Cheap Smart TV Deals In May 2026

Smart TVs: The Basics

If you want the latest tech in your TV, you've come to the right place. Smart TVs are getting better every year, including upgrades like better resolution and smart assistant integration. Below, you'll find our buying advice, plus the top brands and popular accessories to help you get the best TV for your home.

From the Blog:

Can You Still Buy a Non-Smart TV?

The Ultimate TV Buying Guide

Everything You Need to Know About the Latest TV Technologies

When Is the Best Time to Buy a TV?

Popular TV Brands

• Samsung
• LG
• Vizio
• Sony
• Sharp
• TCL

Budget TV Brands

• Toshiba
• Philips
• JVC
• Insignia
• Seiki
• Sceptre
• RCA
• Westinghouse

Recommended Accessory

Wall mounts : A good mount will help your TV take up less space in your home. When choosing a wall mount for your TV, ensure you have the wall room to use it, and make sure you pick the right size mount for your TV to avoid any unfortunate accidents.

Pros of Smart TVs

• Less equipment : You don't have to worry about cable or satellite connections when you’re just streaming content.
• Easy access: Download apps and access all your subscriptions in one place.

Cons of Smart TVs

• Less local content: You may need an external tuner for local over-the-air channels.
• Loss of cable: You night not have access to niche cable channels.
• Privacy concerns: Privacy can be an issue with smart TVs, as some vulnerabilities can arise.

Common Terminology

• LED LCD: Sets with this notation have traditional LCD panels backlit by light-emitting diodes. More often than not, you'll see these referred to as LED TVs.
• QLED: Also known as Quantum LED, it's a marketing term devised by Samsung. The company uses it to describe its newer LED TVs, which are made with traditional LCD panels and LED backlights. However, between the LCD panel and the LED backlight, there's a nanoparticle filter that can produce more pure and saturated colors. You'll see this term on sets by Samsung and companies that have partnered with Samsung, like TCL.
• OLED: Organic light-emitting diode displays don't use LCD panels. Rather, these sets can adjust the luminosity of each individual pixel. This means they can display pure blacks and you get an "infinite contrast ratio," which can lead to exceptional picture quality. According to Rtings.com, OLED does have its drawbacks, with slight image retention and changes in brightness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which brand is best for smart TVs?

Is it worth buying a smart TV?

Julie joined DealNews in 2015. Her work has been featured on MSN, Business Insider, Lifehacker, The Motley Fool, GoBankingRates, and Moneyish.