Most people looking for a new TV are focused on picture quality for the money, in a size that's right for their room. Here at CNET I test TVs head-to-head in our dedicated lab and I want to help you choose the best television for your needs. Whether you care most about gaming, sports or streaming TV shows and movies, in a living room or bedroom, there’s a model here for you. Although new televisions are coming out in spring 2025, some of the recommendations below debuted last year. That's because TVs are a pretty stable technology and year-to-year improvements are usually minor. Here are the best TV you can buy now, from high-end QLED and OLED to midrange mini-LED to cheap 4K smart TVs.
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These are the best TVs of 2025
Best TV of 2025
Pros
- Better picture quality than any non-OLED TV we've tested
- Superior contrast and off-angle image
- Best-in-class gaming features
- Sleek styling with ultralight, thin panel
Cons
- Expensive
- Not as bright as higher-end OLED TVs
- No major improvements over the C3
The C4 is the best TV you can buy right now for number of reasons: namely, it has better picture quality than any LCD TV on this list, including the TCL QM8, and it's currently selling for the same price as a new, premium LCD TV. As I found in my measurements, the C4 has perfect black levels, unbeatable contrast and well-saturated colors. In my comparison tests, its overall brightness isn't quite as impressive as 2025 OLEDs like the C5 and G5, but it's still an incredible performer in all types of room lighting.
The C4 is well-suited to almost any kind of content, for example, its fast pixel response times and high saturation make it great for watching sports, as well as making it a superb gaming TV.
The C4 demonstrates why its often better to buy last year's version of a TV as it's very similar to the new C5 and about a grand cheaper in the 65-inch size.
As an OLED, the C4 is still more expensive than the cheaper TVs here so the only reason you wouldn't buy this TV is if you wanted a better "bang for buck." The TCL QM8 or even the Roku Pro Series are a better value.
Best TV for bright rooms
Pros
- Best overall image quality I've tested
- Best-in-class glare reduction in a bright room
- Superior contrast and off-angle viewing
- Ultrathin panel with external input box
Cons
- Expensive
- Slightly diminished contrast in bright rooms
If you are looking for a TV that works best in a bright room, the Samsung S95D's matte finish does more than reduce reflections, it virtually eliminates them, improving image quality by more than any OLED TV I've tested it against. While some LCD TVs models have matte screens, this is the first time they've been available in an OLED TV, a display technology that has always delivered the best picture available.
Picture quality is what you’d expect from an OLED TV, with deep blacks and rich colors, and it was every bit as good side-by-side with other OLEDs including the new LG G5 (review soon) for most content.
That matte finish really works, reducing windows and other glare to dimmer blobs instead of super-bright, mirror-like distractions.
The S95D also has an external box, allowing for a cleaner look with the option to store HDMI connections and the power cord out of sight.
Between its versatile matte screen and awesome picture overall, the Samsung S95D delivers the best image quality of any TV I've tested, beating the G4 and last year's winner, the G3, as well as any other non-OLED TV.
On the downside: iIt does cost a lot more than other TVs and most people will likely be happy with a less expensive TV.
Best TV for the money
Pros
- Relatively affordable
- Excellent overall image quality
- Best-in-class brightness and contrast
- Capable Google TV system
Cons
- Not as accurate as some competitors
- Available only in 65-inch size and larger
TCL has topped CNET's list of the best TVs for the past few years and the QM8 is even better than before. In my side-by-side comparison tests with the Roku Pro and the Hisense U8, the TCL stood out with superior brightness and excellent color -- all while maintaining excellent contrast: a combination the other TVs couldn’t match at this price.
The key to its picture-quality performance is mini-LED tech and well-implemented full-array local dimming.
It also has a sleek design with a center-mount stand. The operating system is Google TV, which I don't like as much as Roku TV but it's still a solid smart TV.
Apart from an ever-so-slightly-slower gaming response time -- measured at about 1ms slower than most and 4ms slower than the best -- the main downside of the TCL QM8 is that it's only available in large sizes (65 inches and up). If you're looking for a TV for a smaller space, I recommend the Hisense U8N instead.
Best TV for a bedroom
Pros
- Relatively affordable
- Excellent overall image quality
- Capable Google TV system
- Offers a 55-inch screen size
Cons
- Not quite as bright or dynamic as some competitors
- Shadow details "crush" in HDR mode
If you're looking for the best TV for a smaller space, such as a bedroom, the Hisense U8N should be your go-to. I compared the Hisense side by side with the TCL QM8, and while I liked the TCL's picture quality better, the U8N was still pretty decent. Most important, the Hisense also comes in a 55-inch size.
Both the Hisense and TCL offer excellent image quality and affordable prices thanks to mini-LED backlights and full-array local dimming, as well as similar gaming features and the Google TV operating system.
Meanwhile, the Hisense costs hundreds less than you'd have to pay to get similar image quality from a better-known brand. Only avoid if you like watching movies as shadow detail isn't up to the standard of the TCL QM8, much less an OLED.
Best budget TV
Pros
- Cheap
- Excellent black levels and shadow detail
- Plenty of streaming options
Cons
- Desaturated reds
- Interface is less user-friendly than a Roku TV
In terms of the best bang-for-buck, one of the most impressive models has been the Samsung DU7200 -- it's a TV that delivers a really good picture for an affordable price. The black levels and shadow detail are excellent for the money and while my test unit looked a little desaturated out of the box that was easily fixed by adjusting the Color control. The TV has onboard streaming and the sound quality isn't too bad either. If you're looking for a bedroom unit or a smaller gaming TV then the Samsung DU7200 is the model I would choose. Don't buy it if you're a stickler for image quality but for the price it's pretty great.
Best non-OLED TV for gaming and streaming
Pros
- Affordable
- Excellent gaming performance
- Good picture quality thanks to local dimming
- Great smart TV system
Cons
- Picture quality isn't as good as TCL or Hisense at similar price
- Not as bright as some similarly priced TVs
If you're looking for a gaming TV and don't want to spend the money on an OLED model, the Roku Pro is a solid choice. It boasts a quick response time, and is decently accurate in terms of color and shadow detail. It also will do 4K HDR and Dolby Vision. It has Roku on board so you know that it has one of the most comprehensive suites of streaming apps on the planet.
Of course, the long answer is that any TV on this list is a gaming TV. Almost every unit I've reviewed recently has a gaming mode and undetectable pixel response times (under 15ms). The reason why this matters is that the Roku doesn't have the best picture I've seen for less than $1,000 but the TCL QM6K, for example, does. If you want the ultimate image quality you can buy for the money, don't get the Roku.
Other TVs I've tested
The Konica Minolta CS-2000 spectroradiometer testing an LG OLED in CNET's lab.
LG C3: When David Katzmaier reviewed the C3 in 2023 it was one of his favorite TVs and this impression continued into the following year. It's still a great TV but with the pricing on this and the C4 similar right now it makes sense to go for the newer TV. Read CNET's full review of the LG C3.
Panasonic Z95A: The Panasonic Z95A is an excellent TV and it has one advantage over most at the price because of its dedicated speaker system, giving it decent sound quality. The inclusion of Amazon Fire TV is also unusual for the price but I still prefer Google TV. Read CNET's hands-on of the Panasonic Z95A.
Samsung S90D: The S90D performed well in our measurement tests but it suffered some contrast loss compared to the C4. Any differences between the C4 and S90D were subtle. Read CNET's full review of the Samsung S90D.
How CNET tests TVs
CNET editors David Katzmaier and Ty Pendlebury have been testing TVs since the turn of the century.
In every CNET TV review, I compare three or more similar TVs side by side in a dedicated, light-controlled test lab. With each review I employ a rigorous, unbiased evaluation process that has been honed in more than two decades of TV reviews. I test TVs with a combination of scientific measurements and real-world evaluations of TV, movies and gaming content.
To ensure I can evaluate the picture quality of every TV I employ the use of an AVPro Connect 8x8 4K HDR splitter so each one receives the same signal. I test the TVs using various lighting conditions playing different media, including 4K HDR movies and console games, across a variety of test categories, from color to video processing to gaming to HDR.
In order to measure each TV, I use specialized equipment to grade according to light output and color. My hardware includes a Konica Minolta CS-2000 spectroradiometer and a Murideo Six-G 4K HDR signal generator. I use Portrait Displays CalMan Ultimate software to evaluate every TV I review according to their brightness, black levels and color.
My reviews also account for such things as features, design, smart TV performance, connectivity including HDMI inputs and gaming compatibility.
Check out How CNET Tests TVs for more details.
Factors to consider when choosing a TV
The Sony Bravia 8 II is a new flagship OLED
With all of the TVs available today, and all of the technical terms and jargon associated with television technology, it can be tough to figure out what's important. Here's a quick guide to help cut through the confusion.
Picture quality: Broadly speaking, the type of display technology helps dictate how good a TV's picture quality is, but OLED is typically the best display technology, and this is followed by LCD (including QLED, and Mini LED). OLED tends to have the best picture quality because it doesn't need a backlight and every pixel can be either on or off, leading to great black levels. In comparison, each LED in a backlight looks after multiple pixels at a time so it isn't as precise -- it's not yet 1:1. Among midrange models, look for a feature including full-array local dimming, mini-LED and 120Hz refresh rate, which (unlike some other extras) do help improve the picture in my experience. Additionally, If a TV uses Quantum Dots it often leads to better color performance, whether it's an OLED or an LCD.
Screen size: Bigger is better in my book. I recommend a size of at least 43 inches for a bedroom TV and at least 55 inches for a living room or main TV -- and 65 inches or larger is best. More so than any "feature," stepping up in TV screen size is the best use of your money. One of the most common post-TV-purchase complaints I've heard is from people who didn't go big enough. And I rarely hear people complain that their TV is too large. It's worth adding that while TVs can get really big indeed, 4K resolution is sufficient for even the biggest models, and CNET doesn't recommend any 8K TVs as they represent a poor comparative value.
Price: TVs range in price from $100 to more than $2,000. Smaller screens are cheaper, well-known brands are more expensive and spending more money can also get you better image quality. Most entry-level TVs have a good enough picture for most people, but TVs last a long time, so it might be worth spending more to get a better picture. It's also best to shop for a TV in the fall when prices are lower.
Sound quality: Every TV has some sort of built-in speaker, but in my twenty years of reviewing AV equipment the sound of modern TVs has been routinely terrible. While I do test the audio on each model, if you are serious about sound quality then buying a separate soundbar (from $100) or home theater system will instantly improve vital aspects such as speech and bass reproduction.
Smart TV: Among entry-level TVs the most important feature is what kind of smart TV system the TV uses, and while some are proprietary to each brand (Samsung and LG) some models do offer Roku and Google TV.
For more TV buying advice check out How to Buy a TV.
TV brightness according to CNET's testing
One important aspect of image quality I test is overall brightness using the CS-2000 spectroradiometer. Here's how brightness compares in nits across select TVs listed above.
Light output in nits
| TV | Brightest mode (HDR) | Accurate mode (HDR) | Brightest mode (SDR) | Accurate mode (SDR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCL QM8 | 1,975 | 1,975 | 1,739 | 1,448 |
| Hisense U8N | 3,175 | 3,175 | 3,168 | 1,112 |
| LG OLED C4 | 1,213 | 968 | 414 | 390 |
| Samsung S95D | 1,734 | 1,666 | 544 | 268 |
Prices vary widely by size and features, from less than $100 for basic 24-inch TVs to more than $2,000 for big OLED models. TVs last a long time, so we think it's worthwhile to spend a little extra beyond the bare minimum to get a bigger screen, better picture quality or better features. With that in mind, here are some ballpark prices that will get you a very good TV in 2025.
- 55-inch: $700
- 65-inch: $1,000
- 75-inch: $1,300
You could pay (much) more or less. The fact is just about any TV will produce a picture decent enough to satisfy most viewers. Most complaints you read in user reviews aren't about picture quality. Instead, they're about ease of use, smart TV menus or sound (or a broken TV).
In our opinion bigger is better, and your money is best spent on large screen sizes rather than a slight upgrade in image quality. The answer also depends on room size and seating distance: If you have a big room and sit farther away, you'll want a bigger TV.
In our reviews, OLED TVs, which use organic light-emitting diode technology, have always had better picture quality than LED TVs, which are essentially LCD TVs that use LED backlights. The main reason is that OLED TVs can produce a perfectly dark shade of black with no stray illumination of blooming, which leads to better contrast and pop. LED TVs can get brighter, and usually cost less than OLED TVs.
At CNET our favorite is Roku for its simplicity, but different systems like Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung and LG have different strengths, in particular for voice commands. In any case, we don't consider the built-in smart TV system that important because you can always connect a streaming device to any TV.
Most TVs sound terrible because their thin cabinets don't have room for decent-sized speakers or a bass. If you want to get good sound you should buy an external audio system. Even an inexpensive soundbar will deliver much better audio quality than a TV's built-in speakers.