Honorable Mentions
There are so many good TVs available, we can’t add them all to our top list. Here are some great options that either missed the cut or got knocked off our top list by their replacements.
Hisense U7: Hisense’s latest U7 series TV is the brightest TV in its class, with blazing punch for baseline SDR video and high-end 4K HDR Blu-rays. If you don’t need all that power, it’s easy enough to tame, and most importantly, it’s balanced by stark contrast thanks to tight blooming control. You’ll also get vibrant quantum dot colors and a uniform screen that steers clear of unsightly blotches for an overall picture that goes beyond what we expect at this level. The Hisense U75QG stacks up the features, including every major HDR format, and HDMI 2.1 support for top-line gaming features across all four HDMI ports—something even some flagship TVs lack. Like most TVs at this level, it’s got a few flaws, including mediocre off-axis performance and an odd Disney Plus streaming issue (which Hisense claims to be fixing), but you can’t beat the price for this kind of knock-your-socks-off performance.
Panasonic Z95B: The Panasonic Z95B is one of the best-performing TVs I’ve ever tested. The follow-up to last year’s Z95A utilizes LG’s breakthrough RGB tandem panel to brilliant effect, providing stunning brightness, perfect black levels, and colors so striking and realistic you’ll find yourself staring at inane details even in HD sitcoms. One of the traits that really makes this TV special is how naturally it renders lighting and shadow detail, letting you virtually feel the season or even the time of day in a properly lit scene as if you were there.
Sony Bravia 5: Sony’s Bravia 5 QLED TV doesn’t offer the brightest punch or best blooming control in its class, but its mini-LED backlighting does a solid job at both, while Sony’s excellent picture processing spiffs up everything you watch. This leads to impressive detail and a cinematic touch that outclasses plenty of similarly priced models, especially noticeable for Blu-rays or high-quality streaming via Sony Pictures Core. The Bravia 5’s gaming features are solid, with two ports offering HDMI 2.1 support for 4K gaming in VRR at up to 120Hz, and Google TV makes navigation intuitive. This won’t be your top option for bright rooms, but those who appreciate the kind of clarity upon which Sony stakes its name, the Bravia 5 is an affordable way to grab it.
Sony Bravia 8 II: Sony’s top OLED for 2025 once again transfixed me with its beautifully immersive picture. Replacing the bewitching A95L, the oddly dubbed Bravia 8 II adds some sweet new skills, including higher HDR brightness courtesy of Samsung’s most advanced QD-OLED panel yet. This TV is a dazzler, offering natural yet vivid colors, near-perfect screen uniformity, and perhaps the best picture processing I’ve ever evaluated, rendering 4K and even HD scenes so clearly you’ll feel like they’re going to spill into your living room. Lighter black levels and lower peak brightness than the knockout LG G5 are its main downsides, along with Sony’s miserly distribution of just two full-bandwidth HDMI ports. Otherwise, this is a regal experience with a kingly cost.
Sony Bravia 9: You may think your current premium TV is bright enough, but Sony’s masterful Bravia 9 QLED TV begs to differ. Its powerful mini-LED backlighting system is wonderfully punchy, while maintaining excellent light control. Add in Sony’s prized picture processing for vivid detail and vibrant yet restrained quantum dot colors, and you get a stunningly realistic viewing experience across content.
Samsung QN90D: The Samsung QN90D isn’t the brightest TV in its class, but its still-fiery mini-LED backlight system outshines similarly priced OLEDs, combining with its stealthy anti-reflection tech for fabulous performance in the full light of day. It adds full and natural colors, premium picture processing, and oily black levels for a killer way to waste a good Sunday watching basketball, especially now that its price has dropped dramatically.
Hisense U8QG: The U8QG is a great buy at its lowest price (around $1,000 for a 65-inch model) and a solid pick above that price, especially if you want eye-searing brightness above all else. I noticed some SDR color accuracy issues (some images looked way too red) and found it difficult to keep it from wildly over-brightening some content. Thankfully, you can always turn it down, and its nuclear power plant is paired with excellent black levels, deep contrast, and plenty of features. I actually prefer last year’s similarly punchy U8N, but it’s getting harder to find in stock.
TCL QM7K: I’ve had a love/hate relationship with the QM7K. Part of TCL’s new Precise Dimming series, its opulent black levels and contrast reach toward OLED heights, matched by good brightness for some spectacular moments. The problem? My review model’s colors were off-kilter, with an odd green tint in select black and grayscale content. Thankfully, I confirmed that TCL’s latest firmware update fixed the issue. The TV’s picture processing and colors still don’t catch premium TVs, and this is the second year in a row I’ve found a troubling performance issue with the QM7. You shouldn’t buy it at full price, but if you can get the 65-inch model for $1,000 or less, it’s a pretty enticing choice.
Samsung S90D (2024): Samsung’s S90D QD-OLED is still a great value, with a similar design to the latest S90F and only slightly lower brightness. The new model is the better buy at this point, but if you can find the previous model on a killer sale, I wouldn’t think twice.
Samsung S95D (2024): Samsung’s previous S95 matte-screen marvel is still a fabulous QD-OLED TV that would be adored in virtually any TV room. We like the newer version better, which begs fewer compromises when it comes to deep black levels, but if you can find the previous version on a killer deal, you won’t be sorry.
Hisense U7N (2024): If you’re after a TV at similar pricing to the QM6K but with some extra eye tingle, Hisense’s 2024 U7N offers a serious brightness boost over our top pick and still ranks among our favorite options for your money. Its blooming control and screen uniformity aren’t as refined as the QM6K’s but it’s got plenty of features, including great gaming credentials and a streamlined Google TV interface. It’s still a great buy while stock lasts, especially at $700 or less.
Sony A95L: Sony finally replaced this sweet screen with the 2025 Bravia 8 II, which offers similarly incredible picture processing and upscaling alongside enhanced colors and higher HDR brightness. That shouldn’t deter you from considering the A95L (9/10, WIRED Recommends) at a lower price. With fabulously immersive image quality and an intuitive Google TV interface, this is a premium package that’s very enticing on a good sale.
Sony Bravia 7: The Bravia 7 is a gorgeous display, offering brilliant brightness, naturalistic colors, and suave finesse in the subtle details. Its biggest knock is very poor off-axis viewing, which could be tough to swallow at its high list price. Otherwise, it’s worth considering for fans of that Sony glow, especially since Sony seems to be discounting its best QLED TVs much more liberally than its OLED models.
Other TVs We’ve Tested
Samsung The Frame Pro: I put the Frame Pro through our full review process and came away both in limbo due to software issues and (so far) unimpressed with the performance. The matte screen looks slick when displaying art, especially if you purchase one of the add-on frames (a frame for the Frame?) from Samsung or Deco TV Frames. Picture performance was otherwise middling at best. It’s much brighter than the traditional Frame, and the colors pop, but its edge-lit mini-LED system does not look good with dark 4K HDR content, even in the day. Moreover, I had trouble with its very sluggish operating system (which others have reported) and stuttering Blu-ray playback. We’re awaiting a second model, which we hope relieves the software issues, but steer clear for now.
TCL QM7 (2024): There’s only one thing holding back 2024’s beautifully balanced QM7: a software glitch. During my review, I experienced an issue where adjusting SDR backlight levels affected HDR, which can lead to severe brightness limitations. While TCL fixed the issue in a firmware update for me, I never got confirmation on a broader OTA fix. Most folks probably won’t have this issue, so the QM7 is still worth considering, but make sure and check it before throwing out the box.
TVs We’re Testing Next
LG C5: The follow-up to our favorite OLED for most people looks primed to another top offering, even if our initial hands-on time with the TV didn’t reveal any major differences. We’ll be testing it shortly to see how it compares with the previous C4.
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