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The 6 Best Smart TVs of 2025

Updated Aug 06, 2025 at 11:27 am
Best Smart TVs

All new 4k TVs have a smart platform that includes features and apps. Some manufacturers choose to use proprietary platforms, while others prefer to integrate third-party options like Google TV, Android, or Roku. No matter the smart platform, it's going to have all the major streaming apps, so you'll be sure to find apps for services like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video on any modern TV. However, there's more that goes into the functionality of a smart interface than the availability of apps.

We test how easy it is to use a particular TV's smart interface and how responsive the TV's menus are. We do this by measuring the time it takes for apps to load and how long it takes to change settings like brightness. Since smart interfaces are typically plastered with advertisements, we test to see how intrusive those advertisements are and if they can be disabled by the user. Additionally, we test if the TV is cast capable, if it supports USB playback, and how functional the included remote is. However, you shouldn't get a TV based solely on its smart platform either, as you still want something with good picture quality. If you want to learn more about the tests that inform our picks, check out our article on how we test dozens of TVs each year.

Below are our recommendations for the best smart televisions. Also, see our picks for the best movie TVs, the best 4k TVs, and the best-sounding TVs. If you need a soundbar to pair with your new smart TV, check out our best soundbars article. You can also vote on which TVs you want us to buy and test. To learn more about the 2025 TV landscape, check out our 2025 TV lineup page.


  1. Best Smart TV

    The best smart TV we've tested is the Samsung S95F OLED. It's an outstanding TV with a great selection of smart features, including support for Bixby and Alexa voice assistants. If you don't want to use voice assistants, its well-organized Tizen smart interface is fast, easy to use, and has a huge selection of streaming apps. It comes with Samsung's unique external Slim One Connect Box, which allows for clean cable management and flexibility when plugging in your devices. Its QD-OLED panel is extremely colorful compared to WOLED panels from brands like LG, making it one of the most vibrant options on the market. It also has an incredibly wide viewing angle, so you don't have to worry about the TV's image quality degrading if you're watching from the sides of the screen.

    Like all OLEDs, it looks great in a dark room thanks to its perfect black levels. It's certainly no slouch in a room with the lights on either, since its combination of spectacular brightness and top-tier reflection handling means you don't have to worry about reflections on the screen. It's also loaded with modern gaming features, so you get HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on all four ports, up to 4k @ 165Hz, and VRR. The only knock against the TV is that it doesn't support Dolby Vision, which might bother some home theater enthusiasts. However, it does support the similar HDR10+, so you're not missing out on much.

    See our review

  2. Best Upper Mid-Range Smart TV

    If you like what the Samsung S95F OLED offers, but it's out of your price range, go with the Samsung S90F OLED. It doesn't utilize the same matte coating as its more expensive sibling, and it's not as bright overall, but it still does a solid job reducing the intensity of reflections and is still bright enough in SDR for moderately lit rooms. The 55, 65, and 77-inch models use a QD-OLED panel, so colors are vivid, blacks are inky, and highlights stand out well in HDR content, making it a very impressive model for home theaters. It also has the same wide viewing angle as the S95F, so it's great for large living rooms.

    While it doesn't include Samsung's Slim One Connect Box, the S90F still features four HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K @ 144Hz with VRR, so you don't have to worry about missing out on modern gaming features. Like the S95F and all Samsung TVs, this model doesn't support Dolby Vision, but it does include HDR10+, which provides a similar HDR experience. It runs the exact same version of Samsung's Tizen OS as the S95F, so finding content to watch is a breeze. Just keep in mind that the TV uses a less colorful WOLED panel in the 42, 48, and 83-inch models, and this varies depending on where you live.

    See our review

  3. Best Mid-Range Smart TV

    If the Samsung OLEDs above are too expensive, or you just simply want a Mini LED model, the TCL QM8K is a fantastic choice. Not only is it our choice for the best mid-range smart TV, but it's also one of the best Mini LED TVs money can buy. It runs the very popular Google TV OS, which has a massive selection of apps and games, and an easy-to-use smart interface that offers voice control. It doesn't display the same perfect blacks as OLEDs do, but it's surprisingly close, since its local dimming makes blacks incredibly deep and bold, with almost no haloing around subtitles and highlights. This is one of the brightest options on the market, and it has solid reflection handling, so it easily overcomes glare in very bright rooms. It also displays a wide range of bright and punchy colors, making it a versatile TV that looks great in any room.

    Unlike the Samsung models, it only has two HDMI 2.1 ports, which might be limiting for those with several gaming consoles. However, those two ports support 4k @ 144Hz and VRR, so you can take full advantage of your Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch 2. This TV supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+, so you're covered no matter what HDR format your content is in. Its viewing angle is good enough if you have a couch or chair situated at a slight angle from the screen, but its image quality degrades from more aggressive angles, limiting its usefulness in very large rooms.

    See our review

  4. Best Lower Mid-Range Smart TV

    The TCL QM7K is the best lower mid-range smart TV. It runs the same version of the Google TV OS as the more expensive TCL QM8K and has most of the same features. Although the TV is dimmer than TCL's higher-end model, it's still bright enough to overcome glare in well-lit rooms. Blacks are almost as deep and bold, especially in dark rooms, but there's more apparent haloing around highlights and subtitles. It's noticeably dimmer in HDR than the QM8K, but highlights still stand out well enough for an impactful experience, especially when combined with the TV's vibrant colors. Unfortunately, the TV's viewing angle is narrow, so it's best to sit as centered to the screen as possible.

    Not only does this model have solid image quality, but it also offers a ton of modern gaming features. It has two HDMI 2.1 ports, supports 4k @ 144Hz, 1080p @ 288Hz, and VRR, so it's a great option for console and PC gamers alike. It even supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, so you're covered no matter what HDR format your content is being shown in. If you want a TV that offers a complete package of solid image quality and a ton of features without spending a ton, the QM7K is a great option.

    See our review

  5. Best Budget Smart TV

    If you like the features found on the TCL QM7K but need something more budget-friendly, the TCL QM6K is a solid alternative. While it doesn't match the image quality of the higher-end model, it still displays a pleasing image that will impress most people. Colors are more muted but are punchy enough that they don't appear washed out. Blacks aren't as bold, but they're still deep enough to give the image solid depth, especially for a budget option. The TV is bright enough in SDR to fight glare in well-lit rooms. On the other hand, its lower HDR brightness means most highlights don't stand out as much as they should in HDR movies, shows, and games. Still, it delivers a decent HDR experience overall. Like the other options from TCL, it has a narrow viewing angle, so for the best image quality, it's best to sit directly in front of the screen.

    It includes the same core features as its more expensive sibling, including two HDMI 2.1 ports, support for 4K @ 144Hz, 1080p @ 288Hz, VRR, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+, so even though you don't get the same level of image quality, you get the same features. It even runs the same version of Google TV, so you get voice control and access to a massive library of apps and games. Similar models from more established brands like Sony, LG, and Samsung are typically more expensive and are a lot lighter on features, so this TV truly stands out in the budget category.

    See our review

  6. Best Cheap Smart TV

    If you're on a tight budget and you want a smart TV that allows you to retire your old streaming device, go with the TCL Q651G. The TV's picture quality is nothing to write home about, but it offers the same Google TV OS as the other TCL models on this list. You still get access to a massive library of apps and games, a nice home interface, and voice control. Sadly, this is the only model on our list without local dimming, meaning blacks appear more gray and the overall image can look flat. Bright colors tend to look muted, and darker colors lack depth, but the TV still displays a wide color range, so the picture doesn't look entirely dull. Unfortunately, this model isn't bright enough to make highlights pop, so HDR content looks underwhelming. In SDR, it's bright enough for use in a room with moderate lighting, and reflections aren't overly distracting. However, visibility is an issue in brightly lit spaces, since reflections are very visible on the screen.

    One of the key advantages of this model compared to other cheap TVs is its gaming support. It can handle 1080p and 1440p @ 120Hz with VRR, allowing gamers on a budget to enjoy 120 fps gaming with minimal screen tearing, just at lower resolutions than 4K. It also supports 4K @ 60Hz via its HDMI 2.0 ports if you want the sharpest image. Since this TV doesn't offer the best image quality to start with, it looks underwhelming when viewed from an angle due to its narrow viewing angle, so stay seated in front of the screen for the best possible image quality.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • LG G5 OLED:

    The LG G5 OLED is one of the top OLED TVs available and is a competitor to the Samsung S95F OLED. Sadly, the LG's overall image quality is inconsistent, since it varies depending on the picture mode you choose. Because the Samsung delivers more reliable performance, handles bright rooms better, and has the edge with color vibrancy, it's the easier model to recommend.

    See our review
  • LG C5 OLED:

    The LG C5 OLED is a good alternative to the Samsung S90F OLED. It performs better in bright rooms, but the Samsung offers higher brightness in its gaming mode and delivers more vivid colors with less banding, making it the stronger choice overall.

    See our review
  • LG B5 OLED:

    If you'd rather the incredibly clear motion and wide viewing angle that an OLED provides over a mid-range option like the TCL QM8K, you can get the LG B5 OLED for around the same cost. Since the TCL is drastically brighter, has similar black levels, and offers a more complete package, it's the better option for most people.

    See our review
  • Hisense U75QG:

    The Hisense U75QG is comparable to the TCL QM7K but delivers higher peak brightness. However, it makes HDR content appear brighter than intended and shows more noticeable motion blur because of slower pixel transitions. With clearer motion, better black levels, and support for 1080p @ 288Hz, the TCL stands out as the better overall TV.

    See our review
  • Hisense U65QF:

    The Hisense U65QF is a brighter alternative to the TCL QM6K, but it significantly overbrightens HDR content, which means it strays from the content creator's original intent. On the other hand, the TCL delivers a more well-rounded experience with deeper blacks, better color accuracy, support for 1080p @ 288Hz, and lower input lag.

    See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Aug 06, 2025

    We replaced the Samsung S90D OLED with the Samsung S95F OLED as our new top pick. We also replaced the LG C4 OLED with the Samsung S90F OLED in the 'Upper Mid-Range' category, the LG B4 OLED with the TCL QM8K in the 'Mid-Range' category, the Hisense U7N with the TCL QM7K in the 'Lower Mid-Range' category, the Hisense U6N with the TCL QM6K in the 'Budget' category, and the Hisense A7N with the TCL Q651G in the 'Best Cheap TV' category. We also dropped the 'Best Bright Room' and 'Best Home Theater TV' categories, since the S95F and LG G5 OLED both outperform our old picks that were in those sections, the Sony BRAVIA 9 and Sony A95L OLED. Finally, we refreshed the Notable Mentions section with 2025 models that are more widely available.

  2. May 15, 2025

    We mentioned the LG C5 OLED alongside the LG C4 OLED and the TCL QM7/QM751G QLED alongside the Hisense U7N. We also touched on the issues with the 77-inch Samsung S90D OLED, added both the LG G5 OLED and Samsung S95F OLED to the Notable Mentions, and updated some text throughout the article for accuracy.

  3. Feb 05, 2025

    Added a link to our 2025 TV lineup article and added the TCL S5/S551G to the Notable Mentions.

  4. Dec 10, 2024

    Confirmed the accuracy of our current picks.

  5. Oct 22, 2024

    We updated the Introduction for clarity and refreshed the Notable Mentions.

What is a Smart TV?

A smart TV is a television connected to the internet that provides web-related features. It has built-in apps for streaming and usually an app store where you can download your favorite apps. Built-in smart platforms are similar to streaming boxes from Apple and Roku, and while smart TVs were once slower, they've since equaled the performance of a streaming box.

Not only does almost every TV include smart features, but most of them are also pretty good. Most shoppers will be pleased by the features of any of the smart platforms. Don't fret too much about features if you're shopping for the best TV for streaming, because the picture quality is still more important. Instead, focus on the picture quality or other features that complement your usage, and you'll get much closer to finding your perfect TV that way.

Learn more about smart platforms.

All Reviews

Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best TVs for streaming currently available with smart features. They are adapted to be valid for most people in each price range, so this article will help you find the best smart TV for the money in your budget. The rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.

If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our reviews of smart TVs. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no TV is perfect, most TVs are great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them. Also, keep in mind that our scores aren't comparable across different test benches, so most of the TVs in the list below score higher than they would in 2025.

Comments

  1. Recommendation

Best Smart TVs: Main Discussion

What do you think of our picks? Let us know below.


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  1. We’ve just released a new video that features the TCL QM8K and also mentions the TCL QM7K here.

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    It was a super bigbrain idea to call the Samsing S90C the best Smart TV when it doesn’t even have built in ChromeCast. My six year old Vizio has that, and I don’t see it on this list. Ffs.

    Hey there. It’s definitely unfortunate that the S90C doesn’t support Chromecast. With that said, we feel comfortable having it at the top of the list because it’s still cast capable, and it’s loaded with a ton of other smart features. Thanks for the feedback!

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    It was a super bigbrain idea to call the Samsing S90C the best Smart TV when it doesn’t even have built in ChromeCast. My six year old Vizio has that, and I don’t see it on this list. Ffs.

  4. We’ve just released a new video that mentions the Sony A95L OLED here.

    Show More Updates
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    I wish that you separated the Smart TVs into Smart Platforms so that those who want a specific platform could quickly sort. Roku TV Android TV Fire TV Google TV Smart TV SmartCast Tizen VIDAA webOS

    Thanks for the feedback, we’ll keep this in mind for future consideration. In the meantime, you can always filter TVs by smartos using our table tool.

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    I wish that you separated the Smart TVs into Smart Platforms so that those who want a specific platform could quickly sort.

    Roku TV Android TV Fire TV Google TV Smart TV SmartCast Tizen VIDAA webOS

  7. Update: Added the LG B2 OLED as the ‘Best Mid-Range TV’ to match the structure of other articles, and renamed the Hisense U8H as the ‘Best Lower Mid-Range TV’; updated Notable Mentions based on changes.

    What do you think of these changes? Let us know