In 2026, buying a television is more exciting (and more confusing) than ever. With rapid advances in display technology, smart-TV features, and performance, there are TVs available to suit every budget — from affordable 4K sets to ultra-bright OLED and Mini-LED panels. Whether you’re streaming your favorite shows, playing video games, watching sports, or creating a home theatre setup, choosing the right TV can significantly affect your viewing experience.
This post guides you through the top 10 best televisions to buy in 2026, mixing premium flagship models and value-centric picks so you can find the right TV for your needs (and budget). We also highlight what to look for before buying a TV — to help you make an informed decision rather than being swayed by marketing hype.
What to Consider Before Buying a TV in 2025
Before diving into the top picks, it’s important to know what distinguishes a great TV from an average one. Here are the key criteria to evaluate:
1. Display Resolution & Quality
- 4K UHD (3840×2160) is now the standard for TVs around 40″ and above. Full HD is no longer ideal for modern streaming, movies, or gaming.
- HDR support — like HDR10, Dolby Vision, or HLG — enhances colours, contrast, and brightness, giving a more cinematic and immersive experience.
- Panel type matters:
- OLED: Offers best blacks, excellent contrast, deep colour depth — great for movies, dark-room viewing, cinematic visuals.
- QLED / QD-OLED: Uses quantum dot technology for brighter, vibrant images — often better in bright rooms and more resilient for everyday use.
- Mini-LED / Neo QLED: A middle ground — better local dimming, high brightness, solid contrast — often at lower cost than OLED yet much better than old LED-LCD TVs.
2. Smart Features & Operating System (OS)
Smart TV OS matters a lot. A good smart TV should support popular streaming services, have a smooth interface, and ideally include voice assistants, screen-mirroring, and regular updates.
3. HDR, Brightness & Contrast
For cinematic movies or bright-room daytime viewing, peak brightness and contrast — enhanced by HDR — make a big difference.
4. Ports & Connectivity
For gaming, external sound systems, or streaming devices: check for enough HDMI (ideally HDMI 2.1 for future-proofing), USB ports, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.
5. Price vs Value
You don’t always have to pay top dollar for a good TV. Some mid-range or budget models deliver great performance for their price — and sometimes meet 90% of what top-end TVs offer.
With these in mind, let’s dive into the best TVs 2025 has to offer.
Top 10 Televisions to Buy in 2025 (Budget to Premium)
Highlights & Why They Made the List
- Samsung S95F OLED 4K Smart TV — Widely regarded as one of the best TVs of 2025. Its QD-OLED panel delivers perfect blacks, vibrant colors, and stunning brightness (especially compared to older OLEDs), making it ideal for movies, shows, and gaming.
- LG G5 OLED evo 4K TV — A flagship-level OLED with exceptional brightness (often surpassing many Mini-LED displays), excellent picture processing, and a sleek wall-mount design. Great for home theatres and cinematic experience.
- Hisense U8QG QLED 4K TV — For buyers seeking high brightness, strong contrast, and vibrant color at a more modest price than premium OLEDs. A good balance of performance and value.
- TCL QM6K 4K Mini‑LED Smart TV — A strong budget-to-midrange pick. Mini-LED with quantum dot color gives solid contrast and detail, making it a good choice for everyday viewing, streaming, and gaming, without paying a premium price.
- Panasonic 65Z95AEG OLED 4K TV — Among the best TVs reviewed in 2025 for cinematic viewing. Delivers excellent brightness, color fidelity, and low input lag — making it particularly good for movies, series and console gaming.
- Sony A95L OLED 4K Smart TV — Premium OLED option offering high-end picture quality, rich colours, and smart features, suitable for those who want top-tier performance from a trusted brand.
- LG C5 OLED 4K Smart TV — Arguably the best “value OLED” of 2025: it delivers a large portion of flagship-level performance at a significantly lower price point. Ideal for buyers who want OLED quality without overspending.
- TCL QM8K 4K Mini‑LED Smart TV — A compelling mini-LED TV that balances screen size, brightness, contrast, and price. Great for those who want a larger screen, bright-room viewing, or a family-room centerpiece without paying premium OLED prices.
How to Choose Based on Your Needs
For Movie Lovers & Cinematic Experience
If you want deep blacks, rich contrast, cinematic colour — go for OLED or QD-OLED. Premium sets like the Samsung S95F, LG G5, or Panasonic 65Z95AEG deliver near-movie-theatre quality.
For Bright Rooms / Daytime Viewing
If your living space gets a lot of natural light, or you often watch during daytime, a bright QLED or Mini-LED TV like Hisense U8QG or TCL QM8K delivers vibrant colours without glare issues.
For Gaming & Console Use
Look for TVs with HDMI 2.1, low input lag, high refresh rates, and VRR — like the LG G5, Samsung S95F, or Panasonic 65Z95AEG — to ensure smooth gameplay and future-proof compatibility.
For Budget-Conscious Buyers
If you want reasonable 4K and smart-TV features without breaking the bank, the TCL QM6K or even LG C5 offer surprisingly good performance for their price.
For General Family / Everyday Use
A mid-range Mini-LED or QLED — such as Hisense U8QG or TCL QM8K — is often enough for daily streaming, sports, cartoons, and general TV watching.
Trends & What’s New in 2026
- OLED evo / QD-OLED & improved bright-room performance: OLEDs used to suffer in bright rooms due to lower brightness and reflections — but 2026’s models are far brighter and better at glare handling.
- Mini-LED / Neo QLED as a middle-ground technology: For those who want a balance between cost, brightness, and contrast, Mini-LED is increasingly popular and performs impressively close to OLEDs.
- Smart features & OS maturity: Modern TVs are now not just displays — they are full media hubs with streaming apps, voice assistants, and smart-home integrations — making your choice of OS (WebOS, Tizen, Android TV, etc.) more important than ever.
- Price/performance balance improving: With advances in panel tech and manufacturing, even mid-tier TVs now deliver strong performance — making “good enough” TVs more common for everyday users.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the “best” television in 2026 isn’t about finding a universal winner — it’s about picking the right TV for your needs. If you want cinematic visuals, dark-room movie nights, or elite gaming performance — premium OLEDs or QD-OLEDs are hard to beat. If your budget is limited or you want something versatile for everyday viewing, Mini-LED or QLED TVs deliver tremendous value.
Whichever option you go for, focus on panel type, resolution, HDR support, smart features, and connectivity — not just brand or price. A well-chosen midrange TV can often give 80–90% of what a premium flagship offers for far less money.
Happy TV hunting — and enjoy your next binge-watch session!