For many years, TVs with LED backlights have dominated the market. You won't get the same excellent dark room picture quality as an OLED, but LED TVs have a few advantages over OLEDs (check out our article on OLED vs. LED). LED TVs' biggest advantage is their brightness, and they're immune to permanent burn-in. However, with the rise of local dimming technology, we've found through testing that the best LED models also have excellent contrast ratios, giving them solid dark room performance as well. LED TVs are also sometimes called LCDs instead. LED refers to the technology used to create the backlight, whereas LCD refers to the technology used to produce different colors and shades. As all LCD models currently on the market use LED backlights, the two terms are often used interchangeably. Check out this guide to learn more about LED TVs and how they work.
Below are our recommendations for the best LED televisions you can buy. See also our picks for the best Mini LED TVs, the best gaming TVs, and the best QLED TVs, or vote on which ones you want us to buy and test. To learn more about the new models available for purchase later this year, check out our 2026 TV lineup page.
We buy and test dozens of TVs yearly, taking an objective, data-driven approach to deliver results you can trust. Our testing process is complex, with hundreds of individual tests that take over a week to complete. Most of our tests are done with specially designed test patterns that mimic real content, but we also use the same sources you have at home to ensure our results match the real-world experience. We use two main tools for our testing: a Colorimetry Research CR-100 colorimeter and a CR-250 spectroradiometer.
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Best LED TV
Mixed Usage8.4Home Theater8.6Bright Room8.5Sports8.5Gaming7.7Brightness9.0Black Level8.7Color8.5Processing (In Development)8.7Game Mode Responsiveness6.5Motion Handling (Broken)7.5Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:120HzScreen Finish:GlossyPanel Type:LCDSub-Type:VADolby Vision:YesSee all our test resultsSizes:65" 75" 85"The Sony BRAVIA 9 is not only the best LED TV on the market, but it's also the best non-OLED TV you can buy. Its superb SDR brightness means it easily overcomes glare from the brightest indirect light sources, so as long as you don't have a lamp or window facing the screen, you won't be distracted by reflections on your TV. As impressive as this TV is in a bright room, it's equally spectacular in a dark one. Its black levels aren't quite as good as an OLED, but it still has exceptional contrast that delivers incredibly deep, bold blacks for an LED TV, with essentially no blooming. It's also a great option for 4k Blu-ray collectors or those looking to get the most out of high-quality streaming services, thanks to its support for Dolby Vision and DTS audio formats.
The TV's image processing is excellent, and it's also very accurate in both SDR and HDR, delivering an image that respects the content creator's intent. Although its viewing angle is wider than most other LED TVs, it's still not wide enough for large group settings, although it's fine if you're watching from a slight angle. The TV has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, 4k @ 120Hz, and VRR, but there's noticeable motion blur in fast-paced games, and it has higher input lag than competing models from other brands. You still get a solid gaming experience with this model, but it's not quite on par with other high-end TVs on the market.
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Best Mid-Range LED TV
Mixed Usage8.4Home Theater8.6Bright Room8.4Sports8.3Gaming8.4Brightness9.1Black Level9.2Color8.0Processing (In Development)7.8Game Mode Responsiveness8.0Motion Handling (Broken)7.8Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:144HzScreen Finish:GlossyPanel Type:LCDSub-Type:VADolby Vision:YesSee all our test resultsSizes:65" 75" 85" 98"The Sony BRAVIA 9 is a very expensive TV and is a hard purchase to justify for most people, but you can get surprisingly similar picture quality overall from the TCL QM8K. It's not quite as bright in SDR as the Sony, but it's still plenty bright enough to overcome glare from indirect light sources. Just like the Sony, mirror-like reflections are visible on the screen during darker scenes, so avoid placing any light sources facing the screen. The TV's blacks are just as deep, albeit with a tiny bit more haloing. Colors are equally as vibrant, but they aren't nearly as accurate. Furthermore, the QM8K doesn't have the same level of image processing, so you don't get the refined image you do on the Sony when watching low-resolution and low-quality content. Sadly, its viewing angle is narrow, so stay centered to the screen for the best image quality.
Fortunately, the TV performs better in gaming than the Sony. It has two HDMI 2.1 ports capable of 4k @ 144Hz and 1080p @ 288Hz. You also get VRR for a nearly tear-free experience. Not only does it offer higher refresh rates, but it also has less motion blur, so motion in fast-paced games looks crisper. Input lag is also a lot lower, so it offers a more responsive feel while gaming. It even offers Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and DTS audio passthrough, so movie fans are completely covered in terms of formats. Despite its image quality being a bit less refined than the Sony TV's, it's still one of the best non-OLED TVs on the market.
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Best Lower Mid-Range LED TV
Mixed Usage7.8Home Theater7.9Bright Room8.0Sports7.9Gaming7.8Brightness7.8Black Level8.4Color7.5Processing (In Development)7.7Game Mode Responsiveness8.0Motion Handling (Broken)7.5Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:144HzScreen Finish:GlossyPanel Type:LCDSub-Type:VADolby Vision:YesSee all our test resultsSizes:55" 65" 75" 85" 98"If the TCL QM8K is out of your price range but you want the same features and a TV with solid image quality, the TCL QM7K is a great option. While it's a bit dimmer than TCL's higher-end model, it's still bright enough to overcome glare from indirect light sources in well-lit rooms. However, light sources directly facing the screen are still visible in dimmer scenes. There's a bit more haloing around highlights and subtitles in dark scenes, but the TV still displays blacks that look bold and impressive. The TV can't display colors as brightly as the QM8K, but it still shows a wide range of punchy colors that help make HDR look impactful. Like the QM8K, it has a relatively narrow viewing angle, so it's best to sit directly in front of the screen for the best experience.
It offers the exact same gaming features as the more expensive TCL model, so you still get minimal motion blur, two HDMI 2.1 ports, support for 4k @ 144Hz, 1080p @ 288Hz, and VRR, making it a great choice for both console and PC gamers. It also supports both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, so you're set no matter which HDR format your content uses, and it passes through DTS audio, which is great for physical media collectors. Its image processing isn't quite as good, so low-resolution content looks a bit softer, and more details are lost in low-bitrate content, but its overall processing is still effective.
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Best Budget LED TV
Mixed Usage7.1Home Theater7.2Bright Room7.0Sports7.1Gaming7.2Brightness6.5Black Level7.6Color7.2Processing (In Development)7.0Game Mode Responsiveness7.9Motion Handling (Broken)7.6Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:144HzScreen Finish:GlossyPanel Type:LCDSub-Type:VADolby Vision:YesSee all our test resultsSizes:55" 65" 75" 85" 98"If you're looking for something more budget-oriented but want modern gaming features and a TV with still pretty good picture quality, the TCL QM6K is a great choice. It's not as bright as the TCL QM7K, but it still handles glare from indirect light sources well. What really makes this TV stand out in the sea of budget models is its local dimming, which helps the TV display deep blacks. However, there's more noticeable haloing around highlights and subtitles than there is on the more expensive TCL model. Colors aren't as vivid as that TV, and they lack some punch, but it's still colorful enough that the image doesn't look dull. Unfortunately, the TV's image processing isn't nearly as good, so low-resolution content looks a bit soft, and low-bitrate content has visible artifacts.
Even though this model is much more affordable than the QM7K, you still get the exact same core gaming features, so you get support for 4k @ 144Hz, 1080p @ 288Hz, and VRR. It even has similarly fast pixel transitions, keeping motion blur to a minimum. Furthermore, you still get the same low input lag, which is great. It even supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and DTS audio passthrough. The TV's viewing angle is just as narrow as its more expensive sibling's, so it looks its best when viewed from the front.
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Best Cheap LED TV
Mixed Usage6.0Home Theater5.8Bright Room6.3Sports6.0Gaming6.2Brightness5.6Black Level4.9Color6.8Processing (In Development)6.3Game Mode Responsiveness6.7Motion Handling (Broken)6.9Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:60HzScreen Finish:GlossyPanel Type:LCDSub-Type:VADolby Vision:YesSee all our test resultsSizes:43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85" 100"You're not going to get the best image quality or a big set of features from a cheap TV, but you can still get an okay model like the Hisense QD6QF. Unlike every other LED model on this list, it doesn't have local dimming, so blacks look gray during most scenes. It's too dim in HDR for highlights to pop out as they should. Furthermore, colors look a bit muted, but the TV still displays a wide range, so HDR content doesn't look bad. Fortunately, the TV is bright enough in SDR to handle glare in a room with moderate lighting. It does a poor job removing artifacts from heavily compressed content, but it does a decent job upscaling, so low-resolution content looks alright. Its viewing angle is about the same as the TCL QM6K's, so it's best to avoid watching the TV from an angle when possible.
The TV is light on gaming features, but you can still game in 4k @ 60Hz with VRR, so screen tearing is kept to a minimum. It does give you the option of gaming in 1440p @ 120Hz, but that mode is hampered by unusually high input lag. Pixel response times are also slightly slow on this model, leading to visible blur behind fast motion. Despite its low price, it offers Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and DTS audio passthrough, so it has excellent compatibility.
Notable Mentions
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Sony BRAVIA 7:
The Sony BRAVIA 7 is a good choice for those who want a Sony TV but can't afford the pricey Sony BRAVIA 9. It has a narrower viewing angle, worse reflection handling, and blacks aren't as deep. However, you get similar brightness, the same gaming features, and almost identical image processing.
See our review -
Hisense U8QG:
The Hisense U8QG competes with the TCL QM8K. The Hisense is even brighter and has a slightly wider viewing angle. On the other hand, the QM8K has better black levels and better motion handling, and it offers a superior HDR experience, making it the better TV overall.
See our review -
Hisense U75QG:
The Hisense U75QG is similar to the TCL QM7K, but it offers higher peak brightness. Unfortunately, the Hisense makes HDR content look much brighter than intended and has more apparent motion blur. Since the TCL offers clearer motion and has superior contrast, it's the better TV overall.
See our review -
Hisense U65QF:
The Hisense U65QF competes with the TCL QM6K but offers more brightness. However, the Hisense overbrightens HDR content, so it doesn't stay true to the filmmaker's intent. The TCL provides a more well-rounded experience, with better black levels, superior accuracy, 1080p @ 288Hz, and lower input lag.
See our review -
TCL S551G:
If gaming performance is your primary concern, the TCL S551G is a solid alternative to the Hisense QD6QF. The Hisense is brighter and has better image quality, but the TCL offers up to 1440p @ 120Hz with VRR and low input lag, giving it better gaming performance for those who prefer frames over resolution.
See our review
Recent Updates
Feb 13, 2026:
We added a new 'Best Lower Mid-Range LED TV' category to give more options, and made the TCL QM7K our pick for that spot. We also added the Hisense U75QG to the Notable Mentions and revised some text throughout for accuracy.
Nov 13, 2025:
Replaced the TCL Q651G with the Hisense QD6QF in the 'Best Cheap LED TV' category, and added the TCL S551G to the Notable Mentions.
Aug 21, 2025:
We replaced the Hisense U8N with the TCL QM8K, the Hisense U6N with the TCL QM6K, and the Hisense A7N with the TCL Q651G. We also refreshed the Notable Mentions and updated some text throughout the article for accuracy.
Feb 27, 2025:
Added a link to our 2025 Lineup page and confirmed the accuracy of our current picks.
Dec 06, 2024:
We changed some text throughout the article for clarity.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best LCD TVs to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (a cheaper TV wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no TVs that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you'd like to do the work of choosing yourself, here's a list of all our recent LED TV reviews. 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.