TVs marketed as 'QLED' have been around for over a decade, but just what does it mean, and how should you choose the best one for your needs? Simply put, the 'Q' in QLED refers to TVs that use quantum dots to enhance colors, while the 'LED' refers to the backlight technology. Other manufacturers offer TVs with very vibrant colors without using quantum dots, but when a TV is branded as a 'QLED,' it almost always delivers great colors. A good QLED model also usually excels when it comes to peak brightness, making them suitable for use in bright rooms. Most newer models also use Mini LED backlighting, allowing them to deliver deeper, more uniform black levels in dark scenes. Most premium TVs released in 2026 have started moving away from QLED, switching to RGB Mini LED backlights that completely eliminate the QLED layer.
QLEDs aren't the only TVs to use quantum dots to enhance colors, so check out our article about how QLEDs stack up against QD-OLEDs if you're trying to decide which TV technology is right for you. Below are our recommendations for the best QLED TVs you can buy. Also, see our picks for the best LED TVs, the best TVs, and the best bright room TVs. You can also vote on which new models you want us to buy and test. To learn more about the new models coming out this year, check out our 2026 TV lineup page.
We buy and test dozens of TVs yearly, taking an objective, data-driven approach to deliver results you can trust. Our testing process is complex, with hundreds of individual tests that take over a week to complete. Most of our tests use specially designed test patterns that mimic real content, but we also use the same sources you have at home to ensure our results match the real-world experience. We use two main tools for our testing: a Colorimetry Research CR-100 colorimeter and a CR-250 spectroradiometer.
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Best QLED TV
Mixed UsageHome TheaterBright RoomSportsGamingBrightnessBlack LevelColorMotion HandlingGame Mode ResponsivenessProcessing (In Development)Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:144HzScreen Finish:GlossyPanel Type:LCDSub-Type:VADolby Vision:YesSee all our test resultsSizes:75" 85" 98"The TCL X11L is the best QLED TV we've tested. It's an excellent TV overall, with superb picture quality thanks to its incredibly high peak brightness and excellent local dimming system. Its one of the few 2026 flagship models to still make use of quantum dot layers. Instead of RGB Mini LED backlighting, it uses an improved type of quantum dots that offer better color saturation than any other QLED TV out there. It's also one of the brightest TVs ever made, resulting in an incredibly-impactful movie-watching experience.
It has all of the bells and whistles you'd expect from a premium flagship TV. There are four HDMI 2.1 bandwidth ports, so you can take full advantage of the latest gaming consoles or a high-end gaming PC. It has a high refresh rate, low input lag, and VRR support to help reduce tearing. It's powered by the Google TV smart interface, which is fast and easy to use, and has a huge selection of streaming apps. It's only available starting at a 75-inch size, though, so you should consider a different model if you're in a smaller space.
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Best Mid-Range QLED TV
Mixed UsageHome TheaterBright RoomSportsGamingBrightnessBlack LevelColorMotion HandlingGame Mode ResponsivenessProcessing (In Development)Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:165HzScreen Finish:MattePanel Type:LCDSub-Type:VADolby Vision:YesSee all our test resultsSizes:55" 65" 75" 85" 100"The Hisense U7SG is the best mid-range QLED TV we've tested. Going with a mid-range model comes with a few tradeoffs, but not as much as you'd expect. While it's nowhere near as bright as the X11L, it still delivers great picture quality, with high peak brightness and bright, vibrant colors. It also has a much better anti-reflective coating than the TCL, making it much easier to see dim scenes in a bright room.
The Hisense U7SG is also a gaming powerhouse, with low input lag and a very wide selection of gaming features. It can take full advantage of the latest consoles like the PS5 Pro or Switch 2, but it also offers a very high refresh rate mode for PC gamers. Its matte anti-reflective coating is great for daytime viewing, as glare from direct reflections is barely noticeable, but not everyone enjoys the matte finish as it gives the TV a slightly hazy look.
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Best Budget QLED TV
Mixed UsageHome TheaterBright RoomSportsGamingBrightnessBlack LevelColorMotion HandlingGame Mode ResponsivenessProcessing (In Development)Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:144HzScreen Finish:GlossyPanel Type:LCDSub-Type:VADolby Vision:YesSee all our test resultsSizes:55" 65" 75" 85" 98"If you like the features of the Hisense U7SG but need something more budget-friendly, the TCL QM6K is the best budget option. It doesn't use a full-fledged quantum dot layer like the other models on our list, but colors still look vibrant enough that the image doesn't look dull or lifeless. Blacks aren't as bold, but since the TV has local dimming, they're still deep enough to give solid depth to the image, especially in a dark room. However, there's visible haloing: the area around highlights and subtitles glows, causing them to bleed into surrounding blacks.
It has worse image processing than the U7SG, so upscaled content like DVDs is noticeably softer, but it does a great job smoothing out low-quality content like streaming channels. Luckily, you still get the same core gaming features found in its more expensive counterparts, as it still has two HDMI 2.1 ports, support for 4k @ 144Hz, 1080p @ 288Hz, and VRR. For movie fans, you still get Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and DTS audio passthrough, which is great for a budget model.
Notable Mentions
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Sony BRAVIA 9:
The Sony BRAVIA 9 is a great QLED TV. It's a bit cheaper than the TCL X11L with similar overall performance. It's also a few years old now, and it's increasingly hard to find.
See our review -
TCL QM7K:
The TCL QM7K is similarly priced to the Hisense U7SG, but it has worse processing and much lower peak brightness.
See our review -
Hisense U65QF:
The Hisense U65QF competes with the TCL QM6K but offers more brightness. However, the Hisense really overbrightens HDR content, so it doesn't stay true to the content creator's intent. The TCL offers a more well-rounded experience, with better black levels, superior accuracy, 1080p @ 288Hz, and lower input lag.
See our review
Recent Updates
Sep 11, 2026:
We replaced the Sony BRAVIA 9 with the TCL X11L, as the Sony is a few years old and becoming harder to find. We also replaced the TCL QM7K with the Hisense U7SG, as the Hisense is brighter and has better processing for about the same price, so the QM7K was moved to a Notable Mention instead.
Jun 12, 2026:
We replaced the TCL QM8K with the Hisense U7SG, as it delivers similar performance for less. We also updated the text throughout for clarity.
Mar 19, 2026:
We removed the 'Best QD-OLED TV' category to make the article focus specifically on QLED models. We also updated some text throughout the article for clarity.
Nov 18, 2025:
We confirmed the accuracy of our current picks and ensured all products are in stock.
Aug 27, 2025:
Replaced the Samsung S90D with the Samsung S95F, the Hisense U8N with the TCL QM8K, the Hisense U7N with the TCL QM7K, and the Hisense U6N with the TCL QM6K. We dropped the 'Best Cheap QLED' category, since there are no current cheap models that actually utilize quantum dot technology. Finally, we updated the Notable Mentions section with newer models.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best QLED televisions to buy for most people, depending on your budget and needs. Our recommendations factor in the price (a cheaper TV wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it) and availability (no TVs that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our TV reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no TV is perfect, most TVs are great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them. Also, keep in mind that our scores aren't comparable across different test benches, so the older TVs in the list below score higher than they would today.