Looking for a new TV? Whether you need a screen for the World Cup, gaming, or streaming shows and movies, there’s a TV here to meet your needs. I’ve reviewed many of the latest TVs head-to-head in a dedicated lab to help you find the TV with the best image quality, the right size for your room, and the best value for your money.
Quick Overview
At the halfway point of 2026, and after testing many of the top TVs on the market, the best TV of the year is the TCL QM8L. It improves on the award-winning QM8K in nearly every meaningful way, and still manages to take on more expensive TVs and win. It’s brighter, more vibrant, and better for gaming too.
Though the technology of the moment is MiniRGB LED, TCL has stuck to its guns with a QLED TV variant that improves the quantum dots and makes them “super.” The result is more colors and better compatibility with future video formats.
Best TVs of 2026
1. TCL QM8L — Best Overall TV of 2026
Pros: One of the brightest TVs yet | Excellent color and contrast | Great for gaming
Cons: LG C6 OLED has better contrast at the same price | More reflective than its peers
The TCL QM8L is the best TV I’ve seen in 2026. Though an OLED like the LG C5 or C6 gives you better contrast for the same price or less, nothing available right now can match the TCL QM8L for brightness, image quality, and value for money. It’s a deserving Editors’ Choice.
2. Samsung S90F — Best Value OLED
Pros: Excellent image quality | Fast response for gamers
Cons: Lacks the step-up model’s anti-glare coating | No Dolby Vision
The Samsung S90F is relatively affordable, lightweight, easy to set up, and delivers some of the best pictures I’ve ever seen. It delivers the “infinite black” of the best OLEDs, pairing it with excellent shadow detail. Like all Samsung TVs, it doesn’t support Dolby Vision, but HDR10+ is more than sufficient for most purposes.
3. LG G5 OLED — Best Color Accuracy
Pros: Best brightness of any OLED TV yet | Excellent image quality
Cons: Brightness boost not visible in all content | Remote isn’t as good | Expensive vs LG C5
While every other OLED TV until now has shown modest year-over-year increases, the LG G5 is a huge improvement on its predecessor. LG claims a 40% brightness improvement — verified in my own testing. The G5 has better color than any other TV I’ve tested in the past year, and it’s the winner of the CNET Labs Award for Best Color Accuracy.
4. Samsung S95F — Best Overall Image Quality
Pros: Best overall image quality tested | Best-in-class glare reduction | Superior contrast and off-angle viewing | Ultrathin panel
Cons: Expensive | Slightly reduced contrast in bright rooms
If you want the best TV money can buy in 2026, this is it. Samsung’s S95F takes everything we loved about last year’s S95D and somehow improves upon it. The way this TV eliminates reflections makes it perfect for bright rooms. Picture quality is as good as you’d expect from an OLED, with vibrant colors and unmatched contrast.
5. Hisense QD7QF — Best Budget TV
Pros: Excellent image quality thanks to local dimming | Affordable | Great for gaming
Cons: Price is volatile
The key to the Hisense QD7QF’s success is full-array local dimming — a feature usually found only in more expensive TVs. The result is image quality I’ve never seen before at this price point. Its brightness is over twice that of other budget TVs I tested, boosting immersion in games as well.
6. TCL QM6K — Best TV Under $1,000
Pros: Excellent image quality | Surprisingly deep black levels | Great value
Cons: Brightness and color saturation could be better
The TCL QM6K delivers excellent image quality, streaming, and gaming at an affordable price. It supports all HDR formats including Dolby Vision and HDR10+, and features TCL’s Halo Control System processing, designed to eliminate backlight haloing across its 500 dimming zones.
Other TVs Worth Considering
LG G6 OLED: Not quite as good as the G5 in some respects, and more expensive, but its antireflective layer is excellent for bright rooms.
TCL QM8K: Last year’s TCL was also top of the list and is still a great TV available for much less than the new QM8L.
Samsung S95H OLED: Can display static artwork — a big no-no for most OLEDs — but its color isn’t as good as its rivals.
Hisense U8Q: Goes tit-for-tat against the TCL QM8K and is typically much brighter.
Roku Pro Series: The best Roku TV yet, with some of the best onboard sound around.
LG C5: An excellent OLED TV for watching TV or playing games, though the S90F is better.
Shopping Tips
Size: Bigger is better. I recommend at least 43 inches for a bedroom and 55 inches for a living room. 65 inches or more is ideal.
Price: TVs range from $100 to over $2,000. Entry-level TVs have a good enough picture for most people, but TVs last a long time, so it’s worth spending more for a better image.
Sound: Most built-in TV speakers are mediocre. A separate soundbar (from $100) will immediately improve dialogue clarity and bass.
Smart TV: For streaming, our favorite is Roku for simplicity, but Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung, and LG all have their strengths.
