The Best Televisions of 2025

What are the best televisions in 2025?

OLED panels now push well past 1,500 nits thanks to Micro-Lens Array (MLA) tech, QD-OLED sets combine OLED contrast with quantum-dot colour, and the latest Mini-LED TVs cram tens of thousands of back-light zones into ever-thinner chassis. 4K 144 Hz (and even 165 Hz on a few models) with full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth has also become standard on mid-range and premium sets, so you no longer have to choose between film-grade image quality and competitive gaming performance.

After combing through lab measurements from RTINGS, hands-on impressions from trusted reviewers, and up-to-the-minute retail pricing, these are the six TVs that stand out right now.

Best TV for Movies & Prestige Drama

LG G4 OLED evo (65-inch) – $3,399 MSRP, often on sale around $2,300

The G-series has always been LG’s “filmmaker” line, and 2025’s G4 doubles down with Brightness Booster Ultimate MLA panels that finally make specular highlights pop like a premium Mini-LED, while still delivering the pitch-black pixels only OLED can offer. Dolby Vision IQ, Filmmaker Mode, and immaculate out-of-box colour accuracy earn it reference-status in dark-room viewing. Wall mounting hardware is in the box, but LG now bundles a low-profile table stand with the 55- and 65-inch models—a welcome touch for renters.

Pros

• Perfect blacks and class-leading colour accuracy

• Brighter than any previous LG OLED, finally HDR pop without a light-controlled room

• Four HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbps) ports for 4K 120 Hz discs, consoles and PCs

Cons

• Still expensive at full MSRP

• Like all OLEDs, long-term static content can cause image retention

• No included feet on sizes above 65 in.

Best Gaming TV

Samsung S95D QD-OLED (65-inch) – $2,299 (-$1,100 launch discount)

Samsung leverages its third-gen QD-OLED panel and a Motion Xcelerator 144 Hz engine to deliver lightning-fast response times, full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 across four inputs, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and input lag that hovers in the single-digit millisecond range. The new “OLED Glare-Free” coating knocks down reflections better than any rival OLED, so daytime FIFA sessions look as punchy as midnight Halo marathons. Its only big omission is Dolby Vision, but HDR10+ Gaming partly fills that gap for Xbox Series X owners.

Pros

• 4K up to 144 Hz VRR with ultra-low latency

• Impressive anti-glare coating on an OLED surface

• Quantum-dot colour volume perfect for bright, stylised titles

Cons

• No Dolby Vision support

• Tizen OS still pushes ads on the home screen

• Brightness trails the best Mini-LED sets in sun-soaked rooms

Best Mini-LED for Bright Rooms

Sony Bravia 9 Mini-LED (65-inch) – $2,699 promo ($3,299 MSRP)

Sony’s first 15-bit Mini-LED panel packs over 20,000 dimming zones and peaks near 3,000 nits, giving OLED-level black control without sacrificing sunlight-proof punch. Reviewers call it the brightest TV they’ve ever tested without major blooming, and RTINGS ranks it the best Mini-LED of the year. Sony’s XR processor still rules motion interpolation for sports, while two HDMI 2.1 ports handle 4K 120 Hz gaming.

Pros

• Stunning HDR brightness and reflection handling

• Excellent local-dimming: deep blacks, minimal haloing

• Google TV interface with hands-free Assistant and AirPlay 2

Cons

• Fewer HDMI 2.1 ports than LG/Samsung rivals

• Pricier than comparable Samsung QN90D or Hisense U8N

• Table stand is wide—check your furniture depth

Best Big-Screen Value

TCL QM8 (85-inch) – $1,399

An 85-inch panel that hits roughly 2,400 nits and ships with a 144 Hz panel for under $1.5 k still feels like a pricing error, but TCL keeps doubling down on aggressive value. The QM8’s Mini-LED back-light drives over 2,300 local-dimming zones, letting it hang surprisingly close to flagship sets in HDR punch and black-level detail. If you crave home-theatre scale without re-financing the house, this is the sweet spot of 2025.

Pros

• Truly massive screen for the money

• High brightness and strong local dimming for movies or sports

• 144 Hz HDMI 2.1 gaming support

Cons

• Off-axis viewing not as forgiving as OLED

• Google TV ads and somewhat sluggish menus out of the box

• Assembly is a two-person job—this thing weighs over 100 lbs

Best Mid-Range All-Rounder

Hisense U8N (65-inch) – $947

Hisense’s U-series keeps annihilating mid-range expectations. The 2024/25 U8N refresh boosts HDR brightness past 3,000 nits in small highlights, offers full-array local dimming, two 48 Gbps HDMI 2.1 ports, and even 4K 144 Hz with FreeSync Premium Pro. At under a grand, nothing else gives you this mixture of gaming chops and living-room brightness. The trade-off? Narrow VA viewing angles and a glossy screen that can reflect lamps if placed badly.

Pros

• Class-leading brightness and colour at a sub-$1 k price

• 144 Hz gaming with Dolby Vision + Dolby Atmos passthrough

• Built-in 2.1.2 speaker system is decent for casual viewing

Cons

• Narrow viewing angles—best for sofa-front seating

• Google TV ads and some minor firmware quirks reported

• No eARC on a full-bandwidth port (you lose one HDMI 2.1 to your soundbar)

Best Budget Pick

TCL QM7 (55-inch) – $479 street

Dropping under the $500 line, the QM7 is the first budget set to combine Mini-LED back-lighting, 4K 120 Hz VRR, and quantum-dot colour. Peak brightness is a claimed 2,400 nits, though real-world measurements land closer to 1,800—still excellent at this tier. Tom’s Guide and RTINGS both crown it the “best TV under $500,” noting that once you tweak picture settings, it punches well above its class.

Pros

• Mini-LED contrast and 120 Hz gaming for under $500

• Google TV UI remains flexible and app-rich

• Slim center stand fits smaller media units

Cons

• Panel uniformity isn’t flawless—some dirty-screen effect on grey slides

• Limited peak colour accuracy unless you calibrate

• 60 Hz consoles (Switch, older Xbox/PS4) see less benefit from 120 Hz panel

Buying Tips for 2025

1. Check your HDMI needs. If you run a PS5 and an Xbox Series X plus a 120 Hz PC, you’ll want at least three HDMI 2.1 48 Gbps ports—or plan on an eARC soundbar that can passthrough 4K 120 Hz.

2. Calibrate or at least use Filmmaker Mode. Even budget Mini-LED sets look dramatically better once you disable the vivid shop-floor presets.

3. Mind the stand width. Sony’s Bravia 9 and LG’s G-series are wider than many low-profile media benches; measure twice, buy once.

4. Watch sale cycles. Memorial Day, Prime Day (July), and Black Friday still deliver the steepest OLED discounts.

The Bottom Line

Whether you’re optimising a dark-room cinema, chasing 144 Hz fragging sessions, or upgrading on a shoestring, 2025’s TV landscape has never offered more bang for the buck. The best television for you is based on your preferences, but there's one for everyone out there! LG’s G4 rewrites what OLED can do for film lovers, Samsung’s S95D is a gamer’s dream, Sony finally nails Mini-LED with the Bravia 9, and TCL and Hisense keep the mid-range and budget tiers fiercely competitive.

Pick the set that matches your room, your habits and—just as importantly—your HDMI inventory, and you’ll be living in glorious 4K HDR for years to come. Enjoy the view!