Also: The best movies and shows to stream right now But before you invest, you need to research the best smart TVs – that’s where I can help. I scoured the market and compared prices and features to find the very best smart TVs for your home or office, whether you want to watch movies, sports events, or your favorite YouTube videos. My top picks come from brands like TCL, Hisense, LG, Samsung, and Sony. Check out the best smart TVs according to ZDNET experts below. Also:
The best OLED TVs (and why they’re so expensive)Is a 55-inch TV big enough for your room, and which is the best?What are the best 65-inch TVs? Plus, OLED and QLED explainedThe best 85-inch TVs
If you are looking for a specific size, check out our picks for the best 50-inch TVs, best 65-inch TVs, and best 85-inch TVs. The A95L is part of Sony’s newest line-up of TVs for 2023, and is one of the best smart TVs you can buy right now. ZDNET’s Rebecca Isaacs got the opportunity to see the A95L OLED TV up close at the debut event, calling it “Sony’s new crown jewel.” On top of excellent picture quality from the updated OLED panel, you’ll also get room-filling, virtual surround sound with Dolby Atmos and Sony’s Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology; which also turns the entire screen into a speaker for near-perfect video and audio syncing. Movie buffs will love the IMAX Enhanced and Netflix Adaptive Calibrated modes which automatically analyze movies and shows scene-by-scene to boost color accuracy, contrast, and detailing so you can watch your favorites as they were meant to be seen. It’s also optimized for console gaming with the PlayStation 5, featuring VRR technology to reduce screen tearing and stuttering as well as a 120Hz native refresh rate for smoother playback. And if you’re looking for ways to make your living room or home theater a bit more eco-friendly, the A95L has an Eco Dashboard, which shows all of your energy efficiency settings in a single screen so you can monitor and change things on-the-fly. TCL has become king of the budget-friendly smart TVs, and the 55S555 is no exception. The 55-inch screen uses a QLED panel for better contrast, detailing, and color than previous TCL models. It also supports Dolby Vision and HDR10/10+ for even sharper, more lifelike images while Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Plus work together to create virtual surround sound that creates a more immersive experience. Console gamers will love the support for AMD FreeSync VRR technology to prevent annoying screen tearing and stuttering, as well as the dedicated game mode that automatically adjusts picture settings and input latency. It also integrates Alexa, Hey Google, and Siri for hands-free voice controls over your TV and connected devices, or you can download the companion Roku app and turn your tablet or smartphone into a voice-enabled remote. The Samsung S95C is a TV that was practically made for gaming. The new Samsung Gaming Hub supports cloud-based gaming via Xbox Game Pass and Nvidia GeForce Now. It also integrates Twitch, YouTube, and Spotify so you can quickly pull up playlists for Chill Beats to Game To, walkthrough videos for tough puzzles and bosses, or live streams of your favorite eSports pros and let’s players. The S95C also has 4 HDMI ports, letting you set up multiple gaming consoles at once and easily switch between them. It’s also compatible with Samsung’s Slim One Connect, which lets you use a single cable to connect multiple devices for a cleaner-looking, more organized gaming space. The incredibly thin design also means that you can choose either flush wall mounting or a less bulky TV stand for placement options, which is good news for anyone with a gaming room that’s on the smaller side. You’ll get incredible audio and virtual surround sound with support for Dolby Atmos and Samsung’s Object Tracking Sound+ for a more immersive experience. And if you have a Samsung soundbar, the Q Symphony feature allows it to work in tandem with the TV’s integrated speakers for richer, more clear audio. Are you looking for a true big-screen TV to bring your home theater to the next level? The new X90L from Sony features an impressive 98-inch screen, which means it will absolutely be the focal point of any room you place it in. We all know that size isn’t everything, so Sony packed this TV with all kinds of great features like voice controls via Alexa, Hey Google, and Siri for hands-free use of your TV and connected devices. It also works with Dolby Vision for crisp details, deep contrast, and more vivid colors as well as Dolby Atmos for virtual surround sound. It has a Voice Zoom 2 feature which boosts dialogue in movies and shows so you never miss a line, and Sony’s Acoustic Multi-Audio technology turns the whole screen into a speaker for near-perfect video and audio syncing. With the Google TV platform, you’ll get a suite of preloaded, popular apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video so you can start streaming right out of the box; but you’ll also get access to thousands of other apps to turn your TV into a true entertainment hub. And with Chromecast built-in, you can share photos, videos, and music from your mobile devices for more ways to entertain family and friends. If you’re willing to spend big in order to get the best of the best when it comes to smart TVs, the LG G3 OLED is an excellent option. This new iteration of the G-series features an updated OLED panel for a brighter picture than previous offerings from LG as well as a sixth-generation a9 processor. The processor works with artificial intelligence to analyze movies and shows scene-by-scene for the best upscaling, color, contrast, and detailing. It works with Dolby Vision for enhanced picture quality as well as Dolby Atmos for virtual surround sound. The G3 also automatically calibrates audio settings by monitoring ambient room sound and adjusts to deliver consistently clear audio. Console gamers will love the support for both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium VRR technology, while film buffs will appreciate the Filmmaker Mode which allows you to see new and classic movies as they were meant to be. And when you’re not actively using your new TV, you can switch to the art gallery mode to display photos, videos, and paintings for your own personal, curated art show.
Quality: I consider image quality, as well as factors like resolution, refresh rate, and sound to ensure an overall stellar performance.Features: Some smart TVs have Bluetooth connectivity and voice assistants incorporated into their design. You may even connect one to your smart home hub.Cost: Budget is always at the forefront, so I chose the best smart TVs that accommodate a variety of budgets.
