The Best TVs of 2025: Tested and Reviewed

The LG C5 hits a sweet spot of price and performance, scoring 7.5/10 in our testing with inky OLED blacks, accurate color and peak HDR around 1165 nits that looks great in most rooms. Gamers get four HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR/ALLM and up to 144Hz support, plus G‑Sync and FreeSync for smooth 4K120 play across consoles and PCs. Its speakers are just okay and there’s no HDR10+, but at $1699.99 it undercuts pricier flagships like the G4 while still delivering a premium OLED experience for movies and games.

The Samsung S90D 65-inch impressed us with OLED's inky blacks, rich color and a 120Hz panel that sings for movies and games. With VRR, ALLM, HDMI 2.1 and 4K120 plus FreeSync, motion looked clean and the ~1300-nit peaks gave HDR real punch in our testing. Audio is the weak link: its built-in speakers and Dolby Atmos decoding underwhelm, so a soundbar helps, and we've seen some user reports about occasional power or reliability quirks. Scoring 7/10, it's a strong mid-tier OLED, though not our highest-rated option.

For cinephiles, the Sony 65-inch Bravia 8 earned 7.5/10 thanks to gorgeous color reproduction and better-than-average built-in sound from Acoustic Surface Audio. During our testing, small HDR highlights looked vibrant, but the aggressive ABL meant large bright scenes dimmed, and input lag was higher than rivals for competitive play. You still get Dolby Vision, VRR and 4K@120Hz on HDMI 2.1, making it versatile for mixed use. It's pricier than the Hisense U8 but delivers a more refined cinematic presentation.

Our top‑rated pick at 10/10, Samsung’s S95D wowed us with class‑leading QD‑OLED contrast and exceptionally bright HDR highlights, peaking near 1868 nits that stay punchy even in sunny rooms. During our review, gaming felt buttery with 144Hz support, HDMI 2.1 at 4K120, VRR/ALLM and low input lag, making it ideal for PS5, Xbox Series X and PCs. The ABL can dim large bright scenes, the One Connect box adds complexity, and the built‑in speakers lack oomph—so budget for a soundbar—but overall picture quality makes this the one to beat.

At $1096.99, the LG B4 is our favorite budget OLED option, earning a 7/10 for its superb blacks, four HDMI 2.1 ports and gaming‑ready VRR/ALLM with G‑Sync and FreeSync. In our testing, peak HDR around 685 nits can’t match brighter OLEDs like the C5 or flagship G4, so highlights don’t pop as much in very bright rooms. We also encountered occasional firmware quirks with VRR and Dolby Vision and found the built‑in speakers average, so pairing a soundbar completes the experience.

As our top-rated TV of 2025, the LG 55-inch OLED Evo G4 earned a stellar 9.5/10 for class-leading OLED brightness and superb gaming support. In our testing, HDR highlights popped thanks to roughly 1,488-nit peaks, while 144Hz, VRR, G-Sync and FreeSync made gameplay butter-smooth via HDMI 2.1. Dolby Vision is on board, though HDR10+ isn't, and the premium price (plus occasional software/CEC quirks) may give budget shoppers pause. If you want the best, this is the one we recommend.

Sony’s 85‑inch Bravia 9 scored 8.5/10 in our review for its searing Mini‑LED brightness, wide color and unusually robust integrated speaker system that punches above typical flat‑panel audio. With Dolby Vision, 120Hz, VRR/ALLM and HDMI 2.1 for 4K120, it’s a fantastic high‑end screen for movies and modern gaming alike. Our experience shows the sheer size and weight make installation a two‑person job, and some blooming, reflections and setup‑menu complexity mean patience—and ideally a sturdy wall mount—are required.

Samsung's QN90D 75-inch is a living-room powerhouse, earning 8/10 for its blistering brightness and excellent Mini-LED local dimming. We measured searing HDR highlights around 2,158 nits and saw deep, controlled blacks with minimal blooming in most scenes. Gamers get HDMI 2.1, VRR and up to 144Hz, but brightness drops in Game Mode and off-axis color/contrast lag behind OLED. If you want a bright-room champ without going OLED, this sits near the top of our LED picks.

If you crave eye‑searing HDR on a budget, the Hisense U7 (55U75QG) blasts to roughly 3000 nits in our testing and costs just $698, earning a 6/10 for sheer brightness per dollar. It supports 144Hz, Dolby Vision and full‑fat gaming features like VRR, ALLM, HDMI 2.1 and 4K120, so console and PC players get modern capabilities. However, we found very slow pixel transitions that blur fast action, plus dirty‑screen effect, dimmer corners and a glossy panel that reflects lights, making it less ideal for sports fans and bright, windowed rooms.

Value hunters should look hard at the Hisense U8 Series 65-inch, which scored 7.5/10 for its searing HDR and gaming chops. In our review, the Mini-LED backlight hit around 3188 nits with strong local dimming, keeping blooming minimal and contrast deep. HDMI 2.1, VRR and 4K120/144Hz support made it great for next-gen consoles, though off-axis viewing drops and occasional Google TV/remote glitches reminded us it's not flawless. For under $900, it outpunches entry-level sets like the Samsung DU8000.

Chasing the cutting edge, the Samsung QN900D 65-inch scored 8.5/10 for jaw-dropping HDR punch and superb Mini-LED control with thousands of dimming zones. During our review, the NQ8 AI Gen3 processing delivered best-in-class upscaling that made even 1080p streams look impressively detailed. HDMI 2.1, VRR and 4K120 keep gamers covered, though Dolby Vision is missing and the premium price and sometimes awkward One Connect setup won't fit every home. It's a flagship stunner, but high-end 4K sets cost far less.

The LG OLED77G4WUA earned a 9/10 in our testing for its OLED Evo panel’s perfect blacks and standout HDR highlights, hitting around 1487 nits for sparkling specular detail. Movies look cinematic and next‑gen games feel fluid at 4K120 with VRR/ALLM plus G‑Sync and FreeSync support across HDMI 2.1, making it a powerhouse for consoles and PCs. Just know the aggressive ABL can dim large bright scenes and the $4499 flagship price limits value, which is why it sits just shy of our top spot despite its superb overall performance.

Samsung's 55-inch DU8000 lands a 5/10 in our guide - fair for the price, but clearly entry-level. Our experience shows very low input lag and a decent color gamut make casual gaming and sports watchable, yet its 238-nit peak brightness and lack of local dimming leave HDR flat and blacks gray. Viewing angles are also narrow, so seats off-center see color and contrast wash out. If you can stretch the budget, Hisense's U8 or Samsung's QN90D provide dramatic upgrades.

For under $260, TCL’s 43S551F packs surprising features—Dolby Vision, HDR10+ (HDR Pro+), and Fire TV with Alexa—earning a 5.5/10 as a solid budget pick for bedrooms or dorms. In our testing the 60Hz panel and limited gaming chops mean no true 120Hz motion, even though VRR/ALLM are present, so serious gamers should look higher. We also noticed occasional software lag and average speakers, making a little patience—and perhaps a compact soundbar—the best way to get the most from this value set.

On a tight budget, the Samsung 55-inch DU7200 keeps streaming simple with Samsung's friendly Tizen interface and basic gaming niceties like VRR and ALLM. In our testing, however, its 300-nit peak brightness and lack of local dimming led to washed-out blacks and lifeless HDR, especially in dark scenes. Narrow viewing angles further limit placement in wider rooms. With a 4.5/10 score, it's best for casual daytime watching; movie fans should consider stepping up to the Hisense U8 or Samsung QN90D.

Roku’s 55R8C5 surprised us with excellent Mini‑LED contrast and HDR punch—about 1603 nits in our testing—earning a 6.5/10 as a strong value choice for dark‑room movie nights and gaming. With Dolby Vision, 120Hz, HDMI 2.1 and VRR/ALLM, 4K120 gameplay feels responsive and smooth. The trade‑offs are narrow viewing angles, so colors wash out off‑axis, plus weaker upscaling and underpowered speakers—plan on a soundbar—so center‑seat viewers will get the best experience.