The 6 Best TVs of 2026  

Updated May 22, 2026 at 08:23 pm
Best TVs
 48

If you find yourself searching for a new TV and become overwhelmed by the number of options, you can easily narrow your search by looking for the best option based on your price range. Whether it's a high-end model or a cheaper TV, we perform over 350 rigorous tests that inform which models we recommend for most people, since our testing helps us determine how a TV performs across a wide variety of uses.

Although many 2026 models are now available to purchase, you may not see them in this article until the latter half of the year, since they're very expensive near release and most of them don't offer a big improvement over their 2025 predecessors. Right now is a great time to buy a 2025 model, since they're on sale for much cheaper than the newer versions.

Below are our picks for the best TVs on the market, depending on your budget. To learn more about the newest models, check out our 2026 TV lineup page. You can also vote on which new models you want us to buy and test. Also, take a look at our picks for the best TV brands, the best gaming TVs, and the best budget TVs.

How We Test TVs
How We Test TVs

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.

  1. Best TV

    If you're looking for a TV that does it all, the Samsung S95F OLED is the best TV currently available. It offers a complete package of top-tier image quality, gaming features, and versatility. This QD-OLED model displays unrivaled colors that are rich, accurate, bright, and incredibly vivid. It also displays inky blacks alongside bright highlights, so HDR content looks incredible in dark rooms. Many OLEDs struggle with reflections in bright rooms, but this model's impressive matte screen coating means reflections are a non-issue, even in the brightest spaces. If you have a large room with seating off to the sides, this TV is a perfect fit, as its image quality remains consistent even when viewed from an angle. 

    The TV's superb image quality makes games look amazing, and it's also equipped with a ton of modern gaming features. It has four HDMI 2.1 ports that are capable of 4k @ 165Hz with VRR, so it pairs excellently with modern consoles and gaming PCs. Additionally, the TV features nearly instantaneous pixel transitions, ensuring that fast motion is crystal clear. Some home theater enthusiasts might be put off by the TV's lack of Dolby Vision support. However, on a TV this bright, the benefits of Dolby Vision aren't as noticeable, and you still get the very similar HDR10+. The TV comes with Samsung's external Slim One Connect Box, which offers you a versatile way to plug in your devices. 

  2. Best Upper Mid-Range TV

    If the Samsung S95F OLED is out of your price range, but you still want something comparable, the LG C5 OLED is a fantastic option. Colors aren't as vivid as they can be on a QD-OLED like the S95F, but they're still vibrant enough to look punchy. The TV has the same inky blacks as any OLED, and it's very bright in HDR, so it performs excellently in darker spaces like a home theater. It's a good option for rooms with some lights on, too, since it's bright enough to handle some glare. However, it struggles more in well-lit spaces, since reflections are visible on the screen. Fortunately, blacks remain incredibly deep in a bright room, so you're not giving up much image quality if you're not in a dark space. It even has a wide viewing angle, making it a great option for larger spaces.

    It's fully compatible with modern gaming consoles thanks to its four HDMI 2.1 ports, up to 4k @ 144Hz, and VRR. Motion is super clear thanks to its nearly instantaneous response times, so you don't have to deal with motion blur in fast-paced games. The TV supports the popular Dolby Vision format, so you can get the most out of your 4k Blu-rays if you collect them. However, it doesn't support HDR10+. 

  3. Best Mid-Range TV

    If the OLED models above are too expensive, or you would just rather have a Mini LED model, the TCL QM8K is an excellent choice. It's one of the best Mini LED TVs on the market, and it offers great versatility. While it doesn't match the perfect blacks of OLEDs, it gets surprisingly close due to its very effective local dimming, delivering bold blacks with minimal haloing around subtitles and highlights. It's a great choice for a home theater, but this TV also stands out as one of the brightest on the market and offers solid reflection handling, making it ideal for bright rooms. With its wide range of bright and punchy colors, it's a versatile option that looks great in any setting.

    The TV has only two HDMI 2.1 ports, which may limit those with multiple gaming consoles. However, these two ports support 4K @ 144Hz, 1080p @ 288Hz, and VRR, so you can take advantage of your modern gaming console or PC. Additionally, the TV supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10+, ensuring you're covered regardless of the HDR format your content uses. The viewing angle is decent for setups where the seating is slightly angled from the screen, but image quality starts to degrade at more extreme angles, which can make it less ideal for very large rooms.

  4. Best Lower Mid-Range TV

    Current Deal: The TCL QM7K has dropped in price by $200.00 at amazon.com.
    SEE DEAL

    If the TCL QM8K fits your needs, but it's out of your price range, you can go with the cheaper TCL QM7K and still get a great TV overall. While it's a bit dimmer than TCL's higher-end model, it's still bright enough to handle glare in well-lit rooms. Black levels aren't quite as good, but blacks still look bold and impressive, especially in darker environments, though there's a bit more haloing around highlights and subtitles. The TV isn't as bright as the QM8K in HDR, but it still delivers bright highlights that stand out well enough for an impactful HDR experience, especially when paired with its vibrant colors. Its viewing angle is relatively narrow, so it's best to sit directly in front of the screen for the best experience.

    Beyond its solid image quality, this model offers the same set of modern gaming features as the QM8K. With two HDMI 2.1 ports, support for 4K @ 144Hz, 1080p @ 288Hz, and VRR, it's a great choice for both console and PC gamers. It also supports both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, so you're set no matter which HDR format your content uses. If you're looking for an option that delivers solid performance and a wealth of features without breaking the bank, the QM7K is a fantastic choice.

  5. Best Budget TV

    If you like the gaming features found on the TCL QM7K, but can't stretch your budget, you can safely step down to the TCL QM6K. It has the same set of features as the more expensive model, so you still get two HDMI 2.1 ports, 4k @ 144Hz, 1080p @ 288Hz, VRR, and relatively quick pixel transitions. Like the QM7K, it has a narrow viewing angle, so you want to be seated directly in front of the screen to enjoy the best possible image quality.

    Unfortunately, you don't get the same level of image quality as the higher-end model, but it's still pretty good. Colors are more muted on this model, but they don't look desaturated, so you still enjoy somewhat vibrant and pleasing colors. Blacks aren't as bold, but they're still deep enough to add depth to the image, especially for a budget model. Sadly, the TV is noticeably dimmer in HDR, so highlights don't stand out as much, but it still provides a decent HDR experience. On the other hand, the TV is suitably bright in SDR for use in well-lit rooms, provided there are no direct light sources facing the screen. If you're looking for the most affordable TV that is loaded with features and still offers decent image quality, this is the TV to get.

  6. Best Cheap TV

    It's not the best TV in the world, but if you want something cheap that gets the job done, the Hisense QD6QF is a good option. This is the only LED TV on our list without local dimming, so blacks appear grayish, resulting in a slightly flat image. Bright colors look muted, and dark colors aren't very rich, but since the TV still displays a wide range of colors, the image doesn't look lifeless. Unfortunately, it's too dim in HDR for highlights to truly stand out, so HDR content looks lackluster. The TV is just bright enough to use in a room with a few overhead lights on without being distracted by reflections, but visibility is an issue in bright rooms.

    Even though you won't find HDMI 2.1 or many other modern gaming features on this model, it still supports 1440p @ 120Hz with VRR, but keep in mind that the TV's input lag is very high when gaming at 120Hz, which holds back its usefulness. You can also game in 4k @ 60Hz if you prefer a more detailed image and lower input lag. Unfortunately, pixel transitions are a bit slow, so fast motion is quite blurry. Anyone regularly playing PVP shooters or other fast titles should probably look elsewhere, but it's fine for more casual gamers playing slower games.

Notable Mentions

  • LG G5 OLED: 

    The LG G5 OLED competes with the Samsung S95F OLED. The LG is no slouch when it comes to displaying colors or handling reflections, but the Samsung still edges it out in both. Unfortunately, the LG has minor issues in some dark scenes that will bother enthusiasts, so the Samsung is the safer choice.

     See our review
  • Samsung S90F OLED: 

    The Samsung S90F OLED competes with the LG C5 OLED. The LG is the more versatile model, since it's better for bright rooms, has superior processing, and supports the popular Dolby Vision format. However, the Samsung offers more vibrant colors if you get one of the sizes with a QD-OLED panel, so it's a great choice if that's what you prioritize.

     See our review
  • LG B5 OLED: 

    The LG B5 OLED is an alternative to the TCL QM8K if you're not in a bright room and prefer the inky blacks, superior motion clarity, and wide viewing angle OLEDs offer. However, the TCL outshines the LG overall with its significantly brighter panel, more well-rounded feature set, and versatility.

     See our review
  • Hisense U75QG: 

    The Hisense U75QG is similar to the TCL QM7K, but it offers better peak brightness. Unfortunately, the Hisense overbrightens HDR content and has more apparent motion blur. Since the TCL offers clearer motion and has superior contrast, it's the better TV overall.

     See our review
  • Hisense U65QF: 

    The Hisense U65QF is a brighter alternative to the TCL QM6K. Unfortunately, the Hisense really overbrightens HDR content, so it doesn't stay true to the content creator's intent. The TCL offers the more complete package, with better black levels, superior accuracy, 1080p @ 288Hz, and lower input lag.

     See our review
  • TCL S551G: 

    The TCL S551G is an alternative to the Hisense QD6QF. The Hisense offers superior image quality, making it the better option for most people. However, the 120Hz mode TCL offers has much lower input lag, making it a good option for budget-conscious gamers who prefer performance over image quality.

     See our review

Recent Updates

  1.  May 22, 2026: 

    We replaced the Samsung S90F OLED with the LG C5 OLED in the 'Best Upper Mid-Range' category and moved the S90F to the Notable Mentions. We also revised text throughout the article for clarity.

  2.  May 08, 2026: 

    We mentioned the Samsung S95H OLED in the 'Best TV' section and the Samsung S90H OLED in the 'Best Upper Mid-Range' section.

  3.  Mar 27, 2026: 

    We confirmed the accuracy and availability of our current picks.

  4.  Feb 04, 2026: 

    We updated some text throughout the article for clarity and confirmed that our picks are still valid.

  5.  Dec 12, 2025: 

    Confirmed the accuracy and availability of our current picks.

All Reviews

Our recommendations above are what we think is currently the best TV to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (a cheaper TV wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, 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.