The 7 Best Televisions

Editor's Notes

October 16, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:

Every set on our late 2020 list, from the LG CX to the Samsung TU8000, has been replaced by newer models several times over, so this ranking starts from scratch.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 sold mainly through Samsung's own store, so it's in the special honors.

We compared lab measurements published by RTINGS, TechRadar, Tom's Guide and PCMag with maker specs, owner feedback and recall records.

November 24, 2020:

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:

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:

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. 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.