While there are a few very-expensive 8K TVs available, and some smaller budget TVs with full-HD resolution, nowadays most TVs that you can buy have a 4K resolution. 4K resolution just means the TV has a certain number of pixels, 3,840x2,160 to be exact, along with the ability to display 4K content from streaming services, 4K Blu-ray players and game consoles like the Xbox Series X and PS5. There's a lot more to picture quality than resolution, however, and factors like HDR performance, contrast, color accuracy, and peak brightness are more important than pixel counts. The best-performing TVs in our reviews excel in all of these areas.
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- Best 4K TV for 2025
- What are the best 4K TVs right now?
- Best 4K TVs in 2025
- Best 4K TV for most people
- Best OLED TV for the money
- Best 4K TV for picture quality
- Best gaming TV
- Best 4K TV under $500
- Other 4K TVs CNET has tested
- Factors to consider when choosing a 4K TV
- How CNET tests 4K TVs
- Brightness
- Best 4K TV FAQs
Read more: Best TVs of 2025
What are the best 4K TVs right now?
When it comes to TVs, there's no shortage of options to choose from -- both online and in-store. Whether you choose a new version or last year's (we still recommend 2024 TVs, if available, for the best value), the best 4K TV options encompass a wide variety of models at budget and premium prices. One of my favorite affordable 4K TV is the TCL QM8 (2024), which starts at less than $1,000. For a more premium pick, we love the LG OLED C4.
The following list represents the best 4K TVs that I've reviewed in CNET's test lab, where I compare them side by side.
Best 4K TVs in 2025
Pros
- Relatively affordable
- Excellent overall image quality
- Best-in-class brightness and contrast
- Capable Google TV system
Cons
- Not as accurate as some competitors
- Only available in 65-inch size and larger
Who is it best for: The TCL QM851 offers performance that approaches OLED but at a significant discount, making it suited to people want a great picture for the least amount of money.
Performance: TCL has topped our list of the best TVs for the last few years, but the latest 2024 TCL QM8 raises the bar even higher, especially for fans of 4K resolution. In my comparison tests, the QM8 distinguished itself with superior brightness and impact without sacrificing the deep contrast that is crucial for 4K viewing. This performance is largely thanks to its advanced mini-LED technology and effective full-array local dimming.
Overview: The TCL is great in a lot of ways, performance and affordability are at the top of the list, but if you're a gamer this may not be the best TV for you as it's a little slower than less-processing hungry TVs like the Roku Pro or Samsung DU7200.
Pros
- Better picture quality than any non-OLED TV we've tested
- Superior contrast and off-angle image
- Best-in-class gaming features
- Sleek styling with ultralight, thin panel
Cons
- Expensive
- Not as bright as higher-end OLED TVs
Who is it best for: The LG C4 series stands out as an excellent choice for 4K TV enthusiasts and home theater fans. It's suited to a host of different uses including streaming, gaming and sports, thanks to its ultra-clear picture.
Performance: The LG G4 offers better picture quality than any non-OLED TV on this list. The C4's perfect black levels and unmatched contrast enhance the depth and detail of 4K content, while its superb off-angle viewing ensures a great picture from almost any position in the room. Although it may not match the peak brightness of some mini-LED models, the C4 is still an incredible performer in all kinds of lighting, making it a versatile choice for any home.
Overview: This TV is capable of fine picture quality and has an attractive price compared to other OLEDs -- especially the 2025 models. While it's not the brightest TV out there the LG G4 represents excellent bang for buck.
Pros
- Best overall image quality we've tested
- Best-in-class glare reduction in a bright rooms
- Superior contrast and off-angle viewing
- Ultrathin panel with external input box
Cons
- Expensive
- Slightly diminished contrast in bright rooms
Who is it best for: If you're looking for the best possible picture and don't mind paying for it, the Samsung S95D stands out in the 4K OLED TV market. It's great for home theater fans, but is also suited for use in shared living areas due to its great performance in lit rooms.
Performance: The picture quality of the S95D is among the best you can get right now with saturated colors, excellent contrast and ultra-fine detail. Part of its success is due to its matte finish which nearly eliminates reflections, making it the best OLED TV for 4K viewing in brightly-lit rooms. While matte screens are common in non-OLED models, the S95D is the first time they've been available in an OLED TV, a display technology that has always delivered the best picture available for 4K viewing.
Overview: The Samsung S95D offers unparalleled 4K image quality, beating both the G4 and 2023's winner, the G3, as well as any other non-OLED TV. But it still costs a ton, and most people -- even those with bright rooms -- will be perfectly happy with a less expensive TV.
Pros
- It's relatively affordable
- Has a decent picture thanks to local dimming
- Great smart TV system
Cons
- Similarly-priced TVs from TCL and Hisense offer better picture
Who is it best for: The Roku Pro Series is, as the best 4K TVs are, a very versatile television with a great streaming suite, and the zippy responsiveness required by gamers. It's also affordable right now which makes it suited to bargain hunters.
Performance: The Roku adds a couple of step-up extras for 4K viewing, including QLED and full-array local dimming, which help deliver a better picture than the Roku Plus or Select. It may not have the best black levels, which means it's not for home theater fans, but colors are accurate and shadow detail is fine.
Overview: The Roku Pro is the best Roku-branded TV yet, and its currently on sale for a few hundred dollars less -- so it's great for people who want to save some money on a gaming TV with a great smart TV system. Look out for the updated Pro Series in the next few months, though, which Roku says is even better.
Pros
- The price is excellent
- The TV is capable of excellent black levels and shadow detail
- Plenty of streaming options
Cons
- The color can be a little desaturated
- Home theater fans will want to pay for a better TV
Who is it best for: Whether you're a gamer or just want a TV that will fit in the bedroom the Samsung DU7200 is a really good choice. It's got a pretty punchy picture for the money and plenty of streaming options.
Performance: The Samsung DU7200 is a TV that delivers a really good picture for an affordable price. The black levels and shadow detail are excellent for the money, and while my test unit looked a little desaturated out of the box that was easily fixed by adjusting the Color control. The TV has onboard streaming and the sound quality isn't too bad either.
Overview:In terms of the best bang-for-buck, one of the most impressive models has been the Samsung DU7200 If you're looking for a bedroom unit or a smaller gaming TV then the Samsung DU7200 is the model I would choose. Don't buy it if you're a stickler for image quality but for the price it's pretty great.
Two new Bravia TVs for 2025
David KatzmaierWith all of the TVs available today, and all of the technical terms and jargon associated with television technology, it can be tough to figure out what's important. Here's a quick guide to help cut through the confusion.
Picture quality: Broadly speaking, the type of display technology helps dictate how good a TV's picture quality is, but OLED is typically the best display technology, and this is followed by LCD (including QLED, and Mini LED). OLED tends to look the best because it doesn't need a backlight, and every pixel can be either on or off, leading to great black levels. In comparison, each LED in a backlight illuminates multiple pixels at a time so it isn't as precise -- it's not yet 1:1. Even so, look for full-array local dimming, mini-LED and 120Hz refresh rate, which (unlike some other extras) do help improve the picture in my experience. Additionally, if a TV uses Quantum Dots it often leads to better color performance, whether it's an OLED or an LCD.
Brightness: One of the biggest variables when buying a TV is how bright it can get. In general, LCD and LED tend to be the brightest types with up to 3,000 nits of brightness in my testing, which is very bright. As a comparison, HDR streaming on Netflix is usually capped at 1,000 nits, and this is enough for most people. Paying more for a TV usually means you're paying for a brighter picture, and 4K Blu-rays and consoles can make the most of this extra brightness.
Price: 4K TVs range in price from around $400 to more than $2,000. Smaller screens are cheaper, well-known brands are more expensive, and spending more money can also get you better image quality. Most entry-level TVs have a good enough picture for most people, but TVs last a long time, so it might be worth spending more to get a better picture. It's also best to shop for a TV in the fall when prices are lower.
Screen size: Bigger is better in our book. We recommend a size of at least 43 inches for a bedroom TV and at least 55 inches for a living room or main TV -- and 65 inches or larger is best. More than any other "feature," stepping up in TV screen size is the best use of your money. One of the most common post-TV-purchase complaints we've heard is from people who didn't go big enough. We rarely hear people complain that their TV is too large.
Features: Among entry-level 4K TVs, the most important feature is what kind of smart TV system the TV uses. Among midrange models, look for a feature including full-array local dimming, mini-LED and 120Hz refresh rate, which (unlike some other extras) do help improve the picture in our experience. Among high-end TVs, OLED technology is your best bet.
For more TV buying advice check out our page on how to buy a TV.
In every CNET TV review, I compare three or more similar TVs side by side in a dedicated, light-controlled test lab. With each review I employ a rigorous, unbiased evaluation process that has been honed in more than two decades of TV reviews. I test TVs with a combination of scientific measurements and real-world evaluations of TV, movies and gaming content.
To ensure I can evaluate the picture quality of every TV I employ the use of an AVPro Connect 8x8 4K HDR splitter so each one receives the same signal. I test the TVs using various lighting conditions playing different media, including 4K HDR movies and console games, across a variety of test categories, from color to video processing to gaming to HDR.
In order to measure each TV, I use specialized equipment to grade according to light output and color. My hardware includes a Konica Minolta CS-2000 spectroradiometer and a Murideo Six-G 4K HDR signal generator. I use Portrait Displays CalMan Ultimate software to evaluate every TV I review according to their brightness, black levels and color.
My reviews also account for such things as features, design, smart TV performance, connectivity including HDMI inputs and gaming compatibility.
Read more: How CNET tests TVs
One important aspect of image quality we test is overall brightness. Here's how it compares in nits across select TVs listed above.
We'll post the answers to commonly asked TV questions below. If you have any others, feel free to reach out on X (@dkatzmaier) or by clicking the three dots then the little envelope icon on my CNET profile page. Doing so will let you send a message straight to my inbox.
At this point, yes, they are. Almost all new TVs are 4K TVs, so the chance that your next set will be in 4K is highly likely. As of now, you can easily find TVs that are 43 inches and above with a 4K display. They come in many different sizes and prices and are unquestionably the type of TV that we recommend. There are still non-4K TVs on the market, but they tend to occur at either the high or low ends of the price/size spectrum. Smaller, cheaper TVs in the 32-inch class and smaller still tend to offer HD-only displays, while a few 8K TVs are available in large sizes with corresponding price points. We don't think 8K TVs are worth it right now, as there is little content available to take advantage of the technology. HD-only displays are fine for small rooms, but you will likely be able to get a 4K TV for a similar sale price.
Are 4K TVs good for gaming?
Yes, they are. All 4K TVs will be able to display games in 4K resolution, although high-end 4K TVs will have extra gaming perks like a Variable Refresh Rate and 4K/120 fps, which are features that are made to take advantage of the latest gaming consoles. Even cheaper models can make good gaming TVs as they have specialized modes that offer low input lag for console gaming.
Are there downsides to a 4K TV?
Not really. 4K TVs from reputable brands will generally offer a solid viewing experience. All 4K TVs come with some kind of smart TV system, and some are better than others. You might consider it a downside If you've wound up with a TV with a less-than-stellar smart system. Luckily, you can mitigate this problem by connecting a streaming device to any TV. At CNET, our favorite is Roku for its simplicity, but different systems like Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung and LG have different strengths, in particular for voice commands.
What size 4K TV should I buy?
How much should I spend on a 4K TV?
Prices vary widely by size and features, from less than $100 for basic 24-inch TVs to more than $2,000 for big OLED models. TVs last a long time, so we think it's worthwhile to spend a little extra beyond the bare minimum to get a bigger screen, better picture quality or better features. With that in mind, here are some ballpark prices that will get you a very good TV in 2024.
- 55-inch: $700
- 65-inch: $1,000
- 75-inch: $1,300
You could pay (much) more or less. The fact is, just about any TV will produce a picture decent enough to satisfy most viewers. Most complaints you read in user reviews aren't about picture quality. Instead, they're about ease of use, smart TV menus or sound (or a broken TV).
Which 4K TV is better, OLED or LED?
In our reviews, OLED TVs, which use organic light-emitting diode technology, have always had better picture quality than LED TVs, which are LCD TVs that use LED backlights. The main reason is that OLED TVs can produce a perfectly dark shade of black with no stray illumination of blooming, which leads to better contrast and pop. LED TVs can get brighter and usually cost less than OLED TVs.
What is the best 4K TV for streaming?
At CNET, our favorite is Roku for its simplicity, but different systems like Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung and LG have different strengths, in particular for voice commands. In any case, we don't consider the built-in smart TV system that important because you can always connect a streaming device to any TV.
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