5 Best 65-inch Smart TVs Under $1,000

If you’re in the market for a new TV, the thought of opting for a super-sized set for a cinematic experience must’ve crossed your mind. In our books, a 65-inch Smart TV is well-suited to most folks who are looking for an immersive media consumption experience without breaking the bank. Having said that, it can be tricky to shortlist the best 65-inch Smart TVs on the market.

Thankfully, we’ve done the legwork for you. Below, you’ll find five enticing TVs with superb features. The icing on the cake is that the TVs on this list cost well under $1,000. But first, you might also want to check out the following topics-

• Looking for an immersive media consumption experience? Consider getting a 4K TV that supports Dolby Vision.
• Shopping on a budget? You should consider opting for an affordable 4K TV.
• Looking to bring the cinema home? You might want to get a 75-inch 4K TV.

Now, let’s take a look at the best 65-inch TVs on the market. 

1. Amazon FireTV Omni QLED Series

• Panel type: QLED
• HDR formats supported: HDR10, HDR10+ Adaptive, HLG, Dolby Vision IQ
• Operating system: FireTV OS
• HDMI inputs: 4
• Gaming features: N/A

The Omni QLED series comes in a slew of sizes. However, keeping in line with the theme of the article, we’ve shortlisted the 65-inch variant for your perusal. The TV features a 4K display that is backed by QLED technology. For those unaware, QLED TVs come with a layer of Quantum Dots sandwiched between the LCD and the backlight. As such, the panels are able to get quite bright and overturn more accurate colors.

Additionally, the TV comes with 80 local dimming zones, which contribute to richer, inkier blacks as well. The panel refreshes at 60Hz, which is a bummer, especially if you have a new-age gaming console at your disposal. On the bright side, the TV comes with four HDMI connectors, including an HDMI 2.1 eARC port. As such, you will be able to interface a high-performance, Atmos-enabled soundbar with the set seamlessly. 

The TV also supports a wide array of HDR codecs, including HDR10, HDR10+ Adaptive, HLG, and Dolby Vision IQ. As you may have guessed by now, the TV also comes with an ambient light sensor to vary the brightness as per your surroundings. Add to that the TV’s FireTV OS and Alexa smarts, and the Amazon FireTV Omni QLED range is a great option for budget-conscious buyers.

2. Sony KD65X77L Ultra HD TV

• Panel type: LED
• HDR formats supported: HDR10, HLG
• Operating system: Google TV
• HDMI inputs: 3
• Gaming features: ALLM, HDR Tone Mapping

For those unaware, the X1 processor deploys advanced algorithms to keep noise to a minimum and boost the details in a scene. Additionally, the TV’s X-Reality Pro engine helps upscale content to 4K resolution eloquently. As such, you won’t raise an eyebrow watching SDR content on the set.

We should also add that the TV supports a handful of HDR codecs, including HDR10 and HLG. What’s more, the set even comes with an HDMI 2.1 eARC port, although only offers three HDMI ports in total.

Do note that much like Amazon’s Omni QLED TV set, the Sony KD65X77L also comes with a 60Hz display. That said, the TV does come with some gaming-oriented features, including support for ALLM and HDR Tone Mapping on the PS5. As for software, the TV boots Google’s Android TV platform and comes with 16GB of built-in storage to install apps and games.

3. LG QNED80 Series

• Panel type: QNED
• HDR formats supported: HDR10, HLG
• Operating system: WebOS
• HDMI inputs: 4
• Gaming features: Nvidia GeForce NOW, AMD FreeSync, 120Hz VRR

As such, you can expect the TVs to overturn a wider range of colors. Add to that, the TVs in the range offer superb viewing angles, too. If anything, unlike other QNED series, TVs in the QNED80 range aren’t powered by miniLED technology. Correspondingly, the TVs may not offer good contrast ratios. On the upside, the TV comes with the company’s α7 AI Processor Gen6 to finetune the picture and sound output by analyzing the content on the screen. 

Additionally, the TV also comes with the famed FilmMaker mode, which lets you experience a movie as intended by the director. As such, instead of bombarding your eyes with oversaturated color tones, the mode preserves a director’s artistic rendition and relays it to the end user.

That’s not all, as the TV also comes with a 120Hz native refresh rate. You’ll also get support for a slew of other gaming features, like an HDMI 2.1 port, support for Nvidia’s GeForce NOW cloud computing platform, compatibility with AMD FreeSync for a tear-free gaming experience, and more.

4. Samsung Q70C QLED TV

• Panel type: QLED
• HDR formats supported: HDR10+ Adaptive, HLG
• Operating system: Tizen OS
• HDMI inputs: 4
• Gaming features: 120Hz VRR, ALLM, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro

What’s more, the panel works in conjunction with the company’s Quantum Processor 4K, which can help reduce noise in some scenes. And, this being a QLED display, the panel can overturn a wider range of colors, too. In fact, per the brand, the display maps 100 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut. If anything, some users cite that the display offers sub-par viewing angles. The same is also outlined in TechWeekMag’s testing as well. 

On the bright side, the TV supports both, HDR10+ Adaptive as well as HLG codecs for a more immersive viewing experience. Furthermore, the panel refreshes at 100Hz and is well-suited for console and PC gaming. Speaking of which, the TV also supports AMD’s FreeSync Premium Pro technology, which should significantly reduce screen-tearing in high-octane games.

Coupled with Alexa smarts and Samsung’s feature-rich Tizen OS, the Q70C is among the best 65-inch TVs you can buy for under $1,000.

5. Hisense U8 Series

• Panel type: Mini-LED
• HDR formats supported: HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision
• Operating system: Google TV
• HDMI inputs: 4
• Gaming features: 144Hz VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro

Additionally, the TVs in the range make use of Quantum Dots as well. Per the brand, the tech allows the set to exhibit over a billion shades of color. At the same time, the panel can get extremely bright, too, with the brand citing that the unit offers a peak brightness of 1,500 nits.

Having said that, PCMag’s testing shows that the display can get even brighter, maxing out at 2,114 nits! Needless to say, you should be able to deploy the Hisense 65U8K even in a well-lit environment. 

We should also add that the TV supports the Filmmaker Mode and even comes with IMAX Enhanced certification. For those unaware, the IMAX Enhanced badge is given to TVs with remarkable audio and video prowess. Moreover, the TV is compatible with a host of HDR codecs, including Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG.

Add to that, the panel refreshes at 144hz, and the set is compliant with AMD’s FreeSync Premium Pro technology too. Correspondingly, you will be able to maximize the FPS in fast-paced action shooters and racing games. 

Big TVs for Small Budgets

And, that wraps up our list of the best 65-inch Smart TVs for under $1,000. Off the lot, you can pick up the Samsung Q70C, which offers robust gaming features and a good-quality QLED panel. That said, if you’re looking to go all out, you might want to snag the Hisense U8K TV, which offers a 144Hz refresh rate display. Do let us know which TV you opted for in the comments below.