The 10 Best 70 Inch TVs

Editor's Notes

November 24, 2020:

A lot of new features have been introduced or grown in popularity in the past year, and this update needed to reflect that. Some television models were replaced by more recent versions, although in cases where the new model was a marked step down in quality, we left the previous year's option up or replaced them with better alternatives. With new gaming consoles coming out, HDMI 2.1, which allows for the fast data transmission needed for high refresh rates and display resolutions, is becoming increasingly common, and debatably necessary if you're an avid gamer. Prices of 8K televisions are starting to drop to reasonable levels, too, creating even more competition on this list, though at the moment, the LG NanoCell 99 is the only one that made the cut.

For folks looking for great picture quality, the LG CXPUA and Sony A8H are OLEDs, which means they don't rely on backlights to display pictures. Instead, each LED emits its own light and can be dimmed or turned off completely to produce truer, darker blacks than QLED displays, the TCL 6-Series and Samsung Q80 for example, are capable of. QLED sets, on the other hand, mimic the light-adjusting abilities of OLEDs by using backlights that are divided into discrete zones, each of which capable of dimming independently, to produce high contrast ratios and improve the range of colors, though they pale in comparison to their more advanced counterparts.

Gamers might be interested in TVs with high frame rates, in which case the Sony X900H may be the way to go. It sports 120 FPS and boasts a clear HDR display that should satisfy even picky consumers. The Samsung RU8000 is a slightly older model, but its low input lag is still up to par with modern standards, making it a good choice for playing video games and watching sports. It also features variable refresh rates, which prevents "stutters" or "tearing" in the picture.

These TVs are all excellent choices for anyone looking to upgrade their entertainment system. Some perform better than others in specific areas, so think about your needs and choose one that best fits them. We tried to pick options that fit a variety of price ranges, so you can even consider one of the less expensive options and use the remaining money to complete your home theater with a surround sound system or soundbar.

June 06, 2019:

The most affordable 70-inch-class TVs are made by TCL. Their Roku software is commonly regarded as the most versatile when it comes to streaming. If you're willing to spend a bit more money, you have a bunch of good options, though. The Sony and the Samsung RU8000 are both superb displays, though they do have drawbacks; the Sony doesn't have a great dynamic contrast range and the Samsung has pretty poor viewing angle. The Vizio is incredibly well-balanced, and is one of the best deals, though if you're okay with shelling out a bit more cash, the LG B8 is almost unbeatable. It's not too different from the brand's high-end models, but the price is considerably lower.

If you're looking for a top-of-the-line system, the C9 is a seriously fantastic display. But, boy, is it expensive. Somewhat more affordable is LG's NanoCell 9 series, represented here by the SM9500. An even better value, however, is Samsung's Q80, which leverages the brand's cutting-edge QLED panel to provide incredible color depth and accuracy.

And if you're able to make a relatively massive investment, LG does have two ultra-high-end releases in the W9 and R9, though they each cost several times the price of more affordable options and focus on relatively niche markets.