The best TV 2024, chosen by our reviewers for all budgets

One of the best TVs, an LG C4, on a colorful background with the TechRadar logo
(Image credit: LG)

I’ve been testing and reviewing the best TVs for nearly 30 years and have witnessed massive shifts in technology from analog to digital, and from CRTs to flat-panel displays. TVs today are better than ever and can offer incredible value, and my vantage point as a longtime reviewer puts me in a perfect position to identify which models provide the best performance for the price. That perspective informs this guide, which ranks the best new TVs across a range of categories to help you find the best fit for your needs and budget.

My TV team and I have conducted hands-on reviews of the TVs in this guide using a process that includes objective measurements made with specialized test equipment. That measurement data is presented in the benchmark graphs that accompany each one of our TV reviews and is presented in the ‘In-depth analysis’ section for the entries in this guide.

A TV’s performance can’t be judged by measurements alone, however, so we also do an extensive subjective evaluation using reference movie scenes and TV, primarily on 4K Blu-ray and regular Blu-ray disc formats to ensure consistency during testing. You can read about the testing process I developed with my team in our full article on how we test TVs at TechRadar.

Whether you’re looking for a budget-priced QLED TV that offers great picture quality for the price, or a more premium OLED model that pushes the performance envelope and also has cutting-edge features for gaming, this guide has you covered. The latest TVs can sometimes get clouded in a swirl of jargon, so check out our glossary in the ‘How to choose’ section for descriptions of the tech terms used in this guide.

Curated by
Al Griffin
Curated by
Al Griffin

I lead TechRadar’s TV testing and also cover projectors, soundbars, and home theater audio. Previously, I was editor of Sound & Vision magazine, and I'm an ISF-trained TV calibrator. Having worked in AV product testing and tech journalism for almost three decades, I’ve had my eyes on basically every flagship TV available. I shaped this list with the help of our reviewers in addition to my own experience, to cover as many bases as possible for different budget or viewing needs.

Recent updates

November 27, 2024
I added more information to the intro about our testing and selection process for this guide, as well as expanding our section of other TVs worth consideration.

The best TV 2024

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best 4K TVs in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.

The best TV for most people

The best TV overall, thanks to amazing price drops

Specifications

Screen size: 55, 65, 77 and 83 inches
Resolution: 4K
Panel type: QD-OLED (except 83-inch model)
Smart TV: Tizen
HDR: HDR10+, HDR10, HLG

1-minute summary: The Samsung S90C still lives at the top of this list while stocks last, because even though it's a TV from 2023, I think it represents the best value for money you can get in a TV right now. It's had dramatic price cuts over time, and I've seen some beautiful new TVs arrive in our testing rooms, but anything that's as good for picture quality as the S90C costs more than it, and barely anything is as good anyway! The S90C is fully equipped for gaming, has great support for streaming services, and sounds better than almost all the competition too. Most importantly, it looks absolutely stunning: it's among the brightest OLED TVs, is super-colorful yet still natural, and its contrast is fantastic. Its successor, the Samsung S90D, is now out, so the S90C won't be around forever, and this means we'll probably see some epic deals on it towards the end of the year, making it an even better buy.

Read our full Samsung S90C review

Recommended by
Matt Bolton
Recommended by
Matt Bolton

Reasons to buy

You want elite pictures for a good price: The S90C offers beautiful QD-OLED images that only a few TVs in the world do better, and those cost more.

You want total gaming flexibility: The S90C has 4K 144Hz support with variable refresh rate on all four HDMI ports, so you're future-proofed.

You want strong built-in sound: Unlike some mid-range TVs, you can live without a soundbar here (though a soundbar will be better, of course).

Reasons to avoid

You want a super-bright TV: The S90C is bright for an OLED, but not as bright as mini-LED TVs, and lacks the Samsung S95D's anti-reflective coating.

You want the slickest smart TV platform: Samsung's Tizen software is absolutely fine, but LG's webOS is nicer to use overall.

You're a stickler for the specs: No Dolby Vision HDR or IMAX certification will put off some tech purists. Most of us won't care at all.

The best budget TV

The best TV on a budget, with easy-to-use apps and features

Specifications

Screen size: 55, 65, and 75-inch
Resolution: 4K
Panel Type: QLED with mini-LED
Smart TV: Roku TV
HDR: HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision, HDR10+

1-minute summary: The Roku Plus and Select series were the company’s first Roku-branded TVs, and while good, the Pro series was the budget TV home run I was waiting on. Starting at $899 for a 55-inch model, with 65- and 75-inch screen sizes also available, Roku Pro Series TVs step up with mini-LED backlight tech for a significantly brighter picture than you’ll get in the mid-range Roku select series. Otherwise, the Roku Pro’s picture is mostly free of the backlight blooming you see on some other budget mini-LED and regular LED TVs and it has comprehensive HDR support (including Dolby Vision and HDR10+ formats) plus a Smart Picture Max automatic mode that lets the TV do all the picture setup work for you and adapts dynamically for different content. It’s well-equipped for gaming with two HDMI 2.1 ports supporting 4K 120Hz input along with VRR (with FreeSync) and ALLM and its side-mounted speakers deliver much better-than-average sound for a budget TV. Of course, being a Roku TV it has the famous Roku interface, which I think leapfrogs over other smart TV screens when it comes to ease of navigation.

Read our full Roku Pro series review

Recommended by
Al Griffin
Recommended by
Al Griffin

Reasons to buy

You want a premium TV without the price tag: The Roku Pro Series is a great value considering it is the most premium offering in the company’s TV lineup.

You want to wall-mount your TV: Although it can be installed on a stand, Pro series TVs are designed to be wall-mounted and have a neat shadowbox case that makes it look like a framed painting.

You want an affordable TV with great built-in sound: The Pro Series was designed to be used without a soundbar, and its front-firing speakers provide reasonably full sound and can play loud.

Reasons to avoid

You want the brightest possible picture: Although picture quality on Pro series TVs is generally very good, the Hisense U8N offers superior brightness and better overall performance.

You want a sophisticated smart platform: The Roku smart TV interface is basic compared to other smart TV platforms. For some, that’s a benefit because it's so easy to use, but others may want a more sophisticated smart interface.

You want the best gaming TV: While the Roku Pro Series offers a strong suite of gaming features, it's limited to two 4K 120Hz ports. Samsung and LG options on this list offer more flexibility and features.

The best mid-range TV

The best TV at a mid-range price

Specifications

Screen sizes: 55, 65, 75, 85, and 98-inch
Resolution : 4K
Panel type : QLED with mini-LED
Smart TV: Google TV
HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG

1-minute summary: Hisense’s U8 series TVs get better with each passing year, and the latest U8N models are its best yet. When I reviewed the 65-inch version of the U8N, which is available in screen sizes from 55 to 98 inches, I found it had significantly higher brightness than last year’s U8K series model. The U8N offers comprehensive HDR support, with Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG all accounted for, and movies and TV shows in those formats look spectacularly good, in my experience. Its bright picture also makes the U8N great for sports viewing, which is helped by an anti-reflection screen to combat glare from overhead lights. The U8N’s 2.1.2-channel speakers deliver powerful sound with good dialogue clarity and bass, and there’s support for both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtrack formats. Hisense uses the serviceable Google TV smart interface for streaming, and there are plenty of menu adjustments for tweaking picture and sound. Last but not least, the U8N is a very capable gaming TV, with two HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K 120Hz, VRR up to 144Hz (including FreeSync Premium Pro), ALLM, and Dolby Vision 4K gaming.

Read our full Hisense U8N review

Recommended by
Al Griffin
Recommended by
Al Griffin

Reasons to buy

You want a great TV for watching movies: The U8N’s high brightness and refined local dimming bring out the best in movies, especially 4K ones with HDR.

You want comprehensive HDR support: Support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+ is provided on the U8N, and it also has an ATSC 3.0 tuner for broadcast HDR.

You want an affordable, high-end mini-LED TV: It lacks some amenities found on more premium mini-LED TVs, but overall the U8N provides excellent performance and features for the price.

Reasons to avoid

You like to watch with a crowd: An area where the U8N pales – literally – against the Samsung QN90D is off-center viewing, with contrast and color saturation fading when its picture is viewed from far off-center seats.

You don’t like adjusting the picture: In my testing, I found that the U8N required some careful adjustment to perform its best, though its picture was mostly fine out of the box.

You don’t want to sign in to Google: A Google account sign-in is required to download apps to the U8N’s Google TV, so if you’re wary of having your data tracked by Google, it won’t be the best choice for you.

The best TV for cheap big-screen thrills

The best super-cheap big-screen TV