Buy one of the best 65-inch TVs on the market and you're making a big, bold statement with some of the top TV tech available right now. The only difficulty is choosing the right 65-inch TV set for you – and we're here to help.
First of all you should know this is a great time to splurge on a cinematic TV experience with a 65-inch set (or indeed a 60-inch model). Fierce competition is pulling prices down, and all of the ranges from the big manufacturers are pretty much set now for the rest of 2018.
- Want to know about the best 65-inch TVs of 2019? Our CES 2019 coverage starts January 7!
In other words, this list of the best 65-inch 4K television sets is likely to stand you in good stead for a while – at least up until Christmas.
Admittedly a whole 65 inches of TV display won't fit well into every home (and won't fit at all in some). That said, if you can squeeze one in, you can find some fantastic deals around, which we'll point you towards.
If 65 inches is a little too big, go down to the 60-inch TV size: again, there are some great sets around, and you can save yourself some money by sacrificing just a few inches in screen size.
Whether 65-inch or 60-inch, the best TV sets at these sizes are the nearest you're going to get to a home cinema experience without a projector or... well... an actual home cinema.
Best 65-inch TV sets: making a choice
The sets in this list give you a wealth of choice at the popular 65-inch TV size, but as we've said, sometimes a lot of choice gets confusing. That's why we're here to try and help you answer the question: which one is right for you?
Currently, our favorite 65-inch 4K TVs are LG's series of OLEDs, boasting exceptional black levels and premium HDR in the form of Dolby Vision. On the other hand, they aren't the best option for brightly lit rooms.
If your living room's ratio of windows to doors is too high, you might want to consider Samsung's QLED TV series for your 65-inch 4K TV purchase instead. In comparison to the LG mosels, these are bright and colorful, and pack in technology that helps them cope with overly bright environments.
Of course, Sony TVs come with both OLED and LED panels, and you can't go wrong with these either – so you really are spoilt for choice when it comes to picking out the best 65-inch TV set.
Don't forget 60-inch TVs either – we haven't highlighted any in particular in this list, but you still get a decent-sized set, all the benefits of a 4K resolution, and the usual set of smart TV features too. Oh, and they're cheaper.
As you consider what you can afford, how bright your room is and where it'll look best in your living room, let's take a look at our favorite 65-inch 4K TVs right now. Each one in this list has been tested and approved by our expert team of reviewers, so you can make a well-informed decision.
65-inch LG OLED65C8
1. The best 65-inch TV: LG OLED65C8
The love affair with LG OLED continues
Screen size: 65-inch | Tuner: Freeview | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Panel technology: OLED | Smart TV: WebOS | Curved: No | Dimensions: 57.0 x 34.7 x 9.1 inches (W x H x D)
The big question this year for 65-inch 4K TV buyers with money to spend is QLED or OLED? QLED is Samsung's LCD-based screen tech, while LG makes not just the panels for its own OLED TVs but the other makers too.
An OLED like the OLED65C8 is hard to beat for a cinema-like environment. This 65-inch TV actually has much better contrast, and probably color, than your local cinema screen.
It uses WebOS software too, which just about the best smart TV interface out there in our humble opinion.
Cinematic images, smart software and slick design – what more could you want? Well, as you're asking, Samsung's QLED TVs are much brighter (which does wonders for HDR), and their motion handling is a little better too. However, for the image quality fundamentals of color and contrast, the LG OLED65C8 still wins in our opinion.
This TV is so high up our list for its practicality, though. It costs less than other OLEDs, or Samsung's top QLED, which makes it our top choice.
Read the full review: LG OLED65C8
65-inch Samsung 65Q9FN
2. 2018's LCD champ: Samsung 65Q9FN
When LCD screens take on OLED
Screen size: 65-inch | Tuner: Freeview/FreeSat | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Panel technology: QLED | Smart TV: Samsung Eden | Curved: No | Dimensions: 57.1 x 34.1 x 14.2 inches (W x H x D)
The Samsung 65Q9FN deserves bold statements, so here's one: this is the best LCD TV we've ever seen. It might be the best TV to date for some.
Sure, it may not be perfect, but this is the closest you can get to a 65-inch TV that has it all. Its HDR images are amazing, and its upscaler engine makes content of almost all resolutions look great.
The Samsung 65Q9FN uses direct LED lighting to avoid the halo-ing seen in older LCD TVs, while delivering blacks that, in most conditions, don't look too far off those of an OLED TV. Even the sound is the best that we've heard from a Samsung TV in years, so it's a strong all-rounder.
In perfect cinema-style conditions you'll see deeper blacks from an OLED though. Sony's latest TVs have more advanced motion handling, and image quality does take a hit at an angle, so keep that in mind. However, you can't do any better at the moment if you want ultra-bright HDR images, as well as great contrast.
Read the full review: Samsung 65Q9FN
65-inch Panasonic TX65FZ952B
3. Most tasteful 65-inch TV: Panasonic TX65FZ952B
For our European readers, Pana's flagship OLED makes a great centerpiece
Screen size: 65-inch | Tuner: Freeview HD/Freesat | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Panel technology: OLED | Smart TV: My Home Screen 3.0 | Curved: No | Dimensions: 1449 x 909 x 330 mm (W x H x D)
The Panasonic TX65FZ952B is perhaps the classiest OLED TV around – it comes with a clever soundbar, but detach it and the TV looks restrained and minimal. The soundbar also has a mammoth 12 drivers, for audio actually worth listening to.
Picture quality is fantastic on this 65-inch 4K TV set, edging out LG's models with better handling of areas of shadow, which can look a little noisy in the LG sets. Not so here, however.
On the downside, there's no Dolby Atmos or Dolby Vision processing, which seems a shame when the audio and visual sides are otherwise so strong.
The price also needs to be considered. At several hundred dollars (or pounds) more than the LG C8 or Sony KD-65AF8, you had better appreciate the extra magic Panasonic has put into this 65-inch TV's processing and calibration.
Read the full review: Panasonic FZ950/952
65-inch LG OLED65E8
4. LG's fancier OLED set: OLED65E8
For larger budgets, the E8 OLED offers a bit more oomph in audio
Screen size: 65-inch | Tuner: Freeview HD | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Panel technology: OLED | Smart TV: WebOS | Curved: No | Dimensions: 57.0 x 36.0 x 8.7 inches (W x H x D)
The LG OLED65E8 is similar to the LG C8 you'll find above. But why is it lower on our list of the best 65-inch 4K TVs? Let us explain.
This is the premium alternative to the C8. It has a better speaker system and a more impressive-looking 'floating' stand design.
However, underneath the gloss and audio improvements, you get more or less the same TV, with the same Alpha 9 processor.
The OLED65E8 is a few hundreds dollars/pounds more expensive than the C8, so think carefully about whether the upgrade is worth it. We use a surround sound speaker system with the TV, so the benefits of the improved drivers are minimal.
Read the full review: LG OLED65E8
65-inch Sony A8F/AF8 OLED
5. Master OLED upscaler: Sony A8F/AF8 OLED
Most of your content in HD/SDR? Sony's upscaling tech is second to none
Screen size: 65-inch | Tuner: Freeview HD/Freesat | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Panel technology: OLED | Smart TV: Android TV | Curved: No | Dimensions: 1447 x 841 x 255 mm (W x H x D)
There are nowadays a handful of choices if you want a 65-inch OLED TV. Sony, Panasonic and LG all make them, and each offers multiple options.
In some ways the 65-inch Sony KD-65AF8 is the best of the lot. Its processing is excellent, making SD and HD look better than the LG competition, and this is largely down to great upscaling algorithms.
Its motion handling is excellent too. And when you add that to the vivid color and flawless contrast of OLED, you're on to a winner.
Be prepared for some frustration, though, because the Android TV software is awkward and prone to crashes (it's made us want to snap the remote a few times in the past).
Like other OLEDs, the Sony KD-65AF8 can't go as bright as Samsung's latest QLED TVs either, making HDR look a little less potent.
Check out the full review: Sony A8F / AF8 OLED
Sony XBR-65X900F
6. A master of motion: Sony XBR-65X900F
Top LCD picture quality with improved HDR and motion
Screen size: 65-inches | Tuner: Freeview HD | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Panel technology: Direct-lit LCD with local dimming | Smart TV: Android TV | Curved: No | Dimensions: 1,447 x 898 x 297 (W x H x D)
The Sony XBR-65X900F was one of the first 65-inch 4K TVs of 2018, taking over from 2017's Sony XBR-65X900E.
Improvements include greater brightness, which improves HDR performance, and even better motion handling. In fact, we doubt you'll find smoother motion handling on any other set.
Image quality is also fantastic, with great black depth and insight – even SD content looks good. As this is an LCD you don't quite get the perfect blacks of OLED, but it gets as close as LCD can.
Like previous Sonys, the Sony XBR-65X900F uses Android TV, which can be frustrating at times. However, it does give you access to masses of apps, games and streaming services. Sound quality has improved too, although this TV's speakers won't, of course, make an action movie's explosions shake your floorboards.
In the UK this 65-inch TV set is known as the KD-65XF9005.
Read the full review: Sony BRAVIA XBR-65X900F
65-inch B&O BeoVision Eclipse
7. Blow the budget: B&O BeoVision Eclipse
A statement TV for high-end living rooms
Screen size: 65-inches | Tuner: Freeview HD | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Panel technology: OLED | Smart TV: WebOS | Curved: No | Dimensions: 1,611 x 1,360 x 518 (W x H x D)
Do you have serious money to spend? No other 65-inch 4K TV makes the visual impact of the B&O BeoVision Eclipse.
It has a motorized stand that tilts the screen to match your viewing position, and it has an oversized, ultra-loud sound bar built into the frame too. The B&O BeoVision Eclipse stands on the floor, not on a TV stand or perched on the wall (though there is the option to wall mount it).
B&O teamed-up with LG to produce this set, so you get roughly the same image quality and the same software as one of LG's top-performing OLEDs – that means stunning contrast and flawless black levels. Sure, a high-end LCD has higher brightness and more powerful-looking HDR, but the cinematic look of OLED is hard to beat.
And the price? At $15,595 (£10,795, $19,990) this is the most expensive TV on our list of 65-inch 4K-capable sets. It's not for everyone, but is a piece of striking living room furniture as well as one of the best TVs around.
Read the full review: B&O BeoVision Eclipse
65-inch Sony A1E OLED
8. The best TV from last year: Sony A1E OLED
Sony's flagship TV from last year returned to OLED
Screen size: 65-inch | Tuner: Youview | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Panel technology: OLED | Smart TV: Android TV | Curved: No | Dimensions: 1228 x 711 x 86mm (W x H x D)
If you have the money to bankroll them, the 65-inch 4K TV 65A1E – and the A1E OLED series overall – are crowd-pleasers in just about every way. Their 'picture only' design has been beautifully realized, managing to be simultaneously subtle and dramatic. Meanwhile, their vibrating screen delivers a far more powerful and effective sound performance than we'd ever thought possible.
The real stars of the show here, though, are the A1's exquisitely detailed, contrast-rich and colorful pictures. These prove emphatically what we've long suspected: more brands using OLED technology can only lead to good things for TVs in general.
In 2018 Sony has replaced the A1 with the BRAVIA A8F, but the only real difference is the stand design. If you find this TV at a great price, jump on it, as it's still one of the best 65-inch TV sets on the market.
Read the full review: Sony Bravia OLED A1E
65-inch LG OLED65B7
9. The best entry-level OLED: LG OLED65B7
LG's entry level OLEDs continue to impress
Screen size: 65-inch | Tuner: Freeview Play, Freeview Satellite | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Panel technology: OLED | Smart TV: WebOS 3.5 | Curved: No | Dimensions: 57.1 x 34.7 x 8.9 inches (W x H x D)
LG's 'B' line of OLEDs has consistently offered a great entry point into the display technology without compromising on what makes it so exciting.
And the B7 series is no different.
Contained within the TVs is exactly the same panel and processor that powers the more expensive C7, E7, and yes even the W7 LG televisions – which means an exceptional bump over last year's OLED panels at a much lower price.
So where has LG saved the money? In a word, sound. The B7's downward firing speakers are the worst of all the company's OLED TVs.
If you already have your own speaker setup, though, the 65-inch version of the B7 is a fantastic entryway into a piece of 4K TV tech that still feels futuristic in 2018.
Read the full review of the 55-inch vesion: LG OLED C7 (OLED55C7)
65-inch TCL 6-Series Roku TV
10. For lower budgets: TCL 6-Series Roku TV
The best 65-inch TV for those of us on a budget
Screen size: 65-inch | Tuner: N/A | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Panel technology: LCD | Smart TV: Roku TV | Curved: No | Dimensions: 57.1 x 10.7 x 35.6 inches
There's no doubt in our minds – the TCL P6-Series was hands down the best budget TV of last year in the sub-$1,000 price range. It made our Best TVs of 2017 list, as well as our Best 4K TVs of 2017 list, alongside OLEDs from Sony and LG, and QLED TVs from Samsung – all of which cost two, three, four or even five times as much as TCL’s budget-friendly series.
If there was a downside to last year's models, one that could've and should've been fixed by year's end, it was the fact that the TVs were limited to one size – a paltry 55-inch screen. Worse, production couldn’t keep up with the heavy demand once word got out how spectacular those TVs were.
Thankfully that's all changed this year and the TCL 6-Series is now available in a gorgeous, affordable 65-inch TV size that not only looks phenomenal, but goes easy on your wallet as well for a 4K screen.
Read the full review: TCL 6-Series (R615, R617)
Philips OLED 803 4K
The close second best: Philips OLED 803 4K
Philips redefines reality with next-gen P5 image processor
Screen size: 65-inch | Tuner: N/A | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Panel technology: OLED | Smart TV: Android N | Curved: No
Philips has significantly upgraded the picture processing power of its 2018 OLED TVs, and the benefits of this new-found brawn can be seen writ large, with enhanced contrast and spectacular colors.
The brand’s second generation P5 Perfect Processing Engine offers twice the picture processing power of the original, and that was a pretty impressive chip in its own right.
The effectiveness of Philips second generation P5 picture engine may sometimes be subtle with real-world content, but it gives this 65-inch TV set an edge when it comes to playing 4K or HD in SDR.
Buyers should weigh the visual benefits against the minor irritations, like poor catch-up TV provision, just two full-spec UHD HDMI inputs, and the lack of Dolby Vision. The Philips Hue-compatible Ambilight room lighting system, and the promise of an early Android TV updates, however, might just balance the books.
With a competitive price point for the technology on offer, the 803 is arguably Philips most compelling OLED proposition to date.
Read the full review: Philips OLED 803 4K HDR TV
- If you're looking to optimize your home theater setup, check out our list of the best AV Receivers