It's never easy deciding a definitive list of the best TVs in Australia, simply because there are so many fantastic options to choose from. What's more, there are fantastic models to suit all budgets, and it's true you really can get a highly capable model for not a lot of money.
Naturally, you can spend thousands of dollars on a premium screen if you must have the creme de la creme of current picture quality and features.
And that's why I hope that this guide will help you find the best TV to fit your budget, as my recommendations are based on hours upon hours of real-world testing and comparison by the global TechRadar team of expert TV reviewers. In short, if it's on this list, then it really does represent the absolute pinnacle of what you can currently buy, whilst providing excellent value.
I'm confident you'll find a TV to suit your home and needs in this list – if you don't see something you like, we may still have tested it, but I believe the models I've selected offer the best overall value in their respective categories.
If you're looking for something specific, be sure to check out our guides to the best gaming TVs, best mini-LED TVs, or the best OLED TVs. Alternatively, if you know you want a truly big screen, check out my guide to the best 75-inch TVs in Australia.
The best TVs in Australia 2026
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It's never easy deciding a definitive list of the best TVs in Australia, simply because there are so many fantastic options to choose from. What's more, there are fantastic models to suit all budgets, and it's true you really can get a highly capable model for not a lot of money.
Naturally, you can spend thousands of dollars on a premium screen if you must have the creme de la creme of current picture quality and features.
And that's why I hope that this guide will help you find the best TV to fit your budget, as my recommendations are based on hours upon hours of real-world testing and comparison by the global TechRadar team of expert TV reviewers. In short, if it's on this list, then it really does represent the absolute pinnacle of what you can currently buy, whilst providing excellent value.
I'm confident you'll find a TV to suit your home and needs in this list – if you don't see something you like, we may still have tested it, but I believe the models I've selected offer the best overall value in their respective categories.
The best TVs in Australia 2026
The best TV overall
If you're not loyal to any particular brand, or you simply want to know which TV is going to give you the best return on your investment, no matter which screen size you opt for, the LG C6 is the one for you.
In 2026, things are a little different for LG's mid-range OLED screen, in the fact that the larger 77-inch and 83-inch models use the same panel as the flagship G6. The rest of the range gets a standard WOLED panel, but is still backed by the same Alpha 11 AI Gen 3 processor as found in the G6. The results speak for themselves, and if you can find one with a discount (which isn't entirely unheard of), there's nothing better right now.
We found from our testing that the LG C6 delivers a superb picture, including accurate, punchy colours, strong contrast and beautiful, natural textures. It benefits from a brightness upgrade over its predecessor, that not only makes images visually more appealing, but allows for superb reproduction of HDR content.
In our benchmarking tests, the C6 hit 1,438 nits peak HDR brightness (measured on a 10% white window pattern) in Filmmaker Mode, representing a sizeable boost over its predecessor. It was a similar story for fullscreen brightness too — the C6 managed a 25% increase over the C5, hitting 245 nits
Subtle detail retrieval is impressive too — it's able to show every strand of hair on someone's head, or every flower in a tree, for example. While many TVs can deliver a subjectively good picture, the C6 takes things further with the nuances.
It performs as its brilliant best when given 4K content, but the LG C6 also does a remarkable job of upscaling HD and SD content, while also putting on an impressive showing with SDR content too. Put simply, whatever you want to watch, it will be shown
As with many OLED TVs that sport a glossy screen, the C6 can struggle with reflections in brighter rooms, especially when a darker scene is on show. Turn the lights down however and I can't imagine anyone will be disappointed by what they see.
The LG C6 employs a 2.2-channel built-in speaker system that support Dolby Atmos.
The AI Sound Pro mode does a god job of linking what's on screen with the sound, and there's a good amount of detail in the mid-range. Bass, too, is decent for such a slim TV.
However, there's no support for DTS soundtracks and the Cinema surround mode has been dropped, which is a little disappointing.
The LG C6, like all LG TVs, offers best-in-glass gaming performance and features. It supports 4K gaming at up to 165Hz (for PC gamers), variable refresh rate (VRR), auto low-latency mode (ALLM) and Dolby Vision gaming across all four of its HDMI 2.1 ports.
Input lag is low, we measured 9.2ms (4K 60Hz) in our benchmarking tests.
The LG C6 is undeniably a good-looking TV. It exudes premium thanks to its bezel-less screen and silver metal trim. All sizes except for the smallest 42-inch come with a central pedestal stand, which not only looks great and can give the TV a 'floating' look, but makes it easy to place on entertainment units. If the 42-inch model isn't wall-mounted, then just be aware that the feet are installed towards the TV's outer edges.
On the subject of screen size, the LG C6 is available in sizes from 42-inch all the way up to a huge 83-inch, meaning there's a model for every room, preference and budget.
LG's webOS TV platform has impressed us for as many years as we can remember, and the latest iteration, webOS 26, is easily the best yet. Apps are clearly laid out, and you can move them around so that your most-used ones are always within easy reach.
Quick Cards can be useful if you have a lot of apps installed too, as they provide quick access to categories such as Music and Game. There are now dedicated options for Office and Learning, with the former turning your TV into a monitor for home working, if you'd like.
General navigation is quick, and all of the TV's settings are logically laid out. Of course, AI is onboard, not only for answering queries relating to the TV, but to create images too.
LG C6 test results
The best mid-range TV
If you want a top-performing TV without spending flagship-levels of money, the Sony Bravia 5 is a superb choice. It was released in 2025, but remains on sale and is relatively easy to find at Australian retailers. While you can find more affordable models from the likes of TCL and Hisense, the Bravia 5's performance is so strong that I simply had to include it here.
Perhaps the clearest indicator as to why the Bravia 5 earns a spot on this list is because it has a lot more in common with the Sony's flagship TVs than it does its more affordable models. In our review, tester John Archer highlighted the contrast, saying "Particularly great to see is how much contrast the Bravia 5 retains for this level of Sony’s range". He also noted that blacks were deep, with minimal backlight blooming.
These deep blacks, combined with the XR Processor's ability to handle bright peaks for sustained periods, allows the Bravia 5 to be a dab hand with HDR content, and one of the clear standouts in its price bracket.
The TV's Vivid picture mode should be avoided, as it pushes colours to the wrong side of extreme, but Standard and Professional are very pleasant and perfectly show off what the TV is capable of. And any minor image issues can be fixed with some tweaks within the settings.
It's truly a wonderful TV.
The Sony Bravia 5 sounds "impressively expressive and clean", according to our review. Higher frequencies are kept under control and don't sound thin or brittle, while mids are clean and expansive.
We also found the soundstage in general is surprisingly expansive, and accurately tracks the action on screen. Bass levels could use improvement, but this is a trait shared by most other TVs.
As with most other models, I'd recommend adding a soundbar for a more elevated audio experience.
The Sony Bravia 5 is a good, but not great, gaming TV. Firstly, as is the case with virtually all Sony TVs, only two of its four HDMI inputs support full 4K 120Hz. Further, refresh rate support maxes out at 120Hz, as opposed to 144Hz or 165Hz suitable for PC gaming.
And while it does support variable refresh rates, it doesn't support AMD Freesync or Nvidia G-Sync. It does, however, get auto low latency mode (ALLM), so will switch to the fastest-responding picture mode when a gaming source is detected. In our tests, we measured 13.3ms input lag for 4K 60Hz.
As should be expected, the Bravia 5 supports Perfect For PlayStation 5 features, including a PS5-specific version of automatic game mode switching, and automatic HDR optimisation.
The Bravia 5 is a pretty inoffensive-looking TV. It rocks a narrow frame so as not to distract from the picture, and it's relatively slim, making it easy to wall mount if you wish.
If you're placing it on an entertainment unit, then you'll be pleased to know you can attach the feet either at either end or towards to the centre of the screen, meaning the width of the unit needn't matter.
Sony uses Google TV as its operating system of choice, which means you get access to a huge range of apps and services, including all of the most-popular options such as Netflix, Apple TV, HBO Max, Disney+ et al.
In our time with the Sony Bravia 5, the OS was responsive and simple to navigate, although I hasten to add that there are multiple banner ads at the top of the home screen. As a result, the content you actually want to get access to is pushed down a bit, so you will have to scroll every time you want to use it.
Sony Bravia 5 test results
The best premium OLED
If you want one of the best-quality pictures available in a TV right now, you can't look past the LG G6 OLED. It's simply fantastic, serving up a sumptuous picture and an unbeatable gaming performance. It also holds up remarkably well in brighter conditions. The Samsung S95H also makes a strong case for this spot, but for me, the LG G6 is the clear winner.
The LG G6 adopts a new Primary RGB Tandem 2.0 OLED panel, bringing with it higher brightness and better reflection handling. In practice, it really does work, as we measured 2,471 nits HDR peak brightness in Filmmaker Mode and 2,454 nits in Standard mode. That latter figure is particularly noteworthy, as it's a huge 604 nits increase over the G5.
Surprisingly, however, colours don't look as 'bright' on the new model, but this is entirely deliberate and in no way a bad thing. Colours are simply superb and easily the G6's greatest strength — they're rich and punchy, yet accurate and real-to-life.
Contrast is, of course, also a strength, given it's an OLED TV. Dark areas of an image can go seriously dark, and completely black when necessary, giving brighter sections the ability to really pop from the screen.
There's yet more good news where motion handling, shadow detail and black retention are concerned, all which is revealed in detail in our LG G6 review. In short, it's unrivalled in my opinion.
The G6's audio performance doesn't quite match its picture-quality capabilities, but it's respectable nonetheless. It sports a 4.2-channel speaker array, but an AI Sound Pro mode virtually upmixes output to an 11.1.2-channel configuration.
Thankfully LG has made improvements to this mode, as it's also gotten rid of the Cinema mode for this year's model. Those improvements see it delivering a more direct, bassier sound compared to the G5, and it does a great job replaying mid-range frequencies.
It's not the widest soundstage ever though, and you'll find a more immersive performance from the likes of Sony, or, of course, a soundbar.
It's impossible to find any fault with the LG G6's gaming performance, it's simply superb. All four of its HDMI 2.1 ports supports 4K 165Hz, VRR, AMD FreeSync, Nvidia G-Sync, HGiG, Dolby Vision Gaming and ALLM. It can, quite literally, do it all.
LG's Game Optimiser menu is one of the best in the business, giving players access to quick settings to make tweaks during gameplay. We also recorded an incredibly low input lag of just 8.9ms.
And of course, you're getting that gorgeous display to show off your games. They benefit from rich contrast, bold colours and crisp detail — as our reviewer James Davidson said, "the G6 has set the bar for a gaming TV in 2026".
The LG G6 looks every bit the premium TV, thanks to a metal frame that not only looks good, but feels solid too. A heavy metal pedestal stand can be placed at two heights to accommodate soundbars, and it benefits from a cable-tidy option on the rear to keep everything looking clean.
The G6 also comes with a slim-fit wall-mount in the box, should you want to hang it on the wall. The screen itself is near-bezelless, which only adds to its premium nature.
The Magic Remote continues to adopt a more minimalistic style in 2026, but thankfully LG has added a customisable 'favourite' button, that can be assigned to be an input select, saving you from heading to the main home screen first to change inputs — something that annoyed me greatly with the G5.
LG's webOS smart TV platform has always been one of the best on the market and its latest iteration, webOS 26, adds useful AI tools, such as AI Search and AI Concierge, to make browsing for movies and TV shows even easier. We've already spoken about how much we love webOS' Quick Cards and Quick Menu and these are still as excellent as ever. webOS really is the peak of smart TV interfaces.
LG G6 test results
The best cheap OLED
It might not come as too much of a shock to learn that I think the LG B6 is the best OLED TV for anyone without the budget to get either the mid-range C6 or the flagship G6. Don't for one second think that spending less gets you a lesser TV though, as the B6 does more than enough to advertise the picture benefits of OLED technology as its higher-specced siblings.
The LG B6 might not get the insane brightness levels of its higher-spec siblings, but most importantly, it does introduce a significant brightness boost over its B5 predecessor. We measured 835 nits in Filmmaker Mode, 895 nits in Cinema mode and 740 nits in Standard mode — big jumps over the B5’s 668 nits in Cinema mode and 637 nits in Standard mode.
As expected due to the nature of OLED technology, the LG B6 exhibits strong contrast, along with bold, rich colours. There's great colour depth too, resulting in images looked detailed and crisp.
We did, however, experience a strange green tint to some images during our testing. Our tester James Davidson said of a scene from Dark City, "was the first to tip me off on a potential issue with the B6: green tint. The yellow walls of the automat seemed to have a green hue on them on both the B6 and B5, but it was more noticeable on the new model". We can't be 100% sure it's a widespread issue, and we could have received a slightly faulty unit — there's also the potential that it's been fixed with a firmware update.
And, because the B6 doesn't benefit from exceedingly high brightness levels, it can fall foul to mirror-like reflections, especially in darker scenes. If you have the lights turned off and/or view in a dark room, this becomes a non-issue.
You'll want to manage your expectations when it comes to the B6's audio performance. It employs a 2.0-channel system delivering just 20W of power, and LG says it's capable of supporting Dolby Atmos soundtracks. Like all recent LG TVs, DTS isn't supported.
It's not entirely bad news, when we watched the Batmobile chase scene from The Batman, the LG B6's speaker system did a great job at accurately tracking the action, including bullet sprays from Penguin's gun. Speech is clear too, which is a major plus point.
Its limited channel count and power output do, however, mean that bass levels are low and the soundstage is narrow on the whole. This is a TV I really would recommend partnering with a soundbar.
While it's audio performance isn't a particularly positive aspect, the same can't be said of the B6's gaming credentials. Like other LG TVs, it offers a full suite of features that will satisfy plenty of gamer types.
All four of its HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K 120Hz, variable refresh rate including both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync, HGiG HDR, auto low latency mode, and Dolby Vision Gaming.
We measured a low input lag time of 8.9ms at 4K 60Hz (albeit in Boost most) and 4.9ms at 1080p 120Hz, which is simply excellent. Given the fact the LG B6 is available in smaller screen sizes, it presents itself as a great gaming TV for smaller rooms.
I'm pleased to report that the LG B6, despite being the most affordable OLED in the company's lineup, is built to a high standard. It looks just as premium as its siblings, thanks to a metal frame and near-bezelless display.
It also gains the same Magic Remote as the C6 and G6, which, while plastic, is easy to use with logical button layouts.
The only slight negative with the LG B6's design is that the feet — which attach toward the outer edge on all sizes — are plastic, and were metal with the previous model. It does remove some of the premium feeling of the TV. Of course, if you wall-mount it, this becomes less of an issue.
Once again, there's little to complain about with the LG B6's smart menu system. It also gets webOS 26, resulting in an identical experience to the LG C6 and G6.
The Quick Menu, where picture and sound modes can be altered super-quickly without getting deep into menus, continues to be one of the webOS’ standout features.
LG B6 test results
The best TV for sound
If you want to avoid having to get a soundbar or full-fat sound system to be able to hear your TV properly, then Sony has found a rather genius solution. The company is, in my opinion, one of only a handful of TV manufacturers to place a strong focus on built-in sound quality via a technology it calls Acoustic Surface Audio+ that utilises the screen itself to act as a speaker – it physically vibrates to produce sound with stunning results.
In short, it's the best TV for sound, but thankfully it also performs well in other areas too.
The Sony Bravia 8 II produces a stunning image, make no mistake. The reason I've knocked half a point off is simply because it doesn't go as bright as its main competitors, which can prove detrimental if you're viewing in especially bright conditions. This is despite there being an anti-reflective coating applied.
With that beig said, if you view in dimly-lit conditions, the image is outstanding. It's punchy, highlights pierce through and blacks are ink deep. Our reviewer appreciated being able to tweak picture settings to improve black levels, bringing out more detail.
Upscaling is particularly strong, owing to Sony's excellent processing technology. Our tester, James Davidson, said "Streaming an episode of the detective show Columbo from the 1980s, the picture looked impressively solid and clean, and I could even make out textures in the mullet haircuts of guests in a wedding scene."
The Sony Bravia 8 II claims the spot for the best TV for sound for a clear reason — Acoustic Surface Audio+. This clever technology sees the screen itself act a speaker, physically vibrating to produce sound. It's not the only Sony TV to use the tech, but combined with its excellent OLED picture, it's my top pick.
In our testing we found objects were placed accurately in the soundfield produced and because the sound comes from the screen itself, it is much more immersive than virtually all other TV sound systems. As our tester said in our review, "dialogue in movies like Civil War sounded clear and well-defined on the Bravia 8 II, and the Voice Zoom 3 feature helped to elevate voices in battle scenes with lots of background noise."
As you might expect from Sony, the Bravia 8 II has the PS5 front of mind and will automatically adjust picture settings when it detects one is connected via Auto HDR Tone Mapping. A dedicated Game Menu lets you quickly adjust further settings if you wish.
The slight downside is that Sony has continued to integrate just two HDMI 2.1 inputs. If you don't need to connect multiple external devices, this may not be an issue, but it's something to be aware of if you do.
The Bravia 8 II is very much a premium-looking TV, which adopts what Sony calls a Slim One Slate design. This refers to the fact the screen is practically bezel-free, while a textured back panel adds a touch of design flare — even if you're unlikely to ever really see it.
It uses aluminium feet, which you can place either at the edges of the display, or in a more centralised position. They can also be set to two heights to help accommodate a soundbar sitting ion front. It's a nice, considered touch that I appreciate.
Connections are located in a side-mounted side panel to make them as easy to access as possible, and covers ensure that everything looks clean and tidy.
Sony uses Google TV as its operating system of choice, and it's implemented well, with a row of apps along the bottom of the home screen. Tabs at the top of the home screen provide access to Live TV and Sony screens, including the company's Pictures Core streaming service and operating instructions.
Accessing settings menus is pain-free, and the amount of personalisation and available adjustments is extensive.
Sony Bravia 8 II test results
The best RGB mini-LED TV
RGB LED technology is the latest buzzword in TV town, and we've seen options from all the biggest brands, including TCL, Hisense, LG and Samsung. Sony, however, is the frontrunner in my opinion, with its implementation, 'True RGB'.
The Bravia 7 II is the more affordable of Sony's two RGB models, and while we discovered it's not quite able to worry the likes of the LG C6 at #1 on this list, it proves that you really should be paying attention to the new tech, because it's simply stunning.
The biggest selling point of RGB TVs is their colour reproduction, owing to the fact that the backlight is made up of red, green and blue LEDs, as opposed to a white backlight shining through a colour filter. As our reviewer, James Davidson said in the case of the Bravia 7 II, it's "some of the best I’ve seen on an RGB TV so far".
They vibrant, bold and rich, yet entirely accurate too, resulting in a picture that's truly a marvel to look at. The Bravia 7 II is also able to deliver strong contrast and ink-deep blacks, which really do give OLED a run for its money.
There's yet more good news where detail is concerned. The Bravia 7 II's ability to display finer shades of colours means the image on screen has great depth, and subtle details — such as a snow-covered deer — look lifelike. Sony also has a handle on motion, with the Bravia 7 II showing no signs of judder or blur in fast-paced scenes from Speed Racer.
The slight negatives keeping it from full marks include the fact its screen is very reflective when viewing dark content in bright conditions, and viewing angles aren't amazing — this will only affect you if you either view off-axis permanently, or have large groups crowding around it.
Sony has often been one of the better manufacturers where TV sound is concerned, and that's certainly the case with the Bravia 7 II. It employs a 40W system, comprising two full-range speaker drivers and two subwoofers to great effect. In our testing we found the built-in speaker system delivered "accurate sound with clear dynamics" and that sound was "accurately mapped to the picture on screen".
Sony has also made it possible for owners to manually tweak the sound settings via an equaliser, which is a nice touch. The Bravia 7 II also features Acoustic Room Calibration which, as the name suggests, will adjust audio output depending on the size of your room. In our testing, we found the soundstage widened after activating it, and Atmos effects were easier to distinguish.
While Sony has often performed well under review when it comes to picture and sound quality, it's fair to say the brand hasn't always wowed us with its gaming credentials. It's a similar story with the Bravia 7 II, most notably because Sony continues to insist on only providing two HDMI 2.1 ports, which could put off owners who have multiple external devices that require the superior format.
However, the Bravia 7 II does at least support all of the most-common buzzwords, including 4K 120Hz, VRR, Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM. We measured input lag at 10.4ms, which is a higher figure than some screens from other brands, but a notable improvement for Sony.
Sony is no strange to producing good-looking TVs, and the Bravia 7 II continues that trend. In this latest TV (and its Bravia 9 II sibling), Sony has implemented a clever central pedestal stand. It transparent and employs clever cable management and a one-way plastic panel that refracts light that hits it, giving the illusion that no cables are hanging below the screen.
However, the Bravia 7 II is on the chunkier side compared to other modern-day sets, most likely to accommodate the speakers inside. That being said, the bezel is at least super slim, affording more space for the screen itself.
Since the Bravia 7 II uses Google TV, it will be instantly familiar to anyone who's used the OS on other branded models. There are recommendations for apps based on your viewing history, which can be useful, but a lot of the screen is taken up by large banner ads.
Sony gives users plenty in the way of personalisation and customisation when it comes to settings, such as picture and sound adjustments. We did find, however, that navigating through the various menus did occasionally incur some stutter, and the whole experience wasn't as slick as LG.
Sony Bravia 7 II test results
Brightness Measurements
Taken using a colorimeter and test pattern generator. Click the test name for measurements and select the chosen test from the dropdown menu.
| Product | HDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window) (nits) | HDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen) (nits) |
|---|---|---|
| Sony Bravia 7 II | 1114 | 829 |
| LG C6 | 1427 | 247 |
| Samsung R95H | 1977 | 612 |
Other TVs to consider
Samsung S95H: Samsung's flagship OLED for 2026 is undoubtedly a phenomenal performer, delivering sumptuous colours and seriously high brightness levels. The latest iteration of the company's Glare Free technology continues to impress too. However, we found in our Samsung S95H review that the new design direction Samsung has taken is divisive to say the least, and we ultimately preferred the anti-reflective capabilities of the LG G6. If you're a Samsung loyalist though, then you can't get much better.
Samsung S85F: The Samsung S85F is a brilliant, affordable OLED, although stock levels will soon dry up since it's a 2025 model. Still, if you can get your hands on one, I guarantee you'll be impressed with its bright, bold images that exhibit plenty of rich colours and strong contrast. It also has a near-full suite of gaming features and smooth performance. If you're a Samsung fan, it's a great, cheap OLED. Check out our Samsung S85F review for more details.
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How we test the best TVs
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The TechRadar team is committed to testing as many of the latest TVs as possible. From big to small and budget to elite, we explore the ins and outs of each set to find its greatest strengths and weaknesses, nailing down who each TV is really for, and whether it's good value compared to the competition.
⭣ Read more
Coming from an AV retail background, our testers prioritise reviewing each TV with as close to its out-of-the-box settings as possible, as we know this is what most users will do. It's fair to assume that most people won't have the measures to professionally calibrate their TVs, so our philosophy is to test each TV in the way that people use their TVs at home. We do still run calibration tests on TVs to see if they have more to offer for enthusiasts.
We've spent hundreds of hours testing the TVs in this guide, using a variety of sources and analysing each one on several key areas: features, picture quality, sound quality, smart TV, gaming, design, and overall value.
While these subjective tests are important, it's good to get some cold, hard data on how these TVs perform. Using specialised equipment, we also test each TV on its brightness, colour, and greyscale accuracy, HDR colour gamut, and its input lag, which is important for gaming.
We also directly compare any new TVs in for review against models we've already looked at, so we're not judging them in a vacuum – we write about how things really compare, and what the small, nuanced differences are.
For a more in-depth guide on how we test TVs at TechRadar, check out the link.
5 key areas we test in TVs
There are a ton of factors to explore and analyse while we're putting TVs to the test, but there are five key areas that we make sure to focus on. Below, we'll cover these influential criteria, but if you're looking for the more data-heavy tests, their results, and our methodology, check out further down this guide.
Picture quality
We check out several aspects when testing a TV's picture quality, including:
- Colour
- Contrast and shadow detail
- Motion
- Upscaling and low-resolution viewing
- Textures
- Brightness and screen uniformity (the ability to display tones evenly across the screen)
These criteria help us determine a TV's strong points and weaknesses, and figure out what use cases they're best suited to and whether they offer good overall value for money.
⭣ Read more about what we test
The TechRadar team of TV experts use a variety of sources to really test a TV's picture quality. We'll use everything frmo the latest 4K Blu-ray discs, to 4K streaming for HDR, along with DVD (remember those?), HD streaming and broadcast TV to test SDR performance. We make sure to use the same scenes from the same selection of movies, TV shows, and sports broadcasts to ensure each TV that passes through our doors is given the same treatment.
While we're always on the lookout for new 4K discs to add to our reference library, if you read all of our in-depth TV reviews on TechRadar, you'll soon realise the same few discs are regularly mentioned. These includeWicked (colour and brightness), The Batman (contrast, shadow detail and dark scene viewing), Oppenheimer (black and white, screen uniformity), No Time to Die (judder handling) Alien: Romulus (black tones and contrast).
To make sure no part of a TV's picture goes untested, we also use the Spears & Munsil UHD Benchmark 4K Blu-ray for its test patterns and demo footage for photography — and as an all-around test, as the footage's shots test every aspect of a TV's picture.
For non-4K disc sources, we've been using Elemental (colour and 4K streaming), Fight Club (HD stream for upscaling), YouTube, and broadcast TV (lower-resolution viewing), and football games on Prime Video (sports and motion).
Sound quality
While we might tend to encourage TechRadar readers to upgrade to a soundbar for a better sound experience, we do still need to test the sound quality from a TV's built-speakers.
As with picture quality, we use the same rotation of reference movie and TV scenes, focusing on speech, bass, soundstage, accuracy and overall immersion.
For consistency, a staple scene we use for testing is the Penguin/Batmobile chase scene from The Batman, as it ticks off just about every aspect you can think of in terms of sound — in fact, it's often used at professional demos by TV and home cinema brands.
For more nuanced testing, we sometimes use the Darkstar flight scene from Top Gun: Maverick, as this contains subtle surround effects such as creaking panels, wind,and overhead flight. Of course, it's perfect for testing bass as well, with the powerful rumble from the engines.
Musicals offer a good oppotunity to test sound quality too, and so we often find ourselves listening to the songs from Wicked and La La Land, as they can be a great test for Atmos music soundtracks. We analyse the vocals, balance of instruments and the range of sound produced by said instruments. These musicals are good for testing the directionality of sound as well, as they often involve a lot of movement from the characters.
It's important to test a TV's sound quality broadly, because while some TVs can deliver good-enough sound for day-to-day viewing, it often doesn't match the quality of its picture, meaning you may need to invest in a soundbar if you're looking for the truly cinematic experience.
Features and smart TV
When you're buying a TV, it's important to check that it has all the features you're looking for, because strangely enough, not all TVs are created equal. One of the key areas to look for is HDMI ports, specifically, how many HDMI 2.1 ports does the TV have?
You may also want to check if it supports either Dolby Vision, HDR10+ or both. Does it offer support for the apps you know you're going to use on a regular basis? These are questions we consider when checking a TV's included features in our testing.
One of the big features of a TV is its smart TV platform (its operating system). We judge this based on its overall performance, its layout, ease of use, and navigation. We also explore the TV's settings to see how much you can tailor the picture and sound to your liking, which is important for those who like to go beyond the out-of-the-box settings.
Gaming
Gaming has become a more integral part of TV testing in recent years, as consoles demand more features and performance from a TV. Not every reader or buyer is going to need to know about a TV's gaming capabilities of course, but it's something we need to tick off as TV-testing experts.
The key features we look out for are higher refresh rate (120Hz for current-gen consoles and beyond for PC gaming), variable refresh rate (VRR – including FreeSync and G-Sync for PCs), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and if there is HDR gaming support, such as Dolby Vision gaming (though this is only relevant to specific devices).
When testing a TV's gaming performance, we usually use an Xbox Series X – this supports a 120Hz refresh rate at 4K, Dolby Vision gaming, and both HDMI 2.1 VRR as well as FreeSync. The PS5 doesn't support Dolby Vision or FreeSync.
We'll usually play demanding games such as Battlefield V, a fast-paced, first-person shooter (FPS) with 120Hz support that will test a TV's response time. We also measure the exact response time of the TVs. We're looking for under 15ms as this is the threshold gamers consider acceptable, and thankfully, most TVs today will be under this.
Value
While value is not something that can be physically tested, it's the culmination of the results of all our other testing. It's not as cut and dry as cheaper TV being a better value mind you.
Not only do we rate how the features and performance of the TV compare in the context of its own price, but also of other TVs in its price range.
For example, a premium OLED TV such as the LG C6 will always carry a suitably premium price tag to match, but if we find it delivers in every way and is likely to be the most competitively priced in its bracket, it would get a high value score from us.
Other examples of good value TVs come from brands such as Hisense and TCL, as they deliver great picture quality with nearly every feature you could ask for, for very reasonable prices.
How to choose the best TV
When shopping for a new TV, there are as many things to consider as there are terms and abbreviations to try and get your head around. This can range from screen technologies (eg. OLED, QLED, Mini-LED, etc) to assets like HDR, VRR and Dolby Atmos, each of which are features worth considering when shopping for a TV but can be challenging to understand.
With this in mind, we’ve collected some of the key terms and technologies below to help you understand what they’re about and why they should matter to you:
Quantum Dot (QLED): QLED, which stands for quantum dot light-emitting diode, is a panel technology for TVs which sees a quantum dot filter layered over an LED panel to enhance visual quality. This quantum dot filter is a film of small crystal semiconductor particles which can be more precisely controlled to elevate the overall appearance of colours and contrast. When compared to the one-time norm of an LCD-LED screen, QLED overall offers superior brightness, colours and contrasts. Typically, QLED panels are also far brighter than OLED displays.
OLED: OLED, an abbreviation for Organic Light Emitting Diode, is a panel technology where each pixel emits its own light and therefore offers superior control for contrasts, colour and general picture. This differs from the LCD-LED displays that were once the norm which rely upon an external light source (backlighting). Similar to QLED, this allows OLED panels superior control when it comes to colours, contrast and overall picture quality to regular LCD-LED screens.
Read more on the differences between QLED and OLED TVs
Mini-LED: A more recent panel technology introduced to big-screen TVs, Mini-LED takes traditional LCD screens and drastically shrinks the size of the LED in the backlight behind it – oftentimes while including a quantum dot filter, too. Again, much like with QLED and OLED this allows for superior control of the backlighting, resulting in boosted colours and more accurate contrast. Mini-LED TVs may not quite match the perfect contrast levels seen in OLED TVs, but they do come reasonably close – all without the sacrifice to brightness or risk of burn-in.
Read more on the differences between Mini-LED and OLED TVs
High Dynamic Range (HDR): HDR is a technology which allows televisions to display a much wider spectrum of colours. Believe it or not, modern HDR televisions are able to display roughly 1.7 billion colours – a significant leap from Standard Dynamic Range (SDR), which is capable of a little under 17 million colours. HDR is therefore simply an indication that a TV boasts the ability to display clearer, more dynamic colours with more realistic transitions between shades, as well as deeper shadows which have the capacity to show more detail in the darkness.
The two most common HDR formats are either HDR10 or HDR10+, with HDR10+ considered to be the superior of the two as its name would suggest.The ‘10’ in the name refers to HDR’s 10-bit colour depth (SDR, by comparison, has an 8-bit colour depth).
HDR10+ is similar to Dolby Vision (see below), in that it uses dynamic metadata to adjust colours and brightness on a scene-by-scene basis. However it is available at an open standard which means content makers can take advantage of what it offers their content without having to pay the kinds of licensing fees they would with Dolby Vision.
Read more on HDR10+ and what it means for you
Dolby Vision: While Dolby Vision is similar to HDR10+ in a number of ways, it’s still considered a superior format, in that it can be mastered at up to 12-bit colour depth.
The latest update to Dolby Vision known as Dolby Vision IQ takes advantage of Dolby Vision’s existing picture and processing prowess while working with a light sensor to respond to various conditions that may otherwise impact the picture. This ranges from its ability to detect when you are watching in a particularly bright room and therefore adjust accordingly, to its ability to detect the different types of content you are engaging with on your TV such as movies, games, sports, etc.
Read more on Dolby Vision and what it means for you
What about gaming? If your primary concern while shopping for a new TV is what it can offer for gaming performance, various terms and features will emerge as relevant for you. To help you understand what these are, we have included a helpful guide in our list of the best gaming TVs to offer some assistance.
How we test the best TVs
The best TVs are chosen by our writers and editors based on a few main criteria: their overall picture performance including contrast, colour saturation and motion handling, as well as their feature set, design and the operating system they run on. We're looking for TVs that are well-built and have the technology to last for the next few years.
Obviously, there is some subjectivity that goes into the review process, however we strive to maintain fairness across brands by testing the same type of content on each screen (HD/SDR, 4K/HDR, games, movies and music) and reporting what we've found the experience to be like.
We test the brightness and colour range using a colorimeter, and we ensure that we test 'out-of-the-box' as well as after calibrating the screens ourselves, so that we can tell you what you'll get if you don't tweak at all, as well as what the TVs are capable of in the right hands.
Like our readers, our writer's and editor's room layouts differ and may cause slight disparities in testing, however we make every attempt to question our assumptions and troubleshoot our issues with performance in every review.
FAQs
Which TV has the best picture quality?
On performance alone, OLED TVs typically have the edge on picture quality, offering deep blacks and stunning contrast, confident colours and improved viewing angles over other panel types. For brightness, Mini-LED appears to have the current edge, offering eye-scorching images without the risk of burn-in.
Beyond panel technology, TVs offering one or (even better) both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision will also offer superior value to picture quality potential than TVs which don’t support these formats.
Which size TV is best for home?
There really isn’t any ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to TVs – the answer really depends on your home, how you hope to use your TV, and other factors like how many people will be watching.
For the best viewing experience, any TV that’s 55-inches or above will get the job done, with anything larger than 77-inches potentially being overkill unless you have a large family and a big space to put it in. Smaller TVs don’t necessarily sacrifice on quality even if they do on size, and our list of the best 48- and 50-inch TVs can help you pick the right one for you.
Next steps
- Want better audio? Check out our guide to the best soundbars available.
- Once you've decided on a panel, make sure you read our guide on how to set up your TV to make sure you're getting the most out of it.
- Are you looking for the best universal remote for your new home theatre setup?
- Need something to watch on your new TV? check out our list of best TV streaming services.
The latest updates to this best TVs guide
September 8, 2026
Completely overhauled the guide with a new structure, breaking down each selected TV into five categories: picture quality, sound quality, design, gaming and smart TV & menus.
Added the Sony Bravia 7 II as a new entrant in a 'best RGB TV' category. Replaced the TCL C7K with the Sony Bravia 5 as the best budget pick.
July 28, 2026
Replaced the LG B5 with the LG B6 as the best cheap OLED pick. Refreshed the intro and the 'how we test TVs' section.
June 15, 2026
Replaced the LG C5 with the LG C6 as the best TV for most people. Refreshed the introduction. Added a full 'How we test' section.
April 28, 2026
Replaced the LG G5 with the LG G6 as the top premium OLED pick based on recent testing. Removed the Samsung QN900F 8K TV and Samsung S95F as the best OLED for bright rooms.
Read more updates
January 27, 2026
Replaced the Sony Bravia 8 with the Sony Bravia 8 II as the 'best TV for sound' pick.
January 15, 2026
Completed a sense check of the entire guide. Added a 'new TVs for 2026' section at the bottom of the guide.
September 4, 2025
Added the Samsung S95F for the new category 'best OLED TV for bright rooms'.
August 12, 2025
Added the LG B5 OLED in a new category, 'the best cheaper OLED'.
August 7, 2025
Reassigned the TCL C7K to the 'best mid-range TV' pick. Added the TCL C6K as the 'best budget TV' option.
June 17, 2025
Replaced the Samsung QN900D with the Samsung QN900F as 'the best 8K TV'.
Replaced the Samsung QN90D with the Samsung QN90F as the 'best TV for sports'.
Replaced the TCL C755 with the TCL C7K as the 'best budget TV'.
May 23, 2025
Removed 'the best TV for gaming' as a category, since the majority of TVs already selected are great options for gamers with consoles or PCs.
April 30, 2025
Replaced the Samsung S95D with the LG G5 at the best premium OLED TV.
April 9, 2025
Replaced the LG C4 with the LG C5 as the best TV for most people.
Introduced a 'What TVs are coming for 2025' in FAQ's section that lists some of the TVs announced so far for 2025 that could enter this list throughout the year.
Added a 'More TVs to consider' section with recent models and reviews.
January 30, 2025
Replaced the TCL C855 with the TCL C755 as the best budget TV
January 16, 2024
Introduced a 'What TVs are coming for 2025' in FAQ's section that lists some of the TVs announced so far for 2025 that could enter this list throughout the year.
December 24, 2024
Removed the Samsung S90C due to falling stock levels. Replaced it with the LG C4 as 'best for most people/overall'.
Removed the Samsung QN90C and replaced it with the Samsung QN90D as the 'best for sports'
September 26 2024
Replaced the Sony A80L with the Sony Bravia 8 as 'best TV for sound'
