The 6 Best TVs Under $1,500 You Can Buy Today

Hi there! Looking to upgrade to a more immersive viewing experience with a high-end television but don‘t want to overspend? As a tech analyst and home theater enthusiast myself, I‘ve put together this comprehensive 2023 buyer‘s guide to help you discover the perfect TV under $1,500 for your needs and room size.

Here‘s a quick overview of what we‘ll cover:

• Key factors to consider when choosing a new premium 4K or 8K smart TV
• Detailed reviews of 6 top-rated options across LED, OLED and QLED
• Specific guidance on selecting the right screen size for your space
• Insights on the real-world performance you can expect
• Additional tips on scoring the best deals

Let‘s get started! Based on extensive research and first-hand testing, I‘ll share my expert recommendations to help match you with your ideal TV.

Key Considerations When Buying a TV Under $1,500

With so many models and technical jargon to wade through, the TV buying process can feel overwhelming. Here I‘ll decode it all into plain English so you can zero in on the perfect television with confidence!

Display Technology Types

Today‘s premium TVs come in three major technology flavors, each with their own pros and cons:

LED/LCD TVs – The most common and affordable, use liquid crystal display (LCD) panels lit by tiny light emitting diodes (LEDs). Provides great picture quality for the money but can lack uniformity in dark scenes.

OLED TVs – Pricier but considered the gold standard in picture quality. Each pixel emits its own light for perfect black levels and vibrant image accuracy with wide viewing angles.

QLED TVs – Quantum dot LED TVs offer performance closer to OLED thanks to nanoparticles expanding the color range. Excellent for bright, colorful HDR content.

Confused? Here‘s a handy comparison chart:

As you can see, each technology has particular strengths at different price points.

Resolution and Key Specifications

Beyond display type, here are some other key features that impact your viewing experience:

Resolution – You want a minimum 4K resolution, which is 4 times sharper than old 1080p sets. 8K offers little benefit today since content is still catching up.

High Dynamic Range (HDR) – Essential technology that greatly improves contrast, color and brightness for far more realistic 4K picture quality. Main standards are HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision.

Refresh Rate – Measured in hertz (Hz), this determines how smoothly fast motion like sports and gaming renders without blurring. Aim for 120Hz or higher.

HDMI 2.1 – Latest connector standard that enables 4K video at 120 frames per second for gaming, variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM).

Smart TV Interface – For streaming access and smart home control. Assess ease of use, search and app selection during any hands-on testing.

Choosing the Optimal Screen Size

Picking the right display size for your physical room dimensions and seating distance is crucial for maximum enjoyment without eye or neck strain.

Here are my size recommendations based on viewing distance:

As you can see, a 55" screen is ideal for a small 12‘ x 12‘ room where you‘ll sit about 8 feet away. Move up to 65"-77" for larger spaces and further viewing distances to fill your field of vision for a cinematic experience.

Got a big open concept living room? Consider a 75"- 85" monster display. Just make sure your seating distances exceed 10 feet to avoid discomfort.

I‘ll include specific size options with each TV review ahead. Now let‘s explore top-rated models across display technologies and budget ranges!

1. LG C2 Series OLED TV – Best Overall Picture

Boasting LG‘s latest generation OLED panel and intelligent α9 Gen5 AI processor powering the visuals, the LG C2 Series tops my list thanks to spectacular picture quality and excellent smart features.

Let‘s unpack why:

Self-lit OLED Pixels

Each of the LG C2‘s pixels emits its own light, enabling perfect inky blacks since individual pixels can turn completely off. This also allows for infinite contrast alongside over a billion rich colors at wide viewing angles. Detailed shadow definition and vibrant HDR images come alive.

α9 Gen5 AI Processor

LG‘s latest α9 Gen5 AI processor leverages deep learning to optimize every scene. It also enhances upscaling of lower resolution content and makes adjustments based on ambient lighting conditions.

Gaming Features

For gaming, the OLED panel enables 0.1ms response time with extremely low input lag. The HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K video at 120Hz alongside variable refresh rate (VRR), auto low latency mode (ALLM) and Nvidia G-Sync. Big win for PS5 and Xbox Series X owners!

Smart TV & Audio

webOS 22 brings together popular streaming apps along with access to over 300 free LG channels. New for 2022 is Dolby Atmos support for more immersive audio quality.

Let‘s summarize the key specifications:

Display Technology: Self-lit OLED
Available Sizes: 55", 65", 77", 83"
Resolution: 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels)
Refresh Rate: 120Hz
HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
HDMI 2.1: 4 ports
Gaming Features: 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM, G-Sync
Audio: 40W 2.2 channel speakers with Dolby Atmos
Smart TV: webOS 22

Based on this top notch feature set and rave reviews praising its image accuracy, the LG C2 OLED is the best overall TV option under $1,500 if you want exceptional picture quality.

55" and 65" sizes cost between $1,300 – $1,800 while the massive 83" pushes the budget a bit over at around $3,000.

LG C2 OLED TV Pros

LG C2 Cons

So if visual splendor is your top priority alongside great audio and smart functionality, LG‘s stellar OLED TV lineup shines the brightest.

You‘d be hard pressed to find anything under $1,500 delivering the same wow factor as the LG C2 gets you. It earns my wholehearted recommendation for diehard cinephiles and gamers.

2. Sony X90K LED TV – Top Notch Brightness and Processing

Representing team LED/LCD we have Sony‘s cognitive intelligence powered X90K 4K TV series available in 55”, 65” and 75” screen sizes.

It utilizes Sony‘s powerful new Cognitive Processor XR chip leveraging artificial intelligence for intense contrast alongside XR Triluminos Pro color reproduction delivering over a billion rich hues.

Let‘s analyze the benefits for picture and gaming that earned the X90K my #2 spot:

Cognitive Processor XR

This processor mimics how human vision interprets images for optimized real world results by analyzing color, contrast and clarity. It leverages machine learning to continually upgrade processing logic and picture enhancements over time.

XR Backlight Master Drive

To maximize contrast control, the Cognitive Processor XR works in lockstep with the XR Backlight Master Drive controlling the full array local dimming (FALD) LED backlights with advanced processing.

Gaming Features

For gaming, there‘s dedicated BRAVIA Game Mode optimizing performance with 4K/120fps, variable refresh rates (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM) supported through the HDMI 2.1 ports.

Plus you get exclusive PS5-integrated features enabling HDR Tone Mapping, enhanced 3D audio for supported games and easier dashboard access to enabled titles.

Let‘s look at some key X90K LED TV specs:

Display Technology: Full Array LED
Available Sizes: 55", 65", 75"
Resolution: 4K Ultra HD (3,840×2,160)
Refresh Rate: 120Hz Native
HDR: HDR10, HLG
HDMI 2.1: 2 ports
Gaming Features: 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM
Audio: Acoustic Multi-Audio with 2.1ch speakers + 2 subwoofers
Smart TV: Google TV

With best-in-class visual processing that outperforms most LED TV rivals and full array local dimming delivering deep blacks, the vividly realistic picture of Sony‘s cognitive X90K series hugely impresses.

Sony X90K LED TV Pros

Sony X90K Cons

For LED based TVs, you‘ll struggle to beat the processing capabilities and visual punchiness of Sony‘s X90K series costing between $1,000 and $1,500. It earns my pick as 2023’s best LED TV option to consider in this price range.

Still unsure exactly which high-end television is best for you? No worries! Here are answers to some commonly asked questions:

LED vs. OLED vs. QLED – Which is Best?

When it comes to picture quality:

1. OLED is still king with perfect blacks and vibrant images. Go with an LG C2 or A2 OLED TV if visual splendor matters most.

2. QLED TVs from Samsung come closest to OLED thanks to quantum dot technology delivering over a billion colors. Excellent performers but cost extra over traditional LED.

3. LED/LCD TVs like the Sony X90K offer tremendous quality for lower cost. Peak brightness can exceed OLED and risk of permanent burn-in is eliminated.

So weigh your budget versus performance demands to narrow down the best display type for you. Our in-depth reviews explore those trade-offs.

What does a TV‘s refresh rate mean?

The refresh rate, expressed in hertz (Hz), specifies how many times per second a TV redraws pixels on the screen. This impacts motion clarity for fast on-screen action.

A 120Hz refresh rate provides crystal clear smoothness with almost no motion blur. It really enhances sports, video games and movies. Lower refresh rates around 60Hz struggle to keep up with no blur reduction.

For the best experience, look for native 120Hz panels with gaming features like variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM).

Do TVs under $1,500 have good smart features?

Absolutely! Pretty much all modern TVs today offer excellent smart platforms that make streaming a breeze.

whether powered by LG‘s webOS, Google TV, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV and more – they put thousands of streaming apps and Alexa/Google Assistant voice control at your fingertips.

Under $1,500, you‘ll also get bonus gaming oriented connectivity like HDMI 2.1 and gaming ecosystem integrations for Xbox and PlayStation owners.

Well, that wraps up my complete buying guide detailing the finest 4K and 8K smart TVs available under $1,500! Let me know if you have any other questions. I‘m happy to offer personal advice to help find your perfect match.

Enjoy your new television when it arrives! Please reach out once you‘ve had it setup. I‘d love to hear your first impressions.