There\u2019s no such thing as a watch party with a laptop screen. If you\u2019re the sort of person who enjoys watching movies and TV shows with friends, then it\u2019s worth nabbing an inexpensive TV for your dorm room. And if you\u2019re living alongside other students with too much time on their hands, you\u2019ll want a TV for impromptu Super Smash Bros. Ultimate<\/em> sessions. (If you need another justification, or just a way to sell it to your parents, TV sets can easily be repurposed as secondary monitors for any computer). Below, we\u2019ve gathered some of the best TV and home entertainment options for students \u2014 ones that provide a great experience without emptying your wallet.<\/p>\n TCL<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A television with Roku or Google TV built-in is one of the easiest ways to start streaming content, making them ideal for most students. This 4-series TCL model<\/a> sports a 4K screen (with upscaling from lower-res sources) and HDR, for better dynamic range. But best of all, you can usually find it under $300. It’s not the most feature-packed TCL TV (the 5-series<\/a> costs around $200 more and adds Dolby Vision), but it’s one of the best options at that price. And at 43 inches, it’s small enough to fit in most dorm rooms, while still offering enough screen space to immerse you in a film.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $330 at Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n VIZIO<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Vizio has spent decades cornering the cheap TV market, and while Chinese rivals like TCL and Hisense have quickly encroached on its territory, Vizio still manages to deliver excellent TV sets that don\u2019t break the bank. This M-Series Quantum Q6<\/a> set is one example: It\u2019s a 43-inch system with most of the mid-range features you\u2019d want, including quantum dots for richer colors, Dolby Vision HDR support and AMD FreeSync to make games look silky smooth. Its Wi-Fi 6E connectivity also means you\u2019ll be able to enjoy streaming movies (and games!) without much trouble.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $348 at Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n TCL<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n If you\u2019ve got room for something slightly larger, and you want the Google TV experience, TCL\u2019s latest Q6 Q-Class sets<\/a> are worth a look. Its QLED screen features quantum dots, Dolby Vision and AMD FreeSync with support for simulated 120Hz gaming. And since it\u2019s running Google\u2019s software, the Q6 also offers built-in Chromecast support alongside tons of apps. Best of all, you can often find the 65-inch model for under $500<\/a>. If you\u2019re looking for a slightly higher quality screen, TCL\u2019s Q7 series typically cost a few hundred dollars more, but you\u2019ll get a native 120Hz refresh rate, which could be useful for some PC games.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $370 at Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Will Lipman Photography for Engadget<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n If you’re a heavy Google user, there’s no better streaming device than the Chromecast with Google TV<\/a>. Unlike previous versions of Google’s puck, it has an interface of its own, along with a suite of streaming apps to choose from. And yes, you can still cast video from Android devices or the Chrome browser. The Chromecast is a great option if you’re buying a cheaper TV, but be sure to check if your set already has Chromecast streaming built in.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $48 at Walmart<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Will Lipman Photography for Engadget<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n If you own an older TV, or you just want something a bit zippier than your set’s onboard apps, Roku’s Streaming Stick 4K<\/a> is worth snapping up. It’s just $40 (and often less), supports 4K (with HDR and Dolby Vision), and it gives you access to Roku’s entire app library. Best of all, though, it’s so tiny you can easily bring it along when you’re traveling. The Streaming Stick 4K also supports Apple AirPlay, giving you a way to cast video from iOS devices and Macs. Roku’s bundled voice remote also makes it easy to search for things without pecking away at an onscreen keyboard.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $39 at Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Will Lipman Photography for Engadget<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The Streambar<\/a> is an unusual device. It’s both a decent soundbar and <\/em>a media streaming box. That’s just so Roku. Honestly, if you’re picking up a TV, you should really consider a soundbar of some kind. (We have a whole guide dedicated to that<\/a>.) But we’re recommending the Streambar here because it’s a relatively simple and inexpensive solution that solves two common pain points: getting streaming apps and better sound. It’s also a nice thing to have around to play a bit of music when you’re not watching anything. For even bigger sound, you might also want to consider the slightly pricier Streambar Pro<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $129 at QVC<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Will Lipman Photography for Engadget<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n So hear me out: There\u2019s room for the Apple TV 4K in your budget entertainment setup, especially if you\u2019re going to save money by picking a cheap TV with slow apps. At $129, the Apple TV 4K<\/a> is only slightly more expensive than the Roku Ultra, and it also plays nicely with iPhones, iPads and MacBooks. If your TV doesn\u2019t support AirPlay, an Apple TV is also helpful for projecting content from your phone. There are also plenty of apps on the Apple TV platform you won\u2019t find on TVs, including a large library of games.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $130 at B&H Photo<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Soundcore<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A great pair of headphones is essential for late night studying and movie-watching. The Soundcore Space One<\/a> proves you don\u2019t need to spend a ton to get great sound quality and powerful active noise cancellation (ANC). The $100 headphones offer 40 millimeter dynamic drivers and 40 hours of noise-canceling playback (or 55 hours without ANC). If you have a supported Android phone, you can also take advantage of detailed Hi-Res Audio using the LDAC codec. While the Space One doesn\u2019t have the cultural cachet of a pair of Sony or Bose premium noise canceling headsets, you can take the money you\u2019re saving to get Anker\u2019s Space A40 noise-canceling buds <\/a>as a companion device.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nTVs for smaller spaces<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Bigger and better TVs<\/h2>\n
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Must-have streaming accessories<\/h2>\n
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