We've recently added the Samsung BU8500 to this list, which is the best budget option in Samsung's 2022 line-up – you get impressive contrast and colors in a huge range of sizes. Sadly, it's only available in some countries – the US misses out on it, notably – but if it's available where you are, and you want a cheaper model, it's excellent.
Matt Bolton, Senior Editor - TV & Audio
The best Samsung TVs aren't always the most expensive models in the lineup. While we're certainly big fans of the Samsung QN900B 8K QLED TV (which is why it's on this list), Samsung makes a ton of TVs – and we know that its biggest, most high-tech sets are not going to make sense for every living room or budget.
That's why in this guide we're going to cover the whole range of Samsung TVs, from the most affordable UHD TVs and entry-level QLED TV models to the massive QLED TV with Mini-LED behemoths that cost more than some sound systems.
We’ve also added a new model that uses next-generation panel technology to the list: the S95B QD-OLED. This set combines OLED with Quantum Dots to deliver images with high brightness and exceptionally rich colors. Samsung is truly pushing the OLED envelope with the S95B, and at £2,999/$2,799, it’s not as expensive as you might think for a TV that offers next-gen technology.
When it comes to the world's largest TV manufacturer there's plenty to pick from and the right choice can be different for everyone.
Love Samsung TVs but not sure which one to buy? This guide to the best Samsung TVs is here to help you find what you're looking for.
Best Samsung TVs: the list
8K is too much TV for many front rooms, but if you have the space and budget there's no doubt that the Samsung QN900B Neo QLED 8K TV takes home entertainment to a whole new level. Samsung's Mini LED-sporting QN900B Neo QLED 8K TV offers stunning picture quality, exceptional color and brightness, terrific sound and outstanding black levels. It looks pretty good when it's switched off too.
The technology inside this TV's display panel is Samsung's 'Quantum' Mini LED. Those LEDs are 1/40th the thickness of a regular LED, meaning thousands of smaller LEDs can be packed together more tightly than in other LED TVs. That means more accurate dimming, enabling the Samsung to deliver black levels that to our eyes are almost indistinguishable to those of an OLED display.
That's because another benefit of smaller LEDs is that they are more precise and less prone to blooming, which is when light goes where you don't want it to go. With this TV, you won't see bright areas of the screen unnaturally bleed over into darker spots. And because it also has Samsung's Multi-Intelligence AI upscaling, the QN900A can deliver images that look much better than their source.
So why did we dock it half a star? The short answer: the software. Samsung's new Smart Hub UI feels like a step backwards, making previously simple adjustments more time-consuming and complex. While the TV itself is spectacular, the Smart Hub isn't. But that's a minor issue, and we stuck think that this is the best Samsung TV of 2022.
Read the full Samsung QN900B Neo QLED 8K TV review
The Samsung BU8500 is designed to offer some up-to-the-minute functionality, discreet looks, and rock-solid build quality at a price that the majority of us won’t baulk at. And it absolutely nails that. It's an impressive 4K HDR LED display with good HDR (although as ever with Samsung, no Dolby Vision HDR), three HDMIs, voice control, two remotes and a Tizen smart TV interface with all the streaming apps you might want. It's a strong contender to be one of the best TVs under £1,000.
This is an exceptionally affordable TV, and while building affordable TVs does mean some compromises Samsung hasn't cut any important corners here: the Crystal 4K processor does a decent job of upscaling, albeit not to the same degree as the processors in Samsung's best TVs, and the backlighting is accurate with good brightness and contrast. Sound quality isn't brilliant, but like most flat TVs we'd recommend hooking up one of the best soundbars or best AV receivers anyway: few LED or OLED TVs sound great without one.
The BU8500 features three HDMI 2.0 inputs including one with eARC for a soundbar. There’s compatibility with the ALLM and HGiG aspects of next-gen games console specification, but there's no support for AMD FreeSync, which is a step backwards from last year's Samsung AU9000.
Samsung has made a very impressive TV for an equally impressive price, and while it's not up there with the firm's very best models it punches way above its price tag. If you're looking for a more affordable 4K TV this should definitely be on your shortlist.
Read more: our full Samsung BU8500 review
The Samsung QN95B Neo QLED's design picks up on the so-called Infinity theme of its predecessor, the lauded Samsung QN95A, with a barely-there frame around the screen, and a slim rear that’s as flat as the front, creating a striking monolithic effect. The look sets a suitably premium, cutting edge tone.
Picture quality is fantastic - truly mind-bogglingly good, at times. Improved processing and backlight controls deliver marked improvements in most picture areas to the already impressive efforts of the QN95A Mini LED debutant, with less blooming, more brightness and better shadow detailing particularly catching the eye.
The picture quality holds good much better across both gaming and video sources this year, too, and while the its sound doesn’t excel as much as its pictures do, its Object Tracking Sound technology makes it a perfectly adequate partner for the stellar pictures.
The bad news? Samsung’s revamp of its Tizen smart system is a misstep, adding unnecessary complication and some unhelpful design decisions to its clean and engaging predecessor. Overall, though, the picture improvements are so irresistible that a bit of pain on the smarts front and even quite a lot of pain on the wallet front can’t detract from its brilliance.
Read the full Samsung QN95B Neo QLED TV review
After years of dissing the technology, Samsung has launched an OLED TV. Kind of. For while Samsung has oddly decided to describe the S95B as just another OLED, in truth it’s more than that. Tucked away in its screen is actually a whole new type of OLED technology – one that combines the famous self-emissive properties of OLED with the brightness and color range potential of QLED.
The platform for this new technology to take on the best OLED TVs is almost absurdly cutting edge, courtesy of a screen no deeper round the back than your average drinks coaster. We're looking a TV that has had the kitchen sink thrown at it, with Samsung's latest AI-inspired picture processor, a massively comprehensive and re-designed Tizen-based smart system, the latest gaming features, and even, despite the ultra-slim design, a clever object tracking sound audio system.
The star of the Samsung S95B’s multi-faceted show, though, is undoubtedly its picture quality. While Samsung’s enthusiasm to show off what its new tech can do leads to a few picture preset issues, with a little tweaking it provides a combination of brightness, black depth, contrast and color that we just haven’t seen before on a consumer set. It's something special.
Read the full Samsung S95B OLED TV review
Samsung's Mini LED QN900A Neo QLED 8K TV delivers stunning picture quality, exceptional color and brightness, terrific sound and outstanding blacks in an attractive and super-slim package.
As we've mentioned above, Samsung's 'Quantum' Mini LEDs are 1/40th the thickness of a regular light-emitting diode. That means Samsung can park them much more tightly into the same space, making its backlights much more precise and enabling much better control of colours and contrast. To our eyes, it's almost indistinguishable from the quality and contrast of a high specification OLED display. And with a whopping 8K display resolution and first-class upscaling courtesy of the AI-based Neo Quantum Processor 8K it'll make you see even older movies in a whole new light.
This TV isn't quite as advanced as the newer Samsung QN900B, but it is still an exceptional 8K offering that's well worth your consideration.
Read more: Samsung QN900A Neo QLED 8K TV review
Samsung The Frame (2020) was the most accomplished iteration of Samsung's painting-inspired television we'd seen when it launched, and it still holds up today – not least because now there are newer versions, the price has dropped considerably. With a bold metal casing, customizable frames, and an Art Mode function that displays classic artworks and photographs, The Frame is the closest any television gets to looking like an actual painting – and when it's wall-mounted your guests really might not be able to tell the difference.
With an Ambient Mode offering more dynamic screensavers, clock faces, and weather or news updates, there's plenty of customization for how much attention you want your Frame TV to get when not in use. The QLED panel and Quantum Processor 4K upgrade are worthy improvements too, with predictably above-par upscaling and an impactful picture – although while it's generally impressive, the display panel is surprisingly dim for a QLED and skin tones can sometimes seem a little bit off.
But if you want a television that really puts appearances first, and will blend in seamlessly with the decor throughout the day – and that has a OneConnect box cabling solution to keep things tidy – Samsung The Frame (2020) is an excellent choice for your home.
Keep an eye out for the 2021 iteration, of course, which is even slimmer and comes with far more options for customization.
Read more: Samsung The Frame (2020) review
Samsung The Terrace is the first outdoor TV from the world’s biggest TV maker, and it isn’t just a tick-box weatherproof screen that won’t get wrecked if you’re watching football in the rain. It’s also an acknowledgement from Samsung that people like to use their devices outside of traditional living room arrangements.
Samsung The Terrace is only available in three sizes: 55-inch, 65-inch and 75-inch, so if you're looking for a small TV to nail to the side of your shed then you're out of luck. But if you want to install a capable QLED display into your home's back wall (or better still get a professional to do it; that's Samsung's recommendation) so that your TV is viewable by more than just one person sitting directly in front of it, this is the way to do it.
We need to stress that this TV is weatherproof, not waterproof: we'd strongly recommend using the waterproof cover when you're not using it, or installing it in such a way that it's at least partially protected from the elements.
Read our hands-on Samsung the Terrace review
Best Samsung TV FAQ
Are Samsung TVs any good?
Considering you've made it this far, we're guessing you had Samsung in mind. Why else would you look for the best Samsung TV?
Samsung holds strong sway with many folks because its TVs are generally more colorful and much brighter than the competition, especially when it comes to its QLED range.
Alongside that, Samsung TVs also offer Samsung's Tizen OS which is one of the best smart TV platforms out there so you get a fairly enjoyable experience as you browse around. Also, its processors typically do a great job with upscaling (turning HD into 4K) and usually perform better than LG TVs when handling scenes with fast motion.
The downside is that Samsung TVs are generally more expensive than those made by some of its rivals and they're not always incredibly long-lived. They also don't support Dolby Vision -- an HDR format that delivers higher brightness and better colors than HDR10.
However, the good often outweighs the bad here and we recommend Samsung screens to folks who have a bit more to spend and are looking for the most picturesque TVs.
Is QLED better than OLED?
With both QLED and OLED vying for your attention, it can be tricky to know what's best for your situation. We've broken down the differences between OLED and QLED but it's also fairly easy to summarise.
Generally, QLED offers better and more brilliant whites. Ultra-bright up to 2,000 nits, QLED (or Quantum-dot Light Emitting Diode) means a very bright image. That can be a downside for some and can lead to less convincing blacks but it's particularly good for gamers.
That's helped by Samsung QLED packing in a technology called HDR10+ that makes colors look super vivid while keeping input lag fairly low too.
How do Samsung TVs compare to other manufacturers?
Thanks to its implementation of QLED, Samsung TVs are known to be some of the brightest, most color-saturated televisions on the planet. With Tizen built-in, they're well-stocked with the latest apps, and most of the mid-range and high-end models have high levels of quality control. However, budget models make some concessions and generally don't look as good as models from TCL or Hisense, but are in line with LG's cheaper TVs.
Admittedly, we feel Sony does a better job overall with motion handling and LG seems to understand how to do upscaling the best of the big three, but Samsung remains competent in all major areas with no real weak spots.
What's the newest Samsung TV?
There are rumors that Samsung will be launching quantum OLED panels in early 2022 but for now, there are a few different options if the newest Samsung TV is most important to you.
There's the Samsung The Frame TV that looks like a significantly slimmer painting. There's also the Samsung The Terrace for outdoor viewing.
Alternatively, there's the 32-inch Q50A QLED screen for users on a budget. It might only have a FHD picture (1920 x 1080) but it bundles in HDR10+ and Samsung's QLED technology.
What's next for the best Samsung TVs?
QD-OLED TVs that were finally revealed at CES 2022.
This is meant to be Samsung’s answer to LG’s highly acclaimed OLED TVs, with Samsung said to offer this hybrid tech in 55-inch, 65-inch and 70-inch sizes. The battle to win over your home cinema setups is still on, and the battle will be fought throughout 2022.
- Need a bedroom TV? See our guide to the best small TVs
