You’re in the market for a new TV, but with seemingly endless brands and models available, where do you start? All you know is that you don’t want to overspend but you also want a TV that lasts and has the features you prefer.
Enter Onn and TCL, two brands known for producing affordable TVs for budget-conscious shoppers. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a simple smart TV for everyday TV watching or enhanced picture and audio quality for family movie nights — these brands have a little something for everyone.
Check out how they compare so you can find your next TV.
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About Onn
To stay competitive and aligned with its mission of offering everyday products at low prices, Walmart created the Onn brand in 2010 to cater to consumers wanting affordable electronics. Onn products are designed to meet the needs of the average device user without compromising on quality.
Although it’s probably most known for its TVs, Onn has a full lineup of popular electronics and accessories, including Bluetooth speakers, TV wall mounts, computer keyboards, and charging cables.
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About TCL
Founded in the 1980s, TCL has a lot more experience than Onn in the electronics space. It’s well-known across the globe, and you can find its products in just about any electronics store.
TCL offers an extensive selection of products, including smart TVs, headphones, projectors, and compact refrigerators. Its TVs tend to stand out the most, though, in terms of popularity, with TCL earning top spots in the global TV market for several years.
Onn vs TCL: Compare Televisions
| Feature | Onn TVs | TCL TVs |
|---|---|---|
| Price Range | $74 – $638 | $198 – $20,000 |
| Number of Models | 15 – 20 | Over 130 |
| Smallest TV Size | 24 inches | 43 inches |
| Largest TV Size | 85 inches | 115 inches |
| Picture Quality | Basic LED panels, HD to 4K UHD | Mini-LED, QLED, AiPQ Engine for advanced processing |
| Audio Quality | Limited Dolby Atmos support | More Dolby Atmos support, better built-in speakers |
| Smart TV Platform | Roku TV only | Roku TV, Google TV, Fire TV |
| Gaming Features | Basic gaming mode | Automatic gaming mode, up to 120 Hz VRR |
| HDMI Ports | 3 HDMI 2.0 ports | 4 HDMI ports (some HDMI 2.1) |
| Build Material | Mostly plastic | Plastic and metal mix |
| Warranty | 1 year (2 years if registered) | 1 year |
| Where to Buy | Walmart | Walmart, Best Buy, Target, Amazon, Sam’s Club |
Onn: Walmart’s Popular Budget Brand
Onn is Walmart’s budget-friendly TV brand that offers affordable smart TVs with simple features. Prices start as low as $74 for a 24-inch model, with larger 4K UHD options available for under $650. Onn TVs focus on providing a basic smart TV experience with Roku built in, so you can access your favorite apps without needing extra devices.
These TVs are a good choice for casual viewers who want a low-cost option for everyday entertainment. While they don’t have premium features like QLED or mini-LED, they offer decent picture quality for the price. Onn TVs typically come with three HDMI ports, basic gaming features, and a lightweight design that’s easy to set up.
Since Onn is Walmart’s in-house brand, availability is mostly limited to Walmart stores and its website.
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Top TCL Picks
TCL 55-Inch Q65 QLED 4K UHD Smart TV with Google TV
- 4K UltraHD resolution
- QLED PRO color enhancement
- High Brightness+ LED backlight
- AIPQ Processor optimization
- HDR PRO+ support
The TCL 55-Inch Q65 QLED 4K UHD Smart TV is a solid mid-range option with a bright, colorful picture and useful smart features. It runs on Google TV and includes Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR Pro+, and a few gaming features.
👍 What we like
The picture quality is impressive for the price. The QLED panel delivers bright colors, sharp contrast, and good upscaling for non-4K content. HDR Pro+ and Dolby Vision enhance movies and shows, making them look more detailed. Viewing angles are good, so the picture stays clear even if I’m not sitting directly in front of it.
The setup was easy. Google TV walked me through everything, and all the major apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video were available right away. The built-in Chromecast made it simple to stream from my phone. The voice remote worked well, and Alexa integration was smooth.
Gaming felt responsive. The Game Accelerator feature and Auto Game Mode helped reduce input lag. The TV handled fast motion well, even though it’s a 60Hz panel.
👎 What we don’t like
The interface was slower than I expected. Apps sometimes took a second or two to open, and the TV would randomly go back to the home screen for no reason. Navigating through menus wasn’t as smooth as I would have liked.
The sound was fine but nothing special. Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X made dialogue clear, but some channels sounded muffled. A soundbar would make a big difference.
Brightness control was another issue. The TV was bright, which was great during the day, but I wanted more control over dimming it at night. The settings didn’t give me enough flexibility. Another problem was the resolution. Without an HDMI device connected, the TV defaulted to 1080p, and there was no way to manually switch it to 4K.
Overall, the Q65 is a good value if you want solid picture quality and smart features without spending a fortune. The slow interface, limited brightness control, and sound issues were frustrating at times, but for the price, it delivers a good viewing experience. Adding a soundbar and tweaking the settings would make it even better.
TCL 55-Inch Class S5 UHD 4K LED Smart TV with Fire TV
- 4K UltraHD resolution
- High Brightness LED backlight
- Enhanced color
- Motion Rate 240
- Fire TV built-in
The TCL 55-Inch S5 UHD 4K LED Smart TV with Fire TV is an affordable 4K option that offers solid picture quality and smart features. It has a 144Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, HDR Pro+, Dolby Atmos, and built-in Alexa. Fire TV is the main interface, giving access to streaming apps, live TV, and voice control.
👍 What we like
The picture quality is sharp and vibrant. The 4K resolution, HDR support, and high brightness make movies and TV shows look detailed and clear. Motion Rate 240 and MEMC help reduce blur, which is useful for sports and action scenes. Gaming performance is decent with the Game Accelerator feature, though it’s not a high-end gaming TV.
The setup was simple, and the Fire TV interface made it easy to log in and access apps. The TV responds quickly to streaming apps, and Alexa voice control works well. The built-in speakers are better than expected, with Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X providing decent sound without needing a soundbar right away.
👎 What we don’t like
The biggest issue is Fire TV’s interface. It pushes ads and suggested content all over the home screen, taking up space where I’d rather have my apps. There’s no way to fully remove these, which gets annoying.
The remote has some lag. Adjusting the volume or navigating menus sometimes takes a second longer than it should. Another issue is the sleep timer. The TV shuts off after being paused for a few minutes, and there’s no way to disable this. If I step away and come back, I have to start everything over, which is frustrating.
Gaming at 144Hz often caused the screen to flicker randomly. The 120Hz mode works fine, but if you’re buying this TV specifically for 144Hz gaming, it might not be reliable.
Overall, this is a great budget 4K TV with solid picture quality and useful features, but the Fire TV interface and occasional lag make it frustrating at times. It’s a good option if you’re okay with dealing with the Fire TV ads and quirks, but if you prefer a smoother, ad-free experience, a Roku-based TCL or another brand might be a better fit. Adding a soundbar and tweaking the settings will help get the most out of it.
TCL 55-Inch QM6K QLED 4K Smart LED TV with Google TV
- QD-Mini LED
- LD500 Precise Dimming
- 144Hz Refresh Rate
- Game Accelerator 288
- ONKYO 2.1 Audio
The TCL 55-Inch QM6K QLED 4K Smart QD-Mini LED TV is a popular mid-range option with features like QD-Mini LED backlighting, Dolby Vision IQ, Dolby Atmos, and a 144Hz refresh rate. It’s designed for movies, gaming, and general entertainment, with Google TV as the main interface.
👍 What we like
The picture quality is a major highlight. The QD-Mini LED backlight and 500 local dimming zones create deep blacks and vibrant colors. The high contrast HVA panel improves detail, and HDR content looks great with bright highlights. Colors are accurate and vivid thanks to the enhanced QLED technology.
This is a fantastic TV! Gaming performance is strong. The 144Hz refresh rate and Game Accelerator is amazing.. It’s a good choice for fast-paced games, and features like VRR help eliminate screen tearing.
The built-in Onkyo 2.1 speaker system delivers better sound than most TVs in this range. The bass is stronger, and Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X help create a more immersive experience.
👎 What we don’t like
Honestly, there's nothing to complain about, unless you receive a damaged TV.
Overall, this TV offers premium features at a mid-range price. The picture quality, strong gaming features, and solid built-in sound make it a great option. If you want a high-performance TV without paying a premium price, this is absolutely worth considering.
Let's take a closer look at the most important aspects of each TV brand.
Pricing
Onn TVs are about as budget-friendly as you can get, ranging from as low as $74 for a 24-inch smart TV to $638 for an 85-inch 4K UHD TV — the brand’s largest and most feature-packed model. Because Onn is a Walmart brand, it mirrors Walmart’s “everyday low prices” mantra, so you can expect that any newer models that come out will also be some of the most affordable on the market.
TCL has a much broader lineup of TVs, and none of them are priced quite as low as Onn’s lowest-priced TVs. TCL’s TVs range from $198 for its 43-inch 4-Series to as much as $20,000 for a 115-inch Q Class. However, most TCL TVs fall within the $250 to $400 range. The brand even has some 65-inch TVs for less than $400.
Types of TVs Offered
Onn’s selection of TVs is substantially smaller than TCL’s. Currently, Onn has about 15 to 20 available models, while TCL has over 130. If you’re looking for plenty of options, TCL has it. On the other hand, Onn’s smaller selection is easier to sift through if you simply want a working TV and aren’t concerned with high-tech features.
Onn has HD, FHD, and 4K UHD TVs in sizes from 24 inches to 85 inches. You won’t find anything smaller than 43-inch TVs from TCL, and its largest TVs go up to 98 inches. HDR, 4K UHD, QLED, and mini-LED TVs are all available from TCL.
Picture Quality and Resolution
As with any TV brand, the picture quality and resolution of Onn and TCL TVs can differ with each model. 4K UHD TVs typically offer better picture quality than HD TVs, for example.
TCL has several TV classes with varied picture quality and resolution to help you find a TV with the clarity and color you want, although most of its TVs can outperform an Onn TV in this area. TCL uses a proprietary technology known as the AiPQ Engine, which offers advanced image processing to optimize picture quality and vibrancy with everything you watch.
Onn TVs aren’t quite as high-tech, but you’ll still get decent picture quality for everyday viewing with one. Most Onn TVs have basic LED panels and lack advanced image processing and color-enhancing features, but they usually meet the needs of casual TV watchers.
Audio Quality
Many modern TVs support Dolby Atmos for surround-sound experiences, which is ideal for cinematic viewing at home. Onn occasionally adds Dolby Atmos to its top-tier TVs, but it’s a rare find.
Over one-third of TCL’s TV lineup supports Dolby Atmos, including several of its S4 and S5 TVs. Of course, these TVs trend $100 or more higher than comparably sized Onn TVs. But generally, they also include better built-in speakers that produce clear and crisp audio even at high volumes without the need to connect other audio equipment. With an Onn TV, you might need to add subwoofers or external speakers to mimic a similar audio quality.
Smart Integrations
If you use a separate streaming device, like an Apple TV or a Roku streaming player, finding a TV with a built-in streaming service may not matter to you. But it’s something to consider, just in case you ever decide to make a switch.
Onn makes smart TVs for Roku only. Roku comes preinstalled on all current models, so you won’t need to use your Roku box or stick to access your apps. TCL builds TVs with Roku TV, Google TV, or Fire TV installed. When you shop the TCL website, you can filter TVs by each smart integration to find only those with the streaming service you want to use. Currently, the majority of TCL’s smart TVs include Google TV.
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Features
| Feature | Onn TVs | TCL TVs |
| Picture Modes | Sports, Standard, Game | Standard, Movie, Dynamic, Natural, Game, PC, Custom |
| Gaming Features | Basic gaming mode | Automatic gaming mode, up to 120 Hz VRR for responsive gameplay |
| HDMI Ports | Essential HDMI ports | Multiple HDMI ports, many models support HDMI 2.1 |
| Aesthetic Design | Lightweight build, traditional design, slim bezel | Ultra-slim models, matte displays available |
Onn and TCL include several features in their TVs to make it easier to get the viewing experience you want. Switch between different picture modes with TVs from each brand, including Standard and Game modes. Most Onn TVs also offer a Sports mode to enhance the quality of fast-paced sports games. TCL has multiple picture options, including Dynamic for vivid colors and PC to optimize the picture quality when connecting your TV to a computer.
TCL’s TVs are generally slimmer than Onn TVs, which can be more aesthetically pleasing when mounted on a wall. Some models also have matte displays that limit light reflection.
Connectivity is another point to consider with each brand, especially if you connect a lot of devices to your TV, like streaming devices or gaming consoles. Many Onn TVs have three HDMI 2.0 ports. Most TCL TVs have four HDMI ports, some of which support HDMI 2.1, which gives you access to higher picture quality and faster frame rates for gaming.
Build Quality and Lifespan
TCL uses a mix of plastic and metal to make its TV chassis, compared to the mostly plastic construction of Onn TVs. This makes TCL’s TVs heavier and sturdier in general than Onn TVs. Still, customers of both brands tend to note a lifespan of around 5 to 10 years for their TVs.
You’ll get a one-year limited warranty when you buy a TV from Onn or TCL, which covers parts and labor for repairs and replacements due to manufacturer defects. Onn also offers an extended warranty to two years if you register your TV within 90 days of purchase.
Where To Buy
You can buy a TCL TV from several online and brick-and-mortar retailers, including Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and Sam’s Club. Amazon also carries TCL TVs. To find where to buy a TCL TV, visit the TCL website and look for the TV you want to buy. On the product page, click the “Where to Buy” button to find available retailers and their pricing.
Onn TVs are mostly available through Walmart, both in-store and online. But you can also buy renewed Onn TVs on Amazon.
Roku also has Roku TVs from each brand. The product page for each TV lists in-store and online retailers to buy from.
TCL vs Onn: Which TV Is Right For Me?
Onn and TCL offer affordable and reliable TVs. To choose between them, think about what you need from your TV.
For the lowest price possible, Onn takes the cake. Onn’s smart TVs are great for everyday viewing. They’re easy to set up and they come with Roku built in, so you don’t need to connect anything to your TV to get all your apps in one place.
But if you’re looking to do more with your TV, like enjoy cinematic quality or have a high-tech gaming experience, TCL is probably the better option. Just know you’ll pay more for advanced features like Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and mini-LED screens.
While both TCL and Onn build affordable and long-lasting TVs, TCL generally offers more feature-rich and durable models. Onn is meant to be a budget-friendly brand, and many of its TVs cater to casual TV viewers who want the basics without paying for extra features they don’t need.
But if you want several picture modes, matte displays, larger screens, and more ports for connectivity, you’ll need to look at TCL’s TV lineup. TCL is generally the better brand for those who want more advanced features for an entertainment space.
Samsung has some of the best TVs in the industry with premium features like wide viewing angles and smooth 4K gaming quality. Some of its TVs also use the latest picture technology, like Crystal UHD and Neo QLED. TCL’s TVs are generally more affordable than Samsung’s TVs but don’t have the high-end build quality or as many robust features. Still, TCL is an excellent budget-friendly brand if you want more than the basics but don’t need advanced TV features.
Yes, TCL is a reliable TV brand, especially for its price range. Its TVs usually last up to 10 years, although you could extend your TCL TV’s lifetime even more with proper maintenance and casual usage. This lifespan is comparable to other mid-range TV brands.
TCL includes a one-year limited warranty with its TVs to cover replacement parts and labor for any manufacturer defects.
TCL and Onn both make Roku TVs that come with the Roku streaming platform preinstalled. However, TCL offers a larger Roku TV than Onn (85 inches compared to 75 inches), and Onn has a 24-inch Roku TV. TCL’s smallest Roku TV is 32 inches. TCL’s Roku TVs tend to have a few more features than Onn, including edge-to-edge picture for uninterrupted viewing and four HDMI ports compared to Onn’s three. However, the prices between the two brands’ Roku TVs are similar.
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