A significant number of televisions from leading brands are available for under £300, according to recent testing. However, the quality of these budget-friendly models varies considerably, with many not meeting recommended standards.
Out of all models tested, approximately 10%, or 40 TVs, fall into the sub-£300 price bracket. While no 'Best Buy' models were found in this category, some achieved a 'Great Value' rating, scoring at least 65% and being at least 20% cheaper than comparable TVs of their size.
The average overall score for TVs under £300 is 55%. Individual scores ranged from a high of 69% to a low of 33%. Common compromises in this price range include display and backlight technology, with OLED and Neo QLED TVs typically costing upwards of £600. Basic HDR formats are standard, but advanced options like HDR10+ and Dolby Vision are generally absent, except for Samsung's 4K TVs which support HDR10+.
Gaming features such as high refresh rates (above 60Hz), FreeSync, and variable refresh rates are also uncommon. Additionally, PVR functionality for recording live TV and voice control features are often missing from more basic remotes.