Tagged: 4K

Best TVs of 2022: Smart TVs from LG, Samsung, TCL, and more

Whether you’re looking for one of the best TVs money can buy, or simply want to score an excellent deal on a great set that won’t break the bank, we know that even beginning to understand what models to look at can be extremely intimidating. But not to worry: We’re here to help you make sense of all the best TVs on the market.

As for right now, we think the 65-inch LG G2 Evo Gallery Series 4K OLED TV is the best TV you can buy. With its stunning LG OLED Evo panel, the G2 delivers the best color volume and black levels we’ve seen on any TV — bar-none. And in terms of the overall G2 experience, great color and contrast are merely scratching the surface of what this 2022 OLED can do.

And while the LG G2 is our current top pick, it carries a premium price tag, which puts it out of reach for many. But the good news is that many of the best TVs of 2022 are far more affordable. And even if they can’t quite match all of the G2’s attributes, some come very close.

lg g2 oled evo gallery series tv review
Riley Young/Digital Trends

65-inch LG G2 Evo Gallery OLED

The best overall TV

  • Class-leading brightness
  • Outstanding color accuracy
  • Perfect black levels
  • Top choice for gamers
  • Top-notch design
  • Disappointing stand-mount option

Why you should buy this: It’s remarkable in every conceivable way, from brightness and color to optimized gaming features and web performance.

Who it’s for: Whoever wants to sink their teeth into one of the best TVs that money can buy.

Why we picked the 65-inch LG G2:

Year after year, LG continues to deliver the most impressive OLED TVs, and somehow, they continue to one-up themselves when it comes to picture quality, design, and overall performance — and 2022 is no exception. Whether you’re a film fanatic, sports buff, or heavy-duty gamer, the LG G2 is the TV to buy if you want a TV that can do it all.

Available in four sizes (55-, 65-, 75-, and 83-inches), the G2 OLED is the latest model in LG’s Gallery Series, with the “Gallery” moniker referring to the fact that this TV is designed to look like a wall-mounted painting. In fact, LG is so determined to get the G2 on your sheetrock that you won’t even find a pedestal or set of feet in the box (you can purchase the stand separately).

From regular cable TV channels to jaw-dropping 4K HDR content, you’re not going to beat the picture you’ll get with the G2. Blacks are inky and deep, colors are rich and abundant, and thanks to the Evo panel, this TV gets nice and bright, too. On top of four HDMI 2.1 inputs, AMD FreeSync, NVIDIA G-Sync, and variable refresh rate (VRR) support for all your next-gen gaming needs, along with support for HDR10, Dolby Vision IQ, and HLG formats, the G2 is also loaded with the best version of LG’s WebOS system to date. Simply put: your Netflix and Hulu streaming has never looked and felt so good.

Sure, OLED TVs don’t always deliver the brightest picture, and if your TV gets a lot of use during daylight hours, something like the Samsung S95B may be a better overall fit. But we’re betting that for most viewers, the brilliance and clarity delivered by the LG G2 will be plenty.

LG 65-Inch Class OLED evo Gallery Edition G2 Series Alexa Built-in 4K Smart TV, 120Hz Refresh Rate, AI-Powered 4K, Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos, WiSA Ready, Cloud Gaming (OLED65G2PUA, 2022)
65-inch LG G2 Evo Gallery OLED
The best overall TV
samsung s95b oled tv review qn65s95b tizen interface
Riley Young/Digital Trends

65-inch Samsung S95B

A solid runner-up

  • High overall brightness
  • Excellent color brightness
  • Superior contrast
  • Perfect blacks/uniformity
  • Great for gaming
  • First-gen technology
  • Size limits

Why you should buy this: It’s a state-of-the-art TV that combines the color volume and unbeatable contrast of a traditional OLED with the off-the-charts brightness of QLED lighting.

Who it’s for: Those looking to own and experience some of the latest and greatest picture technology in the 55- to 65-inch range.

Why we picked the 65-inch Samsung S95B:

It’s hard to put any TV up against the 65-inch LG G2 (our top pick), but the Samsung S95B may actually be better than the G2 for some specific viewing situations.

For starters, the S95B is a QD-OLED set (although Samsung is just referring to it as OLED), which means that it essentially combines a traditional OLED panel with the powerful luminosity of the brand’s tried and true “quantum-dot” QLED backlighting. It’s the perfect combination of brightness, color, and contrast, even if you’re doing most of your TV watching in a bright room.

The S95B also features four HDMI 2.1 inputs, eARC capabilities, VRR support up to 4K/120Hz, and the ability to decode a number of HDR formats, including HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG.

Like any first-gen engineering, Samsung probably has design elements, specs, and various bells and whistles to tweak in the years to come, but right out of the gate, the QD-OLED experience is TV-watching like we’ve never seen.

SAMSUNG 65-Inch Class OLED 4K S95B Series - Quantum HDR OLED Self-Illuminating LED Smart TV with Alexa Built-in (QN65S95BAFXZA, 2022 Model)
65-inch Samsung S95B
A solid runner-up
sony a95k qd oled tv review xr 55a95k 65a95k 7
Dan Baker/Digital Trends

Sony Bravia XR A95K

The best-performing TV

  • Next-level color purity
  • High color brightness
  • Wide color gamut
  • Perfect black levels
  • Great sound

Why you should buy this: When it comes to picture quality, motion clarity, and bells and whistles, there’s no TV that’s going to look and run better than the Sony A95K Series.

Who it’s for: TV fans that aren’t willing to wait for the next generation of QD-OLEDs, and would rather own the very best of the tech TV you can buy right now.

Why we picked the Sony 65-inch XR A95K:

Before the above-mentioned Samsung S95B, the QD-OLED red carpet was officially rolled out with Sony’s Bravia XR A95K Series. Available in 55-inch and 65-inch sizes, the A95K Series is, no questions asked, the very best-performing TV that money can buy.

In our hands-on review of the A95K, we were simply blown away by every measurable spec you can house under a picture quality umbrella — from peak white and color brightness to overall color volume, contrast, motion capabilities, and depth.

Because this is a QD-OLED TV, color-emitting quantum dots work in unison with the TV’s self-emissive OLED screen, resulting in extremely pure and lifelike imagery with deep contrast, but also with the brightness-induced knockout punch of a traditional QLED TV. And because OLED panels use those self-emissive pixels that can be turned on and off individually, this means that when a movie or TV show calls for a dark screen, you’ll be getting the best-looking blackness a TV can produce.

Our own senior editor at large, Caleb Denison, put the A95K through its paces for his review (which you should definitely read), testing the A95K’s capabilities with HDR, SDR, and 4K Blu-ray content, all with astonishing results.

The A95K is also an excellent TV for gaming, and while you won’t find the integrated gaming hub controls of Samsung and LG TVs, the A95K still delivers 4K/120Hz, on top of VRR support and an Auto Gaming Mode.

The A95K also runs on Google TV for all things smart, delivering a seamless and user-friendly experience for all things Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+. Yes, it’s expensive, but this is the ultimate case of “you get what you pay for,” as the Sony A95K can handle anything you throw at it (save for the remote) with style and jaw-dropping performance.

Sony BRAVIA XR A95K 65"
Sony Bravia XR A95K
The best-performing TV
lg c2 oled 4k hdr tv review db 53
Dan Baker/Digital Trends

65-inch LG C2

Another great LG OLED

  • Slick new design
  • Improved peak brightness
  • Excellent black levels
  • Solid color accuracy and gamut
  • Great for gamers
  • Some peak brightness artifacts
  • Complex smart TV system

Why you should buy this: You want your TV to be packed with the most cutting-edge picture tech and want these many deliverables from a respected brand name.

Who it’s for: Those looking for a premium picture and excellent features that aren’t willing to dip into complete flagship territory.

Why we picked the LG C2 OLED Evo:

When LG rolled out its new OLED Evo panels on a handful of 2021 models, we were beyond impressed with what the new hardware meant for TV-watching, especially certain types of movies. With promises of OLED-flavored contrast linking hands with the type of brightness only seen on the most powerful QLED sets, the Evo engineering delivered an all-immersive, at-home cinema experience that looks fantastic in even the most brightly-lit rooms.

Fast-forward to present day where LG is rolling out a number of its 2022 models, one of which being the much-loved LG C2 OLED Evo. While not considered a flagship set, the C2 builds upon a number of the amazing picture features and other add-ons that we loved about its predecessor, the LG C1.

Available in sizes from 55 inches up to 83 inches, the 65-inch C2 is the perfect middle-ground size for most homes. And in terms of design and tech, LG really notched things up this year. The C2 features a totally reworked WRGB screen with chart-topping peak brightness marks, four HDMI 2.1 inputs for all our next-gen entertainment sources, and an improved Alpha 9 Gen 5 processor that delivers breathtaking colors, adaptive brightness control, and incredible upscaling.

Gamers will appreciate the inclusion of Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, with both technologies banding together to create the ideal TV for high-bandwidth, action-oriented gameplay from today’s leading consoles and PCs.

While the sound isn’t something we’d sing the praises of, LG made good on its promise of a revamped and reimagined C series TV, and we couldn’t recommend the LG C2 OLED Evo more.

LG - OLED Evo C2 Series 65” Alexa Built-in 4k Smart TV
65-inch LG C2
Another great LG OLED
hisense u8h mini led tv review 4k
Zeke Jones/Digital Trends

65-inch Hisense U8H

The best for bright rooms

  • Intensely bright
  • Class-leading black levels
  • Impressive HDR imaging
  • Vibrant, accurate Color
  • Surprisingly Good Sound
  • Quirky user interface
  • Some bugs

Why you should buy this: It’s one of the brightest TVs we’ve ever tested, making it ideal for rooms that receive a lot of sunlight.

Who it’s for: Anyone looking to save money on a TV without sacrificing important picture features like brightness, color, and motion capabilities.

Why we picked the Hisense 65-inch U8H mini-LED TV:

Hisense is one of those TV brands that never ceases to amaze us. On par with names like TCL and Vizio, Hisense produces some excellent TVs with features and performance akin to much higher-priced offerings from the likes of Samsung and LG, but at a cost that most consumers can stomach. And when it comes to the most arrestingly bright TV that you can buy today, there’s nothing better than the mini-LED powered Hisense U8H.

The next generation of the 2021 U8G Series, the U8H actually requires a bit of tweaking out of the box, at least in our opinion. But once you’ve adjusted and disabled a couple of picture settings, you’re going to get one of the most vibrant images on the market, regardless of what source you’re watching. In our hands-on review of the U8H, we clocked peak nit levels that only the best models from Samsung, Sony, and LG have come even remotely close to.

And thanks to a very active backlighting system, the U8H is capable of delivering some of the best contrast levels we’ve ever seen on a QLED set, with minimal light blooming present in dark scenes. That’s on top of two HDMI 2.1 inputs, a 120Hz refresh rate, and powerful HDR support.

While we had a couple of issues with the user interface which were fixed with a software update, if you’re looking for a bright set with impressive colors and contrast, and at a crazy-good price, the Hisense 65-inch U8H is an incredible option.

Hisense U8H QLED Series Quantum 4K ULED Mini-LED 65-Inch Class Google Smart TV with Alexa Compatibility, Quantum Dot, 1500-nit HDR10+, and Dolby Vision (65U8H, 2022 Model)
65-inch Hisense U8H
The best for bright rooms
720p vs 1080p 4k sony bravia xr a90j oled tv
Riley Young/Digital Trends

65-inch Sony A90J

A premium OLED for cinephiles

  • Brightest OLED TV
  • Exceptional HDR performance
  • Perfect black levels
  • Stunning detail
  • VRR still missing

Why you should buy this: Sony’s latest picture processing tech delivers an unmatched movie viewing experience.

Who it’s for: Cinephiles who seek perfection in movie and TV picture quality and have the money to pay for it.

Why we picked the Sony A90J OLED 4K HDR TV:

We declared Sony’s 2020 XBR A8H OLED TV as the most cinematic 4K TV, thanks to the subtleties in detail that Sony was able to extract from its OLED panel. 2021’s pick, the Bravia A90J Master Series, is still one of our favorite cinematic TVs in 2022.

If you checked out our description of the LG G1 Gallery Series above, you know that it’s LG’s brightest OLED TV to date, thanks to the new LG OLED Evo panel and LG’s picture processor. Well, Sony has always had a way of squeezing even more performance from a given panel than LG, and the A90J exemplifies this capability.

Through specialized heat sinks, Sony can run the A90J’s panel longer and harder without damaging the OLED material itself, which leads to an exceptionally bright image — brighter even than the G1. And when you layer on Sony’s latest Cognitive Processor XR — a computer brain that Sony claims works a lot like a human brain — you’ve got what our reviewer described as the “best picture quality I have ever seen […] this TV is now the benchmark, and it’s going to be hard to beat.”

Yes, the same reviewer said something similar about the G1, but in fairness, he had not reviewed the A90J yet.

The A90J also scores very highly when it comes to sound quality. Sony’s Acoustic Surface Audio+ turns the entire OLED panel into a speaker, while its XR Surround makes that sound feel as though it’s coming from all around you — perfect for virtualized Dolby Atmos without a soundbar. But given that most A90J buyers will be running an AV receiver for their sound, it’s pretty darn cool that the A90J has its own center channel speaker terminals, which lets you use the TV as a replacement for your existing center channel speaker.

With Android TV (and the new Google TV experience) running the user interface, it’s like having a top-notch streaming media device built-in, plus Sony has embedded Apple’s AirPlay and HomeKit in addition to Google’s Chromecast, leaving no stone unturned in terms of wireless device connections.

There are really only two drawbacks to the A90J, and one of them may not matter to you at all: There’s no VRR support for now, which gamers should be aware of, as it might affect their favorite games. The other is the price. At $4,000 for the 65-inch model, the A90J is very, very expensive.

That’s why the LG G1 won our overall best pick: It comes incredibly close to the A90J in terms of picture quality, it has every gaming feature you could want, and it costs $1,500 less.

Still, if you want the best cinematic experience in 4K TV, the Sony A90J OLED 4K HDR TV is the TV you’ve been waiting for.

Sony Bravia XR A90J 4K HDR OLED
65-inch Sony A90J
A premium OLED for cinephiles
hisense u7g 4k hdr tv review ry 18
Riley Young/Digital Trends

65-inch Hisense U7G

The best TV for $1,000 or less

  • Impressive brightness
  • Solid black levels
  • Excellent backlight control
  • Great for gaming
  • Easy setup
  • Poor off-angle performance
  • Potential dirty screen effect

Why you should buy this: It brings black levels and contrast into OLED territory without the OLED price tag.

Who it’s for: Anyone looking for great picture quality at a reasonable price.

Why we picked the 65-inch Hisense U7G (2021):

As with any great TV, it isn’t just one feature that makes the Hisense U7G such a great choice, and as our TV reviewer Caleb Denison pleasantly discovered in his full review, it’s the full package at an amazing price, which is why this set has also landed at the top of our best TVs under $1,000 list, too.

But let’s start with the U7G’s biggest asset: Its brightness. Hisense has a history of making TVs that are brighter than the competition (see the U8G below), and the U7G is a case in point. With up to 1,000 nits of peak brightness, you’ll be able to enjoy both standard dynamic range (SDR) and high dynamic range (HDR) content in virtually any lighting conditions your room might have.

Brightness without control just leads to washed-out colors and blacks that look more like grays, which is why we like the U7G so much — it uses 90 local dimming zones to keep the dark areas of an image looking nice and inky, so that field of stars from your favorite sci-fi title looks like it’s genuinely in space.

It’s easy to take advantage of the U7G’s picture quality. It packs every major flavor of HDR including HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG, giving you tons of compatibility with whatever your favorite streaming service provides. Thanks to its 120Hz native panel refresh rate, this smart TV is also a great gaming TV. With two HDMI 2.1 ports (and another two HDMI 2.0 ports), you can connect your choice of gaming console or PC and get 4K resolution at 120Hz, along with variable refresh rate (VRR), auto low-latency mode (ALLM), and support for AMD’s FreeSync VRR technology.

When it comes to audio, Dolby Atmos support is available, and you can send that signal to your soundbar or AV receiver in full, 24-bit lossless quality with the U7G’s HDMI eARC connection.

Like the U8G, the U7G uses Google’s Android TV operating system, which means you get Chromecast built-in as well as access to Google Assistant. But Hisense has taken this a step further: You can grab the included, backlit remote and press a button to speak your commands, or you can do it hands-free using the TV’s built-in far-field microphones.

So is there a downside? Just one: As awesome as the U7G’s picture quality is, that quality can be affected by your viewing position. It’s best to sit directly in front of this TV, as its off-angle viewing is not as good as some of the other TVs on this list.

Current availability for the UG series is a bit hit or miss, mostly because Hisense is getting ready to drop the new UH series soon. But this also means that now is the best time to score a great deal on one of the brand’s top sets of 2021!

Hisense 65-inch U7G ULED 4K HDR TV
65-inch Hisense U7G
The best TV for $1,000 or less
vizio p series quantum x review 2022 85
Riley Young/Digital Trends

85-inch Vizio P-Series

The biggest screen with the best quality

  • Powerful brightness
  • Intense contrast
  • Impressive backlight control
  • Extended Color Volume
  • Mild motion judder
  • Decreased off-angle performance

Why you should buy this: You want the biggest screen possible, for the best price, and expect it to look amazing, too.

Who it’s for: Those that care a lot about how big their TV is.

Why we picked the Vizio P-Series Quantum X:

Living in a comfortable mid-tier world alongside other reputable brands like Hisense and TCL, Vizio has been a go-to option for TVs with great picture quality, a wide assortment of entertaining and immersive features, and sizes for every room of the house.

Regarding the latter, the Vizio 2022 P-Series Quantum X is a monolithic 85-inch 4K set that delivers powerful brightness levels, excellent color, and jaw-dropping contrast that treads close to OLED territory. On top of extended HDR support, FreeSync Premium for gaming (pairing nicely with the TV’s native 120Hz refresh rate), and support for Apple AirPlay 2, the P-Series Quantum X is priced ultra-competitively.

Typically, $3,200 will get you a great step-below-flagship 65-inch set from the likes of Samsung or LG, not one of the very best 85-inch TVs on the market. But this isn’t to say that the P-Series isn’t without its short list of flaws.

Off-angle viewing isn’t the best with the P-Series, and Vizio’s SmartCast TV platform hasn’t changed much from years past (and the platform has always been on the slower, lackluster side of smart TV engines).

That being said, if you want the biggest, best screen possible, you could do worse than the Vizio 2022 P-Series Quantum X.

Vizio P-Series Quantum X 85” Class 4K HDR Smart TV | P85QX-J01
85-inch Vizio P-Series
The biggest screen with the best quality
tcl 8k 6 series r648 hdr tv review featured image model cropped
Dan Baker/Digital Trends

75-inch TCL 6-Series

The best 8K TV within reach

  • Excellent picture quality
  • Surprisingly good sound
  • Improved Roku TV remote
  • Easy setup
  • Excellent for gaming
  • Poor off-axis performance

Why you should buy this: It can do 8K resolution at a 75-inch screen size for just under $3,000.

Who it’s for: Those who want to be on the leading edge of TV resolution without arranging for a second mortgage.

Why we picked the 75-inch TCL 6-Series Mini-LED 8K Roku TV:

8K is still very much an emerging corner of the entertainment world, so much so that — with the exception of some 8K videos on YouTube — there isn’t much actual 8K content readily available right now. That hasn’t stopped TV manufacturers from rolling out 8K displays, though, and right now, the TCL 6-Series (2021) R648 is the most affordable way to get a big, 75-inch picture in full 8K resolution.

Given that it shares the same name with TCL’s 6-Series 4K Roku TV (R635), it’s tempting to think that the R648 is simply a carbon copy, but with more pixels. But our reviewer discovered that’s not the whole story. The 8K model has better brightness, contrast, and even better black levels, thanks to its impressive 240 contrast control zones that are used for local dimming of the mini-LED backlight system.

These performance gains are the key to the TV’s awesome HDR and SDR picture quality, which is so good, it compares favorably to OLED TVs, which are still the leaders in this area. “Is the R648 a substitute for OLED in a setting with controlled lighting?” asks our reviewer. “No, not in terms of contrast and color. But in a brighter room, it will offer significantly better performance than most OLEDs on the market.”

Interestingly, unlike some TVs that require substantial settings tweaks to maximize their picture quality, and then require that you repeat the process for each input and streaming app, the 6-Series 8K TV greatly reduces this annoyance by copying your first set of adjustments to every source, while still letting you adjust each one manually if you want to.

That thoughtful ease-of-use carries over into the excellent Roku software. As usual, you get a huge choice of streaming apps, a dead-simple interface, and integration with a wide variety of ecosystems like Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit. But TCL also includes an improved Roku remote with voice capabilities. Apple device owners can take advantage of Apple AirPlay for streaming local videos, music, and photos from their gadgets to the 6-Series.

Surprisingly for a TV, the 6-Series R648 has an awesome built-in sound system, complete with its own subwoofer, midrange drivers, and dedicated tweeters. You may still prefer to use a soundbar, but you certainly don’t need to. Speaking of sound, Dolby Atmos is supported, and if you connect the TV to a soundbar or an AV receiver via the HDMI eARC port, you’ll be able to enjoy Atmos via those external devices too.

Gamers will be thrilled with the 75-inch TCL 6-Series Mini-LED 8K Roku TV advanced gaming features like VRR, auto low-latency mode (ALLM), auto game mode, and THX Certified Game Mode, for the ultimate in gaming performance.

Our only critiques of the 6-Series are relatively minor: The TV suffers from poor off-angle viewing (but with a 75-inch TV that may not matter as much) and there’s no built-in support for ATSC 3.0 (or NextGen TV as it’s also known).

TCL 75-inch 6-Series 8K Roku TV (R648)
75-inch TCL 6-Series
The best 8K TV within reach
tcl 6 series r635 4k hdr tv review 2020 yt 00 01 21 17 still039
Dan Baker/Digital Trends

55-inch TCL 6-Series (2020)

Near-OLED picture everyone can afford

  • Very good brightness
  • Excellent black levels
  • Sharp mini-LED backlight control
  • Excellent HDR color
  • THX Certified Game Mode
  • Complicated picture settings
  • Capped at 1440p for 120Hz games
  • SDR color a bit off

Why you should buy this: It’s a good-sized TV with the best features available for its price range.

Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a big screen TV with great features for a reasonable price.

Why we picked the 55-inch TCL 6-Series (2020):

TCL’s 6-Series TVs have been a hold-steady for years now, but the 2020 model takes this TV to a whole new level in terms of picture quality. That’s because, for this model year, TCL has given the 6-Series a mini-LED backlight to complement its quantum dot technology. The result is color accuracy, black levels, and contrast that are not only better than any other TV at this price, but they’re also almost as good as OLED, which is saying something.

Mini-LEDs accomplish this feat by replacing hundreds of large LEDs with thousands of tiny LEDs for much better control over local dimming. “I deem the black levels on this TV to be excellent,” our reviewer said, “with good preservation of shadow detail.”

Unfortunately, getting the most out of the 6-Series requires some deep digging in the settings menus, some of which can be a bit tricky to decipher. But the effort is well worth it.

As a Roku TV, the 6-Series benefits from the Roku OS’s ultra-clean and easy-to-use interface, which extends to all of the TV’s functions. The voice remote can be used to adjust the volume level, swap sources, and search for a particular movie or show across all the content services you’ve linked. With support for thousands of streaming services and apps, it’s easily one of the best smart TV experiences you can get right now.

But the 6-Series is also going to appeal to gamers. It’s one of the only TVs to feature THX’s Certified Game Mode, and those mini-LEDs do a superb job of providing tons of shadow detail, something we’ve noted can be a challenge on OLED TVs.

With AMD’s FreeSync and VRR, you get clean, judder-free video all the way up to 120Hz. The only downside is that the 6-Series’ HDMI ports aren’t quite fast enough to let you game at these refresh rates while using 4K resolution, so if smooth action matters, you’ll have to confine yourself to 1440p.

All in all, the TCL 6-Series is an exceptional TV that brings premium-tier picture quality to those who might not otherwise be able to afford it.

We’re still waiting to get our hands on TCL’s new 2021 5-Series, which we expect to be an even better budget pick, but until we do, the TCL 55-inch 6-Series is our gold standard for what an affordable TV can be.

TCL 6-Series (R635) 4K HDR TV 55-inch
55-inch TCL 6-Series (2020)
Near-OLED picture everyone can afford

Frequently Asked Questions

What size 4K TV should I buy?

The answer to that depends on many factors, including your stylistic preferences, the size of the room, and how far away you’ll be sitting. Take a look at our guide to choosing the perfect TV size for you.

What should you be aware of when it comes to viewing angles for your TV?

If you want to enjoy your TV from a variety of viewing positions, you’ll need a TV with wide viewing angles. Of the two main LCD panel types (IPS and VA), IPS panels offer the greatest viewing angles. However, this can sometimes come at the cost of worse contrast. Only OLED TVs can offer both excellent contrast and viewing angles, but their image quality might degrade in very bright rooms.

What is QLED?

QLED stands for quantum dot LED TV, and it uses a layer of tiny particles to enhance an LED TV’s color accuracy without diminishing brightness. QLED TVs still don’t deliver the perfect blacks of OLED TVs, but the newest ones come very, very close. Because QLED TVs often have powerful backlights that use hundred (or in the case of mini-LED, thousands) of LEDs, they can get brighter than the brightest OLED TVs.

You may want to check out our article that covers QLED vs. OLED TV: What’s the difference, and why does it matter?

What is OLED?

OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode, and these TVs are notable for their ability to produce perfect blacks and what is sometimes referred to as “infinite” contrast. These TVs achieve this through their ability to completely shut down the light they emit on a pixel-by-pixel basis, something QLED TVs can’t do because they rely on a separate backlight to create brightness. You can block a lot of the light produced by a backlight, but not 100%.

What is the best Roku TV?

These are the best Roku TVs.

How well does 4K TV upscaling work?

That depends on the TV, but as a general rule of thumb, the better (and more expensive) the TV, the better the upscaling.

Are budget 4K TVs any good?

Almost all new TVs are 4K, so there are plenty of fantastic options to choose from at the lower end of the pricing scale. Don’t expect a standard LED TV to rival an OLED, though — set your expectations accordingly. We recommend looking for a quantum dot LED TV (QLED) model, as these will offer the best picture quality at lower prices.

Can a 4K TV work well as a PC monitor?

Yes, so long as your computer has an HDMI output. Adapters can be used for other output types but frequently do not pass along audio.

Do 4K TVs usually have Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri?

Most modern TVs can be paired with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant through either an Amazon Echo, Fire TV, or Google Home. Some televisions even have them built-in, eliminating the need for a smart speaker.

Right now, there are no TVs that have Siri built-in. Those that support AirPlay 2 and HomeKit, however, can be controlled using Siri on an iOS device, such as an iPad, iPhone, or HomePod Mini, as well as a Mac.

Do 4K TVs have problems with burn-in?

OLED TVs are the only type of 4K TVs that have the potential to suffer from burn-in, though it’s incredibly uncommon. Unless you like to leave the same news channel playing for eight hours a day, seven days a week for weeks on end, you probably don’t need to worry about it.

How we test TVs

We begin each model year by bringing in the top-tier televisions from each of the major brands, including Samsung, Sony, LG, TCL, Hisense, and others. These premium televisions help set the highest standard for the year, managing expectations for each model below them, and providing context among the competitors. Keep up to date with all of our TV reviews throughout the year.

We begin testing by setting up each TV in a completely dark room and adjusting its picture settings using tools and methods readily available to consumers — just like you might do at home. From there, we use a series of test patterns and familiar content, from streaming services to Ultra HD Blu-ray to over-the-air (OTA) TV, to judge each TV’s performance characteristics, including color production, motion resolution, black levels, backlight influence, brightness, HDR quality, and detail resolution.

Once we’ve analyzed a TV’s picture quality, we move on to elements that affect the user experience, including each set’s smart TV interface, user settings interface, remote control, external device recognition and control, and other essential touchpoints.

When possible, we’ll place two competing models side by side to provide additional context for the pros and cons of each TV. Finally, we decide which type of user a TV might appeal to. For instance, some TVs provide better bright-room performance, while others are better for a dedicated home theater performance. Some are better for sports, while others are better for watching movies or playing games.

In short, we make a thorough evaluation to determine not only which TVs offer the best picture quality, but those that offer the best overall user experience. After all, you’ll be living with your new TV for years to come, and using it should be a joy, not a pain.

Glossary of terms

Here’s a rundown of some of the most common terms associated with today’s TV technology.

4K Ultra HD

This refers to a display resolution that is four times that of 1080p HD. A 4K Ultra HD TV’s pixel resolution is a 3,840 x 2,160 grid in a 16:9 aspect ratio, resulting in nearly 8.3 million pixels. This increase in density adds striking detail and realism to an image and allows larger screens to be viewed from closer distances without individual pixels becoming visible.

High dynamic range (HDR)

High dynamic range is probably most familiar to people through the HDR mode on their digital cameras. It’s designed to deliver a picture that has greater details in the shadows and highlights, plus a wider range of colors. HDR in televisions pursues the same goal. The color palette is wider, blacks are deeper, and whites are brighter.

Presently, there are two major HDR formats: HDR10 and Dolby Vision, with a third — HDR10+ — beginning to show up on new models, particularly those from Samsung. The first is the HDR standard, but Dolby Vision offers a premium experience. Consider a TV that supports both. HLG (hybrid log gamma) is another recent addition to the HDR collection, which supports over-the-air (OTA) broadcast content with HDR.

Full-array local dimming (FALD)

This refers to an LED TV’s backlighting system. A FALD display contains an array of LEDs spread out in a grid behind an LCD panel, rather than just at the edges of the TV. This LED array is broken up into zones that can be dimmed when necessary to achieve better black levels. Another benefit is more uniform brightness across the screen.

Wide color gamut (WCG)

These are the expanded color reproduction abilities of a 4K Ultra HD TV, which are closer than ever to what we see in a digital cinema. By approaching (or sometimes exceeding) the Digital Cinema Initiative’s (DCI) P3 color specification, a 4K UHD TV can produce billions of more colors than a 1080p HD TV.

Quantum dots

A layer of film loaded with tiny nanocrystal semiconductors is placed in a TV’s display panel to help produce a more accurate array of colors. Quantum dots work by producing a purer form of white light from a TV’s backlighting system, which helps the TV’s color filter perform more accurately.

Phosphor-coated LED

An alternative to Quantum Dots, phosphor-coated LEDs have a chemical coating to alter the light’s output. When used in a TV, this results in a purer backlight that’s more easily manipulated by a TV’s color filter, resulting in a wide color gamut and increased color accuracy.

HDMI 2.1

The latest version of the HDMI spec. It offers new enhancements for video games like variable refresh rate (VRR) and automatic low-latency mode (ALLM) and the ability to pass 4K signals to the TV at up to 120Hz, for ultra-smooth motion. HDMI 2.1 is a requirement for 8K video sources like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. For most non-gamers, HDMI 2.1 is a nice way to future-proof yourself but it’s nowhere near a necessity yet.

HDCP 2.3

The latest version of the High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection technology, which provides copy prevention specifically of 4K Ultra HD and 8K content. Any source device that requires HDCP 2.3 will require a TV with an HDCP 2.3-compliant HDMI port for a compatible connection.

HEVC (H.265)

Stands for “High-Efficiency Video Coding.” A new compression technology developed to make large 4K UHD video files smaller and, therefore, easier to stream over broadband Internet connections. HEVC is said to double the data compression ratio over H.264, the predominant encoding technology used today for 1080p videos while retaining the same video quality. A smart TV or streaming set-top box must be able to decode HEVC to playback 4K Ultra HD video from sites like Netflix and Amazon Instant Video.

VP9

An alternative to HEVC developed by Google and used predominantly for encoding 4K Ultra HD YouTube videos. For a smart TV or streaming set-top box to play 4K Ultra HD YouTube videos, it must be able to decode VP9 videos.

Editors’ Recommendations



The best OLED TVs for 2022: LG, Samsung, and more

When it’s uncompromising color and contrast-rich picture quality you’re looking for, an OLED TV is the way to go. Unlike traditional LED sets, OLED TVs negate the use of regular backlighting altogether, employing a massive array of self-emissive pixels instead. The best part: These pixels are individually controllable, meaning that when one is turned off, that cell becomes completely black. This is why OLEDs are hailed for their amazing inky black levels, a feat only rivaled by outdated plasma TV technology and some of the most expensive QLED sets on the market.

LG is the brand of choice when it comes to OLED sets, and the company’s LG Display division produces OLED panels that other TV brands, like Sony, use to build their own OLED TVs. And right now, our favorite OLED on the market is the incredible LG G2 Gallery Series, a marvel of modern OLED tech. From its arresting brightness (not something we usually say about OLED TVs) to its jaw-dropping colors and contrast, the G2 Series is the OLED to beat all OLEDs, but there are plenty of other great options, too.

Whether you’re looking for the best OLED TV money can buy or want to invest in a budget-friendly model, we’ve gone ahead and rounded up all the best OLED TVs for 2022.

lg g2 oled evo gallery series tv review
Riley Young/Digital Trends

65-inch LG G2 Gallery Series

The best OLED TV

  • Class-leading brightness
  • Outstanding color accuracy
  • Perfect black levels
  • Top choice for gamers
  • Top-notch design
  • Disappointing stand-mount option

Why you should buy it: If you’ve been hesitant about jumping the QLED ship in favor of the kind of color and contrast accuracy that only an OLED can deliver, LG’s G2 Series is the perfect transitional set.

Who it’s for: Those of us that want the best OLED TV that money can buy, complete with all the latest webOS-powered smart features.

Why we picked the LG G2 Gallery Series:

We can’t beat around the bush with this one: The LG G2 Series is the best OLED TV we’ve ever had the honor of testing, and with plenty of laurels to cover, let’s get things started by talking about just how breathtaking the picture is on this bad boy.

Everything from movies and TV shows to video games will look and perform better than ever with the LG G2. Not only does this 4K OLED achieve perfect black levels and beautifully deep colors (for both SDR and HDR content), but LG’s fine-tuned OLED EVO screen delivers some of the best peak brightness levels we’ve ever seen on an OLED set, trending ever-closer to the kind of brilliance you’ll only find on QLED TVs, which are known for brightness.

The G2’s four HDMI 2.1 inputs all support 4K/120Hz, on top of NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD Free-Sync, and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), along with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG support, making this an ideal TV for movie diehards and heavy-duty gamers.

LG is one of a few TV brands that uses its own smart TV user interface, and the company’s latest iteration of webOS gets you connected to all of your favorite streaming services like Netflix and Disney+, and even allows you to pair and cast content to your LG G2 from a mobile device or a computer.

As part of LG’s Gallery lineup, the G2 is specifically designed to look its best hanging from your wall like a piece of art, and it even comes with a custom mount that gets the TV as close to the wall as possible.

LG 65-Inch Class OLED evo Gallery Edition G2 Series Alexa Built-in 4K Smart TV, 120Hz Refresh Rate, AI-Powered 4K, Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos, WiSA Ready, Cloud Gaming (OLED65G2PUA, 2022)
65-inch LG G2 Gallery Series
The best OLED TV
lg c2 oled 4k hdr tv review db 53
Dan Baker/Digital Trends

65-inch LG C2 Series

The runner-up

  • Slick new design
  • Improved peak brightness
  • Excellent black levels
  • Solid color accuracy and gamut
  • Great for gamers
  • Some peak brightness artifacts
  • Complex smart TV system

Why you should buy it: You don’t want to make the kind of investment that a flagship set like the G2 demands, but you still expect an amazing picture from your OLED TV.

Who it’s for: LG devotees who want one of the best OLED TVs the company has ever made.

Why we picked the LG C2 Series:

There’s not much in the way of picture quality specs to differentiate LG’s C2 Series from the G2 family, so if you’re looking to save a few dollars on your next big OLED purchase, opting for the former is not a bad idea at all. In fact, the C2 Series even comes in a few more sizes than its flagship older brother, offering a 42-inch and a 48-inch version of the premium set for those of us who may want to use an OLED TV as a gaming monitor.

While the G2 looks its best when wall-mounted, there’s a little bit of extra bulk in the overall chassis to get the TV as close to the wall as possible, a design choice negated by the C2 in favor of a much thinner profile and an included pedestal that keeps the TV wobble-free on your entertainment center.

In terms of overall picture quality and performance, the C2 essentially checks all the same boxes as the G2. Four HDMI 2.1 inputs deliver 4K/120Hz, supported HDR formats include Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG, and the C2 is tailor-made for gaming too, thanks to the inclusion of NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD Free-Sync, and VRR support. The C2 is also equipped with the same lightning-fast version of webOS that the G2 uses.

Side by side, the G2 Series does deliver a slightly brighter and more colorful picture than the C2 model, but it’s a small variance of nits that separate the top dog from the much-esteemed runner-up.

LG - OLED Evo C2 Series 65” Alexa Built-in 4k Smart TV
65-inch LG C2 Series
The runner-up
lg c1 oled tv review oled65c1pub 4k hdr
Dan Baker/Digital Trends

65-inch LG C1 Series

Almost as good as the C2, but cheaper

  • Excellent Contrast
  • Perfect Black Levels
  • Improved Processing
  • Great For Gaming
  • Impressive Sound
  • Sluggish User Menus
  • Confusing picture settings

Why you should buy it: Unrivaled gaming features are just the tip of the iceberg for this awesome OLED TV.

Who it’s for: Those who want an OLED TV that combines great picture quality with leading-edge gaming tech — without spending more for a fancy design.

Why we picked the LG C1 Series:

If you want to save some money while keeping all of the features that matter to a gamer, the abovementioned LG C2 is the TV we’d point you toward. But if you want to save even more money, you can still get your hands on LG’s 2021 C1 Series.

Granted, it doesn’t have the OLED Evo panel, but virtually every other feature from the C2 has been kept intact, including all of the gaming-centric ones, such as 4K gaming at 120Hz, VRR, the Game Optimizer, and Nvidia’s G-Sync and AMD’s FreeSync Premium technologies.

When you’re not gaming, the C1 Series is also an exceptional TV for movies, TV shows, and sports. Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG are all supported, and LG’s Alpha 9 Gen 4 A.I. Processor does a fantastic job of upscaling all kinds of non-4K content to near-4K quality, with almost no loss of sharpness.

Sure, it’s not as bright or colorful as the 2022 C2 Series, but the C1 Series is still a phenomenal LG OLED that’s worth grabbing while supplies last.

LG C1 Series 65" 4K OLED TV
65-inch LG C1 Series
Almost as good as the C2, but cheaper
sony a95k qd oled tv review xr 55a95k 65a95k 7
Dan Baker/Digital Trends

65-inch Sony A95K QD-OLED

The best OLED for videophiles

  • Next-level color purity
  • High color brightness
  • Wide color gamut
  • Perfect black levels
  • Great sound

Why you should buy it: You care deeply about picture quality and don’t want to buy another TV for a solid five years or so.

Who it’s for: Picture connoisseurs who have long-awaited the joining of hands between the OLED screen and quantum dots.

Why we picked the Sony Bravia A95K:

Holy TV, the Sony A95K is one for the history books. What we’ve got here is something a little outside the box in terms of overall design. Traditionally, OLED panels contain nothing outside of self-emissive pixels for display tech, relegating brightness, colors, and contrast to the individual on/off control of each cell. But in 2022, both Sony and Samsung dazzled the TV world with an all-new kind of TV: the QD-OLED.

Sony’s take on this state-of-the-art display is the impressive Bravia A95K. At the surface, we’re working with an OLED screen, and one that achieves some of the most accurate colors and contrast we’ve ever seen in our many years of reviewing TVs. Then, when you factor in the fine-tuning, upscaling, and calibration delivered by the Cognitive XR Processor, you end up with a TV that delivers up to 200% more color brightness when compared to a traditional OLED set — talk about accolades!

The A95K is also equipped with four HDMI inputs, two of which can handle 4K/120Hz, along with G-Sync, Free-Sync, and VRR support, making this an ideal TV for gamers and movie-lovers. And when we mentioned color brightness, the true way to put the A95K to the test is by watching something in HDR. Fortunately, this monster of a TV supports Dolby Vision, IMAX Enhanced, and Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode, ensuring that all your favorite HDR movies and shows look as vibrant and lifelike as possible.

You’ll also be able to connect to your favorite streaming apps with the A95K’s intelligent Google TV user interface, which even allows you to cast content from your mobile device to the TV.

While the price may be a bit out of reach for some, it’s hard to come by a TV that does all the amazing things that the A95K is capable of.

Sony BRAVIA XR A95K 65"
65-inch Sony A95K QD-OLED
The best OLED for videophiles
samsung s95b oled tv review qn65s95b tizen interface
Riley Young/Digital Trends

65-inch Samsung S95B QD-OLED

An OLED for Samsung fans

  • High overall brightness
  • Excellent color brightness
  • Superior contrast
  • Perfect blacks/uniformity
  • Great for gaming
  • First-gen technology
  • Size limits

Why you should buy it: You’re after the rich colors and inky blacks that only an OLED can deliver, and you wouldn’t mind some class-leading brightness levels as well.

Who it’s for: Samsung fans that want one of the best TVs the brand has ever produced, at least in terms of brightness and color accuracy.

Why we picked the Samsung S95B:

We mentioned that both Sony and Samsung are the two TV brands that took the world by storm in 2022 with the release of each company’s QD-OLED sets. And seeing as we already covered the A95K, we would be remiss to not include Samsung’s take on the all-new picture tech: the S95B.

When it comes to picture quality, the S95B tops the charts in the color brightness department. Sure, it may not reach the peak brightness levels of something like the QN90B (a Samsung QLED TV), but color brightness adds layers of immersion, making reds, yellows, greens, and blues all the more punchier, especially when viewed in HDR picture modes.

Speaking of which, the S95B supports HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG formats. And while Dolby Vision is currently missing from the list, the S95B more than makes up for the loss with Dolby Atmos support, four HDMI 2.1 inputs, and a fully-loaded Tizen user interface for all your smart TV needs.

This is a first-gen take on a brand-new picture tech, and some of the TV’s upscaling features aren’t quite as strong as we’d like to see. That being said, we’re betting that with a few strong software patches, some of these calibration issues will be taken care of.

SAMSUNG 65-Inch Class OLED 4K S95B Series - Quantum HDR OLED Self-Illuminating LED Smart TV with Alexa Built-in (QN65S95BAFXZA, 2022 Model)
65-inch Samsung S95B QD-OLED
An OLED for Samsung fans

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an OLED TV?

OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode, and its signature characteristic is that each pixel on the screen of an OLED TV emits its own light and color.

OLED versus QLED: Which is better?

Be sure to check out our QLED versus OLED explainer. In general, OLED TVs produce a higher-quality image than QLED TVs, but there are caveats. QLED TVs get brighter, and so they’re the better choice for brightly-lit rooms.

Is OLED better than 4K?

Trick question! OLED is a description of a kind of TV display, whereas 4K refers to a TV’s native resolution. Like LED and QLED TVs, you can buy 4K and even 8K OLED TVs — the choice is yours.

What should I look for in an OLED TV?

f you’re a gamer, make sure your OLED TV supports HDMI 2.1 at the least, and in an ideal world, it should have Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, too. If you’re a cinephile or video maven, find a model with the best picture processing.

Is OLED the best TV technology?

We think OLED TVs produce the best overall image quality, but in the not-so-distant future, it’s possible that microLED or mini-LED-based QLED TVs could steal the OLED TV’s crown.

Do OLED TVs have HDR?

Yes, all OLED TVs are compatible with at least HDR10 — the most common HDR format — while most offer support for HLG and Dolby Vision, too.

Do OLED TVs have problems with burn-in?

For the vast majority of buyers, burn-in will not be a problem, but it can happen. When it occurs, it’s usually because someone has set their OLED TV to show a TV channel or a video game that has on-screen graphics that don’t move much or at all and left it there for many hours each day, for many days in a row.

Who makes the best OLED TV?

Right now, all OLED TV panels are produced by LG Display, and we believe that LG Electronics makes the best overall OLED TV: the G2 Gallery Series. That said, Sony’s image processing is slightly better, so if image perfection is your main yardstick, a Sony OLED TV is a great way to go.

Is an OLED TV worth it?

Yes. OLED TVs are definitely expensive when compared to some other options, but their black levels, contrast, and color make for an awesome viewing experience.

Editors’ Recommendations



The best QLED TVs for 2022: Bring on the brightness

When LED TVs hit shelves over 10 years ago, consumers were beyond elated. Never before had we seen such arresting levels of brightness on our TVs, making everything from regular cable channels to Blu-ray discs look and feel all the more vibrant. But like all things AV-related, the introduction of LED lighting was only the beginning. Nowadays, one of the two biggest draws when it comes to TVs is the almighty “QLED” moniker (the other is OLED).

“QLED” refers to something called quantum dots, a layer of charged particles that emit incredible amounts of colored light when energy is passed through them. A staple of Samsung TVs, QLED sets can now be found from brands like TCL, Hisense, and Vizio, too.

If you like your TV to be bold in every way, a QLED set is a fantastic choice for picture tech, but with so many options out there, it can be tough to choose the right set for your home. That’s why we’ve gone ahead and created this roundup of the best QLED TVs for 2022.

Samsung 2022 QN90B 4K Neo QLED TV.

65-inch Samsung QN90B

The best QLED TV

  • Powerful brightness and rich colors
  • Four HDMI 2.1 inputs
  • Excellent gaming features
  • Sleek and intuitive smart TV interface
  • Some issues with light blooming
  • No Dolby Vision support

Why you should buy it: Samsung’s QN90B delivers one of the most vibrant and colorful pictures of any QLED on the market, and the black levels are pretty amazing, too.

Who it’s for: Those of us that cannot part ways with the arresting brightness of a QLED screen, but want to dip our toes into OLED waters, too.

Why we chose the Samsung QN90B:

Samsung has been the undisputed champion of QLED technology for several years now, and if you’re looking for one of the best QLEDs that money can buy, look no further than the amazing QN90B.

Available in several sizes (from 43 inches to 85 inches), the muscle behind the QN90B’s incredible visuals goes to Samsung’s Neo Quantum Processor 4K and Quantum Matrix Technology, a combination of clarity and contrast picture engines that deliver chart-topping peak brightness levels and stellar color brightness, too. And while the QN90B does a great job at making all sources look great, it’s HDR-viewing (the QN90B supports HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG formats) that truly puts the TV over the edge.

Do keep in mind that because we’re dealing with mini-LED lighting here, light blooming can be a little bit of an issue during significantly dark scenes in movies and shows, a minor blip in an otherwise perfect picture.

The QN90B is also a solid TV for those of us looking to future-proof our AV systems. With all four HDMI inputs (each capable of 4K/120Hz) classed as 2.1 ports, you’ll be able to wire up all your go-to streaming devices and next-gen gaming consoles for years to come. The QN90B also includes a number of gaming must-haves, including NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD Free-Sync, and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support.

In terms of sound, thanks to HDMI eARC, Dolby Atmos enthusiasts will be able to use the QN90B as a gateway to one of the most immersive surround sound codecs available. And if you’re not using an AV receiver or soundbar to experience your audio, the QN90B’s Object Tracking Sound+ does a decent job at creating a balanced and believable soundstage right from the TV speakers.

Behind the scenes, Samsung’s calling card Tizen OS is the brains behind the user interface and the QN90B’s smart TV features, allowing access to an immense library of apps, games, and screen mirroring options for mobile devices.

Visually stunning and feature-rich, the Samsung QN90B is our favorite QLED TV, and we’ll be singing its praises for some time.

SAMSUNG 65-Inch Class Neo QLED 4K QN90B Series Mini LED Quantum HDR 32x, Dolby Atmos, Object Tracking Sound+, Anti-Glare, Ultra Viewing Angle, Smart TV with Alexa Built-In (QN65QN90BAFXZA, 2022 Model)
65-inch Samsung QN90B
The best QLED TV
Samsung 2022 QN900B 8K Neo QLED TV.
Samsung

65-inch Samsung QN900B

The best 8K QLED TV

  • Capable of 8K resolution
  • Four HDMI 2.1 inputs
  • Enhanced clarity and contrast picture engines
  • Great smart TV platform
  • Expensive
  • No Dolby Vision support
  • Not practical for some viewers

Why you should buy it: You want all the same great picture tech and smart features of the Samsung QN90B, in addition to future-proofed 8K resolution.

Who it’s for: Those of us that want to experience the mind-bending beauty of 4K content upscaled to 8K standards.

Why we chose the Samsung QN900B:

In the world of consumer tech, hardware often arrives at the party far earlier than software and content. And in the case of the Samsung QN900B, the early bird is the TV’s 8K panel.

As of yet, 8K resolution is a picture standard we’re still working towards. Yes, you can find some 8K videos on YouTube and Vimeo, but that’s about it for now. That being said, the QN900B is going to look amazing, no matter the source you’re pumping into it. In fact, you can think of this set as an elevated version of the QN90B.

With the QN900B, you’re getting everything that makes the QN90B a phenomenal set, from four HDMI 2.1 inputs to stand-out gaming features and HDR support, but with a little extra push in the clarity and upscaling departments, thanks to Samsung’s Neural Quantum Processor 8K and Quantum Matrix Tech Pro.

The QN900B also touts Samsung’s Infinity Screen, a near bezel-less design that accentuates just how gripping the picture actually is. At around $3,500 for the 65-inch (also available in 75- and 85-inch sizes), the QN900B may not be the QLED for everyone, but when it comes to 8K, we can’t think of a better choice.

SAMSUNG 65-Inch Class Neo QLED 8K QN900B Series Mini LED Quantum HDR 48x, Infinity Screen, Dolby Atmos, Object Tracking Sound Pro, Smart TV with Alexa Built-In (QN65QN900BFXZA, 2022 Model)
65-inch Samsung QN900B
The best 8K QLED TV
hisense u8h mini led tv review 4k
Zeke Jones/Digital Trends

55-inch Hisense U8H

The best QLED for brightness

  • Intensely bright
  • Class-leading black levels
  • Impressive HDR imaging
  • Vibrant, accurate Color
  • Surprisingly Good Sound
  • Quirky user interface
  • Some bugs

Why you should buy it: You’re not into dropping thousands of dollars for a flagship TV, but still want a high-performance set from a trusted name.

Who it’s for: Those looking to get their hands on a great QLED TV for a great price.

Why we chose the Hisense U8H:

Hisense continues to chart its course as one of the best TV brands in the world of TVs, and with the release of the mini-LED powered U8H, the company has set the bar high for its budget brand competitors.

Simply put, it’s hard to beat the kind of brightness, colors, contrast, and motion that the U8H is capable of, and even when compared to some of the best TVs from the likes of Samsung, Sony, and LG, the U8H still delivers some of the highest numbers we’ve seen in a QLED. We’re talking close to 2,000 nits for specular highlights in HDR, with a sustained output of around 1,500 nits. Believe us, that’s pretty astonishing.

Out of the box, we did have a few qualms with some of the default picture settings, and while the Google TV user interface is fairly easy to navigate and customize, we found it difficult to use when trying to access some of the TV’s basic picture settings. But when you consider the TV’s two HDMI 2.1 inputs, 120Hz refresh rate, and VRR and Free-Sync Premium support, it’s almost like the value never ends.

Hisense U8H QLED Series Quantum 4K ULED Mini-LED 55-Inch Class Google Smart TV with Alexa Compatibility, Quantum Dot, 1500-nit HDR10+, and Dolby Vision (55U8H, 2022 Model)
55-inch Hisense U8H
The best QLED for brightness
sony bravia x95k mini led tv review db 36
Dan Baker/Digital Trends

55-inch Sony Bravia X95K

The best QLED for videophiles

  • Rich, vibrant color
  • Vivid HDR highlights
  • Superior highlight and shadow detail
  • Excellent Sound
  • Some slight blooming/halo
  • VRR disables local dimming

Why you should buy it: Sony has long been the undisputed champ of LCD-LED picture realism, and the company’s X95K is another notch in the lifelike-accuracy belt.

Who it’s for: Those of us that want the most immersive TV picture we can get our eyes on.

Why we picked the Sony Bravia X95K:

If you’re looking for Sony’s best picture, and don’t want to invest in the expensive but stunning QD-OLED A95K, the X95K QLED is a second-best that looks and feels like a lot like its much more expensive older brother.

Incredible color accuracy and saturation is the name of the game here, with the X95K capable of delivering some very lifelike visuals, one of Sony’s many calling cards over the last decade or so. And with its incredible mini-LED backlighting and whip-fast dimming zones, the X95K punches high above its weight. You’re also working with four HDMI inputs (4K/120Hz), one of which features eARC support for all our Dolby Atmos diehards out there.

Even from a sound perspective, the X95K achieves a much bigger and more balanced sense of soundstaging than last year’s X95J model. Of course, no TV can deliver the full gravitas of a soundbar or dedicated surround-sound system.

Off-angle viewing with the X95K is okay, although some color highlights and overall contrast tend to take a hit, but this is rather par for the course when it comes to any kind of LED-powered set. And seeing as this is a Sony, the user interface and smart TV features are powered by Google TV, a quick and intuitive platform that connects you with all your favorite streaming apps and even allows you to mirror content from your phone to the X95K.

Whether you’re a first-time Sony buyer or a returning fan, the X95K is one of the best-looking QLEDs we’ve laid eyes on this year.

Sony BRAVIA XR A95K 55"
55-inch Sony Bravia X95K
The best QLED for videophiles
The Sony Bravia XR X95J 4K TV in the living room.
Sony

65-inch Sony Bravia X95J

Another great Sony QLED

  • Stunning brightness and colors
  • Four HDMI 2.1 inputs
  • Incredible HDR support
  • Smooth and responsive Google TV interface
  • A little difficult to find

Why you should buy it: Sony’s image processing is second to none, and this is one of the company’s best 4K QLED TVs.

Who it’s for: Anyone who puts a priority on picture quality above all else.

Why we picked the Sony Bravia XR X95J:

It doesn’t seem to matter whether we’re watching Sony’s latest OLED or QLED models, they just keep nailing picture processing. And such is the case, yet again, with the almighty Sony Bravia X95J.

Chief amongst the set’s picture technologies is something called Cognitive Processor XR Pro. The engine employs artificial intelligence to adjust the way images appear on the screen. Instead of treating the entire image as a single entity, Cognitive Processor XR purports to analyze all of the different elements that make up the image, treating each as its own object — much the way our brains do.

Pair this new image-processing tech with support for HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision, IMAX Enhanced, and Netflix Calibrated modes, and it’s clear why the X95J is a cineaste’s dream come true.

But there’s more to the X95J than just image quality — way more, in fact. Sony has thrown in the full HDMI 2.1 spec, complete with HDMI eARC, VRR (following a software update), ALLM, and 4K video at 120Hz. There’s also support for the Apple TV app, Apple AirPlay 2, Apple HomeKit, and Chromecast. With far-field microphones, you can do hands-free voice commands with Google Assistant, or with the TV’s own built-in search system.

Sound is also a strong point thanks to Sony’s Acoustic Multi-Audio — which embeds multiple speakers into the TV’s frame — and its ability to virtualize Dolby Atmos, giving a simulated sense of width and height to surround sound movies and shows.

65-inch BRAVIA X95J
65-inch Sony Bravia X95J
Another great Sony QLED
tcl 6 series r655 tv review 2022 mini led qled dt ry 7
Riley Young

75-inch TCL 6-Series (R655)

The best big-screen QLED

  • Punchy HDR brightness and color
  • Minimal backlight blooming
  • Good motion resolution
  • Great viewing angles
  • Intuitive Roku interface
  • Requires adjustment for best picture
  • Struggles to clean up low-quality content

Why you should buy it: When it’s a large screen that you’re seeking, the 75-inch TCL 6-Series is an excellent option, especially if you’re looking to save a few bucks.

Who it’s for: Fans of the Roku TV OS and TCL — a match made in heaven for those of us that tend to go toward budget TV purchases.

Why we chose the TCL 6-Series:

A solid foe to the Hisense U8H, the all-new TCL 6-Series is available in three different sizes — 55-, 65-, and 75-inch options — but it’s the latter that truly catches our attention. Simply put, if you’re looking for a large screen, this is a surefire contender.

Powered by the Roku TV OS for all things smart TV and user interface-oriented, those familiar with the look and feel of Roku’s platform will feel right at home, with a minimal learning curve for first-time users. You’ll have access to a number of popular apps (billed as Streaming Channels), from Netflix to Disney+, with the ability to mirror content from your mobile devices, too.

And in terms of picture quality, the TCL 6-Series rocks a mini-LED powered 4K screen, complete with four HDMI inputs, a 120Hz refresh rate, and excellent gaming perks, too (including VRR and AMD Free-Sync Premium Pro support). It’s not the brightest or most colorful set we’ve ever laid our eyes on, but the TCL 6-Series delivers the kind of image that most viewers will be glad to write home about.

TCL 6-Series R655 2022 model
75-inch TCL 6-Series (R655)
The best big-screen QLED
tcl 6 series google tv r646 review feature

65-inch TCL 6-Series (R646)

The best budget QLED TV

  • Bright, vivid picture with deep blacks
  • Very good color accuracy
  • Zippy mini-LED backlight control
  • 4K 120Hz capable for gaming
  • High value
  • Glitchy operation
  • No input button on remote

Why you should buy it: TCL combines the elegant Roku TV interface with QLED and mini-LED technologies at an unbeatable price.

Who it’s for: Those who want a premium TV without the premium price.

Why we picked the TCL 6-Series (2021):

Last year, TCL introduced mini-LED backlighting on the 6-Series, proving that the miniaturized light sources can make a big difference in contrast, black levels, and detail. And based on our hands-on experience with the R646, we love the end result.

Brightness soars with this TV, especially when it comes to peak nit output. The vivid visuals are present when it comes to color brightness too, making for a budget QLED that is packed with lots of punch and kick in the picture department, and for a relatively low price.

The 6-Series is also optimized for gaming, with its four HDMI inputs supporting 4K/120Hz, making this a blistering-fast choice for PS5 and Xbox Series X enthusiasts. In terms of overall picture upscaling, the 6-Series doesn’t touch the kind of cleanup powers you’ll find on higher-priced sets from Samsung and Sony, but for those of us that plan to do most of our TV-watching with Netflix and other mainline streaming apps, the TCL 6-Series (R646) is an excellent budget option.

TCL 6-Series Google TV (R646)
65-inch TCL 6-Series (R646)
The best budget QLED TV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is QLED TV?

The “Q” in QLED stands for quantum dot, a nanoparticle that emits light when energized. Quantum dots can be tuned to emit specific wavelengths of light, so TV makers add green and red quantum dots in a layer over their blue LED backlights, which creates a much purer white light than a single LED backlight can create on its own. With a pure white backlight, the TV’s color filters can produce much more accurate colors, leading to significantly better picture quality than regular LED TVs.

UHD vs. QLED: What’s the difference?

UHD stands for ultra-high definition, also known as 4K. It’s a description of resolution, or the number of pixels that make up an on-screen image. It can refer to the resolution of a specific piece of content (many streaming services offer movies in UHD) as well as the native resolution of a TV. QLED refers to the kind of display technology a TV uses (see above). QLED TVs come in various native resolutions, from HD to 8K, including UHD.

Is QLED better than OLED?

It depends. Right now, QLED TVs are capable of getting brighter than OLED TVs, which deliver better black levels and contrast. We feel that OLED TVs still produce a better overall picture quality, but if your viewing area is especially bright, or if you want a really big screen, QLED models might be a better choice for you.

Is QLED the best TV technology?

Once again, it depends on your particular situation. For instance, if you want a TV for your patio, where it will experience partial or full sun, an OLED TV simply won’t get bright enough to compete with all that daylight, and a QLED TV is definitely superior. On the other hand, if you can darken your media room whenever you want, an OLED TV will still deliver the deepest blacks and highest contrast.

What should I look for in a QLED TV?

Finding the right QLED TV for you is all about balancing size, picture quality, features, and price. First, figure out your budget, then prioritize the rest of your list. If getting the biggest TV for your money is the top priority, you’ll be able to find 75-inch and larger models from brands like TCL, Vizio, Hisense, and LG that are still quite affordable. If picture quality matters more – especially when viewing HDR material – you should choose a model with a very high peak brightness. If gaming is a top consideration, make sure you find a model that’s equipped with VRR, ALLM, and 4K at 120Hz for the best possible experience.

Which is the best Samsung QLED TV?

Samsung has two flagship QLED models depending on whether you want 8K resolution. The QN900B is the company’s top 8K model, and the QN90B is its top 4K model.

Are QLED TVs good for gaming?

Yes, but picking the right model is key. You’ll want to look for a TV that has the latest HDMI 2.1 features, like VRR, ALLM, and 4K at 120Hz. Another feature that gamers will appreciate is support for AMD’s FreeSync or Nvidia’s G-Sync, which are two proprietary VRR technologies used by game consoles like the Xbox Series X and many gaming PCs.

Do QLED TVs have problems with burn-in?

No. Burn-in is a permanent form of image retention caused by leaving the same image on a TV for many hours at a time. In OLED TVs, this can cause individual pixels to age prematurely, leaving the “shadow” of some parts of the image on screen even after the image has changed. Because QLED TVs use a backlight for their brightness, their pixels aren’t susceptible to this kind of uneven aging.

How long do QLED TVs last?

Theoretically, a QLED TV will outlast an OLED TV, at least in terms of maximum brightness, because OLED pixels lose their ability to produce brightness at a faster rate than a QLED TV’s backlight. But you would likely have to keep your TV on for eight hours a day, seven days a week, for many, many years before this difference became noticeable. That said, a QLED TV should last a decade or more as long as none of its individual components fail — something that can be hard to predict even for the best TVs.

When will QLED prices drop?

QLED prices, much like OLED prices, are dropping all the time. A few years ago, you’d need to spend well over $2,000 for a 65-inch QLED TV. Today, you can find them for less than half that price.

Is a QLED worth it?

Definitely. If you have a choice between a standard LED TV and a QLED TV, the QLED model will deliver brighter, more accurate colors, which should yield a better image overall. And as QLED TVs become the norm for non-OLED models, you won’t have to pay much of a price premium to get one.

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