The best 4K TVs of 2026, reviewed by experts

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

All 4K TVs deliver a sharp picture, but resolution alone doesn't guarantee a great-looking image. Contrast, color accuracy, and brightness play a huge role in how a TV performs, whether you're watching movies in a dark room or sports during the day. The best 4K TVs balance all these picture-quality elements while also delivering easy-to-use software.

I've been covering home entertainment gear for more than a decade, and I've reviewed a wide range of TVs firsthand. Together with my team, I put today's top models to the test to find the best 4K TVs that are actually worth buying. The Samsung S90F OLED earns my highest recommendation thanks to its stunning contrast, vibrant colors, and deep black levels. If you're shopping on a tighter budget, the TCL QM6K is a standout alternative. It doesn't get as bright as higher-end TVs, but it delivers some of the best picture quality you'll find at its price.

I've also included options from brands like LG and Roku, with picks tailored toward midrange budgets, as well as buyers who prioritize a simple smart TV interface or an anti-reflective screen. All of my picks are available in multiple sizes, so be sure to select your preferred size from Amazon's listings. Several extra-large options are even on sale for the Super Bowl, including the 98-inch QM7K.

Our top picks for the best 4K TVs

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

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

Best midrange OLED: LG C5 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best anti-glare display: Samsung S95F 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best smart TV system: Roku Pro Series 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best mid-tier QLED: TCL QM7K 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best overall

The Samsung S90F offers an impressive balance between picture quality and price. The 55-, 65-, and 77-inch sizes use an OLED panel with quantum dots, delivering an infinite contrast ratio, vibrant colors, and brightness that outshines midrange OLEDs from LG and Sony.

Thanks to OLED tech, the S90F produces pixel-level contrast control and wide viewing angles, while its quantum dots boost color intensity beyond what you’d get from a standard OLED. In rooms with ambient light, the TV's black levels do rise slightly, but the effect is subtle and rarely distracting. In dark rooms, black levels completely disappear, offering inky shadows while still preserving detail.

Brightness is another highlight: our reviewer measured a peak of 1,460 nits, about 200 nits higher than the older S90D model. That makes the S90F ideal for both dark home theaters and well-lit living rooms. HDR content — whether from 4K Blu-rays or streamed on services like Prime Video and Disney Plus — looks stunning in HDR10 and HDR10+.

Samsung’s smart TV platform is also a solid performer. You’ll find all major apps, along with Alexa and Bixby voice control. The interface is also slightly faster and smoother on the latest Samsung models than it was on older TVs, which were more prone to lag.

Gamers will appreciate the S90F's built-in Gaming Hub, which supports cloud platforms like Xbox Game Pass, enabling you to stream Xbox games directly to your TV. If you pair the TV with a gaming PC, you can unlock a refresh rate of up to 144Hz for silky motion.

The S90F's only notable drawback is its lack of Dolby Vision support, which is considered the most accurate HDR format. However, the benefits of Dolby Vision are subtle on a TV in this class, so this omission is far from a dealbreaker. Check out my HDR TV guide for more on format differences.

At deal prices as low as $1,400 for the 65-inch model, the S90F isn’t just the best 4K TV for the money — it’s one of the best TVs, period.

Check out our Samsung S90F 4K TV review.

Visit our guides to the best Samsung TVs and best gaming TVs.

Note: The 42-, 48-, and 83-inch S90D models don't incorporate quantum dots, so their color volume can't match that of other sizes.

Best on a budget

TCL's QM6K is the budget 4K TV to beat. This affordable Mini LED display offers picture-quality features that most similarly priced competitors cut to save costs. Though its launch price was a little high, recent discounts have made it an incredible value.

The QM6K features a QLED panel with Mini LED local dimming, delivering higher contrast and a wider color gamut than most TVs in this price range. Black levels are also solid, and the QM6K has excellent blooming control, which reduces halos around bright objects. Blooming is a common flaw on Mini LED TVs, but this model handles it extremely well.

However, the TV's black levels aren't quite as deep as I've seen on pricier QLED models. Brightness is decent, but also somewhat limited compared to more expensive TVs. With the display set to its most accurate picture mode, I measured a peak of 557 nits on a 10% HDR test pattern and about 736 nits on a 50% HDR test pattern. Those numbers are good for a TV in this class, but HDR content doesn't pop as intensely as it does on brighter displays. Viewing angles are also limited, but actually a bit better than those of previous TCL models in this tier, such as the older Q65.

Another upgrade over the Q65 is the TV's refresh rate. The QM6K is now one of the most affordable 144Hz TVs on the market. This means the panel can display 4K/144Hz signals from a gaming PC or 4K/120Hz signals from a PS5 or Xbox Series X, allowing for smoother motion when playing compatible games.

I also appreciate the QM6K's Google TV interface, which is well-organized and runs smoothly, with no major issues. Past TCL models I've reviewed have been prone to minor glitches here and there, but I didn't encounter any major software issues during several weeks of testing the QM6K.

If you want to enter the world of 4K HDR TVs without spending too much, the TCL QM6K is a perfect starting point. It's budget-friendly without sacrificing the key features that make an HDR TV worth owning.

Check out our TCL QM6K 4K TV review.

For more affordable display recommendations, check out our guides to the best budget TVs and best TVs under $500.

Best midrange OLED

The LG C5 is an outstanding midrange OLED and a close runner-up for the best 4K TV overall. While Samsung's S90F edges it out in a few key areas, the C5 is a terrific alternative for anyone who prefers LG's approach to design, features, and software.

Unlike many Samsung OLEDs, the C5 doesn't use quantum dots to boost brightness or color volume, but it still delivers excellent picture quality. With its standard WOLED panel, you still get an infinite contrast ratio and deep black levels that make movie nights in dark rooms look spectacular.

The C5 also offers wide viewing angles, ensuring colors and contrast remain consistent even when viewed from off-center positions. Our reviewer measured a peak brightness of around 1,175 nits, which is a decent 200-nit bump from the older C4. However, the C5 can't quite match the 1,400+ nits of Samsung's S90F.

One area where the C5 pulls ahead, though, is Dolby Vision support — something the S90F lacks. Dolby Vision is considered the most accurate HDR format, as it allows for more fine-tuned color and contrast adjustments, ensuring the content you watch better matches your TV's capabilities. However, Dolby Vision's benefits are often subtle, so I consider it more of a nice bonus than a must-have feature for a TV in this class.

LG's webOS smart platform remains easy to use, with all the big streaming apps you'd expect. I don't love the placement of sponsored shopping recommendations on the homepage, but you can disable them if you prefer. LG's Magic Remote lets you control the TV with traditional button presses or point-and-click motion controls, and this latest design is smaller and more comfortable to hold than older versions. I do miss the dedicated input button, though, which presents a slight step backward in an otherwise good redesign.

Although Samsung's S90F delivers slightly better picture performance for the price, the C5 holds its own, especially if you prefer the LG brand or value Dolby Vision support.

Check out our LG C5 4K TV review.

Check out our guide to the best LG TVs.

Best anti-glare display

Samsung's S95F stands out as one of the brightest OLED TVs I've ever tested, and it pairs that impressive brightness with an anti-glare matte screen that tackles reflections better than any other model in this guide. Together, these features make it a top choice for anyone with lots of windows in their room.

In Filmmaker Mode — the TV's most accurate picture preset — I measured a peak brightness of 2,170 nits, the second-highest result I've ever recorded on an OLED, just behind the LG G5. That results in stunning HDR10 and HDR10+ performance, featuring bold colors, punchy highlights, and ample flexibility to fine-tune brightness for optimal daylight viewing.

Unlike most TVs that use glossy panels, the S95F's matte screen nearly eliminates glare and reflections. It's a genuine game changer for sports fans or anyone who watches TV in bright rooms during the day. However, that advantage comes with one trade-off: when hit by light, the matte finish lifts black levels, giving them a more gray, hazy appearance. In a dark room, though, the S95F still delivers the deep black levels and perfect contrast OLEDs are known for.

Whether this screen style suits you depends on your viewing habits. But if you want a display that almost completely eliminates reflections and delivers high-end image quality, this set offers terrific value.

Check out our Samsung S95F 4K TV review.

Best smart TV system

The Roku Pro Series is an excellent 4K TV for anyone seeking a straightforward and simple smart TV experience. The display is one of the few QLEDs in the upper-midrange class to come with Roku OS (operating system) built in. Roku OS is my favorite interface thanks to its streamlined navigation and reliable performance.

Our reviewer tested the 2024 first-generation Pro Series model, but Roku has since released a slightly refreshed version of the TV. The newer Pro Series offers a modest bump in brightness performance but is otherwise very similar to its predecessor. Since the original model is hard to find in stock, the second-generation Pro Series is the better buy.

Roku's home screen is all about simplicity. Instead of pushing content recommendations the moment you turn on the TV, it centers on apps, featuring large icons for every streaming service you want, which you can rearrange however you like. If you do want suggestions, they're easy to find in the optional "What to Watch" section on the sidebar. It's a cleaner, less cluttered approach than platforms like Fire TV OS.

Setup is refreshingly painless, too. The TV's feet attach without any tools thanks to built-in knobs, and you can choose between a low or raised position depending on whether you plan to use a soundbar.

Roku's remote is another highlight. It's rechargeable over USB, so you don't have to worry about replacing batteries, and the buttons are backlit for easy use in a dark room. You also get hands-free voice search with a wake word, though there's a physical switch to disable it if you prefer pressing a button instead. One especially nice touch is the lost remote finder, which plays a chime if the remote goes missing.

As for picture quality, the Roku Pro Series delivers solid performance. Its QLED panel features a Mini LED backlight with local dimming, delivering vibrant colors and strong HDR contrast. However, viewing angles aren't as good as OLED TVs or higher-end Samsung QLEDs, and its processing and peak brightness fall a bit short of top competitors like the TCL QM8K. Still, image quality is more than good enough for most living rooms.

Taken as a whole, the Roku Pro Series stands out for combining an easy-to-use smart TV experience with premium features like Mini LEDs and quantum dots, making it a well-rounded pick for buyers who value simplicity without sacrificing picture quality.

Check out our Roku Pro Series 4K TV review (first-gen model).

Visit our guides to all the best smart TVs and best Roku TVs.

Best mid-tier QLED

The TCL QM7K is the company's best midrange QLED, and it easily ranks among the top performers in its price bracket.

Similar to TCL's more budget-friendly QM6K, the QM7K uses a Mini LED backlight with local dimming zones and quantum dots. It also supports a refresh rate of up to 144Hz and runs Google TV, providing fast, intuitive access to a wide range of streaming apps. Where the QM7K really distinguishes itself from the QM6K, though, is in its brightness performance.

While testing the QM7K, I measured a peak brightness of about 1,800 nits on a 10% HDR window — more than double that of the QM6K. This gives HDR highlights, such as glinting reflections or fiery explosions, an extra pop. While that figure isn't drastically higher than the older QM7, the new model introduces other improvements that make a bigger difference in day-to-day viewing.

Notably, TCL has refined the TV's backlight control system, resulting in improved overall contrast. The light blooming and brightness inconsistencies that occasionally showed up on the older QM7 have been nearly eliminated. Bright objects now maintain crisp edges, even against dark backgrounds, and the enhanced viewing angles mean the picture holds up better when you're not seated directly in front of it. You'll still see some color and contrast loss at extreme angles, but it's a noticeable improvement over the prior model.

Black levels are still a notch below those of higher-end QLEDs or OLED displays, since the backlight can't achieve the same pixel-level control. Even so, the QM7K delivers excellent overall performance for the money. At a typical sale price of under $1,000 for the 65-inch model, this is one of the brightest QLED TVs in its class. Even the extra-large 98-inch model is often on sale at an excellent price, making it an especially good Super Bowl TV.

Visit our guide to the top sports TVs.

How we test 4K TVs

When we test the best 4K TVs, we stick to what really matters day to day: picture clarity, HDR performance, color, contrast, viewing angles, smart features, gaming performance, and overall value. We've been reviewing tech for more than a decade, and that experience shapes how we evaluate every TV that comes through our testing setup.

We start with objective measurements, using professional meters and the "Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark" 4K Blu-ray to check brightness and color accuracy. But numbers only tell part of the story. To see how a TV actually performs in real life, we spend a lot of time watching actual movies, shows, and live content.

Our testing includes a hand-picked set of scenes designed to push each TV's strengths and weaknesses, from deep black levels and bright HDR highlights to accurate colors and fine detail. We watch content in native 4K, HD, and even standard definition, using cable, Blu-ray players, and all the best streaming services. We also test in different lighting conditions, whether that's a completely dark room for movie nights or a bright space with sunlight streaming in, to see how well each TV handles reflections and daytime viewing.

Smart TV features get just as much attention. We time how quickly apps load, check how smooth and responsive the menus feel, and test voice search and digital assistant support to see how easy the TV is to live with every day.

For a deeper look at our process, check out our full breakdown of how we review tech products.

4K TV FAQs

What are the best 4K TV brands?

When it comes to the best 4K TV brands, a few big names consistently stand out. LG, Samsung, Sony, and Panasonic are widely considered the top-tier players. Their TVs tend to cost more, but you're paying for cutting-edge display tech, polished designs, and generally strong quality control. If you're shopping for a premium TV, the flagship models from these brands are usually safe bets.

If you're aiming for strong performance without the premium price tag, brands like TCL and Hisense are hard to beat. These companies dominate the midrange and value segments, often packing in advanced features like quantum dots and Mini LED backlighting at much lower prices. Build quality can vary compared to pricier brands, but for most shoppers, the value here is excellent.

Amazon and Roku also offer capable entry-level and midrange TVs under their own brands. Their higher-end models are worth considering when discounted during major sales events like Black Friday, though you'll often find better overall picture quality for the money from TCL or Hisense.

At the budget end of the spectrum, brands such as Onn, Toshiba, and Insignia focus on affordable 4K TVs that run Roku TV or Amazon Fire TV. These sets are pretty bare-bones, but they get the job done for casual viewing. We usually suggest spending a little more for one of our top picks if you can, but if you just want an inexpensive TV for casual use, these brands are perfectly serviceable.

When will 2026 4K TV models be available?

New 4K TV models were unveiled at the CES tech show in January. Notable displays set for release later this year include the new Samsung S90H, Samsung S95H, and LG C6, all of which serve as 2026 successors to picks in this guide. However, most new sets won't actually hit stores until spring. We'll review 2026 4K TVs for consideration in this guide once they're available. You can learn more about new 4K TV models in our CES 2026 TV roundup.

That said, shoppers should keep in mind that 2025 TV models will likely remain in stock for most of the year. And since they'll be cheaper than their 2026 counterparts, we'll continue to recommend 2025 models while they remain the best value.

What size 4K TV should you get?

The right 4K TV size mostly depends on your room, how far you'll sit from the screen, and your budget. Bigger TVs cost more, and you'll need enough wall or stand space to make the size work comfortably.

TVs range from small 24-inch models to massive 100-plus-inch screens, but brands usually reserve their best picture quality and design upgrades for larger sizes. As a general rule, solid midrange features start around 50 inches, while premium tech is more common at 55 inches and up.

For most people, 65 inches is the sweet spot. It's the size many brands use for their flagship models, and it delivers a cinematic feel without taking over the room — or your wallet.

If space and price aren't limiting factors, viewing distance matters most. You'll get the full benefit of 4K resolution when you sit about one to 1.5 times the screen size away. For example, a 65-inch TV looks best at roughly 5.5 to eight feet. Charts from retailers like Crutchfield can help you dial in the right size for your setup.

For 4K TV recommendations tied to certain sizes, check out our size-specific guides:

• 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

What are the best smart TV interfaces?

Practically any new 4K TV you buy will be a smart TV, meaning it supports popular apps and streaming services. However, different companies use different smart TV interfaces. Here's a rundown of the different platforms that each brand uses.

• Tizen: Samsung
• webOS: LG
• Vizio OS: Vizio
• Google TV: Sony, TCL, Hisense
• Roku TV: Roku, TCL, Hisense, Onn
• Fire TV: Amazon, Panasonic, Toshiba, Insignia, Pioneer, Hisense

Though a few services may be missing here and there, all major streaming apps are supported across every operating system. However, each system's navigation style, personalization options, and extra features differ.

We prefer Roku's interface because it is the simplest, most user-friendly, and most reliable. However, its visual style is a bit outdated compared to other options that present a more content-focused approach. Ultimately, every system has pros and cons, but they all get the job done.

If you're unhappy with your TV's built-in interface, you can purchase a separate streaming device with your preferred platform. Roku and Fire TV options are often sold for as low as $20. Check out our guides to the best streaming devices and best Fire TVs for more details.

What's the difference between OLED and QLED?

OLED and QLED TVs are two of the most popular display types on the market, each with its own pros and cons.

OLED TVs have self-illuminating screens. This means they can dim and brighten each pixel to create an infinite contrast ratio. This makes OLED the ideal choice for individuals who seek the ultimate image quality, particularly if you enjoy watching movies in a dark home theater.

QLED TVs, meanwhile, are a type of LED TV that uses older LCD panel technology and requires a backlight to illuminate its pixels. These backlights can include multiple zones to brighten and dim specific areas, but even the most advanced QLED models can't match OLEDs' pixel-level contrast. This can cause an uneven look in dark scenes, where halos appear around bright objects or black levels appear washed out, looking gray.

Where QLED TVs have an edge, however, is with max brightness. Midrange and high-end QLED TVs can get brighter than most OLEDs. QLED models are also generally less expensive than OLED TVs and pose no risk of burn-in. For more details on the differences between each panel type, check out our QLED vs. OLED comparison.

Are 8K TVs worth it?

The benefits of 8K over 4K are extremely subtle and hard to notice unless you sit close to a very large TV (75 inches or more). It's also important to remember that 8K content is rare, as virtually all movies and TV shows are still produced in 4K or even lower resolutions. Although 8K TVs can upscale 4K content to produce a slightly sharper image, the picture quality upgrade is too small to justify the premium that 8K TVs cost. As it stands, we recommend 4K TVs over pricier 8K models.

What is burn-in?

Even the best OLED TVs are technically susceptible to a phenomenon known as burn-in. If a static image — the CNN or ESPN logo in the corner, for example — is left on the screen for hours on end, a faint, ghostly image can become stuck on the TV.

Though OLED owners should be aware of this risk, OLED TVs have built-in measures to prevent burn-in, including pixel refreshers and pixel shift modes. Publications like Rtings have conducted long-term tests with OLEDs, and while their results indicate that burn-in is possible, the tests suggest that individuals with regular viewing habits don't need to worry about it.

I owned an LG CX OLED TV for over three years, and the display has no signs of burn-in. Though burn-in is something that QLED TV owners don't have to think twice about, in my experience, as long as you don't plan on watching CNN all day, burn-in shouldn't be a factor when deciding whether to buy an OLED.

What is HDMI 2.1?

Many 4K TVs in the mid- and premium tiers now include one or more HDMI 2.1 inputs. HDMI 2.1 supports 4K at 120Hz (some brands even support 144Hz with a PC), along with features such as variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM), to deliver smooth gaming with reduced lag.

Every device in your home entertainment chain needs to be compatible with the HDMI 2.1 specification to enable its features. Therefore, if you have a gaming console connected to a soundbar that's connected to your TV, all three components must support HDMI 2.1. Likewise, you need to use ultra-high-speed HDMI cables rated for 48Gbps to support the bandwidth required for an HDMI 2.1 signal. Visit our guide to the best HDMI cables for affordable recommendations.