5 Best TVs for Binge-Watching, Big Games, and Movie Nights, According to Testing
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There’s something so relaxing about settling in with a bowl of popcorn, dimming the lights, and watching a movie. Whether you’re looking for a big, bright screen for your living room, a high-performance OLED for movie nights, or a TV that doubles as artwork, there’s an option to suit your space and lifestyle. To help you find the right TV, we valuated the latest models for picture quality, brightness, contrast, ease of use, and more.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: Samsung Class S95H OLED 4K
- Best Value: Hisense U6 Pro Series
- Best Big Screen: TCL QM8L Series
- Best Art TV: Samsung The Frame Pro
- Best OLED: LG OLED evo C4
The tech experts and engineers at the Good Housekeeping Institute Tech & Engineering Lab have been testing home theater equipment for decades, from evaluating the most popular TV brands to finding the best soundbars to pair with your set. We continuously research the latest TV technologies and consider feedback from our panel of TV testers to help you find the best model for your home.
Pros
- Exceptionally bright, colorful picture
- Glare-free screen helps reduce reflections
- Deep blacks and rich contrast
- Smooth 165-Hz refresh rate for sports and gaming
- Slim design with built-in Art Store
Cons
- Pricey, with Wireless One Connect Box and wall mount sold seperately
Why we recommend it: I've tested several TVs over the years as a product reviewer, but Samsung’s flagship OLED blew me away with its incredibly bright, colorful picture, deep blacks, and rich contrast. The screen looked so clean and crisp that I could make out tiny details in faces, clothing, and scenery without the picture ever looking overly processed. Meanwhile, its glare-free screen helps minimize reflections, making it a particularly strong choice for rooms with lots of natural light, like my very own living room. It's paired with a silvery bezel that looks both modern and sleek, while the slim design sits flush against the wall when mounted, allowing you to display artwork much like you would with Samsung’s popular Frame TV. Just note that the wall mount is not included with the TV's purchase.
Performance-wise, the TV uses AI-powered upscaling to sharpen lower-resolution content, such as older TV shows, while its 165-Hz refresh rate helps fast-moving sports and games look smooth. The One UI Tizen interface makes it easy to access your favorite streaming platforms, while the One Connect setup (sold separately) helps reduce cable clutter and lets you connect multiple devices, including a soundbar or gaming console.
Who it's for: Movie lovers, sports fans, gamers, and anyone who wants exceptional picture quality from a bright, premium OLED that performs well in rooms with lots of natural light.
| Type | OLED |
| Resolution | 4K |
| Refresh rate | 165 Hz |
| Smart platform | Samsung One UI Tizen |
| Sizes | 55", 65", 77" and 83" |
Pros
- Excellent value
- Good contrast and detail
- Anti-glare screen
- Easy-to-use Fire TV interface
Cons
- Tester noted occasional spottiness during fast-moving content
Why we recommend it: Hisense has a knack for making TVs that feel more expensive than they are, and this model is a great example. It delivers a bright picture with solid contrast, good color accuracy, and clear detail, even in sunlit rooms. It’s a reliable 4K option with an easy-to-use Fire TV interface and access to all your favorite streaming apps.
While our tester found it to be a good pick for gaming thanks to its 144 Hz refresh rate, he noticed occasional blurring during fast-moving scenes. He also found that the viewing angle could be improved.
Who it’s for: Shoppers who want an impressive picture and strong gaming features without spending a fortune.
| Type | Mini-LED QLED |
| Resolution | 4K |
| Refresh rate | 144 Hz |
| Smart platform | Fire TV |
| Sizes | 55" 65", 75", 85", and 100" |
Pros
- Extremely bright picture
- Vibrant, accurate-looking colors
- 144-Hz refresh rate
- Strong gaming features, including VRR up to 288 Hz
- Google TV interface with AI features
Cons
- Glossy screen may reflect light
- Ports and power configuration is not as accessible
Why we recommend it: I’ve always been impressed by the combination of value and quality TCL TVs offer. This particular model delivers a super-bright, colorful picture at a lower price than many premium OLEDs. For anyone looking for a truly big screen (I’m talking up to 98 inches) that’s worth considering. Its SQD Mini-LED display combines Quantum Dot color with thousands of dimming zones and impressive peak brightness, resulting in vivid highlights, deep blacks, and strong contrast. The 144-Hz refresh rate and Game Accelerator 288 VRR (variable refresh rate) also make it a strong option for watching sports and playing fast-moving games.
Our tester did note that the power and port configuration was not as accessible as on other models, with all ports located on the right side of the TV and the power on the opposite.
Who it’s for: Shoppers who want a bright, high-performance TV for movies, sports, and gaming without paying premium OLED prices.
| Type | QLED, SQD Mini-LED |
| Resolution | 4K |
| Refresh rate | 144 Hz |
| Smart platform | Google TV |
| Sizes | 65", 75", 85", and 98" |
Pros
- Doubles as a digital art display
- Matte screen minimizes glare
- Brighter picture than the standard Frame TV
- Wireless One Connect Box helps reduce cable clutter
- Slim, wall-hugging design
Cons
- Art Store requires a subscription for full access
- Picture quality still isn’t as cinematic as a premium OLED
- Only available in larger screen sizes
Why we recommend it: Over recent years, the Samsung Frame TV has gained popularity for its ability to combine art with entertainment. Much like the Frame TV, the Samsung Frame Pro enables you to turn your TV into a work of art (and not just a black screen), without sacrificing picture quality. It's one of the few TVs on the market that looks genuinely attractive when it’s turned off thanks to a matte display and Art Mode that help it blend into your space like a framed piece of artwork. Expert tip: Pair it with a gorgeous frame from Deco TV Frames and your guests will be fooled.
While not as impressive as some of Samsung's OLEDs, the Neo QLED Mini-LED screen delivers a brighter, more vibrant picture than the standard Frame TV. I also like that the included Wireless One Connect Box helps keep connected devices and cables out of sight, while the included Slim Fit wall mount makes it easy to hang the TV close to the wall.
Who it's for: Design-conscious shoppers who want a stylish TV that can double as artwork when it’s not in use.
| Type | Neo QLED Mini-LED |
| Resolution | 4K |
| Refresh rate | Up to 144 Hz |
| Smart platform | Samsung Tizen |
| Sizes | 65", 75" and 85" |
Pros
- Excellent picture quality with bright colors, deep blacks, and strong contrast
- Self-lit OLED pixels create sharp, detailed images
- Smooth performance for sports and gaming
- Supports gaming up to 144 Hz with VRR
- Available in a wide range of sizes
Cons
- More expensive than many LED and QLED TVs
- Best suited to darker rooms
Why we recommend it: Whether you enjoy movies, sports, or gaming, it’s hard to go wrong with LG’s C4 OLED. Our experts like this model for its combination of excellent picture quality and relatively strong value, making its higher initial cost feel worthwhile.
The screen delivers bright colors, deep blacks, and impressive contrast thanks to millions of self-lit pixels—more than 8 million, to be exact. “This TV has minimal lag, making fast-moving content still appear smooth and lifelike,” one tester noted. We also find LG’s webOS interface robust and easy to navigate. Gamers will appreciate the TV’s fast 120-Hz native refresh rate, which can reach up to 144 Hz, as well as access to NVIDIA’s GeForce Now cloud-gaming service, though a subscription may be required.
Who it’s for: This popular OLED is a great choice for anyone creating a home theater setup. The 2024 model offers excellent picture quality, a slim design, and a wide range of screen sizes to suit different spaces.
| Type | OLED evo |
| Resolution | 4K |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz native, up to 144 Hz |
| Smart platform | webOS 24 |
| Sizes | 42", 48", 55", 65", 77" and 83" |
Testing the Hisense U8.
Testing the Samsung QN900C.
How we test the best TVs
At the Good Housekeeping Institute Tech & Engineering Lab, our engineers and product analysts have decades of experience evaluating home electronics, including TVs and other home theater equipment. For this guide, the majority of our recommendations are based on TVs our experts have evaluated firsthand or seen in person. We also consider models our experts use in their own homes, along with insights from consumer testers when applicable.
When testing TVs, our experts evaluate both performance and ease of use. We assess how easy each model is to set up and navigate, looking at the remote control, menu system, smart TV interface, and the number and placement of ports. We also evaluate picture quality, including brightness, contrast, color accuracy and motion handling, as well as audio performance and features that shape the viewing experience, such as gaming capabilities and voice controls. When applicable, we incorporate feedback from our consumer test panel to better understand how TVs perform in everyday homes.
Testing the TCL QM8 Series.
What to look for when shopping for the best TVs
✔️ Resolution: A TV’s resolution refers to the number of pixels on its screen, but the terminology can be confusing. Our experts recommend choosing a set with at least 4K Ultra HD (UHD) resolution (3,840 × 2,160 pixels), which is the standard for most new TVs. 4K TVs have four times as many pixels as 1080p HD TVs, so they can show more detail, especially on larger screens or when you sit closer. The picture also depends on factors like screen size, viewing distance, and the quality of the content you’re watching.
You may also see “4K HDR.” HDR, or high dynamic range, is a separate feature that can improve contrast and color. While 8K TVs offer even higher resolution, 4K remains the more practical choice for most shoppers because there’s far more 4K content available.
✔️ Type: Most TVs sold today are LED-backlit LCDs, OLEDs, or QLEDs. OLED TVs have millions of self-lit pixels, which can turn off individually to produce deep blacks and strong contrast. LED-backlit LCD TVs use a light source behind an LCD panel and are available at a wide range of prices.
QLED is a type of LED-backlit LCD TV that uses a quantum dot layer to enhance color. Many QLED TVs are bright, which can make them a good option for well-lit rooms, though brightness varies by model.
✔️ Screen size: Before choosing a screen size, measure your TV console or the wall where you plan to mount the set. Screen size is measured diagonally, and 55- to 65-inch TVs are common choices for many living rooms. Consider your viewing distance, the size of your space, and your budget when deciding what works best for you.
✔️ Refresh rate: A TV’s refresh rate, measured in hertz (Hz), is how many times per second the screen updates its image. A higher refresh rate can make fast-moving scenes look smoother, which may be helpful for sports, action movies, and gaming. A 120Hz TV is a good option for viewers who want smoother motion, but many people will be satisfied with a 60Hz set.
If you game, also look for features such as low input lag, variable refresh rate (VRR), and HDMI 2.1 support. These can help games feel more responsive and display smoothly when the action changes quickly.
✔️ Number of ports: Look for enough ports to connect the devices you use now, such as gaming consoles, soundbars, and laptops. Choose a TV with accessible ports and a few extras, so you have room to connect other devices later.
Our experts recommend looking for several HDMI ports, including HDMI 2.1 if you plan to game, as well as an eARC port if you want to connect a soundbar.
✔️ Smart features: Most TVs include a smart platform that lets you use streaming apps. Some also work with voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant, or have voice-enabled remotes that let you search for shows and movies without typing. If you already use a smart home ecosystem, check that the TV is compatible with it. You can also add streaming and voice features with a separate device, so built-in features don’t have to determine your choice.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Senior Reviews Writer and Analyst Olivia Lipski covers everything from tech to home, travel, auto, and more for GH. She regularly tests home theater essentials like the Samsung The Frame TV, budget projectors, and other top-performing TVs to understand how well they perform. She also attends trade shows like CES annually to stay abreast of the latest technologies and trends in the TV industry.
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