Bargain TVs

Affordable boxes that won’t break the bank

One advantage of buying a budget TV from a brand that’s been involved with TVs as long as Panasonic has is that you can get ‘drip down’ technology. Tech, in other words, that was once only found on high-end TVs, but has gradually seeped down to cheaper models.

This is exactly why the GX600 is so attractive. Its 4K picture processing engine is derived from much more expensive TV hits

from Panasonic’s back catalogue. Combined with the GX600’s unusually talented backlight controls, the processor delivers pictures that try to track as closely as possible the colour, contrast and sharpness designed by the

filmmakers in their mastering suites.

The results don’t look as punchy as those of some rival budget TVs,

but the balance and refinement on show is very impressive. Especially if you feed it a source that unlocks its support – unusual at this price level – for the premium HDR10+ HDR format.

$790, panasonic.com

Inevitably for its price, the 55RU7020 doesn’t get Samsung’s QLED technology. But while this means it lacks the colour richness and brightness that are QLED’s trademarks, it doesn’t stop the set from delivering better contrast, colour and sharpness than the vast

majority of the sub-$1,000 TV world.

As is almost always the case with Samsung LCD TVs, the 55RU7020 uses a VA panel rather than an IPS one. So viewing angles

are a little limited, but contrast is well above par.

In fact, while it’s under $700 now, it cost much more when it first launched a few months ago. So it’s kind of cheated its way on to our

list (not that we’re complaining!), and this means you’re really getting a lower mid-range level of performance at a budget price.

It’s not just a hit with its pictures, either. It also carries the same version of Samsung’s latest proprietary smart TV platform, meaning you get the same massive library of apps and easy to follow interface.

$640, samsung.com