Buying a new TV is always an exciting process. Whether you opt for a model with a gorgeous OLED panel or simply buy something much larger for the Super Bowl, most people want to get their shiny new display into their living room as quickly as possible. All the TVs look great in the showroom, so the picture quality is surely reflected at home, right?
It turns out that buyer’s remorse is a very common problem when making electronic purchases like televisions. Size is one of the most important factors when people look at new TVs, and all those inches can distract from shortcuts in terms of picture quality and processing. These shortcuts are especially noticeable in budget TVs. Popular budget models can approach over 100 inches while keeping a price tag around $1,000.
Even if your expensive new display has a sweet acronym like QLED and a bunch of 4K branding plastered on the box, you might start to notice some issues once you’re watching content at home. These TVs may be great for casual content like live TV and sports, but picture quality issues start to appear with more detailed content like 4K movies. These are some of the most common reasons why people regret buying a budget TV.
1. The TV is not bright enough
It’s impossible to look away from the TV section of a big box store like Costco during a routine shopping trip – and that’s intentional. All of these TVs have their settings set to force an unusually bright and saturated picture that pairs perfectly with the extremely detailed video clips playing on loop.
At home, a TV that looked great in the showroom may have a much poorer display. The only way to somewhat match the lighting experience of a big-box store is to place the TV on its “vivid” or “dynamic” video preset, which increases saturation and imposes a harsh blue tint on the screen to maximize perceived brightness. This is generally something you want to avoid if you’re looking for the best image quality.
Brightness is very expensive for TV manufacturers. Even with new technologies like Mini LED displays that can get ridiculously bright, color accuracy remains an issue. More expensive TVs may not be as bright as an attractive budget model, but their picture quality is generally better.
2. HDR is dull and dark
HDR is supported by the majority of TVs these days, but not all displays are capable of producing an excellent high dynamic range picture. Much like the increased cost of brightness, the features required for effective HDR can significantly increase the price of a TV. You need excellent local dimming to create impactful highlights without sacrificing the darker parts of the screen, and the TV is pushed much harder as the display goes from 8-bit to 10-bit.
Budget TVs can technically support HDR, but that just means they are capable of receiving and displaying HDR signals. There are no requirements that the manufacturer must meet unless your TV is certified to a specific standard such as VESA’s DisplayHDR certification.
If your TV doesn’t support full local dimming, it’s usually best to turn off HDR and stick to SDR content. Normal backlighting simply isn’t enough to accurately display HDR content, which can make the image look dark and washed out. Even though it says HDR on the box, you should be wary of cheap smart TVs with this branding.
3. HDMI ports hamper in-game performance
Smart TVs can accommodate all your streaming needs with built-in apps, but most people will still end up connecting at least one device to their TV with an HDMI cable. Whether it’s a gaming console, computer, or soundbar, these ports on the back of your TV dictate the signal the display can receive from a device. A fancy gaming console like the PlayStation 5 supports 4K output at a 120Hz refresh rate, but that means nothing if your TV’s HDMI ports aren’t up to par.
Not all HDMI cables and ports are equal. There are several different HDMI standards with varying bandwidth levels. Most high-end TVs these days come with HDMI 2.1 ports capable of displaying 4K content at a refresh rate of 120 Hz. HDMI 2.1 has a bandwidth of 48 Gbps, more than double the bandwidth of regular HDMI 2.0 and quadruple that of the even older HDMI 1.4.
More and more TVs are catching up; Even budget models can now be equipped with multiple HDMI 2.1 ports, but there are still some gaps in the lower price ranges. You may need to plug your games console into a specific HDMI port on your TV to ensure the best performance, otherwise you may be handicapped by an HDMI port without the necessary bandwidth.
4. They don’t look great
TVs are so marketed with picture quality that it’s easy to forget about sound quality when purchasing. Sound has suffered as TVs have gotten smaller and thinner, and even the most expensive high-end TVs have soundscapes that leave audiophiles wanting. Things can really go wrong in the realm of low-budget TV, especially when watching movies designed for heavy-duty sound systems.
There’s really not much you can do to fix a TV with bad built-in speakers. Even changing the sound settings won’t change the audio output too much. This is why most people end up buying a soundbar for their TV setup, especially to make dialogue clearer.
Your living room setup can also change the way your TV speakers sound. Your room’s acoustics can cause echoes and other distortions, and most TV speakers don’t have good listening areas either. Movies and shows can appear strange to viewers sitting on the sidelines, and dialogue can become confusing if you sit too far from the TV.
5. They can’t connect to other devices
A TV is the centerpiece of most living rooms, and a good TV should be able to display whatever you throw at it. Although budget TVs have most of the common connections like HDMI, they may be missing some of the more specialized apps.
One of the biggest examples is phone mirroring with services like AirPlay. AirPlay is a common feature on many TVs today, but there are still a few exceptions that don’t have any form of mobile mirroring. If your TV doesn’t have something like AirPlay, you won’t be able to view photos and videos from your phone or tablet, which can make family gatherings a little disappointing.
Additionally, budget TVs may have limited or reduced connectivity in certain areas. Audio is a prime example of this, with things like eARC typically reserved for more expensive TVs. Your budget TV may support ARC for audio connectivity, but without enhanced eARC functionality, you won’t be able to enjoy features like Dolby Atmos.
