Sceptre is one of Walmart's top-selling TV brands. Small wonder given the eye-catching prices of the Sceptre TV range. Some Sceptre 4K TVs go for less than $300, but prices can dip below $100 for an HD TV. But how good can a $100 HD TV really be? Read on as we scrutinize Sceptre's astonishingly cheap TVs.
Almost everyone has heard of Samsung, Sony and LG, but fewer people have heard of Sceptre. In fact, it might surprise you to know that the California-based consumer electronics brand has been around since 1984, the year that Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom opened in theaters across the nation.
Sceptre makes in-car audio and even car batteries but is best-known for its budget-conscious LCD, LED, HD and 4K TVs. They come in all specs and sizes from 19-inch to 75-inch. To keep sticker prices low, some Sceptre TVs do miss out on the latest features such as streaming apps and HDR video; more on that shortly.
Ready for some big-value, big screen entertainment? Whether you're searching for the best TV or just a great cheap TV deal, here's what you need to know about Sceptre TVs, including the best deals available right now.
Should you buy a Sceptre TV?
Short answer: If you're looking for a nicely-priced TV, Sceptre is a great place to start. You won't get a stunning contrast ratio, and you might not even get smart TV capabilities, but you will get great bang for your buck.
Skeptical? We don't blame you, but it's worth noting that Walmart customers rate Sceptre TVs at 4.1 out of 5 (based on over 25,000 reviews). So they're doing something right.
On a tight budget? Make a beeline for Sceptre's 720p and 1080p HD TVs. The smaller models make great bedroom and kitchen TVs, and they're a hit with RV owners too.
Stretch your budget to around $250 and you'll get one of Sceptre's latest smart TVs, running Google's Android TV and offering built-in access to streaming services such as Netflix. Head to $300 and over and you'll be in 50-inch 4K UHD TV country.
Sceptre TVs mostly use LED panels, so don't expect picture quality on a par with pricier OLED and QLED TVs from Sony, LG and Samsung. If performance is a priority, we'd recommend you keep your powder dry and pick up a big-name brand.
Put simply, stick with what Sceptre does best – budget TVs around the $300 mark – and you won't go far wrong.
Walmart's cheapest 50-inch 4K UHD TV
The Sceptre U515CV is a big hit with Walmart customers. It's often billed as "the cheapest 50-inch 4K UHD TV" on the market and it gets you a 4K UHD picture for just $199.
It's an LED panel with a standard 60Hz refresh rate and three HDMI ports, including an HDMI 2.0 port for 4K video streaming. It also comes with a remote control and 2x10W built-in speakers but you could always add a soundbar later. Fair enough.
You'll need to accept a couple of compromises. Firstly, this is not a smart TV. Yes, you can connect your smartphone or tablet to the Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) port, but it's not as slick as having the apps on the set itself.
Of course, the lack of smarts is easily rectified by plugging in a cheap media streamer such as the Amazon Fire TV 4K or Google Chromecast. What can't be rectified is the lack of HDR support, which means you won't be able to view content in high-quality HDR. But that's no surprise at this price.
It's clear Sceptre doesn't aim to provide the best TV or the most immersive home theater experience – it aims to provide the best value for money. When viewed through that lens, it's easy to see why the U515CV is such a popular model.
Walmart's better 50-inch 4K UHD TV options
If the price of the Sceptre U515CV-U remains the same, then we'd encourage you to take a look at the 50-inch Hisense 50R6E3 and TCL 50S431 Roku TVs instead. For less than the price of the media streamer that you'd have to add to the Sceptre above to make it smart, you get the benefits of the brilliant Roku platform with its full complement of apps and services.
While we've not reviewed either of these sets, we'd feel confident that you'd be more likely to get a better picture performance from both Hisense and TCL than Sceptre at a given price too.
Sceptre's best 4K UHD smart TVs
Sceptre was late to market with its smart TVs but it's now caught up with the big-name brands.
So why pay extra for a smart TV? They're a great way to watch movies, TV shows and live sports such as NFL without subscribing to cable or a satellite provider such as DirecTV. If that appeals to you then it's just a matter of picking a screen size to fit your budget.
Want a big screen for the big game? You can pick up the 65-inch Sceptre A658CV-U (below) for a jaw-dropping $418 at Walmart. It runs Google's Android TV operating system and features Google Assistant voice controls, so you can boss it around from the comfort of your couch. It even supports HDR.
The version of Android TV used by Sceptre provides access to a host of streaming services including Netflix, Apple TV, Hulu, Disney+, Showtime, YouTubeTV, Starz, FX Now and CNN Go. That should keep you busy.
Fancy a smart TV for your summerhouse? The 32-inch Sceptre A328BV-SR (below) slots into most small spaces. It offers 720p HD resolution, which is high enough for a compact TV such as this and comes in at $178.
Hunting for a TV that's not too big, but not too small? Try the 50-inch A518CV-U. This Android smart 4K UHD LED TV with Google Assistant is available for the bargain price of $255, although you'll have to hope it comes back into stock. It features three HDMI ports for plugging in games consoles, plus USB input for listening to music files or viewing digital photos.
While that's unavailable, the more expensive 55-inch TCL 55S431 ($358) is your best bet as an alternative and should deliver well for the price.
The cheapest Sceptre HD TVs
If you want a "does the job" TV at a rock-bottom price, Sceptre's HD TVs might float your boat. HD TVs have fewer pixels than their pricier 4K siblings, so picture quality maxes out at a lower resolution. But as the majority of US TV channels still broadcast in HD rather than 4K, these models are far from outdated.
Want the smallest and cheapest Sceptre TV? That would be the dinky 19-inch E195BV-SR. It's currently listed for $59 at Walmart, reduced from $109.99, and is so small it's practically portable. Ideal for a nursery or home office.
It may be the cheapest but perhaps not the best value. We'd recommend paying the extra and going for the 32-inch X322BV-SR, which is currently priced at $148.
Both models offer 720p rather than full, 1080p HD resolution but you do get two HDMI sockets so you can hook up a games consoles and a DVR, plus a headphone socket and 10W built-in speakers. There's even a "Surround Sound Mode", although we can't imagine it's hugely effective at this price.
Finally, if you want a HD TV that's big enough for the big game, the 43-inch Sceptre X435BV-F could be a good TV for you. This Full HD set probably won't win any awards for its picture quality but it features three HDMI ports, a decent 15,000:1 contrast ratio and a USB 2.0 port so you can plug in the streaming device of your choice.
That said, for just $10 more, you can pick up the 43-inch Sceptre U435CV-U which is a 4K HDR TV. Again, it's not smart but you won't find much that is for this size and resolution.
What other cheap TVs are available?
Sceptre TVs aren't the only budget TVs available. You can currently pick up some great bargains on TVs of all sizes from a range of retailers.
We've picked out a few of the most noteworthy cheap TV deals online right now for you below.
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