The TCL QM8K 4K TV is (still) my top pick for most consumers, offering a super-bright mini-LED display panel with outstanding picture quality and a feature-packed platform.

The TV’s price is well below $1,500 for a 65-inch model, which is very agreeable given its performance and onboard features.

With up to 3,800 local dimming zones and a peak brightness that can reach 5,000 nits (more than double that of pricier rivals), the mini-LED screen of the TCL QM8K 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 much more expensive TV.

Compared to its superb predecessor, the TCL QM8K offers improved viewing angles, thanks to an antireflective display panel with slimmer bezels. This particular upgrade, in tandem with the superior brightness, makes a compelling case for choosing the TCL offering over an OLED TV, especially within its price range.

On the audio front, the TCL QM8K delivers remarkably powerful Dolby Atmos-enhanced sound. Despite its slim build, the TV packs a sophisticated speaker setup tuned by the luxury audio experts at Bang & Olufsen. Its speaker layout features upward-firing audio drivers and a pair of subwoofers, allowing it to rival many soundbars. The bespoke B&O audio customization interface is as impressive as its sound output.

Unless you are willing to up your budget by $1,000 (or more) for the same screen size, this is your best option. TCL also offers the QM8K with a 75- or 85-inchscreen, as well as a movie-theater-rivaling 98-inchpanel.

In April, 2026, TCL released the TCL QM8L, an updated replacement for the QM8K, with an upgraded screen that features the same SQD Mini-LED tech its flagship model, the X11L. The QM8L is, in fact, a better TV than the QM8K and I expect it will eventually succeed the QM8K somewhere in this guide. But, at launch, its $2,500 tag is nearly double the price of our top pick. So, for now, we still recommend going with last year’s model while it’s easy to find and available for a bargain.

Reviewed: TCL QM8K

Reviewed: TCL QM8L

Key Specs

The latest Hisense U8 Series 4K TV is one of today’s best, with a super-bright mini-LED panel with superb picture quality, great sound for its size, and a wide array of connectivity features, all at an agreeable price tag. Featuring eight built-in speakers, the TV can produce an immersive Dolby Atmos sound out of the box, too.

With thousands of local dimming zones and a peak brightness of up to a whopping 5,000 nits, the Hisense U8 has vibrant colors and deep contrast even in brightly lit spaces. The TV's overall picture quality alone is worth paying full price, and so is its gaming performance. The latter comes courtesy of support for variable refresh rates of up to 165 Hertz, ensuring consistently smooth gameplay when linked to a console.

Hisense U8 Series variants with 75-and 85-inchscreens are available for those who need a more immersive viewing experience, and so is a movie-theater-rivaling 100-inch option. Regardless of your selection, you’ll get the best TV per dollar, bar none.

Key Specs

The TCL QM6K 4K TV is the best for upgraders on a tight budget. Priced below $600 for a version with a 55-inch screen, this TV offers a no-nonsense design with a slim display bezel, impressive picture quality for the money, and a feature-packed platform with seamless smart home integration.

Experiencing the TCL QM6K genuinely made me feel like I was viewing a 4K TV from a higher price tier. Its bright QD-Mini LED display easily bests similarly priced big-name competitors by producing stellar peak brightness, rich colors, and deep contrast via hundreds of local dimming zones. The introduction of a mini-LED panel made the newcomer's picture quality a massive leap forward over its predecessor's.

Because its display has a 144-Hz native refresh rate, the TCL QM6K can deliver 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 288 Hz.

You can order the TCL QM6K in multiple screen sizes, ranging from an affordable 55-inch to a properly cinematic 98-inch option. The latter is currently on sale for less than $2,200, so it’s a relative steal for its size alone.

Key Specs

LG has rightfully been synonymous with top-tier OLED TVs for many years, and the latest C5 Series by the tech giant is a great upgrade for buyers who can afford its hefty price tag. Its display panel, with millions of individually backlit pixels, has vivid colors, infinite contrast, and, thanks to LG’s proprietary OLED evo technology, strong brightness.

The brightness-boosting display technology allows the LG C5 to bring an even more immersive HDR viewing experience, including in spaces with bright ambient lighting. As a cinema buff, I also really appreciated the TV's filmmaker mode, which removed picture quality enhancements to deliver a viewing experience as the movie director intended.

Another significant reason to consider the LG C5 Series is that it 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 C5 Series TV has a beautiful design, capable speaker system for its form factor, and support for all leading smart home connectivity standards. Unlike its competition, this 4K TV is available in multiple screen sizes, ranging from compact 42- and 48-inch to massive 77- and 83-inch options.

Key Specs

The TCL X11L, is the first major TV launch of 2026, and creates a new apex for high fidelity among the largest of at-home screens. It boasts a luxurious design, exceptional picture quality, and immersive sound tuned by Bang & Olufsen. It's incredibly expensive, starting at nearly $7,000 for a 75-inch screen, but you're getting a genuinely cutting edge set that sets a new benchmark for the entire product category.

What's new and exciting here is the X11L's SQD mini-LED panel, which combines the quantum dot layer found in QLED and QD-OLED TVs with Mini-LED technology, which creates dynamic lighting across the TV. Combined with incredible brightness—up to 10,000 nits—the so-called "Super Quantum Dot" achieves contrast and color depth that, at least to my eye, looks on par or possibly even better than an OLED screen.

It has small flaws, like a lack of anti-glare coating, but this is a remarkable TV and the model I would recommend if you're looking for a technological centerpiece to put at the center of large home theater. And I emphasize large, because it only comes in three "XXL" sizes: 75 inches, 85 inches, and 98 inches.

Reviewed: TCL X11L

Key Specs

Developed in-house by Roku, the 2025 Pro Series TV is unsurprisingly the best to run the platform and an equally excellent upgrade for first-time users and 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 significant reason to consider this TV is its refined design and clever cable management setup, featuring 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 from 55-, 65-, and 75-inch versions of the Roku Pro Series. Similarly priced rivals from Hisense and TCL offer higher peak brightness and deeper contrast, but the refined design and intuitive platform make Roku’s product worth considering.

Key Specs

The Samsung S95F is my top pick in the tech giant’s 2025 range, offering a blend of elegant design, exceptional picture quality, top-notch sound, and an AI-powered upscaling tech makes even lower-resolution content look better.

As expected from a state of the art OLED TV, the Samsung S95F gives you a viewing experience worthy of its hefty price tag. Its high peak brightness, vibrant colors, and infinite contrast make any moment spent viewing it enjoyable, including in brightly lit spaces. Unlike any rival, the S95F can deliver stunning visuals even when facing a light source, thanks to an anti-reflective coating on its screen.

The device's Tizen OS platform, along with a wide selection of apps and cloud-based gaming services, offers seamless integration with Samsung Galaxy phones, tablets, and laptops. If it weren’t for its lack of Dolby Vision support, the S90F would have been my top OLED pick.

Samsung offers the S95F in various screen size options, ranging from 55 inches to 83 inches. Opt for the Samsung S90F if you are looking for a great Samsung TV on a tighter budget.

Key Specs

Size

Resolution and Refresh Rate

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

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

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.