Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) TVs are one of two major types of TVs, and they're very popular. They've become more affordable since they first hit the consumer market in 2013. They're different from the traditional LED-backlit LCD TV because instead of using a backlight, each pixel is self-emissive. This means that they can turn on and off on their own, producing perfect black levels with no blooming around bright objects. OLEDs generally get less bright than their LED counterparts, and they risk permanent burn-in with cumulative exposure to the same static elements, but this isn't an issue if you watch static content. If you want the best picture quality possible, you can't go wrong with an OLED.
Note: Keep in mind that we only buy and test products available in the United States. While we expect this list to be relevant regardless of your region, there are a couple of popular models from Panasonic and Philips that aren't available in the US, so we haven't tested them.
We've tested more than 10 OLEDs under the latest test bench, and below are our recommendations for the best OLEDs you can buy in the US that we've tested. See our picks for the best TVs, the best TVs for Xbox One Series X, and the best TVs for PS5.
The LG C1 OLED is the best all-around OLED TV we've tested. Although all OLEDs deliver similar fantastic picture quality, this one stands out for its value because it has many gaming-oriented features that are great for gamers. It delivers the same stunning picture quality in dark rooms with perfect blacks and no blooming around bright objects as other OLEDs.
The TV has a 120Hz panel with HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on four inputs, meaning you can take full advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X's capabilities with 4k @ 120 fps gaming. It has native FreeSync and HDMI Forum VRR support, as well as G-SYNC compatibility to reduce screen tearing. It uses LG's webOS, a user-friendly smart platform with many apps available to download. It comes with an updated version of the Magic Remote, whose point-and-press feature can be used like a Wii remote, making menu navigation even easier.
Sadly, besides the risk of permanent burn-in, there are a few other issues with the TV. It doesn't get extremely bright, especially in HDR, so some highlights don't pop the way they should. The out-of-the-box accuracy is also bad, so you may need to get it calibrated to enjoy it to the fullest with accurate colors. If this doesn't bother you, it's the best OLED we've tested.
The Sony A90J OLED is the best OLED we've tested for watching movies. Even though all OLEDs deliver the same exceptional picture quality when watching movies in dark rooms, this one stands out just a bit more than the competition. It uses a new type of OLED panel, which the LG C1 OLED doesn't have, allowing it to get brighter. Combined with its remarkable reflection handling, glare isn't an issue.
What makes this TV better than other OLEDs for watching movies in SDR or HDR is its decent HDR peak brightness, so small highlights pop. However, like other OLEDs, it has an aggressive Automatic Brightness Limiter, so large scenes of bright colors are more dim, and it performs best in dark scenes with small objects, like a starfield. It also has exceptional gradient handling, meaning you won't see much banding in scenes with areas of similar color, like a sunset. Also, Sony TVs are known for their exceptional out-of-the-box accuracy, and this one is no exception, as colors look accurate without calibration.
Sadly, while it's the best OLED for watching movies, it's still not the best gaming TV compared to other OLEDs. Its input lag is higher, so if you want to also game, the LG remains the best choice. Besides that, this is the best OLED for movies.
If you prefer something cheaper, check out the Sony A80J OLED. It's a lower-end model than the Sony A90J OLED, which explains its lower price tag, and while it doesn't get as bright, it still delivers fantastic performance for watching movies. Like many Sony TVs, the out-of-the-box accuracy is excellent, meaning you likely won't need to get it calibrated, and it doesn't have any trouble upscaling lower-resolution content from DVDs or Blu-rays. It has a motion interpolation feature for lower frame rate movies, and it removes 24p judder from any source. Of course, it delivers perfect black levels like any OLED, and it has fantastic reflection handling if you have a few lights around. It comes with the same Google TV platform, but the only difference is that the remote doesn't have any backlighting, so it's harder to see the buttons in the dark.
If you want the best TV for watching movies with an OLED panel, you can't go wrong with the A90J, as it gets bright and delivers an amazing HDR experience. However, if you prefer something cheaper, then check out the A80J.
The best sounding OLED TV we've tested is the LG G1 OLED. It has the best sound quality compared to the other OLEDs, as it has a good frequency response. It produces better bass than most TVs, and it gets loud with minimal distortion, so you'll hear content clearly. Of course, it's not as good as having a soundbar or dedicated speakers, but the sound quality is still good overall.
It comes with LG's new evo panel, which performs similarly to the Sony A90J OLED, so it has decent peak brightness in HDR, and it's enough to make highlights pop. It also displays a wide color gamut and has impressive out-of-the-box accuracy, so you won't need to get it calibrated to enjoy colors to their fullest. It has a unique design that's extremely thin, and it's meant to sit flush against a wall, but it doesn't come with a stand. It also has the same great gaming features as the LG C1 OLED, like a near-instantaneous response time, HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, and VRR support.
Sadly, its gradient handling still isn't the greatest, so you'll see banding in darker shades with content that has shades of similar color. It also has an aggressive Automatic Brightness Limiter, meaning large areas of bright colors are significantly dimmer. Besides that, it's the best OLED in terms of sound quality.
Apr 06, 2022: Updated text for clarity; added the LG GX OLED and the Sony A9S OLED to Notable Mentions and removed the Sony A8H due to low availability.
Feb 08, 2022: Moved the LG A1 to Notable Mentions and added the Sony A80J as 'Cheaper Alternative' to the Sony A90J to reflect user needs.
Dec 10, 2021: Updated text for clarity and verified picks for availability.
Oct 15, 2021: Updated text for clarity; moved the Vizio OLED to Notable Mentions because its all-around performance isn't as good as the others; added the LG B1 to Notable Mentions.
Aug 18, 2021: Replaced the Sony A80J with the Sony A90J for consistency; updated text for clarity.
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best OLED TVs available in the United States for most people. 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, and we only test those available in the U.S.).
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our reviews of OLED 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.