Best New TVs
Under $500: Samsung EH4000
Bing Shopping: Samsung EH4000
The small-scale Samsung EH4000 series is considered best in class for its size. Available in 26-inch and 32-inch LCD models with a 720p resolution, these sets get praise for picture quality even at that lower resolution. Reviewers like the surprisingly deep blacks and “even better color,” according to ConsumerSearch, an online review aggregator.
Under $500: Toshiba 32C12OU
Bing Shopping: Toshiba 32C12OU
CNet calls this 32-inch Toshiba LCD the “best dirt-cheap TV.” Selling points (besides the super-low price) include “relatively deep” blacks and good viewing quality in bright rooms. You’ll get a max of 720p resolution, but the consensus is that you don’t need more than that on such a small screen.
Under $500: Vizio E320-iAO
Bing Shopping: Vizio E320-iAO
The Vizio E320-iAO LED-based LCD offers a 32-inch screen with 720p resolution, and adds Smart TV capabilities via Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity for what CNet deems a “little powerhouse.” No need for external boxes – this Vizio integrates 10 streaming services (Hulu Plus, Netflix, Pandora, etc.) into the set itself.
$500 to $1,000: Panasonic TC-PUT50
Bing Shopping: Panasonic TC-PUT50
This well-priced plasma from Panasonic garners major praise from CNet editors, who call it “one of the best TVs we’ve seen, with astounding picture quality for the money.” The quality of blacks and shadow detail is excellent, and at under a grand you also get 3D and Smart TV, 1080p and a spacious 50-inch screen.
$500 to $1,000: Samsung PN51E490B4F
Bing Shopping: Samsung PN51E490B4F
Flat-screens priced under $1,000 fall into the “budget” range, and PCMag.com singles out this Samsung for approval in that bracket as its Editor’s Choice. The 51-inch plasma screen provides 3-D fun (two pairs of glasses are included), while the color levels on this set are “nearly perfect.”
$500 to $1,000: Vizio E601I-A3
Bing Shopping: Vizio E601I-A3
Considered the “best big-screen LED TV value” at CNet, this Vizio is a room-filling 60 inches and offers crisp 1080p resolution, Smart TV streaming and a sleek, thin bezel surrounding the set. “Highly accurate color” and “very good bright-room performance” create a gorgeous viewing experience. Even the remote is notable, sporting a QWERTY keyboard on one side.
$1,000 to $1,500: Vizio M3DOKD
Bing Shopping: Vizio M3DOKD
Choose from big (47 inches) or really big (55 inches), and you’ll get a 1080p set that ConsumerSearch calls “the best LED TV overall.” That high praise likely comes from black levels and color accuracy that blows away TVs costing hundreds more. And although the screen is glossy, it doesn’t reflect room lights in a distracting way.
$1,000 to $1,500: Panasonic TC-PST50
Bing Shopping: Panasonic TC-PST50
Inky blacks, superb shadow detail and true colors make this set a joy to behold. Panasonic adds 3-D, 1080p, Smart TV streaming and an impressive 55-inch size to make the ST50 series a “value standard among videophile-grade TVs” according to CNet. PCMag.com lauds its “robust audio,” which isn’t a typical compliment for flat-screens.
$1,000 to $1,500: Sharp Aquos LE640U
Bing Shopping: Sharp Aquos LE640U
Looking for the “best budget big-screen LCD?” ConsumerSearch tags this Sharp Aquos model as the critical hit in that category. Two screen sizes (52-inch and 60-inch models) typically sell for under $1,500, providing built-in Wi-Fi, an enhanced 120 Hz refresh rate, and “Aquos Advantage Live,” a help interface CNet deems “the best in the business.”
$1,500 to $2,000: Panasonic TC-PGT50
Bing Shopping: Panasonic TC-PGT50
The TC-PGT50 series from Panasonic goes big and bold with sets 50 inches and larger, and CNet puts them in “the top tier of plasma TVs.” Lauded for both their sexy design and superb tech, these models also come loaded with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, simple-to-use help menus and a remote control that actually gets compliments.











