The 8 best 4K TVs for a sharp, colorful picture

The best 4K TVs are smart, colorful, sharp, and reliable. While all 4K TVs have an Ultra HD resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels, different models can offer big differences in picture quality and features. To help you find the right display for your home, our experts have reviewed the most popular options available to select the best 4K TVs for a variety of needs.

Based on hands-on testing, our top recommendation is the Samsung S90D OLED, which offers pixel-level contrast while delivering brighter colors than similar TVs from other brands. All things considered, the S90D hits the ideal balance between price and performance. However, buyers on a tighter budget should check out the Hisense U6N QLED. The U6N is the most affordable 4K TV available with an advanced Mini LED backlight, and this feature gives the display better picture quality than its direct competitors.

Our experts also recommend top OLED models from LG and Sony, as well as picks geared toward midrange pricing and bright rooms. All of the 4K TVs listed below are sold in multiple screen sizes, so be sure to select the size you want from each retailer page.

Our top picks for the best 4K TVs

Best overall: Samsung S90D 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best premium OLED: Sony A95L 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best on a budget: Hisense U6N 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best midrange OLED: LG C4 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best anti-glare display: Samsung S95D 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best midrange QLED: TCL QM7 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best smart TV system: Roku Pro Series 4K TV - See at Walmart

Best for wall mounting: LG G3 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best overall

The Samsung S90D is the 2024 successor to our previous best 4K TV pick, the now-discontinued 2023 S90C. Like its predecessor, the S90D offers the most impressive balance between picture performance and price of any 4K TV we've tested. The display uses an OLED panel with quantum dots, enabling an infinite contrast ratio, a wide range of colors, and a brighter image than midrange competitors from LG and Sony.

OLED tech gives the S90D deep black levels and wide viewing angles, while the display's quantum dots allow it to produce more intense colors than a standard OLED. It also has exceptional peak brightness for a midrange set. We measured a max of 1,240 nits, which makes the TV a great fit for dark home theaters and typical living rooms. HDR (high dynamic range) movies and shows from 4K Blu-rays or streaming services like Prime Video and Disney Plus look especially stunning using the HDR10 and HDR10+ formats.

Smart TV features are also robust, with access to every popular app. You also get Alexa and Bixby voice control. The interface is solid but we do wish navigation speed was more consistent, and we encountered a few glitches involving notifications and a setting that's supposed to disable apps from automatically opening. These are minor drawbacks, though, and are likely to be fixed with firmware.

The S90D also includes a Gaming Hub that lets you access cloud services like Xbox Game Pass to stream games without a console. Samsung is the only brand to include the Xbox app built-in. If you pair the TV with a gaming PC, it can also support a smooth 144Hz refresh rate.

The TV's only notable con is its lack of Dolby Vision support. Most Dolby Vision content will instead play in standard HDR10, but the TV's HDR10 performance is so strong that most people won't notice a difference. Check out our HDR TV guide for more details on how Dolby Vision compares to other formats.

Buyers should also note that some retailers still have lingering stock of the older S90C. However, since the remaining inventory is extremely limited, we no longer recommend the S90C as our top pick. With deal prices as low as $1,400 for the 65-inch S90D, the newer model is now the best 4K TV — and the best TV period — that you can get for the money.

Check out our guide to the best Samsung TVs.

Note: The 42-, 48-, and 83-inch S90D models don't incorporate quantum dots, so their color volume can't match that of other sizes.

Best premium OLED

If you want the best 4K TV for a high-end home theater setup, the Sony A95L OLED is the reigning champ. Like Samsung's top TVs, it uses a QD-OLED panel with quantum dots to achieve a brighter picture with better color volume than a typical OLED.

We measured a peak of 1,500 nits using a 5% test pattern and 1,240 nits using a 10% pattern on the A95L during our evaluation. That's 50% brighter than Sony's previous-gen A95K, making the A95L's image really pop during scenes with especially bright highlights (like explosions). Samsung's competing S95D OLED can get a bit brighter, but unlike the S95D, the A95L supports Dolby Vision and benefits from Sony's superior picture processing to optimize its images. The differences between the A95L and other top OLEDs are subtle, but Sony remains the leader in delivering the most accurate picture for the best movie-watching experience.

The A95L's Google TV operating system also works well, allowing you to stream all your favorite services. A voice remote is included with Google Assistant voice control, and it has a handy backlight that turns on when you pick it up. The TV's stand can even be set up in either a high-profile arrangement (if you want to put a soundbar in front) or a low-profile mode for a flush look on your entertainment console.

It's expensive, but the Sony A95L OLED is the best 4K TV for high-end performance. Most people will be satisfied with something cheaper, but if you can afford it and want a premium TV that does it all, the A95L is the display to buy. The only notable downside is its lack of a 144Hz mode, but that feature only benefits dedicated PC gamers.

Best on a budget

The Hisense U6N is the latest entry in the brand's budget-friendly U6 series. It replaces our previous pick in this category, the Hisense U6K. The U6K remains an excellent TV, but it's no longer sold at most stores. As a result, we now recommend the U6N as the best 4K TV for anyone who wants an affordable QLED that doesn't skimp on picture quality.

Like its predecessor, the U6N uses quantum dots and full-array local dimming, features typically reserved for pricier displays. Even better, the U6N also has a Mini LED backlight and it has more dimming zones than last year's U6K, which gives it improved contrast control. Though its full retail price is $700, the 65-inch U6N is often on sale for under $600, making it the most affordable Mini LED TV on the market.

But while the TV's contrast performance is great for its class, black levels aren't quite as deep and uniform as they are on pricier QLEDs or OLED models. We also noticed a bit more banding (blocky rather than smooth gradients of color) in certain streaming apps. But these flaws are forgivable, given the low cost. The U6N is also dimmer than more expensive sets, with a peak brightness of around 625 nits. Though not as bright as top models, that's still enough to start seeing the benefits of HDR content. It also offers Dolby Vision support to display the most accurate HDR image the panel can produce.

On the downside, the U6N is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, just like the U6K. This means it can't enable 120Hz support with a PS5 or Xbox Series X. Viewing angles are mediocre, too, but they're on par with what you can expect in this price range.

If you want to enter the world of 4K HDR TVs but don't want to spend too much, the Hisense U6N is an ideal starting point. It's budget-friendly without sacrificing the key features that make an HDR TV worth owning.

For more affordable display recommendations, check out our guides to the best budget TVs and best TVs under $500.

Best midrange OLED

LG's C4 is the latest model in the company's highly-rated C series of midrange OLEDs, replacing the 2023 C3. It's easily a contender for the best 4K TV you can buy, and just narrowly falls behind the Samsung S90D when it comes to overall value. Though it's missing the quantum dot tech that gives Samsung's OLED a boost in brightness and color volume, the C4 still has excellent image performance and solid smart TV capabilities.

Like all TVs that use OLED panels, the C4 achieves an infinite contrast ratio with inky black levels that look fantastic when watching movies in a dark room. It also has good viewing angles, so contrast doesn't fade if you're sitting toward the side of the TV. Peak brightness is good for a midrange OLED, at around 1,000 nits, which is about 200 nits more than last year's C3. However, the C4 can't match the 1,200+ nits that Samsung's similarly priced S90D can hit.

On the plus side, the C4 does have one picture-quality perk that our top pick lacks: Dolby Vision support. Dolby Vision is regarded as the best HDR format since it can tell your TV how to display contrast and colors with more precision. However, its benefits are subtle, especially on TVs in this class. We don't consider Dolby Vision to be a must-have feature, but it is a nice inclusion.

LG's webOS platform also provides access to popular apps, and the TV's unique Magic Remote allows you to navigate menus by pointing at the screen to move a cursor.

We think Samsung's S90D has a slight edge in image performance, but the C4 is an excellent alternative for buyers who prefer the LG brand or consider Dolby Vision essential. Shoppers should also note that the older LG C3 is still available at some retailers. However, stock is limited and the C4 is often sold for the same price.

Best anti-glare display

Samsung's S95D is the brightest OLED TV we've ever reviewed. It also boasts an anti-glare screen with a matte finish to combat reflections better than any other display in this guide. These two qualities make it an ideal OLED for buyers who have bright rooms plagued by glare from windows and lights.

With the S95D set in Filmmaker mode (the TV's most accurate picture preset), we measured a peak brightness of 1,700 nits. That's 200 nits more than we measured on top OLED models from Sony and LG. Though the S95D can only sustain that number briefly before dimming significantly, most HDR highlights that need to get that bright (like an explosion) only appear on screen for quick flashes. As a result, we don't consider this behavior to be a big deal.

In addition to delivering excellent HDR10 and HDR10+ performance with vivid colors and punchy highlights, the TV's high brightness gives you more wiggle room to adjust the display's luminance to suit rooms that let in a lot of light. The S95D is also one of the few TVs you can buy that uses a matte screen instead of a glossy screen.

Though glossy displays have perks, they're prone to showing lots of reflections in bright rooms. In contrast, the S95D's matte finish essentially eliminates glare and reflections. This makes it a game changer for people who struggle with reflections caused by lights and windows. However, there is one catch that comes with the matte screen: it hurts black-level performance in a bright room.

The S95D's black levels in a dark room look just as deep as they do on any OLED, but once you put the lights on, black levels become elevated with a more gray and hazy look. This is particularly noticeable when you watch movies and shows with lots of dark scenes.

Ultimately, whether you like the S95D's matte screen comes down to personal preference and your priorities as a viewer. But if you want a display that almost completely eliminates reflections and delivers high-end image quality, this is the best 4K TV to get. The only other TVs with similar matte screens are Samsung's Frame, Hisense's CanvasTV, and TCL's NXTFrame, but those models can't match the S95D's overall image performance.

Check out our Samsung S95D 4K TV review and our S95D vs. S95C comparison.

Best midrange QLED

TCL's QM7 4K display is a midrange TV champ, with performance that beats more expensive mid-tier QLEDs from brands like Samsung. During our review, we measured a peak brightness of around 1,700 nits, which enables the TV to deliver excellent HDR performance, even in rooms with lots of light.

Like the Hisense U6N, this TV uses a Mini LED backlight with full-array local dimming capabilities. But while the U6N has a couple hundred dimming zones, the QM7 has over 1,000, which enables better control over its light output. This results in good black levels and minimal blooming (large halos around bright objects). However, black levels looked a little elevated and patchy in certain scenes when we tested the TV in a dark room, but performance is strong considering the QM7's price.

Colors are also vivid and rich, with a wide gamut thanks to the display's quantum dots. Unfortunately, those colors do fade a bit if you watch the TV from an off-center position. Likewise, picture processing isn't as high-end as we've seen on flagship Sony, LG, and Samsung sets, so low-quality streams and cable TV feeds don't look quite as sharp as they appear on pricier displays.

On the plus side, the QM7 is one of the few TVs in its price range to support a fast 144Hz refresh rate when paired with a PC (120Hz with a PS5 or Xbox Series X). This can enable smoother gameplay. We were also impressed by the TV's snappy Google TV interface and handy backlit Google Assistant voice remote, which made navigation a breeze. However, we did encounter a few small glitches here and there with the operating system, but nothing too troublesome.

The 65-inch QM7 is sometimes on sale for as low as $699 and the 75-inch model can often be found for under $1,000. Those are excellent prices for a TV with this level of performance.

Check out our TCL QM7 4K TV review.

Best smart TV system

The Roku Pro Series is an excellent 4K TV for anyone who wants a simple and straightforward smart TV experience. The display is one of the few QLEDs in the upper-midrange class to come with the Roku OS (operating system) built-in. Roku OS is our favorite interface thanks to its streamlined navigation and reliable performance.

Roku's home screen focuses on apps with access to every major streaming service there is. Apps are arranged via large icons that you can order however you like. Unlike other smart TV systems, like the Fire TV OS, Roku doesn't bombard you with content recommendations on the homepage, but you can always jump into the "What to Watch" section on the sidebar to see various recommendations across genres.

The TV's assembly is also convenient with left and right feet that can be attached without any tools. Instead, they have knobs that can be turned to keep them in place. You can also choose between a low or high position to accommodate a soundbar.

Roku's remote is user-friendly, too, with several handy features that are rare for this class. You can charge the remote via USB, so you don't need batteries, and it has backlit buttons for easy use in a dark home theater. Hands-free voice search is supported with a wake word, but you can deactivate this with a switch and engage search by a button if you prefer. Our favorite feature is the "lost remote finder," which activates a chime on the remote if you ever lose it.

When it comes to picture quality, the Roku Pro Series is no slouch. This is the brand's flagship TV, and it delivers good image performance. The QLED panel has a Mini LED backlight with local dimming, which enables vibrant colors, high HDR contrast, and solid black levels. However, viewing angles are poor compared to OLED TVs and pricier QLEDs from Samsung. Likewise, the TV's processing and peak brightness can't quite match other top QLEDs, like TCL's QM85 or Hisense's U8N.

But when looking at the total package, we like how the Roku Pro Series balances ease of use without sacrificing image quality features like Mini LEDs and quantum dots.

Check out our Roku Pro Series 4K TV review.

Visit our guide to all the best smart TVs.

Best for wall mounting

LG's G3 OLED is designed to hang flush on your wall with virtually no gap. Its thin design measures just under an inch and looks beautiful when wall-mounted. The G3 is a 2023 model, but it remains in stock and still compares favorably to newer TVs in price and performance.

Though there are OLED TVs with thinner profiles, like the Samsung S95D, that display requires a separate connection box to house its ports and processing components. The G3 maintains a slim design while keeping everything within the TV's cabinet.

And thankfully, the display's picture performance is just as impressive as its elegant styling. The panel doesn't use quantum dots like Sony and Samsung OLEDs but instead uses "Micro Lens Array" (MLA) technology to produce similar peak brightness levels. We measured a peak of around 1,470 nits, just under the highest measurement we got with the Sony A95L. On the downside, the G3's lack of quantum dots means that color volume isn't as high as what you'd get on the A95L or Samsung's OLEDs.

It's also important to note that the G3 is built for wall mounting — so much so that it doesn't even come with a traditional TV stand. You can buy one separately, but that adds to the cost, and we don't love how the screen tilts back slightly when placed on the stand.

However, LG does have a 2024 edition of this display, called the G4, that includes a stand with the 55- or 65-inch options. This new stand doesn't cause the TV to tilt back. We reviewed the G4, and it's a gorgeous display, but its performance improvements over the G3 are minimal. If you plan to wall mount your TV, the G3 remains a better buy while it's still in stock for less money.

How we test 4K TVs

To test the best 4K TVs, our experts focus on several key parameters, including picture clarity, high-dynamic-range (HDR) performance, color gamut, contrast, viewing angles, smart TV capabilities, navigation speed, and value.

We use an X-Rite iDisplay Plus colorimeter with test patterns found on the Spears & UHD HDR Benchmark 4K Blu-ray to measure a TV's brightness and color capabilities.

We also use a series of demo scenes and real-world content to evaluate each 4K TV's overall picture quality, with a specific focus on scenes that emphasize black levels, specular highlights, color fidelity, and sharpness with native 4K, high-definition (HD), and standard definition (SD) material via cable, Blu-ray players, and all of the best streaming services. TVs are also evaluated in different viewing conditions, including a completely dark room for critical movie watching and environments with various lights on and windows to test daytime performance and reflection handling.

Smart TV functionality is also considered, with tests to measure how long apps take to launch and how smooth menu navigation is. We also evaluate voice search responsiveness and digital assistant capabilities.

For additional details on our testing methodology, check out our breakdown of how we review tech products.

4K TV FAQs

What are the best brands for 4K TVs?

LG, Samsung, Sony, and Panasonic are among the top 4K TV brands. Though typically more expensive than other options, these companies' TVs are known for delivering cutting-edge technology, modern designs, and great quality control. If you're in the market for a premium TV, you can't go wrong with flagship models from these manufacturers.

Meanwhile, brands like TCL, Hisense, and Vizio are top midrange and value-priced TV market players. Though build quality isn't always on par with more expensive brands, these companies offer advanced features, like quantum dots and Mini LED dimming, for less than the competition. If you want the best bang for your buck in a midrange TV, these are the brands you should consider first.

Companies like Amazon and Roku also make solid entry-level and midrange TVs. Their flagship offerings are decent options when on sale during TV deal events like Black Friday, but you can typically find better displays for less money from TCL, Hisense, or Vizio.

Finally, budget brands like Toshiba and Insignia are known for selling entry-level LED displays that use Amazon's Fire TV operating system. Though inexpensive, these sets are about as basic as TVs get. We typically recommend paying a bit more to get one of our picks for the best 4K TVs listed above, but these displays are decent enough if you just want a cheap TV for casual viewing.

What size 4K TV should I get?

What size 4K TV you should buy depends on your space, how far you want to sit from your display, and your budget. In general, bigger TVs cost more than smaller ones with comparable features, and you'll need to have enough wall mounting space or a large enough TV stand to accommodate whatever display you get.

TV sizes start as small as 24 inches and reach around 98 inches. A few manufacturers have premium models that are even larger. Many companies reserve their best picture quality and design features for their bigger sizes. Though not a hard rule, midrange features are often reserved for models that are 50 inches or larger, and high-end features tend to start in 55-inch models.

Most companies use 65 inches as their flagship size to highlight their best 4K TVs, and for many people, 65 inches hits just the right sweet spot to offer a solid home theater experience without taking up too much real estate or totally breaking the bank.

If space and budget aren't a concern, what size 4K TV you should get can be best determined by how far you plan to sit from your display. This is because the benefits of 4K resolution become most noticeable when you sit at a distance of about one to 1.5 times the size of your TV. For instance, to get the most out of a 65-inch 4K TV, you should sit between 5.4 and 8.1 feet from your TV. Crutchfield has a handy chart recommending 4K TV sizes based on your seating distance.

For 4K TV recommendations tied to certain sizes, check out our size-specific guides:

• Best 85-inch TVs
• Best 75-inch TVs
• Best 65-inch TVs
• Best 55-inch TVs
• Best 50-inch TVs

What are the best smart TV interfaces?

Practically any new 4K TV you buy will be a smart TV, which means it features built-in support for accessing popular apps and streaming services. However, different companies use different smart TV interfaces. Here's a rundown of the different platforms that each brand uses.

• Tizen: Samsung
• webOS: LG
• Vizio Home: Vizio
• Google TV: Sony, TCL, Hisense
• Roku TV: Roku, TCL, Hisense
• Fire TV: Amazon, Panasonic Toshiba, Insignia, Pioneer, Hisense

Though a few services may be missing here and there, all major streaming apps are supported across every operating system. However, each system's navigation style, personalization options, and extra features differ.

We prefer Roku's interface because it is the simplest, most user-friendly, and most reliable. However, its visual style is a bit outdated compared to other options that present a more content-focused approach. Ultimately, every system has pros and cons, but they all get the job done.

If you're unhappy with your TV's built-in interface, you can purchase a separate streaming device with your preferred platform. Roku and Fire TV options are often sold for as low as $20. Check out our guides to the best streaming devices and best Fire TVs for more details.

What's the difference between OLED and QLED?

OLED and QLED TVs are two of the most popular display types on the market, and each has its own pros and cons.

OLEDs have self-illuminating screens. This means they can dim and brighten each pixel to create an infinite contrast ratio. This makes OLED the ideal choice for people who want the absolute best image quality, especially if you like watching movies in a dark home theater.

QLED TVs, meanwhile, are a type of LED TV that relies on older LCD panel technology that requires a backlight to illuminate their pixels. These backlights can include multiple zones to brighten and dim specific areas, but even the most advanced QLED models can't match the pixel-level contrast of an OLED. This can cause an uneven look in dark scenes where you can see halos around bright objects or washed-out black levels that look gray.

Where QLED TVs have an edge, however, is with max brightness. Midrange and high-end QLED TVs can get brighter than most OLEDs. QLED models also tend to be less expensive than OLED TVs, and they present no risk for burn-in. For more details on the differences between each panel type, check out our QLED vs. OLED comparison.

What is burn-in?

Even the best OLED TVs are technically susceptible to an issue called burn-in. If a static image is left on the screen for hours on end — the CNN or ESPN logo in the corner, for example — a faint, ghostly image can get left stuck on the TV.

Though OLED owners should be aware of this risk, OLED TVs have specific measures built in to prevent burn-in, including pixel refreshers and pixel shift modes. Publications like Rtings have conducted long-term tests with OLEDs, and while their results do show that burn-in is possible, their tests show that people with regular viewing habits don't need to worry about it.

I've owned an LG CX OLED TV for over two years, and the display has no signs of burn-in. Though burn-in is something that QLED TV owners don't have to think twice about, in my experience, as long as you don't plan on watching CNN all day long, burn-in shouldn't be a factor when deciding whether to buy an OLED.

What is HDMI 2.1?

Many 4K TVs in the mid and premium tiers now include one or more inputs that support the HDMI 2.1 standard. HDMI 2.1 enables 4K signals at 120Hz (some brands even support 144Hz with a PC), along with features like variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM) to provide smooth gaming performance with less lag.

Every device in your home entertainment chain needs to be compatible with the HDMI 2.1 specification to enable its features. So, if you have a gaming console hooked up to a soundbar that's connected to your TV, all three components need to support HDMI 2.1. Likewise, you need to use ultra-high-speed HDMI cables rated for 48Gbps to transmit the necessary bandwidth for an HDMI 2.1 signal. Visit our guide to the best HDMI cables for affordable recommendations.