Updated Oct 22, 2024 at 12:23 pm
By Ben Trudeau
overview 4 comments
All new 4k TVs havea smart platformthat includes features and apps.Some manufacturers choose to use proprietary platforms, while others prefer to integrate third-party options like Google TV, Android, or Roku. No matter the smart platform, it's going to have all the major streaming apps, so you'll be sure to find apps for services like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video on any modern TV. However, there's more that goes into the functionality of a smart interface than the availability of apps.
We test how easy it is to use a particular TV's smart interface and how responsive the TV's menus are. We do this by measuring the time it takes for apps to load and how long it takes to change settings like brightness. Since smart interfaces are typically plastered with advertisements, we test to see how intrusive those advertisements are and if they can be disabled by the user. Additionally, we test if the TV is cast capable, if it supports USB playback, and how functional the included remote is. However, you shouldn't get a TVbased solely on its smart platform either, as you still want something with good picture quality. If you want to learn more about the tests that inform our picks, check out our article on how we test dozens of TVs each year.
Below are our recommendations for the best smart TVs in 2024. Also, see our picks for thebest TVs, thebest 4k TVs, and if you need asoundbar to pair with your new smart TV, check out our best soundbarsarticle. You can alsovote on which TVs you want us to buy and test. To learn more about the 2024models, check out our 2024TV lineup page.
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Best Smart TV
Samsung S90D/S90DD OLED (QD-OLED) 231
Current Deal: The Samsung S90D/S90DD OLED (QD-OLED) 48" (WOLED) has dropped in price by $550 at Amazon.com.
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Mixed Usage
9.0
TV Shows
8.7
Sports
8.9
Video Games
9.4
HDR Movies
9.0
HDR Gaming
9.3
PC Monitor
9.5
Type OLED
Sub-Type
QD-OLEDResolution 4k
Smart OS Tizen
Sizes 42" (WOLED) 48" (WOLED) 55" (QD-OLED) 65" (QD-OLED) 77" (QD-OLED) 83" (WOLED)
See all our test results
The best smart TVwe've tested is the Samsung S90D/S90DDOLED. It's an amazing TV with a great selection of smart features, including support for Bixby and Alexa voice assistants. If you don't want to use voice assistants, itswell-organized Tizen smartinterface isfast, easy to use, and has a huge selection of streaming apps. Its QD-OLED panel is extremely colorful compared to WOLED panels from LG, making it one of the most vibrant TVs on the market alongside other QD-OLED TVs from Sony and Samsung.
Like all OLEDs, the TV looks great in a dark room thanks to its perfect black levels.It's no slouch in a bright room either,as the TV has outstanding reflection handling andgets bright enough to overcome glare. It's also loaded with modern gaming features, so you get HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on all four ports, up to 4k @ 144Hz, and VRR. It doesn't support Dolby Vision HDR or DTS audio formats, so you might want to look at the pick below if you need those for your home theater. Unfortunately, not all sizes of the TV use a QD-OLED panel.
See our review
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Best Home Theater Smart TV
Sony A95L OLED 185
Mixed Usage
9.2
TV Shows
8.9
Sports
9.1
Video Games
9.3
HDR Movies
9.3
HDR Gaming
9.1
PC Monitor
9.4
Type OLED
Sub-Type
QD-OLEDResolution 4k
See AlsoThe best streaming device to buy right nowBest streaming devices for 2024: Apple TV, Roku, and more | Digital TrendsBest streaming sticks in 2024 for unbeatable performance and value | StuffThe best streaming devices for 2024Smart OS Google TV
Sizes 55" 65" 77"
See all our test results
Although the Samsung S90D/S90DD OLED (QD-OLED) is the best choice for most users due to its incredible value proposition, if you want the best home theater experience possible and have money to burn, consider the more expensive Sony A95LOLED.Compared to Samsung's HDR10+ format, the Sony TVsupports the more popular Dolby Vision HDR, so you'll enjoy the most advanced HDR experience possible from almost any source. It also offers better audio format support than the Samsung, including DTS:X passthrough over eARC, so you can run everything through your TV without sacrificing audio quality. Overall, you'll get the best HDR experience possible from more content with the Sony than you would with the Samsung.
The Sony TV is also no slouch when it comes to smart features. It runs the built-in Google TV interface, which is slower than Samsung's Tizen OS but has more features and a wider selection of streaming apps. It supports hands-free voice control, so you can find your favorite content without the remote or use the voice assistant to control your other devices. Truly, if you're willing to pay its high price, the A95L might very well be the best TV around.
See our review
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Best Bright Room Smart TV
Sony BRAVIA 9 QLED 153
Mixed Usage
8.8
TV Shows
8.4
Sports
8.3
Video Games
9.1
HDR Movies
9.0
HDR Gaming
9.0
PC Monitor
8.7
Type LED
Sub-Type
VAResolution 4k
Smart OS Google TV
Sizes 65" 75" 85"
See all our test results
The Sony BRAVIA 9 QLED is the best smart televisionfor bright rooms. Its superb reflection handling and brightness meanit easily overcomes glare in the brightest of rooms, so you aren't distracted by reflections on your TV screen.As impressive as this TV is in a bright room, it also looks great in a dark room. Although it doesn't display the same perfect, inky blacks as an OLED like the Sony A95L OLED, it still hasexceptional contrast for an LED TV and delivers very deep blacks with almost no blooming. It's also a great option for4k Blu-ray collectors or those looking to get the most out of high-quality streaming servicesdue to its support for Dolby Vision and DTS audio formats.
Like the A95L, it uses the Google TV interface that's loaded with streaming apps, so it's very easy to find the newest hit shows. It's also a great option for a home theater due to its support for Dolby Vision and DTS audio formats. Additionally, it's a great TV for gaming thanks to its HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on two of its ports for up to 4k @ 120Hz with VRR.
See our review
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Best Upper Mid-Range Smart TV
LG C4 OLED 139
Current Deal: The LG C4 OLED 65" has dropped in price by $500 at Amazon.com.
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Mixed Usage
9.0
TV Shows
8.5
Sports
8.8
Video Games
9.4
HDR Movies
9.1
HDR Gaming
9.1
PC Monitor
9.3
Type OLED
Sub-Type
WOLEDResolution 4k
Smart OS webOS
Sizes 42" 48" 55" 65" 77" 83"
See all our test results
If you want an OLED that is more versatile than the Samsung S90D/S90DD OLED but isn't nearly as expensive as the Sony A95L OLED, check out the upper mid-range LG C4OLED. It uses a WOLED panel, which isn't as bright or as colorful as the QD-OLED found in the Samsung or Sony OLEDs above, socolors aren't as vibrant. However, the LG offers the same perfect black levelsthat OLEDs are known for, making it a fantastic choice in dark rooms. The TV also has outstanding reflection handling and gets bright enough to overcome glare in a room with the lights on.In addition to that, youalso get support for the widely used Dolby Vision HDR format, which supports DTS audio.
In terms of its smart features, LG's proprietary webOS smart platform is excellent, as it's easy to use, and navigating through it feels smooth. LG's remotes are unique because they have a point-and-press feature, similar to a Nintendo Wii remote, that lets you easily choose apps and settings in the menu, saving you the hassle of scrolling through everything with a directional pad. The webOS smart platform also allows customization with different profiles, so you can have a different layout than someone else at home. It's also an excellent gaming TV with HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, up to 4k @ 144Hz, and VRR support.
See our review
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Best Mid-Range Smart TV
LG B4 OLED 40
Mixed Usage
8.9
TV Shows
8.4
Sports
8.7
Video Games
9.4
HDR Movies
9.0
HDR Gaming
9.1
PC Monitor
9.3
Type OLED
Sub-Type
WOLEDResolution 4k
Smart OS webOS
Sizes 48" 55" 65" 77" 83"
See all our test results
If you'd like an OLED and can live with it being a bit dimmer, the LG B4OLED is a great mid-range TV and can serve as an excellent entry point into the OLED market. The TV has all the features of the more expensive LG C4 OLED, but the B4is dimmer and is limited to a 120Hz refresh rate. It still delivers outstanding picture quality, especially in a dark room, withitsnear-infinite contrast ratio delivering deep, inky blacks with no distracting blooming. Even though it's dimmer than the C4, it's still pretty bright for an OLED and has fantastic reflection handling, so it does overcome glare in rooms with some lights on.
It displays similarly vibrant colors as the C4 and has the same support for Dolby Vision and DTS audio formats. It also runs the same greatwebOS smartinterface as the more expensive LG, with the same point-and-press smart remote. Finally, it has most of the same gaming features, so you get HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on all four ports and VRR support, but you are limited to 120Hz instead of the 144Hz you get on the C4.
See our review
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Best Lower Mid-Range Smart TV
Hisense U7N [U7, U75N] 99
Current Deal: The Hisense U7N [U7, U75N] 55" has dropped in price by $252 at Amazon.com.
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Mixed Usage
8.2
TV Shows
7.8
Sports
8.0
Video Games
8.7
HDR Movies
8.1
HDR Gaming
8.7
PC Monitor
8.6
Type LED
Sub-Type
VA (except 75")Resolution 4k
Smart OS Google TV
Sizes 55" 65" 75" 85"
See all our test results
The best lower mid-range smart TV is the Hisense U7N. It's cheaper than anything recommended up to this point, but it's packed with many of the same features as the more expensive choices and still provides impressive overall picture quality. Like the Sony BRAVIA 9 QLED, it uses local dimming to simultaneously deliver deep blacks and bright highlights. The local dimming isn't as precise as on the BRAVIA 9, so you do see some blooming around bright elements when displayed against a dark background. The TV also has a narrow viewing angle, so the image degrades when viewed from the sides of the screen.
The TV has amazing SDR peak brightness and reflection handling, so it easily overcomes glare in a bright room. The TV supports all three major HDR formats,and it supports DTS audio. The U7N runs the Google TV interface, so finding your favorite streaming services or content is easy. The included remote supports voice control, which is great if you want to find content quickly. The TV even has an integrated microphone for hands-free voice control, which you can turn off with a switch if you're worried about privacy. The TV hasHDMI 2.1 bandwidth on two ports, VRR support, and up to 4k @ 144Hz, so it's great for gamers too.
See our review
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Best Budget Smart TV
Hisense U6/U6N 21
Mixed Usage
7.6
TV Shows
7.0
Sports
7.3
Video Games
8.2
HDR Movies
7.6
HDR Gaming
8.1
PC Monitor
8.0
Type LED
Sub-Type
VAResolution 4k
Smart OS Google TV
Sizes 55" 65" 75" 85"
See all our test results
If you want to save money, the best budget smart TV we've tested is the Hisense U6/U6N. Compared with the Hisense U7N, the main trade-off with picture quality is that it doesn't get as bright, so it's not as effective in HDR, which is normal for a budget-friendly model. It also has worse reflection handling, so it's better to use in a dark room, where it displays deep blacks thanks to its full-array local dimming feature. Unfortunately, there's some noticeable blooming around bright objects.
It runs the sameGoogle TV interface as the U7N, which is very simple to use once you're used to it, and has a great selection of streaming channels. The included remote supports voice control, which is great if you want to find content quickly, and the TV has a built-in microphone if you want to ditch the remote completely.Unfortunately, it's not nearly as good for gaming since it's limited to HDMI 2.0 bandwidth, 4k @ 60Hz, and has a more limited VRR feature. However, you can trade in some resolution and the VRR feature to play up to 1440p @ 120hz, which is great for a TV that's affordable.
See our review
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Best Cheap Smart TV
Roku Select Series 21
Mixed Usage
7.1
TV Shows
6.9
Sports
7.0
Video Games
7.6
HDR Movies
6.9
HDR Gaming
7.7
PC Monitor
7.5
Type LED
Sub-Type
VAResolution 4k
Smart OS Roku TV
Sizes 24" 32" 40" 43" 50" 55" 65" 75"
See all our test results
If you want something cheap that gets the job done, the Roku Select Series is one of the best TVsfor tight budgets. It's a basic TV that delivers worse picture quality than the Hisense U6/U6N, but this is typical of cheap models. It also isn't as good in a dark room due to its lack of local dimming, so you don't get very deep blacks in a dark room. It doesn't get very bright, but it has decentreflection handling, so it can handle a few lights in a moderately lit room.
As it's one of the two first-ever TVs made by Roku, it runs theRoku TV smart interface, which is extremely fast. It has wide streaming app selections, so you can easily find your favorite shows and movies. Its remote even has an integrated microphone for voice commands, which is great for a cheap TV. Even better, you can plug headphones into the remote for private listening, a great feature at this price range.
See our review
Notable Mentions
- TCL Q6/Q651G QLED:
The TCL Q6/Q651G QLED is a good budget TV that directly competes with the Hisense U6/U6N. The Hisense is better overall for most people due to its superior contrast, but the TCL is an interesting option for gamers. Like the Hisense, it runs the Google TV OS, and the TCL supports up to 1440p @ 120Hz on all sizes except for the 43 and 50-inch models. However, VRR works on the TCL when you do that. This makes it slightly better for gamers looking for the best performance.
See our review - Hisense U8/U8N:
The Hisense U8/U8N is a cheaper alternative to the Sony BRAVIA 9 QLED that also uses the Google TV smart interface. The Hisense is also one of the brightest TVs on the market, so it looks amazing even in very bright rooms. Still, the Sony is almost as bright, and it's better overall, with much better upscaling, superior accuracy, and more impressive contrast.
See our review - Hisense A7N [A7, A75N]:
The Hisense A7N is a solid alternative to the Roku Select Series. The Hisense even displays a wider range of colors than the Roku. However, the Roku is brighter in SDR and has superior contrast, so it's the better option for most people.
See our review
Recent Updates
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Oct 22, 2024:
We updated the Introduction for clarity and refreshed the Notable Mentions.
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Aug 27, 2024: Replaced the Samsung S90C OLED, the LG C3 OLED, the LG B4 OLED, and the Hisense U6/U6K with their 2024 replacements. We also refreshed some text for clarity and updated the Notable Mentions section.
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Jun 28, 2024: Replaced the Hisense U7K with the Hisense U7N in the 'Best Lower Mid-Range Smart TV' category and replaced the Sony X93L/X93CL with the Sony BRAVIA 9 QLED in the 'Best Bright Room Smart TV' category. We also refreshed some text throughout for clarity.
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May 29, 2024: Refreshed text throughout the article for clarity.
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May 03, 2024: Added mentions of the 2024 Hisense U6N and the Hisense U7N in the 'Best Budget Smart TV' and the 'Best Lower Mid-Range Smart TV' categories. We also refreshed some text throughout the article for clarity.
What Is ASmart TV?
A smart TV is a television connected to the internet that provides web-related features. It has built-in apps for streaming and usually an app store where you can download your favorite apps. Built-in smart platforms are similar to streaming boxes from Apple and Roku, and while smart TVs were once slower, they've since equaled the performance of a streaming box.
Not only does almost every TV include smart features, but most of them are also pretty good. Most shoppers will be pleased by the features of any of the smart platforms. Don't fret too much about features if you're shopping for the best TVfor streamingbecause the picture quality is still more important. Instead, focus on the picture quality or other features that complement your usage, and you'll get much closer to finding your perfect TV that way.
Learn more about smart platforms.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best TVs for streaming currently available with smart features. They are adapted to be valid for most people in each price range, so this article will help you find the best smart TV for the money in your budget. Rating is based on our review, factoring in price, and feedback from our visitors.
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our reviews of smart TVs. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While noTV is perfect, most TVs are great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
