The Best TVs of 2024, Handpicked by a Tech Expert

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We’re well into the 2020s, and there’s never been a better time to upgrade your old TV for a sleek new one that, in addition to delivering a leap forward in picture quality, is packed with convenient extra features. Those include access to all the popular streaming services, tools for improving your gaming experience, and compatibility with your go-to virtual assistant, to name a few.

The TV market is chock full of great models across the entire price spectrum, so whether you are looking for a cheap upgrade or a home alternative to your local movie theater, options are plentiful. Such a cornucopia of choices can make picking the best TV a bit daunting, which is why I spent the past few weeks scrutinizing 2024 TVs from today’s leading brands.

For more advice on the best TVs, check out our coverage of the best OLED TVs, 4K TVs, and 65-inch TVs.

The Best TVs We Recommend

• Best Overall: TCL QM851

• Best Value: Hisense U8 Series

• Best Budget: TCL Q651

• Best OLED: LG C4 Series

• Best Roku TV: Roku Pro Series

• Best Samsung TV: Samsung S90D

What to Consider

Size

Some mainstream TVs are available in multiple screen sizes, ranging from 43 inch to a head-spinning 98 inches. TVs with 65-inch screens are deservedly popular and the best for most consumers, offering a good balance between immersive viewing, easy home integration (I’ve experienced many in a one-bedroom New York City apartment), and price.

Until not too long ago, TV models with 65-inch-plus screens had high price tags, but not anymore. Top-tier TVs with 65-inch screens now cost below $1,500, and larger 75-inch TVs are available for less than $2,000. Believe it or not, you can even get a 98-inch for around $2,000 instead of a five-digit sum.

Resolution and Refresh Rate

A TV with a 4K (UHD) screen is the best upgrade option at the moment. Content in this resolution is widely available across all streaming platforms for reasonable price points, so consider it a must.

Switching from an older 4K set to one of the latest models is worth it for the picture quality improvements. The difference is even more evident if you are ditching a Full HD TV because its screen has four times fewer pixels than a 4K unit. A Full HD resolution is acceptable only if you are shopping for a small and (very) cheap set.

TVs with stunningly sharp 8K screens, like this pricey 2024 Samsung, are also widely available. Still, I wouldn’t consider one because native content in this resolution isn’t widely available. You’d be better off spending on a similarly priced 4K TV.

When it comes to refresh rate, avid gamers should look for TVs whose screens support more than the industry-standard 60 hertz. A higher refresh rate—120 Hz, specifically—offers fast and smooth onscreen action.

A high refresh rate can also be beneficial for watching live sports, though that’s a matter of personal preference. I don’t recommend this feature to stream movies and series, as this content has been captured at lower refresh rates.

Display Type

Unless you are shopping on a tight budget, you should have a TV with an OLED or a mini-LED display on your radar. Featuring individually backlit pixels, OLED TVs deliver the best picture quality available, so they are worth the price premium over similarly sized non-OLED models. By producing deep contrast (their pixels switch off to display black color) and vibrant colors, these TVs can make even mundane scenes look amazing.

However, mini-LED TVs deserve your attention, as they deliver superior brightness to their OLED counterparts at a lower price tier for the same screen size. Thanks to a sophisticated backlighting setup with thousands of local dimming zones, the latest mini-LED offerings are not too far behind OLEDs in contrast, either. Their viewing angles are narrower than those of an OLED, but the higher peak brightness and the cheaper price can’t be ignored.

Commonly referred to as QLED, Quantum Dot is an important display feature to keep an eye out for, even if you are shopping for a TV on the cheap. Products whose screens have the tech offer more vibrant color and higher brightness than non-QLED rivals.

Peak brightness is a vital display feature to have on your radar when shopping for a TV. The luminosity is measured in nits, and I suggest you look for TVs with peak brightness that exceeds 1,000 nits, even if you are shopping on a tight budget. A higher peak brightness guarantees a better viewing experience with HDR-enhanced content, as well as superior picture quality in brightly lit spaces.

Connectivity

Regarding connectivity features, HDMI 2.1 and Wi-Fi 6 (or higher) are the two most important ones to look for in a spec sheet. The former ensures that your TV can sync perfectly with a top-tier gaming console like a Sony PlayStation 5 or a Microsoft Xbox Series X and treat you to smooth and hiccup-free gameplay. Futureproof Wi-Fi 6 or newer wireless connectivity ensures your TV can stream high-resolution content and reliably link up with other compatible devices on your home network, though not all of our picks below include this feature.

Today’s best TVs pack multiple HDMI ports, so you can easily link a soundbar and additional streaming players if you want. USB ports for additional accessories and a coaxial input for basic TV are also available.

Additional Features

Every new TV on this list runs a smart platform with access to all big-name streaming services, so you won’t have to worry about accessing your subscriptions. Support for Apple AirPlay and Google Chromecast for sharing content from a mobile device is also commonly available.

HDR-enhanced content has become common on all streaming services. I suggest you get a TV that supports all leading formats — Dolby Vision, HDR10/10+, and HLG — for movie buffs.

Look for Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit support if you want to integrate your TV into a smart home setup or control it directly with voice commands. If you don’t own or plan to invest in a soundbar or a surround sound system, be sure to order a TV with a multi-speaker setup and Dolby Atmos support. Thankfully, the functionality is available in many new sets.

With all the above features in mind, find your new home entertainment centerpiece among these TVs we vouch for.

How We Selected

My journey testing smart 4K TVs began almost a decade ago, so I’ve experienced the product category’s evolution practically in real time. For this guide, I handpicked sets from leading brands like Hisense, LG, Samsung, and TCL, among others. I zeroed in on futureproof products at various price points that offer amazing picture quality and handy onboard features to sustain you for years after making the big-ticket purchase.

QM851 4K TV (65-Inch)

A sequel to one of the best TVs to hit the shelves in 2023, the TCL QM851 4K TV is our top pick for most consumers, offering a mixture of elegant design, a bright mini-LED display panel with outstanding picture quality, and a feature-packed platform—all at a great price. The TV starts below $1,500 for a model with a 65-inch screen, so it’s quite a bargain considering the performance and onboard features it brings.

With thousands of local dimming zones and a peak brightness that can reach a head-spinning 5,000 nits (that's more than double that of pricier rivals), the mini-LED screen of the TCL QM851 can deliver a viewing experience that shatters the expectations set by its price category.

Experiencing its vibrant colors and deep contrast made me feel like I was viewing a costlier TV. The viewing angles can’t match those of an OLED TV, but I’d still take the TCL product for its vastly superior brightness and lower price.

Impressively, the TCL QM851 can produce a surprisingly powerful Dolby Atmos-enhanced sonic experience. Despite its slim build, the TV packs a sophisticated speaker setup tuned by the audio experts at Onkyo. The setup includes upward-firing audio drivers and a subwoofer, so it can rival many soundbars.

Unless you are willing to up your budget by $1,000 (or more) for the same screen size, this is your best option. TCL offers the QM851G with a 75- or 85-inch screen, as well as a movie theater-rivaling 98-inch panel.

Q651 4K TV (65-Inch)

The TCL Q651 4K TV is the best for upgraders on a tight budget. Priced below $500 for a version with a 65-inch screen, the product gets you a no-nonsense design with a slim display bezel, great picture quality for the money with support for all HDR content formats, and a feature-packed platform with seamless smart home integration.

Experiencing the TCL Q651 in a space with toned-down lighting and no reflections genuinely made me feel like I was viewing a 4K TV from a higher price tier. Its bright QLED display easily bested similarly priced big-name competitors by producing rich colors and deep contrast, especially with HDR-enhanced content. Its brightness and contrast are not on the same level as those of mini-LED-equipped TVs from the same maker, but the lower pricing more than makes up for these shortcomings.

Even though its display has a 60-Hz native refresh rate, the TCL Q651 can treat you to a high-quality gaming experience with an Xbox Series X or a Sony PlayStation 5. Equipped with HDMI 2.1, the TV supports variable refresh rate gameplay at up to a brisk 120-Hz.

You can order the TCL Q651 in multiple screen sizes, ranging from affordable 43-inch to properly cinematic 98-inch options. The latter costs $2,500, so it’s a relative steal for its size alone. Together with the 85-inch version, the 98-inch Q651 also has a panel with a 120-Hz native refresh rate.

Class U8 Series 4K TV (65-Inch)

The Hisense Class U8 Series 4K TV is one of today’s best and a formidable competitor to our top pick—the TCL QM851. Just like its direct TCL rival, the Hisense TV delivers an amalgam of elegant design, a bright mini-LED panel with superb picture quality, good sound for its size, and a wide array of connectivity features to go with an agreeable price tag.

In addition, the U8 Series is cheaper than the TCL QM851, as well as covered by a longer two-year warranty. You can also order it with a smaller 55-inch screen, unlike its rival that has a 65-inch panel in entry-level guise. The starter Hisense U8 Series starts around $1,500, so it’s a decent deal given its specs and performance.

That said, because it packs a brighter display panel with more local dimming zones, the TCL QM851 can produce a brighter picture with more vibrant colors and deeper contrast. Its higher peak brightness makes it more suitable for spaces with bright ambient lighting, though you’ll need an extreme scenario to notice such an advantage.

Hisense U8 Series variants with 75- and 85-inch screens are available for those who need a more immersive viewing experience. Regardless of your selection, you’ll get the best TV per dollar, bar none.

C4 Series 4K OLED TV (65-Inch)

LG has rightfully been synonymous with top-tier OLED TVs for many years, and the latest C4 Series by the tech giant is a great upgrade for buyers who can fit its hefty price tag into their upgrade budget. Its display panel with millions of individually backlit pixels can deliver a captivating picture with vivid colors, infinite contrast, and thanks to LG’s proprietary OLED evo tech, strong brightness.

The OLED evo display’s brightness, while far from the peak levels of a mini-LED panel, is higher than the luminance of the LG C3 Series. It allows the follow-up to deliver an even more immersive HDR viewing experience, including in spaces with bright ambient lighting. Still, considering how reflective the panel is, I’d try to keep it away from indoor lighting or a window.

Another big reason to consider the LG C4 Series is that the product is a gaming powerhouse. Its built-in NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium support make it ideal for pairing not only with an Xbox Series X and a PlayStation 5, but also a gaming laptop or desktop computer.

What’s more, the TV’s feature-rich webOS platform offers access to NVIDIA GeForce NOW cloud gaming, so all you need is an external controller to enjoy high-resolution gameplay with smooth refresh rates.

In a manner befitting its price category, the LG C4 Series TV has a beautiful design, a capable speaker system for its form factor, and support for all leading smart home connectivity standards. And unlike its rivals, the 4K TV is available in multiple screen sizes, ranging from compact 42- and 48-inch to massive 77- and 83-inch.

Pro Series 4K TV (65-Inch)

Developed in-house by Roku, the Pro Series TV is unsurprisingly the best to run the platform and an equally excellent upgrade for first-time users and the longtime faithful. It is capable of delivering excellent picture quality and top-notch sound for its form factor. And since it runs a platform that has been a longtime favorite among consumers, it's easy to use, even for first-time smart TV users.

The mini-LED display panel of the Roku Pro Series TV produces vibrant colors and deep contrast, courtesy of multiple local dimming zones. I like that the product has a setting dubbed Roku Smart Picture Max, which can optimize any content for its screen, saving time digging through settings menus.

Another big reason to consider this TV is its refined design and clever cable management setup with integrated velcro straps. The handy bits make it ideal for wall mounting. Another thing that impressed me was the option to adjust the height of its stand without the need to use a screwdriver.

Roku’s backlit remote with rechargeable battery is another major product draw, as it’s intuitive and easy to locate if lost. The TV has a button for locating the essential accessory, and I reckon it’ll be a lifesaver for many.

You can choose between 55-, 65-, and 75-inch versions of the Roku Pro Series. Similarly priced rivals from Hisense and TCL can get you higher peak brightness and deeper contrast, but the refined design and intuitive platform make Roku’s product worth considering.

S90D 4K OLED TV (65-inch)

Samsung’s TV lineup spans across the entire price spectrum. Depending on your preferences and upgrade budget, you can choose between an affordable big-screen option like the DU8000 Series or a best-in-class outdoor TV with a five-digit price tag like The Terrace—and everything in between.

The Samsung S90D 4K OLED TV is my top pick in the tech giant’s 2024 range, offering a blend of elegant design, amazing picture quality, top-notch sound, and a platform that’s chock full of handy features,.

As expected from a mid-2020s OLED TV, the Samsung S90D delivers a viewing experience worthy of its hefty price tag. Its stellar brightness, vibrant colors, and infinite contrast make any moment spent viewing it enjoyable, including in brightly lit spaces. Better yet, the TV’s AI-powered upscaling tech makes even lower-resolution content look better.

In a compulsory head-to-head comparison with the LG C4 OLED TV, the Samsung S90D deserves your attention for its upscaling tech, more immersive out-of-the-box sound with clever object tracking, and sleeker remote with solar battery.

Its Tizen OS platform, in addition to a great selection of apps and cloud-based gaming services, provides superb integration with Samsung Galaxy phones, tablets, and laptops. If it weren’t for its lack of Dolby Vision support, the S90D would have been my top OLED pick.

Samsung offers the S90D in many screen size options: from 42-inch all the way to an 83-inch. Go for the Samsung S95D 4K TV if your budget has no limits. Its glare-free OLED screen can deliver a stunning picture with no reflections in any lighting scenario.

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