TOP 5 BEST SMART TVS IN 2025

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Top OLED and QLED sets to consider, from elite TVs to wallet-friendly options

For almost 30 years, I have been testing and reviewing the greatest TVs, and during that time, I have seen significant technological changes from CRTs to flat-panel displays and from analog to digital. As a seasoned reviewer, I am in a unique position to determine which TV models give the best performance for the money. Today’s TVs are better than ever and can offer amazing value. This guide, which ranks the top new TVs in a variety of categories to assist you in finding the one that best suits your needs and budget, is informed by that viewpoint.

My TV team and I have used a method that incorporates objective measurements taken with sophisticated test equipment to perform hands-on inspections of the TVs in this guide.This measurement data is shown in the “In-depth analysis” section for the entries in this guide as well as in the benchmark graphs that go with each of our TV assessments.

To maintain consistency throughout testing, we also conduct a thorough subjective evaluation using reference movie sequences and TV, mostly on 4K Blu-ray and standard Blu-ray disc formats, since measurements alone cannot accurately assess a TV’s performance.

Table of Contents

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1. LG C4

The LG C4 OLEDs are well-equipped gaming TVs with four HDMI ports that support 4K 120Hz (and up to 144Hz for PC gaming), VRR, and ALLM. A new Dolby Vision Filmmaker Mode preset gives you a director-approved picture right out of the box, and the C4 is available in 42- to 83-inch screens, so there’s a C4 sized to fit any situation, from desktop gaming to high-end home theater. I’ve reviewed both the LG C4 and its LG C3 predecessor, and I can attest that LG’s new OLED TV is a great TV overall and a solid upgrade.

Although the C4 lacks the brightness of top OLED TVs like the LG G4 and Samsung S95D, its picture quality is nearly same, and those models cost a lot more. For the majority of consumers, it is the greatest OLED TV because it truly strikes a sweet spot, offering all the features at a price that is less expensive than almost every other OLED TV available.

✅ You’re looking for an affordable OLED: The LG C4 is an OLED TV that perfectly balances pricing, performance, and features.

✅ You’re looking for a fantastic movie TV: The contrast, color, and detail of the C4 are superb. It’s the perfect TV for watching movies when combined with its new Dolby Vision Filmmaker Mode.

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2. Roku Pro Series

The company’s first Roku-branded TVs were the Roku Plus and Select series, and although these were decent, the Pro series was the low-cost TV success I had been hoping for. Starting at $899 for a 55-inch model, Roku Pro Series TVs have mini-LED backlight technology for a noticeably brighter picture than the mid-range Roku Select series. 65- and 75-inch screen sizes are also available.

In addition to having full HDR support (including Dolby Vision and HDR10+ formats) and a Smart Picture Max automatic mode that lets the TV handle all picture setup work for you and dynamically adjust for different content, the Roku Pro’s picture is largely free of the backlight blooming that you see on some other low-cost mini-LED and standard LED TVs.

With two HDMI 2.1 connections that support 4K 120Hz input, VRR (with FreeSync), and ALLM, it’s well-suited for gaming. Its side-mounted speakers also produce sound that is significantly better than normal for a low-cost TV. Naturally, as a Roku TV, it features the well-known Roku interface, which, in my opinion, is far superior to other smart TV screens in terms of usability.

✅ If you’re looking for a high-end TV without breaking the bank, the Roku Pro Series is a fantastic deal, especially since it’s the company’s most expensive model.

✅ You want to wall-mount your TV: Pro series TVs are made to be wall-mounted and come with a stylish shadowbox case that gives them the appearance of a framed artwork, even if they may be placed on a stand.

If You’re looking for a cheap TV with excellent built-in audio: The Pro Series’ front-firing speakers can provide loud, reasonably rich sound, and it was made to be utilized without a soundbar.

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3. Hisense U8N

Every year, Hisense’s U8 series TVs improve, and the most recent U8N models are the greatest to yet. I discovered that the 65-inch U8N, which comes in screen sizes ranging from 55 to 98 inches, was noticeably brighter than the U8K series model from the previous year. My experience has been that movies and TV shows in Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG formats look incredibly excellent because to the U8N’s extensive HDR compatibility. The U8N’s vivid picture makes it an excellent choice for watching sports, and an anti-reflection screen helps reduce glare from overhead lighting.

Both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtrack formats are supported, and the U8N’s 2.1.2-channel speakers produce strong sound with good bass and conversation clarity. Hisense streams via the functional Google TV smart interface, which offers a plethora of menu options for adjusting sound and visuals. Finally, with two HDMI 2.1 connections that support 4K 120Hz, VRR up to 144Hz (with FreeSync Premium Pro), ALLM, and Dolby Vision 4K gaming, the U8N is a very powerful gaming TV.

✅ You’re looking for a fantastic TV to watch movies on: Movies, especially 4K ones with HDR, look their best thanks to the U8N’s high brightness and sophisticated local dimming.

✔ You desire full HDR compatibility: The U8N features an ATSC 3.0 tuner for broadcast HDR and supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

If You are looking for a high-end, reasonably priced mini-LED TV: Overall, the U8N offers great performance and features for the price, albeit it does not have all the features of more expensive mini-LED TVs.

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4. Hisense U6N

The Hisense U6N is a low-cost mini-LED television that surpasses its low price. It performs admirably in the majority of categories and has a large feature set. I evaluated the 65-inch model, which comes in sizes ranging from 55 to 85 inches. During my testing, I was astonished by how well the texture and details looked, taking on a more sophisticated quality than I had expected considering the pricing. Its hues were vibrant and powerful as well. With 4K HDR movies and shows, the U6N truly shined. It has full HDR support, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

Even while it only supports 4K at 60Hz instead of 120Hz and lacks some of the capabilities we want, I still enjoyed playing games, and VRR and Dolby Vision gaming gave me a taste of what’s to come. The Standard Mode with the Motion preset set to Smooth was the best choice because the AI Sports mode was too gaudy and its sound is a little thin. I also had to make some tweaks to get motion just right for sports. Despite this, the U6N’s worth cannot be disputed. You won’t have many complaints when you’re spending less than $1,000 on an 85-inch screen with mini-LED, a respectable selection of gaming capabilities, and a reliable Google TV smart platform.

✅ You’d want a large screen without the cost: At a low cost, the Hisense U6N provides a large screen mini-LED without sacrificing much.

✅ You desire a high-quality image on a big screen: The U6N’s mini-LED display offers strong contrast, elegant details, and vibrant colors at an affordable price.

✅ You’re looking for a good, affordable gaming TV: The U6N offers a strong overall gaming experience by supporting 4K 60Hz, Dolby Vision gaming, VRR, and ALLM even though it does not support 4K 120Hz.

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5. Samsung S95D

Thanks to some screen advancements, along with the excellent image processing and amazing acoustics we often receive from Samsung’s high-end sets, the Samsung S95D stood head and shoulders above the competition in a competitive OLED TV market with premium options from LG, Sony, and other companies. During testing, I was particularly pleased by the S95D’s remarkable and efficient OLED Glare Free anti-reflection display covering, which resolved OLED’s main problem by removing reflections in even the brightest spaces—including our testing room’s intense overhead illumination.

The standard-bearer for OLED in 2024 is what you get when you combine that with a vibrant, realistic, and contrast-rich image, a ton of gaming features, including 4K 144Hz, and a gorgeous, streamlined design. Although it costs more, it’s worth it.

✅ You’re looking for OLED’s greatest features: The S95D fully leverages the extreme brightness and deep black levels that are hallmarks of its QD-OLED technology.

✅ You’re looking for a well-made gaming television: The S95D is an excellent OLED for gaming thanks to its four HDMI 2.1 connectors, support for 4K at 144 Hz, customizable refresh rate (which includes AMD FreeSync Premium Pro), and many other features.

✅ You desire one of the most attractive television sets: The S95D seems sleek and high-end thanks to a super-trim profile with connections concealed in a separate box and a creative stand design that gives it a floating appearance.

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When purchasing a new television, you may encounter many complex terminology, including those used in this book. To begin our general buying guidance, here is a dictionary of the major phrases you will frequently encounter.

The TV’s “refresh rate,” or the number of visual frames it can display per second, is 120 Hz/144 Hz. 120Hz is a maximum of 120 frames per second. Classified as high frame rate (HFR), 120Hz can enhance sports viewing and is perfect for next-generation gaming consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X. For PC gaming, some TVs can offer 144Hz, however consoles are limited to 120Hz.

A 4K image, also referred to as Ultra HD (UHD), is around 4,000 horizontal pixels (3,840 in the UHD standard standards used by streamers and 4K Blu-ray, to be exact) by 2,160 vertical pixels. This is four times the quantity of pixels present in Full HD TVs. The majority of 43-inch and larger TVs, as well as streaming services, now support 4K.

Auto low latency mode, or ALLM, is a gaming-focused function that allows a TV to automatically convert to the best game picture mode or settings when it detects a connected gaming console.

The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) developed the broadcast TV standard ATSC 3.0, sometimes referred to as “NextGen TV,” which supports immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos, 4K resolution, and high dynamic range. In the US, broadcast TV stations use ATSC, which necessitates a TV with a tuner that is compatible with ATSC 3.0.

Audio Return Channel, or ARC. This function enables the transmission of audio signals from a TV to an HDMI ARC-capable device, like an AV receiver or soundbar, using an HDMI connection.

Backlight: An LED-based TV’s light source located behind the display panel. There are several kinds of backlights, such as full-array, edge-lit, and direct.

Color gamut: A device’s ability to display a range of colors inside a specific color space, such as REC.709, BT.2020, and UHDA-P3. The TV should be able to display images that are more similar to the original content if it supports a wider color gamut.

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