The 4 best TVs of 2026

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Buying a new TV shouldn't feel like work, but sorting through endless brands, confusing specs, and marketing buzzwords often does. If you're trying to figure out which models are actually worth buying, you're in the right place. I've narrowed things down to the four best TVs available right now, based on hands-on testing and more than a decade of experience reviewing home entertainment gear.

For most people, the Samsung S90F hits the sweet spot. It delivers excellent performance with an OLED panel that produces incredible contrast, rich colors, and deep black levels. If you're looking to spend less, the TCL QM6K is my favorite value pick. It can't match the S90F's picture quality, but it offers standout features for the money, including a fast 144Hz refresh rate that's especially great for gaming.

I've also included picks for midrange shoppers and those willing to spend more for top-tier performance. The four models below are the best TVs I currently recommend, but there are plenty of strong alternatives depending on your space, viewing habits, and budget. If you want more options across different brands, sizes, and price ranges, you'll find them in my full lineup of TV buying guides.

Our top picks for the best TVs

Best overall: Samsung S90F 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best picture quality: LG G5 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best budget model: TCL QM6K 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best midrange option: TCL QM7K 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best overall

The Samsung S90F strikes just the right balance between performance and price. The 65-inch model is frequently sold for around $1,500, offering image quality that outshines most rivals in its price range. It also sports a full suite of smart features and a sleek design.

Utilizing Samsung's QD-OLED panel, the S90F delivers pixel-level contrast and dazzling highlights that pop off the screen. Even the priciest LED and QLED sets can't match this level of contrast control. Thanks to quantum dot technology, colors are brighter and more vibrant than on midrange LG OLEDs. Only Sony's premium OLEDs match this tech, but they cost a lot more. Black levels are also deep and inky when watching TV in a dark room, though they do rise slightly with the lights on.

While testing the S90F, our reviewer measured a peak brightness of about 1,460 nits, which is impressive for this panel type. That level of brightness makes the S90F a superb choice for HDR content. Since many HDR titles are mastered at around 1,000 nits, the S90F can reproduce highlights — like explosions and sun flares — with realistic impact. The result is bold, cinematic picture quality with rich color and sharp detail.

Viewing angles are another strong suit. While LED and QLED models can fade when viewed off-center, the S90F maintains contrast and color accuracy from nearly any seat in the room. Gamers will also appreciate the TV's 144Hz refresh rate on PC and 120Hz support on PS5 and Xbox Series X, ensuring smooth gameplay.

Samsung's Tizen smart TV interface includes built-in access to the Xbox Cloud Gaming app, allowing Game Pass subscribers to stream Xbox titles directly on their TV without a console. The platform also supports nearly every major video streaming service. Navigation speed has also been improved over past Samsung TV models, with faster load times and less lag. That said, our reviewer found the interface's menu and app organization a bit clumsy.

Like all Samsung TVs, the S90F lacks one notable feature that many of its rivals offer: Dolby Vision support. Dolby Vision can enhance HDR quality for certain streaming content and 4K Blu-ray discs, but the difference is subtle at this level. Ultimately, we don't consider this omission to be a dealbreaker. For more information about Dolby Vision and other HDR formats, see our HDR TV guide.

The S90F is available in sizes from 42 to 83 inches, but only the 55-, 65-, and 77-inch models use Samsung's QD-OLED panel. Smaller and larger versions still deliver great image quality, but they use standard WOLED panels, so their color range isn't quite as wide.

Read our Samsung S90F 4K TV review.

Best picture quality

The LG G5 is the most impressive high-end TV I've tested. It offers a brighter image than other OLEDs while maintaining pixel-perfect contrast.

Using an industry-standard 10% test pattern with the TV set in its most accurate setting, I measured a peak brightness of about 2,400. That's a record for an OLED, and it's around 1,000 nits brighter than many midrange models, such as the Samsung S90F.

Of course, test patterns can only reveal so much. What's actually important is how the TV looks when watching real-world content. And in a word, the G5 is stunning. High-brightness HDR movies, such as "Mad Max: Fury Road" and "Aquaman," leap from the screen in ways I've never seen on an OLED, fully utilizing the G5's nearly unmatched combination of intense peak highlights and infinite contrast. Viewing angles are also wide, allowing you to sit to the side of the screen without any significant shifts in contrast and color. Gamers even get a high 165Hz refresh rate when paired with a PC.

But while incredible on many fronts, the G5 isn't quite perfect — no display is. The TV initially had issues with banding/posterization (blocky color gradations) when watching certain types of HDR content. In the months following the G5's launch, LG released firmware updates to minimize this issue.

Over the course of weeks of testing, banding occurred so rarely that I don't consider it a major con. Those highly sensitive to spotting posterization may want to consider other high-end TVs that are less prone to it (like the Samsung S95F). But when evaluating the TV's overall image quality, the G5 has the best picture performance I've seen.

The G5's webOS smart TV interface works well enough, but it isn't my favorite platform. The homepage is a bit barebones in design and features shopping recommendations too prominently. However, you still get access to all the best streaming services, and general navigation and usability are solid. I did run into some errors with hands-free voice search, but it works better when using the remote.

The TV boasts a handsome design, sturdy materials, and a slim profile. It comes with a flush wall mount that allows you to hang the panel with virtually no gap. But the trade-off is that the display doesn't include a traditional stand. If wall mounting isn't doable in your room, you'll have to purchase a separate stand.

There are a few competing OLEDs that address some of the G5's flaws a bit better. Most notably, Sony's Bravia 8 II offers better processing. However, that model falls short in other areas, such as peak brightness, and is only available in two sizes.

Read our LG G5 4K TV review.

Best budget model

The QM6K is TCL's top entry-level QLED TV. The 65-inch size is often on sale for $650 or less, which is an excellent value for a TV in this class.

What sets the QM6K apart from most similarly priced TVs is its use of a Mini LED backlight with local dimming and quantum dots. These features are typically reserved for pricier sets and enable the QM6K to produce higher contrast and better color than most of its rivals.

When reviewing the TV, I was impressed by its backlight control, which produced minimal blooming (halos around bright objects). It also produced a solid HDR image with great saturation. However, as a budget-friendly TV, the QM6K has some limitations. The display's black levels are slightly lighter than those of more expensive QLEDs, and the panel's brightness is limited compared to midrange and high-end sets.

I measured a peak of 557 nits on a 10% HDR test pattern and about 736 nits on a larger 50% test pattern. Those are decent numbers for an entry-level Mini LED TV, but they're notably lower than the levels offered by my other picks in this guide. As a result, bright highlights in some movies and TV shows have less impact than intended. Although viewing angles have been improved over older TCL QLEDs, they're still much narrower than those of an OLED TV.

On the plus side, the QM6K offers a significant gaming upgrade over its predecessor, with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz. This makes the QM6K one of the most affordable TVs that can display 4K/120Hz signals from a PS5 or Xbox Series X, enabling smoother motion when playing certain games.

The QM6K's Google TV interface is easy to use and snappy to navigate, with only small hiccups. When reviewing older TCL TVs, I encountered several minor glitches here and there, but the QM6K was completely free from bugs during several weeks of testing.

All things considered, the QM6K is the perfect starter home theater TV for anyone who wants a budget set that still offers worthwhile HDR performance.

Read our TCL QM6K 4K TV review.

Best midrange option

TCL's QM7K is the brand's latest midrange QLED, and it's one of the best TVs in its price range.

Similar to the company's more affordable QM6K, the QM7K utilizes a Mini LED backlight with quantum dots and local dimming. It also supports a refresh rate of up to 144Hz and runs Google TV for quick access to numerous streaming services. But what sets this pricier model apart from its cheaper sibling is its peak brightness.

The QM7K can get more than twice as bright as the QM6K. I measured a peak of around 1,800 nits on a 10% test pattern. That's more than enough to give specular highlights (like explosions) ample intensity in HDR movies and TV shows. That said, the QM7K isn't much brighter than its predecessor, the QM7. But the QM7K does have other upgrades up its sleeve.

TCL has implemented an improved backlighting system in this model, and the results are impressive. While I noticed some light fluctuations and patchy brightness in dark scenes when reviewing the older QM7, the QM7K is almost entirely free of these flaws. Likewise, halos around bright objects are almost nonexistent. Similarly, viewing angles have been notably improved. This is still a QLED, so color and contrast do wash out at extreme angles, but you can veer farther from the center without the TV's quality degrading as much.

However, black levels aren't quite as deep as I've seen on some pricier QLEDs, and the QM7K's backlight still can't match the pixel-level precision of an OLED. But given its position in the market, the QM7K is an excellent midrange TV option. The 65-inch model is often available for $1,000 or less, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a bright QLED TV under a grand. Even the massive 98-inch model is surprisingly affordable, which helps cement this as one of my top Super Bowl TV recommendations.

The best TVs compared

Here's a rundown of key specifications for each of our top TV picks, offering an overview of how they compare.

	Samsung S90F	LG G5	TCL QM6K	TCL QM7K
Typical price (65 inch)	$1,500	$2,300	$650	$1,000
Panel type	QD-OLED	OLED	QLED	QLED
Backlight	N/A	N/A	Mini LED with local dimming	Mini LED with local dimming
HDR support	HDR10, HDR10+, HLG	HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG	HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG	HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG
Peak brightness	1,460 nits	2,400 nits	560 nits	1,800 nits
Smart TV OS	Tizen	webOS	Google TV	Google TV
HDMI	Four HDMI 2.1	Four HDMI 2.1	Two HDMI 2.1, two HDMI 2.0	Two HDMI 2.1, two HDMI 2.0
Refresh rate	Up to 144Hz	Up to 165Hz	Up to 144Hz	Up to 144Hz

Check out our other TV buying guides

Our guide to the best TVs is designed to keep things simple, with our four top picks categorized by overall performance. But these aren't the only models we recommend. If you want to explore additional TV options in more detail, visit our supplemental buying guides, which focus on specific screen sizes, display types, budgets, brands, and key features.

• Best smart TVs
• Best 4K TVs
• Best OLED TVs
• Best TVs for picture quality
• Best gaming TVs
• Best sports TVs
• Best frame TVs
• Best budget TVs
• Best TVs under $500
• Best 100-inch TVs
• Best 85-inch TVs
• Best 75-inch TVs
• Best 65-inch TVs
• Best 55-inch TVs
• Best 50-inch TVs
• Best 43-inch TVs
• Best Sony TVs
• Best TCL TVs
• Best LG TVs
• Best Samsung TVs
• Best Roku TVs

Other TVs we reviewed

Though they didn't quite make the cut for this guide, my team and I reviewed several other display models as we sought the best TVs. Here's a rundown of some other notable TVs we tested, along with details on why they didn't make our top four picks.

Samsung S95F OLED 4K TV - See at Amazon
The S95F is another excellent high-end TV alternative to the G5. It can't quite reach the same high brightness level, but it can offer slightly richer colors in certain content. However, the S95F uses a divisive matte screen rather than a typical glossy screen. The matte panel does a fantastic job of reducing reflections, but it can make black levels appear elevated in a bright room. Ultimately, we prefer how th's inky black levels. But if you have trouble with ambient light, the S95F could be a better fit.

Read our Samsung S95F review.

LG C5 OLED 4K TV - See at Amazon
The LG C5 is the company's midrange OLED, and it's a fantastic TV. Its picture quality comes impressively close to our top pick in this guide, the Samsung S90F. However, unlike the 55-, 65-, and 77-inch versions of the S90F, the C5 doesn't use quantum dot technology, which gives those Samsung models a slight edge in color brightness. Since both TVs are often priced similarly, the S90F has a slight overall advantage.

Read our LG C5 review.

TCL QM8K QLED 4K TV - See at Amazon
TCL's QM8K is one of the brand's top QLED models. It delivers excellent performance that's on par with many high-end sets from pricier brands. In particular, the QM8K boasts impressive brightness and superior contrast control compared to similar QLEDs. However, overall image quality is still surpassed by OLED models, such as the Samsung S90F. That said, if you're looking for a high-performance QLED TV for a bright room, the QM8K is a great choice.

Read our TCL QM8K review.

Hisense U8QG QLED 4K TV - See at Amazon
The Hisense U8QG is another excellent QLED TV for those seeking a high-brightness screen. It performs similarly to the TCL QM8K, but can get slightly brighter and features a faster 165Hz refresh rate. That said, it's limited to three HDMI ports and suffers from oversaturated reds. Ultimately, we still give an edge to similarly priced OLED displays for overall performance.

Read our Hisense U8QG review.

Samsung Frame Pro 4K TV - See at Amazon
The Frame Pro is Samsung's premium version of its popular Frame TV. Like the standard Frame, the Frame Pro is designed to look like a hanging piece of art when not in use as a TV. It accomplishes this with a matte screen that mimics the look of canvas, a flush wall mount, interchangeable bezels, and access to a vast collection of art to display on screen (subscription required). This high-end model can get brighter than the standard Frame, and its black-level control is better thanks to edge-lit local dimming. It also utilizes a wireless connection box, which expands your placement options within the room. However, while this is a great option for design-focused buyers, its overall picture quality still lags behind that of the best TVs in this guide.

Read our Samsung Frame Pro 4K TV review.

Vizio Quantum Pro QLED 4K TV - See at Walmart
The Quantum Pro is a decent midrange QLED with superior viewing angles compared to most competitors in this class. However, its contrast is lacking compared to similarly priced options from TCL and Hisense.

Read our Vizio Quantum Pro 4K TV review.

Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini LED - See at Amazon
The Omni Mini LED is Amazon's new flagship TV. This model uses a Mini LED backlight to deliver higher contrast and brightness than the brand's more affordable offerings. It stacks up well against other TVs in its class, like the QM7K, but its list price is a bit high, and we prefer other smart TV systems over Amazon's Fire TV interface.

Read our Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini LED review.

How we test TVs

To pick the best TVs, my team and I focus on picture quality, smart features, design, and overall value.

Picture quality: My TV testing mixes objective measurements with everyday viewing. Meters and test patterns are used to measure a TV's brightness and other objective display capabilities. But while test patterns are helpful, they don't tell the whole story. So I also live with each TV for a few weeks, watching movies and shows in both bright and dark environments, just like I would on my own set. This helps me spot performance quirks across different types of content. I also weigh image quality against price, as what I expect from a budget TV differs from what I expect from a flagship model.

Smart features: I spend time with each TV's smart platform to see how fast it is, how well voice search works, how many apps are available, and how intrusive the ads feel. If a TV includes unique features, I dig into those too to see whether they actually make a difference.

Design: I don't hold inexpensive TVs to the same standard as premium ones, but I do call out any major design issues. High-end models, on the other hand, should feel premium, with thin panels, metal finishes, sturdy stands, and thoughtful touches like adjustable heights or backlit remotes.

Value: Ultimately, the best TVs strike the right balance between performance and price. Expensive sets need to earn their premium with truly top-tier picture quality, while midrange and budget options should deliver features that go above and beyond what you typically get at their price.

For more details on our review process, check out our breakdown of how we test tech products.

TV FAQs

What kinds of TVs are available in 2026?

If you buy a TV in 2026, it will likely be branded as one of four primary display types: OLED, QLED, Micro RGB, or LED. Though performance varies by model, each tech has its own strengths and weaknesses.

OLED TVs (including newer QD-OLED and Four-Stack OLED models) have traditionally delivered the best overall picture quality thanks to self-lit pixels that produce perfect black levels, infinite contrast, and wide viewing angles. They're ideal for home theaters and movie lovers, and newer OLED types are bright enough for most living rooms. Downsides include lower peak brightness than the brightest LED-based TVs, higher prices, limited size options, and a small risk of burn-in with extreme use.

QLED TVs use an LCD panel with an LED or Mini LED backlight and quantum dots to boost brightness and color. High-end models can get extremely bright, making them great for sunny rooms, and they're available in a wide range of sizes and prices with no burn-in risk. However, even the best QLEDs can't match OLED's contrast, and picture quality varies widely depending on whether the TV includes local dimming.

LED TVs are the most basic and affordable option. They use LCD panels with LED backlights, but lack quantum dots and typically lack local dimming and wide color support. They're best for budget shoppers who want large screens at low prices, though contrast, color, and viewing angles are generally mediocre compared to OLED and QLED.

Micro RGB TVs (also called RGB Mini LED) are an emerging technology that's similar to a QLED TV. But instead of using a quantum dot filter, Micro RGB TVs use separate red, green, and blue LEDs in their backlight. In theory, this could deliver brighter, purer colors than traditional QLED TVs without the burn-in concerns of OLED. That said, the technology is very new, models are limited, and contrast still can't match an emissive OLED panel.

For a more detailed breakdown of TV panel technology, check out our QLED vs. OLED comparison.

When will 2026 TV models be released?

New 2026 TV models were unveiled at the CES tech show in January, and are expected to start rolling out to stores in the spring. You can learn more about upcoming TV models in our CES 2026 TV roundup.

However, it's essential to note that 2025 TV models will remain in stock for most of the year and are likely to receive significant discounts. As such, we'll continue to recommend 2025 TV models while they remain the best value.

What size TV is best?

TVs range from small 24-inch models to massive 100-inch-plus screens, and the right size depends on your room, seating distance, resolution, and budget. Bigger TVs cost more and require enough wall or stand space, but they also deliver a more immersive experience.

Resolution matters, too. HD works fine on smaller TVs (around 43 inches or less), where the difference from higher resolutions is hard to notice. For 50 inches and up, 4K is the sweet spot, especially if you sit closer to the screen. 8K only makes sense on very large TVs— typically 75 inches or larger — where the added detail is more noticeable. But even then, 4K is typically more than enough for all TV sizes sold today.

Though there is no specific right or wrong size for all needs, 65 inches often hits the ideal balance between cinematic impact and everyday practicality, which is why it's typically a brand's flagship size.

What smart TV interfaces does each brand use?

Nearly every TV you can buy in 2026 is a smart TV, but brands use different operating systems (OS) to handle streaming apps and features.

• Android TV: Older models from Sony, TCL, Hisense
• Fire TV: Amazon, Panasonic, Toshiba, Insignia, Pioneer, Hisense
• Google TV: Sony, TCL, Hisense
• Roku TV: Roku, TCL, Hisense
• Vizio Home: Vizio
• Tizen: Samsung
• webOS: LG

Do you need a TV with HDMI 2.1?

HDMI 2.1 is common on midrange and high-end TVs and is most useful for gamers. It enables 4K at 120Hz (and sometimes higher refresh rates with a PC), along with variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM) for smoother, lower-lag gameplay.

To use these features, every device in your setup must support HDMI 2.1, including your TV, gaming console or PC, and any soundbar or AV receiver used for passthrough. You'll also need 48Gbps-rated HDMI cables to handle the full bandwidth. Check out our guide to the best HDMI cables for our top recommendations.

When is the best time to buy a TV?

If you're shopping for a new TV, the best time to buy is during big deal events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Amazon Prime Day. TVs often drop to their lowest prices during these sales. You can also find significant discounts in the weeks leading up to major sports events, such as the Super Bowl and March Madness, as well as during holidays like the Fourth of July and Memorial Day.

What TV brands should you consider?

The best TV brand for you depends on your budget and priorities. Sony, Samsung, LG, and Panasonic lead the pack for premium build quality and cutting-edge OLED and QLED performance, though their midrange and entry-level models usually cost more than comparable options from rivals.

If you want strong picture quality for less, TCL and Hisense are excellent value brands. Their midrange QLED TVs often rival — or even beat — pricier models from bigger names, thanks to features like quantum dots and local dimming, even if the design and build feel less premium.

Roku and Amazon also sell their own TVs, which can be solid deals during sales but are usually less competitive at full price compared to similarly priced alternatives.

For basic, no-frills TVs, budget brands like Onn, Insignia, and Toshiba are worth considering. They offer affordable HD and 4K sets and are best suited for casual viewing, secondary rooms, or tight budgets, especially when discounted during major sales events.

Do TVs offer good sound quality?

Generally speaking, TVs offer mediocre sound quality. To keep TVs thin and affordable, manufacturers use small speaker drivers, often positioned in areas that lead to poor performance. This results in poor sound quality, characterized by muddy dialogue, flat dynamics, and a lack of bass.

We recommend purchasing a soundbar or a full surround sound system to get the best sound quality with your TV. Check out our soundbar and speaker guides to see our top recommendations:

• Best soundbars
• Best budget soundbars
• Best Dolby Atmos soundbars
• Best soundbars with subwoofers
• Best Bose soundbars
• Best Sonos soundbars
• Best surround sound systems

For more details on the latest advancements in immersive surround sound technology, check out our guide to Dolby Atmos.

Can I watch free local channels on my TV?

Most TVs include integrated digital tuners that can receive free over-the-air broadcasts when paired with an antenna and a coaxial cable. Reliable digital antennas can cost as little as $20. Check out our guide to the best indoor TV antennas to see our top recommendations.

If you live in an area with poor antenna reception but still want an alternative to cable that provides access to popular channels, check out our guide to the best live TV streaming services.

Should I be worried about burn-in on my TV?

If you leave a static image on your TV for too long, some displays can suffer from burn-in. When burn-in occurs, a faint outline of an image permanently stays on your display. Thankfully, burn-in is rare on modern TVs, so most people don't need to worry about it. However, there are some considerations you should be aware of.

First and foremost, OLED is the only current TV technology prone to burn-in. Although LCD-based TVs, such as QLED and LED, are not 100% immune to burn-in, cases are so rare that they're not considered a significant risk. However, while OLED shoppers should be aware of this risk, all OLED TVs come with built-in features designed to prevent burn-in, including pixel-shift modes and pixel refreshers.

Websites like Rtings have done long-term burn-in tests with various OLED models. Although their results show that burn-in can technically occur on even top OLED TVs, their tests indicate that it's not a significant issue for people with regular viewing habits. Burn-in only happens in extreme situations, like if you just watch the same cable channel with the same logo at the bottom of the screen all day.

I had an LG CX OLED TV in my own home theater setup for over three years. I regularly streamed various services, watched cable TV, and played video games (with plenty of static elements), and the TV showed no signs of burn-in. Unless you plan to stay tuned to the same cable news channel 24/7, we don't think burn-in should be a factor when deciding between an OLED TV and another display type.