The 5 Best TVs - Fall 2021 Reviews

The LG C1 OLED is the best TV we've tested in the OLED category. It delivers stunning picture quality that should please most people, and it has gaming features like HDMI 2.1 inputs and variable refresh rate (VRR) support. It's well-built with a stylish center-mounted stand, so it should look nice in any setup. The LG webOS interface is excellent as it's user-friendly, and the app store has a ton of apps you can download.

What sets OLEDs apart is their ability to turn off individual pixels. This means that it has a near-infinite contrast ratio with perfect blacks levels and no blooming around bright objects. Each pixel emits light in all directions, so the image remains accurate no matter where you sit, making it a great choice for wide seating arrangements. It doesn't have any trouble upscaling lower-resolution content, which is great for watching DVDs or cable TV, and it doesn't have any issues displaying native 4k content either. If you want to watch TV during the day, it has fantastic reflection handling.

Sadly, OLEDs risk permanent burn-in, but we don't expect this to be an issue unless you watch a lot of content with the same static elements, like the news. Also, it doesn't get extremely bright, so highlights may not pop how they should, and there's some banding with gradients of similar color. However, this only really matters if you want the best movie experience possible in HDR, but you should still enjoy its excellent all-around performance. Overall, it's one of the best TVs we've tested.

The Samsung QN90A QLED is the best TV we've tested with an LED panel. LED TVs have an advantage over OLEDs because they get much brighter, and they don't have the risk of permanent burn-in, so you can easily leave it on your favorite news channel all day without worrying about damaging the screen. Whether gaming or watching movies in a dark environment, it has high native contrast for deep blacks.

It's excellent for gaming because it has a 120Hz panel with HDMI 2.1 inputs, allowing you to play 4k games up to 120 fps from either the PS5 or Xbox Series X. It has native VRR support in the form of native FreeSync and it's G-SYNC compatible too. Gamers should appreciate the low input lag and quick response time. There's a great local dimming feature, but it's not as effective in Game Mode because it raises the black levels more. If you prefer using it in a bright room, it has Mini LED backlighting that gets very bright.

Unfortunately, it has a lower contrast than most VA panel TVs due to the 'Ultra Viewing Angle' layer, which helps improve the viewing angles at the cost of the contrast. It also has some uniformity issues, but this can vary between units. Also, there's a 43 inch model that won't perform like the 55 inch variant we tested because it's limited to a 60Hz panel and lacks VRR. If you're going to get one of the larger sizes, it's the best TV on the market with an LED panel that we've tested.

The best TV to buy in the budget category that we've tested is the Hisense U6G. Although it's an entry-level 4k TV that doesn't have as many features as the higher-end Hisense U8G, it performs very well for most uses, and it doesn't have the same motion issues that the U8G has. It comes with Android TV built-in, which has many apps you can download through the Google Play Store, but it's not as easy to use as other smart systems.

This TV has a VA panel with a high native contrast ratio, and it has a decent full-array local dimming feature that helps improve the picture quality in dark scenes. Our unit also has fantastic black uniformity with minimal blooming around bright objects. As for watching HDR movies, it's great because it displays a wide color gamut, and although it doesn't get as bright as more expensive options, it's still alright for making highlights stand out. If you want to use it in a well-lit room, the excellent reflection handling and high peak brightness mean that glare shouldn't be an issue in most bright rooms.

Sadly, as expected from a VA panel, it has narrow viewing angles, so it's not a good choice for wide seating areas. Also, it's limited to a 60Hz refresh rate and doesn't have gaming features like VRR support. Still, if you want to use it for casual gaming, it has a quick response time and low input lag. Overall, if you're on a budget, this is a great choice.