What are the best 4K TVs right now?
When it comes to TVs, there’s no shortage of options to choose from — both online and in-store. 2024 TVs are available now — meaning many of last year’s models are available at a discount.
Whether you choose a new version or last year’s (we still recommend 2023 TVs for the best value), the best 4K TV options encompass a wide variety of models at budget and premium prices. One of our favorite affordable models is the TCL QM8, which starts at $998 for a 65-inch model. For a more premium pick, we love the LG OLED C3 — just keep in mind that it can get pricey.
In the end, most people make a decision based on the price of the TV and the features it offers. Nowadays, 4K resolution support is nearly standard. It offers a better picture quality than HD TVs and is the predominant resolution of most TVs released in recent years. You’ll be able find it on a variety of models — even the best TVs under $500.
4K resolution just means the TV has a certain number of pixels, 3,840×2,160 to be exact, along with the ability to display 4K TV shows, movies and games from streaming services, devices and game consoles like the Xbox Series X and PS5. There’s a lot more to picture quality than resolution, so you can’t ignore things like contrast, dynamic range, HDR performance and peak brightness. The best-performing TVs in our reviews excel in these areas. Additionally, if you’re looking for a gaming TV, you’ll also want to consider factors like input lag.
The following list represents the best 4K TVs (which are the best TVs, in my opinion) that I’ve reviewed in CNET’s test lab, where I compare them side by side.
Read more: Change These TV Settings for the Optimal Picture
Best 4K TVs in 2024
TCL has topped our list of the best TVs for the last few years but the QM8 is something different, and even better than before. In my comparison tests it stood out with superior brightness and impact while still maintaining excellent contrast — a combination no other TV could match at this price. The key is mini-LED tech and well-implemented full-array local dimming. It also has a sleek design with a center-mount stand. The operating system is Google TV, which I don’t like as much as Roku TV, but it’s still a solid smart TV. This model replaces the TCL 6-Series Roku TV.
The main downside of the TCL QM8 is that it’s available only in large sizes (65 inches and up). If you’re looking for a 55-inch TV, I recommend the Hisense U8K instead. Note that prices shown here are for the 65-inch size in the QM8 series.
The C3 represents better picture quality than any non-OLED TV on this list at a price that’s higher but still not stratospheric. Its perfect black levels, unbeatable contrast and superb off-angle viewing kept it a notch above the mini-LED models in my comparison tests, and while its overall brightness isn’t quite as impressive, it’s still an incredible performer in all kinds of room lighting. The C3 is also one of the lightest TVs we’ve ever reviewed thanks to its carbon-fiber construction; the 65-inch version weighs just 37 pounds with its stand.
The prices shown here are for the 65-inch size of the LG C3 series.
The picture quality of the TCL 4-Series Roku TV was a step behind the Vizio V-Series in our budget TV test, but the differences between the two are slight enough that you’d have to have them set up side by side to notice anything at all. The 4-Series lacks Dolby Vision, Bluetooth connectivity and AMD FreeSync with a variable refresh rate, all of which the Vizio offers.
The 4-Series’ advantage over the Vizio is that it comes with the excellent Roku Smart TV system built in. That makes it a great choice for those looking for a one-stop smart TV solution, without having to add an external streaming device.
Note that TCL has been selling the 4-Series for the last few years with little to no change in image quality or features in our tests, although it has recently added some larger screen sizes, including an 85-inch option.
The prices shown are for the 55-inch size.
The Samsung S95D’s matte finish does more than reduce reflections — it nearly eliminates them, improving image quality in bright rooms more than any OLED TV we’ve tested. Some non-OLED models have matte screens, but this is the first time they’ve been available in an OLED TV, a display technology that has always delivered the best picture available. That matte finish really works, reducing windows and other glare to dimmer blobs instead of super-bright, mirror-like distractions. The S95D also has an external box, allowing for a cleaner look with the option to store HDMI connections and the power cord out of sight.
Between its versatile matte screen and awesome picture overall, the Samsung S95D delivers the best image quality of any TV we’ve tested, beating both the G4 and last year’s winner, the G3, as well as any other non-OLED TV. But it also costs a ton, and most people — even those with bright rooms — will be perfectly happy with a less expensive TV.
The prices shown are for the 65-inch size.
When we compared the best budget TVs side by side, the picture quality of Vizio’s V-Series clearly emerged as the leader of the pack. The Vizio offered the most balanced and accurate picture during our comparisons, and it comes with some useful extras such as Dolby Vision support, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth compatibility and a variable refresh rate for potentially smoother gaming. The biggest downside of the Vizio is its smart TV platform, Vizio SmartCast. It’s crowded, slow and littered with ads for platforms such as Tubi and Kidoodle TV. Even when you factor in the cost of adding a new streaming device, the V-Series remains the best overall entry-level TV that we tested.
Vizio hasn’t announced a new version of the V-Series yet.
The prices shown are for the 50-inch size.
Competition among TVs in the middle pricing band is heating up, and the Plus Series is the latest entrant. Unlike the TCL Roku TVs higher on this list, this one is all Roku, with no other brands on board. It adds a couple of step-up extras, including QLED and full-array local dimming, which help deliver a better picture than the TCL 4-Series, for example. It’s not as impressive as the Vizio MQX since it lacks 120Hz for gaming and has worse picture quality overall. If you value those extras, then the Vizio is worth saving for, but if not the Roku Plus Series is a very good value.
This is the first TV Roku has produced under its own brand, as opposed to partnering with a brand like TCL, Sharp, Pioneer or Hisense. The company also released a version with fewer features and no local dimming, called the Roku Select Series.
The prices shown are for the 65-inch size.
Our TV reviews follow a rigorous, unbiased evaluation process honed over nearly two decades of reviewing TVs. Our primary TV test lab has specialized equipment for measuring light and color, including a Konica Minolta CS-2000 spectroradiometer, a Murideo Sig-G 4K HDR signal generator and an AVPro Connect 8×8 4K HDR distribution matrix. We use Portrait Displays CalMan Ultimate software to evaluate every TV we review. In every CNET TV review, three or more similar TVs are compared side by side in various lighting conditions playing different media, including movies, TV shows and games, across a variety of test categories, from color to video processing to gaming to HDR. Our reviews also account for design, features, smart TV performance, HDMI input and gaming compatibility as well as other factors.
One important aspect of image quality we test is overall brightness. Here’s how it compares in nits across select TVs listed above.
Check out How We Test TVs for more details.
With all of the TVs available today, and all of the technical terms and jargon associated with television technology, it can be tough to figure out what’s important. Here’s a quick guide to help cut through the confusion.
Price: TVs range in price from $100 to more than $2,000. Smaller screens are cheaper, well-known brands are more expensive, and spending more money can also get you better image quality. Most entry-level TVs have a good enough picture for most people, but TVs last a long time, so it might be worth spending more to get a better picture. It’s also best to shop for a TV in the fall when prices are lower.
Screen size: Bigger is better in our book. We recommend a size of at least 43 inches for a bedroom TV and at least 55 inches for a living room or main TV — and 65 inches or larger is best. More than any other “feature,” stepping up in TV screen size is the best use of your money. One of the most common post-TV-purchase complaints we’ve heard is from people who didn’t go big enough. We rarely hear people complain that their TV is too large.
Capability: Among entry-level TVs, the most important feature is what kind of smart TV system the TV uses. Among midrange models, look for a feature including full-array local dimming, mini-LED and 120Hz refresh rate, which (unlike some other extras) do help improve the picture in our experience. Among high-end TVs, OLED technology is your best bet.
For more TV buying advice check out our page on how to buy a TV.
We’ll post the answers to commonly asked TV questions below. If you have any others, feel free to reach out on X (@dkatzmaier), or by clicking the three dots then the little envelope icon on my CNET profile page. Doing so will let you send a message straight to my inbox.
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