Best TV And Streamer Gifts For The 2020 Holidays
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[/holiday-gift-guide/ This story is part of Holiday Gift Guide 2020, CNET's gift picks with expert advice, reviews and recommendations for the latest tech gifts for you and your family.]
[/coronavirus/thrive-at-home/ more time at home][/coronavirus/thrive-at-home/ more time at home] than ever, a [/news/the-best-tv-for-2020-lg-samsung-sony-tcl-vizio-and-more-compared/ new TV] would truly deliver. But a new [/news/best-streamer-of-2020-roku-apple-tv-4k-fire-stick-chromecast-with-google-tv-and-more-compared/ media streamer], which is a lot less expensive, would also pack quite the punch.
CNET's TV and streamer reviews hone in on high-value products - after all, not even a TV lover wants to shell out a ton of cash just to stream Stranger Things. That's the goal of this list too, which we hope will be a big help even if you're facing [/personal-finance/ challenging times] as you head into the holiday shopping season. Starting at $30 (or less during holiday sales), you can give the TV fan on your list a thoughtful gift to remember, and something to watch on Netflix or Amazon Prime for years to come.
[ Amazon Fire TV Lite]
[ Best budget streamer]
[ ]
When it comes to covering the basics Amazon's Fire TV Lite delivers. Amazon's interface isn't as strong as Roku's and it doesn't do 4K, but it has solid Alexa integration and is one of the rare platforms that supports nearly all major streaming apps, including Apple TV Plus (not available on Android TV or Google TV) and HBO Max (not available on Roku). The one exception is Peacock, which isn't available yet on Fire TV. For streaming on a budget, however, there is not much more you can ask for.
[/reviews/amazon-fire-tv-stick-lite-review/ Read our Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite review].
[ $18 at Best Buy]
[ $30 at Crutchfield]
[ $40 at HSN]
[ Roku Streaming Stick Plus]
[ Best streamer overall]
[ ]
Sarah Tew/CNET
[ ][ ] and you get our favorite streamer for the money. Other $50 options like the [ ] and [ ] are solid too, but Roku's simplicity wins the holidays.
[/reviews/roku-streaming-stick-plus-review/ Read our Roku Streaming Stick Plus review].
[ $45 at Amazon]
[ $48 at Walmart]
[ $50 at Best Buy]
[ Chromecast with Google TV]
[ Second-best overall]
[ ]
Chris Monroe/CNET
For those looking for an alternative to Roku, Google's new Chromecast with Google TV has emerged as an excellent option. Priced at $50, the dongle includes an actual remote and app interface, support for 4K HDR with Dolby Vision and Atmos, and strong integration with other Google services including Assistant, YouTube TV and Google Photos. [ ].
[/news/chromecast-with-google-tv-review-finally-a-worthy-competitor-to-roku-and-fire-tv/ Read our Chromecast with Google TV review].
[ $50 at Adorama]
[ Roku Ultra (2020)]
[ Best convenience, wired streaming]
[ ]
Sarah Tew/CNET
The 2020 version of the Roku Ultra added Dolby Vision support and improved performance while keeping the price at $100. That's $80 cheaper than our previous pick, how can I sell my photos the Apple TV 4K. Throw in an Ethernet port, AirPlay 2 support, an excellent interface and a fantastic remote-finder feature and Foto Taken the Ultra is our new pick for the best high-end streamer.
[/reviews/roku-ultra-2020-review/ Read our Roku Ultra (2020) review].
[ $98 at Amazon]
[ $100 at Best Buy]
[ $100 at Crutchfield]
[ TCL 6-Series]
[ Best TV for the money]
[ ]
Sarah Tew/CNET
[/awards/ ED I T O R S ' C H O I C E Nov 2020]
Now we're getting into super-generous gift-giving territory, but if you can swing it, your recipient will be a happy camper. The 6-Series is a seriously excellent TV thanks to [ ] and well-implemented [ ] that helps it run circles around just about any other TV at this price. It's also a solid choice for gamers with a new THX mode that combines [ ] and high contrast. As if that's not enough, there's that excellent Roku TV operating system again.
Sizes: 55-, 65-, 75-inch. (The price shown below is for the 65-inch size.)
[/reviews/tcl-65r635-2020-roku-tv-review/ Read our TCL 6-Series (2020 Roku TV) review].
[ $1,110 at Amazon]
[ $900 at Walmart]
[ $900 at Best Buy]
[ Vizio M-Series Quantum]
[ Second-best TV for the money]
[ ]
If you don't want to be quite so generous as giving TCL 6-Series above, this is the runner-up for best TV for the money. The TCL has a better picture and better smart HDTV system so it's a superior TV overall, but it's also a couple hundred dollars more expensive, and it doesn't come in a budget-friendly 50-inch size like this Vizio.
Sizes: 50-, 55-, 65-inch. (The price shown below is for the 65-inch size.)
[/reviews/vizio-m65q7-h1-m-series-quantum-review/ Read our Vizio M7-Series Quantum (2020) review].
[ $698 at Walmart]
[ $700 at Best Buy]
[ $679 at Sam's Club]
[ LG OLEDCXP series]
[ Best high-end TV]
[ ]
David Katzmaier/CNET
[/awards/ ED I T O R S ' C H O I C E Nov 2020]
What's that you say? You just want to give somebody the best TV, money no object? Here you go. In my side-by-side tests, the 2020 LG CX is the best TV I've ever reviewed, barely beating the [ ]. New for this year it's available in a 48-inch size too, perfect for fitting under the tree, and its [ ] go perfectly with an [ ] or [ ] or, let's face it, both.
Sizes: 48-, 55-, 65-, 77-inch. (The price shown below is for the 65-inch size.)
[/reviews/lg-oled65cxpua-review/ Read our LG OLEDCX series review].
[ $2,197 at Amazon]
[ $2,197 at Crutchfield]
[ $2,297 at Walmart]
[ TCL 4-Series]
[ Best budget TV]
[ ]
Sarah Tew/CNET
The TCL 4-Series can't beat any of the TVs above on image quality -- its 4K resolution and HDR compatibility don't do anything to help the picture -- but it's perfectly fine for most viewers, especially at this price. Despite its extreme affordability the 4-Series still includes the equivalent of a Roku Streaming Stick Plus built-in, with a single, super-simple remote to control streaming and the TV itself.
Sizes: 43-, 50-, 55-, 65-, 75-inch. (The price shown below is for the 43-inch size.)
[/reviews/tcl-43s425-roku-tv-review/ Read our TCL S425 series (Roku TV) review].
[ $220 at Amazon]
[ $230 at Best Buy]
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More holiday gift coverage[/news/the-best-gifts-for-readers-in-2020-kindle-ipad-fire-tablets-and-more/ The best gifts readers need for 2020: iPad vs. Kindle vs. Fire and more] [/news/the-best-headphone-gifts-for-the-2020-holidays/ The best headphone gifts for the holidays][/news/best-soundbars-and-home-audio-for-the-holidays/ Best soundbars and home audio for the holidays]
[#comments Comments]
[/holiday-gift-guide/ Holiday Gift Guide 2020]
[/topics/tvs/ TVs]
[/topics/media-streamers/ Media Streamers]
[/tags/amazon/ Amazon]
[/tags/roku/ Roku]
[/samsung/ Samsung]
[/tags/vizio/ Vizio]
[ Notification on Notification off TV & Audio]