The Biggest Screen Option: Insignia ns-55d510na19

Price 280

Size 54.6 inch

Comments This is Best Buy’s brand. It has the lowest resolution on the list, the lowest reviews (although
there isn’t really much info on it anywhere), and the worst brand reputation on the list. However, it
has the biggest screen and probably the lowest price point. It is possible these two factors outweigh
everything else. Also, this is the only TV I can find that is not a Smart TV

The Cheapest Option: TCL 43S423

Price 230

Size 42.5 inch

Comments TCL is probably better than Insignia but worse than everything else on the list. Unlike the
Insignia, this is a 4K Smart TV. Some reviews suggest it has poor sound and build quality, but they
were a pretty small percentage of what I read. Overall, the TV has pretty decent scores across the
board. In fact, it actually beats out the LG TV on the list in basically every category rtings.com uses to
score TVs. If you are okay with getting a sort of “off-brand” TV, this is a pretty decent choice. They
also sell a 48.5 inch version at Sam’s Club for 50 dollars more.

The “Best Value” Option: Vizio E43-F1

Price 330

Size 42.5 inch

Comments On the tier list of brands, Vizio is solidly in the middle. This TV almost certainly has the best
picture quality on the list. According to rtings.com, this is the best budget TV on the market. Even
though it is the most expensive one on the list, everyone seems to think it is the highest quality per
dollar you can get for less than $500. Has the added benefit of including a component input for the
Wii, which most other modern TVs do not have.

The Cheaper Vizio: Vizio D43-F1

Price 290

Size 42.5 inch

Comments This TV is pretty similar to the Vizio E series, it’s just one level down. Same size, same inputs,
same resolution, same refresh rate, same Smart TV features/operating system. It will be slightly worse
in some respects (no HDR, for example), but based on scores I’m seeing online I am not sure I am
convinced that the E series is worth the extra 40 bucks for users like us.

Sony, Samsung and LG are all unanimously considered the top TV manufactures. All the Sony TVs are
out of our price range, so I selected the best LG TV and the best Samsung TV that are in out budget. In
general, Samsung will have noticeably better picture quality but be more expensive. LG will have the better

1
smart platform and better viewing angles (not only will the colors look better when viewing the screen at an
angle, LG screens handle glare/reflection better), but worse contrast and color gamut.

The LG Option: UK6090

I originally only had 42.5 inch version on the list, but you mentioned at Sams today that you thought a 49”
seemed a lot bigger than a 43”, and I saw the 49” version of this one wasn’t crazy expensive.

Price 290/320

Size 42.5 inch/48.5 inch

Comments rtings.com says that this model is pretty comparable to the Samsung model on the list. In a
bright room with wide viewing angles, the LG is better. Watching a movie with the lights off while
sitting pretty directly in front of the screen would be better on the Samsung. The other main difference
is that the LG has 3 HDMI ports, 2 USB port and a component port, while the Samsung TV has 2
HDMI and 1 USB.

The Samsung Option: UN43NU6900FXZA

Price 300

Size 42.5 inch

Comments I thought you might like this one just because it is from Samsung. It has slightly better ratings in
build quality, brightness, and contrast than the LG. Both are slightly below the Vizio E series as well,
but all the TVs in this price range are pretty close. The other main thing to point out about this one is
that all the other TVs on here come with a 1 year warranty. This one has a 3 year warranty.