Smart TVs have built-in operating systems like Tizen and Google TV and connect to the internet so you can stream movies and shows from services like Netflix and Disney+. The best smart TVs offer excellent picture and sound quality for all types of content and include virtual assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant to help you find the content you want to watch
Our team specializes in testing tablets, phones, laptops, and other devices and has hands-on experience with all the TVs listed here. We picked various options in different sizes and price ranges, so there’s one for every user and budget.
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Our pick for best overall TV
LG G4 OLED evo
The best of the best
LG’s flagship G4 OLED evo is the best TV because its 77-inch OLED display offers extraordinary picture quality for movies and gaming.
- Incredible picture quality
- Gamer-friendly
- Very bright for an OLED display
- Pricey
- Average sound-quality
LG’s G4 OLED Evo is one of the best TVs we’ve tested because of its incredible picture quality and all-around abilities. Cinephiles will love the vibrant colors and deep blacks of the 77-inch 4K (3840 x 2160) OLED display, which offers fantastic brightness and uses self-lit pixels for the best accuracy. Gamers aren’t left out, and will enjoy the 120Hz refresh rate and built-in Nvidia G-SYNC and AMD Freesync when playing their favorite titles.
Design-wise, the G4 OLED Evo looks simple and elegant, with thin bezels and a choice of pedestal mount or wall stand. It includes three USB ports, four HDMI 2.1 ports to connect to modern consoles, and Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1 for wireless connections. Everything runs smoothly with LG’s proprietary WebOS and the Magic Remote, which uses motion to work like a mouse cursor.
This is the TV to get if you want a no-compromise cinematic experience. It’s not perfect, but most buyers will forgive its hefy price tag and finicky remote because the extraordinary visuals will provide hours of top-class entertainment.
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Best premium TV
Sony A95L
Innovative sound and picture quality
The Sony A95 delivers an incredible visual experience with terrific contrast and brightness from its 77-inch QD-OLED display.
- Incredible picture quality
- Fantastic sound
- Solid build-quality
- Expensive
- Only two HDMI 2.1 ports
The Sony A95L combines the deep blacks of OLED displays with the bright colors of Quantum Dots to create an unforgettable viewing experience on its massive 77-inch 4K display. It uses the company’s Cognitive Processor XR Processor and Triluminos system to deliver incredible contrast, bright colors, and wide viewing angles, so everyone can enjoy whatever you’re watching.
Another strong point of the A95L is its excellent audio quality, courtesy of subwoofers and actuators that vibrate the screen to create sound instead of traditional speakers. Unlike most TVs, it includes a separate Bravia Cam that supports gesture control and fits on the top of the frame to facilitate the video calling features. Finding what to watch on popular streaming services is easy with Google TV, and it’s great for gaming, too, thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate, two HDMI 2.1 ports, and VRR.
This TV is packed with cutting-edge tech and provides superb picture quality in a premium design that oozes quality. Its two HDMI 2.1 ports are disappointing considering its considerable price tag, but will suffice for all but the most die-hard gamers who need to connect to multiple consoles.
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Best Value Smart TV
TCL QM851
The latest features for less
The TCL QM851 punches above its weight and provides QD-mini LED technology, amazing brightness, and 5,000 dimming zones for a fraction of most competitors.
- Picture quality rivals pricier competitors
- Terrific value
- Great for gaming
- Thick
- Large remote control
TCL is renowned for budget-friendly TVs and continues the tradition with the QM851 which includes QD-Mini LED technology for less than its rivals. The 65-inch 4K display has over 5,000 local dimming zones for brilliant contrast and offers an incredible 5,000 nits of peak brightness for a clear picture in light or dark conditions. Gamers will love its fast, 120Hz refresh rate that can hit 144Hz with AMD Freesync VRR.
This TV uses the intuitive Google TV as its OS and supports Apple Airplay 2 for casting from your phone. It might be a bit chunky at over two inches thick, but it still has a modern look with thin bezels and a cental base. Connectivity is also pretty good, with four HDMI ports, three USB ports, 3.5 mm audio in and out ports, and optical audio to connect soundbars, consoles, and other devices.
Buyers are always looking for the best deal and the QM851 probably gives you the most for less at its price point. It easily competes with higher-end LCD TVs from rivals like LG and Samsung when it comes to picture quality, and its thickness and outdated remote are minor inconveniences when you consider its overall value.
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Best 8K TV
Samsung QN900C
8K future-proofing at the best price
Samsung’s QN900 offers amazing 8K visuals from its 75-inch mini-LED display, which brings out the best in movies, shows, and games.
- Amazing 8K display
- Supports up to 144Hz refresh rates
- Slim design with One Connect Box for a clean installation
- Limited 8K content currently available
- No Dolby Vision
Samsung’s QN900C was the best 8K TV of 2023 and is now available at around half its original price since the introduction of its successor, the QN900D. You can’t go wrong with the 75-inch mini LED display, powered by Samsung’s 8K Neural Quantum Processor that includes 1,920 dimming zones and over 33 million pixels to deliver incredible detail and contrast no matter what you’re watching.
There’s no compromise on design, and the QN900C features Samsung’s Infinity One bezel-less, slim design, and sturdy stand that can fit on smaller surfaces. It also looks great on a wall because it only uses a single cable to connect to the One Connect box, which houses an optical audio port, three USBs, and four HDMI ports capable of supporting up to 144Hz refresh rates.
Now might be the best time to buy a future-proof 8K TV with the QN900C available at a realistic price to rival 4K alternatives. It offers incredible visual quality for movies, shows, and games, and the hard part is finding 8K content to test its limits.
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Best budget smart TV
Amazon Fire TV 55″ Omni QLED Series 4K UHD smart TV
Budget-friendly bliss
$420 $600 Save $180
This 55-inch Amazon Fire TV has a stunning QLED display and the Fire TV Ambient experience that can turn your TV into a work of art.
- Alexa voice compatibility
- User-friendly Fire TV interface
- Free six-month subscription to MGM+
- Middling sound quality
- 60Hz refresh rate
The Amazon Fire TV Omni Series proves that you don’t need a huge cash outlay to buy a smart TV and offers great 4K image quality and other extras at an affordable price. It features a versatile 55-inch QLED display with Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10, and 80 local dimming zones to provide great picture quality for most types of content. You also get access to the Fire TV ambient experience, Alexa compatibility, and a complimentary six-month MGM+ subscription to sweeten the deal.
When it comes to design, the Amazon Omni Series keeps things simple with a metallic finish on the thin bezels that extend to the matching feet. Connecting consoles and other devices is a breeze with four HDMI ports, including one eARC 2.1, but you won’t get 120Hz refresh rates at this price point and must make do with 60Hz for gaming.
Few TVs offer as much value as the Amazon Fire TV Omni Series, which delivers decent 4K picture quality and extras like the Ambient Experience and Alexa voice compatibility for an amazing price. It isn’t the best for gaming, but should be fine for enjoying other content, like movies, shows, and sports.
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The bottom line: Which is the best smart TV right now?
LG’s G4 evo is the best smart TV right now because its OLED display sets a new bar for picture quality. The Sony A95L is our premium pick because of its all-around quality and innovative sound technology. We think TCL’s QM851 is the best value TV because it includes a stunning QD-Mini LED display for an incredible price.
How did we choose the best smart TVs?
At Pocket-lint we have experienced reviewers who’ve tested countless TVs and have a keen eye for image quality and detail. They tried as many TVs as they could this year, including all the models listed here, and graded them based on picture quality, user-friendliness and value after using them for gaming and watching movies and shows.
Picture quality is the most important factor when buying a TV and all our picks offer impressive visuals with some rated as the leaders in their class. We’ve picked reputable brands that include popular operating systems and provide an intuitive experience for accessing streaming services and more. Value is one of the deciding factors in any big purchase. Our premium picks justify their cost with some of the best visuals on the market, while our budget picks punch above their weight to offer great features for less than their competitors.
FAQ
Q: Which is the best smart currently available?
LG’s G4 Evo is the best smart TV currently available.
Q: What are the best smart TV brands?
LG, Sony, and Samsung are some of the best smart TV brands
Q: How do smart TVs connect to the internet?
Most smart TVs link to the internet via your home Wi-Fi network and many include an Ethernet port if you prefer a wired connection.
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