You’ve probably noticed the same thing: OLEDs look gorgeous, but the price tag rarely feels friendly. That tension — jaw‑dropping picture quality versus wallet‑aware practicality — shows up again and again when shoppers compare 65‑inch sets. Here’s a clear, human guide to why OLEDs sit at the premium end, what the cheaper alternatives now do well, and which 65‑inch models are actually worth your money right now.
Why OLED panels command a premium
OLED panels are beautiful because each pixel emits its own light and can shut off completely, delivering inky blacks, wide viewing angles and extremely fast pixel response. They’re not cheap to make. A few hard numbers help explain why: a 65‑inch OLED panel cost roughly $1,000 to produce in 2020 and — even after gains — was still about $600 in 2024. By contrast, comparable 65‑inch LCD sets can be manufactured for well under $500.
A big part of the price is yield: the percentage of usable panels from a production run. Early QD‑OLED production suffered low yields (Samsung’s QD‑OLED yield was reported around 68% in 2022 before improving to 84% in 2023), and low yields mean the cost of every working panel has to cover the failed ones. Factory utilization matters too — LG reportedly ran one OLED plant at roughly half capacity in 2022 but still paid the fixed costs.
Size amplifies the problem. A single Gen 8.5 sheet can produce more 55‑inch panels than 65‑inch ones, so scaling up increases scrap risk and materials. That’s why 77‑inch OLEDs were astronomically expensive a few years ago, and why ultra‑large OLED remains rare and costly compared with big LCD alternatives.
What OLED really gives you (and where LCD wins)
What you get with OLED is true black, exceptional contrast and very fast response times (OLED pixels can change color in a fraction of a millisecond). Newer WOLED panels with micro‑lens arrays have boosted brightness to rival LCDs in many conditions, narrowing one of OLED’s historic gaps.
Still, LCD‑based technologies — QLED, Mini‑LED and QD‑Mini‑LED hybrids — carry some practical advantages:
- Brighter panels for rooms with lots of light
- Wider size ranges (you can get giant screens for much less)
- Immunity to burn‑in risks that can affect OLEDs if static images sit on screen for long periods
- Often lower sticker prices for similar diagonal sizes
- Samsung QN65S84FA — An approachable 2025 OLED that Consumer Reports praised for overall picture quality; often found around $899.99 and great for gamers thanks to 120Hz and adaptive features.
- LG 65QNED90TUA — A Mini‑LED (QNED) option that supports Dolby Vision and strong gaming features, frequently under $900.
- Sony XR‑65X90L — A slightly older midtier Sony with a full‑array backlight and Dolby Vision; good HDR performance at about $849.99 on sale.
- Hisense 65U75QG — Mini‑LED Pro brightness and broad HDR support (Dolby Vision + HDR10+), often appearing near $798 on promotions.
- Roku 65R8B5 — Roku’s Mini‑LED effort with surprisingly strong HDR handling and Google‑adjacent smart features; price has bounced, so shop carefully.
- TCL 65QM7K — A QLED Mini‑LED with wide HDR format support, native 144Hz for gaming and solid overall value, commonly on sale around $900.
- How bright is the room? If windows face the TV, a brighter Mini‑LED/QLED will look better.
- Do you game competitively? Look for 120Hz or higher, VRR/FreeSync, and low input lag.
- Will the TV be on for many hours with static UI elements? If so, LCD avoids burn‑in risk.
- Do you want the deepest blacks and best viewing angles for movies in dim light? OLED remains the gold standard.
- Treat OLED as a quality upgrade, not a mandatory one. If you value perfect blacks and cinema‑style viewing in a controlled room, OLED is worth the premium.
- If price, brightness and size flexibility matter more, modern QLED and Mini‑LED options close the gap substantially.
- Watch yields and sales cycles: panel costs and promotions can swing prices quickly, especially around major sale events.
- Use a streaming box if you want a predictable smart experience and tighter privacy control; the Apple TV is a reliable option for that purpose.
Energy use and real‑world viewing also vary by content: a 65‑inch OLED might draw around 150 W during typical viewing vs ~200 W for a comparable LCD, but that depends on brightness and the content you watch.
If HDR formats matter to you, the ecosystem is still in flux — Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and other formats compete for adoption. Samsung has been pushing HDR10+ forward as a rival to Dolby Vision, which is part of the HDR format chessboard manufacturers and studios are still playing out Samsung Unveils HDR10+ Advanced to Rival Dolby Vision 2.
Practical alternatives that don’t feel like a compromise
If your goal is big impact on a budget, modern QLED and Mini‑LED sets are very convincing. They can deliver bright, punchy HDR, high refresh rates for gaming, and fewer restrictions on size. Budget lines from TCL, Hisense and Roku now include Mini‑LED or QD‑Mini‑LED options with quick game modes and solid HDR support.
Digital Trends’ recent advice to set a smart TV into a pared‑down “basic TV” mode and use a separate streaming box is worth repeating: it reduces the collection of smart‑TV data and makes the TV act like a big monitor. If you go that route, a dedicated streamer like the Apple TV is a tidy way to get apps, consistent updates and simpler privacy control.
Six 65‑inch TVs under $1,000 worth considering
Consumer Reports’ recent list highlights several sets that balance performance and price. These are good starting points if you want 65 inches without the four‑figure sticker:
Those models reflect the current market balance: you can get near‑OLED image quality and modern gaming features from LCD‑based sets for roughly the same or less money than many OLEDs used to command.
What Hi‑Fi? and other reviewers also flag the 65‑inch size as a sweet spot — large enough to be the centerpiece for a living room, but not so big that viewing distance becomes an issue.
How to choose for your room and use
Ask yourself a few quick questions before you buy:
If you plan to use a TV as a desk monitor or connect a laptop, consider how you’ll dock the machine. Many buyers pair their TV with a laptop for work and play; if you’re in the market for a compact, capable laptop at a discount, recent MacBook Air deals could make that a tempting package for remote work and light editing MacBook Air Deals Deepen: M4 Drops to $799, M3 24GB/512GB Falls to $999 — Refurbs From $179. If you’re considering that setup, an external streaming box or a good USB‑C hub will make switching between laptop and console painless.
Final shopping tips (no canned summary, promise)
There’s no single “best” 65‑inch TV for everyone — but with manufacturing costs coming down, yield rates improving, and competition from Mini‑LED and QD‑LCD, shoppers have never had more capable options at or below the $1,000 mark. Pick the features that matter most to your room and viewing habits, and you’ll be surprised at how far your budget can go.