The Best TVs of 2026

• Screen sizes: 55”, 65”, 75”, 85”, 100”
• HDR support: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG
• Smart platform: Google TV

The Hisense U6QF is one of the most affordable mini-LED TVs on the market, although it is not as inexpensive as the TCL QM6K. The Hisense U6QG, however, remains a great choice for those seeking a budget-friendly TV – and, in fact, it’s slightly brighter than the TCL model we included as our top pick under $500. It's just too expensive to be considered for that category.

The mini-LED backlighting is typically reserved for more expensive models, though we have started seeing it at lower prices. The U6QF features a scaled-down version of the technology, with fewer dimming zones, which helps reduce the cost. It’s bright enough for casual daytime viewing and looks good in the dark, too. With quantum dots in play, the U6QF is also quite colorful for a mid-range TV. It’s not as gaming-friendly as pricier TVs from Hisense and competitive brands, but Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) are included.

The design of the TV isn’t as sleek or stylish as some of the more expensive models on our list, and its processing isn’t quite as good. Still, if you’re looking for an affordable TV that delivers better performance than most in its class, the U6QF is a great pick.

• Screen sizes: 55”, 65”, 75”, 85”, 100”
• HDR support: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG
• Smart platform: Google TV

The U7QG is right in the middle of Hisense’s mini-LED lineup, sandwiched between the entry-level U6QF and the top-shelf U8QG. It’s a great fit for those seeking a TV that exceeds the average but doesn’t require a higher price range. It’s an especially great pick for gamers on a budget.

Although it doesn’t showcase small, specular highlights as impressively as its higher-end counterpart, the U7QG is nevertheless bright enough for most living spaces due to its relatively high average picture brightness. Its HDR performance is solid, and while it doesn’t handle blacks as well as OLED models, it still does a pretty good job.

The U7QG’s set of gaming features is terrific. It supports 4K gaming at 165Hz, ALLM, VRR, and more. All of its HDMI ports are optimized for gaming with support for HDMI 2.1.

• Screen sizes: 48”, 55”, 65”, 77”, 83”, 97”
• HDR support: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
• Smart platform: WebOS 25

The LG G5 OLED is the best OLED TV LG has ever made; it was also a top consideration for the best upgrade category. It gets fantastically bright, and with OLED technology for those deep black-levels, delivers huge contrast.

One of the most notable features of the LG G5 OLED is that it utilizes a new RGB OLED panel, designed to enhance brightness and offer a wider range of colors. It does this quite well, allowing it to compete in brightness and color reproduction with QD-OLED TVs from companies like Samsung and Sony.

The only thing this TV doesn’t do as well as Samsung is handle reflections. It still does a very good job at handling them, but not as well as the Samsung S95F. The G5 also doesn’t have the same ultra-slim design as the S95F, though to be clear, it looks great.

• Screen sizes: 55”, 65”, 77”
• HDR support: HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
• Smart platform: Tizen

The S95D, released in 2024, is Samsung's previous-generation flagship QD-OLED TV. While the newer S95F (2025), our pick for Best Upgrade TV, is certainly better, the S95D remains a stunning TV that might be compelling for you if you can find it at a discount. It boasts stunning brightness and a range of gaming features, plus it features the Samsung One Connect box, which offloads processing and connectivity outside of the display panel.

While we didn't test the S95D as extensively as its 2023 predecessor, the S95C, they're quite similar. When the S95C was released, it was the brightest OLED we had tested to date, with HDR specular highlights reaching as high as 1,400 nits. Colors on the S95C look spectacular no matter what you happen to be watching, but HDR movies, shows, and video games look especially vibrant. The S95C covers 99% of the HDR color gamut, and the sheer luminosity of its quantum dot-enhanced palette truly makes a difference.

The S95C is a gaming powerhouse, and its low input lag and 144Hz native refresh rate are just the beginning. All four of its HDMI 2.1 inputs support 4K/120Hz gaming, along with Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and AMD FreeSync Premium.

As is the case with all Samsung TVs, the S95C does not support Dolby Vision. Instead, the TV offers HDR10+, an HDR format that harnesses frame-by-frame metadata similarly. In addition, while the S95C’s software has seen subtle improvements year over year, we find the user interface to be somewhat confusing and certain processes to be slow, which may disappoint those seeking a simple and easy-to-use smart platform experience.

Read our full Samsung S95C review.

• Screen sizes: 55", 65", 77”
• HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
• Smart platform: Google TV

The Sony A95L was strongly considered as the best upgrade option and remains an excellent choice for those who are willing to invest in one of the best TVs on the market.

Sony is still better than Samsung in some use-cases, too. It features improved processing and advanced upscaling technology. However, it’s not quite as bright as the Samsung S95F, and it struggles to handle reflections. Again, though, the Sony is a stunning TV.

And if it's features you're after, the A95L is practically overflowing with them. There are more audio- and video-related enhancements than any TV I can remember, including IMAX Enhanced mode, Surface Acoustic Audio, and Bravia Cam support. Gamers are covered, too, as the A95L supports Variable Refresh Rate, Auto Low Latency Mode, and Sony's Game Mode. Unfortunately, gamers who own two current-gen gaming consoles and an eARC-enabled soundbar will have to juggle their devices across just two HDMI 2.1 inputs.

See our full Sony A95L review.

• Screen sizes: 65”, 765”, 85”, 98”
• HDR support: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG
• Smart platform: Google TV

The TCL QM8K is one of the best TVs TCL has ever made. It combines mini-LEDs and quantum dots for a bright, colorful picture, a better-than-average selection of gaming features, and a reliable smart platform.

The QM8K is one of the brightest TVs of the year, and it doesn’t matter what you’re watching. SDR content and HDR content alike look superb. Specular highlights climb as high as 5,000 nits, and the QM8K’s impressive local dimming algorithm ensures that the TV’s high-octane mini-LEDs aren’t bleeding into surrounding darkness.

At first blush, gaming enthusiasts might balk at the fact that only two of the QM8K’s HDMI inputs support 4K gaming at up to 144Hz, but there’s good news: The TV’s dedicated eARC port is separate from its pair of gaming-enhanced inputs, so owners of multiple current-generation consoles don’t have to play favorites with their ports.