These days just about every TV is a smart TV, which is why this list is basically the same as our main best TVs list. So what’s a smart TV, you ask? It’s a television that includes built-in streaming so you can watch TV shows and movies using your Internet connection, without needing a cable box or antenna (although you can still hook one up if you want). You’ll still need to connect your smart TV to Wi-Fi or a wired Ethernet cable, but once you do that, you won’t need anything else to enjoy Netflix, Disney Plus and all the best streaming apps.
Read more: Best Smart Home Gifts for 2024
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Our hands-on, side-by-side comparison reviews take smart TV systems into account, we think picture quality for the money is more important when buying a new TV. That’s because you can always “replace” the TV’s built-in system with a good streaming device, most of which cost less than $50. The exception is for budget TVs, where the price of the new streaming device can make up a significant percentage of the cost.
Our list below is generally arranged in order of which TVs provide the best picture for the money, but we also note how much we like (or dislike) the built-in smart TV system.Â
Our recommendations for the best smart TVs of 2024 are as follows, but you can also check out the best Black Friday TV deals and the best TVs for the holidays. Our roundup of the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales also offers deals on TVs and more.
What is the best smart TV right now?
After testing some of the best TVs this year, the TCL QM8 series (2024) sits at the top of the list for a couple of key reasons. It offers superb picture quality overall, all the features you need in a modern television — including 4K/120Hz input and variable refresh rate that can get the most out of consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X — and a relatively affordable price tag. Its smart TV system is Google TV, which is very good and has all the apps you need. When friends ask what TV to buy from 65 to 98 inches, we tell them the TCL QM8 series.
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There are plenty of other excellent choices, so although the QM8 is our current favorite for most people, it might not be right for your preferences or budget.
Best smart TVs in 2024
The main downside of the TCL QM8 is that it’s only available in large sizes (65 inches and up). If you’re looking for a 55-inch TV, I recommend the Hisense U8K instead. Note that prices shown here are for the 65-inch size in the QM8 series.
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TCL has topped our list of the best TVs for the last few years but the 2024 QM8 is even better than before. In our comparison tests it stood out with superior brightness and impact while still maintaining excellent contrast — a combination no other TV could match at this price. The key is mini-LED tech and well-implemented full-array local dimming. It also has a sleek design with a center-mount stand. The operating system is Google TV, which we don’t like as much as Roku TV, but it’s still a solid smart TV.
The main downside of the TCL QM8 is that it’s only available in large sizes (65 inches and up). If you’re looking for a 55-inch TV, I recommend the Hisense U8K instead. Note that prices shown here are for the 65-inch size in the QM8 series.
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If you’re looking for the best smart TV for your money and the TCL QM8 is just too big, the Hisense U8N should be your go-to. We compared the two 2024 TVs side-by-side, and while we liked the QM8 just a bit better, the U8K has one medium-size advantage: a 55-inch screen option. So if 65 is too large for your room, your budget or your taste, the choice between the two is simple: Get the 55-inch Hisense U8N.
Both offer excellent image quality and affordable prices, thanks to mini-LED backlights and full-array local dimming, as well as similar gaming features and the Google TV operating system. Both cost hundreds less than you’d have to pay to get similar image quality from a better-known brand.
Note that while I tested the 65-inch size in the U8K series, the prices shown here are for the 55-inch size.
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Note that TCL has been selling the 4-Series for the last few years with little to no change in image quality or features in our tests, although it has recently added some larger screen sizes, including an 85-inch option.
The prices shown are for the 55-inch size.
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The TCL 4-Series Roku TV offered picture quality that was just slightly behind the Vizio V-Series in our budget TV test. Its superior Roku smart TV system edged it ahead, earning the TCL the top spot on our list. The 4-Series lacks Dolby Vision, Bluetooth connectivity and AMD FreeSync with a variable refresh rate, all of which the Vizio offers, but in our book, superior smart TV streaming is more important at the budget level.
Note that TCL has been selling the 4-Series for the last few years with little to no change in image quality or features in our tests, although it has recently added some larger screen sizes, including an 85-inch option.
The prices shown are for the 55-inch size.
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The price shown below is for the 65-inch size.
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Competition among TVs in the middle pricing band is heating up, and the Plus Series is the latest entrant. Unlike the TCL Roku TVs higher on this list, this one is all Roku, with no other brands on board. It adds a couple of step-up extras, including QLED and full-array local dimming, which help deliver a better picture than the TCL 4-Series, for example. It’s not as impressive as the Vizio MQX since it lacks 120Hz for gaming, and its picture quality is worse overall. If you value those extras, then the Vizio is worth saving for, but if not, the Roku Plus Series is a very good value.
This is the first TV Roku has produced under its own brand, as opposed to partnering with brands like TCL, Sharp, Pioneer or Hisense. The company also released a version with fewer features and no local dimming, called the Roku Select Series.
The price shown below is for the 65-inch size.
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The C4 replaced the C3, and while we’ll almost always recommend buying last year’s version of a TV, the C4 is available for around the same price and so is the model to go for.
The prices shown here are for the 65-inch size of the LG C4 series.
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The C4 has better picture quality than any non-OLED TV on this list at a higher price, and it’s still not outrageously expensive. Its perfect black levels, unbeatable contrast and superb off-angle viewing kept it a notch above the cheaper mini-LED models in our comparison tests, and while its overall brightness isn’t quite as impressive, it’s still an incredible performer in all kinds of room lighting.
The C4 replaced the C3, and while we’ll almost always recommend buying last year’s version of a TV, the C4 is available for around the same price and so is the model to go for.
The prices shown here are for the 65-inch size of the LG C4 series.
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Between its versatile matte screen and awesome picture overall, the Samsung S95D delivers the best image quality of any TV we’ve tested, beating both the G4 and last year’s winner, the G3, as well as any other non-OLED TV. It also costs a ton, and most people — even those with bright rooms — will be perfectly happy with a less expensive TV.
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The Samsung S95D’s matte finish does more than reduce reflections, it nearly eliminates them, improving image quality in bright rooms more than any OLED TV we’ve tested. Some non-OLED models have matte screens, but this is the first time they’ve been available in an OLED TV, a display technology that has always delivered the best picture available. That matte finish really works, reducing windows and other glare to dimmer blobs instead of super-bright, mirror-like distractions. The S95D also has an external box, allowing for a cleaner look with the option to store HDMI connections and the power cord out of sight.
Between its versatile matte screen and awesome picture overall, the Samsung S95D delivers the best image quality of any TV we’ve tested, beating both the G4 and last year’s winner, the G3, as well as any other non-OLED TV. It also costs a ton, and most people — even those with bright rooms — will be perfectly happy with a less expensive TV.
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With all of the TVs available today and the technical terms and jargon, it can be tough to figure out what’s important. Here’s a quick guide to help cut through the confusion.
Price:Â TVs range in price from $100 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:Â 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, though 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 almost never hear people complain that their TV is too large.
Capability:Â Among entry-level TVs, the most important feature is what kind of smart TV system the TV uses. Among midrange models, look for features including full-array local dimming, mini-LED and 120Hz refresh rate, which (unlike some other extras) do actually help improve the picture. Among high-end TVs, OLED technology is your best bet.
For more TV buying advice, check out our guide on how to buy a TV.
Our TV reviews follow a rigorous, unbiased evaluation process honed over nearly two decades of TV reviews. Our primary TV test lab has specialized equipment for measuring light and color, including a Konica Minolta CS-2000 spectroradiometer, a Murideo Sig-G 4K HDR signal generator and an AVPro Connect 8×8 4K HDR distribution matrix. We use Portrait Displays CalMan Ultimate software to evaluate every TV we review. In every CNET TV review, three or more similar TVs are compared side-by-side in various lighting conditions playing different media, including movies, TV shows and games, across a variety of test categories, from color to video processing to gaming to HDR. Our reviews also account for design, features, smart TV performance, HDMI input and gaming compatibility, among other factors.
Overall brightness is an important aspect of image quality we test for. Here’s how it compares in nits across select TVs listed above.
Check out our explainer on how we test TVs for more details.
We’ll post the answers to commonly asked TV questions below. If you have any others, feel free to reach out on Twitter (@dkatzmaier).
What’s the best smart TV system for streaming?
What about Amazon Fire smart TVs?
Do smart TVs come with Alexa and Google?
How big a TV should I get?
How do I get the best TV sound?
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