As the year comes to a close, it’s time to take a look at the best TVs on the market right now. This is not just a list of the best TVs that are available now, but also those that are set to release in 2022. There are many different types of TVs on the market today, but there are some that stand out above the rest. These TVs have features and technologies that make them better than any other TV on the market. Some of these TVs include OLEDs, HDR10+, 4K Ultra HD, and even smart TVs. They all have their own unique strengths and weaknesses, but when it comes to watching TV, these are some of the best options currently available. Here is a look at some of the best TVs set to release in 2022:
- OLED TV: OLEDs are becoming more and more popular each year. They offer great picture quality with little input lag and can be used for both home and professional use. This type of TV is perfect for those who want an amazing display without having to spend a lot of money.
- HDR10+ TV: HDR10+ is one of the newer standards in television technology. It offers great color accuracy and detail while still providing an amazing experience overall. This type of TV is perfect for those who want high-quality content without having to pay a lot for it.
- 4K Ultra HDTV: 4K Ultra HDTVs offer stunning images with incredible clarity and detail. They can be used for movies or television shows as well as gaming purposes.4) Smart TV: Smart TVs have become increasingly popular over time because they provide tons of features and options that users can use to customize their experience however they want. Some good examples include voice control, streaming services, games, etcetera. These are just a few examples; there are many different types of televisions on the market today that would make this list
There are two dominant display technologies available at the moment—LED-lit LCD TVs and self-emissive OLED displays. These differing approaches to producing an image have their own sets of pros and cons, and you should be sure you understand the difference between them before you buy.
Standard LED-lit LCD TVs use a backlight to shine through the display “stack” to produce an image. To produce a black image, the backlight must be “blocked” by the thin-film substrate (TFT) layer, often resulting in washed-out blacks and a poor contrast ratio.
The newest LED-LCD TVs use dimming algorithms to produce deeper blacks by turning off the backlight in darker areas. This can result in black crush where subtle details are lost or ghosting where the LED “zones” can be seen behind the content.
By comparison, OLED is self-emissive, which means reproducing black is a simple case of turning the pixels off. This allows OLED displays to have a striking, theoretically infinite contrast ratio. This generally leads to superior image quality, especially in a dark room where blacks stand out.
While OLED technology is great in a dark environment, LED TVs are better in brightly lit rooms since these models can get brighter. OLED sets may be susceptible to permanent image retention or “burn-in,” limiting how bright they can get. They’re also more expensive than their LCD counterparts, but the price has fallen significantly over the last five years.
How you intend to use the TV will dictate whether you need gaming features like HDMI 2.1 support. Movie lovers may prioritize motion handling and good HDR support and may benefit from features like Filmmaker Mode. We recommend reading our full guide to buying a TV and checking out reviews on websites like RTINGS before you buy.
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Best TV Overall: Samsung S95B
Samsung has hit it right out of the park with its first OLED TV, the S95B. Packing a QD-OLED panel that combines traditional OLED technology with quantum dots, the television delivers exceptional picture quality, higher brightness than every other OLED TV, and a respectable sound for such a thin frame.
✓ Exceptional picture quality✓ Brighter than other OLED TVs✓ Four HDMI 2. 1 ports
✗ Only two sizes✗ No Dolby Vision support✗ Expensive
It is superb for watching HDR content thanks to the TV’s near-infinite contrast ratio and perfect blacks. And there is HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG support. But, unfortunately, the S95B, like other Samsung TVs, doesn’t support Dolby Vision. You won’t be able to enjoy all HDR content to its full potential.
Otherwise, the television is great for gaming, and Samsung has included four HDMI 2.1 ports to get the most out of your Sony PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or high-end gaming PC. In addition, you get low input lag, Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and support for all major variable refresh rate (VRR) technologies, including Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync. Plus, you’ll be happy to know that there is native support for Microsoft’s Xbox cloud gaming service.
The only downside to the S95B is that it’s only available in two sizes—55-inch and 65-inch. If you want an even bigger TV, LG’s G2 delivers similar performance and comes in 77-inch, 83-inch, and 97-inch sizes, apart from the 55-inch and 65-inch models. The G2 also supports Dolby Vision HDR but lacks HDR10+.
Best Budget TV: Hisense U6H
Hisense TVs have come to be known for being great value for money, and the U6H is no exception. It’s an affordable television that punches way above its weight class. The U6H packs a 4K UHD screen with an excellent native contrast ratio and full-array local dimming. These features help the TV deliver a decent HDR experience despite not being able to get very bright.
✓ Quantum dot technology for lifelike colors✓ VRR support and low input lag for gaming✓ HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support✓ Full-array local dimming improves the contrast ratio
✗ No HDMI 2. 1 ports✗ Display refresh rate limited to 60Hz
In other features, the U6H has quantum dot technology that helps it produce vibrant and lifelike colors, eARC to pass through high-resolution audio, and the Google TV operating system. Google TV is relatively easy to use and offers access to all popular streaming services.
While the U6H is also suitable for casual gaming and has AMD FreeSync and HDMI Forum VRR support, it lacks the more advanced gaming features, such as HDMI 2.1 support, and is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. So if you primarily want a budget TV for gaming, the company’s U7H is a better option. Of course, you’ll have to shell out around $200 more, but for that money, you’ll get HDMI 2.1 ports, better local dimming performance, and a native 120Hz refresh rate.
Best 8K TV: Samsung QN900B
If you are ready to upgrade to an 8K TV, you can’t go wrong with Samsung QN900B. It’s the company’s flagship model and packs the best of everything Samsung has to offer.
✓ Fantastic picture quality✓ High peak brightness✓ Great viewing angles✓ Beautiful design✓ 144Hz native refresh rate
✗ Expensive✗ No Dolby Vision
You get quantum dot technology for excellent color fidelity, Mini-LED backlighting with full-array local dimming for amazing peak brightness and excellent contrast ratio, and Ultra Viewing Layer for solid viewing angles. Just as importantly, it looks fantastic. There are barely any bezels, and the One Connect Box hides all the cables and ports, barring a cord connecting the TV to the box.
Upscaling is handled by Samsung’s new Neural Quantum Processor 8K, which does a pretty good job, and everything from 480p DVD content to 4K stream is upscaled without issues. This is important because there is hardly any native 8K content, so most of your content will be in 4K or lower resolution.
Tizen OS handles the software duties, and it’s reasonably easy to use and comes with access to all popular streaming apps. To entice gamers, Samsung has also included its Gaming Hub on the TV, which brings access to Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now. Other gaming features include a native 144Hz refresh rate, VRR support, and ALLM. Plus, you get four HDMI 2.1 bandwidth ports.
While there is a lot to like about the QN900B, it lacks Dolby Vision HDR support and is expensive. The latter is expected, given its feature set and the 8K resolution.
You can buy it in 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch models.
Best Gaming TV: LG C2
The LG C2 builds upon its fantastic predecessors, like the C1 and CX, and provides outstanding gaming performance. It has everything you might want to realize the full potential of your gaming console or PC.
✓ Stunning picture quality✓ 4K120fps gaming support ✓ Four HDMI 2. 1 ports✓ Dolby Vision IQ support✓ Available in six sizes
✗ No DTS passthrough support✗ Burn-in is a concern
For example, the TV packs a 4K panel with a native 120Hz refresh rate to enjoy gaming in 4K 120fps. There are also four HDMI 2.1 ports, so you won’t struggle for HDMI ports if you have both Sony and Microsoft consoles and a high-end gaming PC. Plus, the TV supports all popular VRR formats, including AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync.
Other gaming-related features include native support for Nvidia’s GeForce Now service and LG Game Optimizer. The latter offers optimized settings for different game genres and allows you to adjust VRR and other settings in one place.
Apart from being a solid gaming TV, it’s also a great all-rounder. The OLED evo panel ensures stunning picture quality, and its higher brightness than previous LG OLED TVs helps with the HDR performance. Speaking of HDR, the TV supports Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10, and HLG formats. However, HDR10+ is sadly absent, as is the case in all LG TVs.
Another good thing about the C2 is its availability in six sizes: 42-inch, 48-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, 77-inch, and 83-inch. So you can pick which matches your setup best.
Unfortunately, like all OLED TVs, burn-in is a concern for the LG C2 if you frequently play content with many static elements for long hours. But otherwise, TV’s built-in safeguards will mitigate burn-in. Additionally, the television can’t pass through DTS audio data to a connected soundbar.
Best TV for Movies: Sony A95K
While the Sony A95K and the Samsung S95B share the same QD-OLED panel, but the Japanese company’s masterful picture processing sets the Sony TV apart and helps it create a more realistic-looking image on the screen. Combined with Dolby Vision HDR support, which is absent from the Samsung model, you get the best television for watching movies.
✓ Outstanding picture quality and image processing✓ Dolby Vision HDR support✓ Two HDMI 2. 1 ports, native 120Hz refresh rate, and G-Sync support
✗ Expensive✗ Just two sizes
It isn’t just the processing that is notable about the A95K. It also offers fantastic picture quality with breathtaking colors and inky blacks. In addition, HDR performance is impressive. And while the Samsung S95B can get marginally brighter, the better tone mapping on A95K results in a more impactful HDR experience.
Additionally, movie lovers will appreciate A95K’s upscaling capabilities, making lower-resolution content watchable on its 4K screen.
Apart from it, this TV is also excellent for playing games. It has a native 120Hz refresh rate and includes two HDMI 2.1 ports. Unfortunately, one of these two ports is also reserved for eARC. You also get Nvidia G-Sync support, a reasonable input lag, and a fast response time.
Google TV is responsible for software duties and has all popular streaming services. It runs quickly and is relatively easy to use.
Our only gripe with the Sony TV is the lack of sizes. It’s only available in 55-inch and 65-inch models. So if you need an even bigger TV, you’ll have to opt for LG C2 or G2. Both are outstanding TVs, but the G2 is slightly brighter and has a design more suited to wall mounting.
Best Roku TV: TCL 6-Series R635 2021
TCL is one of the more disruptive companies in the TV space, breaking into the market with aggressively well-priced products that pack in the features. TCL was one of the first companies to bring a Mini-LED TV to market, and that technology has now trickled down into the excellent value TCL 6-Series R635.
✓ An affordable Mini-LED TV✓ Powered by Roku with thousands of streaming channels built-in✓ Support for Dolby Vision and HDR10
✗ No HDMI 2. 1 ports for 120Hz gaming at 4K HDR✗ Blooming still a problem despite Mini-LED backlight✗ Doesn’t get as bright as other LED sets
Unfortunately, TCL didn’t include any HDMI 2.1 ports, making it difficult to recommend this model for cutting-edge gaming at 4K 120Hz on consoles like the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, or for PC gamers with high-end graphics cards.
The set can handle 4K 60Hz with HDR support just fine and even do 1440p at 120Hz if you’re gaming on an Xbox Series S, but otherwise, you’ll want to go with our gaming pick.
The contrast ratio is great for an LCD panel. 240 local dimming zones help to reduce black crush and blooming, but it’s still visible in some content. HDR performance is decent with support for Dolby Vision and HDR10, but peak brightness falls short of other LCD models like the Hisense U8H or Samsung QN90B.
If the 6-series interests you but you’re not big on Roku, you can always purchase a streaming device and plug it in to get Android TV or Google TV instead.
Best LED TV: Hisense U8H
Hisense has successfully established itself as a solid TV manufacturer that doesn’t just focus on the price but also on quality. As a result, the company’s TVs are getting rave reviews from all over. So if you want a top-notch LED TV, look no further than the Hisense U8H.
✓ Excellent value for money✓ Superb picture quality✓ Two HDMI 2. 1 ports, 120Hz refresh rate✓ High brightness and great HDR performance
✗ Poor viewing angles
This is a fantastic television that offers phenomenal picture quality, whether you are watching movies, TV shows, or playing games. This is possible thanks to quantum dot technology, full-array local dimming, and Mini-LED backlighting in the TV’s display stack.
The Hisense television also delivers an impactful HDR experience thanks to its impressive brightness and contrast ratio. And as there is support for HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG, you can enjoy high dynamic range content from almost every source.
Gaming is another area where the U8H shines, as it has low input lag, a fast response time, and support for AMD FreeSync and HDMI Forum VRR. You also get a native 120Hz refresh rate and two HDMI 2.1 ports to make use of it via your PS5, Xbox, or PC.
Sadly, as the U8H uses a VA-type LCD panel, it has poor viewing angles, which isn’t ideal if you frequently watch TV in a group or off-center. So, if the TV’s viewing angles are crucial for you, go for Samsung’s QN90B, which has good viewing angles. The QN90B is also a better TV to use as a PC monitor if that is important. But the Samsung TV is considerably more expensive than the Hisense model.
You can buy the Hisense U8H in 55-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch sizes.