OLED TVs have the best picture quality currently available. If you are watching TV in a dark room, OLEDs can display perfect blacks, which enhance picture quality. They cannot get as bright as LED TVs and have a risk of image retention or burn-in, although we expect most people not to be affected by this.

We've tested 7 OLED TVs and below are our recommendations for the best ones to buy in 2018.

1. Best OLED TV: LG B8

   

   LG B8

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com
   Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

   ✕

   Test Benches: test

   • 1.2: Winter 2018
   • 1.1: Summer 2017
   • 1.0: Winter 2015
   • 0.9: Winter 2014
   • 0.8: Winter 2013

   See changelog and how ratings work

   8.8

   Mixed Usage

   ✕

   What it is General purpose. The TV will be used for a variety of content and usages. Movies at night, TV shows during the day, video games from time to time, etc.

   Score components:

   • 22% TV Shows
   • 22% Sports
   • 16% Movies
   • 16% Video Games
   • 10% HDR Gaming
   • 9% HDR Movies
   • 5% PC Monitor

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   9.3

   Movies

   ✕

   What it is Movies in the dark. The TV will be used for watching movies in a controlled environment, directly in front, in a home theater way. Mostly only high quality content, like Blu-rays, UHD Blu-rays, streaming and a little bit of HDR.

   Score components:

   • 20% Contrast
   • 17% Local Dimming
   • 11% 1080p Input
   • 10% Black Uniformity
   • 8% Gray Uniformity
   • 8% 4k Input
   • 6% 24p Judder
   • 5% Motion Interpolation
   • 5% Stutter
   • 3% SDR ABL
   • 3% Pre Calibration
   • 2% Post Calibration
   • 2% 480p Input

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   8.4

   TV Shows

   ✕

   What it is TV Shows in a bright living room. The TV will be used in to watch TV shows, in a bright room during the day, from multiple viewing positions at different angles. The content watched has an average quality: cable, streaming, SD channels, etc.

   Score components:

   • 29% Reflections
   • 16% SDR Peak Brightness
   • 11% Viewing Angle
   • 9% 1080p Input
   • 7% 720p Input
   • 5% Gray Uniformity
   • 5% 4k Input
   • 5% Sound Quality
   • 4% Smart Features
   • 3% Motion Interpolation
   • 2% Permanent Burn-In Risk
   • 2% Pre Calibration
   • 1% Temporary Image Retention
   • 1% Post Calibration

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   8.6

   Sports

   ✕

   What it is Sports in a living room. The TV will be used to watch sports during the day, like football or hockey. Usually watched with a group, so from multiple viewing position.

   Score components:

   • 25% Reflections
   • 20% Response Time
   • 14% SDR Peak Brightness
   • 11% Viewing Angle
   • 9% Gray Uniformity
   • 8% 720p Input
   • 5% Sound Quality
   • 4% Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
   • 2% Permanent Burn-In Risk
   • 1% Flicker-Free
   • 1% Temporary Image Retention

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   8.9

   Video Games

   ✕

   What it is Video games. The TV will be used to play video games, directly in front, in a controlled light environment. Usually fast games, like online FPS, where motion blur and input lag is important.

   Score components:

   • 33% Input Lag
   • 22% Response Time
   • 6% 1080p Input
   • 6% 4k Input
   • 4% Contrast
   • 4% Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
   • 3% Reflections
   • 3% Gray Uniformity
   • 3% Sound Quality
   • 3% Local Dimming
   • 2% Black Uniformity
   • 2% SDR Peak Brightness
   • 1% Flicker-Free
   • 1% Permanent Burn-In Risk
   • 1% Pre Calibration
   • 1% Stutter
   • 1% Variable Refresh Rate
   • 1% 4k @ 60Hz
   • <1% Temporary Image Retention
   • <1% Post Calibration
   • <1% 1440p @ 60Hz

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   9.0

   HDR Movies

   ✕

   What it is HDR Movies and TV shows. The TV will be used to watch 4k UHD HDR content, with a wide color gamut and a high peak brightness. Either via UHD Blu-rays or HDR streaming.

   Score components:

   • 22% Contrast
   • 13% Local Dimming
   • 12% 4k Input
   • 11% Black Uniformity
   • 6% HDR Peak Brightness
   • 6% Color Gamut
   • 6% Color Volume
   • 5% Gray Uniformity
   • 4% Stutter
   • 4% 24p Judder
   • 2% HDR ABL
   • 2% Motion Interpolation
   • 2% Pre Calibration
   • 2% Gradient
   • 1% Post Calibration
   • <1% HDR10
   • <1% Dolby Vision

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   8.6

   HDR Gaming

   ✕

   What it is HDR Gaming. The TV will be used to play HDR video games using consoles that support it or on current generation gaming PCs. Xbox One S, PS4 Pro, GTX 10 series and AMD RX series graphics cards.

   Score components:

   • 25% 4k @ 60Hz + HDR
   • 15% Response Time
   • 8% Contrast
   • 7% Color Gamut
   • 7% Color Volume
   • 5% Local Dimming
   • 4% 1080p Input
   • 4% 4k Input
   • 4% Black Uniformity
   • 3% HDR ABL
   • 3% HDR Peak Brightness
   • 3% Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
   • 2% Gray Uniformity
   • 2% Gradient
   • 1% Reflections
   • 1% Variable Refresh Rate
   • 1% HDR10
   • 1% Dolby Vision
   • 1% Sound Quality
   • <1% Permanent Burn-In Risk
   • <1% Flicker-Free
   • <1% Pre Calibration
   • <1% Temporary Image Retention
   • <1% Post Calibration

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   8.3

   PC Monitor

   ✕

   What it is PC Monitor. The TV will be used as a PC monitor, from 2-3 feet away, either for productivity purposes or gaming. Sharp text is important, as well as a high resolution.

   Score components:

   • 27% Inputs
   • 14% Viewing Angle
   • 13% Response Time
   • 8% Permanent Burn-In Risk
   • 6% Reflections
   • 5% Temporary Image Retention
   • 4% 4k Input
   • 3% SDR Peak Brightness
   • 3% 1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
   • 3% 4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
   • 2% Contrast
   • 2% Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
   • 2% Curved
   • 2% Gray Uniformity
   • 2% 1080p Input
   • 1% Local Dimming
   • 1% Black Uniformity
   • <1% Flicker-Free
   • <1% Pre Calibration
   • <1% Post Calibration

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations
   Type : OLED
   Sub-Type

   ✕

   What it is: Type of display technology used by the TV.

   When it matters: Different technologies have different performance and are suited to different uses

   Good value: IPS maintains good color accuracy at an angle, but has a poor contrast ratio from in front. VA has great picture quality in front, but loses saturation at an angle. OLED maintains good color accuracy at an angle without any of the other issues seen with IPS and VA, as they keep good brightness and contrast at an angle.

   : WRGB
   Resolution : 4k
   Sizes : 55" 65"

   The best OLED TV we’ve tested so far is the LG OLED B8. The B8 has the same excellent picture quality as the more expensive LG C8. It has perfect blacks, which is great for dark viewing environments and the image remains accurate when viewed at an angle, which is great for wide seating arrangements. It has a wide color gamut and can produce bright and saturated highlights when displaying HDR content. It has excellent motion handling and a low input lag that will please gamers and PC users. It is available for a lower price than the similarly performing Sony A8F.

   However, as with all OLEDs, projecting static images for prolonged periods of time, has the risk of temporary image retention and permanent burn-in, although we expect most people won’t be affected by this. 

   Overall, the LG B8 is the best OLED TV we’ve tested and it performs very well in most usages.

   See our review

2. Different Stand Alternative: LG C8

   

   LG C8

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com

   Type : OLED

   Sub-Type

   ✕

   What it is: Type of display technology used by the TV.

   When it matters: Different technologies have different performance and are suited to different uses

   Good value: IPS maintains good color accuracy at an angle, but has a poor contrast ratio from in front. VA has great picture quality in front, but loses saturation at an angle. OLED maintains good color accuracy at an angle without any of the other issues seen with IPS and VA, as they keep good brightness and contrast at an angle.

   : WRGB

   Resolution : 4k

   Sizes : 55" 65" 77"

   If you would like a slightly different stand than the one of the LG B8, then you can opt for the LG C8 that has a wider and sturdier stand. The two TVs have the same great picture quality and although the C8 is equipped with the new Alpha 9 processor (the B8 still has last years' Alpha 7), we did not see any differences in performance. They are both excellent OLED TVs with minor differences that can be attributed to panel variance. 

   See our review

3. If still in Stock Alternative: LG B7A

   

   LG B7A

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com

   Type : OLED

   Sub-Type

   ✕

   What it is: Type of display technology used by the TV.

   When it matters: Different technologies have different performance and are suited to different uses

   Good value: IPS maintains good color accuracy at an angle, but has a poor contrast ratio from in front. VA has great picture quality in front, but loses saturation at an angle. OLED maintains good color accuracy at an angle without any of the other issues seen with IPS and VA, as they keep good brightness and contrast at an angle.

   : WRGB

   Resolution : 4k

   Sizes : 55" 65"

   If you find that the LG B8 is too expensive, we recommend the LG B7A, although it has become very hard to find in stock since it is a 2017 model. The B7 lacks the black frame insertion feature found on the B8, which otherwise helps to clear blur and makes the image look crisper by flickering the image. It is, however, a very good OLED TV that delivers great performance in almost all usages.

   See our review