The Best Televisions
Whether you're a film buff, reality show addict, or avid gamer, the right television can transform your entertainment experience. And as convenient as portable projectors may be during our college years, the image quality just can't stand up to the clarity of a proper TV. That's why we think saving up for a proper high-quality, wall-mounted tube is worth the cost in the long run. But with so many options available these days, it can be hard to know where to start, especially if this is your first foray into telly selections.
What to Look For
To help you out, we’ve flicked through the top competitors to settle on our favorite televisions on the market today. Weighing up image quality, value, and ease of use, we’ve considered the most important factors when coming up with our list. If you’re looking to just casually watch a few shows in bed, consider the smaller-sized, affordable Fire TV by Insignia that comes with all of your favorite channels built-in. On the other hand, if you’ve been saving up for the perfect home theatre experience, then you can’t go wrong with the OLED TV by LG that comes with the best pixel resolution and brightest colors, which we think are well worth its bigger price tag. Check out our other top tubes below.
Insignia NS-24DF310NA21 Smart Fire TV
Smart entertainment
Televisions have come a long way since the clunky tellies of our childhoods. Lighter, slimmer, and with better resolution, modern TVs are a breeze to watch. And thankfully, they’re also a breeze to set up out of the box, especially smart ones like this Fire TV by Insignia. All your favorite movie apps and live over-the-air TV streaming channels are built right into the unified home screen. Simply connect to wifi and you’re good to go. The screen is colorful and bright, and it even has excellent stereo speakers built right into the back to help immerse you in the cinematic experience.
Pros:
- The smaller size of this TV means you can put it up in more places, no matter the space available in your room. And because it’s super light, you can easily move it when you need to.
- Just because this TV is smart doesn’t mean you have to be a tech whiz to use it. The easy-to-use voice command feature is designed to help your younger and elderly family members watch their favorite shows, too.
Cons:
- The remote functionality is finicky, meaning you’ll have to replace the batteries more often than with other models.
TCL 40S325 Smart Roku TV
Go big and go home
Kids these days won’t ever know the struggle of adjusting the TV antenna for the umpteenth time in an evening. Instead, smart TVs are designed to get you connected to your favorite shows in a matter of moments simply by hooking up to the WiFi. Nowadays, the only hurdle in setting up your new TV is the actual installation of the thing, which is why we love the TCL Smart Roku TV. Whether you mount it on your walls or stand it up using the included legs, this TV will let you tune in in no time. It also doesn’t hurt that the Roku interface is ready to connect to wifi as soon as you power it up, so you can binge-watch your favorite shows in no time.
Pros:
- Setting up this baby is as easy as standing it up, connecting to the internet, and logging into your favorite streaming services. Just have an Internet-connected device nearby to verify connections and wifi on the TV, and you’re good to go.
- If you’re not a fan of unnecessary apps clogging up your home screen, you’ll love that most of the bloatware that comes with this TV is removable.
Cons:
- The included remote is slightly tricky to figure out at first, mainly because the volume button is on the side of the remote.
Vizio VS55-J09 SmartCast TV
OLED heaven
While we’re all guilty of watching shows on our phones these days, nothing compares to seeing the action on the big screen. Fortunately, if you’re a film buff, you can take the cinema experience right into your own living room with a larger TV like this option by Vizio. Choose from a 58-, 65-, 70-, or 75-inch screen diameter for your 1080p viewing experience. And because this television uses the lightning-fast SmartCast system, you’ll be able to toss the image from your phone to your screen whenever you want.
Pros:
- We were blown away by the size of the screen and the low cost. With this pick, you don’t have to spend a fortune to bring the movie theatre experience into your living room.
- For a better sound experience, it’s easy to hook up a Vizio-compatible soundbar to make your audio larger than life.
Cons:
- The Smartcast app selection doesn’t include some popular apps like Spotify.
LG OLED55C1PUB OLED Smart TV
Move over LED screens, there’s a new screen technology in town, and it’s called OLED. Instead of using a backlight, an OLED screen has self-emitting pixels which turn on and off independently. This results in the highest contrast and richest colors available today. Blacks are blacker, whites are brighter, and the colors will truly sweep you off your feet. But despite all this power, an OLED Smart TV like this one by LG is just as slim and sophisticated on your walls as a standard LED model.
Pros:
- This TV is designed for next-generation gaming. With four HDMI ports, a 120Hz display, and a built-in Game Optimizer mode, this baby will take you to the next level no matter your console of choice.
- Not all televisions can handle the format requirements of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. Thankfully, though, if you’ve got a collection you’ve been hankering to watch, then this TV has you covered.
Cons:
- Due to its extremely high picture quality, this television costs significantly more than others on our list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a cable subscription for my smart TV?
Nope. That’s the whole beauty of these televisions. You’ll just need to connect them to your WiFi and then you’re good to go. But keep in mind that most streaming apps like Netflix and HBO still require their own subscription fees, even if they come pre-installed on your new TV.
My TV keeps disconnecting from my WiFi. What can I do?
While you should look at your particular user manual for more troubleshooting help, there are some general things you can try first. Unplug your TV and router to restart both systems for a few minutes. After replugging, try resetting the network settings to the default mode on the TV before scanning for your network to re-connect. Also, having the router in the same room as the smart TV can keep the connection going stronger, too.
About the Author
Why Trust Us
With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.