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)

It isn't easy to find the best TV – there are so many options with elaborate screen tech and jargon-filled features at all budgets – but the good news is that an excellent 4K TV experience has never been more affordable.

This guide will help you find the best TV in your budget range, based on our extensive testing experience with these sets. We'll cut the overwhelming number of options among the best 4K TVs down to just the most worthwhile, from cheap options to cutting-edge flagship sets. To make our choices, we're balancing picture quality, features, sound quality, price, and size options.

This guide has been updated with the best TVs of 2024 based on our testing, but you might notice that a model from 2023 is at the top of the list. Why? Because the Samsung S90C has had dramatic price drops since its launch, which makes it an amazing deal now, and the wider world of 4K TVs hasn't moved on that much in one year.

We're confident you'll find the best TV for you in this list, though if you're looking for something specific, you might prefer to head straight to our guides to the best gaming TVs, best TVs under $1000 or best OLED TVs – but here, you can get an overview of everything. If you don't see a model you have in mind here, bear in mind we may still have tested it, it's just that we think the TVs in this guide offer better value.

The quick list

Want the simplest guide to the best TVs around? Here's our quick menu of them – you can read more in-depth verdicts on each 4K TV by clicking the links on each one.

Curated by
Al Griffin
Curated by
Al Griffin

I've been working in AV product testing and tech journalism for nearly 30 years, and I've had my eyes on basically every flagship TV available today. Before joining TechRadar, I was editor of Sound & Vision magazine, and I'm an ISF-trained TV calibrator. 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. All the TVs were tested personally by our writers, with our process that combines both objective measurements and subjective testing, because judging a TV properly can't only be done by sensors. You can read about the testing process I developed with my team in our full article on how we test TVs at TechRadar.

Recent updates

October 10 2024
Added more comparison tables for the TVs we recommend, based on our testing data and review scores.

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

1. Samsung S90C

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

2. Roku Pro Series

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

3. Hisense U8N

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.

Best premium OLED

4. Samsung S95D

The best TV for high-end OLED thrills

Specifications

Screen size: 55, 65, and 77-inch
Resolution: 4K
Panel technology: QD-OLED
Smart TV: Tizen
HDR: HDR10, HLG, HDR10+

1 minute summary: In a competitive OLED TV market with premium options from LG and Sony and more, the Samsung S95D stood head and shoulders above the rest when I tested it, thanks to some innovations in its screen as well as the great image processing and impressive sound we usually get from Samsung's high-end sets. It's the S95D's effective and impressive OLED Glare Free anti-reflection display covering that impressed me the most during testing, eliminating reflections in even the brightest of rooms (even the harsh overhead lighting in our testing room), solving OLED's biggest issue. Combine that with a colorful, realistic and contrast-rich picture, stacks of gaming features including 4K 144Hz, and a stunning, sleek design and you get the standard-bearer for OLED in 2024. It carries a premium price, but it's worth it.

Recommended by
James Davidson
Recommended by
James Davidson

Reasons to buy

You want the best OLED has to offer: The S95D takes everything that makes its QD-OLED tech great – high brightness and rich black levels – and utilizes it to full effect.

You want an accomplished gaming TV: Four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support, variable refresh rate (AMD FreeSync Premium Pro included) and a host of other features make the S95D a superb OLED for gaming.

You want one of the best-looking TVs: A super-trim profile with connections hidden in separate box, and a clever stand design give the S95D a floating appearance means it looks stylish and premium.

Reasons to avoid

You want full HDR support: As with all Samsung TVs, the S95D doesn't support Dolby Vision. We don't think it needs it, based on our testing, but spec sticklers may want to look elsewhere.

You don't want to pay a premium price: The S95D's premium quality does come with a price to match, may stretch the budget too far.

You don't want to tweak settings: While it's still good, the S95D's Filmmaker Mode does require some adjusting to limit black crush, unlike LG's OLEDs out of the box.