Choosing the best TV might be difficult. In addition to having names that sound like a series of random letters and numbers, TVs frequently share the same appearance, sound, and price. It might also be challenging to learn more about TVs because words like OLED, QLED, and HDR are used loosely.
For this reason, without getting bogged down in details, we talked to tech and retail specialists to find out more about the advantages and disadvantages of each TV brand. In addition to focusing on the leading brands, we also chose the best models from each to suggest.
GO Ahead and SkipWhy should I trust NBC Select? Sony TV, Samsung TV, LG TV, and TCL TV.
Selected.
-
Best Sony TVSony Bravia 8 Series 65″ TV
$1,598.00$1,698.00Amazon
Learn more
-
Best Samsung TVSamsung QN90D Series 65″ TV
$1,497.99$1,797.99Amazon
Learn more
-
Best LG TVLG C4 Series 65″ TV
$1,496.99$2,699.99Amazon
Learn more
-
Best TCL TVTCL QM7 Series 65″ TV
$697.99$1,099.99Amazon
Learn more
Related
How organization experts keep phone chargers and other cords from tangling
Would you want more from NBC Select?Shop more wisely by subscribing to our newsletter, The Selection.
Best brand overall: Sony TV
Carl Prouty, a technologist at Abt, a national retailer of electronics and appliances with headquarters in Glenview, Illinois, says Sony is renowned for its incredible picture quality and color accuracy.
According to Mark Steinberg, senior technologist at B&H Photo & Video, a national electronics retailer in New York City, the company has decades of experience producing image equipment for professional cinematographers and filmmakers. According to Steinberg, Sony’s higher image quality is a result of their history, something other TV brands do not have.
According to our experts, Sony also boasts great built-in audio, particularly in its high-end smart TVs. Additionally, Google TV, which is one of the simpler interfaces to use in my experience, is integrated into the majority of its TVs.
However, Sony TVs are typically a little more costly than comparable models from rival companies.
Best Sony TV:
Sony Bravia 8 Series TV
Sony Bravia 8 Series 65″ TV
- Superior imagine quality
- Excellent built-in audio
- Not many size options
Although the Sony A95L is the company’s most expensive consumer TV, this model contains most of the best features offered by the brand, such as a bright 4K OLED screen, a quick 120Hz screen, and user-friendly Google TV software, all in a reasonably priced package that is ideal for the majority of people.
Rich color accuracy and contrast are characteristics of OLED TVs that contribute to Sony’s primary advantage: excellent image quality.
In addition, the Bravia 8 has higher integrated audio quality than the majority of its rivals. It uses a cutting-edge audio system dubbed Acoustic Surface Audio+ to emit sound directly from the screen. According to our experts, this results in far richer audio quality than standard TV speakers, which take up more area along the sides of the TV frame.
Screen dimensions: 55, 65, and 77 inches; resolution: 4K; kind of panel: OLED; operating system: Google TV
Best Sony TV for brightness:
Sony Bravia 7 Series TV
Sony Bravia 7 Series 65″ TV
- Excellent image quality
- Very bright
- Not many size options
If you want to put it in a bright setting with lots of natural light, this is a better Sony choice because the QLED screen can go significantly brighter than the Bravia 8’s OLED screen. It lacks the Bravia 8’s color depth and contrast, but it still offers a quick 120Hz screen, Google TV software that’s easy to use, and an equally detailed 4K resolution.
The Sony Bravia 9 is brighter than the Bravia 7, but it costs a lot more if you want the brightest Sony TV.
55, 65, 75, and 85-inch screens; 4K resolution; QLED panel type; Google TV operating system
Best brand for design: Samsung TV
Another reputable company that produces high-quality TVs, some with distinctive designs, is Samsung. According to our experts, its quantum dot LED (QLED) TVs are incredibly brilliant and ideal for group viewing in spaces with a lot of ambient light or glare.
The Frame TV, a TV with a matte screen, is another noteworthy product from the company. When not in use, it can blend into your area and display art rather than seeming as a blank spot.
According to Steinberg (and my own experience), the menus on the Tizen UI, which is integrated into the majority of Samsung TVs, can be a bit less user-friendly than those on Google TV and Roku.
Best Samsung TV for brightness:
Samsung QN90D Series TV
Samsung QN90D Series 65″ TV
- Great image quality
- Very bright
- Tizen OS learning curve
This 2024 model fits easily in a variety of places because it is highly bright and comes in a range of sizes. According to the company, it features sophisticated mini-LED lighting in the screen that provide a brilliant, vivid image from a wide viewing angle. This indicates that it works well for group daytime programming, such as sports.
It features a rapid refresh rate, multiple HDMI 2.1 connectors, 4K resolution, and HDR compatibility, just like the majority of the TVs on our list.
43, 50, 55, 65, 75, 85, and 98-inch screens; 4K resolution; QLED panel type; Tizen OS
Best Samsung TV design:
Samsung The Frame Series TV (2024)
Samsung The Frame 65″ TV
- Matte finish for digital art
- Sleek and slim
- Not the best picture quality
The Frame Series is one of Samsung’s best-selling televisions. Compared to conventional screens, the matte texture of this one reduces reflection. When not in use, it transforms into a kind of digital art frame that shows various pieces of art that the brand has chosen. Additionally, you can access more artwork from the Samsung Art Store (for a charge) or submit your own photos.
Slim-fitting wall mounts are included in the box, and you may choose from a variety of colors for the frame surrounding the TV.
43, 50, 55, 65, 75, and 85-inch screens; 4K resolution; QLED panel type; Tizen OS
Best brand for gaming: LG TV
According to our experts, LGTVs are fantastic for all types of media, but gamers especially adore them. Although the visual quality may not be as dynamic as Sony models, Steinberg notes that the brand’s OLED TVs have a very striking and bright image.
Additionally, the brand’s TVs come with a feature called Filmmaker Mode that, according to the manufacturer, automatically adjusts the picture settings to better fit the TV program or movie you are now viewing. Although it’s not my favorite, LG TVs also employ the Web OS interface for their menus and controls, which is comparatively easy to use.
According to Steinberg, LG TVs are often a bit less costly than Sony and Samsung TVs.
Best LG TV:
LG C4 Series TV
LG C4 Series 65″ TV
- Vivid image quality
- Wide viewing angles
- Not the best for bright room
With a stunning OLED screen that boasts exceptional color contrast and extremely broad viewing angles, the C4 Series is more than enough TV for most people, even though it isn’t LG’s most expensive model (that would be the LG G4). It’s a terrific choice for gaming, sports, and movies because of its great colors, broad viewing angles, quick screen, and lots of connectivity.
Consider a Sony or Samsung QLED TV for extremely bright areas, as the C4 is not the greatest option for a bright living room like most OLED TVs.
Screen dimensions: 42, 48, 55, 65, 77, and 83 inches; resolution: 4K; kind of panel: OLED; operating system: WebOS
Best budget LG TV:
LG B4 Series TV
LG B4 Series 55″ TV
- Great value
- OLED color contrast
- Not the best for bright room
If you can’t afford the C4 Series TV, think about the less expensive B4 series. In comparison to the C4, it has a somewhat older processor and a dimmer brightness, but it still offers a 4K OLED panel with broad viewing angles, vibrant colors, and deep contrast. The webOS smart platform, Filmmaker Mode, robust gaming connectivity, and interoperability with smart home devices are all still available to you.
Screen dimensions: 48, 55, 65, 77, and 83 inches; resolution: 4K; kind of panel: OLED; operating system: webOS
Best budget brand: TCL TVs
Although there are several low-cost TV companies (Hisense, Vizio, and Insignia, to mention a few), Steinberg claims that TCL is among the best. Its TVs are typically less expensive than those made by Sony, Samsung, and LG, but they nevertheless have all the necessary characteristics, such as 4K HDR images, quick refresh rates of 120 Hz, contemporary networking, and more.
Many TCL TVs have Google TV or Roku built-in, two of our favorite interfaces to use.One of our and our experts’ favorite streaming services is Rokuin.
Because of their limited viewing angles, the majority of TCL TVs don’t look as well when seen off-center. If you are looking for a TV to host a sports party, consider one of our other recommended brands.
Best TCL TV:
TCL QM7 Series TV
TCL QM7 Series 65″ TV
- Great value
- Good color contrast
- Narrow viewing angles
TCL sells more premium models than this one (namely theQM8), but the QM7 Series is an excellent value for the features. It has a QLED screen with mini-LEDs that deliver high brightness, vibrant colors and deep contrast, according to the brand. based on the brand. For gamers, it has fast HDMI 2.1 connectivity and a refresh rate of up to 144Hz.
It has Google TV with Google Assistant built-in, meaning you can control the TV with your voice.
Screen sizes:55, 65, 75, 85, 98-inch| Resolution:4K| Panel type:QLED| OS:Google TV
Best budget TCL TV:
TCL S5 Series TV
TCL S5 Series 55″ TV
- Excellent value
- Roku interface
- So-so image quality
If budget is your top priority and terms like quantum dot LED, quad-OLED and local dimming zones make you want to fall asleep, the TCL S5 Series is an accessible and affordable option. It has a 4K image and an easy to use Google TV interface built-in. It cannot compete with the image quality of our other picks, but it s the most affordable on our list by far. It also comes in six sizes.
Screen sizes:43, 50, 55, 65, 75, 85-inch| Resolution:4K| Panel type:LED| OS:Google TV
Frequently asked questions
An LED is a light-emitting diode (LED) and is one piece of how your TV displays pictures. LED TVs are currently the most common type of television on the market, says Prouty. LED TVs have decent brightness and are very affordable.
QLED TVs still have LEDs inside, but add a quantum dot layer that has better colors and light filtration than a normal LED screen, says Prouty. Some brands (like LG) call this and similar technology QNED (quantum nano-emitting diode).
Mini LED TVs use smaller LEDs to illuminate the picture. Mini LEDs can show highlights in dark and bright scenes better than regular LEDs, says Prouty.
OLED TVs are a little different: they use organic light emitting diodes (OLED) in the screen, and each individual pixel can turn on and off. OLEDs have the best contrast and widest viewing angles of any TV type, says Prouty, making them a great fit for group watching.
High-dynamic range (HDR) TVs can display a wider range of color contrast as compared to SDR (standard dynamic range) TVs. There are many different kinds of HDR, and not all shows, movies and games can display in HDR.
Refresh rate is the maximum number of frames your TV can display in a single second, represented by a number and Hertz (Hz), 60Hz, for example. This is most important for gamers, as video games can display hundreds of frames per second. Gamers should look for a TV with a refresh rate of at least 120Hz.
There is no hard and fast rule for this, according to our experts. If your TV works, and you’re happy with the image quality, there is no need to replace it, says Prouty. Once your TV becomes uncomfortably slow, doesn t connect to devices or displays an abnormal picture, it may be time to look for a replacement.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
-
Carl Prouty
, the technologist atAbt
, a national electronics and appliances retailer based in Glenview, Illinois.
-
Mark Steinberg
, the senior technologist atB&H Photo & Video
, a national electronics retailer in New York City.
Why trust Select?
I am areporterat NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including recent stories onsmartwatches,running shoes,over-ear headphonesand more. For this piece, I spoke with television industry experts to learn more about TV brands and what makes them notable.
Catch up on NBC Select s in-depth coverage oftech and tools,wellnessand more, and follow us onFacebook,Instagram,TwitterandTikTokto stay up to date.