Updated 2026-08-26 · 8 min read · No paid placements
Best TVs 2026
OLED when you can. Mini-LED when you have a bright room. Size before brand mythology.
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Buy size first. A superb 55-inch from 10 feet is a worse TV than a very good 77-inch. Then buy the panel that matches your room: OLED for dark-ish living rooms, Mini-LED for sun-blasted ones.
LG still owns OLED as a product line. Samsung still owns bright LCD/Mini-LED and the anti-glare tricks. Sony still owns processing if you watch films, not sports tickers.
Also searched as best OLED TV
- 1. LG C-series OLED (C5/C6 class)9.4
- 2. Sony Bravia 8 / 9 class OLED9.3
- 3. Samsung S90 / S95 QD-OLED9.2
- 4. Samsung QN90 / QN900 Mini-LED9.0
- 5. TCL QM8 / QM851G class8.8
- 6. LG G-series Gallery OLED9.1
- 7. Hisense U8 / U9 Mini-LED8.6
- 8. Sony Mini-LED Bravia 7 / 9 LCD8.9
- 9. Panasonic OLED (current Z/MZ)8.7
- 10. Amazon Fire TV Omni / cheap 4K7.6
Rank 01 · LG · Best OLED
LG C-series OLED (C5/C6 class)
The default OLED. Games, films, and a webOS that still has the apps. Buy last year's C on sale if the new one is a tax.
9.4
Editor's pick
From $1,399
WOLED is a known quantity. Brightness keeps climbing. Burn-in is a footnote if you watch mixed content.
Who it's for. Living rooms that can go dim.
Skip if. Conservatory sun. Get Mini-LED.
- + Contrast
- + Gaming
- + Processing enough
- − Brightness vs QD-OLED / Mini-LED
- − Burn-in anxiety
- − Stand is ugly
- Panel
- WOLED
- OS
- webOS
Rank 02 · Sony · Best processing
Sony Bravia 8 / 9 class OLED
The film TV. Cognitive Processor still makes 24p look like a cinema, not a soap opera if you turn that off.
9.3
Excellent
From $1,799
Sony's motion and upscaling remain the reason to pay over LG. Gaming is good; it is not the ROG TV.
Who it's for. Movies, sports that aren't a blur, Apple TV owners.
Skip if. Need max nits in a sunroom.
- + Processing
- + Motion
- + Sound (some stands)
- − Price
- − Brightness vs Samsung
- − Apps vs webOS taste
- Panel
- OLED
- Strength
- Processing
Rank 03 · Samsung
Samsung S90 / S95 QD-OLED
Colour volume that makes WOLED look polite. Anti-glare coatings on the right SKUs are the bright-room OLED cheat code.
9.2
Excellent
From $1,499
QD-OLED brightness and colour. Tizen is fine. TV Plus ads are the tax.
Who it's for. Bright-ish rooms, colour maniacs.
Skip if. Hate Samsung's smart TV upsells.
- + Colour
- + Brightness for OLED
- + Gaming
- − Ads / Tizen
- − Burn-in still a thing
- − Price
- Panel
- QD-OLED
- OS
- Tizen
Rank 04 · Samsung · Best bright room
Samsung QN90 / QN900 Mini-LED
When OLED is the wrong physics. Halo-ing exists; so does a picture you can see at noon.
9.0
Excellent
From $1,599
Mini-LED done seriously. Sports and daytime news. Not the same magic as OLED blacks.
Who it's for. Sun-facing sofas.
Skip if. Dedicated dark cinema — OLED.
- + Nits
- + No OLED burn-in
- + Sport
- − Blooming
- − Not OLED blacks
- − Weight
- Panel
- Mini-LED
- Use
- Bright rooms
Rank 05 · TCL · Best value Mini-LED
TCL QM8 / QM851G class
80% of the expensive Mini-LED. Google TV. A panel that makes 65-inch possible for mortals.
8.8
Great buy
From $799
TCL's high Mini-LED counts keep embarrassing incumbents on price. QC and processing are the gap.
Who it's for. Size on a budget.
Skip if. Need reference film — Sony/LG.
- + Price/size
- + Brightness
- + Google TV
- − Processing
- − Motion
- − Support
- Panel
- Mini-LED
- OS
- Google TV
Rank 06 · LG
LG G-series Gallery OLED
The flush-mount OLED. Brighter, prettier on a wall, priced like art. Buy C if it will sit on a stand.
9.1
Excellent
From $2,499
MLA/brightness tricks and a wall-first design. Same family as C, more money.
Who it's for. Wall installs, bright OLED needs.
Skip if. TV on a cheap stand — C-series.
- + Brightness
- + Design
- + Gaming
- − Price
- − You will mount it
- − Overkill on a trolley
- Line
- G Gallery
Rank 07 · Hisense
Hisense U8 / U9 Mini-LED
Aggressive nits, aggressive price. Google TV. The other TCL.
8.6
Great buy
From $699
If TCL is out of stock. Film mode is 'fine'. Sport is the use case.
Who it's for. Daytime living rooms on a budget.
Skip if. Reference dark-room film.
- + Price
- + Brightness
- + Size
- − Processing
- − Blooming
- − Brand stigma that is now outdated
- Panel
- Mini-LED
Rank 08 · Sony
Sony Mini-LED Bravia 7 / 9 LCD
Sony processing on a bright LCD. The 'I have windows' cinephile TV.
8.9
Great buy
From $1,499
If you want Sony's picture without OLED risk. Still costs Sony money.
Who it's for. Bright rooms, films.
Skip if. Need OLED pop in a cave.
- + Processing
- + Brightness
- + Motion
- − Not OLED
- − Price
- − Weight
- Panel
- Mini-LED
Rank 09 · Panasonic
Panasonic OLED (current Z/MZ)
The European cinephile OLED. Filmmaker modes that mean it. Fewer gamer brag sheets.
8.7
Great buy
From $1,699
If you calibrate. If you game at 144Hz as a lifestyle, LG is easier.
Who it's for. Movies in the EU/UK especially.
Skip if. Need the most HDMI 2.1 toys.
- + Film modes
- + Colour
- + Build
- − Gaming extras
- − Availability US
- − Price
- Panel
- OLED
- Strength
- Calibrated film
Rank 10 · Amazon
Amazon Fire TV Omni / cheap 4K
A 4K panel with ads. Fine for a guest room. Not a 'best TV'. On the list because people buy them.
7.6
Contender
From $299
Price and Alexa. Picture is '4K exists'.
Who it's for. Secondary rooms.
Skip if. Main sofa.
- + Price
- + Alexa
- − Ads
- − Panel
- − Motion
- OS
- Fire TV
Questions people actually ask
OLED or Mini-LED?
OLED for contrast and film. Mini-LED if the room is bright or you park static news tickers 20 hours a day.
What size TV should I buy?
Sit where you sit, measure, then go one size up from your fear. 65 is the 2026 default living room. 55 is a bedroom.
Do I need 144Hz?
For consoles and PC, the extra Hz and VRR matter. For Netflix, 120Hz OLED is already luxury.
Which OS?
webOS and Google TV get apps. Tizen is fine. Cheap Roku TVs are a panel with ads.