In the same way flip phones have been phased out in favor of smartphones, you'd be hard-pressed to find a TV that isn't smart. In case you're unfamiliar, smart TVs grant you easy access to thousands of streaming apps, so you can watch your favorite shows and movies at any time — whether they're on Amazon Prime, Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, or everything in between. Most allow you to cast content from your smartphone straight to the big screen, and some even pack games and apps for streaming music.
You can feel confident knowing that our picks offer the best picture and audio quality — and come with all the ports you could possibly need for your video game consoles and home theater system.
The biggest factor in your smart TV buying decision will likely be its screen size. Screens are measured diagonally from corner to corner. Most folks would agree that bigger is better, since the larger the screen, the more immersive the TV. However, a big TV won’t do you much good if you don’t have room for it. Larger screens are best watched from farther back. The recommended viewing distance is 1.5 times the screen height — so for a 55-inch TV, you should be 3.3 feet away. This translates to 3.9 feet away for a 65-inch TV, and 4.6 feet away for a 75-inch option.
Resolution
This refers to the number of pixels that compose your TV’s picture. Small TVs (around 32-inches) typically have a 720p resolution. A number of affordable televisions have 1080p resolutions (1,920 x 1,080 pixels), but we recommend buying a ticket that has a 4K or Ultra HD resolution. 4K TVs have 3,840 x 2,160 pixels, meaning they have four times as many pixels as 1080p HDTVs. Images are much more detailed. It’s worth mentioning that some manufacturers sell 8K TVs, but 8K content is still not readily available, and 8K TVs are pretty expensive, too — between $2,000 and $8,000.
Refresh Rate
This figure is expressed in Hertz (Hz). It tells you how many times per second a new frame can be put on the screen. 60 Hz TVs refresh the display image 60 times each second. A higher refresh rate makes for a smoother motion for live sports and video games. We recommend shopping for TVs with 120 Hz refresh rates.
HDR
This stands for high dynamic range, and it makes compatible content look a lot more vibrant than non-HDR footage. There are three HDR content standards — Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG. The best TVs support all three.
Panel Type
Just like back in the day when you had to decide on an LCD or plasma display, now, you have to pick from an organic, light-emitting diode display (OLED), liquid crystal display (LCD), a quantum dot LED TV (QLED), or a MicroLED panel. It's worth mentioning that OLEDs can’t get as bright as LCD, LED, or QLED TVs, so they are more susceptible to reflections in bright rooms. However, these other panel types can’t achieve the same black levels as OLED TVs do, since they rely on a backlight. The gist is this: If you plan to use a TV in a bright room, we recommend shopping for a QLED TV. But if you want the best possible image quality, you should get an OLED TV.
Operating System
Similar to shopping for a smartphone and deciding between Android (Google) or iOS (Apple) operating systems, smart TVs run different operating systems, too. Sony TVs run Google TV, Samsung TVs use an OS called Tizen, LG models us webOS, and TCL and Hisense TVs use either Roku TV or Google TV. Amazon’s Fire TV OS is also on Toshiba and Insignia TVs. We prefer Google TV and Roku TV to other operating systems, since they are more intuitive and not as ad-filled.
HDMI Ports
We recommend shopping for a TV with at least three HDMI ports, but four is even better. HDMI ports are the jacks that you’ll plug external devices into, like video game consoles, streaming devices, or Blu-ray players. If you game a lot or are an audiophile, you should shop for a TV with HDMI 2.1 ports. HDMI 2.1 has more bandwidth, so it supports higher frame rates and higher resolution audio.
If you’re ready to make the upgrade to a smart TV, we’ve found the best options for every budget.
Editor's Note: Sony announced this TV's successor, the Sony BRAVIA XR X90K, at CES 2022. The newer model's price and retail availability will be announced later this spring.
If you're looking for a best-in-class, HDR-compatible smart TV that offers a truly incredible, lifelike picture and stellar audio, look no further than this one from Sony. It uses Google TV as its platform, which has an easy-to-use interface and packs all your favorite streaming apps. The TV also has Chromecast and AirPlay 2, so content can be cast from your smartphone or tablet directly to the TV.
This option is an extremely sharp-looking and feature-filled model with excellent picture quality, whether you're watching TV or a movie, or playing video games. Still, it's pricier than most other TVs unless you opt for a smaller size.
If Sony’s BRAVIA XR X90J smart TV is a little out of reach for your budget, the Hisense U7G is an outstanding TV that stretches your dollar further and finds the perfect balance between price and performance. It packs a 120 Hz LCD panel that’ll make images look stellar and smooth for all scenarios — be it gaming, binging TV shows, or watching a movie.
What separates the Hisense from other budget-friendly TVs like the TCL 6 Series is its inclusion of not one, but two HDMI 2.1 inputs. This means the TV is more futureproof, since it’s compatible with the latest video game consoles. If you’re looking for an HDR-compatible smart TV with high brightness, vibrant colors, and an easy-to-use interface under $1,000, this is the one to buy.
The TCL 32S327 features a sleek design, a 32-inch 1080p display panel, and a built-in Roku streaming player. The latter allows the TV to stream content from popular services such as Amazon, HBO, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and ESPN.
If you prefer Google TV, you should opt for the TCL 3-Series, which has a lower 720p resolution and one less HDMI port. The 32S327 has three HDMI ports, and can play media files from a USB stick. Of course, users can purchase new movies directly from the device, since it has Wi-Fi connectivity.
Available Screen Sizes: 32, 43, 55, 65, and 75 inches
Panel Type: QLED
Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
HDMI Ports: 4
Editor's Note: Samsung announced this TV's successor at CES 2022. The newer model, which has the same name, has an improved display that isn't as reflective and not as susceptible to glare. Samsung has yet to announce pricing and availability, but we expect to know more in the coming months.
When you're not watching a show or movie, this TV can display hundreds of gorgeous works of art, as well as your personal photos.
Users have the option to change the TV's wood frame to better match their home decor. The Frame also comes bundled with Samsung's brand-new, no-gap wall mount, so it sits flush against your wall.
When it comes to picture quality, the Frame features a full HD or 4K resolution, depending on how large of a screen you opt for. If you want a unique television that is unlike any other and better blends in with your decor, you can’t go wrong with the Frame.
This smart TV delivers a phenomenal picture despite its low price. It supports HDR, which produces a bright, lifelike image that's full of color.
Not only that, it has a true 120 Hz panel and mini LED backlighting, which means it provides a bright picture even in well-lit rooms. It's biggest downside is that it isn't equipped with a HDMI 2.1 port, which is convenient to have if you own a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X console.
The TCL TV runs Roku. Its remote lets you search for shows or movies with just your voice, and it has hot keys for all your favorite streaming apps. We think that this TV from TCL is an excellent value considering its superb picture, slew of smart features, numerous ports, and ease of use.
Editor's Note: LG announced its latest lineup of TVs at CES 2022. However, LG hasn't announced any new models as part of its Nano Cell series.
This gorgeous 4K LED TV from LG runs the tech giant's latest webOS platform, which streams video from all major services, including Disney+. LG's Channel app grants access to more than 100 free premium internet channels, too.
The TV uses a “Magic Remote” that — when pointed at your screen — tracks your arm movements, so you can quickly and easily make your selections.
It also has Alexa and the Google Assistant built right in, so you can use voice commands to change channels, pause, and search for content. It's an awesome HDR-compatible TV that packs plenty of ports, including four HDMI and three USB ports, along with an eARC jack. It even has Apple's AirPlay 2 tech onboard.
This TV's massive display delivers one of the brightest pictures in the business. It supports up to 1,200 nits of brightness, making it a great option to use in a room with lots of windows. The TV features quantum dots for a wider color gamut, and has 200 local dimming zones to improve its black levels and contrast performance.
Whether you want to use it for movie watching, TV viewing, or gaming, this model is a jack of all trades. It runs Vizio's SmartCast platform, which gives users quick and easy access to a wide selection of apps from Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, and more.
Available Screen Sizes: 48, 55, 65, 77, and 83 inches
Panel Type: OLED
Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
HDMI Ports: 4
Editor's Note: LG announced this TV's successor, the LG C2, at CES 2022. The newer model's price and retail availability will be announced later this year.
If you have deep pockets and image quality is the most important characteristic for you when shopping for a smart TV, you can't go wrong with the LG C1. It offers much deeper black shades and truer colors than its LCD and LED counterparts, which give a truly breathtaking picture.
This gorgeous 4K Ultra HD TV supports HDR10 plus Dolby Vision content, and it's equipped with all the latest smart features and plenty of ports (you get four HDMI and three USB). It's also one of the few TVs that's equipped with Dolby Atmos speakers to provide a much more immersive audio experience.
Available Screen Sizes: 43, 50, 55, 65, 75, and 85 inches
Panel Type: QLED
Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
HDMI Ports: 4
This 4K Samsung TV is an excellent choice for gamers because of its superb motion handling and low input lag. We think that it's one of the nicest-looking big-screen TVs you can buy, thanks to its slim bezels, top-notch brightness, and ambient mode that allows the TV to seamlessly blend in with any wall decor while not in use.
The TV supports HDR content — but doesn't do Dolby Vision. It packs four HDMI ports for your consoles, and it even has Amazon's virtual assistant Alexa built right in. Since it uses Mini LED backlighting, it produces a sharp picture. The TV runs Samsung's Tizen smart platform for downloading your favorite streaming apps.
Brandon CarteSenior Electronics EditorBrandon Carte has been the technology editor at BestProducts.com since 2017, where he's been covering the latest gadgets and scouring the internet for the greatest deals; His tech reporting has been featured on TopTenReviews.com and USA Today.
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