It is no exaggeration to say that the market for bargain-priced 4K TVs is crowded. There are literally hundreds of models to choose from, but two of the most popular brands continue to be TCL and Vizio. The most affordable 4K Smart TVs from these brands can be seen in our reviews of the TCL 4 Series Roku TV (S435) and the Vizio V Series (2020 model). Both are on our list of best TVs under $500, but which is better? To answer that question, we decided to break down the TCL 4 Series and Vizio V Series lineups and examine which of these budget smart TVs is truly the best.

On paper at least, the Vizio V series would appear to be the winner. For example, it supports Dolby Vision and Active Local Dimming, two important features that the TCL 4 series does not. But specs are not everything.

Both TCL and Vizio offer these 4K LCD sets in a wide range of sizes, with the smallest set at 40 inches from Vizio and the largest at 85 inches from TCL. Whether it's for a dorm room or a home theater, you'll find the right model for your wall space from this assortment.

TCL 4 Series Roku TV (S435)

Vizio V Series (2020 model)

These models are listed at manufacturer suggested prices, but actual selling prices are much closer. The price wars for TVs continue and are especially intense in this entry-level 4K set group.

Availability varies considerably, but a comparison of some popular sizes shows that Vizio is more aggressively lowering its prices: the 43-inch Vizio V series is priced at roughly $319, slightly less than the average price of a 43-inch TCL 4 series set at $349. However, the price difference becomes more pronounced as screen size increases, with the 65" Vizio V series priced at $519, while the 65" TCL 4 series is priced at approximately $700.

Winner Vizio V Series

In terms of 4K features and display specifications, the Vizio V series appears to be superior to the TCL 4 series. and support for the Dolby Vision 4K format, which the TCL series does not have. However, in hours of subjective viewing tests involving 4K and upscaled HD content, we found the TCL 4 series displays to be preferable. Much of this is due to the TCL's slight edge in terms of color reproduction and brightness.

Benchmark test results vary by screen size, but some subjective criticisms can be found in the numbers comparing the 43-inch TCL 4-Series to the 50-inch Vizio V-Series. For example, the TCL 4-Series was able to reproduce 99.55% of the full standard color gamut, while the Vizio V-Series reproduced only 97.6%. This difference means that the Vizio set does not provide as rich an image as the TCL set, but some viewers may not notice the difference.

In terms of brightness, the TCL 4 series recorded approximately 292 nits in the 10 percent pattern. This is considerably lower brightness than many more expensive sets, which typically exceed 600 nits. However, it is still brighter than the Vizio V series we tested, which had 272 nits on the same benchmark.

Winner TCL 4 Series

If you didn't know better, you'd think these sets came from the same design studio; both TCL and Vizio's model lines are encased in a mostly plastic black enclosure. And both designs rely on a pair of spread legs at each end of the set to support it on the table; the V-shaped legs are stable enough and suitable for a variety of setups, so it is not surprising that the companies settled on similar designs.

The same is true when wall mounting is preferred. Neither product has any special features suitable for such installations, such as super flat screens or hidden wiring. However, both will work with standard VESA 200 x 200 brackets. For more of our favorite wall-mount options, check out our best TV mounts.

Winner: tie

One area where TCL's four series have a clear advantage is the Smart TV interface. The company offers Roku TV or Android TV (sold as the 4 Series S434 line) on all models except the 85-inch, which is a Roku-only set. Both versions offer plenty of streaming entertainment options. However, Roku's simpler, more mature interface and thousands of online channels will appeal to a wider audience.

Vizio, on the other hand, uses its own smart TV interface, and its latest version increasingly resembles Android TV. This is a good thing, as it means the interface is familiar and easy to navigate; Vizio's software is named SmartCast and includes apps for most It includes apps for most of the popular services. However, it falls short of the vast number of channels offered by TCL's Roku set, missing at least one important movie, the Criterion channel.

Winner TCL 4 Series

Gamers may want to consider a budget model as a second TV dedicated to their favorite pastime. The Vizio V series has a slight advantage in this regard. The 50-inch model we tested had the lowest lag time we have ever seen, at 13.1 ms. This was faster than the smaller 43-inch TCL 4 series, which was 14 ms, and well ahead of other bargain sets like the 43-inch Insignia Amazon Fire TV, which recorded a very laggy lag time of 38.8 ms.

However, gamers should note that the TCL 4 series and Vizio V series use 60 Hz displays and thus cannot take full advantage of the higher 120 Hz refresh rates of the latest PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles. If higher frame rates and advanced features are a must, see our recommendations for the best 4K gaming TVs.

Winner Vizio V Series

The overall winner between the TCL 4 Series and the Vizio V Series comes down to performance versus price. the entry-level TCL 4 Series offers the most popular Smart TV features and offers a slightly better picture for movie buffs. On the other hand, Vizio's value models, the V Series, offer lower prices on many models, and gamers looking for an inexpensive second set may feel more inclined toward the Vizio.