Cheap Plasma TV

A cheap plasma TV is not going to provide a picture as impressive as that of the more expensive high-end models, however if you are not demanding too much, there are inexpensive plasma TVs that offer a decent picture quality. For the smaller plasma TV models (42 inch) you can get more than decent picture quality for about $700-$800. If you have an even tighter budget you can go for the cheapest 720p plasma TV models which are available for about $600. Also, keep in mind that when comparing two models the more expensive one is not necessarily the better. Prices depend a lot on sales volume so if a good plasma TV sells well, it can reach a lower price.

Important: On this page, models are listed in order of quality (from best to worst), not by price. Depending on sales volume, promotions and other factors better models might be cheaper at times.

Recommended Cheap Plasma TVs

If quality is important too, and you prefer to buy a plasma TV that offers a good value for its price, but is not necessarily the cheapest one, the following plasma TVs are the best choices. They are cheap compared to most plasma TVs and also have a decent picture.

Panasonic S1 Series – Cheapest Mid-End Plasma TV (1080p)

They cost more but offer the best quality from all plasma TVs here. They are not exactly cheap, being closer to the high-end models than to entry-level ones, however we include the Panasonic S1 models here because they offer the best price to quality ratio from all plasma HDTVs out there. They are also the cheapest plasma TVs to use Panasonic’s new NeoPDP panel, which brings many advantages compared to older ones present in the models below. Read more in Panasonic S1 Series Review.

Panasonic X1 Series – Best 720p Plasma TV

You can save by buying a 720p model. Unless sit at the optimal distance, 1080p will not offer advantages anyway. From all entry-level plasma TVs the models of Panasonic X1 series have the best picture quality. They are even better in this respect than U1 series which have 1080p. You can usually find them at a good price, not only because they are entry level, but also because they are in demand and retailers lower their prices below models that are not as good. Read more in Panasonic X1 Series Review.

Cheapest Plasma TVs

If you want to go really cheap, the following models are what you need. They are not as good as the ones above, however. They are ordered by quality in descending order (the better ones are at the top of the list).

Panasonic U1 Series – Cheapest 1080p Plasma TVs

The Panasonic U1 series of plasma TVs are budget 1080p models. If you want a cheap plasma TV but also the benefits of 1080p, you should consider one of these models. Keep in mind however that though it is more expensive than Panasonic X1 its picture quality is not better. Read more in Panasonic U1 Series Review.

Samsung B450 Series – Decent Quality from a 720p Model

Samsung also has 720p plasma TVs and they are represented by the models in B450 series. They are similar to Panasonic X1 models both in overall picture quality and in price. The X1 models however, have better black levels which in turn make the colors look a bit more vivid. B450 plasma TVs, do however have somewhat more accurate colors. Read more in Panasonic Series 4 (B450) Review.

Panasonic C1 – Cheapest Plasma TV on the Market

Panasonic C1 models are the cheapest plasma TVs out there. They are the 720p equivalent of U1 series and that means in terms of performance they are below the other models listed here. The bright side is, you have to pay a fraction of what most plasma TVs cost. Read more in Panasonic C1 Series Review.