The 7 Best Televisions
Updated by · How we research
Seven 2026 TVs, from OLED and mini-LED sets to a low-cost QLED, compared by picture, brightness, glare, gaming features, smart software and price, with the LG C6 OLED ranked first. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Nearly every TV sold today is a 4K smart TV, so the real choice is the type of screen. New models replace old ones every year. OLED panels light each pixel on its own for true black in a dark room. Mini-LED sets use thousands of tiny backlights to get much brighter, which suits bright rooms. 8K still has almost nothing to watch.
From the manual
- LG says no OLED can fully prevent image retention; station logos, game icons and 4:3 or letterboxed video are the main causes. p. 12
- Pixel Cleaning runs on its own after you switch the set off, and only while it stays plugged in. p. 12
- LG recommends a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable no longer than about 10 feet. p. 8
- Use at least two people to move a large TV, and set it on furniture wider than the TV. pp. 4, 5
Why the LG C6 is our top pick
Our pick wins on black level, viewing angle and motion; our runner-up, the TCL QM8L, wins on raw brightness. RTINGS found the C6's self-lit pixels give inky blacks with no haloing and an incredibly wide viewing angle, with almost no blur in fast action.3 On the QM8L it found the picture degrades rapidly from the sides and fast action is very blurry.6
On paper the two are close. Both have four full-speed HDMI ports and a one-year warranty, and the C6 reaches 165Hz with variable refresh, where the QM8L tops out at 144Hz in 4K.2,4 The QM8L supports HDR10+ and the C6 doesn't,2,4 and Will Greenwald, an ISF-certified calibrator who tests TVs for PCMag, says the QM8L has the brightest picture he has measured.7
The C6's real risk is burn-in. Its manual says no current OLED can fully prevent image retention and lists the usual causes: station logos, game icons and 4:3 or letterboxed video.1 It dims a frozen image by itself and runs Pixel Cleaning after you turn it off, but only while it stays plugged in.1 RTINGS rates the QM8L free of burn-in risk,6 though TCL's warranty still excludes marks from fixed images.5 For a sunny room or a news channel left on all day, choose the QM8L.
| LG C6 | TCL QM8L | |
|---|---|---|
| Black level | Pixels switch off, no halos | Very little haloing |
| Watching from the side | Incredibly wide angle | Degrades rapidly |
| Fast motion | Almost no blur | Very blurry |
| Bright-room glare | Handles some glare | Overcomes glare in any room |
| HDR formats | Dolby Vision, no HDR10+ | Dolby Vision and HDR10+ |
From the manual
- Smart features need both a Google account and a TCL account, plus a broadband connection. p. 1
- The remote only puts it in standby; unplugging is the only way to switch it fully off. p. 13
- The one-year warranty excludes marks on the panel left by fixed images, such as 4:3 bars or game displays. pp. 26, 28
- TCL must approve any repair first, and the warranty can't pass to a second owner except with a home sale in Texas or Florida. pp. 26, 31
Compare the specs
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Product | Screen | Native refresh rate (Hz) | Full-speed HDMI ports (of 4) | HDR10+ or Dolby Vision | Warranty (years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. LG C6 | OLED | 120 (165 with VRR) | 4 | Dolby Vision only | 1 |
| 2. TCL QM8L | Mini-LED | 144 | 4 | Both | 1 |
| 3. Hisense U7SG | Mini-LED | 165 | 4 | Both | 2 |
| 4. TCL QM7L | Mini-LED | 144 | 2 | Both | 1 |
| 5. Hisense U6SF Pro | Mini-LED | 144 | 2 | Both | 2 |
| 6. Roku Select | QLED, no local dimming | 60 | — | HDR10+ only | 1 |
| 7. TCL X11L | Mini-LED | 144 | 4 | Both | 1 |
Full speed means HDMI 2.1, or 4K at 120Hz or more, as each maker lists it. LG lists the C6 as 120Hz native and 165Hz with variable refresh, and rates its HDMI ports for 4K at 120Hz. Roku's figures are for its Select Series 4K line, which it doesn't break out by model, and Roku says its TV warranty term can vary by retailer. Hisense's Canadian U7SG sheet lists a one-year warranty; the US sheet lists two. A dash means the maker doesn't say.
Sources
From the manual
- All four HDMI ports are 2.1, but only HDMI 3 carries eARC, so the soundbar goes there. p. 2
- Hisense's US sheet lists a two-year warranty; its Canadian sheet lists one year. p. 2
- The center stand sets at two heights, and the TV has Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth built in. p. 2
From the manual
- Only HDMI 1 and 2 take 4K at 144Hz; HDMI 3 and 4 stop at 60Hz, and HDMI 4 is the eARC port. spec sheet, p. 2
- Turn on Game Master to enable variable refresh rate, which stops screen tearing in games. p. 21
- Forgot the parental-control PIN? The guide prints a super password that overrides it. p. 22
- Warranty is one year, parts and labor, and marks from fixed images aren't covered. pp. 26, 28
From the manual
- Two inputs are HDMI 2.1 and two are HDMI 2.0, so give the faster pair to a console or gaming PC. p. 1
- Hisense gives its ULED sets a two-year limited warranty, twice what it calls the industry standard. p. 1
- It runs Fire TV with Alexa+, and its game mode handles variable refresh from 48 to 144Hz. p. 1
From the manual
- Roku's standard warranty on its own TVs is one year, parts and labor, though Roku says the term can vary by retailer. Roku warranty page
- Stuck or dead pixels, or a few missing picture elements, aren't covered by the warranty. p. 2
- It keeps drawing power in standby, and Roku advises against leaving it in standby unattended for long periods. p. 2
- Roku lists the wall-mount pattern for each model at go.roku.com/TVmount. p. 2
From the manual
- TCL wants three people to fit the stands: two hold the TV upright while the third attaches them. quick start guide, p. 8
- The 144, 240 and 288Hz modes work only with variable refresh rate or High Frame Rate Mode switched on. quick start guide, p. 4
- Every size takes a VESA 600 x 400 wall mount, with the stand left off. p. 9
- HDMI 4 is the eARC port for a soundbar or receiver. p. 17
Editor's Notes
November 4, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
We read the makers' manuals and spec sheets for all seven TVs and added a spec table, a section on why the LG C6 leads, and notes from those documents. We corrected claims that three mini-LED picks have fast panels (lab tests show blur in fast action), that the X11L needs only two people to set up, and that Samsung's S95H sells mainly through its own store. The 2019 note's line about LG being the only OLED panel maker now carries an update.
October 16, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
Every set on our late 2020 list, from the LG CX to the Samsung TU8000, has been replaced by newer models several times over, so this ranking starts from scratch. The old 8K and wallpaper TV honors are gone too. 8K still has almost nothing to watch.
TVs change every year, so we only ranked models released in the past 12 months. That left out a few well-reviewed 2025 sets that are still around, like the LG C5 and the Hisense U8. They can be good buys while stock lasts, and the guide explains how to judge them.
The LG C6 leads because it pairs OLED's true blacks with a full set of gaming features. Bright rooms are where mini-LED shines, so the TCL QM8L, Hisense U7SG and TCL QM7L come next at lower prices. The Hisense U6SF Pro is the budget pick, the Roku Select is the cheap and simple choice, and the TCL X11L is for a big wall and a big budget.
We left out the LG B6. It's a fine OLED, but it costs only a little less than the C6 and tests much dimmer. Samsung's top OLED, the S95H, is in the special honors: it skips Dolby Vision and costs far more than the C6.
We compared lab measurements published by RTINGS, TechRadar, Tom's Guide and PCMag with maker specs, owner feedback and recall records.
Earlier notes
November 24, 2020, by Christopher Thomas:
There are plenty of TVs to choose from, and, in fact, some would say there are too many to wade through without getting confused. Luckily what's available today is better than ever before, and there are a variety of advancements coming to budget and mid-range models that were exclusive to super-expensive models just a couple years ago.
Take, for example, the TCL S535, which has long been part of a highly cost-effective lineup. It, and its more expensive relative the TCL R635, both offer quantum dot filtration and local dimming, two things that used to unheard-of in TVs this reasonably priced. Similarly, we are impressed with the engineering from the up-and-coming manufacturer behind the Hisense H8G, which offers good performance on a moderate budget, and the Hisense H9G, which actually compares favorably to many big-name models. Of course, you don't really have to spend that much for something worthwhile, which is why we've highlighted the Samsung TU8000. It isn't fancy or particularly high-tech, but affords users an enjoyable cinematic experience and a decent or above-average time playing video games and watching sports.
If you're okay with making a sizeable investment, on the other hand, the LG CX is almost impossible to beat. Its premium OLED panel and top-of-the-line technical implementation can make it the last TV you have to buy for several years. The same can be said for the Samsung Q80T and Sony X950H, although the Sony unfortunately lacks support for 120-hertz video.
Speaking of Sony, the Sony X900H offers an impressive balance between cost and performance, as it actually does provide full HDMI 2.1 support, making it probably the best choice for owners of the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. Also priced in the middle of the pack is the LG Nano90, which is a perfectly fine TV, but if you're at all concerned with HDR performance, you might want to look elsewhere.
November 24, 2020, by Daniel Imperiale:
Our list this time around has had a complete overhaul with a bunch of new models coming out from the top companies in the sector. Notably, however, where previous lists have slowly eroded the presence of models with 1080 HD resolution, this is both the first ranking in this series to have no 1080 models and the first to include 8K offerings in the Samsung QLED Q950T, Sony Z8H, and LG NanoCell 99 Series. It would seem the era of the traditional HDTV is on its way out.
Now, it's important to note that the 8K models out there don't have OLED screens like you see on the Sony A8H or the LG GX Gallery Series, and this is where Samsung has actually set themselves up for success. While 8K OLED TVs would at this point be prohibitively expensive for all but the wealthiest consumers, Samsung has spent their time developing their QLED technology instead, giving them a leg up in color performance in the 8K sector. LG has their NanoCell tech, which achieves a good dynamic range and excellent local dimming, but can't match the Samsung for overall picture quality.
March 27, 2019, by Christopher Thomas:
Oh, 4K televisions, how you make us covet such high-priced technology. We'll be honest, we decided against including Samsung's Q900, which is the first commercially available 8K TV, because really, you don't need it. Not only is there almost zero 8K content available, we're not even sure that you could power an 8K-resolution display with a pair of liquid-cooled Geforce RTX 1080 Ti graphics cards. Maybe. But that whole rig would cost you somewhere around twenty grand.
On the other (and much more reasonable hand), TCL has a selection of TVs on the market that are exceptional values. If you're not trying to shell out a fortune on a home theater, they're the way to go. If you're willing to step up just a little in price, Vizio makes a QLED model that's incredibly well-priced. If you like bright colors and good prices, that's the one to choose. If you'll be gaming a lot and want to immerse yourself, look at Samsung's QLED line as well. Whatever the purpose, they produce some of the most realistic colors possible. But if you're going for cinematic quality, it's awfully hard to top LG, the current kings of OLED panels.
In fact, LG is, for the time bring and forseeable future, actually the only producer of OLED panels for the entire US market. [2026 update: no longer true. Samsung now sells QD-OLED TVs too, such as the S95H in our special honors.] Case in point, their "wallpaper TV" is finally readily available, and if you're a stickler for sleek form factors, you'll be delighted by its ultra-thin design. And of course we couldn't ever go without mentioning industry giant Sony, whose Master line of displays is quite worthy of the name. Plus, their X950G is both very, very attractive, as well as attractively priced -- which is something that can't usually be said for the Japanese behemoth's TVs. All in all, no matter how much you're trying to spend, it's a really, really good time to buy a TV.
Special Honors
Samsung S95H OLED Samsung's 2026 flagship OLED tops the RTINGS list of the best TVs, and PCMag measured it as the brightest OLED it has tested. Its matte glare-free screen suits bright rooms better than most OLEDs. It lacks Dolby Vision, and it costs far more than the LG C6. samsung.com
OLED Or Mini-LED: Start With Your Room
In an OLED TV, each pixel makes its own light and can turn fully off, so blacks are truly black and the picture looks the same from almost any seat.
The biggest difference between TVs now is the screen technology. In an OLED TV, each pixel makes its own light and can turn fully off, so blacks are truly black and the picture looks the same from almost any seat. OLED is the pick for movie nights in a dim room. Its limits are brightness and burn-in: a static logo or game interface left on screen for long stretches can leave a permanent ghost, a risk RTINGS lists for every OLED it tests.
A mini-LED TV is an LCD lit by thousands of tiny LEDs grouped into dimming zones. It can get much brighter than OLED, which helps in a sunny living room and makes HDR highlights pop, and it can't burn in. The tradeoffs are blooming, a faint glow around bright objects on dark backgrounds, and a picture that fades when you sit well off to the side. More dimming zones generally mean less blooming. PCMag notes the gap between the two technologies keeps narrowing.
The cheapest TVs are plain LED or QLED sets with no local dimming. They're fine for casual streaming, but dark scenes look gray. Check HDR formats as well: most sets support HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, but Samsung skips Dolby Vision and LG, our top pick included, skips HDR10+, so match the set to the formats your streaming services and discs use.
Size, Refresh Rate And Smart Software
For a living room, 65 inches is the sweet spot for price and impact. Will Greenwald, an ISF-certified TV calibrator who reviews TVs for PCMag, suggests in its September 2026 TV guide sitting 1.2 to 1.6 times the screen's diagonal away. A couch 6 feet back then suits a 42- to 60-inch screen, and a 65-inch TV wants about 6 1/2 to 9 feet. Skip 8K: there's still almost no 8K content, and reviewers at Popular Mechanics and PCMag agree it isn't worth paying for.
Greenwald's rule for refresh rate: 60Hz is fine for films and TV, and 120Hz is plenty for games and sports. Consoles also need HDMI 2.1 ports for 4K at 120Hz from a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. Count those ports: some sets have only two, and a soundbar may take one.
The software matters every day. LG's webOS and Google TV are the best liked in Tom's Guide testing, Roku is the simplest, and Fire TV is crowded with ads. Most smart TVs track what you watch through automatic content recognition, so turn off viewing-data options during setup.
Last year's models are often the best value once new ones arrive in the spring. Sets like the LG C5, Samsung S90F, Hisense U8QG and TCL QM6K were still on sale in fall 2026 for well under their launch prices. Expect the best deals around the Super Bowl, in July and on Black Friday.
Setup, Sound And Safety
Most TVs ship with an overly bright, bluish picture mode and motion smoothing switched on, which gives films a soap-opera look. For movies, choose Filmmaker Mode or a Movie or Cinema mode and turn motion smoothing down or off. Built-in speakers are thin on nearly every flat TV, so budget for a soundbar if dialogue or music matters to you.
Tip-overs are the real hazard. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission counts about 17,800 emergency-room injuries a year from TVs and furniture tipping over, 44% of them to people under 18. Anchor the TV to the wall with an anti-tip strap, place it on low, sturdy furniture and push it back from the edge. Many sets stand on two legs near the outer edges, so the console must be at least as wide as the leg span, often 44 to 50 inches on a 65-inch TV. To wall-mount, match the bracket to the TV's VESA pattern, such as 400 by 300 millimeters, and the mount's weight rating.
We checked each brand on this list in the CPSC recall database. None of these models has been recalled. The only recent TV recall from these brands was LG's 2023 recall of 86-inch sets on a free-standing stand.
How we researched this
We screened more than 20 current TVs and ranked seven. We read LG's C6 owner's manual and spec page; TCL's Google TV user guides and 2026 spec sheets for the QM8L, QM7L and X11L, plus the X11L quick start guide; Hisense's US and Canadian U7SG spec sheets and its U6SF Pro Q&A sheet; and Roku's product information flyer and TV warranty page. Lab results from RTINGS and PCMag decided the picture and motion calls, with reviews from Tom's Guide, TechRadar and Popular Mechanics as a check. The CPSC and Health Canada recall lists show no recall of any of these seven; the only TV recall from these brands since 2022 is LG's January 2023 recall of free-standing 86-inch sets.
Sources (32)
- RTINGS: The best TVs
- RTINGS: LG C6 OLED 2026 review
- RTINGS: TCL QM8L review
- RTINGS: Hisense U7SG review
- RTINGS: Hisense U7SG vs TCL QM7L
- RTINGS: Hisense U6SF Pro review
- PCMag: The best TVs
- PCMag: The best cheap TVs
- Tom's Guide: The best TVs
- Tom's Guide: TCL QM7L review
- Tom's Guide: Hisense U7SG vs TCL QM7L
- Tom's Guide: LG B6 OLED review
- TechRadar: TCL QM7L review
- Popular Mechanics: The best 4K TVs
- CPSC: anchor TVs and furniture
- CPSC recalls
- LG OLED C6 owner's manual (PDF)
- LG OLED65C6PUA spec page
- TCL QM8L user guide (PDF)
- TCL QM8L spec sheet (PDF)
- TCL QM7L user guide (PDF)
- TCL QM7L spec sheet (PDF)
- TCL X11L user guide (PDF)
- TCL X11L quick start guide (PDF)
- TCL X11L spec sheet (PDF)
- Hisense U7SG spec sheet, US (PDF)
- Hisense U6SF Pro Q&A sheet (PDF)
- Roku TV product information flyer (PDF)
- Roku branded TV product information
- Health Canada: LG 86-inch TV recall
- PCMag: Hisense U6SF Pro review
- Roku TV limited warranty
Frequently asked questions
What is the best TV you can buy right now?
For most people, a 65-inch OLED such as the LG C6, which pairs true blacks with strong gaming features. For a very bright room, a mini-LED set such as the TCL QM8L is the better choice.
Is OLED better than QLED or mini-LED?
OLED has true blacks and wider viewing angles, so it wins in dim rooms. Mini-LED and QLED sets get brighter and can't burn in, so they suit sunny rooms and long hours of static content like news tickers or games.
What size TV should I get?
Sit about 1.2 to 1.6 times the screen diagonal away. From 7 to 9 feet, a 65-inch TV fits well. Measure your console, too: two-legged stands on a 65-inch set can span 44 to 50 inches.
Do I need a 120Hz TV?
Not for movies and shows, where 60Hz is fine. For console gaming at 4K and 120 frames per second, or for smoother sports, get a 120Hz or faster set with HDMI 2.1 ports.
Is an 8K TV worth it?
No. There is still almost no 8K content to watch, and a good 4K TV looks better for the money.
Which TV brand is best?
Shop by model, not brand. LG and Samsung lead in OLED, while TCL and Hisense offer the most brightness for the money with mini-LED. Each brand sells both strong and weak models.
