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What’s the Best Android TV? 4 Options Ranked

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Nikshep Myle
Nikshep Myle Avatar
Nikshep Myle
Nikshep Myle, a dedicated contributor to Gadget Review for over 2 years, is a prominent figure in the consumer tech space. Outside the digital realm, Nikshep is an enthusiast of optimizing health and well-being, engaging in activities such as research, experimentation, and meditation. He finds joy in gaming, exploring new music, and embarking on travel adventures. In Nikshep’s world, technology seamlessly intertwines with personal well-being and a vibrant array of interests.
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    Evan Shephard Avatar

    Reviewed By

    Evan Shephard
    Evan Shephard Avatar
    Evan Shephard
    A highly experienced and adept professional in display and audio calibration, he excels in home theater design and precise calibration techniques. With over a decade of specialization in this field, he is not only a certified tester but also carries a prestigious ISF (Imaging Science Foundation) certification. This credential underscores his expertise and commitment to delivering superior quality in audiovisual experiences, further enhancing his value in the realm of display and audio expertise.
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      Updated Mar 11, 2024 2:54 PM

      Published

      ·

      11 min read
      best android tvs guide that shows the top best tv model
      IN THIS GUIDE

      A whopping 75% of electronic and appliance reviews are untrustworthy. That’s why every reviewer gets a Trust Rating so our True Score System filters out the fake reviews. See how we do it.

      If you’re eyeing the best Android TVs, you’re probably looking for a smooth blend of Google/Android OS smarts with top-notch performance. The real trick is cutting through the noise to find a TV that’s as user-friendly as it is reliable and high-quality. You want an Android TV that stands out in reviews for its performance, especially ones with 4K resolution, HDR support, and plenty of apps.

      These specs make sure you’re getting a top TV that not only makes the most of Android’s cool features but also delivers on picture quality and ease of use.

      How Did We Rank the Best Android TVs?

      To assess how high or low quality an Android TV actually is, one must evaluate specific testing criteria against reference industry standards. Using our thorough TV Testing Methodology, we determined there are 1 minimum specs and 6 criteria below (3 required, 3 nice to have) that ensure your content looks as good as the creator intended it.

      Minimum Specifications

      • Smart Platform = Google TV

      Test Criteria

      • SDR Brightness: At least 300 nits for a bright, clear picture in any light.
      • HDR Brightness: 1000 nits and up, bringing out the detail in high dynamic range content.
      • Color Accuracy: Minimum 90% DCI P3 color gamut, for vibrant colors.

      “Nice To Haves”

      • Contrast Ratio: At least 10,000:1, for deep blacks and bright whites.
      • EOTF Accuracy: Delta less than or equal to 0.018, ensuring precise brightness and contrast.
      • Fast Response Time: 10ms or lower, keeping the action smooth without blur.

      We’ve redefined TV buying guides, setting us apart from any other site on the planet. Our unique approach combines in-house verification with a comprehensive dataset from over 200+ trusted sites, focusing on key testing metrics to rank the top-rated LED TVs. Testing data and specs include SDR brightness of at least 300 nits, HDR brightness of 1000 nits and above, and color accuracy with a minimum of 90% DCI P3 color gamut. We aggregate and analyze this data from 158+ TVs, ensuring our recommendations meet your specific needs. For the best LED TV, this means delivering unparalleled resolution, exceptional brightness and color fidelity for an immersive viewing experience. Our commitment to unbiased reviews is powered by our ‘True Score’ system, targeting low quality and fake reviews. Commissions fund this mission. No bias. No BS.

      Latest Updates

      • 03/11/2024: Completely and thoroughly overhauled the guide to include the best and latest Android TVs.
      • 11/29/2023: Republished the list to include TVs based on our True Score system.

      Top Best Android TVs For 2025

      Prices accurate at the time of publishing

      See how we test the testers

      To secure a place on our list, an Android TV must be a Google TV and offer exceptional all around performance. Anything less and it’s not on the list.

      • Best Overall

        Runner Up

        Best Value

        Best Budget

        gr recommended award

        Best Mid-Range

        Premium Pick

        Sony A95L OLED TV

        Ideal for cinema enthusiasts and casual gamers, the A95L excels in color, contrast, and viewing angles, offering a premium experience at a premium price.

        Sony A95L OLED TV Review →

        True Score

        90
        92
        6

        Experts

        94
        2k

        Customers

        Cosmic Wonder

        SAVE $602
        $3,499.99
        $2,898.00
        See Deal

        Category Snapshot

        TVs

        • Total Brands/Products Tested

          17 Brands, 158 Products

        • Top 2 Brands

          LG, Hisense

        • Price Range (Budget-Premium)

          $400-$2000

        • Average True Score

          76.65

        • Important Test Criteria

          Brightness (cd/m2)
          Contrast Ratio (1000:1)

        • Most Trusted Testers

        • Top TV Experts

          Matthew Lopes, Will Greenwald

        • Recommended Retailer

        • Typical Warranty

          1 year

        • Covered by Insurance

          Yes – AKKO

        • Test Methodology

          TV Testing Methodology

      • Best Overall

        Runner Up

        Best Value

        Best Budget

        gr recommended award

        Best Mid-Range

        Premium Pick

        TCL QM8/QM850G QLED TV

        • Best For Sports

        With unmatched brightness and solid response time, the TCL QM8 shines in well-lit rooms, offering a bright and responsive experience at a competitive price.

        TCL QM8/QM850G QLED TV Review →

        True Score

        84
        84
        7

        Experts

        90
        479

        Customers

        Absolutely Fresh

        SAVE $50
        $999.99
        $949.99
        See Deal

      • Best Overall

        Runner Up

        Best Value

        Best Budget

        gr recommended award

        Best Mid-Range

        Premium Pick

        Hisense U7K

        One of the best value TVs on our list, the U7K balances affordability with performance, offering decent gaming and viewing experiences for those on a budget.

        Hisense U7K Review →

        True Score

        83
        85
        9

        Experts

        87
        522

        Customers

        Absolutely Fresh

        SAVE $40
        $799.99
        $759.99
        See Deal

      • Best Overall

        Runner Up

        Best Value

        Best Budget

        gr recommended award

        Best Mid-Range

        Premium Pick

        Hisense U8K TV

        • Best For Home Theater

        Bright, colorful, and great for varied content, the U8K combines high brightness and solid gaming performance, making it a versatile choice for any Android TV user.

        Hisense U8K TV Review →

        True Score

        80
        80
        6

        Experts

        85
        1k

        Customers

        Absolutely Fresh

        SAVE $150
        $999.99
        $849.99
        See Deal

      Our Approach to Testing Android TVs

      Evan Shepard/Gadget Review

      We’ve redefined TV buying guides, setting us apart from any other site on the planet. Our unique approach combines in-house verification with a comprehensive dataset from trusted sites, focusing on key testing metrics like brightness (SDR and HDR), EOTF, response time, contrast ratio and color gamut.

      Seeking the best Android TVs? Look for smooth Google/Android OS integration and top performance. Choose a TV praised for 4K resolution, HDR support, and plenty of apps to ensure both quality and ease of use. Need help narrowing down features? Let me know!

      You may notice some of our graphs contain “Source: RTings”. This is to indicate that the data we’re showing off in a graph has come from a single source – because it’s the only source that actually tested the criteria and had data for it! Normally, our data is an average out of all of the various publications that test and provide data to give you a good idea of how a product is going to perform on average.

      Which Criteria Matters for Testing Android TVs?

      By focusing on these criteria (3 required, 3 nice to have), anyone can quickly and easily compare these TVs and how they’ll perform. This helps you make an informed decision and purchase a TV that will fit into your space.

      CRITERIARANGEREQUIREDDEFINITION
      SDR Brightness300+ nitsYesAssess the luminance of your display when operating in Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) mode.
      HDR Brightness1000+ nitsYesDetermine the luminance of your display in High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode.
      Color Gamut (DCI P3 xy)>= 90%YesEvaluate the extent to which a TV can reproduce a specified spectrum of colors.
      EOTF0.018No (nice to have)Standard that governs how a display interprets and renders brightness and color.
      Response Time<=10msNo (nice to have)Time required for a pixel to transition from one color to another and then return to its original color.
      Contrast Ratio>= 10,000No (nice to have)The ratio between the brightest white and darkest black that the screen can display.

      Our Trusted Data Sources

      (Publication category Score is 80%+)

      We looked at 210+ TV reviewers and while 24 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Rating), we only use data from the testers that are “very trusted” which means a Trust Rating above 70%. The three we have listed below are our most trusted for TVs, along with our own in-house TV expert.

      1. Evan Shepard – Gadget Review
      2. Matthew Lopes – RTings, MuckRack
      3. Will Greenwald – PCMag, MuckRack, Twitter
      4. David Katzmaier – CNET, MuckRack, Twitter

      Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every TV review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Ratings from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.

      Best Android TVs Test Data & Results

      1. SDR & HDR Brightness TV Test Results

      In well-lit rooms, the brightness level of your Android TV, quantified in nits, is key to a great viewing experience. A TV that doesn’t meet the brightness requirement will struggle against natural and artificial light, resulting in a dim, lackluster image. Essentially, nits measure how well your TV can stand up to light interference, with higher values ensuring a sharper, more vivid display.

      For standard viewing on the best Android TV, you should look for at least 300 nits to strike the right balance between clarity and color quality in standard dynamic range (SDR) content. For high dynamic range (HDR) content, which offers richer colors and greater contrast, a minimum of 1000 nits is ideal to truly appreciate the enhanced visuals. These brightness levels are recommended to ensure your TV performs well in bright settings, allowing you to enjoy your shows and movies without any loss in detail or quality. Aim for these minimums: SDR Brightness >= 300 nits; HDR Brightness >= 1000 nits for the optimal experience.

      Discover the top Android TVs, ranked from brightest to least.

      Brightness

      SDR: 300+ nits

      HDR: 1000+ nits

      Acceptable range of performance

      Definition: Maximum brightness in a specified pattern size window. Most commonly measured in a 10% or 100% white window.

      Units of Measurement: nits (alternatively cd/m²)

      Tools to Measure: TV, luminance meter

      Why It’s Important:
      Brightness helps counter ambient light so that details and colors don’t wash out and get lost.

      SDR Brightness (in nits, higher is better)

      HDR Brightness (in nits, higher is better)

      2. Color Gamut (DCI P3 xy) TV Test Results

      Color Gamut

      >= 90%

      Acceptable range of performance

      Definition: The TV’s capability to display a spectrum of colors.

      Units of Measurement: % (color space coverage in percent)


      Tools to Measure: Colorimeter

      Why It’s Important:
      Inaccurate colors compromise the authenticity of the content.

      Color gamut defines the range of colors an Android TV can reproduce, directly affecting how vibrant and true-to-life the images look. A wide color gamut in a TV brings out richer, more vivid colors – from the lush greens of a garden to the bright colors of animated characters, enhancing your viewing experience to closely mimic real life.

      This concept is technically measured against standards like the DCI P3 xy, a benchmark for high-quality visuals. An Android TV covering a higher percentage of this color space can display colors more accurately and vividly.

      For those who prioritize vibrant and immersive, aiming for an Android TV with a color gamut of 90% or higher on the DCI P3 xy scale is ideal. This ensures that the content you watch is as vibrant and lifelike as possible.

      Below are the top Android TVs, ordered by color gamut, all exceeding our testing criteria.

      DCI P3 XY Color Gamut (as a %; high is better)

      3. EOTF Test Results

      The Electro-Optical Transfer Function (EOTF) plays a critical role in ensuring the content on your TV looks exactly as the creator intended. This technical feature adjusts your screen’s brightness levels, ensuring every scene, from the darkest shadows to the brightest highlights, is displayed with true-to-life accuracy.

      In rooms flooded with light, a TV that nails EOTF calibration shines by preserving the intended contrast and detail in the picture despite the challenging conditions. It balances the brightness so that images remain vibrant and full of detail, unaffected by the glare of ambient light.

      A TV that excels in managing EOTF offers an immersive and authentic viewing experience. It brings creators’ visions to life, accurately rendering every scene with the proper light and dark levels, no matter the lighting in your room. This means you get a consistent, realistic picture that captures the full spectrum of colors and contrasts, from the subtlest hues to the most intense explosions.

      Below are all the Android TVs on our list, ordered by EOTF, from best to worst.

      EOTF

      < 0.018 (600 nit Δ)

      Acceptable range of performance

      Definition: How your TV interprets and renders the luminance data from content and translates it to be represented on screen. If EOTF/Gamma tracking is too low or too high, it will result in an over-brightened or over-darkened image from reference.

      Units of Measurement: this test measures for the delta from the standard

      Tools to Measure: Luminance colorimeter

      Why It’s Important:
      EOTF ensures that the game is displayed (color and HDR brightness) as the creator intended it

      EOTF (source: rtings.com – 0 = no data exists; lower is better)

      4. Response Time TV Test Results

      Response Time

      1ms-10ms

      Acceptable range of performance

      Definition: Speed at which a pixel transitions from one color to another


      Units of Measurement: milliseconds (ms)


      Tools to Measure: Screen, camera, test software

      Why It’s Important:
      A faster response time means less blur and thus more accuracy

      A slow response time on a Android TV during fast-paced scenes is like trying to watch a thrilling movie with a foggy lens. Imagine settling in for an action-packed sequence, only to have the swift movements turn into a blur, robbing you of the crisp, clear detail you crave. This isn’t just a minor annoyance; it’s a major detriment to your viewing experience, leaving you with a picture marred by motion blur and visual artifacts.

      So, what exactly is response time? It measures how quickly a pixel on your TV can change from one color to another. In the context of watching fast-moving content or enjoying dynamic scenes on a Android TV, a low response time is crucial. A response time of 15 ms or lower is good, but if you plan on gaming on this set, aim for a response time of 10 ms or lower. At these levels, your Android TV ensures smooth transitions and sharp visuals, making every scene come to life without any distracting blurs or delays.

      Below are the top Android TVs, ordered by response time.

      Response Time (in milliseconds; lower is better)

      5. Contrast Ratio Test Results

      For Android TV enthusiasts, a solid contrast ratio is crucial for enjoying your favorite TV shows or movies, especially in darker settings. This feature directly impacts how lifelike and dynamic the picture appears on your screen, ensuring that dark scenes are displayed with clear, crisp blacks instead of murky grays and bright scenes retain their detail without appearing washed out.

      Put simply, the contrast ratio is all about the range of luminance a TV can produce, from the deepest blacks to the brightest whites. It’s what brings depth to the image, enhancing the realism of every scene. Watching a movie in the dark, for example, the difference between a TV with a poor contrast ratio and one with a high ratio is stark: the former struggles, blending shadows into a flat gray, while the latter delivers true black, making night scenes more immersive and detailed.

      Ideally, a contrast ratio of 10,000:1 is what you should aim for in an Android TV. This level of luminance variance ensures that you’re getting a picture quality that can handle the nuances of lighting in any scene, providing a viewing experience that’s both rich and engaging. Note: OLED TVs have infinite contrast ratio, indicated by “0.”

      Below are the top Android TVs, ordered by contrast ratio, all exceeding our testing criteria.

      Contrast Ratio

      >=10,000:1

      Acceptable range of performance

      Definition: Difference between the darkest black and the brightest white a screen can display.

      Units of Measurement: cd/m2

      Tools to Measure: Luminance meter

      Why It’s Important:
      A higher contrast ratio delivers deeper blacks, enhancing content definition, especially in darker rooms.

      Contrast Ratio (higher is better)

      Android TVs: Mistakes To Avoid

      1. Ignoring Size and Space: Not considering the available space or room layout can lead to purchasing a TV that’s either too large or too small for the intended area. For instance, if you’re looking for the best 80-inch TV, ensure your room is large enough to accommodate its size for an optimal viewing experience.

      2. Overlooking Compatibility: Failing to check compatibility with existing devices or home networks may result in issues connecting and accessing content seamlessly. This is particularly important when adding a dumb TV to your setup, as it lacks the smart features that facilitate easy integration with modern devices.

      3. Neglecting Display Quality: Choosing solely based on features or price without considering factors like resolution, HDR support, and color accuracy can lead to dissatisfaction with picture quality. To ensure superior picture quality, check out our selection of the best OLED TVs which provide a vibrant viewing experience. Furthermore, explore our guide on the best 8K TVs, which offer unprecedented detail and clarity. It’s also important to weigh the benefits and differences between 4K vs 8K to make an informed decision that suits your viewing preferences and future-proofs your investment.

      4. Disregarding Smart Features: Not researching the capabilities of the TV’s smart platform, including app availability, ease of use, and software updates, may result in missing out on desired functionalities. Understanding what a smart TV is can help you appreciate the value these features add, especially if you’re in the market for the best 65-inch TV, where smart functionalities are almost expected.

      The Best Android TVs Tests Compared

      Product
      True Score
      SDR Brightness
      HDR Barightness
      Color Gamut
      EOTF
      Response Time
      Contrast Ratio

      Sony A95L OLED TV

      • Best for Dumb

      90

      • 309.5 nits

      • 1,262 nits

      • 99.96%

      • 0.0022

      • 9.6 ms

      • 0

      $2,898.00
      $3,500
      $602
      See Deal

      TCL QM8/QM850G QLED TV

      • Best for Sports

      84

      • 2,076 nits

      • 2,005 nits

      • 94.59%

      • 0.037

      • 8.9 ms

      • 114,057:1

      $949.99
      $1,000
      $50
      See Deal

      Hisense U7K

      • Best for 55-inch

      83

      • 603 nits

      • 786.5 nits

      • 96.31%

      • 0.0211

      • 11.3 ms

      • 45,000:1

      $759.99
      $800
      $40
      See Deal

      Hisense U8K TV

      • Best for Home Theater

      80

      • 1,549 nits

      • 1,792 nits

      • 97.44%

      • 0.0105

      • 13.3 ms

      • 165,360:1

      $849.99
      $1,000
      $150
      See Deal

      Android TV Questions (FAQ)

      What is the latest Android TV version?

      Android TV 13 is the latest Android TV version, and it was released in December 2022.

      Share this Article

      About Gadget Review’s Editorial Process

      Our guides, reviews, and news are driven by thorough human research and use our Trust Rating system and the True Score. AI assists in refining our content, ensuring that every article is engaging, clear and succinct. See how we write our content here →

      Nikshep Myle Avatar
      Nikshep Myle
      Nikshep Myle, a dedicated contributor to Gadget Review for over 2 years, is a prominent figure in the consumer tech space. Outside the digital realm, Nikshep is an enthusiast of optimizing health and well-being, engaging in activities such as research, experimentation, and meditation. He finds joy in gaming, exploring new music, and embarking on travel adventures. In Nikshep’s world, technology seamlessly intertwines with personal well-being and a vibrant array of interests.
      All Articles by Nikshep Myle

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