Buying a new TV can feel overwhelming with so many options available. Whether you want the best picture quality, smart features, or great value, this guide will help you find the perfect TV for your home. We'll cover everything from budget-friendly options to premium models that deliver amazing performance.
What's the Best TV to Buy?
The best TV to buy depends on your needs and budget. For most people, we recommend looking at these top performers:
Overall Best: Samsung S95F OLED is the best TV currently available. It offers a complete package of top-tier image quality, gaming features, and versatility.
Best Value: The LG C5 OLED is the best TV we've tested in 2025. It secured a perfect 5-star rating from our reviewer and the whole staff loves it.
Budget Pick: TCL and Hisense offer great smart TVs under $500 that deliver solid performance without breaking the bank.
When shopping for a TV, consider your room size, viewing distance, and what content you watch most. A 55-inch TV works well for most living rooms, while 65-inch or larger screens are perfect for bigger spaces or if you sit further back.
Key Features to Look For
Display Technology
OLED TVs provide the best picture quality with perfect blacks and bright colors. OLED sets do a great job of displaying the blackest parts of an image, so the deepest shadows can really look black, as in real life, rather than gray. These TVs cost more but offer premium viewing experiences.
QLED TVs use quantum dot technology to produce bright, colorful images. They're often more affordable than OLED while still delivering excellent picture quality.
LED/LCD TVs are the most budget-friendly option. Modern LED TVs offer good picture quality and smart features at lower prices.
Screen Size and Resolution
32-43 inches: Perfect for bedrooms or small apartments
50-55 inches: Great for most living rooms
65-75 inches: Ideal for large rooms or home theaters
85+ inches: Best for dedicated movie rooms
All TVs today should be 4K resolution minimum. This gives you four times more detail than older HD TVs and works great with streaming services, gaming, and movies.
Smart TV Features
Every modern TV includes smart features built-in. Look for these popular platforms:
Roku TV: Simple interface with thousands of apps
Android TV/Google TV: Great integration with Google services
Samsung Tizen: Fast performance with good app selection
LG webOS: User-friendly with magic remote control
Amazon Fire TV: Perfect if you use Amazon Prime Video often
Gaming Features
If you play video games, look for these features:
120Hz refresh rate for smooth gaming
Low input lag for responsive controls
HDMI 2.1 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X
Variable refresh rate (VRR) to prevent screen tearing
Best Smart TV for the Money
Smart TVs offer the best value because they combine great picture quality with streaming capabilities. You don't need separate devices like Roku or Apple TV.
Top Budget Smart TVs:
TCL 4-Series: Great Roku TV with solid picture quality starting around $300
Hisense A6G: Android TV with good performance under $400
LG UN7300: webOS smart platform with decent picture quality
Mid-Range Smart TVs:
Samsung QN90B: Excellent QLED with bright picture and gaming features
Sony X90K: Great processing with accurate colors
LG C2 OLED: Outstanding picture quality with smart webOS
What's the Best TV to Buy for the Money
Value means getting the most features and performance for your budget. Here are our top picks across different price ranges:
Under $400: The TCL 3-Series offers basic smart TV features with acceptable picture quality. It's perfect for bedrooms or secondary TVs where you want streaming apps without spending much.
$400-800: The Hisense U6H delivers impressive picture quality with local dimming, QLED technology, and Android TV. It competes with TVs costing twice as much.
$800-1500: Samsung QN90B Neo QLED provides premium picture quality, excellent gaming features, and bright HDR performance. It's perfect for well-lit rooms.
$1500+: LG C2 or C3 OLED TVs offer the best picture quality available. Perfect blacks, infinite contrast, and wide viewing angles make them ideal for movie lovers.
Top 10 TV Brands
Based on reliability, picture quality, and customer satisfaction, here are the top TV brands:
Samsung - Market leader with excellent QLED technology
LG - OLED pioneers with great smart TV platform
Sony - Superior picture processing and color accuracy
TCL - Best value with Roku TV integration
Hisense - Budget-friendly with improving quality
Panasonic - Premium OLED options returning to US market
Vizio - Good mid-range options with competitive pricing
Philips - European brand with unique Ambilight technology
Sharp - Reliable budget options
Roku - Smart TV platform now making their own TVs
Best TV in the World
For absolute best performance regardless of price, these TVs represent the pinnacle of technology:
Samsung S95D QD-OLED: Combines OLED's perfect blacks with quantum dot brightness. Samsung S95D OLED TV. While it impressed in all the ways you'd expect from one of the best OLED TVs, it was its relatively simple innovations that earned it high praise.
Sony A95L QD-OLED: Digital Trends named the Sony A95L QD-OLED as the best overall TV model available in 2025 — which you would want it to be for nearly $3,300 for a 65-inch option at Amazon. The outlet notes that this unit features tremendous color accuracy and brightness, image contrast, and great sound
LG G4 Gallery OLED: Ultra-thin design with mounting that sits flush against the wall like a piece of art.
These premium TVs cost $2000-4000+ but deliver unmatched picture quality, gaming performance, and smart features.
Best TV Brands
Premium Tier:
Samsung: Best overall brand with excellent QLED and OLED options
LG: OLED technology leaders with user-friendly smart platform
Sony: Superior processing for accurate, natural-looking pictures
Value Tier:
TCL: Incredible value with Roku TV and good picture quality
Hisense: Rapidly improving quality at budget-friendly prices
Vizio: Competitive features at reasonable prices
Specialty Brands:
Panasonic: Premium OLED TVs for discerning viewers
Philips: Unique Ambilight technology for immersive viewing
Worst TV Brands List
While we prefer focusing on good options, some brands consistently receive poor reviews:
Budget Brands to Avoid:
Element: Poor build quality and limited support
Sceptre: Unreliable with poor picture quality
Westinghouse: Inconsistent performance and features
Insignia: Basic Best Buy brand with limited capabilities
onn. (Walmart brand): Very basic features and quality
These brands might seem attractive due to low prices, but they often have poor picture quality, limited smart features, and reliability issues. If you are looking for the best budget tv, then we would recommend you to check out CL 3-Series LED Smart TV, Vizio D-Series 32-Inch 1080p Smart TV, Toshiba 32-Inch Smart HD TV, LG 24-Inch 720p LED Smart TV and Westinghouse 24-Inch Roku HD
Top 10 Smart TV Brands
Smart TV platforms make a huge difference in your daily experience. Here are the best smart TV brands:
Roku TV (TCL, Hisense) - Simple, fast interface with most apps
Samsung Tizen - Sleek design with good app selection
LG webOS - Magic remote and intuitive navigation
Sony Google TV - Excellent content recommendations
Amazon Fire TV - Great for Prime Video users
Android TV (Various brands) - Customizable with Google services
Apple TV integration - For iPhone/iPad users
Vizio SmartCast - Simple but effective
Panasonic My Home Screen - Clean, responsive interface
Philips Android TV - Full Google ecosystem integration
Best Buy Recommendations
Best Buy offers great TV deals and installation services. Here are their top sellers worth considering:
Budget Category:
Insignia Fire TV: Best Buy's brand with Amazon Fire TV built-in
TCL 4-Series: Reliable Roku TV with good picture quality
Hisense A6G: Android TV with solid performance
Mid-Range Category:
Samsung QN90B: Excellent QLED with gaming features
LG C2 OLED: Outstanding picture quality
Sony X90K: Great processing and motion handling
Premium Category:
Samsung S95D: Top-tier QD-OLED technology
LG G4 Gallery: Ultra-thin wall-mount design
Sony A95L: Premium QD-OLED with perfect processing
Best Buy also offers Geek Squad installation, extended warranties, and frequent sales events where you can save hundreds of dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size TV should I buy? For most people, 55-65 inches works well. Measure your viewing distance - you should sit about 1.5-2.5 times the screen width away for comfortable viewing.
Is OLED worth the extra cost? Yes, if picture quality matters most to you. OLED provides perfect blacks, excellent colors, and wide viewing angles. However, QLED TVs offer great performance at lower prices.
Do I need a 4K TV? Absolutely. All content is moving to 4K, and prices are now affordable. Don't buy anything less than 4K resolution in 2025.
What about 8K TVs? Skip 8K TVs for now. There's very little 8K content available, and 4K TVs provide excellent quality at better prices.
Should I buy a smart TV or use a streaming device? Buy a smart TV. Built-in smart features are convenient and work well. You can always add a streaming device later if needed.
How long do TVs last? Modern TVs typically last 7-10 years with normal use. LED TVs tend to last longer than OLED, which can experience some brightness reduction over many years.
What's the difference between HDR10 and Dolby Vision? Both improve picture quality, but Dolby Vision is slightly better. Most content uses HDR10, so either format works well.
Do I need HDMI 2.1? Yes, if you plan to game on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or want future-proofing. HDMI 2.1 enables 4K gaming at 120fps.
Conclusion
Choosing the best TV to buy comes down to balancing your budget, room size, and viewing preferences. For most people, a 55-inch QLED smart TV from Samsung, LG, or TCL provides excellent performance and value.
If picture quality is your top priority and budget isn't a concern, OLED TVs from LG or Samsung deliver the best viewing experience available. The LG C5 OLED is the best TV we've tested in 2025. It secured a perfect 5-star rating and represents excellent value in the premium category.
Budget-conscious buyers should consider TCL or Hisense smart TVs, which offer solid picture quality and streaming features at affordable prices. Avoid unknown brands and focus on established names that provide good customer support and regular software updates.
Remember that any quality TV you buy today will serve you well for many years. Focus on getting the right size for your room, ensure it has the smart TV platform you prefer, and choose a reputable brand. Whether you spend $400 or $4000, today's TVs offer amazing performance compared to just a few years ago.
The TV market continues evolving rapidly, but the brands and features covered in this guide will help you make a smart purchase that you'll enjoy for years to come. Take your time comparing options, read reviews, and don't forget to factor in installation and any additional accessories you might need.