The 5 Best TV Brands in 2024

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Reviewed By

Evan Shephard
Updated Mar 3, 2024 9:04 PM
best tv brands guide that shows the top best tv model

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.

Identifying the best TV brand involves more than just comparing prices; it’s about pinpointing the top-performing TVs from leading brands like Sony, TCL, Hisense, Samsung, LG, and Vizio. Our analysis, grounded in a robust Trust Rating system and rigorous testing data, highlights the standout model from each brand.

These selections aren’t necessarily the most budget-friendly options, but they represent the pinnacle of what each brand offers in terms of performance. Whether you prioritize picture quality, smart features, or overall value, our guide ensures you’re equipped with the information needed to choose the best TV that aligns with your specific viewing needs and preferences.

How Did We Rank the Best TV Brands?

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

? Test Criteria

  • SDR Brightness: Equal to or greater than 300 nits, ensuring a bright and clear display under any lighting conditions.
  • HDR Brightness: 1000 nits or more, to reveal the finest details in high dynamic range content.
  • Color Accuracy: At least 90% of the DCI P3 color gamut, providing rich and vibrant colors.

? “Nice To Haves”

  • Contrast Ratio: 10,000:1 or higher, offering deep blacks and bright whites for an exceptional viewing experience.
  • EOTF Accuracy: Delta E less than or equal to 0.018, for precise brightness and contrast across the board.
  • Fast Response Time: 10ms or less, ensuring smooth transitions without motion 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 TV brands. 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 TV brands, 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

  • 03/06/2024: Completely and thoroughly overhauled the guide to include the best and latest TVs.
  • 12/01/2023: Republished the list to include TVs based on our True Score system.

Top TV Brands For 2024

Prices accurate at the time of publishing

See how we test the testers

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Samsung S90C TV

    The Samsung S90C delivers exceptional 4K clarity and brightness for various settings, with superior gaming and home cinema features, making it a high-end choice without the OLED price tag.

    Samsung S90C TV Review →

    True Score

    90
    93
    8

    Experts

    92
    4k

    Customers

    SAVE $840
    $1,997.99
    $1,157.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Sony A90K OLED TV

    The compact Sony A90K offers OLED quality visuals and HDR experience in a smaller package, ideal for those prioritizing space and quality, though at a premium price.

    Sony A90K OLED TV Review →

    True Score

    88
    87
    7

    Experts

    94
    1k

    Customers

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    LG C3 OLED TV

    The LG C3 combines excellent color accuracy and responsiveness with affordability, offering a top-tier viewing experience for both gamers and cinephiles in a versatile OLED TV.

    LG C3 OLED TV Review →

    True Score

    88
    86
    9

    Experts

    93
    13k

    Customers

    SAVE $1,010
    $2,499.99
    $1,490.00
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    TCL QM8/QM850G QLED TV

    With unparalleled brightness and solid color accuracy, the TCL QM8/QM850G excels in any lighting condition, offering a bright and dynamic viewing experience at a competitive price.

    TCL QM8/QM850G QLED TV Review →

    True Score

    83
    83
    7

    Experts

    89
    816

    Customers

    SAVE $138
    $1,135.99
    $998.00
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Hisense U8K TV

    The Hisense U8K shines in brightly lit environments with high brightness and color accuracy, making it a great value for home theater enthusiasts and casual gamers alike.

    Hisense U8K TV Review →

    True Score

    80
    79
    6

    Experts

    84
    2k

    Customers

    SAVE $148
    $997.99
    $849.99

Our Approach to Testing The Best TV Brands

Evan Shepard/Gadget Review

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

We aggregate and analyze this data, ensuring our recommendations meet the specific needs. Specifically, when it comes to 4K TVs, this involves selecting models that deliver optimal image quality for content up to 4K resolution, including the ability to upscale lower-resolution content effectively. Discover our data-driven methodology for precise, reliable TV recommendations.

Which Criteria Matters for Testing Best TV Brands?

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.

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 TV Brands Test Data & Results

1. SDR & HDR Brightness TV Test Results

In well-lit rooms, the brightness level of your 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 TV brand, 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 top TV for bright rooms 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. Keep in mind that display technologies can indicate whether a TV may have higher brightness than the other, like QLED vs LED TVs where QLED has significantly better brightness thanks to quantum dot technology layered on top of an LED backlight.

Discover the top TV brands, ranked from brightest to least.

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 defines the range of colors a TV brand can reproduce, directly affecting how vibrant and true-to-life the images look. A wide color gamut in a compact 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. A TV brand covering a higher percentage of this color space can display colors more accurately and vividly.

For those who prioritize vibrant and immersive visuals, aiming for a TV brand 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, bringing a big viewing experience to a smaller screen. Be aware that certain TV panel types indicate that a TV may have better color gamut. When comparing VA panel vs IPS TVs, IPS panels offer better color gamut and accuracy, making them ideal for tasks requiring precise colors, such as graphic design and photo editing.

Below are the top TV brands, 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 is all the TVs on this guide sorted from best to worst in EOTF.

Below are all the TV brands on our list, ordered by EOTF.

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

4. Response Time TV Test Results

A slow response time on a TV brand 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 TV brand, 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 small TV ensures smooth transitions and sharp visuals, making every scene come to life without any distracting blurs or delays.

Below are the top TV brands, ordered by response time.

Response Time (in milliseconds; lower is better)

5. Contrast Ratio Test Results

For small 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. For seniors who want clarity and ease of viewing out of the best TV for the elderly, opt for a TV with a high contrast ratio. It ensures that all content, from movies to daily news, is displayed with maximum detail and minimal eye strain.

Ideally, a contrast ratio of 10,000:1 is what you should aim for in a TV brand. 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 TV brands, ordered by contrast ratio, all exceeding our testing criteria.

Contrast Ratio (higher is better)

Best TV Brands: Mistakes To Avoid

  1. Ignoring the Features That Matter: Consumers sometimes get swayed by flashy features that they might not necessarily need or use. For instance, buying a TV with 8K resolution when the content available is primarily in HD or 4K, or purchasing a smart TV with numerous apps and functionalities when they primarily use external devices for streaming. Keep in mind where you’ll be using the TV as well.

  2. Overlooking Display Quality: Some consumers focus solely on the brand, the size like the best 75-inch TV, or the price tag without paying enough attention to the display quality. Factors such as contrast ratio, color accuracy, and viewing angles are crucial for a satisfying viewing experience. Ignoring these aspects can result in disappointment with the purchased TV’s performance.

  3. Not Considering Room Size and Viewing Distance: A common mistake is not considering the size of the room where the TV will be placed and the typical viewing distance. Buying a TV that’s too large or too small for the space can lead to discomfort or suboptimal viewing experiences. Though the best 80-inch TV may be tempting, make sure you have enough space in the room to comfortably use it, otherwise the top-rated 50-inch TVs can be the more optimal fit for your space. Similarly, failing to account for the viewing angle can result in poor picture quality.

  4. Neglecting Future-Proofing: With rapid advancements in technology, it’s essential to consider future-proofing when buying a TV from the best store possible. This involves looking at factors such as HDMI ports, software updates, and compatibility with emerging technologies like HDR formats or gaming consoles. Choosing a TV without considering these aspects might lead to obsolescence sooner than expected. Consider investing in leading 8K TVs for a future-proof setup, but understand the differences between 4K vs 8K to ensure they suit your needs.

The Best TV Brands Tests Compared

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

Samsung S90C TV

  • Best for 4K

90
  • 373 nits

  • 1,058 nits

  • 99.98%

  • 0.0031

  • 1.4 ms

  • 0

Sony A90K OLED TV

  • Best for 50-inch

88
  • 288 nits

  • 593 nits

  • 99.38%

  • 0.004

  • 3 ms

  • 0

$1,298.00
$1,300
$2

LG C3 OLED TV

  • Best for 55-inch

88
  • 383 nits

  • 795 nits

  • 98.98%

  • 0.0056

  • 2.3 ms

  • 0

$896.99
$1,297
$400

TCL QM8/QM850G QLED TV

  • Best for 65-inch

83
  • 2,076 nits

  • 2,005 nits

  • 94.59%

  • 0.037

  • 8.9 ms

  • 114,057:1

Hisense U8K TV

  • Best for 75-inch

80
  • 1,549 nits

  • 1,792 nits

  • 97.44%

  • 0.0105

  • 13.3 ms

  • 165,360:1

TV Brand Questions (FAQ)

How do I choose between different top TV brands?

Consider factors like the technology used (OLED, QLED, LED), smart features, price range, and user reviews. It's also crucial to think about the brand's reputation for durability and post-purchase customer service.

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