The Best Televisions
Television technology keeps progressing at a remarkable pace. If you're in the market for a new TV, there are plenty of options these days across various sizes and prices. You might want the largest, highest resolution screen available, or maybe color accuracy is your biggest concern. To help you narrow down your choices, we bring you this list of the top televisions on the market. We've covered a healthy diversity of different types of TVs. Read on to learn more and find your next entertainment centerpiece.
What to Look For
To find the best televisions on the market, we made sure to be thorough in our research. We made our top selections using these criteria: size, resolution, price, and extra features. Smart TVs are becoming increasingly common, such as the LG 80 series 4K TV. We recommend it for its crisp, beautiful screen, and unique ability to connect surround sound Bluetooth speakers. If you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, Samsung’s 1080p TV is a great choice. Keep reading for more of our in-depth reviews.
LG 80 Series 4K UHD Smart TV Alexa Built-in
Worthy of your home cinema
These days, just about every piece of household tech has some kind of smart feature, and this TV is no exception. It connects via WiFi to integrate with Alexa devices, so you can control the TV with voice commands. The speakers inside the TV are crystal clear by themselves, and you can even add two Bluetooth speakers for a quick and easy surround sound setup. And for Apple users, this TV has Airplay built right in.
Pros:
- With the 4K resolution, your content will look detailed and crisp on the beautiful UHD screen.
- You can use your phone as a remote. You can also mirror your phone or tablet screen on this TV.
- This TV has wide viewing angles. This makes it great for families with multiple seats at different angles — everyone can get a good view.
Cons:
- The UI is a bit clunky to navigate until you get used to it.
Amazon Fire TV 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV
Tech with intelligence
Long gone are the days of slowly clicking through channels to get to the one you want. Nowadays, you can just ask Alexa to do it instead with this 4K smart television. Its remote connects to Alexa and you can use your existing device or the remote itself to activate voice commands. If you use Amazon for media content, it couldn’t be easier to set up: simply connect to WiFi, login, and access all of your content. The display itself looks beautiful thanks to the 4K resolution and HDR compatibility. Plus, you can always fine-tune the color and brightness settings to your liking.
Pros:
- The TV is light enough to set up on a stand with just one person. If you want to install it on a wall, it also includes the standard VESA mounting holes and the screws needed, so you just need a VESA wall mount.
- The remote uses Bluetooth, so it can connect to different devices. For example, you can change the volume of a soundbar or connect to a Chromecast to control it.
Cons:
- The viewing angle is merely okay, topping out at about 40 degrees on either side before the image quality looks unacceptable.
Samsung 40-inch Class LED Smart FHD TV 1080P
Watch your budget
Finding a high-class television doesn’t have to break the bank. This 1080p TV from Samsung provides a great balance between image quality and price. It comes with plenty of features that more expensive models might include, such as Alexa compatibility and smart TV apps for streaming such as Hulu and Netflix. The streaming apps come preinstalled, so all you have to do is log in to watch your favorite movies and shows.
Pros:
- You can mirror your phone or tablet screen to this TV. It works whether you use an Apple or Android phone.
- This TV mounts to a wall easily thanks to its VESA mount holes. The power cord connects at a 90-degree angle so the TV can sit flush against a wall, whether mounted or on a stand.
Cons:
- There are only two HDMI ports, so you may need an external HDMI switcher for more devices.
Vizio 50-Inch M-Series 4K QLED HDR Smart TV
Pure eye candy
QLED TVs, such as this beautiful model from Vizio, use quantum dot LEDs to display rich colors and a vibrant, bright image. The M-series TV from Vizio also includes a fast processor for its smart TV apps and lightning-fast response time. If you’re a gamer, this TV works wonders with Xbox, Playstation, and PC gaming thanks to the HDMI ports. With FreeSync, the refresh rate can change to match your PC, making for a smooth image without screen tearing or stuttering. And for quick screen mirroring or media streaming, you can use Airplay or Chromecast.
Pros:
- The remote is small and intuitive. The app interface feels fluid, with quick load times and a clean UI.
- FreeSync compatibility makes this a great TV for PC gaming. FreeSync varies the TV’s refresh rate to match the FPS of your PC’s video output.
Cons:
- Not all apps can be installed on this TV.
LG C1 Series 4k OLED HDR Smart TV
A vision of the future
To get the darkest blacks and richest color contrast, nothing beats OLED. The C1 Series OLED TV from LG certainly proves this, looking stunning. And with a 120hz refresh rate, you’ll have smooth images without a hint of blurring or ghosting. This is particularly great for gaming and fast-paced action movies. Gamers will also appreciate the 1ms response time. When hooking up a PC or current-gen console, make sure you’re using a good HDMI 2.1 cable for maximum performance.
Pros:
- This TV has true UHD in 4K resolution. And even 1080p content looks amazing thanks to the high-class upscaling.
- The brightness clocks in at 409 nits, impressive for an OLED screen. The screen is less glossy than in previous versions so it still looks great in daylight.
Cons:
- OLED TVs may be susceptible to burn-in, which is when an image left on the screen for many hours gets “burned” into the screen permanently.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between OLED, QLED, and LCD?
LCD stands for liquid crystal display, and it uses a backlight through the LCD pane to produce the image. A QLED screen is similar, except it uses quantum dots for the pixels instead of the usual liquid crystal film. As a result, QLED screens usually have richer colors, but regular LCD screens can get brighter and have better viewing angles. OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode, where each pixel is a single point of light that can turn on or off and change color. This makes the blacks on OLED screens darker than on other screens because there is no backlight.
Should I get a 4K or 1080p TV?
If it fits your budget, we recommend going with a 4K TV. While 1080p looks great, it’s less vivid and detailed than a 4K screen. And for the ultimate viewing experience, we recommend 4K resolution with UHD and HDR10+ support.
About the Author
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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.