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Dear students, you can do better than watching movies on your laptop in bed. If you want to truly be immersed in a film (or game, or TV show), nothing beats a large TV. And it turns out, you don’t have to invest thousands to get started with a decent dorm entertainment system. LCD sets and streaming devices are cheaper than ever. So save that notebook for schoolwork — consider these inexpensive ways to upgrade your movie watching experience.
TVs for smaller spaces
43-inch TCL 4 Series Roku TV
Will Lipman Photography / TCL
A Roku TV is one of the easiest ways to just start streaming movies and TV, making them ideal for most students. This 4-series TCL model 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 for around $300. It’s not the most feature-packed TCL Roku TV (the 5-series is around $100 more and adds Dolby Vision), but it’s one of the best options around for its price. And at 43-inches, it’s small enough to fit in most dorm rooms, while also offering enough screen space to immerse you in a film.
Buy 42-inch TCL 4 Series Roku TV at Amazon – $348
32-inch Vizio D-Series
Will Lipman Photography / Vizio
The “D” in Vizio’s D-series sets might as well stand for “dirt cheap.” But this 32-inch model is still pretty impressive for the price. It has full-array LED backlighting, Vizio’s streaming channels, and it supports Google Chromecast and Apple AirPlay. Plus, judging from the reviews, it doesn’t look too bad either, even if it is limited to a 1,366 by 768 resolution. It’s a solid option for very small spaces.
Buy 32-inch Vizio D-series smart TV at Best Buy – $219
Bigger and better TVs
50-inch Vizio M-Series Quantum
Will Lipman Photography / Vizio
If you want a 50-inch screen that looks fantastic, but doesn’t break the bank, it’s hard to do better than Vizio’s M-Series Quantum sets. They’re infused with quantum dots, for more robust color reproduction; they offer full-array backlighting, for better contrast and black levels; and they’re equipped with AMD’s FreeSync technology to smooth out gameplay. The M-series also features Dolby Vision HDR and support for Chromecast and AirPlay 2, so you can cast video from most smartphones. With slim bezels along three sides, the M-series also looks far more premium than other cheap TVs.
Buy 50-inch Vizio M-series at Best Buy – $429
50-inch Samsung Class Crystal
Samsung
Another solid option for a larger set, Samsung’s Class Crystal TVs feature the company’s Crystal 4K processor, which is focused on delivering solid image quality at a budget price. It doesn’t have Dolby Vision or quantum dots, so in general we’d recommend the Vizio M-series over this model. But, Samsung’s hardware does look a bit nicer, so it may be a better option if you value aesthetics over function.
Buy 50-inch Samsung Class Crystal TV at Best Buy – $479
Must-have streaming accessories
Chromecast with Google TV
Will Lipman Photography for Stock Market Pioneer
If you’re a heavy Google user, there’s no better streaming device than the Chromecast with Google TV. 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, though be sure to check if your set already has Chromecast streaming built-in.
Buy Chromecast with Google TV at Best Buy – $50
Roku Streaming Stick+
Will Lipman Photography for Stock Market Pioneer
If you already have an older TV, or you just want something a bit zippier than your set’s onboard apps, Roku’s Streaming Stick+ is worth snapping up. It’s just $50 (and often less), supports 4K/HDR, 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+ 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 to watch without pecking away at a keyboard.
Buy Roku Streaming Stick+ at Amazon – $50
Roku Streambar
Will Lipman Photography for Stock Market Pioneer
The Streambar is an unusual device. It’s both a decent soundbar and 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). 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, consider the slightly more expensive Streambar Pro.)