Entertainment
The best TVs for under £500 in 2025
So, you want a new TV? We all do. With the rate that manufacturers update their smart technology and release new models, there’s never a bad time to upgrade. But that doesn’t mean it’s always a good time to splurge thousands of pounds.
If you’re in the market for a cheap TV, you might assume you’re going to miss out on smart features and picture/audio quality. But that’s actually not the case. You won’t get the absolute best of the best without fully emptying your wallet, but you can find plenty of bang for your buck if you really shop around.
The problem with rapidly evolving TV tech is that the jargon is sometimes impenetrable. What is HDR? What about VRR? And why do you need HDMI? These should inform your decision on buying a specific TV, but it’s important to know what they are first. Read on for a quick guide and a selection of the best TVs for under £500.
Can you get a good TV for under £500?
Absolutely. There are plenty of impressive TVs available for less than £500, with things like Ultra HD resolution and HDR. We don’t want you to set your expectations too high, because you’re not going to get a 75-inch QLED TV for this price. But you might be surprised by the budget-friendly options out there.
What is a smart TV?
All the TVs listed below are smart TVs. In fact, it’s harder to find a TV that isn’t smart these days. A smart TV is basically a TV that connects to the internet, with a platform that has streaming apps (Netflix, Disney, NOW, Prime, YouTube, and more) and other features, such as voice assistant and games.
What is the best smart platform?
It’s not about which is the best, but which one you find easiest to use. Some TV brands have their own smart platforms. LG uses WebOS and Samsung uses Tizen, for instance. Whereas other TVs use familiar platforms such as Android. You’ll find a selection of smart platforms in the list below.
How much does a 4K TV cost?
4K TVs (which typically have a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels) are now the standard for ultra HD home viewing. And while the sharpest display technology — such as OLED and Neo QLED — typically comes at a higher price, it’s possible (as you’ll see below) to a get a 4K TV for £500 or less. Generally, TVs in this price range use LED display technology, with other features to refine and bolster the visuals. However, you also find Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) and HD Ready (1280 x 720 pixels). 4K is named as such because it’s four times the resolution of Full HD.
What is HDR?
You’ll see these initials lots when shopping around for a new TV. It means High Dynamic Range, which gives you a wider gamut of colours and shades. That means deeper, more vibrant, more nuanced colours and details. The most popular HDR formats are Dolby Vision and HDR10. Not all TVs support all HDR formats (Samsung’s otherwise excellent TVs, for instance, don’t support Dolby Vision).
What are gaming mode features?
This is a feature you’ll commonly find on smart TVs. A games mode recognises when you’ve switched on your games console and optimises the TVs settings to maximise gameplay for a smooth, immersive experience. Gaming specific features to look out for include a high refresh rate, ALLM (auto low latency mode) and VRR (variable refresh rate). ALLM means low-lag and low-latency (processing data with minimal delay) — it instantly kicks in and gives you smooth, lag-free, unbroken gameplay. VRR helps your screen to adjust how often it refreshes the image to match the frame rate, which can vary moment-to-moment — all depending on how hard your console processor is working,
What is the best TV for under £500?
You can find great TVs from top brands like Samsung, Hisense, and Toshiba without breaking the bank. To help you find something that works for you, we have tracked down a selection of your best options for less than £500. We have checked out customer reviews, specifications, and features to put together this list of top TVs. What we’re saying is that we’ve done all of the hard work so you don’t have to.
These are the best TVs for under £500 in 2025.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
Mashable Top Stories
Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
