We’re halfway through 2025, and the battle for the best screen in your living room has reached full cinematic drama. OLED, QD-OLED, Mini LED — every major brand is throwing its finest tech at the market, each claiming to deliver the brightest, sharpest, most immersive experience you’ve ever seen. But marketing talk is cheap. We’ve sifted through the hype, pulled from hands-on testing where possible, dug deep into performance data when reviews weren’t available yet, and built this list based on one thing that really matters: the best value you can get for your money right now.
To make things clear, we’ve organized our picks into four price categories: flagship, high-end, mid-range, and entry-level. That way, no matter your budget, you’ll know exactly where to look. Ten models made the cut — the absolute cream of the crop for 2025.
The flagship category is where brands go all-in. There’s no cutting corners here. You get their latest panels, the fastest processors, and innovations so fresh they’re practically still warm from the R&D lab. This year’s elite trio all happen to be OLED sets, which tells you just how dominant the technology has become for pure image quality.
LG OLED C5
First up is the LG OLED G5, a true showstopper. LG has taken OLED brightness to new heights thanks to its RGB Primary Tandem OLED panel, delivering an eye-searing 2,500 nits in a 10% window and an astonishing 4,000 nits in Bright Mode. The Automatic Brightness Limiter is much less aggressive this time around, allowing 400 nits full-screen, which is great for sports and gaming. The G5’s secret weapon is a four-layer panel structure with dual deep-blue emitters, making it the brightest OLED TV ever released. HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision are all supported, naturally. Under the hood, LG’s Alpha 11 processor now has more powerful AI capabilities, pushing image clarity and realism to an even higher level. And gamers aren’t forgotten — four HDMI 2.1 ports give you VRR, G-Sync, FreeSync, Dolby Vision gaming, and an unheard-of 165Hz refresh rate. This is the kind of TV that can make a console or gaming PC feel brand new.
LG OLED C5
Samsung S95F
Then there’s the Samsung S95F, the newest iteration of the company’s QD-OLED line and a direct competitor to LG’s G5. Now in its fourth generation, QD-OLED technology gets a Tandem structure and upgraded blue light emitters, which push brightness beyond the 2,200 nit mark — a huge leap from last year’s S95D. Samsung’s beloved One Connect box is back, letting you plug everything into a hub and run a single thin fiber optic cable to the TV. An improved anti-glare filter makes this set viable even in rooms flooded with sunlight. HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG are all here, along with four HDMI 2.1 ports for 4K at 165Hz with VRR and FreeSync. The S95F is a mix of raw power and sleek usability that makes it a top contender for the best TV of the year.
Samsung S95F
Bravia 8 II
Sony rounds out the flagship category with the Bravia 8 II, which uses the same fourth-gen QD-OLED panel as Samsung but tweaks it with Sony’s unique processing philosophy. Peak brightness sits at around 2,000 nits in standard conditions and can hit 2,800 in HDR, with a less aggressive ABL than last year’s A95L. The real magic here is the XR Processor, still the best in the industry for motion handling, upscaling, and overall cinematic feel. Two HDMI 2.1 ports allow for 4K at 120Hz with Dolby Vision Gaming, and VRR support keeps gameplay smooth. If you care about picture accuracy, subtle detail, and that elusive “wow” factor, the Bravia 8 II is hard to beat.
Bravia 8 II
Dropping down into the high-end category, we still get OLED and Mini LED displays that deliver incredible performance, but at prices that won’t make your eyes water quite as much. Often, the difference from a flagship is smaller than you’d think.
LG OLED C5
The LG OLED C5 is the go-to premium choice for many buyers. It uses LG’s latest OLED EVO panel with brightness around 1,200 nits, paired with webOS 25 and the Alpha 9 Gen 8 processor. Image quality is gorgeous, gaming features are robust — including 4K at 144Hz, VRR, G-Sync, and Dolby Vision Gaming — and you still get four HDMI 2.1 ports. It’s a perfect balance of price and performance.
LG OLED C5
Samsung S90F
Samsung’s S90F plays a similar role. Think of it as the S95F’s slightly toned-down sibling. You get the same NQ4 Gen3 AI processor and gaming features like 4K at 144Hz and VRR, but brightness tops out at about 1,200 nits. Some will even prefer it since it skips the One Connect box and uses higher-bandwidth HDMI ports built right into the chassis.
Samsung S90F
TCL C8K
Then there’s the TCL C8K, a Mini LED beast that’s shaking up the market. It swaps in an improved HVA panel with high native contrast, boosts dimming zones to 1,344, and pushes brightness up to a blazing 4,000 nits. Add in quantum dots, FILMMAKER Mode, and support for HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG, and you’ve got a TV that punches far above its price. Gamers get two HDMI 2.1 ports — one capable of 144Hz — plus the excellent Google TV platform.
TCL C8K
Hisense U8Q
Not to be outdone, Hisense’s U8Q shows up swinging with a staggering 5,000 nits peak brightness in the 65-inch VA version, backed by 2,048 dimming zones and outstanding processing. The VIDAA U9 OS is faster than ever, and two HDMI 2.1 ports deliver 4K at 165Hz with VRR and FreeSync Premium. If you watch in bright rooms or want HDR that really pops, the U8Q is almost unmatched.
Hisense U8Q
TCL C7K
Moving into the mid-range, the focus shifts to value. Here you’ll still find Mini LED sets with Full Array Local Dimming, but the pricing is far more approachable. TCL’s C7K leads the charge with 1,008 dimming zones, 1,500 nits brightness, and a refined HVA panel. Google TV is on board, the sound system has been upgraded, and gaming performance remains strong with 4K at 120Hz, VRR, and FreeSync Premium. It’s the definition of a crowd-pleaser.
TCL’s C7K
Hisense U7Q
Hisense counters with the U7Q, which sits between TCL’s C6K and C7K in both performance and price. It offers 240 dimming zones in the 65-inch size, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and 900 nits of HDR brightness. Two HDMI 2.1 ports allow 4K at 144Hz gaming with VRR, and it’s an especially good buy if you stick to VA-panel versions.
Hisense U7Q
TCL C6K
Finally, at the entry-level, we find the TCL C6K — proof that you don’t need a huge budget to get a quality 4K HDR experience. It packs over 150 dimming zones, a VA panel with 5,000:1 contrast, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos audio, and Google TV. Peak brightness is impressive for the price, hitting 1,000 nits in the 50-inch model and up to 2,000 nits in the 75-inch. For a budget-friendly set, it’s a shockingly complete package.
TCL C6K
From blinding-bright Mini LEDs to silky-smooth OLEDs, 2025’s best TVs offer something for everyone. If you’ve got deep pockets, flagship OLEDs like the LG G5, Samsung S95F, and Sony Bravia 8 II will deliver jaw-dropping picture quality that feels almost unreal. If you want something more affordable without sacrificing too much in performance, the high-end and mid-range categories are packed with smart buys that deliver 90% of the experience at a fraction of the cost. And if you just need a great screen at the lowest price possible, models like the TCL C6K prove that you can still get excellent contrast, strong HDR, and modern features without breaking the bank.
The bottom line is simple: no matter what you’re spending, 2025 is an incredible year to upgrade your TV — and the real winners are the people watching.
