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Best for Most
TCL Q6
For Higher-End Features
Hisense U8H
Best Entry-Level TV
Roku Plus Series
Another Great Mid-Tier TV
Vizio M-Series Quantum X (2022)
Saving up for a new screen? To help you navigate the dozens of seemingly identical TV models from Samsung, LG, Vizio, TCL, Sony, and other manufacturers, we’ve watched hundreds of hours of content on them and picked a few of our favorites. We’ve listed everything from the very best TV to the best budget set you can buy—and a few excellent choices in between.
All of these models have a 4K Ultra HD pixel resolution (and some have 8K), because there aren’t a lot of good reasons to buy a standard HDTV anymore. TVs now come with wonderful displays, but they’re terrible at audio and can have lackluster interfaces, so you should also invest in a good soundbar and a TV streaming stick if you can’t find the app you want. If you’re unfamiliar with much of the lingo TV manufacturers use, our How to Buy a TV guide can help.
Updated July 2023: We’ve removed older models and updated this guide with our latest favorites from TCL, Samsung, Roku, and Hisense.
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Photograph: TCL
Best for Most
TCL Q6
These days, you just don’t need to spent a fortune to get a fantastic TV. This mid-tier model from TCL features quantum dot technology and support for every major high dynamic range (HDR) format for gorgeous colors. I also like that its game mode has the ability to go up to 120 frames per second when gaming—as fast as a modern Xbox or Playstation can handle.
One small downside to this model, as compared to the older TCL 6-Series (9/10, WIRED Recommends) that it replaces, is the fact that this comes with Google TV instead of Roku. I like that you can easily cast any content you want to this screen, but I don’t like that the interface (thought it has every app you could want) can be a bit sluggish at times. Apart from the better black levels and overall color, I also like that you can now choose between leaving the legs of the TV on the far outside or further inside the TV. That makes it easier to fit on furniture if you’re not going to wall-mount it, which is very important to me.
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Photograph: Best Buy
For Higher-End Features
Hisense U8H
The U8H is an excellent Google TV that does well in bright rooms, thanks in large part to mini LED backlighting. This array of teeny LEDs helps this model shine brighter, and it also helps it have some of the best black levels I’ve seen this side of a thousand dollars. It will do 120-Hz refresh rate for ultra-smooth gaming and sports watching, and it is even compatible with Nvidia G-Sync for fellow PC gamers.
Folks who like casting content from Android devices and Google Chrome will enjoy those features on this TV, but it also has nearly every app under the sun available to you for download. The legs are placed inside the screen, which is an unusual feature on models of this size and makes it easier to fit on my TV stand. You will want to wall mount it if you have a shallow stand, though (the legs are bit longer than some competitors). Like its predecessor, the U8G, it’s also a bit on the thick side, which makes it easier to mount than most.
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Photograph: Roku
Best Entry-Level TV
Roku Plus Series
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Roku’s smart TV interface—that’s a big reason the TCL-brand TVs topped our list for so long in the midst of worthy adversaries. Now Roku has stepped out and is making its own TVs in-house to sell via Best Buy.
I spent a month or so testing the Plus Series and came away pretty darn impressed with its picture. Sure, you don’t get a high refresh rate for gaming (this panel is limited to 60 frames per second, which is still fine for most consoles), but you do get excellent color via the Quantum Dot-enabled (QLED) panel. Full array local dimming means solid black levels, and this model is even supported by Homekit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant, making it a great cheap TV for everyone. This TV does have wide legs, so the larger you go, the more you might want to consider wall-mounting or buying an aftermarket pedestal mount.
Check out our guide to the Best Roku Devices for more options.
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Photograph: Vizio
Another Great Mid-Tier TV
Vizio M-Series Quantum X (2022)
Don’t sleep on Vizio’s offerings. The latest M-Series Quantum X (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has better legs than the Hisense above (they’re closer together), and I’m genuinely a fan of the Vizio Smartcast interface. The downside? It’s not as bright as the above TVs. But still, quantum dots and Vizio’s excellent local dimming make for one of the prettiest TVs in dark rooms. Also, it’s under $1000! And I liked gaming on this model, which has a 120-Hz refresh rate in 4K, matching the maximum output for the latest consoles from Microsoft and Sony.
