honorable mention
There are so many good TVs available, we can’t add them all to our top list. Here are some great options that either missed the cut or were knocked off our top list by replacing them.
Hisense U8QG: The U8QG is a great buy at its lowest price (around $1,000 for a 65-inch model) and a solid pick above that price, especially if you want eye-popping brightness above all else. I noticed some SDR color accuracy issues (some images looked too red) and found it difficult to keep some content from being overly bright. Thankfully, you can always turn it down, and its nuclear powerhouse is paired with excellent black levels, deep contrast, and plenty of features. I actually like last year’s similarly punchy U8N, but it’s getting harder to find in stock.
TCL QM7K (2025): I have a love/hate relationship with the QM7K. Part of TCL’s new Precision Dimming series, its rich black levels and contrast reach OLED heights, matching good brightness for some spectacular moments. problem? The colors on my review model were off-kilter, with an odd green tint in selected black and grayscale content. Thankfully, I confirmed that TCL’s latest firmware update fixed the issue. The TV’s picture processing and colors still can’t catch up to premium TVs, and this is the second year in a row I’ve found a troubling performance issue with the QM7. You shouldn’t buy it at full price, but if you can get the 65-inch model for $1,000 or less, it’s a pretty tempting choice.
Samsung S95D: Samsung’s previous S95 matte-screen marvel is still a great QD-OLED TV that will be loved in virtually any TV room. We like the new version better, which compromises less on deep black levels, but if you can find the previous version at a killer deal, you won’t be sorry.
Hisense U7N: If you’re looking for a TV at a price like the QM6K but with some extra eye candy, last year’s Hisense U7N offers a serious boost over our top picks and still ranks among our best value for money options. Its bloated controls and screen uniformity aren’t as refined as the QM6K’s but it packs plenty of features, including great gaming credentials and a streamlined Google TV interface. It’s still a great buy while stocks last, especially at $700 or less.
Sony A95L: Sony has finally replaced this sweet screen with the 2025 Bravia 8 II, which offers improved color and higher HDR brightness, as well as equally incredible image processing and upscaling. That shouldn’t stop you from considering the cheaper A95L (9/10, wired recommendation). With superbly immersive picture quality and an intuitive Google TV interface, it’s a premium package that’s very tempting to sell well.
Sony Bravia 7: The Bravia 7 is a stunning display, offering brilliant brightness, natural colors and fine detail in fine details. Its biggest knock is the very poor off-axis viewing, which can be hard to swallow at its high list price. Otherwise, it’s worth considering for fans of the Sony Glow, especially since Sony seems to be discounting its top QLED TVs much more generously than its OLED models.
Other TVs we’ve tested
Samsung The Frame Pro: I’ve put the Frame Pro through our entire review process and come away both due to software issues and (so far) unimpressed with performance. The matte screen looks slick when displaying art, especially if you purchase an add-on frame (a frame for a frame?) from Samsung or Deco TV Frame. The film’s performance was otherwise mediocre at best. It’s much brighter than traditional frames, and colors pop, but its edge-lit mini LED system doesn’t look good with dark 4K HDR content, even during the day. Furthermore, I had trouble with its very sluggish operating system (which others have reported) and stuttering Blu-ray playback. We’re waiting for a second model, which we hope will fix the software issues, but stay clear for now.
TCL QM7: There’s only one thing holding back the 2024’s beautifully balanced QM7: a software glitch. During my review, I encountered an issue where adjusting SDR backlight levels affects HDR, which can lead to severe brightness limitations. While TCL fixed the issue for me in a firmware update, I never received confirmation of a comprehensive OTA fix. Most people probably won’t have this problem, so the QM7 is still worth considering, but be sure and test it before throwing the box away.
We are testing the following TVs
Samsung S90F: The follow-up to our favorite gaming TV might be among the best OLED values of the season (it usually is). I’ll be testing it long-term for a few weeks, so I should find out every detail for an in-depth evaluation.
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