The best televisions under Rs. 25,000 [November 2020]

We have seen a good number of smart televisions from many brands selling for less than Rs. 25,000, and the segment has seen some big improvements lately. Before, you could only expect the basics, but TVs keep getting better when it comes to software and performance. Thanks to the stiff competition in this segment from Indian and international players who continue to push the boundaries of what can’t be expected for a lot of money, you can now get top notch software and hardware in affordable televisions.

The entry of large smartphone manufacturers such as Realme and OnePlus into the TV space has fundamentally changed the company, while the new launches of established brands such as Vu and Xiaomi continue to generate interest. Here is our updated list of the best TVs to buy at Rs. 25,000 in India. While the list has some old favorites, we have a new top pick that has compelling features at a bargain price. Read on to find out more.

The best budget TV in India: Mi TV 4A Horizon Edition

No other brand has impacted the Indian television market as much in such a short period of time as Xiaomi, and the company’s newest product continues its tradition of offering more at lower prices. The characteristic feature of the Mi TV 4A Horizon Edition is the slim bezel design. This TV also offers a complete experience which makes it a very good choice for less than Rs. 25,000.

Priced at Rs. 23,499 for the 43-inch variant and Rs. 13,999 for the 32-inch series, the Mi TV 4A Horizon Edition series runs on Android TV 9 Pie and offers access to all popular apps and via the Google Play Store Services. There is 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of storage. As with other Xiaomi TVs, the PatchWall 3.0 user interface runs here too. With a good picture and reasonable sound quality, this makes an excellent starter or budget TV. Interestingly enough, television is finally booting quickly.

The Mi TV 4A Horizon Edition is not without its flaws: a somewhat sluggish UI performance, matte colors and a minimalist remote control hold it back a little. However, these issues are minor in the larger scheme of things – this is still our first choice for a television that is priced below Rs. 25,000.

Second place: Blaupunkt 43BU680 (43 inch) 4K Smart TV

Usually priced at Rs. At around 22,000, the Blaupunkt 43BU680 is among the cheapest 4K HDR televisions in India and is indeed the cheapest way to access the 4K and streaming train.

This TV supports the HDR10 standard for high dynamic range display and has a 43-inch 4K LED panel. The image quality is good with 4K and Full HD content, but drops significantly with lower resolutions. That said, this TV is only really suitable if you want to stream most of your content at high definition. The sound is also decent with a rated power of 30W.

The Android-based smart interface leaves a lot to be desired, and we would even say that it is unusable. You will likely need a dedicated streaming device [link to guide] with this TV. There are no essential additional features, and even the remote control is clunky and difficult to get used to. However, this TV teaches the basics and has a 4K screen. This makes this model a worthwhile model for less than Rs. 25,000.

Also note: Realme Smart TV

Realme’s recent launch of televisions in India has rocked the market in this segment thanks to impressive specifications and software for the price. We tested the 43-inch variant of the Realme Smart TV, which is priced at Rs. 21,999. It has a standard Android TV interface, a voice assistant remote control and software-level support for HDR.

For Rs. 12,999, the Realme Smart TV 32-inch is one of the best entry-level TVs you can buy today. This is a great way to get started with smart features without spending too much money. With support for all popular apps on Android TV, you don’t have to buy any additional equipment beyond your set-top box or game console.

Apart from the fact that it is a full-fledged and very powerful smart TV, the picture quality of the 43-inch model was adequate for us when used with good content. The sound quality was also up to date, so you don’t have to use external speakers or a sound bar with this TV if you don’t want to. In our opinion, this is a decent, affordable TV, especially if you’re looking to get started with streaming platforms.

How did we choose these options?

Our top picks are any TVs that we reviewed either directly or as part of a series. We have used these experiences, along with our reviews of their specifications and value propositions, to narrow our list. The picture and sound quality, features, ease of use and value for money were key factors in selecting the televisions on this list.

There aren’t too many 4K TVs that we know of at this price point, but our experiences with the ones we tried haven’t been great. You can get decent full HD options for under Rs, however. 25,000 for sizes up to 43 inches. Even so, 32-inch models are the most feature-rich and inexpensive options. Most of the options in this area are LED LCD TVs, as are all of our recommendations here.

There are a handful of brands worth considering and we have used the retail partner prices and offers listed on the companies’ official websites to narrow our list down to fit within the Rs budget. 25,000.

Is it worth buying a smart TV at this price?

Adding smart connectivity increases the price of a TV. When your budget is only Rs. 25,000, this is an important factor in the purchase decision. Depending on the brand you choose and the size of TV you want, you might be able to take advantage of some smart connectivity. On the flip side, you could buy a cheaper “dumb” TV and just take the difference in price and buy a streaming device to add smarts to your setup.

If much of your ad is limited to cable or DTH content, it might not be worth buying a smart TV. In such a case, you could just invest in an affordable, non-smart TV and instead focus on size, resolution, or panel quality. On the other hand, you might want the convenience of having streaming services and other apps running on the TV itself if you use them frequently.

Best Budget TV: The competition

Here are some other tips that seem impressive enough to be considered. We haven’t checked all of them, but instead considered manufacturers’ specifications, features and prices.

Xiaomi Mi TV 4A Pro (32 inches): Xiaomi’s cheapest TV in India has laid the foundation for smart TVs to be so popular. However, this model is a bit dated and not quite as well equipped on the newer Horizon Edition TVs. It’s still a great option to consider Rs. 12,499, especially if you like the PatchWall UI over Android TV.

TCL 40S62FS (40-inch): This TCL Full HD TV is one of the company’s more affordable options. It has a relatively large screen and would be a great upgrade for people who have a 32-inch TV. The resolution and intelligent connectivity via the TCL Launcher also open up the possibility of streaming for users who are used to cable and DTH TV. This model is currently priced at Rs. 16,999.

Shinco SO42AS-E50 (40-inch): Shinco is known for its outrageous sales and headline-grabbing prices, and the SO42AS-E50 is one of its most popular models. Price at Rs. 14,499This 40-inch full HD smart TV is well worth a visit.

iFFalcon by TCL F2 (40 inches): This sub-brand of the Chinese TV manufacturer TCL has a rather strange name, but is comparable to the parent company in terms of product quality. The interesting thing about this TV is that it is very similar to the TCL 40S62FS, with similar specs and features, but at a lower price of Rs 15,999.

OnePlus TV Y series: Available in 32-inch HD and 43-inch Full HD versions OnePlus TV Y series is the company’s largest foray into affordable television to date. With Android TV and Dolby Audio, this is worth considering if you are on a budget.

Motorola ZX2 series: price at Rs. 13,999 From this point on, these Motorola brand televisions promise a lot, with Android TV, good technical data and 40 W sound. On paper, this is some of the best budget TVs you can buy right now.

Which is the best TV under Rs. 25,000? We discussed this on Orbital, our weekly technology podcast, which you can subscribe to via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or RSS, Download the episodeor just hit the play button below.