The LG G1 (available in 55, 65, and 77 inches) is the crown jewel of LG’s consumer-facing OLED TV lineup for 2021, offering slightly better performance than the LG C1, though at a significantly higher price point. It’s not an ideal fit for most people—even many folks shopping in a higher price bracket—but it’s an incredible 77-inch TV stuffed with an incredible amount of features.

Being an OLED TV, the LG G1 sports perfect black levels and an incredible level of picture detail. It uses the company’s OLED evo panel technology, which helps increase the G1’s brightness and color saturation over previous years.

In terms of features, the G1 offers everything but the kitchen sink. With a 120Hz refresh rate, HDMI 2.1, G-Sync/FreeSync, Auto Low Latency Mode, and various game optimization settings, the G1 is one of the best TVs available for gamers. It also comes with the sixth iteration of LG’s webOS smart platform, which we find fast and flexible enough for most users.

The “G” in G1 stands for “Gallery,” and LG’s Gallery OLED series carries that name because it’s designed to hang on a wall like a piece of art. If you don’t want to wall-mount your next TV, you’ll need to shell out extra for the G1’s stand, which is sold separately.

There’s no denying that the LG G1 is one of the best TVs we’ve ever seen. The cost of the G1 compared to the C2—especially once you factor in the G1’s separately sold stand—is virtually the same, but the C2 outpaces the G1 when it comes to performance. For this reason, the G1 isn’t at the top of our ranking. If you decide to go all-in on the G1, however, you’ll be investing in one of the best TVs money can buy—and it’ll stay that way for years to come.

The Samsung Q90T (available in 55-, 65-, 75-, and 85-inch variants) is one of the brightest TVs we’ve tested this year, making it a great pick for people with bright living rooms—or folks who see themselves gaming during the daytime. Picture quality is top-notch, too; the Q90T is capable of bright, vibrant colors and respectable black levels, in part because of quantum dots (microscopic dots that enhance a TV's colors and overall brightness level).

As far as gaming features go, the Q90T has you covered: four HDMI ports (including one HDMI 2.1 port and eARC passthrough support), VRR (FreeSync), and ALLM are all accounted for. The TV also features a native refresh rate of 120Hz, which is a great feature to hang your hat on if you're a gamer or a sports fan. The Q90T's built-in, Tizen-based smart platform isn't our favorite, but it offers a fair amount of flexibility for folks who don't want to invest in a streaming device—though we recommend that you do if you don't end up buying a Roku TV.

Because the Q90T is one of Samsung’s flagship TVs, the price is a bit steep compared to most TVs in its performance class. That said, if you don’t mind paying a premium, it’s a great fit for all uses—including next-generation console gaming.

The LG C1 is a stunning OLED TV with an array of future-facing features that will help maintain its value for several years to come. The 77-inch C1 may be just a tiny bit bigger than the usual 75-inch option and was our previous pick in this size range.

OLED TVs are known for their incredible contrast, and the LG C1 is no exception. It pairs a perfect black level with stellar highlights, offering a sustained peak brightness of around 700 to 800 nits in HDR, making it one of the brightest OLED TVs we’ve ever seen. When it comes to color, the C1 is a top-level performer, too; it features 100% SDR color saturation (Rec.709) and 97% HDR color saturation (DCI-P3). That means no matter what you’re watching, you can expect rich, true-to-life color. From cable TV to Blu-rays, the C1 makes TVs and movies look their best.

The LG C1 is equipped with four HDMI 2.1 inputs that all support 4K resolution at 120Hz, which makes it a great choice for gamers who own (or plan on owning) an Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5. In fact, the LG C1 is stuffed with gaming-centric features, like Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and FreeSync/G-Sync support, and a suite of picture enhancements that can be found in the TV’s Game Optimizer menu.

The C1 also comes with the sixth iteration of LG’s webOS smart platform pre-installed, and while it’s not our favorite smart software going right now, most folks will find it suitable to their needs; it’s zippy, easy to navigate, and offers a broad selection of apps via LG’s Content Store.

Although the LG G1 is a better-performing TVs by the thinnest of margins, we believe that, for most folks, the slight difference in picture quality isn’t worth the added cost.

Between its incredible performance, its wide array of features, and its elegant design, the LG C1 is the best TV you can buy right now. True A/V enthusiasts might be tempted by the LG G1’s slightly superior picture quality, but if you want the best ride for your money, the C1 offers a nearly identical experience for a considerably friendlier price.

If you’re shopping for a top-shelf TV with a bright, colorful picture, the 75-inch Samsung QN90A is one of the year’s best options. It combines the impressive performance we’ve come to expect from Samsung’s flagship TVs with an incredible toolbox of extra features and enhancements.

The QN90A is outfitted with Samsung’s Neo QLED display technology, which marries quantum dots with mini-LED backlights. Quantum dots make for a brighter, more color-rich picture, while the TV’s abundance of mini-LEDs allows for better-than-average black levels and tight contrast control. The end result is one of the best pictures we’ve seen all year, especially when it comes to HDR content.

But the QN90A’s dazzling display is only half of its appeal, as it’s packed to the brim with hardware and software enhancements. The TV’s 120Hz refresh rate—combined with its HDMI 2.1 support—make it a great choice for avid gamers. It supports both Auto Low Latency Mode and Variable Refresh Rate, two features widely considered essential for next-generation gaming. The QN90A also puts all of its gaming-related settings in an easy-to-access menu called Game Bar—a feature introduced in a handful of Samsung TVs in 2021.

The QN90A offers a host of extras not related to gaming, too, from Multi View (which allows users to watch more than one source at a time) to the Samsung Health ecosystem. And while the QN90A’s Tizen-based smart platform isn’t our favorite, it’s easy to use and offers enough flexibility for most users.

All told, the Samsung QN90A is the best Samsung TV in 2021, and while it’s not exactly budget-friendly, its excellent performance and future-facing features make it a great option for shoppers seeking a luxury TV experience.

The Samsung Q80A is a mid-range TV with the look and feel of a luxury set. It’s great for gamers (or folks who just want a bright TV). But the Q80A’s panel type produces very shallow black levels. This makes it a not-so-great choice for people who watch Blu-rays or stream content in dimmer settings.

Setting aside the subpar contrast, the Samsung Q80A does get good marks in other performance areas. Its quantum dot display creates a colorful, well-saturated picture, and it can sustain 500+ nits of brightness in HDR. That makes newer content (like 4K Blu-rays and certain streaming content) really shine.

If you’re after features, the Q80A delivers in spades. You’ll find Tizen Smart TV, HDMI 2.1 support, FreeSync (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode, Samsung Game Bar, Multi View, Samsung Health, and support for Q-Symphony soundbars.

One advantage of the Samsung Q80A’s panel type is that it delivers extra-wide horizontal viewing angles, making it great for group viewings. As mentioned, this unfortunately comes at the expense of the TV’s contrast. You’ll also get a fair amount of light bloom when bright picture elements clash with dark.

All told, it’s easy to recommend the Samsung Q80A to gamers and bright TV enthusiasts. It’s much harder to recommend as a home theater centerpiece. With black levels this shallow, cinephiles are better off springing for the LG C2, whose OLEDs deliver a picture that’s better suited for movie night.

The 75-inch TCL 5-Series isn’t the most robust 4K TV on the shelf, but what it lacks in performance it makes up for in value: This is a budget-friendly quantum dot TV with commendable picture quality that won’t break the bank, and like every other TV on the list, it's huge.

While not nearly as bright and colorful as the rest of the mid-range and high-end QLED TVs we reviewed this year, the TCL 5-Series is nevertheless brighter and more colorful than most of the slightly cheaper, entry-level TVs that occupy the same store shelf. And at this price point, it’s a steal of a deal that most bargain shoppers will appreciate.

Its motion handling and viewing angles aren’t particularly impressive, and it won’t net you any up-and-coming features like VRR and ALLM, but the 5-Series is a better performer than you might expect given its price. Plus, being a Roku TV, it features a terrific, easy-to-use smart platform built right in.

If you’re looking for a bargain but you want to avoid scraping the bottom of the barrel for the cheapest possible TV, the TCL 5-Series is worth the minor price hike over the lowest-tier options. It's an especially great TV for folks who are upgrading to 4K for the first time.

If you don't mind spending a little more, the 75-inch TCL 5-Series with Google TV swaps the Roku software for Google TV. It offers slightly better performance than the Roku version, as well as Variable Refresh Rate.

The LG A1 is one of LG’s most affordable OLED TVs. It’s aimed squarely at the crowd that wants to experience this impressive display technology without spending too much for the privilege.

While most OLED TVs are a marvel to look at, several unique factors make the A1 worth considering. Thanks to its self-lit pixels, the A1 features the perfect, inky black levels that make OLED TVs stand out.

Its color production is also terrific. The A1 covers 100% of the SDR color gamut (Rec.709) and 96% of the extra-wide HDR color gamut (DCI-P3). Everything you watch on this TV will look crisp, detailed, and brimming with life.

Unfortunately, the A1 struggles to get much brighter than 400 to 500 nits. That makes HDR content feel lackluster compared to other options in the price range.

OLED TVs are famously much dimmer than traditional LED TVs. But the A1 is dimmer than nearly every other OLED we’ve seen in the last few years. The LG C2, can climb as high as 770 nits in HDR, for example.

Unlike the C2, the A1 also lacks in the features department. It doesn’t support HDMI 2.1. It’s also limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, so 4K gaming at 120Hz is out of the question.

The A1 does support Auto Low Latency Mode. Unfortunately, it lacks Variable Refresh Rate, one of the most sought-after features among gaming enthusiasts. Of course, if you aren’t a gamer, you might prefer the A1 since you won’t be paying for features you won’t use.

The LG A1 is impressive in a handful of ways that only OLED TVs can achieve. Its panel is thinner than most smartphones. Its black levels are perfect. And its viewing angles are among the most accommodating on the market today.

Since it’s last year’s model, the A1 can be found on sale. For most folks shopping in this class, though, the C2’s high-level performance and laundry list of features make it a more appealing option.