watching experience, but for a desk or a small gaming den, it's hard to beat.

The Vizio VQD43M-0801 is a weirdly specific little TV that knows exactly what it wants to be: a budget gaming monitor that happens to also stream Netflix. For $158, you're getting a 43-inch 4K QLED panel with Dolby Vision and a real 120Hz refresh rate at 1080p. That's kind of nuts. The picture quality isn't going to blow you away in a dark room, and the built-in audio is rough, but if you're plugging in a PS5 or a PC and sitting up close, this thing punches way above its price tag.

If you're looking for a cinematic living room TV with deep blacks and room-filling sound, this isn't it. Go get a Hisense U6 Series instead. The Vizio's picture quality is just average and the audio is a weak spot, making it a poor choice for a primary family TV.

Buy this if you need a small, cheap display for a desk or a bedroom gaming setup and you already own headphones or a soundbar. The 120Hz panel and excellent HDR support make it a killer value for console and PC gamers on a tight budget. If you're furnishing a living room for movie nights, look elsewhere. The audio is just too weak and the picture quality is merely solid, not spectacular.