As TVs have gotten thinner over the years, there is less space in the display’s physical frame for adding speakers. The end result—in some cases—has been sound that’s as thin as the TV itself. This makes hearing voices particularly difficult, especially when they are mixed with music soundtracks and movie sound effects.

So, even with many of the best TVs you can buy today, we highly recommend you invest in one of the best soundbars or the best surround sound systems. Of course, we also understand that going down that route requires more research—checking you have enough space and the right connections—and extra budget.

If you're looking to hit two targets with one arrow, however, know that there are also options for you. There are several TVs on the market that come with superb sound systems as standard, allowing you to get good sound quality with no extra gear or work necessary.

We've tested hundreds of TVs over the years, so we know what makes a great package. Rest assured, each of the TV displays on our list don't just sound good, they look fantastic and have much of the best TV tech built-in too. Whether it’s a Hollywood blockbuster or just back episodes of Friends, the TVs we've selected below will make sure that whatever you’re watching sounds as good as it can.

Best TVs for sound: Quick List

The best TVs for sound you can buy

The best TV for sound overall

The Panasonic Z95B is a premium OLED that delivers outstanding sound and picture in one package – which is no easy feat. It has a built-in 5.1.2-channel speaker system that’s one of the most powerful you’ll find on a TV. The result is clear dialogue, punchy bass and immersive Dolby Atmos effects. It’s detailed, dynamic and spacious enough that most people won’t need a soundbar.

Panasonic has also upgraded the speakers for this latest version, improving the driver layout and bass output, and the results show. Sound placement is accurate across the screen, height effects register convincingly, and the system can go loud with losing clarity. Features like Space Tune, which calibrates audio to your room, and Sound Focus, which lets you aim sound toward off-center seating, make it adaptable.

Picture quality is just as impressive. The new four-stack OLED panel delivers high peak brightness for an OLED, excellent contrast and natural color. Panasonic still priorities accuracy over sheer output, but HDR movies look refined and richly detailed, with smooth motion and superb shadow handling. It’s not quite as bright as the top OLEDs, but it’s consistently cinematic.

It runs on Fire TV, which isn’t the best smart platform but it’s fully featured, responsive and works well for Prime Video users. Gaming performance is strong too, with 4K 144Hz, Dolby Vision gaming and VRR support, through HDMI 2.1 ports are limited to two.

The Z95B sits at the higher end of the price scale, but its picture accuracy and class-leading built-in sound justify the premium. If you want an OLED that delivers a truly cinematic experience straight out of the box, no soundbar required, it’s one of the best options you can buy.

Read our full Panasonic Z95B review

• ^ Back to the top

The best mid-range OLED TV for sound

The Sony Bravia 8 II delivers some of the best built-in sound you’ll find on a mid-range OLED. Its Acoustic Surface Audio+ system uses actuators behind the screen to create sound through the panel itself, giving dialogue and effects an impressive sense of placement and accuracy. It goes surprisingly loud without distortion, and overall feels more immersive than the typical TV speaker setup.

Sound gets even better if you do want to pair it with a compatible Sony soundbar. With Sony’s Acoustic Center Sync, the Bravia 8 II acts as the center channel in a Sony surround system, anchoring voices to the screen and adding real depth. In testing, the Bravia 8 II’s audio consistently impressed. Action scenes had precise directionality, ambient effects wrapped naturally around the screen and even with bass limitations compared to a dedicated subwoofer, it outperforms most TVs in this price range.

Its picture performance is similarly strong. You get the excellent contrast and rich colors you’d expect from an OLED, plus Sony’s processing, which sharpens textures and keeps motion controlled. Brightness is improved over last year’s model, giving highlights more punch, though it still sits below the brightest LG and Samsung models.

Gaming support is good, but not great. The Bravia 8 II has 4K 120Hz, VRR and ALLM on two HDMI 2.1 ports, and PS5 owners benefit from Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode. Input lag isn’t class-leading but it’s fast enough for most players.

It only isn’t number one because Panasonic’s Z95B offers more immersive sound overall, and brighter OLED rivals give you extra headroom for daytime viewing. But if you want an OLED with genuinely impressive built-in audio, and don’t want to rely on a soundbar, the Bravia 8 II is one of the best balance options out there.

Read our full Sony Bravia 8 II review

• ^ Back to the top

The best mid-range mini-LED TV for sound

The Hisense U8N is a high-value TV that uses mini-LED backlight technology to deliver bright images with bold colors. It’s available in screen sizes ranging from 55 to 85 inches and has built-in 2.1.2-channel speakers with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support. While it doesn’t provide the same extensive level of sound features as the Panasonic Z95A and Sony Bravia 8 in this list, it offers much better than average sound quality, and even includes a built-in 'subwoofer' to enhance bass.

In our Hisense U8N review, we said of the TV’s sound quality that “dialogue was clear and full, and the built-in subwoofer made bass effects sound surprisingly weighty.” The TV’s two up-firing speakers also created an impressive sense of height when watching movies with Dolby Atmos soundtracks. We normally recommend adding a soundbar to a TV, but the U8N could easily go without one and still deliver sound that will satisfy most people.

Outside of its sound, the Hisense U8N is one of the brightest sets we’ve tested yet, and that capability plus its low-reflection screen make it a great option for both daytime TV and sports viewing. It uses the Google TV smart TV platform for streaming in the US (and Hisense’s own VIDAA smart TV platform in the UK and Australia) and supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG high dynamic range formats. Gaming features include two HDMI 2.1 ports with support for 4K 120Hz, VRR up to 144Hz (including FreeSync Premium Pro), ALLM, and Dolby Vision 4K gaming.

The Hisense U8N is an exceptional value and it improves on the last year's Hisense U8K – our previous mid-range pick – in almost every way, including sound quality. It even has an Auto Acoustic Tuning feature that uses the remote’s mic to adapt the sound to your viewing space. The U8N is a great choice if you have a tight budget and don’t want to spring for a soundbar when buying a big TV.

Read our full Hisense U8N review

• ^ Back to the top

The best budget TV for sound in the UK

The Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED admittedly doesn't have a sound that will best the other entries on this list, limited to two 12W speakers with no Dolby Atmos support. But it does deliver a direct and clear sound that will suit people for day-to-day viewing – better than any other cheap TV we've tested.

In our Omni QLED review, we found that if you set the sound mode to Movie, you'll get a clear, direct sound that carries decent bass levels that demonstrated the rumble of jets in Top Gun: Maverick with plenty of punch and clear speech levels – even in scenes with unclear dialogue. There's no Dolby Atmos speaker system here – unsurprising at this price range – but it's clear Amazon has taken a no-frills approach with the Omni QLED's sound, focusing on clarity rather than immersion.

Elsewhere, the Omni QLED offers solid picture quality, with vibrant colors and clean textures and despite the lack of 4K 120Hz support, the Omni QLED's gaming performance at 60Hz is good – and there's Dolby Vision gaming, variable refresh rate and ALLM support as well.

While the Omni QLED could benefit from a soundbar for those looking for a more cinematic sound, its built-in sound is decent and will serve most people for casual viewing well and while it won't blow any minds, not many TVs at a budget price can beat the Omni QLED.

Read our full Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED review

• ^ Back to the top

The best budget TV for sound in the US

The Roku Pro Series is the company’s flagship TV lineup and one that uses a mini-LED backlight to boost picture brightness and contrast to a higher level than the mid-range Roku Select series TVs. Notably, the Pro Series sets feature a thicker shadowbox-style design that allows for bigger built-in speakers that are side-firing rather than the downward-firing ones found in many TVs, the Select series included.

When describing the TV’s sound quality in our Roku Pro Series TV review, we said “Details in the high frequencies retain body as well as clarity,” and that “mids are nice and full.” About the only thing we felt was missing was bass, and that can be easily – and inexpensively – fixed by adding one of the company’s wireless subwoofers to the TV. (Roku wireless surround sound speakers that link up with Roku TVs are also available.)

Other than sound, Pro Series TVs use the same streamlined smart interface found in the company’s streaming devices. The TV’s Voice Remote Pro has a backlit keypad and a hands-free option that lets you control the TV using voice commands without having to touch the remote. A Smart Picture feature can automatically optimize the picture settings based on what your viewing, and the TV’s two HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K 120Hz input for gaming.

One of the best things about the Roku Pro Series is its price, which is very affordable for a TV this feature-packed. Add in the fact that the Pro Series’ impressive sound quality means you don’t necessarily need to buy a soundbar, and its value increases even further.

Read our full Roku Pro Series review

• ^ Back to the top

The best premium mini-LED TV for sound

The Sony Bravia 9’s Acoustic Multi Audio+ design solves the problem of disconnected TV sound by using tweeters installed in the left and right sides of the TV’s frame. These work to elevate dialogue so it sounds like it’s coming directly from the mouths of characters talking onscreen, and they also make the positioning of sound effects accurate and natural. And in contrast to the virtual Dolby Atmos processing used by most TVs, the Bravia 9 has 'Beam' drivers located on top that create a real sense of spaciousness by bouncing sound off your room’s ceiling.

The Bravia 9’s 2.2.2-channel speaker system is powered by 70 watts of amplification, and supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive soundtracks. 3D Surround Upscaling adds spaciousness to regular stereo or mono soundtracks, and a feature called Voice Zoom 3 uses AI to isolate dialogue and boost it separately to enhance the clarity of voices.

Another feature, Acoustic Center Sync, allows for a compatible Sony soundbar or speakers to be connected to the Bravia 9 so its built-in speakers can be used as the center channel in a surround sound system. When this setup is configured, Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping processing will create 'phantom' speakers between the actual ones for even greater immersion.

When we tested the Sony Bravia 9, we used Acoustic Center Sync to pair the TV with a Sony Bravia Home Theater Quad wireless speaker system, creating a 5.1.4-channel configuration. The result: “the Bravia 9 integrated perfectly with the external audio system, delivering smooth and seamless sound.”

On the picture quality front, the Sony Bravia 9 is a flagship mini-LED TV and exclusively features the company’s XR Backlight Master Drive with High Peak Luminance tech to deliver pictures with high peak brightness and refined local dimming for detailed blacks. It also has an anti-reflection screen, making it a great option for both movies and sports, and it supports 4K 120Hz for gaming on two HDMI 2.1 ports.

Read our full Sony Bravia 9 review

• ^ Back to the top

The best TV for sound: FAQs

New TVs coming in 2025

Successors to some of the TVs on this list have been announced for 2025, and those models will soon be arriving in stores. We expect to post reviews of them as quickly as possible, but for now, the listings in this guide stand as our current top choices as the best TVs for sound.

The Hisense U8QG will get a substantial sound upgrade over its predecessor, jumping to a 4.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos speaker configuration over the U8N’s 2.1.2-channel array. Like the U8N, it will also support DTS:X and is IMAX Enhanced certified. With up to 5,000 nits specified peak brightness, the U8QG series is also brighter than its predecessor and will feature up to 5,600 local dimming zones.

Roku Pro series TVs will also be getting an update in 2025, with the new models getting custom factory calibration to ensure best performance. Roku didn’t provide any information about sound upgrades to the Pro Series, which remains our top budget choice (US) in this guide.

How we test the best TVs for sound

How we test the best TVs for sound

To test the best TVs for sound, we watched a range of content on each of these displays, really listening out for some key criteria. This mostly included how the audio formats DTS:X and Dolby Atmos performed. Did they give the experience of surround sound? What was lacking? Did settings need to be adjusted considerably to get the desired effect? Did the TV deliver on the power listed in the specs?

In our reviews above, we've answered the key questions you'll need to know when considering the best TVs for sound, ensuring we tried TV shows, movies and games to let you know which might be better suited for certain kinds of content.

Although this guide is very much focused on audio specs, no one wants a TV that sounds great and looks mediocre. That's why every TV on this list has also been tested against the criteria we apply to all of our TV buying guides.

This includes rating picture quality, clarity and brightness. It also involves testing smart features, assistants and checking all of the best streaming apps work well. As well as living with the TV for some time, ensuring that all content types display well, viewing angles are good for a range of environments and much more.

We've tested hundreds of TVs over the years, which means you're in safe hands. Not only are we well equipped to pick the best TVs for sound, we also have extensive experience of the market as a whole, so can confidently select the TVs that deliver rather than relying on their specs.

Latest updates to this guide

November 16, 2025
Replaced the Panasonic Z95A as our best overall pick with the Panasonic Z95B, based on our recent testing. Also switched the Sony Bravia 8 in second place as our best mid-range OLED choice with the newer Sony Bravia 8 II.

May 9, 2025
Added 'New TVs for 2025' section to FAQ.

February 10, 2025
Added in 'Buy it if' and 'Don't buy it if' boxes for each entry to summarize pros and cons for quick reading.

December 16, 2024
Added Roku Pro Series as 'Best budget (US)' option.

October 16, 2024
Gave this list an overhaul with new rankings and entries. Panasonic Z95A was introduced and became 'best overall'. Sony Bravia 8 became the 'best mid-range OLED'. The Hisense U8N became the 'best mid-range mini-LED' Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED introduced and became 'best budget' and the Sony Bravia 9 became the 'best premium mini-LED'.
Also introduced 'Quick List' with short summaries for each entry at the top of the list.

August 15, 2024
Replaced Hisense U8K with newer Hisense U8N model as 'best midrange.'

June 18, 2024
Replaced Samsung S95C OLED with the Sony Bravia 9 mini-LED as 'best premium US.'

February 5, 2024
Added the Sony A80L as 'best tv for sound for most people'. Panasonic MZ2000 and Samsung S95C were introduced as 'best premium UK' and 'best premium US' respectively. Hisense U8K added as 'best mid range TV for sound'. Removed Sony X90J, Samsung Q80B, LG C2, Philips OLED+936 and Sony A95K from guide, mostly due to receding stock.

For most people, there's no beating the Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen. Now, I may hate how clunky the name is, but there's no denying that this handheld 1080p mini projector offered fantastic picture quality for the price (and size) when we tested this one out. Better still, you can get an optional battery pack for it, meaning it can be used even when you're not neat a power supply. Definitely worth a look if you want a decent all-rounder.

Alternatively, the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro is a cheap portable projector that delivers plenty of bang for your buck. But for 4K portable projectors, both the budget-priced LG CineBeam Q and BenQ GP520 remain two of the best 4K projectors around. Check out the team's full reviews below, alongside some of the best pocket-sized projectors capable of filling a range of screen sizes for work and play.

Quick list

Best portable projectors of 2025 in full

Best portable projector overall

We were already big fans of the original Samsung the Freestyle mini projector, naming it our top choice. And it's stayed that way - until we tried out the second-generation model.

Samsung's The Freestyle 2nd Generation isn't a radical departure from the previous iteration - although it now includes a Gaming Hub, letting you connect a wireless controller and access cloud-basing gaming apps like Xbox and Nvidia GeForce Now. It's all very easy to set-up, which is a big part of The Freestyle's appeal, and the subtle, compact design makes it ideal for transporting in a backpack.

In use, picture quality is good - blacks are deep and colors are accurate, with HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG support. The projector also features what Samsung dubs '360 Degree' sound. And in our tests, we were surprised to find it really did offer spacious audio, although the bass was admittedly limited.

However, we did spot a few drawbacks. In our multiple luminance tests, this wasn't the brightest portable projector in the world, and the contrast is low, too, for daytime use outdoors. We would've liked to see more than a single micro-HDMI port here, too (or at least include a HDMI adapter in the box). It may not be a budget model, either, but overall, this is an excellent, easy-to-use mini projector with a real emphasis on portability.

If you can't get the second-gen model, The Freestyle original is an excellent alternative.

Read our Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen review

• ^ Back to top

Best portable projector on a budget

The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro is one of those mini projectors that surprises you with how good it is. In our testing, we found it delivered bright images with good color and contrast (and, of course, it looks even better in darker rooms). However, we did need to toy with the limited picture settings to achieve this.

Once we set the projector up, we were pleasantly surprised with how well this model performed. Picture quality even in brighter rooms was very acceptable, although as it's only rated 450 lumens brightness, it's not well-suited to bright overhead lights or outdoor operations in daylight.

As a lower-end model, it's capped at 1080p, which might make it too low for bigger screens. We also noticed the unit can only be tilted to 130-degrees - we couldn't help but feel full 180-degrees would've improved overall performance. Nor did we like the built-in speaker, finding sounds to be serviceable at full volume, but very weak at lower settings. A Bluetooth speaker is recommended here.

Compared to its most obvious rival, the Freestyle 2, you'll see similar specs here for a lower price, but what really sells this one to us is the optional PowerBase tripod stand which elevates the mini projector while powering it at the same.

Read our full XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro portable projector review

• ^ Back to top

Best 4K portable projector

The BenQ GP520 is an affordable 4K portable projector that boasts impressive brightness - the LED light source hits around 2,600 ANSI Lumens, and in our review, we called it “a go-anywhere all-in-one theater system.”

The design is boxy and compact, weighing in at 8.2lb / 3.7kg. There’s no built-in handle - although you can get a carry case (sold separately). Despite this, we found it easy enough and light enough to move around. There’s no gimbal stand, but you’ll also find tripod holds on three sides for positioning the projector.

Picture quality is very good. We found the 4K images were sharp and detailed with HDR10+ support, and there’s motion handling. Colors aren’t blisteringly vivid, though, and the blacks could be deeper. This isn’t one for gamers either, since it can’t switch to 1080p for a frame-rate boost. Having said that, under the right settings, it looks way better than it has any right to be for a low-cost 4K portable projector. We also felt the speakers were surprisingly good. Of course, you’ll get better performance with a sound system, but they’re absolutely acceptable without an external set-up - especially since the fans aren’t especially loud in use.

Overall, a solid 4K entry that’s hard to beat on price, especially given the higher than average brightness compared to similar models.

Read our full BenQ GP520 review

• ^ Back to top

Best 4K portable projector on a budget

Coming in at under $1000 / £1000, the LG CineBeam Q is a delightfully stylish and affordable portable projector boasting 4K resolution and support for a raft of streaming platforms.

The design is sleek, looking like a hi-fi speaker, with a swinging stand that also acts as a handle for extra portability. There’s no built-in battery - you’ll need to use the mains cable - but that just keeps the device lightweight.

In tests, we were pleasantly surprised with how good the 4K performance was. And unlike rival units, this one has HDR10 and HLG high dynamic range support. Elsewhere, the CineBeam Q features outstanding color performance. Darks were deep, bright images were vibrant, skin tones natural. However, there are some trade-offs at this price. Peak brightness is 500 ANSI lumens, and the contrast ratio sits at 500:1, which is average for portable DLP projectors. We also found it best paired with a speaker or soundbar, as the sound can be weak.

Overall, an excellent budget 4K portable projector with a stylish design. There are some trade-offs for the price, but it’s still cheaper than many rivals with similar specs.

Read our full LG CineBeam Q review

• ^ Back to top

Best mini projector

The Anker Nebula Capsule is our pick for best mini projector - a pocket-sized, handheld portable Bluetooth projector that’s powerful and pretty cheap. Better still, you can connect your iPhone or Android to the projector via a USB-C to HDMI cable for the full on-the-go viewing experience.

We reviewed the second edition Nebula Capsule, and absolutely loved the design. Shaped like a beer can, the Nebula Capsule is one super-portable unit, all in black, with speaker grilles pocketing the casing. In our own tests, we got up to 2.5 hours of video playback on a single charge.

Projecting up to a 100in screen, we found performance very watchable, although it struggles in broad daylight. The top-rated pocket projector hits up to 200 ANSI lumens, with 720p output. The third generation devices bump up these specs to 300 lumens and 1080p output, which is a big improvement. We’d still like to see a higher luminance for outdoors settings and camping though.

One of the best handheld projectors we’ve ever tested, especially for anyone looking for a mini projector for iPhone or Android.

Read our full Anker Nebula Capsule II review

• ^ Back to top

Best portable projector for home theaters

The Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K is not your average compact projector. It’s packing in some considerable brightness, peaking out at 2,400 Lumens, which we found to be sufficiently bright for a semi-light-controlled environment during our testing, and its laser lamp makes for a high-quality image.

It's more than capable enough of being your go-to projector and staying put in your living room — it looks great, too. But its form factor at 26.4 x 22 x 15.5 cm and weighing 4.8kg means we had no trouble packing it up and carrying it from room to room when we were reviewing it.

However, there's a big problem when it comes to the Cosmos Laser 4K's portability: not that you can't cart this around the house easily, but unlike the Nebula Mars 3, there's no on-board battery. Bear that in mind if you're looking for a projector to take outdoors or far from home.

The Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K has plenty of competition - and if you don't need the laser projection, I recommend checking out our Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE review. But if you want a projector that will regularly work in a lot of different places around your home rather than outside it, there are few options that will do it as well and as easily as this one.

Read our Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K review

• ^ Back to top

Best portable projector for presentations

When it comes to businesses that need a top-rated mini projector for presentations, the JMGO N1S Ultra 4K stands out for us. At around the $2000 / £2000 mark, it’s reasonably priced for a high-resolution unit, and we really like its compact and robust casing. Perfect for pulling out when you need to present, then neatly storing it away. It won’t take up too much room, but it will let everyone see the bigger picture.

Speaking of which, the N1S Ultra 4K supports screen sizes up to 150in, with a bright 3,000 ANSI lumens. Indoors performance was excellent, with images and sound coming through crisp and clear. A gimbal offers full 360-degree rotation and 135-degree tilt.

Our reviewer, a lecturer, used the unit on location in a lecture theatre, studio, and village hall - and found this is where the 4K mini projector really shines. Easy to set-up - just plug and play - with color adjustments for a range of walls and screens.

What it really lacks is port selection. You’ll only find two HDMI and a USB port, alongside a 3.5mm audio jack. For the price, we’d like a few more options here. If that’s not an issue for you, we found this mini projector is great for giving presentations or any type of talk.

Read our full JMGO N1S Ultra 4K projector review

• ^ Back to top

Best portable projector for gaming

When you’re looking at mini projectors for gaming, you’ll usually find many of the top models lack the right refresh rates, resolutions, and response times. While that’s fine for TV, movies, and certain games, it doesn’t offer the greatest experience.

And that’s why we really rate the BenQ X300G. This low-latency portable projector is tailored to gamers. It’s also reasonably affordable too, at least in the realms of projectors.

Accommodating screen sizes between 30-150in, the X300G boasts 2,000 lumens, HDR10 and HLG support, and even 84% DCI-P3 color space coverage. Picture quality in our tests was colorful and bright. However, we did find the LED and DLP mini projector was better suited to smaller rooms, and the built-in speakers are disappointedly average. With two HDMI ports and two USB slots, port selection is limited, too.

But what sets the BenQ X300G apart is the ability to switch between movies in 4K HDR at 24 or 60Hz, or dropping to 1080p at 240Hz for gaming. That gives it good all-round versatility.

Read our full BenQ X300G review

• ^ Back to top

Best portable projector for outdoors

You can use plenty of portable projectors in the garden, but for a lot of models, you’ll need a reliable power source. And this usually means running cables from the house. That’s where a unit like the Anker Nebula Mars 3 shows its strengths. This compact projector features a built-in battery, letting you use it anywhere.

That’s not the only reason to like the Nebula Mars 3 for outdoors use, with the projector also sporting a camping lamp, Bluetooth speaker capabilities, and the ability to plug in small devices, so you can charge up your phone or tablet. A lens cap and waterproofing complete the set-up.

Specs are fair for a projector primarily designed for use outdoors. Here, you’ll find 1080p resolution that’s best for use on screens up to around 65 inches. The LED DLP projection system hits 1000 lumens, making it best-suited to dark environments (like a night-time movie screening in the yard). Colors are ok - we found they delivered modest vibrance, but naturally they lack the ‘pop’ of a triple-laser HDR-capable projector.

But it’s the built-in battery that really makes this a worthwhile unit. In that regard, it knocks the spots off a model like the Samsung The Freestyle, which also has a battery but lacks the brightness you’ll get here. During our own testing, we ramped the brightness up to full, with volume set to 50%, and the Nebula Mars 3 ran a two-hour movie with more than over 20% charge (around 30-minutes playtime) left in the tank.

Read our full Anker Nebula Mars 3 review

• ^ Back to top

Best portable projectors compared

Best portable projectors: FAQs

How to choose the best portable projector for you

It’s important to know what to look for when you're buying a portable projector.

By considering how you’re going to use it, you’ll get the right mix of features. We asked Luke Chen, senior business line manager at Viewsonic Europe, a display and projector specialist for his point of view (no pun intended).

First off, you need to think about the situations you’re going to be using your projector in and find one that fits your requirements. Taking your smart projector on-the-go? Consider how well the projector achieves a portable design. Does it come with a carry handle? Or can it fold into a travel-ready container? If your projector is going to sit on your coffee table, make sure it says it’s a “short throw.”

Think about durability, LED technology avoids dimming projector issues, allowing smart projectors to shine brightly for up to 30,000 hours. LED light sources run much cooler than bulb-based light sources (meaning less fan noise). “Lamp-Free” is what to look for. It means you no longer have to rely on bulbs, which need to be replaced over time. They’re eco-friendly, too. Lamp Free means no glass bulb is needed, which means no mercury.

Something else to consider is resolution. Smart projectors are much smaller than standard projectors, this makes resolution the first thing to go. For those who enjoy camping, and just want some form of entertainment next to the campfire, a lower resolution works. Mini projectors have the hardest time with resolution. But, not all smart projectors suffer from poor resolution. 4K Smart LED projectors are now on the market. If home entertainment is your preferred use, opt for 4K resolution. The highest-end smart projectors will call themselves “True 4K” projectors.

Next, up, apps. Your projector is only as smart as the apps running on it. So, it makes sense to have an app store enabled on your projector. Does the projector you’re looking at come with app store integration? To work with apps, enable voice commands, and stream movies (all at the same time) look for a smart projector with ample processors, memory, and storage.

Most smart projectors have to compromise on sound. This is the only way to fit all the components into such a small size. If you don’t already have a premium sound system integrated into your home theatre, opt for premium speakers. In short, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all projector.

How we test the best portable projectors

We've tested many different types of projectors over the years, including the best ultra-short throw projectors and the best business projectors - but when we were looking for the best portable projector, we needed to see a few key considerations.

The most obvious is portability. This means different things to different people. In the guide above, we've clarified that some designs are portable because you can move them from room to room, like the Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K. At the same time, others are pocket-sized, like the ASUS ZenBeam E1 Portable LED Projector. Both are, technically, 'portable' but to varying degrees, and we've made that clear in the guide.

Usability is critical with projectors. There's no point carrying one with you if setting up is a pain. So while testing these best portable projectors, we ensured that you could get up and running quickly, even if you've not had much experience with projectors.

Brightness and picture quality vary in our guide above, but all can project TV shows and movies at a decent rate. We were mainly looking for projectors that offered a decent amount of brightness and resolution for their size and value for money. We've clarified when you'll likely get a dimmer experience, but in a tiny and affordable package, which might be more of a priority for some people.

• ^ Back to top

Some TVs may not need a soundbar, but plenty of the best TVs you can buy today benefit hugely from an external soundbar for better audio – especially cheaper ones. The best soundbars tend to come in three styles: all-in-one units with just a single soundbar, soundbars with subwoofers, and soundbars with subwoofers and rear speakers for surround sound. The first is ideal for people who want a minimal setup, the second is great for big sound on a budget, and the third is perfect if you want a real home theater audio experience.

We’ve tested a huge number of soundbars and speaker systems over the years, and review on average more than 20 soundbars each year. These range from elite units with Dolby Atmos 3D sound, through to bargain soundbars that boost speech and add depth for very little cash. We're looking for natural sound in all cases that doesn't come across as overblown, and where individual effects can stand out from the overall mix. We want to see ease of use too, no matter how many different speakers are included and in the case of higher-end soundbars we're looking for extra features such as wireless support and HDMI passthrough (including at 4K 120Hz) to justify the pricing.

Some soundbars include extra features when used with a particular TV, so we'll highlight those where appropriate, and we do test them – but they don't make or break our recommendations. We test soundbars as if you're buying them as a neutral, so you can get a great upgrade no matter what TV brand you have.

The best soundbars you can buy

The best soundbar overall

What you need to know: The Samsung HW-Q800F is the mid-range model in Samsung's 2025 soundbar lineup. It has a 5.1.2-channel speaker configuration and delivers 400W total power. Its sound is powerful, expansive and detailed, with impressive Dolby Atmos reproduction. It supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio formats, as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for music streaming. It also supports Samsung's Q-Symphony, which enhances the overall sound when connected to a compatible Samsung TV. There are gaming features included, but no 4K 120Hz passthrough support. This, however, is the only real negative on what is an otherwise fantastic soundbar.

Audio performance: When we tested the Q800F, we were seriously impressed by its detail, dialogue clarity and accuracy, with precise positioning of sound effects. This was surprising considering it is just a soundbar and sub combo. The re-designed subwoofer may be smaller but it still delivers a mighty punch with plenty of room-filling power. We were also impressed by the Q800F's Dolby Atmos reproduction, which felt expansive and immersive, again without rear speakers. Across the board, the Q800F delivers superb sound quality.

Design: While the Q800F is solidly built, it isn't the most stylish system. The subwoofer is more compact and sleek than its predecessor's sub, but crucially still delivers great performance.

Value: The Q800F is superb value. While it may not deliver the full-blown surround sound experience of the Samsung HW-Q990F (#4 on the list) or have the looks of the Sonos Arc Ultra (#11 on the list), it's a phenomenal soundbar for the money. No other soundbars at this price range can compete.

Read our full Samsung HW-Q800F review

• ^ Back to the top

The best budget soundbar

What you need to know: When it comes to sound quality and features vs price, we think the Sony HT-S2000 is the best budget choice around. Although it's a little basic in terms of connectivity, the sound you get from this soundbar is impressive for the money and is certainly a good choice for those looking for an upgrade to their TV sound without breaking the bank.

Audio performance: While the Sony HT-S2000's sound isn't the biggest, the sound you do get for your money is impressive. Clear dialogue levels and a spacious, virtual surround sound are two of the HT-S2000's highlights. Bass levels are also punchy enough, but it's the Sony HT-S2000's ability to reproduce Dolby Atmos effects that's surprising. It's not going to beat a soundbar with height channels, but for a 3.1 soundbar, it offers plenty.

Design: Design wise, the Sony HT-S2000 feels and looks more expensive than it is, with a solid, mesh metal grill on the front and a sturdy black plastic casing housing the speakers. The soundbar also produces visual feedback to remote control commands, something rare on budget soundbars.

Value: Yes, the HT-S2000 isn't going to set the world alight with its sound and certainly isn't the best soundbar for sound on this list, but when you're paying roughly $349 / £299 / AU$695 for a soundbar with this good a sound quality, it's hard to argue against.

Read our full Sony HT-S2000 review

• ^ Back to the top

The best all-in-one soundbar

What you need to know: The Klipsch Flexus Core 300 is a fantastic option for an all-in-one 5.1.2-channel soundbar, and it’s also one that lets you expand to a full 7.1.4-channel system by adding Klipsch’s optional wireless surround speakers and subwoofers. With both HDMI eARC and HDMI 2.1 ports, the latter with 4K 120Hz passthrough, the Flexus Core 300 is ready to connect to the latest TVs and games consoles, and its Wi-Fi support means you can stream uncompressed music via Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect, or directly from apps using AirPlay or Google Cast. But the key feature of Klipsch’s flagship Dolby Atmos soundbar is Dirac Live room correction, which can make the Flexus Core 300 sound great in any room it’s set up in.

Audio performance: The Flexus Core 300’s basic sound quality is very good, with natural dialogue and enough bass to deliver oomph and physicality in action movie soundtracks. But once you’ve run the Dirac Live calibration, something that’s done from within Klipsch’s control app and uses an included microphone, sound quality notably improves, with cleaned-up bass and enhanced mid-range clarity, especially with voices. In our review, we stated, “No matter how complex the soundtrack or music was, I could hear everything with precision.” Such high praise isn’t something that normally gets applied to a soundbar.

Design: At 54 x 3 x 5 inches (1371 x 76.2 x 127mm), this is a big soundbar, and one best paired with 65-inch or larger TVs. Available in black or walnut, both with an elegant woodgrain finish, the Flexus Core 300 features a bright alphanumeric LED display with a large readout so you can get visual feedback from remote control commands even at a far seating distance. An included remote has a solid feel and enough buttons to let you control most functions, and there are optical digital input and RCA subwoofer outputs on the back, along with the soundbar’s HDMI ports.

Value: At $1,199.99 / £1,049.00, the Flexus Core 300 is pricey for a standalone Dolby Atmos soundbar, but its performance and feature set, which includes the option to expand out to a 7.1.4-channel system by adding wireless surround speakers and subwoofers, go a long way toward justifying that cost. Klipsch’s flagship is also the only soundbar with built-in Dirac Live room correction, making it a one-of-a-kind product.

Read our full Klipsch Flexus Core 300 review

• ^ Back to the top

The best soundbar for Dolby Atmos

What you need to know: Samsung’s Q990F is a complete surround sound system in a soundbar package. It has 23 drivers spread across 11.1.4 channels and comprises four units: a soundbar, a subwoofer, and two rear speakers. It delivers engaging, expansive and punchy sound, as well as 4K 120Hz pass-through support for gaming consoles.

Audio performance: Dolby Atmos soundtracks are reproduced with superb precision and pinpoint accuracy, putting you right into the heart of the action. Speech is clean and clear, and its newly designed, smaller subwoofer doesn't skip out on bass, delivering plenty of hefty rumble while still maintaining control and nuance. Q-Symphony is a bonus for Samsung TV owners, adding even more speakers to the action.

Design: The headline here is the newly designed, compact subwoofer, which is sleeker, sharper and much more versatile in terms of space. The Q990F has a similar matte gray/navy finish to its predecessors for a minimalist look, but uses a grille design that isn't as appealing as its predecessors. Still, it has a premium look and feel with a reassuring heft. Its front display continues to be difficult to read, however

Value: A soundbar system that's this powerful and complete necessarily comes with a high price tag. And while we think that the Q990F's performance justifies the price, you can save some money by picking up its predecessor, the Q990D. Or if you're looking for a budget alternative, check out the Hisense AX5125H at #5 in this list for a cheaper Atmos alternative.

Read our full Samsung HW-Q990F review

• ^ Back to the top

The best budget soundbar for Dolby Atmos surround

What you need to know: The Hisense AX5125H is a 5.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar system with a wireless subwoofer and surround speakers that sells for under $350 / £350 / AU$450. What you’re getting here kit-wise for the money is pretty much unbeatable considering the system’s punchy sound and “real” as opposed to virtual, Dolby Atmos effects delivery.

Audio performance: Hisense’s budget soundbar system punches well above its price class when it comes to sound quality, with clear dialogue, accurate effects placement and good surround immersion. Even music sounds good, though, streaming is limited to Bluetooth quality. The one complaint we have about its sound is that the compact rear speakers can occasionally get overwhelmed by aggressive surround sound mixes.

Design: The AX5125H’s build quality falls short of premium – something to be expected at this price – though its metal mesh speaker grilles give it a somewhat upscale look. Importantly, the soundbar has a front panel alphanumeric LED display, which provides clear visual feedback when making volume or EQ adjustments with the system’s remote control.

Value: Given its low price for a 5.1.2-channel soundbar system, the Hisense AX5125H’s value is almost over the top. You’ll pay more than four times as much for the Best soundbar for Dolby Atmos choice on our list, the Samsung HW-Q990D, and while that 11.1.4-channel system will undoubtedly provide a greater sense of sound immersion, many people will be satisfied with the Hisense’s sound for the money.

Read our full Hisense AX5125H review

• ^ Back to the top

The best super-cheap soundbar for surround sound

The Ultimea Poseidon D50 is the best way to get surround sound for your living room for a low price. Its sound may not be the most dynamic and it's light on features, but at such a low price for a full 5.1 system, it's hard to argue against what it does deliver: clear, punchy and occasionally spacious audio.

In our review of the Ultimea Poseidon D50, we enjoyed its clarity of speech and relatively punchy, powerful surround sound. While watching Top Gun: Maverick, we were "impressed at the three-dimensional sound of soaring aircraft", especially considering the lack of Dolby Atmos. While the Poseidon D50 doesn't deliver the most cinematic of experiences, with audio sometimes veering on tinny and the rear speakers sometimes struggling to keep up, we said "for the price you pay, the surround sound certainly surpassed expectations" and that's all we ask for from this cheap soundbar.

Light on features due to its budget price, including a lack of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support (check out the Hisense AX5125H further up the list for a budget Atmos surround soundbar), the Poseidon D50 does still support Bluetooth streaming for music and come with HDMI ARC, optical and 3.5mm ports for connections. There are also three distinct sound modes – Movie, Dialog and Music – to cater to what you're watching.

Ultimately, you get what you pay for, and the Ultimea Poseidon D50 delivers solid (but not mind-blowing) surround sound for under $150 / £150 (we've seen it as low as $119 / £139). At that price, it's difficult to be disappointed in the Poseidon D50. If you want surround sound for cheap, the Poseidon D50 should be on your list.

Read our full Ultimea Poseidon D50 review

• ^ Back to the top

The best super-cheap soundbar

What you need to know: The Sony HT-SF150 is an affordable 2.0-channel soundbar. While it doesn't support Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, it delivers solid sound quality and feels solidly built. It supports Bluetooth for music streaming and plug-and-play setup. While it doesn't deliver the strongest sonic experience, it is very good for its very cheap price and will make a fine upgrade over a lot of TV speakers.

Audio performance: The HT-SF150 delivers solid, built-in sound with clear speech and surprisingly effective virtual surround sound processing. Bass is decent and while it isn't room-shaking, it's commendable for a standalone soundbar. We found during busier scenes in movies or video games that sound can get 'bloated', with 'a lot of business in the mid-range'. With no Dolby Atmos or DTS:X support, you won't get the full cinematic experience, but for the price, the HT-SF150 more than delivers.

Design: The HT-SF150 is one of the better-looking cheap soundbars on the market. It has an attractive leather-like top, wraparound speaker grille and onboard buttons. Its supplied remote is also sleek for this price range. Its LED display can be unclear sometimes, but that's really the only complaint we have with the HT-SF150's design. Apart from that, it's a real looker.

Value: Considering the sound it delivers, its ease of use and its attractive design, the HT-SF150 is a steal at $129 / £99 / AU$194 (it's been cheaper before too!). You're not going to find many standalone soundbars of this quality at this price.

Read our full Sony HT-SF150 soundbar review

• ^ Back to the top

The best premium soundbar for LG TVs

What you need to know: The LG S95TR brings you the convenience and straightforward setup of a soundbar system but with the immersive power and performance of a home theater speaker setup. It works well with everything, but LG TV owners can unlock the best features. The only thing that lets it down a little is its high price. If you're on a budget but still want Atmos and surround sound, take a look at our cheap soundbar pick, the Hisense AX5125H at #4 in this list. But if you can afford it, the features, performance and design of the LG S95TR make it worth every penny.

Audio performance: With this soundbar's 9.1.5 channels, along with some very impressive AI room calibration, you'll experience a great home theater setup with surround sound and spatial audio (Dolby Atmos and DTS:X). In our review, we described the sound on offer here as "immersive, engrossing, and engaging" and with 810 watts of power, the LG S95TR can reach great volumes.

Design: This soundbar looks very basic with a subwoofer and two wedge-shaped rear speakers. Unfortunately, there's no LED display, just LED indicator lights, which is disappointing considering how many features are on offer here. You'll need to open LG's control app to find what you need, which is a little annoying. This is also a big system. So if you want to put it in a small room, it might not be the best choice for you.

Value: The LG S95TR’s $1,499 / AU$1,699 (about £1,200) price feels expensive, but when you compare it with the competition, the fact you're getting a 9.1.5-channel system and the performance on offer here, it's still good value. If you want real surround sound, check out #3 in this list, the Samsung HW-Q990D.

Read our full LG S95TR review

• ^ Back to the top

The best compact Atmos soundbar

What you need to know: The Bose Smart Soundbar is a compact model with real upfiring speakers to properly deliver Dolby Atmos soundtracks. It has built-in Wi-Fi for streaming music, AirPlay 2 and Chromecast support, and can be paired with optional Bose wireless surround sound speakers and a subwoofer if you one day get an urge to upgrade your system. Alternatively, the Smart Soundbar’s Personal Surround Sound feature, which requires Bose’s Ultra Open Earbuds, can give you surround sound without having to muck with extra speakers.

Audio performance: When we reviewed the Bost Smart Soundbar, we noted that it “sounds about as good as a soundbar can.” Dialogue is “consistently intelligible,” and there are level and EQ controls in Bose’s app that let you boost it on an as-needed basis. Because of its compact form factor, both bass and soundstage width are limited, but the Smart Soundbar’s upfiring Atmos speakers, which can also be engaged for non-Atmos movies and music using the TrueSpace feature, help quite a bit to expand the soundfield.

Design: At 27 inches wide by 2 inches high and 4 inches deep, it’s a fairly sleek and compact design for an all-in-one unit and a perfect choice for smaller homes or screens. While it only has a single HDMI port, it makes up for this by packaging everything into an attractive all-in-one form.

Value: This soundbar impressed us in several ways during our testing, and we also appreciated its Personal Surround Sound and TrueSpace features The Bose is also a good value – as one of the few soundbars that sell for under $500 / £500 / AU$700, it offers a lot more features than the Sony HT-S2000 at #2 in this list.

To save money on Bose products, check out our Bose discount codes.

Read our full Bose Smart Soundbar review

• ^ Back to the top

The best soundbar for flexibility

What you need to know: The JBL Bar 1300MK2 is an 11.1.4-channel soundbar system, totaling 2470W of power. What makes this soundbar so flexible is its four HDMI ports and its detachable rear speakers that can be attached to the main soundbar for recharging when not in use. The 1300MK2 is an impressive sound system that supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X format, as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming for music. The downside? None of its four HDMI ports support 4K 120Hz, so gamers might want to look elsewhere if this is a dealbreaker. For movies, though, it's a powerhouse.

Audio performance: The 1300MK2 delivers spectacular sound, with room-shaking bass from its subwoofer, crystal clear dialogue and excellent immersion with Dolby Atmos soundtracks. It even sounds great for music, with both stereo and Atmos mixes impressing us during testing. Its 29 drivers really do work together to deliver an outstanding, seamless audio experience.

Design: While the 1300MK2 does have detachable speakers for convenient space saving, the soundbar itself is quite wide. The subwoofer, which does look much sleeker, is also a meaty bit of kit. Its build quality is superb and it feels every bit as premium as you'd hope at this price. Looks-wise, it's on par with its rivals.

Value: The JBL Bar 1300MK2 carries a premium price to match its performance. In its defence, its $1,699.95 / £1,299.99 / AU$2,299.95 price is competitive with the likes of competition such as the Samsung HW-Q990F.

Read our full JBL Bar 1300MK2 review

• ^ Back to the top

The best soundbar for expandability

What you need to know: The Sonos Arc Ultra is the best soundbar for expandability. It sounds great on its own, but the flexible nature of the Sonos ecosystem lets you easily add surround speakers and a subwoofer as your needs and budget change. Other soundbars here deliver more immersion by filling your room with multiple boxes, but if you want deep, expansive, expertly balanced movie audio from one slender bar, with the option to add to it later, this is the way to go.

Audio performance: The Sonos Arc Ultra is a very impressive piece of audio design, thanks partly to its 'Sound Motion' bass driver, which is a very small speaker that produces decent bass without a separate subwoofer. It helps the overall sound balance of the Arc Ultra to be absolutely superb, with great impact, very clear yet natural dialogue, and effects that jump right out of the mix. The Dolby Atmos 3D sound is excellent for a single-box soundbar as well, really adding motion and layers to individual sounds. A massive upgrade over any TV's built-in sound.

Design: This is small for a powerful one-box soundbar – but that's relative! It's pretty wide, though will work for TVs of 55 inches and up, but it's not too tall or deep (though may be too tall for some very low-slung TVs). It feels really well made, and the simple, hard-shell black or white design disappears nicely into your decor. The connections are in a recess in the back – as is the Bluetooth pairing button, annoyingly (but you can use the Sonos app to pair too). It's wall-mountable, too.

Value: This is strong value, simply because it sounds so good for under $1000 / £1000. It's also great that it works as part of the Sonos ecosystem, and can be expanded with Sonos' wireless speakers as rear speakers, or with a dedicated, more powerful subwoofer. However, its lack of DTS-HD/DTS:X support and not having an HDMI passthrough port when all of its key rivals do mean it's less-than-perfect on value – but if you don't care about those things, then they're not a problem!

Read our full Sonos Arc Ultra review

• ^ Back to the top

The best soundbar for wall-mounting

What you need to know: The Samsung HW-QS700F soundbar blends the performance of Samsung’s Q series with the sleek, lifestyle-friendly design of its S series. Its standout feature is the ability to automatically optimize its 3.1.2-channel speaker setup depending on whether it’s mounted horizontally or vertically. In vertical mode, its flatter profile pairs neatly with a slim, wall-mounted TV. Sound quality is solid for the price, with support for Dolby Atmos, DTS and Bluetooth. It comes with a Samsung wireless subwoofer and can also be paired with surround speakers – but it’s the wall-mounting versatility that really sets this model apart.

Audio Performance: Despite its affordable price, this soundbar’s 3.1.2-channel configuration delivers an impressive level of power, detail, and staging. Most of that top-performing sound holds up regardless of its orientation, though there are some minor niggles depending on how you use it. Then again, as we noted in our review, it still outperforms the vast majority of rivals. You’ll also get to enjoy Dolby Atmos playback, DTS:X support and compatibility with a broad range of file formats.

Design: The design is where the HW-QS700F truly shines. It features gyro sensors that automatically adjust the speaker configuration for optimal performance whether it’s placed on a table or wall-mounted. The long, angular bar and its compact, cubic wireless sub are surprisingly space-efficient for such a powerful system. It’s slender enough to slide beneath most TV screens or can easily be mounted on the wall underneath one, yet long and deep enough to promise potent sound and a premium finish.

Value: Considering its blend of performance and features, the Samsung HW-QS700F is a compelling choice. While many soundbars can either be wall-mounted or tabletop-set, few adjust their speaker configuration to optimize performance for both setups. It’s a great option in its own right, but it’s our top pick for wall-mounting – ideal if you want to take full advantage of that versatility or simply love the option to move it around.

Read our full Samsung HW-QS700F review

The best soundbar for desktops

What you need to know: The Creative Stage Pro is a rare find at this cheap price. It's a compact 2.1 soundbar with a subwoofer that works well under a TV or beneath a monitor. Creative's PC audio roots show here, not just in size and port selection but in near-field listening mode designed for desktop use. It's not packed with features, and its soundstage is narrower than premium bars. But at this price, it delivers a genuine step up from built-in TV speakers and a convincing desktop-friendly alternative to pricier systems. Its SuperWide processing offers a subtle sense of extra space, Bluetooth is onboard for music, and the HDMI ARC, optical, AUX, and USB-C ports give it the flexibility most cheap soundbars lack.

Audio Performance: For the money, the Stage Pro turns in a surprisingly capable performance. Its 2.1-channel setup provides plenty of volume, a healthy dose of bass, and more detail than you'd expect from something this compact. Dialogue is clear, the treble has enough sparkle to keep things crisp, and the subwoofer – while not earth-shaking – adds welcome punch during action scenes and gaming. You won't get deep sub-bass or a wide, cinematic soundstage, and the built-in presets feel too subtle to make a real impact. But Creative's SuperWide mode is useful, with its Near setting pulling the sound closer for a desktop setup, and Far opening things up a bit for TV viewing. It's not Dolby Atmos and it's not pretending to be, but in the budget bracket it holds its own.

Design: Compact, practical and more user-friendly than most budget bars, it's designed to slot into small spaces, especially on a desk. At just under 22 inches wide, it sits neatly beneath a monitor and its slightly angled front helps direct audio toward you. The LED display gives you instant feedback on sources and volume. Physical controls cover the basics, and the remote unlocks adjustments like bass and treble. With HDMI ARC with CEC, optical, AUX, and USB-C, the port selection is also complete for a compact bar. The subwoofer is slim enough to tuck bedside or under a desk, and while its fixed cable isn't ideal, the footprint is very desktop-friendly.

Value: As a budget 2.1 soundbar, the Creative Stage Pro is exceptionally strong value, especially for anyone who wants a subwoofer without jumping to a much higher price bracket. Most alternatives at this price are single-bar setups with noticeably thinner sound. The Stage Pro delivers reliable performance, a proper port selection, near-field tuning and a decent amount of power, all while keeping the price low. It's not feature-rich and it won't satisfy true audio enthusiasts, but as a smart, versatile upgrade for a TV or desktop, it's a solid pick.

Read our full Creative Stage Pro review

• ^ Back to the top

Best soundbars: comparison chart

Below, you'll find a chart showing the scores of every soundbar featured on this list, based on the criteria on which we review them: Features, Performance, Design, Setup & usability and Value. You can sort each column by clicking on its header.

How to choose the best soundbar

There are several things to consider when you’re looking for the best soundbar.

The first is the size. You’ll want to make sure that your soundbar fits under—or next to, depending on your set-up—your TV. For example, the long Sonos Arc soundbar is designed specifically for large screens, so won’t look right with a smaller 50-inch TV. You’ll need to know the size of your current TV and the size of the space you have to fit it and compare those figures to the dimensions listed alongside the soundbar you want to buy.

You’ll also want to consider whether you need a Dolby Atmos speaker or not. Dolby Atmos is surround sound technology, placing sounds and voices all around you so that whatever you’re watching or listening to is more immersive. The thing is, Dolby Atmos-enabled soundbars tend to be more expensive. You’ll need to weigh up whether Dolby Atmos sound is worth it for you. Otherwise, consider a capable but cheaper option, like the Sony HT-S2000, our choice for best budget soundbar.

Another thing you’ll want to watch out for is the kind of connection you need. You’ll find most modern soundbars have HDMI connectivity, but there's also optical connectivity—so what's the difference? These are two ways that audio is passed from your TV to your soundbar, but HDMI passes high-resolution audio, including Dolby Atmos.

If you want a premium, immersive listening experience you’ll want to be sure you have an HDMI connection to use from your soundbar and an HDMI ARC (that's audio return channel) or eARC (enhanced audio return channel, a higher-resolution connection) port on your TV for it to connect to.

But this means one of your TV's HDMI ports is used up by the soundbar, so some bars come with HDMI 'passthrough' ports, meaning you can connect a console/set-top box/etc to the soundbar, and it passes the visuals back to your TV. If your TV has few HDMI ports, you'll want a soundbar with this feature.

There’s more to think about, but getting the size, audio features and connectivity nailed down early on should make finding the best soundbar for you much easier.

• ^ Back to the top

Other soundbars to consider

We’ve reviewed several soundbars recently that didn’t make this guide for various reasons, though they are also worth considering.

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar: An all-in-one competitor to the Sonos Arc, but with a slight lack of heft to its sound and a limited sense of height, this soundbar isn't great enough value to make it into the list. You can read our full Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar review to learn more.

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus: This soundbar really earns its keep with superior delivery of Atmos effects and extended bass. It's well worth consideration if you're looking for something that's a single-unit and if price isn't a worry, but it's expensive, and that's why it hasn't made our list here. Give our full Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus review a read if you want big sound without multiple boxes.

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini: If the price of the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus is too much for your budget, this is a more compact and lower-cost model that provides a “big” sound, but doesn’t match the Plus when it comes to bass extension and Atmos height effects. It's a similar size to the Sonos Beam Gen 2. We'd choose that model over this one for overall audio quality, but you can read our Sennheiser Ambeo Mini review to learn more.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6: Sony's entry-level bar in its Theater lineup for 2025 delivers a powerful performance with awesome bass and full, clear and precise sound. It's also great value for money, but cheaper alternatives keep the Theater 6 off our list: for now. Read our Sony Bravia Theater 6 review for more info.

How we test the best soundbars

When we test the best soundbars, we look at categories such as audio performance, design, setup and usability, value for money and features - the same criteria we use for our reviews of soundbars.

Sources: After connecting the soundbar to a TV, we play not only streaming and 4K Blu-ray sources through the TV into the soundbar using the TV’s HDMI eARC connection (as 4K Blu-ray provides better audio quality than streaming), but also music over a Bluetooth wireless connection.

Audio overview: For audio performance, there are several factors we look at when testing. Soundbars are often used to upgrade a TV's built-in sound, so dialogue clarity and volume are key, as that’s where built-in TV speakers usually struggle the most. We also test bass, mids and trebles by listening to how each range sits within a mix, and also whether the soundstage is wide or narrow.

Spatial audio: Dolby Atmos spatial audio and surround sound (both virtually and physically through extra speakers) have become common features on soundbars, so we will test the effectiveness and spaciousness of the surround sound, as some people will want a room-filling home theater feel without all the boxes needed for a full AV setup.

HDMI passthrough: When it comes to higher-end soundbars, we expect 4K 120Hz passthrough on HDMI ports and will test that feature if available. Gamers specifically look for this feature as some TVs don’t have the four HDMI 2.1 ports needed to cover both games consoles and a soundbar.

Music: Bluetooth streaming is more commonly being featured on soundbars as manufacturers look to offer an ‘all-in-one’ solution for movies and music. So, if a soundbar offers that feature, we’ll be sure to test its performance with streamed music. On more premium soundbars, we expect to see Wi-Fi streaming, although this is not always the case.

Setup and ease-of-use: This is another area we test, as some soundbars carry a plug-in-and-play philosophy whilst others require more in-depth calibration. More soundbars are featuring auto-calibration features to adjust the sound for the room they’re installed in, and this can make a big difference in sound quality. As part of our tests, we’ll listen to a soundbar before and after this calibration to see just how much of a difference it makes.

Consistency: While we strive to maintain consistency in testing conditions, some of our writers have different setups they’ll be listening in. However, the tests carried out and the testing criteria are the same for all our reviews.

Latest updates

January 12, 2026
Replaced the Samsung HW-Q800D with its successor the HW-Q800F as 'best overall.' Replaced the Amazon Fire TV soundbar with the Sony HT-SF150 as 'best super-cheap' option as the former is no longer on sale. Replaced the JBL Bar 1300X with the JBL Bar 1300MK2 as 'best for flexibility.'

November 17, 2025
Added Creative Stage Pro as the 'Best for desktops' option.

October 2, 2025
Replaced the Marshall Heston 120 with the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 as the 'best all-in-one' option.

August 6, 2025
Replaced the Samsung HW-Q990D with the Samsung HW-Q990F as 'best for Dolby Atmos'. Removed the Sony HT-A7000 and the 'best for gaming' category. Added in a table with scores for each soundbar on this list labelled 'Comparison Chart'. Updated 'Other soundbars to consider' and 'New for 2025' sections.

July 6, 2025
Added the Samsung HW-QS-700F as a new entry in the number 13 position as our ‘Best for wall-mounting’ choice.

June 6, 2025
Replaced Sonos Arc Ultra with Marshall Heston 120 as 'Best all-in-one' option; added Sonos Arc Ultra as 'Best for expandability' option.

May 7, 2025
Added info on new Sony soundbars to 'New soundbars for 2025' section.

April 10, 2025
Added image galleries for all soundbars; added section 'Does my soundbar brand need to match my TV?' to the 'How to choose' FAQ.

March 13, 2025
Replaced Bose Smart Soundbar 600 with Bose Smart Soundbar, an upgraded version of the 600, as 'Best compact Atmos' option.

February 14, 2025
Added section 'What is Eclipsa Audio, and does my soundbar need it?' to the 'How to choose' FAQ.

January 16, 2025
Added section 'New soundbars for 2025' detailing models announced at the recent CES 2025 tradeshow.

December 23, 2024
Replaced the Samsung HW-Q800C with the Samsung HW-Q800D as best soundbar for most people due to the Q800C's waning stock levels.

November 27, 2024
Swapped the Sonos Arc for the Sonos Arc Ultra based on our testing, and re-ordered the list to make it easier to find specific types of soundbar.

October 29,2024
Introduced the Ultimea Poseidon D50 as 'best super-cheap surround sound'. Removed the 'what soundbars were announced at CES 2024' section.

September 30, 2024
Added more information about how we judge soundbars to our intro. Added information about the Sonos Arc Ultra to the Sonos Arc entry. Updated some information about recently tested soundbars, and how we test.

August 27, 2024
Added the LG S95TR as the 'best premium soundbar for LG TVs' option.

July 30, 2024
Added the Amazon Fire TV soundbar as 'best super-cheap' option.

July 1, 2024
Added the Hisense AX5125H as 'best budget Atmos surround' option.

June 6, 2024
Added the LG S95TR into the 'Also consider' section - as an alternative for LG owners to the Samsung Q990D.

May 6, 2024
Replaced the Samsung HW-Q990C with the new Samsung HW-Q990D as 'best for Dolby Atmos' selection.

March 28, 2024
Added 'Other soundbars to consider' section with details on recently reviewed models not listed in the guide.

February 28, 2024
Added in a 'How we Test' section, explaining what tests we carry out on the soundbars that we add to this guide.

January 22, 2024
Updated product write-ups to summarise the key points of each review and added in more internal linking to related products to help you choose the right soundbar for you. December 22, 2023 Added in 'buy it if' boxouts with quick pros and cons for each entry on the list.

December 22, 2023
Added in 'buy it if' boxouts with quick pros and cons for each entry on the list.

November 14, 2023
Replaced the Samsung HW-Q700B with the Samsung HW-Q800C as 'best overall' due to stock levels. Replaced Sony HT-G700 with Sony HT-S2000 for 'best budget'. Deleted 'best mid-range Atmos' category.

Whether you're automating business processes or building complex integrations, n8n needs reliable infrastructure to run 24/7. The right VPS host gives you unlimited workflows, full data control, and the performance to handle high-volume automations. We've tested the top providers to help you find the perfect balance between power, ease of use, and value.

These providers are selected based on five key factors: First, Docker support and one-click n8n installation capabilities. Second, resource allocation — particularly RAM and CPU cores for handling concurrent workflow executions. Third, scalability options that let you grow without migrating servers. Fourth, uptime guarantees of 99.9% and reliable 24/7 support. Fifth, value for money, comparing introductory and renewal pricing across plans.

The best VPS hosting services for n8n

Best n8n hosting for beginners

Hostinger leads our list for n8n hosting thanks to its purpose-built VPS plans that start at just $4.99/month. The platform offers two specialized n8n templates during VPS setup — one standard installation and another pre-configured with queue mode for handling high-volume workflows. Its attention to n8n-specific needs sets it apart from generic VPS providers.

The KVM 2 plan at $7.49/month hits the sweet spot for most teams. You get 2 vCPU cores, 8GB RAM, 100GB NVMe storage, and 8TB monthly bandwidth. This configuration handles moderate to heavy automation workloads without slowdowns, and the NVMe drives deliver fast I/O for n8n's job queues and executions.

Setup takes minutes. The Docker environment comes pre-configured and Hostinger's Kodee AI assistant guides you through server management tasks in over 50 languages. You can create backups and restore your VPS directly from chat, making maintenance accessible even without deep Linux expertise.

Performance testing shows the infrastructure holds up under pressure. Response times stay around 13ms even during peak load and the AMD EPYC 7702P processors handle encryption and compression smoothly. Network speeds hover around 25-30Mbps, which works well for small to medium projects, though bandwidth-intensive applications might need higher-tier plans.

Best scalable n8n hosting

ScalaHosting delivers fully managed n8n hosting starting at $29.96/month for 1 vCPU, 2GB RAM, and 20GB NVMe storage, while self-managed options start from $14.96. Managed plans handle server maintenance, security updates, and optimization, letting you focus on building workflows rather than managing infrastructure. It costs more than DIY options but saves significant time for non-technical teams.

The SPanel control panel gives you cPanel-like functionality without licensing fees. You get file managers, database tools, SSH key control, PHP version switching, and DNS management all in one clean interface. For n8n users, this means straightforward server administration without command-line complexity.

SShield AI-powered security is a major differentiator. The system provides real-time threat detection, automatic IP banning, and firewall enforcement to protect your n8n orchestration and integrations. Combined with automated daily backups and DDoS protection, your workflows stay shielded from emerging vulnerabilities.

The cloud infrastructure supports vertical scaling. You can add CPU cores, RAM, or storage without any downtime if your automation needs grow unexpectedly. ScalaHosting also offers free website migration and pre-installed n8n options on request, easing out the initial setup process for teams coming over from other providers. Even on unmanaged VPS plans, ScalaHosting’s support team is known for going the extra mile compared to any other web host in the market.

Best enterprise-grade n8n hosting

Kamatera takes a different approach from the other services on this list with fully customizable cloud infrastructure starting at $4/month. Rather than pre-packaged plans, you select exact CPU types, RAM amounts, storage capacity, and data center locations to match your specific n8n requirements. This granular control appeals to technical teams who know exactly what they need.

The 30-day free trial includes $100 in credits, enough to deploy and thoroughly test a production-grade n8n server with 2 vCPU cores, 4GB RAM, and 50GB NVMe storage. You get root-level access, 1TB bandwidth, and the ability to experiment without credit card charges if you stay within trial limits.

Performance benchmarks show Kamatera's Intel Xeon Sapphire Rapids CPUs deliver excellent disk speeds and network performance. Transfer rates reach 530-540Mbps, with the infrastructure handling compression and encryption tasks impressively. This makes Kamatera ideal for demanding, security-focused n8n workloads that process sensitive data.

Real-time scaling without downtime gives you flexibility other providers can't match. When workflow volume spikes during peak automation periods, you can instantly adjust CPU, RAM, and storage through the dashboard. The 99.95% uptime guarantee and 24/7 live technical support ensure your automations stay running when business depends on them.

Best budget friendly

Hosting.com(rebranded from A2 Hosting) offers budget-friendly VPS solutions with LiteSpeed web servers that accelerate n8n's HTTP-based endpoints and integrations. The built-in caching delivers faster workflow response times compared to standard Apache or Nginx configurations. Plans start affordably, though exact pricing varies by configuration.

The one-click app installer supports Docker deployment, letting you set up n8n and start workflow automation in minutes. This removes common setup hurdles for teams who want quick deployment without extensive Linux experience. The interface handles basic server management tasks efficiently.

Hosting.com uses modern NVMe SSD storage across all plans, ensuring fast read/write speeds for n8n's database operations and execution logs. It provides solid uptime reliability and decent performance for small to medium automation projects. Security includes DDoS protection and malware scanning to keep your workflows safe.

The 30-day money-back guarantee lets you test the service risk-free. While managed VPS plans exist at significantly higher prices, the unmanaged offerings provide better value for technically capable teams. Support responsiveness is adequate on managed plans, though not as comprehensive as premium providers like InMotion or ScalaHosting.

Best VPS hosting for n8n: compared

Alternatives

• DigitalOcean: Developer-friendly cloud platform with $200 in free credits, one-click n8n marketplace app, and excellent documentation for technical teams.
• Cloudways: Managed cloud hosting that simplifies deployment across DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud, Vultr, and Linode with one-click n8n installation.
• UltaHost: Fast NVMe-powered VPS starting at $4.80/month with DDR5 RAM, full root access, and 99.9% uptime guarantee for budget-conscious developers.
• Contabo: Aggressive pricing with high CPU, RAM, and storage allocations starting at $4.95/month, ideal for running multiple n8n workflows on tight budgets.
• Vultr: Flexible cloud compute instances with hourly billing starting at $2.50/month, global data centers, and straightforward server management for technical users.

VPS hosting for n8n FAQs

The best 55-inch TVs also offer the widest range of pricing and screen technology options – it's where you'll find the best OLED TVs and mini-LED high-end options, affordable QLED, and super-budget standard LED TVs. This is because it's such a popular size – almost everything in our guide to the best TVs has a 55-inch option.

This means that choosing the best 55-inch TV for you can feel overwhelming, but a) we're here to help whittle it down to the most worthwhile, and b) this fierce competition means you tend to find fantastic discounts on 55-inch TVs a lot of the year, as companies battle to stand out. We've tested and reviewed every one of the TVs here ourselves, and the list is based on comparing them to the competition and suggesting only the better options when balancing performance against price.

That means we have some older models here – after price cuts since their launch, they might now be the best bang for buck, even when newer models have launched. Gamers will be happy to find that most of the best gaming TVs come in 55-inch sizes too.

The top 55-inch TVs, chosen by our testers

Our favorite 55-inch TV you can buy today

The LG C5 continues LG’s C-series tradition of delivering top-tier OLED performance at a more approachable price than flagship models. The biggest news here is a new Alpha 9 Gen 8 AI Processor, which brings a brightness boost as well as smarter picture and sound tuning, making it a worthy successor to the C4 and an easy pick as the best overall 55-inch TV.

Picture quality is impressive across the board. Colors are vibrant and accurate, contrast is fantastic and detail is life-like. Motion is handled well and the C5’s upscaling adds sharpness to lower-res sources. Like most OLEDs, it does pick up reflections if you watch in a bright room, but in typical or dimmer spaces it looks great.

The built-in 2.2-channel Dolby Atmos system is clear and balanced, and LG’s AI sound tools will give you a chance to personalize the audio. But a soundbar is still necessary here if you want depth and impact. The C5 is great for gaming. All four HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K 144Hz, VRR, ALLM, Dolby Vision gaming, plus FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync, and LG’s Game Optimizer is here too, which makes quick adjustments easy.

LG's webOS 25 is still one of the best smart TV platforms, now with improved AI search, tailored recommendations and profile switching with voice recognition. It’s fast, intuitive and packed with useful customization.

The C4 is still the better bargain while it remains available, but if you want the latest tech then the C5 offers outstanding picture quality, excellent gaming support and a polished smart experience. It’s the most well-rounded 55-inch TV you can buy in 2025.

Read our full LG C5 review

• ^ Back to the top

Our favorite budget TV in the US

The Hisense U75QG is a mid-range mini-LED in Hisense’s 2025 lineup that delivers impressive performance but without the premium price tag. It’s a notable upgrade from last year’s U7N, especially in terms of brightness and gaming capability, and it earns its place here as our best budget pick in the US. (UK pricing is higher, which shifts its value there.)

For a budget-friendly model, the U75QG packs a lot of punch. Its mini-LED backlighting produces seriously high brightness levels for its class, and HDR support spans both Dolby Vision and HDR10+. Watching in a bright room is made easier with its anti-reflection screen, and that helps keep glare under control. Color accuracy is strong here for the price, and overall picture performance holds its own against much pricier 55-inch competitors.

Gamers get a good suite of features. All four HDMI 2.1 ports support up to 165Hz (and 288Hz at 1080p), along with FreeSync Premium Pro and VRR. Whether you want to run multiple consoles or pair it with a gaming PC, those high refresh rates should keep motion looking smooth.

The U75QG is only average when it comes to sound. The 2.1.2-channel built-in system is perfectly serviceable but doesn’t add much excitement. A soundbar is definitely the way to go if audio matters to you.

The U75QG is a great alternative to more expensive mini-LED models in this size range, including the Samsung Q80D, which is our best mid-range 55-inch pick. If you want bright, punchy picture quality, great gaming support and a polished overall package for less, it’s one of the best budget TVs out there.

Read our full Hisense U75QG review

• ^ Back to the top

Our favorite budget TV in the UK

The TCL C805 demonstrates outstanding value – at under £600 for its 55-inch size, you get a mini-LED backlight for better local dimming, a good number of gaming features including 4K 120Hz and VRR support, and the Google TV smart TV platform. If you're in the UK, you can't get much better value than the C805 in a 55-inch size.

In our review of the C805, we were seriously impressed by its picture quality, noting that it delivers crisp, refined textures with plenty of detail along with deeper than expected black levels and very good contrast. It also delivered vivid colors with plenty of punch. While its motion could be better and viewing angles are somewhat limted, we said "at this price range, it's hard to be disappointed with the C805's picture".

The C805 is also a great, budget gaming option with two HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K, 120Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium Pro) and Dolby Vision gaming all included. Performance is also smooth and judder-free and while its 13.5ms input lag time isn't as good as the very best gaming TVs, it will be good enough for the vast majority of gamers.

The C805's built-in sound lacks the same wow factor that its picture does – although speech and bass are clear and punchy, its soundstage is very limited overall. But with the money you're saving on this TV thanks to its low price tag, you'll have more than enough left over to get a soundbar.

Read our full TCL C805 review

• ^ Back to the top

Our favorite elite 55-inch TV

The Samsung S95F is the brand’s latest flagship OLED TV, delivering a premium set of features with the top performance to match. It also manages to push brightness to impressive new highs, making it our top premium 55-inch OLED.

The S95F introduces a second-gen version of Samsung’s OLED Glare Free screen technology, improving on the original from the S95D that came before it by combining glare reduction with even better picture contrast in bright rooms. With its next-gen QD-OLED panel, the S95F delivers richer brightness, superb black levels and realistic details and textures that give movies and TV shows incredible depth.

The One Connect box keeps external connections tidy while making the TV’s razor thin design possible. The updated Tizen smart interface feels slicker than ever, now with a Samsung Art Store subscription option too. Gamers get plenty of features, 4K at 165Hz, VRR with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM and HDR10+ gaming across four HDMI 2.1 ports, plus an ultra-low 9.5ms input lag. There’s also Samsung’s Game Hub for cloud gaming, as well as plenty of AI features that promise to fine-tune picture and sound.

Built-in audio is punchy and accurate with a strong level of bass for a slim set. Design-wise, the S95F is stunning, it’s sharp, sleek and undeniably premium. It’s not flawless. Black levels aren’t perfect and the high price will put it out of reach to many people. But the Samsung S95F is still an outstanding OLED and certainly deserves its place as our top premium pick.

Read our full Samsung S95F review

• ^ Back to the top

The top 55-inch TV for sports

The Samsung QN90F delivers superb brightness, sharp motion handling and updated glare-free screen tech, making it an ideal pick for sports fans, especially if you’re watching in bright rooms during the day. Colors are vivid, contrast is powerful, and fine detail pops, so it’s great for more than just sports, too.

Replacing the QN90D, the QN90F is our new top pick for sports viewing, and it improves on its predecessor in almost every way. One standout upgrade is Samsung’s new NQ4 AI Gen3 Processor, which brings features like 4K AI Upscaling Pro and, crucially for sports, AI Motion Enhancer Pro – designed to reduce blur in fast-paced content.

It’s also one of the best gaming TVs we’ve tested. With four HDMI 2.1 ports, 4K 165Hz support, FreeSync Premium Pro, HGiG, and an ultra-low input lag of 9.5ms, it’s built for high-performance gaming. Samsung’s Gaming Hub is a handy bonus, and the punchy, precise picture takes the whole experience up a notch. Audio is “clean and well-defined” even at high volumes, making commentary and crowd noise crystal clear during big matches.

While OLEDs still hold the crown for pure picture quality and motion control, the QN90F’s brightness and anti-glare screen deliver comparable sports performance. You’ll find cheaper options that handle sports well, but at this size and spec, the QN90F is hard to beat.

Read our full Samsung QN90F review

• ^ Back to the top

A cheap but stunning 55-inch OLED TV

LG’s B5 is one of the cheapest OLED TVs you can buy, yet it still delivers impressive picture quality and excellent gaming support, making it our top budget pick.

In our LG B5 review, we found its pictures to be crisp and contrast-rich, with vibrant colors and realistic textures that look more premium than its entry-level status would suggest. Detail levels are strong and although it’s not the brightest TV around, it can still produce a cinematic image, as long as the conditions are right. The trade-off comes in bright rooms, where its middling brightness and reflective screen can make darker scenes lose their impact. It’s best watching it in dimly lit environments instead.

The B5 is well stocked with gaming features, carrying four HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K 120Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium, Nvidia G-Sync), ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming. It also runs on LG’s latest webOS 25 smart platform, which adds new AI tools like AI search, AI Concierge and an improved AI chatbot, while keeping navigation fast and user-friendly.

The B5 doesn’t bring big changes over last year’s B4, and its built-in audio doesn’t live up to the picture, so a soundbar is recommended. But with its mix of OLED picture quality, gaming specs and new smart AI features at this price, the LG B5 is the best budget OLED TV you can buy.

Read our full LG B5 review

• ^ Back to the top

A great mid-range gaming 55-inch TV

The Samsung Q80D is a high-quality QLED TV, with a superb picture, surprisingly strong sound, and great gaming features and performance, all of which would suggest a far more pricey TV than this affordable, mid-range Samsung.

First and foremost, the Q80D's picture quality is nothing short of brilliant. We were suitably impressed with its bold, vibrant colors and razor-sharp details, but even more so with its deep black levels and rich contrast. In our review we also noted its effective backlight control, saying that "the local dimming system that’s largely responsible for this black level depth works its magic while throwing up impressively few backlight blooming or clouding issues."

Gamers will be pleased by the Q80D's list of features at this mid-range price, with four HDMI 2.1 ports that all support 4K 120Hz, VRR (in both HDMI and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro formats) and ALLM. The Q80D's performance is also great, with a low 9.8ms input lag time and a bold, colorful picture to match.

The Q80D's sound is also effective – a rarity at this price range. We found during our testing that the Q80D not only had a wide soundstage, but effective sound placement around the screen and beyond. It also delivers suitably punchy bass and clear speech. We said the Q80D is "one of the best-sounding TVs in Samsung’s 2024 range" – no mean feat considering it sits below several more premium mini-LED (Neo QLED) and OLED models.

At this price, very few other 55-inch sets will top the Q80D, which almost disguises itself as a premium TV in the body of a mid-range model.

Read our full Samsung Q80D review

• ^ Back to the top

The elite 55-inch TV designed for wall-mounting

The LG G5 raises the bar for OLED TV brightness, delivering a substantially brighter picture than its LG G4 predecessor. LG managed this by using a Primary RGB Tandem structure OLED display panel in the G5, a new design that employs individual red, green, and blue layers to produce light. Not only is LG’s flagship G5 brighter, but it also has better color detail and improved screen glare rejection for viewing in bright rooms.

A new feature found in the G5 is Filmmaker Ambient Light Mode, which uses the TV’s built-in sensor to adjust brightness based on room lighting without sacrificing picture accuracy. LG’s latest Alpha 11 AI processor Gen 2 brings with it a range of AI enhancements for picture and sound, and the new webOS smart TV interface provides deeper levels of customization, including voice recognition for tailoring picture and sound settings along with content recommendations, for each user in your household.

The best thing about the G5’s picture is that it looks great across a range of lighting conditions, including bright rooms – a new frontier for OLED TVs. This makes it a great option for watching sports, but darker content like movies also looks good when viewed in brighter rooms, and with the lights dimmed, the picture has a powerful, almost 3D-like quality. As we noted in our LG G5 review: “The refined shadow detail gave the picture a powerful sense of depth that, for me, really drove home the point of why you would spend top dollar for a premium OLED TV like the G5.”

LG also made a point of bringing the best gaming features to the G5, including four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 165Hz, FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync support. The G5’s super-slim, wall-hugging design is the main reason we’ve selected it here as our best TV for wall-mounting (a wall-mount is included), but LG’s extra-cost pedestal stand gives you the option to also install it on a TV stand.

Save on electronics with our LG coupons. Find top deals on LG TVs, appliances, and more to enhance your home tech.

Read our full LG G5 review

• ^ Back to the top

More 55-inch TVs we've tested

Hisense U6N: Hisense's cheapest mini-LED TV is now astonishingly cheap, particularly in the US, and provides bright images with good contrast. It lacks a 120Hz screen for gaming, so that's a key thing you're losing – but for movies on a budget, it's very good. It's just not quite as good on value as TCL C805 in the UK, while the small price step up to the U7N in the US is small enough that we recommend most people should do that. But here's our Hisense U6N review to read through, because it does a very good job in its own right.

Hisense U8N: This is a super-bright mini-LED TV that’s excellent for both sports and movies, and also has great built-in sound. The main reason why the U8N got bumped by the Samsung Q80D for the mid-range spot is that it has less extensive gaming features than the Samsung, and 55 inches is a popular screen size for gaming. It's a fantastic TV, though, and you can read all about that in our full Hisense U8N review.

Panasonic Z95B: Panasonic's new flagship OLED TV features a new 'Primary RGB Tandem Panel’ with similar tech as that found in LG’s G5 OLED. Last year’s Panasonic Z95A was only available in a 65-inch size in the US, but this new model is also sold in a 55-inch size and features a new 5.1.2-channel built-in speaker configuration tuned by Panasonic sister brand Technics. Read our full Panasonic Z95B review.

Samsung Q60D: This budget QLED TV performs well, but you simply get much brighter images with better contrast and more features, especially for gaming, from the Hisense and TCL models mentioned here generally. Our Samsung Q60D review highlighted that it has far better picture quality than you might expect from its specs, though, so if the price is right and you want a Samsung set, it's a strong pick.

TCL C855: This is only available in the UK and Europe, but it's an extremely good-value mini-LED TV. Again, it falls in a slightly awkward place in terms of value, but we think it's very much worth looking at, especially because it has some really aggressive discounts. Here's our TCL C855 review for the in-depth verdict.

Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED: Amazon's first mini-LED TV delivers great picture quality and is surprisingly good for sports, as we found in our Amazon Mini-LED review. It has a good stock of gaming features and, unsurprisingly, uses the Fire TV Smart TV platform. It's also priced similarly to many other mini-LED sets.

Philips OLED809: Only available in the UK, the OLED809 is a brilliant mid-range OLED TV that offers great picture and sound quality, along with Philips' immersive Ambilight feature. We rated the OLED809 highly in our Philips OLED809 review, but it's marginally more expensive than its main rival, the LG C4.

• ^ Back to the top

How to choose the best 55-inch TV

• ^ Back to the top

How we test the best 55-inch TVs

We use the same methods to test the best 55-inch TVs as we do across all our other TV buying guides. This testing criteria is broken down by picture quality (looking at particular elements such as contrast, color and so on), audio quality of built-in speakers, gaming features, smart TV platform, ease of use, design and value for money. We base our testing on subjective opinion and objective measurements of the picture quality, which we take using specialized equipment.

Firstly, we’ll run in the TVs across various types of AV sources, such as broadcast, streaming and 4K Blu-ray. During this time, we’ll cycle through the different picture presets found on each set, such as Standard, Movie and Sport, to establish what we see as the most accurate for that set. We then watch the same movies, TV shows and so on again, making notes of how they compare to each other.

When analyzing picture quality, we’ll use a mixture of sources such as 4K Blu-ray and streaming to look at color reproduction and accuracy, contrast and black levels, and textures. We’ll then use lower-resolution sources such as broadcast TV and DVD to test a TV’s upscaling effectiveness.

We’ll also look at how a TV handles black uniformity (how well it can display dark tones across the screen evenly), especially on LCD based models. This is when we consider how effective the backlight is and if it suffers from any backlight blooming. We’ll also test motion, not just for 24fps movies but also for sports viewing, looking out for judder and blur – and seeing how effective a TVs motion settings are for reducing this.

After we’ve conducted subjective tests surrounding picture quality, smart TV platform, sound quality and so on, we move onto objective tests using specialized equipment to measure color accuracy, brightness, grayscale and more, recording results through Portrait Displays' Calman calibration software.

The first area we will usually test is brightness. We use a test pattern generator and colorimeter to measure a TV’s brightness levels across a variety of window sizes, from 1% all the way to 100% (full screen brightness). The more significant window sizes include 10%, which will usually tell you what a TV’s peak brightness is and how HDR highlights will look, and 100%, which will indicate the TV’s full screen brightness and how it can handle longer periods of brightness across the whole screen (which is often important when viewing sports). Full screen brightness generally also tells us how effective a TV will be at handling reflections. We do these tests to not only test a TV’s backlight, but also to measure our results against any figures claimed by the manufacturer. Brightness tests are conducted in light controlled rooms to prevent any external light sources affecting results.

Color reproduction, in both SDR and HDR, is also tested as we look at each TV’s accuracy to its source and how wide a color gamut it can display on screen. We won’t just look at color though, we also look at grayscale to test how accurately a TV can display black tones and just how effective its contrast is as well.

When it comes to gaming tests, we use the Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI input lag tester to test the latency time that a TV’s processing adds when displaying video games. We’ll also test the effectiveness of a TV’s Game Mode (if it has one), which is often used to adjust the TV’s settings to its most optimum when gaming. We also look out for a number of features such as how many HDMI 2.1 ports a TV has and whether it supports VRR, 4K 120Hz, ALLM and more.

When conducting these tests, we aim to keep everything as consistent as possible in our TV testing lab but it’s worth noting that some reviewers will work in different environments with different setups. In those instances, we always make sure that our reviewers have the same level of equipment and conduct the same tests.

• ^ Back to the top

Latest updates to the best 55-inch TV list

December 8, 2025
Replaced the LG C4 with the LG C5 as our 'best overall' choice. Also switched the Hisense U7N with the Hisense U75QG as our 'best budget' pick.

September 13, 2025
Replaced the Samsung S95D with the Samsung S95F as our 'best premium OLED' pick, based on our recent testing. Also added the LG B5 in our 'best budget OLED' slot, replacing the LG B4.

July 14, 2025
Replaced the Samsung 55QN90D with the Samsung 55QN90F as our ‘Best for sports’ pick, based on recent testing.

May 8, 2025
Swapped LG G4 with the new LG G5 as 'Best for wall-mounting' option due to its superior overall picture quality.

March 10, 2025
Added in a gallery of images for each entry. Added more TVs to our section of 'Other TVs we've tested'.

February 13, 2025
Added new sections, 'What’s the difference between an OLED 55-inch TV and an LED one?' and 'What should I look for in a 55-inch TV for gaming?' to 'How to Choose the best 55-inch TV'.

January 15, 2025
Added section 'New 55-inch TVs coming in 2025' detailing new TV announcements made at CES.

December 20, 2024
Checked all products against our latest reviews, and added more information about other sets we've tested to add more context.

November 25, 2024
Added an 'Also consider' section describing otherwise worthy TVs not included in this guide, and why they didn't make it in.

November 13, 2024
Added section on Black Friday 2024 55-inch TV deals.

September 19, 2024
Replaced the Samsung QN90C with the Samsung QN90D as 'best for sport'.

August 21, 2024
Replaced the Samsung Q80C with the Samsung Q80D as 'best mid-range'.

July 2, 2024
Hisense U7N introduced as 'best budget (US)'. Amazon Omni QLED became 'best budget (UK).

June 3, 2024
Replaced LG C3 with new LG C4 as "Best for versatility" due to improved picture brightness and gaming features.

May 3, 2024
Replaced Samsung S95C with Samsung S95D for best premium OLED, due to improved picture/features.

March 28, 2024
Added testing data graphs for all TVs, to make it easy to compare them in key areas.

March 5, 2024
Expanded the 'How We Test' section to give more detail on how the TVs in this guide are tested.

January 31, 2024
Replaced the LG A2 with the LG B3 as 'best budget OLED' due to dwindling stock levels of the A2.

January 4, 2024
Added LG G3 as the 'best for wall mounting'. Checked the rest of list against our latest reviews.

December 13, 2023
Combined best budget UK and US to best budget and chose the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED. Removed Sony A95K and 'best for image quality' category. Renamed Samsung S95C as 'best premium OLED'. Replaced Samsung Q80B with Samsung Q80C as 'best mid-range' due to stock levels.

Looking to save money on a Samsung product? Check out our Samsung coupons for the latest deals on top-rated tech and gadgets.

• ^ Back to the top

Plenty of the best TVs on the market come in a 75-inch size, and these day you can find screens at this size similarly priced and in some cases even cheaper than some of the best 65-inch TVs that are a step up in performance.

We've curated the below list of the best 75-inch TVs to feature sets we've tested, putting them through their paces and judging their picture quality, sound quality, gaming, smart TV and crucially, the bang for your buck they deliver.

We tested all these sets ourselves, putting them through both objective and subjective tests, and comparing them against their direct rivals. We have options for all budgets, ranging from the best OLED TVs at premium prices to affordable big-screen bang-for-your-buck winners.

Quick list

The best 75-inch TVs you can buy

The best 75-inch TV overall

The LG C5 delivers an OLED experience in a 77-inch size without paying the premium prices of step-up OLEDs such as the LG G5, while still offering a complete set of features and stunning picture quality.

During my C5 testing, I found the C5's picture quality stunning. It delivers vibrant colors that are perfect for animated movies like Elemental, but also offers powerful contrast and true-to-life textures in real-world movies such as The Batman. It also delivers excellent motion handling for sports and with a slight brightness boost over its predecessor, showcases strong HDR highlights that add extra detail.

I found gaming on the LG C5 a ton of fun. Its ultra-low 9.2ms input lag and excellent picture combine to make gaming feel responsive and immersive, as I found playing Battlefield V. It also comes with all the features gamers are looking for including 4K 144Hz, FreeSync and G-Sync, HGiG, Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM, all of which are supported on all four HDMI 2.1 ports. There aren't many better gaming TVs at this size.

The C5 also uses LG's webOS 25 smart TV platform, which is intuitive, responsive and has an easy-to-use layout, a dream for someone like me who needs to tweak picture settings. New AI features will be very useful for some users, making webOS feel like the total package and the best smart TV platform on the market.

While there are cheaper TVs that have a lot to offer at a 75-inch size, the C5 is the most 'complete' TV at this size. It delivers the best picture quality and features to price ratio out of any TV and that's why it's top of this list.

Read our full LG C5 review

Find the best deals on LG products with our LG coupon codes.

• ^ Back to the top

The best budget 75-inch TV in the US

The QM7K is superb value for money, providing a great stock of features, especially for gaming, and brilliant picture quality for an affordable price in a 75-inch screen.

During our testing of the QM7K, we were most impressed by how effective the new Halo Control technology effectively minimized backlight blooming (where a halo of light appears around bright objects against dark backgrounds), something that is no easy task for a budget-friendly mini-LED TV. The QM7K also delivered crisp images with great HDR on movies such as The Batman and Hero.

We found the QM7K to be "a treat for gaming" during our testing. A 13.1ms input lag and 4K 144z and FreeSync Premium Pro meant gameplay felt smooth even during chaotic games like Dead Island 2. At this size, the QM7K is a superb, budget option for gaming.

The QM7K's sound quality is solid overall, but bass and the soundstage are a little lacking, so those looking for a more cinematic experience from this 75-inch screen may need to get a soundbar as well.

But where the QM7K really shines is its value for money. At a 75-inch size, the QM7K has dropped below $1,000 before – a bargain for a TV with this much on offer. While the step-down TCL QM6K is available for cheaper, the QM7K delivers better picture quality and much higher brightness, we think the QM7K is worth paying the extra money.

Read our full TCL QM7K review

• ^ Back to the top

The best budget 75-inch TV in the UK

The TCL C7K is a brilliant TV if you're looking for a 75-inch screen on a budget. It delivers bold picture quality and excellent gaming features and performance at an affordable price for a 75-inch TV.

When I tested the C7K, I found its picture quality to be fantastic. Colors were its strong point, looking vivid and vibrant with animation such as Elemental and natural with real world movies such as Wicked. The C7K also demonstrated strong contrast and rich blacks, even in challenging movies I use to test TVs such The Batman and Alien: Romulus. Textures throughout viewing looked realistic and crisp as well, adding real depth to the C7K's picture.

I also enjoyed gaming on the C7K. Playing chaotic battles in Battlefield V felt smooth and responsive. It also comes with a great list of features including 4K 144Hz, FreeSync Premium Pro, Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM. For a gaming display at 75-inch, the C7K is fantastic if you're on a budget.

I found the C7K's sound to be decent overall during my testing, but found its lack of bass and narrow soundstage took some of the impact out of action-packed scenes such as the Batmobile chase from The Batman and the Darkstar test flight in Top Gun: Maverick.

Where the C7K does really shine is its value. You can pick up the C7K (also know as the Q7C at some retailers) for under £1,000: a superb price for a TV with these features in a 75-inch size. While it may not deliver the complete performance of more premium mini-LED TVs, such as the Samsung QN90F, the C7K is an excellent budget option at 75-inch.

Read our full TCL C7K review

• ^ Back to the top

The best mid-range 75-inch TV

The Hisense U8QG is another comprehensive mini-LED TV that delivers exceptional brightness and is brilliant for gaming, for an extremely competitive price compared with rival mini-LED and OLED TVs.

When we tested the U8QG, we were most impressed by its local dimming capabilities which we noted has been getting every year. It meant dark scenes in movies and TV shows such as The Last of Us delivered strong contrast and powerful depth. Colors were also rich and thanks to the U8Q's high brightness (it hit 3,337 nits peak HDR brightness), it's perfect for watching sports in bright rooms. Those watching in big groups should note though that the U8QG's picture quality, especially contrast, fades when viewed off-center.

The U8QG is also an accomplished TV for gaming. It supports 4K 165Hz, FreeSync Premium Pro, Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM. It also has an ultra-low 9.9ms input lag time, competing with the very best gaming TVs from LG and Samsung. It does only come with three HDMI ports however, something to note for those with multiple devices you want to connect. They all support the gaming features I mentioned, at least.

Where we really rate the U8QG though is its value for money. The 75-inch model costs $1,399 / £1,699 / AU$2,999, which is an excellent price for a TV with the U8Q's performance and specs. The U8Q hits the sweet spot between rival OLEDs and premium mini-LEDs and cheaper mini-LEDs, which is why it's our pick for the best mid-range.

Read our full Hisense U8QG review

• ^ Back to the top

The best premium OLED 75-inch TV

The LG G5 faces stiff competition from other flagship OLEDs from Samsung, Sony and Panasonic, but thanks to its high brightness and competitive price, its the best choice for an OLED TV in a 77-inch size.

During our G5 testing, we were blown away by how good dark scenes with high contrast, such as the Season 2 finale of Severance, looked in bright rooms thanks to the G5's high brightness (it hit 2,268 nits peak HDR brightness in Filmmaker Mode, which is phenomenal for an OLED) and effective anti-reflection screen. It also delivered rich colors and crisp textures, which made it stand out in our four-way flagship OLED showdown.

The G5 is one of the best gaming OLED TVs on the market. It has a full suite of features including 4K 165Hz, FreeSync and G-Sync, Dolby Vision gaming, HGiG and ALLM, all supported across four HDMI 2.1 ports. An ultra-low 9.2ms input lag time (activated in the Game Optimizer settings) means gameplay is responsive and smooth, even in frenetic games like Battlefield V which we tried out in our testing.

The G5 does come with a premium price tag, as you'd expect for an OLED at this size, but priced at $3,499.99 / £3,199 / AU$6,995 officially, the G5 is the most competitively priced OLED at this 77-inch size, while also offering the most complete set of features, highest brightness and best gaming performance. That's why it's our pick for best 77-inch OLED offer some strong competition.

Read our full LG G5 review

• ^ Back to the top

The best 75-inch TV for bright rooms

Watching TV in a bright room can be challenging, even for some brighter mini-LED TVs. The Samsung QN90F however doesn't have this issue, thanks to its high brightness levels and Glare Free screen that make daytime viewing easy.

When we tested the Samsung QN90F, we were impressed by its refined local dimming, noting that there seemed to be almost no backlight blooming even in shadow-heavy scenes from movies such as Oppenheimer. The QN90F also had rich colors, but it really shines with its brightness and anti-reflection capabilities. During daytime viewing, we noted no reflections and even putting a light directly in front of the screen, any light was diffused.

The QN90F is also a brilliant TV for sports, thanks to its high fullscreen brightness, excellent motion handling and Glare Free screen.

Gamers will also be pleased with the QN90F's features and performance. It supports 4K 165Hz, VRR (including Nvidia G-Sync for the first time), ALLM and HDR10+ gaming. Its ultra-low 9.5ms input lag means gaming feels responsive and smooth, even in the most fast-paced games.

The QN90F is pricier than other mini-LED TVs such as the Hisense U8QG and TCL QM7K/C7K on this list but it provides a more premium experience. And while its brightness doesn't hit the numbers by some of these TVs, the QN90F is still our pick for the best 75-inch TV for bright rooms thanks to its combination of brightness and its anti-reflection screen. If you're looking for a TV for a bright room, this is the one we recommend.

Read our full Samsung QN90F review

• ^ Back to the top

How to choose the best 75-inch TV

During key sales periods such as Black Friday, of course, those pricing expectations are a little different, so in any case it's worth paying attention to how much a 75-inch TV was at launch.

Some Hisense TVs can have a high launch price and quickly undercut it for a sense of value, and often you can get a good discount at least a few months after release, but in general you should be looking for the largest discount compared to a previous price, rather than just the cheapest 75-inch TV out there. And if you're low on cash, you should probably be opting for a decent 65-inch TV, rather than a half-baked 75-inch one.

Once you get to a 75-inch size, too, 8K TVs really become a smart investment too. That's because the greater number of pixels over 4K (33 million rather than eight million) ensures far greater detail at that size. A 55-inch 8K TV doesn't really make much of a difference, but a 75-inch 8K TV certainly does.

Best 75-inch TVs: comparison charts

Below is a comparison chart for all the TVs featured in this guide, looking at the four main areas we conduct objective tests on for each TV: brightness, HDR color gamut coverage, picture accuracy and input lag.

How we test the best 75-inch TVs

We test the TVs we selected for this best 75-inch guide not just on picture, but on every aspect including gaming performance, smart TV platform and menus, ease of use, built-in audio and even the overall physical design. We'll test out the features within the TV to make sure they're up to scratch and reflect this in our reviews.

75-inch is a big screen so you're often going to pay a premium for the very best, but we also look out for those TVs that give you value - performance without the price tag, so in this guide we've included TVs to suit every budget by testing across a wide range of prices.

We always strive to test these TVs with a variety of sources including Blu-ray, streaming, live TV, lower-resolution programs and movies and more so that we can fully test the TVs picture quality across the board, not just on the best possible picture.

Some of our reviewers will be testing with different equipment and in different conditions, but we will always aim to make this clear and to be as fair and as consistent as possible.

While subjective test are important, we also test TVs using specialized equipment. The equipment consists of a colorimeter, a test pattern generator and Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software to record the results.

While we will test TVs on multiple measurements, there are four key test we can conduct that feature in our published benchmark results, which are featured in the tables underneath each entry above.

These four key areas are brightness, HDR color gamut coverage, picture accuracy and input lag. You can see a full breakdown of how we test TVs at TechRadar at the link, but below we've put a summary of each aspect.

Brightness

When we measure a TV's brightness, we focus on two key areas: peak and fullscreen brightness. Brightness is measured in nits and when we test brightness, we use white window patterns in sizes 1-100%, with peak being 10% and fullscreen being 100%. We also analyze brightness in both SDR and HDR.

Peak brightness will tell us how highlights will look on a screen, particularly in HDR. Think of the sun on a horizon or a torch in a dark scene - peak brightness will give us an idea of how these types of highlights will look on screen.

Fullscreen brightness is important for telling us how a TV will retain and display brightness, and also how it will handle bright viewing conditions and how it can handle reflections. Mini-LED TVs tend to have the highest brightness and are best suited for brighter rooms.

Color gamut

A TV's color gamut refers to how wide a range of colors it can show, with the results when measured shown in a percentage. The higher a TV's color gamut coverage, the more colors it can show. When we measure color gamut coverage, we focus primarily on two color spaces: UHDA-P3 (also known as DCI-P3), which is used when mastering digital cinema releases and 4K Blu-ray, and BT.2020.

When we measure HDR color gamut coverage, we're looking for a result of over 95% in the UHDA-P3, while expecting 70-80% in the BT.2020 color space, although this number is increasing with more TVs hitting over 80% in recent years.

We've seen some milestone results in 2025 with color gamut coverage, with several OLEDs hitting 100% of UHDA-P3, while the Hisense 116-inch UX hit a remarkable 92% of the BT.2020 space, the highest we've recorded to date.

Picture accuracy

Another area we test is color and grayscale accuracy. To do so, we run through a cycle of test patterns and then take an average of the Delta-E (the margin for error between the test pattern source and what's shown on screen), hoping for a result lower than 3 (the number that's accurate enough that differences can't be discerned by the human eye).

To test color accuracy, the TV cycles through red, green, blue, yellow, magenta and cyan patterns. For grayscale, 0-100 patterns are analyzed, with 0 being black and 100 being full white.

Input lag

Input lag refers to the time delay between a signal source being sent to a display and when that source shows on screen. Input lag is most important for gaming, with a shorter input lag resulting in better performance.

Input lag is measured in milliseconds (ms) and when we measure a TV's input lag, using a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Input Lag Tester, we make sure to put the TV into its Game mode, or activate its game settings, to deliver the best results. Ideally, we're hoping for below 15ms, as this is the threshold most gamers are looking for.

More 75-inch TVs we've tested

This is a listing of TVs we've reviewed that are available in a 75-inch size but didn't quite make the list above.

Latest updates to this 75-inch TV guide

November 7, 2025
Made an overhaul of this guide. Added in LG as 'best overall', TCL QM7K as 'best budget US', TCL C7K as 'best budget UK', Hisense U8QG as 'best mid-range', LG G5 as 'best premium OLED' and Samsung QN90F as 'best for bright rooms'. Updated other TVs to consider and how we test sections. Removed other TVs coming in 2025 section.

July 14, 2025
Replaced the Samsung 75QN90D with the Samsung 75QN90F as our 'Best for sports' pick, based on recent testing.

May 9, 2025
Added LG G5 OLED TV to guide as 'Best for wall-mounting' option.

March 11, 2025
Added in Quick list product grid with quick summaries for each entry on the list. Added gallery of images to each entry. Added more models to the 'Other 75-inch TVs we've tested' section.

February 13, 2025
Added sections 'What’s the difference between an OLED 75-inch TV and an LED one?' and 'What should I look for in a 75-inch TV for gaming?' to 'How to choose'.

January 16, 2025
Added section 'New TVs for 2025' with info on new models announced at the CES tradeshow.

December 23, 2024
The LG C4 is our new top choice, due to stock of the Samsung S90C running very low now. We also added more information about other TVs we've tested that aren't on the list.

November 25, 2024
Changed the Sony A80L for the Sony Bravia 8 as best for sound.

November 15, 2024
Added section: Best 75-inch TVs on Black Friday.

October 24 2024
Replaced the Samsung CU8000 with the TCL C805 as 'best budget 75-inch TV in the UK'.

September 26 2024
Replaced Samsung QN90C with Samsung QN90D as 'best 75-inch TV for sports'

August 28 2024
Replaced Sony 75X90L with Hisense 75U8N as 'best mid-range 75-inch TV.'

July 31 2024
Added boxes with two reasons to buy and avoid for each entry labelled 'Buy it if' and 'Don't buy it if'

July 2 2024
Replaced Hisense U8K with Hisense U7N as 'best budget (US)'.

June 5 2024
Replaced Sony X90L with LG C4 as 'best 75-inch for gaming'. Sony X90L replaced Samsung Q80C as 'best mid-range 75-inch TV'.

May 6 2024
Replaced Samsung S95C with new Samsung S95D as 'best premium' option.

March 11 2024
Added info on new 75-77-inch TVs announced for 2024 to 'How to Choose' section.

February 7 2024
Introduced 'quick list' grid which summarizes each entry in the list and why we've chosen them for those looking for quick answers.

The reason it's particularly difficult these days is that thanks to modern Wi-Fi technology (including the relatively new Wi-Fi 7 standard), our wireless networks are covering more of our properties than ever. Meanwhile, the best mesh Wi-Fi routers, which typically comprise of a router and additional satellite units that extend the wireless network, are growing in popularity - and they have become arguably the best way to eliminate network dead zones, a task that Wi-Fi extenders were created for.

This means that many companies no longer make Wi-Fi extenders, focusing instead on releasing new wireless routers or mesh Wi-Fi systems, and that in turn makes trying to find the best Wi-Fi extender for your needs more difficult.

There are still plenty of reasons why you'd need a Wi-Fi extender to help your wireless network reach all corners of your home, however. The best Wi-Fi extenders (also sometimes known as Wi-Fi repeaters) should be easy to add to your existing network - in some cases, you just need to plug in, change a few settings, and you're good to go.

It's certainly a lot less work than replacing your router and setting up a wireless network from scratch. Wi-Fi extenders should also work with your existing network, even if your router is from a different brand.

Wi-Fi extenders are often quite a bit less expensive than buying a new router (and certainly a lot less expensive than mesh Wi-Fi systems), which means they remain a quick and affordable way to make sure every device in your home can connect to the internet, no matter where its placed.

Still, with fewer new models released these days, which Wi-Fi extender should you buy? Our current picks below were all released a few years ago, but they all remain excellent choices, and they are all still on sale. We've also called in more modern Wi-Fi extenders to thoroughly test, and if they prove to be worthwhile, we'll be adding them to this guide in a major update soon.

To help you make the right choice, we've answered the most common questions about Wi-Fi extenders, and our in-depth comparison between Wi-Fi extenders and mesh routers can guide you on which solution suits your needs.

The quick list

There are still several Wi-Fi extenders on the market in 2025, though many are several years old now, and they all ultimately do the same thing. With that in mind, we've whittled our list down to only the very best options, so you can be assured that you're getting your money's worth. Remember to click "Read more below" to find out more before you hit buy.

The best Wi-Fi extenders in 2025

The best Wi-Fi extender overall

The TP-Link RE700X is proof that you do not need to spend a lot of money to get great Wi-Fi coverage in every corner of your home. While many Wi-Fi extenders are trying to charge consumers enough money you might as well get a mesh system, this one keeps its price inexpensive by keeping things simple and offering Wi-Fi 6 connectivity on top of it.

Though not loaded up on features, this Wi-Fi 6 support is certainly more than enough when combined with just how effective it is at covering dead spots. Nicknamed the “dead-zone killer," it certainly delivered during testing, covering an area in our space where the weak Wi-Fi signal normally forces us to rely on PowerLine adaptors.

It's also easy and simple to set up, making it a great option for most people, including those who have never even seen a range extender before. You can spend a lot of money on an intimidating range extender, or you can make things easy for yourself and your wallet with the TP-Link RE700X.

Read our full TP-Link RE700X review

The best budget Wi-Fi extender

If you’re looking to extend your Wi-Fi 6 network to all four corners of your home, TP-Link’s RE605X WiFi 6 Range Extender is worth taking a look. It’s as affordable and as easy to set up as the RE650 extender while being backwards compatible with older Wi-Fi 5 routers. If you've got a new Wi-Fi 7 router, then the RE605X will still work, though will only offer Wi-Fi 6 speeds.

We found during testing that TP-Link’s Tether app does a good job of keeping setting up simple, making this a great option for Wi-Fi extender newbies. It isn’t just for the less savvy users, however. The RE605X also provides a web browser interface for more experienced users who want more control over their network settings.

It’s also proven to deliver noticeable improvement in Wi-Fi performance. On test, it boosted our router’s speed to 100Mbps from 34Mbps on the 2.4GHz and from 85Mbps on the 5.0GHz bands in the poorly connected part of our space. Our stream downloads saw a marked improvement as well.

Read the full TP-Link RE605X WiFi 6 Range Extender review

The best Wi-Fi extender for gamers

The Netgear Nighthawk AX8 (EAX80) may be a little older, but with Wi-Fi 6 capabilities and an impressive range, it certainly deserves a spot in this best Wi-Fi extenders list. It's a little on the pricey end, but it's not really for people who are on the budget anyway, as it's more of an investment for those who require top-notch performance and massive coverage.

It boasts some features you typically see in actual routers such as four Gigabit Ethernet ports for connecting a games console and a USB 3.0 port for connecting a hard drive to provide network storage. It also has mesh extender capabilities, which means you can buy additional EAX80 extenders and link them together to create an enormous mesh network.

On test, its performance will blow you away. Performance on the slower 2.4GHz band jumped from our usual 18Mbps to 21Mbps. Meanwhile, the faster 5.0GHz band really got a shake-up, leaping from just 60Mbps to 342Mbps. This isn't going to be the best Wi-Fi extender for most people, but it's amazing for those with massive homes and offices to cover.

Read our full Netgear Nighthawk AX8 (EAX80) review

Get the best deals on Netgear products with our Netgear promo codes.

Frequently asked questions

How we test

TechRadar tests Wi-Fi extenders in a variety of ways, from how easy they are to connect and setup, what apps or software they might come with, and of course, how much increase you get to the range of your wireless internet.

Features will be noted, we check to see if Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 are supported, as well as if they're able to connect to any existing router and if the products are Dual-band or Tri-band compatible. As a Wi-Fi extender is designed to support an existing router, and not act as a dedicated router in itself, you'll likely want to check if your wireless router isn't up to scratch before you spend serious money on an extender.

A series of benchmarks are used to determine how effective a Wi-Fi extender is, using applications like the Ookla Speed test and the Steam game download client to test how many megabytes per second of data is achievable in different locations of a home, such as right beside the extender itself and behind partition walls that could block a signal.

For our list of the best gaming TVs, we prioritize things a bit different to our overall list of the best TVs. For example, we want gaming TVs need to have a low level of input lag, meaning there isn't a delay between you pressing a button and what you see on your screen. We also want them to have HDMI 2.1 support on as many HDMI ports as possible, so they're future-proof, and to have great gaming features in general.

We test these ourselves, using specialist equipment as well as playing games consoles during the review process. We look for input lag of under 15ms to suit the majority of gamers, or under 10ms for those who want the absolute best results, and we make sure that the gaming features really do work as promised.

Today's top TVs all have high-end gaming features built-in. Higher-end models, including many of the best OLED TVs, are usually excellent for gaming regardless of which one you choose, though some are slightly better value than others. Budget TVs can be great for gaming too, but be warned that some won't have 4K 120Hz support or HDMI 2.1 if they're super-cheap.

The quick list

If you want to quickly find the perfect gaming TV for you, try this list – you can also get a more in-depth write-up of any particular model by clicking the TV link!

The best gaming TVs you can buy

The best gaming TV for most people

The LG C5 builds on everything that made the C4 before it one of the best gaming TVs, refining performance with a new Alpha 9 Gen 8 AI processor and a brightness boost that makes HDR gaming look even more vivid. With sizes from 42 to 83 inches, it suits everything from desk setups to home cinema gaming spaces.

The C5 remains a gaming powerhouse, featuring four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144 Hz support, VRR (including Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium), ALLM, HGiG and Dolby Vision Gaming. Input lag is measured at a super low 9.2 ms, which makes gameplay fluid and super responsive whether you’re on console or PC. Cloud gaming apps are here, like GeForce Now and Amazon Luna, which are also built-in via the Game Quick Card, which you’ll find on LG’s updated webOS 25 interface.

Picture quality really is outstanding. You’ll get rich contrast, vibrant colors and impressive HDR performance, especially considering this is a mid-range OLED. The only weak spot is audio. The 2.2-channel Dolby Atmos system is fine, but just fine. Pairing the C5 with a soundbar is your best bet, as that’s where you’ll see its full cinematic and gaming potential.

Although it’s only a modest upgrade over the C4 and currently more expensive, the LG C5 delivers premium gaming performance, superb image quality and long-term versatility too, making it our current top pick and one of 2025’s best gaming TVs.

Read the full LG C5 review

• ^ Back to the top

Best gaming TV for PS5

The Sony Bravia 8 is Sony's only new OLED for 2024, with the brand opting for mini-LED in its flagship Bravia 9 model instead. Although only offering some incremental upgrades over its predecessor, the Sony A80L, it still serves as the best option for PS5 owners thanks to its PS5-centric features.

The Bravia 8 comes with 'Perfect for PS5' features built-in, including a HDR tone mapping mode that activates when a PS5 is connected to tune highlights and shadows for the exact capabilities of this TV, so you better visibility in the brightest and darkest areas. It also supports 4K 120Hz, VRR and ALLM. It has an improved 12.8ms input lag time compared with the 16.5ms its predecessor produced (which is better than the lag we measured in our Sony Bravia 9 review too, despite that being the higher-end model).

But it's not just features where the Bravia 8 is a solid option. We were impressed by the Bravia 8's picture for gaming, noting how good its backlight control was and we said that when playing Marvel's Spider-Man 2 "Spidey’s suit and buildings exhibit clear shine where they’re being hit by sunlight". The Bravia 8's improved HDR brightness also helped give images a more vivid look.

Speaking of pictures, the Bravia 8 is also a fantastic companion for movies. The rich colors and pixel-perfect contrast give everything a dynamic pop on screen, adding an extra layer of vibrancy. Black levels are also superb, with dark details taking on a refined quality.

The Bravia 8 also delivers with its built-in sound, with plenty of immersion, accurate placement and an engaging feel. While its gaming features and performance may not be the best on the list, the Bravia 8 is still an excellent gaming option.

Read our full Sony Bravia 8 review

• ^ Back to the top

The best budget gaming TV in the US

The Hisense U7N's stacked suite of gaming features is ideal for PS5 and Xbox Series X owners and it has a great quality mini-LED picture, all for significantly less than the other TVs on this list.

With 4K 120Hz (with 144Hz option), Dolby Vision gaming, VRR including AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-sync, ALLM and a Game Bar menu, the U7N has a near-complete list of gaming features you'd expect to find on more premium gaming TVs.

The U7N's picture has bright, bold colors but with no sacrifice of contrast and black levels, which is an impressive accomplishment for a budget mini-LED TV. Textures and details are refined and accurate, giving the picture plenty of depth. The U7N suffers from some backlight blooming and its contrast fades when viewed off-axis, but overall the U7N's picture is great and adds an extra layer to gaming.

Sadly, the U7N's sound quality doesn't quite match its picture, but its directional sound, solid bass, and clear dialogue will suit a lot of games, as we discovered testing with Battlefield V. Ultimately though, its narrow soundstage means a soundbar may be required.

Bang for your buck is at the core of the U7N. With prices sitting roughly at $800 for a 65-inch screen size, it is hard to argue against the performance and features it delivers for the price.

Read our full Hisense U7N review

• ^ Back to the top

The best budget gaming TV in the UK

The Samsung Q80D proves that you don't need to spend a fortune to get a comprehensive TV as it delivers a bright, colorful picture, a brilliant stock of gaming features and surprisingly good sound – all for less than you'd expect. Combine all that into one package and you get an excellent, affordable gaming TV.

The Q80D is equipped with four HDMI 2.1 ports, all of which support 4K,120Hz, VRR (including both HDMI and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro varieties) and ALLM. Thankfully, the Q80D backs up these features with performance, with an ultra low 9.8ms input lag time that we described in our review as "exhilaratingly responsive".

But, it's not just gaming performance where the Q80D triumphs, as it delivers a dynamic, colorful picture that's superb for both games and movies. We noted in our review that it offers surprisingly rich black levels and contrast better "than any other LCD TV I can think of in its class". It also displays textures in a sharp, yet natural style that gives pictures a lifelike quality. The Q80D's colors are also top-notch once you've done some setup.

Sound can often be hit-or-miss with TVs, especially more budget models, but this isn't true for the Q80D. It won't dethrone the best TVs for sound, but the Q80D's built-in sound is impressive for its price range. It has a large soundstage, excellent sound placement and great Atmos staging – plus good bass levels and clear speech. Sound also extends beyond the screen, giving you an even better sense of immersion.

The Q80D carries the triple threat of picture, features and performance that make a great gaming TV. It's easily the stand-out gaming TV in its price range.

Read our full Samsung Q80D review

• ^ Back to the top

The best gaming TV for lighter rooms

Daytime gaming can be a challenge, but the Samsung QN90F's high brightness, reflection-beating Glare Free screen and vibrant colours make gaming in a bright room easy.

With four HDMI 2.1 ports supporting 4K 165Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium Pro), HGiG, ALLM and HDR10+ gaming, the QN90F is well equipped for current-gen consoles. It also has an ultra-low 9.5ms input lag time for impressively slick performance and features Samsung's Gaming Hub, which serves as a portal for all things gaming, including access to plenty of apps such as Xbox.

The QN90F's picture holds up well in well-lit rooms thanks to its high peak brightness (2,087 nits) and fullscreen brightness (667 nits) and effective Glare Free screen. It also delivers realistic details and textures and stunning contrast, with deep black levels.

While the QN90F may be one of the pricier TVs on this list, it delivers across the board for both gaming and picture quality. If you find your room is too bright for a standard TV, the QN90F could be the answer.

Read our full Samsung QN90F review

• ^ Back to the top

The cheapest gaming OLED TV

OLED gaming doesn't have to be expensive, and this is proven by the LG B4 – the cheapest 2024 OLED TV you can buy. Despite its cheaper price, the B4 comes with plenty of features and a punchy performance that will keep gamers happy, especially with the introduction of its new features. The B4 is also available in a 48-inch size for the first time, perfect for gaming in bedrooms or smaller living rooms.

The B4 carries an improved list of gaming features over its predecessor, the LG B3, with four HDMI 2.1 ports for the first time. All of these ports support 4K 120Hz, Dolby Vision gaming, VRR (AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync accounted for), HGiG and ALLM. It also delivers an ultra-low 9.2ms input lag time when Boost mode is activated in the Game Optimizer menu.

In our review of the B4, we were impressed not only by its gaming chops, calling it "an excellent gaming TV for price" but also by its picture quality. We found that the Dolby Vision Filmmaker Mode provided accurate presentation of color and contrast when watching Godzilla Minus One and also delivered excellent black levels throughout viewing. We were even impressed with its upscaling of non-4K sources, describing these images as "crisp with great detail."

It's not all perfect for the B4, as its lower brightness pales compared to most of the other TVs here, and its built-in sound is average, but if you're looking for a way to introduce OLED to your TV gaming setup and are on a budget, the B4 is your best choice.

Read our full LG B4 review

• ^ Back to the top

The best OLED gaming TV for brightness

The LG G5 features LG's latest OLED panel tech: the Primary Tandem RGB OLED (or four-stack). This panel delivers stunningly high brightness levels for OLED (the brightest we've measured so far) and when combined with the G5's full array of gaming features, it's the ideal TV for those who want OLED gaming in bright rooms.

Equipped with four HDMI 2.1 ports, the G5 supports 4K 165Hz, VRR (incluidng AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia GSync formats) Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM, meaning it covers every base. Combine this with its ultra-responsive performance (and low 9.1ms input lag time) and you get a superb OLED for gaming.

We measured the G5's peak brightness at 2,268 nits and fullscreen brightness at 331 nits (both in Filmmaker Mode), making it the brightest OLED we've tested so far. Its high brightness lets it be used in brighter viewing environments while maintaining accurate color, black levels and contrast.

The flagship G5 is undoubtedly a pricey, premium OLED TV. While there are better-priced mid-range options, such as the LG C4 at the top of this list, when it comes to bright room gaming, there aren't any better OLED TVs than the G5.

Read our full LG G5 review

1. ^ Back to the top

The best elite gaming TV for PS5

The Sony Bravia 9 uses Sony's XR Backlight Master Drive with High Peak Luminance, which is a new twist on mini-LED tech that encompasses custom 22-bit LED drivers to offer significantly more refined local dimming, meaning best-in-class contrast for a mini-LED, and it's a fantastic improvement to pictures for both movies and gaming.

The Bravia 9 features PS5-exclusive features including Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode when it detects a PS5, displaying the best picture possible. It also comes with 4K 120Hz, VRR (including Nvidia GSync but sadly not AMD FreeSync), Dolby Vision gaming and a Game Bar to make easy settings adjustments while gaming. While we did measure a higher-than-expected 17ms input lag time (most premium sets around this price have been sub-10ms), combining the Bravia 9's features with its picture quality makes for an excellent gaming experience as long as you're not a literal pro gamer.

Speaking of picture quality, the Bravia 9's is simply stunning. The sophisticated mini-LED tech means OLED-level blacks with rich contrast and exceptional brightness - 2,280 nits in standard mode in fact - that will be perfect for daytime viewing. Crucially, there's also little-to-no light bleed in high contrast images, something that is a regular issue for other mini-LED TVs.

In terms of built-in audio quality, the Bravia 9 follows in a long line of Sony sets that prioritize sound as well as picture. Acoustic Multi Audio+ creates an excellent sense of space and immersion and Voice Zoom 3 boosts dialogue levels during intense scenes. There's also even more unlocked when the Bravia 9 is paired with a Sony soundbar, including Acosutic Center Sync (using the Bravia 9's speakers as a bonus center channel) and 360 spatial audio mapping (creating phantom speakers for even more sound).

The Bravia 9 is undoubtedly pricey and is available in more limited sizes in the UK (75 and 85-inch only) but for those looking to go big with their gaming (especially PS5 owners), this is one of the best premium options you can get.

Read our full Sony Bravia 9 review

• ^ Back to the top

The best cheap gaming TV

The Hisense U6N may not have all the bells and whistles of the other gaming TVs on this list, but it does have a good stock of features and delivers solid performance, especially for its budget-friendly price.

Despite no 120Hz support, the U6N offers 4K 60Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync, Nvidia G-Sync and HDMI Forum), ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming. it also has a solid 13.2ms input lag time for smooth performance at 60fps.

In our Hisense U6N review, we were impressed not only by the U6N's gaming performance but also by its picture quality. While not as refined as more premium sets, the U6N still delivers good detail, solid contrast and punchy, natural colors that are better than its budget price would suggest.

The U6N however will require some tweaking in the settings and we'd recommend adding a soundbar for anything more than casual viewing. But, if you're looking for a cheap TV to play games at 60fps, then it's hard to argue against what the U6N offers.

Read our full Hisense U6N review

• ^ Back to the top

How to choose the best gaming TV

New gaming TVs for 2025

At CES 2025, several brands revealed their TV lineups for 2025 and among them were a few TVs that could make their way onto this list, either alongside or replacing their predecessors.

From Samsung, we have the Samsung S95F, its flagship 2025 OLED and predecessor to the Samsung S95D. It carries improved gaming features including 165Hz refresh rate for PC gaming, but it's the improved, second-generation OLED Glare Free tech we're excited about. We loved OLED Glare Free (an anti-reflection screen) on the S95D as it effectively eliminated reflections in bright viewing environments and from what we've seen of the second-gen version on the S95F, it's just as effective and maintains more accurate black levels.

Also from Samsung is the Samsung QN90F, the successor to the best TV for bright rooms on this list, the Samsung QN90D. The QN90F will also have a Glare Free screen and we're expecting a brightness increase, which will hopefully make the QN90F even better than its predecessor for gaming in bright environments.

Panasonic revealed the Panasonic Z95B, its 2025 flagship OLED, which will come stocked with a near-full suite of gaming features. It also uses a four-stack OLED panel and from what we've seen, its picture is seriously impressive. If its sound quality is anything like its predecessor, the Panasonic Z95A, the Z95B could be an excellent all-rounder.

We've yet to hear about new gaming TVs from Hisense, Sony, Philips and TCL, and we're still waiting for more details on the LG B5 OLED, but we expect there'll be other competitive TVs to follow in the footsteps of the Hisense U8N, Sony Bravia 8, Philips OLED809 and OLED909 and more in 2025.

How we test the best gaming TVs

• We primarily test the best gaming TVs in Game Mode with an Xbox Series X

• We test latency using a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Input Lag tester

• We test image quality with a test pattern generator, colorimeter and other specialized equipment

When we test the best gaming TVs, we’re mainly looking at gaming performance and related features that enhance gaming. For these tests, we apply the same criteria used in our reviews such as picture and audio quality based on objective and subjective tests.

For gaming TVs, we use a gaming console (mainly an Xbox Series X although this can vary based on the reviewer) to test motion performance with graphics, analyzing latency and response time. We put the TV in its Game Mode during these tests to keep it consistent across each model and to maximize the gaming experience.

We also look for features such as VRR and 120Hz refresh rate to test their effectiveness. Not all the best gaming TVs have to provide these features, but it’s something we take into consideration during testing. To test latency added by the TV’s processing, we use a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Input Lag tester, with that measurement taken in the set’s Game Mode.

We also test picture quality with movies and TV shows, cycling through preset picture modes such as Standard and Movie to determine which is the most accurate. We’ll then play a variety of sources including 4K Blu-ray, 4K and HD streaming, and lower-res formats such as broadcast TV and DVD to evaluate the TV’s upscaling.

Another important area we test is how well a gaming TV handles dark tones, looking particularly at black uniformity (the ability to evenly display black across the screen) and its overall contrast.

We use specialized equipment, including a test pattern generator and colorimeter, to take measurements for our objective tests, with the results recorded in Portrait Displays’ Calman calibration software.

To test a TV’s overall brightness, we use various-sized white windows, including 10% and 100%. A 10% window provides a standardized indication of the peak brightness that can be expected, whereas 100% shows how consistently it can display a bright image such as a colorful video game. These tests also determine how a TV handles screen reflections, which is crucial for daytime gaming.

The color reproduction tests we make with both HDR and SDR sources are important to see how faithfully and accurately a TV can display source material, and they also indicate the maximum color gamut available. We additionally test for grayscale accuracy, looking at how consistently a TV tracks gray tones on the screen from black to white.

We aim to keep conditions consistent across our tests, but it’s worth noting that some writer setups do vary. We always strive, however, to use equivalent equipment and procedures so our results are comparable across TVs.

You can read more in-depth about how we test TVs at TechRadar at that link, and in particular for this guide, how we test TV input lag.

Other TVs we've tested

Hisense U8N: A super-bright, feature-packed mini-LED TV, the Hisense U8N comes with a good stock of gaming features at an affordable price (though it's better priced in the US than anywhere else). While it is a superb TV, the Samsung Q80D and Hisense U7N are cheaper, and have a great list of gaming features in their own right. But, as you can read in our Hisense U8N review, it's still a fantastic TV.

LG G4: The LG G4 is a premium OLED TV that delivers a premium gaming experience with a full stock of features across four HDMI 2.1 ports. Its MLA OLED panel means it delivers phenomenal brightness for an OLED, and its detail, contrast and color are incredible, too. While it's a superb TV, we preferred the Samsung S95D overall as the best TV for 'Super-bright OLED' as it delivers not only higher peak and fullscreen brightness, but its OLED Glare Free screen makes it perfect for daytime gaming. However, if you want Dolby Vision gaming support, read our LG G4 review, because the G4 carries that feature.

TCL QM851G: The TCL has spectacular brightness levels that make it a great option for brighter room gaming, but the Samsung QN90D is our choice due to its superior processing and wider range of size options (the QM851G starts at 65-inch). Make no mistake, as our TCL QM851G review says, this TV still delivers excellent picture quality, sound and a good number of gaming features so is still one for consideration. (Note that this is a US-only TV – the closest UK/Europe equivalent is the TCL C855)

Philips OLED809/OLED909: Philips' OLED TVs strongest weapon and most unique factor is their Ambilight feature, a series of lights around the TV that project colors onto the wall behind. This adds a truly unique layer to gaming that make things feel even bigger and more immersive, plus both sets are stacked with gaming features and deliver amazing picture quality and sound. Unfortunately, they're only available in the UK and they don't quite offer the same value and performance ratio that the LG C4 does, especially because they only have two HDMI 2.1 ports each. However, read our Philips OLED809 review and our Philips OLED909 review if you like the idea of a TV that feels much bigger than it is.

Panasonic Z95A: The Panasonic Z95A is a fantastic flagship OLED TV that not only delivers exceptional picture quality, but unparalleled sound that's immersive and expansive. It also makes for a great gaming TV with 4K 144Hz, VRR and Dolby Vision gaming. But, it doesn't quite match up the Samsung S95D or LG C4 in terms of OLED gaming performance and value – again, especially because it has only two HDMI 2.1 ports. But that sound may make up for it, as our Panasonic Z95A review digs into.

Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED: A budget-friendly, QLED TV, the Amazon Omni QLED carries a decent amount of gaming features, incluidng VRR, ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming support and while it may be limited to 4K, 60Hz, we found in our Amazon Omni QLED review that "gaming performance is surprisingly good for a cheaper TV" and that its picture quality is colorful, natural and detailed for the price. While it is a good budget TV, the Hisense U6N takes its spot on the list as it offers mini-LED and more gaming features for only a fractional amount more.

TCL C855: A UK-specific model, the TCL C855 is an excellent mini-LED TV that has a great stock of gaming features, including 4K, 120Hz, VRR, ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming all included. It also delivers effective local dimming that results in superb contrast and black levels as well as bright and colorful picture quality. It doesn't quite make the list as the Samsung Q80d offers a more complete gaming experience, but find out more about this brilliant TV in our TCL C855 review.

Hisense 110UX: A big screen gaming experience like no other, the massive 110-inch Hisense UX has a solid list of gaming features and the performance to match. It also has great picture quality and a decent sound system, as we discovered in our Hisense 110UX review. You'll just first have to get over the shock of its price ($15,000!).

Panasonic Z85A: A mid-range OLED with much to offer, the Z85A's good list of gaming features matches up to other rival OLEDs, as we noted in our Panasonic Z85A review. The Z85A has a detailed picture with powerful contrast, but it is pricier than rival OLEDs such as the LG B4 and LG C4.

The latest updates to this best gaming TVs guide

24 October 2025
Swapped the LG C4 for the new LG C5 as our 'best gaming TV for most people' based on our recent testing and review.

14 July 2025
Swapped the Samsung QN90D for the Samsung QN90F for best for bright rooms as the latter features and anti-reflection screen and higher brightness levels.

6 May 2025
Swapped the Samsung S95D for the LG G5 as 'best super-bright OLED' for the latter's superior brightness levels.

10 March 2025
Added in a gallery of images for each entry on this list. Added more models we've tested to our Other TVs we've tested section.

14 February 2025
Added in the Hisense U6N as 'best cheap gaming TV'. Added in a section explaining PS5 and Xbox Series X specific features. Added Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED and TCL C855 to Also Consider section.

17 January 2025
Added a section discussing new gaming TVs we are expecting in 2025 that could be added to this list.

23 December 2024
Moved the LG C4 to become the best overall gaming TV as stock of the Samsung S90C runs out. We also introduced an Also Consider section with information about other sets that didn't make the list.

25 November 2024
Added in Buy it if boxes for each entry, explaining two reasons to buy and avoid each TV on this list

14 November 2024
Added a Black Friday TV deals section, explaining the deals we're likely to see on the TVs from this guide.

18 October 2024
Replaced the Sony A80L with the Sony Bravia 8, and the LG B3 with the LG B4, based on our testing.

19 September 2024
Replaced the Samsung QN90C with the Samsung QN90D as 'best for bright rooms'.

20 August 2024
Replaced the Samsung Q80C with the Samsung Q80D for 'best budget gaming TV (UK)

23 July 2024
Added the Sony Bravia 9 as 'best elite TV for PS5'

28 June 2024
Removed Amazon Omni QLED as 'best cheap TV'. Removed Hisense U8K as 'best cheaper 120Hz TV in the US'. Samsung Q80C became 'best budget (UK)' instead of 'best cheaper 120Hz gaming TV in the UK'. Added Hisense U7N as 'best budget (US)'.

3 June 2024
Replaced the LG C3 with the LG C4 as "The best for size options" due to improved picture brightness and gaming features.

3 May 2024
Replaced the Samsung S95C with the S95D as best super bright OLED, thanks to anti-reflection tech and higher peak brightness levels.

28 March 2024
Added test result charts for all TVs, to make them easier to compare.

27 February 2024
Added to the 'How We Test' section with a more in-depth breakdown of how our testing of the TV in this list works.

24 January 2024
Updated the FAQ's section with 'What new gaming TVs are coming in 2024?' discussing some of the latest models we're keeping our eyes on.

15 December 2023
Replaced Samsung Q80B with Samsung Q80C for 'best cheaper 120Hz (UK)' due to stock levels.

6 October 2023
Added the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED as best cheap gaming TV, Hisense U8K and Samsung Q80B became 'best budget 120Hz gaming TV' for US and UK respectively. LG B3 replaced LG B2 for best budget OLED due to stock levels. Swapped Samsung QN85B for Samsung QN90C as best for bright rooms, due to low stock levels, and the Hisense matching the QN85B for brightness.

22 August 2023
Added the Samsung S90C as our new number one recommendation, based on our review and discussion of its merits compared to the LG C3. Added the LG C3 as the best option with a broad range of sizes. Replaced the Sony A80K with the newer Sony A80L.

13 July 2023
Checked all products against our latest reviews.

26 June 2023
Added this 'latest updates' section, to help readers see what recent changes have been made. Checked the products in the list against our latest reviews.

20 April 2023
Changed the structure of the guide to make it easier to find particular models that suit different needs, and to navigate to those models. Added Samsung S95C to the list, and removed some models.

6 March 2023
Updated the list to reflect current TV options, including adding the Samsung QN95B.

Today’s TVs offer dramatically better picture quality compared to ones you could buy as little as three years ago, with significant improvements in brightness, high dynamic range, motion processing, and even built-in sound.

With so many good TVs on the market, the main challenge with TV buying, as I see it, is finding the one that suits your particular budget level and use case. Are you a movie fan who wants a TV that can deliver a picture exactly as a director intended? Or maybe you’re a sports fan who wants a TV that will look good even with your room lights turned on.

My intent with this guide is to feature TVs that provide the best fit for specific purposes, and to present options that suit a range of budgets at different sizes. If you're wondering about other TVs not featured in my list, you’ll be able to read about those, and the reasons why they didn’t make the cut, in the Also Consider section of this guide.

Why you can trust me and TechRadar

At TechRadar, TVs are tested on-site, by our TV review team led by me – I'm an ISF-trained video calibrator with 20-plus years of AV product-testing experience.

I have trained our staff reviewers to use industry-standard testing equipment to measure parameters such as TV brightness and color accuracy, and to balance them with subjective aspects of picture and sound quality, because measurements can only take you so far in determining a TV’s overall performance.

Our evaluation process goes beyond just picture quality to encompass features, audio, gaming performance, and overall value. Ratings are provided for various sections in our tests, and measurement graphs that also feature comparable TVs, so you can see how well – or not – a TV fares against its competition to aid your decision-making.

TechRadar has been conducting product tests for 17 years and reviews more than 1,300 products per year. My team alone reviews on average 35 TVs each year, and that includes everything from budget 32-inch models to 100-inch-plus size TVs.

The best TVs, listed

The best TV for most people

If pressed to choose a single TV that fits every viewing need, from movies to sports to gaming, I would select the LG C5. This TV has the high-level of picture quality and features one would expect from a more expensive TV, but it delivers that at a more affordable, mid-range price.

The main benefit of the LG C5 is its OLED display panel. When I’ve viewed movies and TV on the C5, the rich, detailed shadows and powerful contrast that LG’s OLED tech uniquely delivers gave the picture a stunningly realistic quality. Gaming on the C5 is also a thrill, with the TV’s smooth, lag-free performance during fast-paced battle sequences creating a vivid sense of immersion.

On the features front, LG’s new Alpha 9 Gen 8 AI Processor in the C5 brings a modest picture brightness boost over its LG C4 predecessor. The C5 also features a 2.2-channel, 40W Dolby Atmos speaker array, and it can be counted on to deliver reasonably punchy sound with clear dialogue.

LG’s latest-gen smart TV platform, webOS 25, introduces a bevy of AI-enhanced features for content searching and automated picture and sound setup. When we reviewed the C5, we appreciated how the updated smart interface can be personalized for different household members, with a new Voice ID feature automatically switching to customized settings. Another standout webOS feature is LG’s Quick Menu, which allows for easy onscreen access to a range of TV adjustments as the program you’re watching remains visible in the background.

While it does just about everything well, the C5 stands out as a gaming TV. Input lag is an impressively low 9.2ms, and all four of its HDMI ports support 4K 144Hz, Dolby Vision gaming, FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync. You can also play cloud-based gaming apps on the C5, with great options such as Xbox, Amazon Luna, and Nvidia GeForce Now.

The C5 really earns its designation as the best overall TV by doing many things right, and doing it at a reasonable price compared to premium OLED TVs.

Read our full LG C5 review

LG C5 test results

• ^ Back to the top

The best TV under $500

When friends ask me to recommend a good, cheap TV, my go-to is the Roku Plus Series. Plus Series TVs are the mid-range offering in Roku’s TV lineup, and they strike a sweet spot between performance and value.

Much of that performance comes from the Roku Plus Series’ mini-LED backlight, which is a rare feature at this price point. Combined with the TV’s QLED display panel, this creates pictures with strong contrast, detailed blacks, and rich colors. Yes, plenty of other TVs can deliver those picture-quality advantages, but the 55-inch Plus Series model does so at an under-$500 price point.

Another big Roku Plus Series benefit is its appealingly simple smart TV interface. I’ve tested TVs from every major brand, and for me the Roku smart TV platform stands out by being visually uncluttered and easy to navigate. Roku TVs can do all manner of things, from searching content based on voice commands to controlling smart home devices like video doorbells and lights, but if you’re simply looking to get to the apps and shows you want to watch, few TVs make it this easy.

With a standard 60Hz refresh rate instead of the 120Hz rate preferred by Xbox series X and PlayStation 5 gamers, the Plus Series provides just average gaming specs. However, an Auto Game Mode kicks in when a gaming console input is selected, and the TV’s measured 11.5ms input lag is impressively low for a TV at this price, resulting in smooth and responsive gaming.

Otherwise, Roku Plus Series TVs offer a good range of features, including both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high dynamic range support. When I reviewed the 55-inch Plus Series TV, I found the picture quality to be impressive for the price, making it a great budget TV option.

Read our full Roku Plus Series review

Roku Plus Series test results

• ^ Back to the top

The best TV under $1,000

Hisense TVs typically deliver outstanding picture quality for the price, and the Hisense U8QG is no exception. I was thoroughly impressed with U8QG’s picture when I reviewed it, but it also awarded it a rare five out of five star rating for value. If you want a fantastic TV but want to keep the budget to under $1,000 (the 55-inch model currently sells for that amount, and the 65-inch regularly drops below $1,000 during sales events), the Hisense U8QG is one I’d easily recommend.

What most impressed me about the U8QG is that its screen brightness rivals, and even beats, TVs that cost significantly more. Its mini-LED backlight’s precise local dimming control works well for high dynamic range images – both the Dolby Vision and HDR10+ formats are supported – making shadows look deep and bringing out fine detail in picture highlights. Colors also looked rich on the U8QG when I tested it, and its anti-reflection screen, along with its high brightness, makes it a good choice for daytime sports viewing.

The Hisense U8QG uses Google TV for streaming, and that smart TV platform provides benefits such as integration with a Google account for personalized recommendations and onscreen control of Google Home smart home devices. Gaming support includes 4K 165Hz, along FreeSync Premium Pro, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+ gaming across the TV’s three HDMI 2.1 ports.

When I tested the U8QG, I was less impressed with its 4.1.2-channel, 72W speaker array, which isn’t the equal of its excellent picture. It delivered clear dialogue and good immersion with movie soundtracks, but I found issues with the TV’s built-in subwoofer. Even so, with the money you’ll save buying the U8QG over a more expensive mini-LED TV, you’ll have enough left over to buy a good soundbar.

Read our full Hisense U8QG review

Hisense U8QG test results

• ^ Back to the top

The best cheap big-screen TV

I’m not usually prone to recommending you buy a brand’s top model when splurging on an ultra-big-screen TV, but I’m also not going to suggest you buy the cheapest model just to make the purchase somewhat affordable, because the results won't be great. What makes the TCL QM6K special is that it's the least expensive TCL TV with a mini-LED backlight, a feature that, in my experience, helps immensely to improve picture brightness and contrast, especially at large sizes.

The QM6K series is available in screen sizes up to 98 inches, with the 85-inch model regularly discounted to under $1,000, and the 98-inch model priced just above $2,000. Those are fantastic prices for a big-screen TV with this level of picture quality.

The QM6K is also feature-packed compared to other budget big-screen TVs I’ve tested. Along with its mini-LED backlight, it supports both the Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats and is IMAX Enhanced. The QM6K uses the Google TV smart TV platform for streaming and also has hands-free voice control using Google Assistant.

Sound quality of the QM6K’s built-in speakers is just average, but when you’re going with a screen this big, I’d normally recommend upgrading it with one of the best soundbars. When TechRadar reviewed it, we found gaming to be a treat on the QM6K, which supports up to 4K 144Hz VRR (with Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync) and 288Hz at 1080p resolution.

I can’t think of a better big-screen value than the TCL QM6K. You can get a brighter and somewhat better picture by buying one of the company’s pricier series, such as the TCL QM8K, but I’m confident that many people will be happy with the picture put out by the QM6K, and they’re sure to be happy about the price.

Read our full TCL QM6K review

TCL QM6K test results

• ^ Back to the top

The best OLED TV for bright rooms

When I first laid eyes on the Samsung S95F, I knew that Samsung had created something special: an OLED TV with a bright-enough picture to compete with mini-LED TVs. The S95F’s bright picture and its Samsung OLED Glare Free screen, a tech that proved very effective at eliminating screen glare in bright rooms when we reviewed it, combine to make this a TV that can do double duty for movie watching and sports viewing.

Now on its second generation, the Glare Free screen used in the S95F not only eliminates distracting mirrored reflections, but it’s also able to maintain the strong contrast and deep black levels that OLED TV fans like myself appreciate about OLED display tech. Beyond that, Samsung’s NQ4 AI Gen 3 processor for the S95F brings a range of AI-based enhancements to improve detail, upscaling, and motion handling, and it can even upscale standard dynamic range content to high dynamic range, making all manner of pictures look good.

Samsung’s Tizen smart TV interface is one of the best around, and it sees several enhancements in the S95F. The main one is the addition of homepage hubs for gaming and productivity apps, along with an Ambient portal that lets you subscribe to the $5/monthly Samsung Art Store to access up to 3,000-plus artworks to display when the TV is in standby mode. A new quick menu also provides easy access to frequently used picture adjustments and user settings on the TV.

Gaming is another S95F highlight. It features Samsung’s Gaming Hub, which houses apps from Xbox, Nvidia GeForce Now and others, and provides four HDMI ports that support 4K165Hz, FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM and HDR10+ gaming . A built-in 4.2.2 channel, 70W speaker array delivers clear dialogue, and Samsung’s Object Tracking Sound+ system ensures that sound effects accurately track the onscreen action.

As Samsung’s flagship OLED TV, the S95F doesn’t come cheap, but if you’re like me, you want a TV that’s great for both movies and sports, and the S95F is that TV. Also, with its sleek, razor-thin design and Samsung Art Store compatibility, it’s the closest a TV can come to being a work of art.

Read our full Samsung S95F review

Samsung S95F test results

• ^ Back to the top

The best TV for sports viewing

If you’re a sports fan, your viewing needs will be well served by the Samsung QN90F. When I reviewed the QN90F, I was impressed with how good its picture looked when viewing sports in both bright and dim viewing conditions. Much of that had to do with this flagship Samsung mini-LED TV’s high brightness, but another aspect was its Glare Free screen, which virtually eliminated any reflections from my room’s overhead lights and lamps.

High brightness and glare reduction aren’t the only things that contribute to the QN90F’s excellent picture. A Wide Viewing Angle feature makes pictures look uniformly good from any seat in the house. And there’s also Samsung’s excellent AI-enhanced motion processing, which, in combination with its high refresh rate screen, makes fast action plays look solid and blur-free and eliminates the “vanishing ball” effect that lesser TVs can be subject to when displaying sports.

Other features that add to the QN90F’s appeal are a 4.2.2-channel Dolby Atmos speaker that delivers clean, well-defined sound and a built-in ATSC 3.0 tuner to receive NextGen digital TV broadcasts in the US. The QN90F has an almost impossibly slim and appealing design, and it comes with Samsung’s rechargeable SolarCell remote, which powers itself by absorbing available light.

Samsung TVs are among the best for gaming, and the QN90F features four HDMI ports that support 4K 165Hz, FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM and HDR10+ gaming. And don’t worry if you don’t have a gaming console, because the TV’s Gaming Hub houses Xbox, Nvidia GeForce Now, and many other cloud-gaming apps.

You’ll pay more for the Samsung QN90F than you would for many competing mini-LED TVs, but if you’re looking for the best TV for sports, and one that’s also fantastic for gaming and movies, you couldn’t do better. I gave the QN90F an overall rating of five out of five stars when I reviewed it, and was genuinely sad to see it go once I finished my testing.

Read our full Samsung QN90F review

Samsung QN90F test results

• ^ Back to the top

Comparison charts for the best TVs

We measure the objective performance of TVs using as part of our testing process, using these figures to help us make a judgment on the picture quality that we're seeing. The following measurements were all taken by our labs or testers, using professional-level equipment and software.

You shouldn't judge a TV based solely on test numbers, but it can be useful to make quick comparisons between them while decided what to buy, so here are the results for all the TVs we rate here together.

First is brightness, measured using both HDR and SDR video, in small areas and fullscreen (which makes a big difference).

Here are our test results for measuring how close the TVs come to supporting 100% of the P3 color range, which is used for HDR video. The BT.2020 range is also used in pro video work, but is less important in general use.

Input lag is the time from when an image enters the TVs HDMI port, to when it appears on-screen. This is important for gaming, because you want action to happen immediately after you press the button, not with a delay. We measure it using a piece of specialist equipment that rapid-fires a blinking image on the screen, and detects the delay.

More TVs to consider

This buying guide reflects only a sample of TVs that TechRadar has recently tested. Here are several other TVs worthy of your consideration, with a description of product highlights and an explanation of why they didn't make the cut for this particular guide.