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We’ve updated this overview to reflect our new top pick for the best 32-inch TV: the Roku Select Series HD. Small Led Tv 12 Inch
Our favorite TVs deliver superior picture quality for a reasonable price.
Whether it’s a big-screen 4K OLED TV that delivers the ultimate videophile performance, a great 4K gaming TV, or a small, 32-inch HDTV for a secondary space, our recommendations always take into account both performance and value.
This article provides an overview of the top picks across all of our TV guides. We’ve spent hundreds of hours researching and testing to find the best option for any space or budget, so read on to find the right TV for you.
The best TV shopping strategy is Goldilocks-style: Look for a TV that isn’t too cheap but isn’t loaded with frills you don’t need.
We use professional measurement equipment to judge a TV’s accuracy, and we evaluate TVs based on how real people actually use them.
TV tech is always evolving, so we look for TVs that have the specs to stay relevant for many years.
These TVs are our top picks from our various TV guides, which involved hundreds of hours of research and testing. They won’t let you down.
If you’re eager to buy a new TV but overwhelmed by all the jargon, check out our TV buying guide.
The key thing to know about modern TVs is that shopping for a new one is less about avoiding a lemon and more about making sure you aren’t paying for features you don’t need or won’t use.
But the good news is that even affordable TVs tend to look excellent if you just want the basics.
So start by asking yourself a few questions:
If you’re not planning on playing video games or watching Blu-ray discs, you probably don’t need a TV with a 120 Hz refresh rate, which tends to raise the price.
If you’re buying for a bedroom, you probably don’t need a huge screen.
And if your intended room is especially bright, you may want to spring for a premium LCD TV since such models get a lot brighter than budget LCD TVs or OLED TVs.
Knowing some of these basic points before you start shopping around can simplify the process and narrow down your viable options.
Who it’s for: An LCD/LED TV is an appropriate choice for the shopper who wants excellent picture quality but isn’t willing to spend a fortune to get the absolute best OLED TV. High-performance LCD TVs are especially well suited for very bright rooms.
Why we like it: The TCL QM8 Series sports all of the advanced TV technologies we like to see—quantum dots for richer color saturation, a mini-LED backlight with local dimming for better black levels and overall contrast, and a 120 Hz refresh rate for improved motion—and it utilizes them to splendid effect. This LCD TV does a great job with HDR video, thanks to its excellent color saturation and impressive peak brightness: We measured a peak brightness of 3,500 nits, with an average HDR brightness around 2,000 nits, which far surpasses what you get with other TVs at this price. The QM8 also has all the necessary features to excel as a gaming monitor, with two high-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 inputs (one with eARC) that allow for 4K 120 Hz gaming from the newest Xbox and PlayStation consoles. It comes equipped with the latest iteration of the Google TV platform, which we found to be reliable and easy to use.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The QM8 comes only in larger sizes, with the smallest being 65 inches. If you’re trying to fit your TV into a tighter space, we recommend the Hisense U8K (our runner-up pick for the best LCD/LED TV), which starts at 55 inches but doesn’t have the same brightness and accuracy as our top pick. Most LCD/LED TVs lose image fidelity if you aren’t sitting directly in front, and the QM8 is no different. Also, only two of the four HDMI inputs are HDMI 2.1.
Available sizes: 65, 75, 85, 98 inches HDMI ports: four Smart OS: Google TV Resolution: 4K (3840×2160) Screen type: LCD/LED
Capable of dazzling brightness and vivid colors, this TV is a standout performer among LCD/LED TVs, but it’s available only in larger screen sizes.
May be out of stock
TCL’s QM8 Series is a great LCD/LED TV that delivers terrific performance, a sturdy design, and excellent features for a reasonable price.
Who it’s for: The shopper who is willing to sacrifice some image quality and features to get a great deal.
Why we like it: The Hisense U6K Series delivers a great-looking 4K picture, and it comes in 55-, 65-, and 75-inch sizes (with an 85-inch model coming soon) to fit most rooms. It’s the only TV in its price range to combine quantum dots for rich color, full-array local dimming for maximum contrast, and mini-LED backlighting. It supports Dolby Vision HDR and advanced gaming features like VRR (variable refresh rates) for smooth gameplay and ALLM (auto low-latency mode). Plus, it has our favorite streaming platform built in, Google TV, so you can easily access your favorite video and audio streaming services.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: While the U6K isn’t dim, it doesn’t have the same brightness as a premium LCD/LED TV—meaning the picture won’t look as good in a room with lots of sunlight or ambient light. Since this TV doesn’t have the same upscaling and video-processing capabilities as higher-end models, older DVDs and video games can look grainy. A common problem with LCD/LED TVs is limited viewing angles, and the U6K isn’t immune to it. Viewers looking at the TV from the side rather than head-on may have some complaints about the picture.
Available sizes: 55, 65, 75, and 85 inches (85U6K, coming soon) HDMI ports: four Smart OS: Google TV Resolution: 4K (3840×2160) Screen type: LCD/LED
This TV uses tech like mini-LED backlighting and quantum-dot color for satisfying 4K imaging at a decent price. But it doesn’t have enough brightness for a premium HDR experience.
The Hisense U6K is an excellent value, as it successfully incorporates high-end hardware and svelte software from the company’s pricier TVs.
Who it’s for: The shopper who is willing to pay a premium to get the best of the best. OLED TVs produce the best HDR picture quality, the best motion, and the widest viewing angles of any TV currently available. Learn more about OLED technology in this article.
Why we like it: The Samsung S90C employs QD-OLED technology, which combines the best qualities of OLED TVs—perfect black levels, wide viewing angles, and a super-sleek design—with the color-enhancing power of quantum dots. Despite being cheaper than other QD-OLED TVs, the S90C delivers blue-ribbon picture quality. It’s also one of the brighter OLED TVs we’ve tested, so it’s much more room-flexible than models from previous years; you can watch it comfortably in all but the brightest of rooms.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The S90C does not support the Dolby Vision HDR format, and the 83-inch model doesn’t utilize the QD-OLED panel.
Available sizes: 55, 65, 77, and 83 inches HDMI ports: four Smart OS: Smart Hub (Tizen) Resolution: 4K (3840×2160) Screen type: OLED
The Samsung S90C delivers stellar 4K HDR picture quality, thanks to its QD-OLED panel, for a price that’s quite reasonable for a new technology.
Samsung’s S90C Series delivers premium picture quality, high brightness, and desirable features at a more affordable price than many OLED competitors.
Who it’s for: The shopper who doesn’t have much space, has a very limited budget, or is shopping for a secondary room.
Why we like it: The Roku Select Series HD (32R2A5R) is a great small smart TV that you can quickly and easily set up and use in most any space. It offers the best picture contrast of the models we tested and good sound quality, and the built-in Roku TV smart-TV platform supports all the major streaming video and music services. The Roku remote is simple without being too simplistic, with direct buttons to launch Apple TV+, Disney+, HBO Max, and Netflix, plus a microphone for voice search. The 32R2A5R comes with older AV inputs for things like retro gaming and DVD players, and you get three HDMI inputs (one with eARC compatibility, so it works well with new soundbars).
Flaws but not dealbreakers: None of the 32-inch TVs we’ve tested excel in the brightness department, and their LCD panels don’t incorporate any light-rejecting technology to help improve image contrast—so they aren’t a good choice for bright rooms or watching HDR content. The 32R2A5R’s 720p resolution is not ideal for up-close uses such as desktop work or gaming, and you may want to invest in a soundbar or a better sound system, as it doesn’t produce stellar audio on its own. If you need a 1080p resolution or prefer a different smart-TV platform, consider our runner-up pick, the TCL S3. In addition, the Select Series HD is only sold through Best Buy.
Available sizes: 24, 32, 40 inches HDMI ports: three Smart OS: Roku TV Resolution: 720p (1366×768) Screen type: LCD/LED
The 32R2A5R is a great all-in-one small TV, offering good performance, an intuitive smart-TV platform, and a variety of connection options.
The 32-inch Roku Select Series HD TV provides good picture quality and an intuitive smart-TV experience for a reasonable price.
Who it’s for: The shopper who wants low input lag and all the latest gaming-friendly HDMI 2.1 features.
Why we like it: In addition to being a great overall performer for movies, the LG C3 OLED TV supports all the HDMI 2.1 features you could want for gaming, including 4K 120 Hz inputs, ALLM, VRR, and HGIG. In addition, it has one of the lowest input lags we’ve measured on a TV, its game mode offers accurate colors, and it has superior viewing angles and pixel-response times compared with LCD TVs. It supports AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync for PC gamers, too.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Some people worry about burn-in when using an OLED TV as a gaming monitor, though we don’t think this is a major issue. If you’d prefer an LCD TV for gaming, check out our runner-up pick, the Samsung QN90B.
Available sizes: 42, 48, 55, 65, 77, and 83 inches HDMI ports: four Smart OS: WebOS Resolution: 4K (3840×2160) Screen type: OLED
The LG C3 provides low input lag and the most comprehensive set of gaming features, plus great overall picture quality.
The LG C3 ’s comprehensive set of gaming features and excellent picture quality make it our pick for the best gaming TV.
Is your TV set up to look its best? Do you need a smart TV? What is HDR, and do you have the right gear to watch it? Check out some of our educational resources below:
A $500 TV Is Usually Good Enough? But What Makes a $2,000 TV Worth It?
Do you really need an outdoor TV?
Buying a new TV this year? Here’s what you need to know about OLED.
New Filmmaker Mode removes guesswork from TV setup
Simple tips for getting the best picture from your new TV
Are you really watching 4K on your new 4K TV? Check your sources.
What is an HDR TV? (And why some TVs don’t measure up.)
How to clean a television
How to set up an indoor TV antenna
For those who have no idea where to start in the TV buying process, we explain the tech terms and answer the big questions.
If you want to hang your flat-panel TV on the wall, we recommend the Sanus VMPL50A-B1 or Sanus VLF728-B2 , depending on how much motion you need in your mount.
The Polk MagniFi Mini AX is the all-around best soundbar because of its big, immersive sound, small footprint, affordable cost, and easy operation.
Wireless TV headphones let you watch TV or play games without disturbing others. We like Insignia’s NS-HAWHP2 for its comfort, ease of use, and minimal lag.
The Chromecast with Google TV has all the features we look for in a media streamer, and Google’s interface is the best at finding and organizing content.
Scientific standards for HDTV performance have been in place since 1990, and scientific standards for UHD TV performance have been in place since 2015. But what does it mean to have “scientific” standards for TVs? Essentially, it boils down to light and color production, two stimuli that can be easily measured.
For both SDR (standard dynamic range) and HDR (high dynamic range) content, there are designated light and color targets that a TV should hit. For example, we have behavioral targets for functions called gamma (for SDR video) and electro-optical transfer function (or EOTF, for HDR video), which specify how much light a TV should produce across a range of electrical stimulus levels. There are also targets for the hue, saturation, and brightness of a TV’s primary colors (red, green, and blue) and secondary colors (cyan, magenta, and yellow), depending on whether the SDR or HDR color spaces are being used for what you’re watching. A specific color temperature, designated in Kelvin, dictates how grayscale elements should look. Modern TVs should produce a white point that’s exactly 6500 K, roughly the flavor of unclouded daylight. Major deviations from any of these targets can ruin a TV’s image and obscure details.
When we measure TVs, we use a device called a signal generator to send test patterns to the screen, plus a meter (usually a tristimulus colorimeter) to measure the light and colors that the TV produces. We use Portrait Displays’ Calman software a program specifically designated for display measurement and calibration, to tabulate those measurements into easily readable charts and tables. With one scan, we can get a good estimate of how a TV’s picture quality compares to the scientific standards. Is its production of white light too red- or blue-tinted? Does it produce enough color for HDR content? Is it clipping off details on either end of the light spectrum?
These measurements aren’t the sole indicator of a good TV, and they are not the only thing we take into account when recommending TVs, but they make up a healthy portion of what we test. Our picks tend to excel at these tests, but they also need to be priced reasonably and not introduce any hardware, compatibility, or user-experience issues once they’re in your home.
A TV can be recycled into a number of components, including copper wiring, plastic, and glass, so you should never just throw it in a trash dumpster. A TV needs to be processed at a facility that’s equipped to disassemble it. Fortunately, most people should have several options for recycling their old TV.
Each state and county has different guidelines for recycling, so you should start by Googling your city’s television recycling options. There’s a good chance you’ll be able to leave your TV on the curb with your other recycling, but it may incur a fee (and if you’re renting, you should give your apartment manager or landlord notice about the upcoming expense). If curbside removal isn’t an option, try searching for nearby recycling centers and checking their websites. Most will list which electronics they accept—and some may even offer to help bring heavy TVs inside.
If you have a CRT (tube) TV smaller than 32 inches or an LCD or plasma TV smaller than 50 inches, your local Best Buy should be able to recycle it for you for a $30 fee. We recommend calling ahead first to check that your nearest location participates in the recycling program, however (this program isn’t available in Connecticut and Pennsylvania). Best Buy also offers a haul-away service for larger TVs, but this is considerably more expensive (around $200 at time of writing).
You can also check the EPA’s website, which lists electronics dropoff options by brand.
If recycling isn’t an option, you could sell or donate your old TV via services like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Additionally, check websites for (or call) the nearest Goodwill or Salvation Army, who may allow you to simply drop off the TV. Just remember that if you go this route, you should factory reset the TV to ensure none of your personal data is accessible.
Lee Neikirk is a senior staff writer reporting on TVs at Wirecutter. He has been testing and reviewing AV gear since 2012 and is an ISF-certified TV calibrator. When he’s not fussing over pixels, Lee is either jamming on a guitar, playing video games, or driving around endlessly trying to find beach parking.
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4k 40 In Tv Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).