These days just about every TV is a smart TV, which is why this list is basically the same as our main best TVs list. So what’s a smart TV, you ask? It’s a television that includes built-in streaming so you can watch TV shows and movies using your Internet connection, without needing a cable box or antenna (although you can still hook those up, too). You’ll still need to connect your smart TV to Wi-Fi or a wired Ethernet cable, but once you do that, you won’t need anything else to enjoy Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Prime Video and all the best streaming apps. The top smart TV systems include Roku, Google TV and Amazon Fire TV, as well as proprietary systems like Samsung Tizen and LG webOS.
View details View details
View details View details
View details View details
Photo Gallery1/1
If you’re looking for the best smart TV for your money and the TCL QM8 is just too big, the Hisense U8N should be your go-to. We compared the two 2024 TVs side-by-side, and while we liked the QM8 just a bit better, the U8K has one medium-size advantage: a 55-inch screen option. So if 65 is too large for your room, your budget or your taste, the choice between the two is simple: Get the 55-inch Hisense U8N.
Both offer excellent image quality and affordable prices, thanks to mini-LED backlights and full-array local dimming, as well as similar gaming features and the Google TV operating system. Both cost hundreds less than you’d have to pay to get similar image quality from a better-known brand.
Note that while I tested the 65-inch size in the U8K series, the prices shown here are for the 55-inch size.
The TCL 4-Series Roku TV offered picture quality that was just slightly behind the Vizio V-Series in our budget TV test. Its superior Roku smart TV system edged it ahead, earning the TCL the top spot on our list. The 4-Series lacks Dolby Vision, Bluetooth connectivity and AMD FreeSync with a variable refresh rate, all of which the Vizio offers, but in our book, superior smart TV streaming is more important at the budget level.
Note that TCL has been selling the 4-Series for the last few years with little to no change in image quality or features in our tests, although it has recently added some larger screen sizes, including an 85-inch option.
The prices shown are for the 55-inch size.
” page-position linktext=”Full Review” linkurl=”https://www.cnet.com/reviews/tcl-65s435-review/” like=”~Good picture quality ~Excellent smart TV system ~Affordable” dislike=”~Lacks more premium perks like Dolby Vision and VRR” can-collapse=”true” can-truncate=”true” truncate-on-page-load=”true” offer techobjectinfo=”{"uuid":"1f9da5ce-d88a-4fcb-a218-f8b81e8677c6","slug":"tcl-55-class-4-series-4k-uhd-hdr-smart-roku-tv-55s451","name":"TCL 55\" Class 4-Series 4K UHD HDR Smart Roku TV – 55S451","productType":"SERIES","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1738838003499}” overridecredit=”David Katzmaier” overridecaption=”” imagegroup=”{"uuid":"c496e8fc-c71e-4a1f-81d1-a2b6e4bda962","alt":"TCL 4 Series Roku TV on a stand","caption":"","credits":"David Katzmaier","imageData":{"id":"c496e8fc-c71e-4a1f-81d1-a2b6e4bda962","filename":"budget-tvs-6157.jpg","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/78ce276ec5c1308e45b4da1175e993c379f6c1ae/hub/2022/10/18/c496e8fc-c71e-4a1f-81d1-a2b6e4bda962/budget-tvs-6157.jpg?auto=webp&height=500","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-10-18 20:48:52.000000","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"size":"","float":"","lightbox":false,"imageUrl":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/78ce276ec5c1308e45b4da1175e993c379f6c1ae/hub/2022/10/18/c496e8fc-c71e-4a1f-81d1-a2b6e4bda962/budget-tvs-6157.jpg?auto=webp&height=500","imageCaption":"","imageCredit":"David Katzmaier","imageAltText":"TCL 4 Series Roku TV on a stand","imageFilename":"budget-tvs-6157.jpg","imageWidth":3000,"imageHeight":1688,"imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageDateCreated":"2022-10-18","imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}” usepricing=”true” ng-block=”{"id":"m5uyayyk26bd9tc","type":"listicle"}” edition=”us” data-key=”cnetlisticle__b70c1189-8bdf-4081-9437-d2363e62555e” index=”3″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”FAQ Markup + BL Precap” tagslugs=”project-save,amazon-prime,4k-tvs,lg,roku,samsung,vizio,hv14,tcl” isbestlistredesign=”true” imagecredit=”David Katzmaier” imagealttext=”TCL 4 Series Roku TV on a stand” class=”c-bestListListicle”>
Photo Gallery1/1
Competition among TVs in the middle pricing band is heating up, and the Plus Series is the latest entrant. Unlike the TCL Roku TVs higher on this list, this one is all Roku, with no other brands on board. It adds a couple of step-up extras, including QLED and full-array local dimming, which help deliver a better picture than the TCL 4-Series, for example. It’s not as impressive as the Vizio MQX since it lacks 120Hz for gaming, and its picture quality is worse overall. If you value those extras, then the Vizio is worth saving for, but if not, the Roku Plus Series is a very good value.
This is the first TV Roku has produced under its own brand, as opposed to partnering with brands like TCL, Sharp, Pioneer or Hisense. The company also released a version with fewer features and no local dimming, called the Roku Select Series.
The C4 has better picture quality than any non-OLED TV on this list at a higher price, and it’s still not outrageously expensive. Its perfect black levels, unbeatable contrast and superb off-angle viewing kept it a notch above the cheaper mini-LED models in our comparison tests, and while its overall brightness isn’t quite as impressive, it’s still an incredible performer in all kinds of room lighting.
The C4 replaced the C3, and while we’ll almost always recommend buying last year’s version of a TV, the C4 is available for around the same price and so is the model to go for.
The prices shown here are for the 65-inch size of the LG C4 series.
” page-position linktext=”Read full review” linkurl=”https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/lg-oled-c4-review-high-end-staple-balances-picture-quality-and-value/” like=”~Better picture quality than any non-OLED TV we’ve tested ~Superior contrast and off-angle image ~Best-in-class gaming features ~Sleek styling with ultralight, thin panel” dislike=”~Expensive ~Not as bright as higher-end OLED TVs ~No major improvements over the C3 from 2023″ can-collapse=”true” can-truncate=”true” truncate-on-page-load=”true” offer=”{"id":"a0064f77-3a2a-47f9-bcf4-70a79ac1490b","label":"LG OLED evo C4 Series 4K Smart OLED TV(OLED65C4PUA, 65\", 2024)","slug":"lg-oled-evo-c4-series-4k-smart-oled-tv-oled65c4pua-65-2024","edition":["us"],"imageId":"","imgUrl":"","imageHeight":0,"imageWidth":0,"typeLabel":"Product","objectType":"content_product","icon":""}” techobjectinfo=”{"uuid":"a0064f77-3a2a-47f9-bcf4-70a79ac1490b","slug":"lg-oled-evo-c4-series-4k-smart-oled-tv-oled65c4pua-65-2024","name":"LG OLED evo C4 Series 4K Smart OLED TV(OLED65C4PUA, 65\", 2024)","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"PRISM","mod":1738838003767}” overridecredit=”Bella Czajkowski/CNET” overridecaption=”” imagegroup=”{"uuid":"05794ab5-f1c0-4fb9-b375-b1b223c969ee","alt":"lg-c4-07","caption":"","credits":"Josh Goldman/CNET","imageData":{"id":"05794ab5-f1c0-4fb9-b375-b1b223c969ee","filename":"lg-c4-07.jpg","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/7762554742116a83f89f9e939c410e341c8bbcb3/hub/2024/07/16/05794ab5-f1c0-4fb9-b375-b1b223c969ee/lg-c4-07.jpg?auto=webp&height=500","dateCreated":{"date":"2024-07-16 17:49:38.000000","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"size":"","float":"","lightbox":false,"imageUrl":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/7762554742116a83f89f9e939c410e341c8bbcb3/hub/2024/07/16/05794ab5-f1c0-4fb9-b375-b1b223c969ee/lg-c4-07.jpg?auto=webp&height=500","imageCaption":"","imageCredit":"Josh Goldman/CNET","imageAltText":"lg-c4-07","imageFilename":"lg-c4-07.jpg","imageWidth":4592,"imageHeight":2578,"imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageDateCreated":"2024-07-16","imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}” usepricing=”true” ng-block=”{"id":"1vz3gbwr8u9zn8u","type":"listicle"}” edition=”us” data-key=”cnetlisticle__be226154-99f0-4c9c-a770-7b329400f713″ index=”5″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”FAQ Markup + BL Precap” tagslugs=”project-save,amazon-prime,4k-tvs,lg,roku,samsung,vizio,hv14,tcl” isbestlistredesign=”true” imagecredit=”Bella Czajkowski/CNET” imagealttext=”lg-c4-07″ class=”c-bestListListicle”>
We’ll post the answers to commonly asked TV questions below. If you have any others, feel free to reach out on Twitter (@dkatzmaier).
At CNET our favorite is Roku for its simplicity, while Google TV is our runner-up for its impressive integration with other Google services such as Google Photos and YouTube TV. Samsung TV’s system is our third choice, with Amazon Fire TV and LG left as some of our least favorite options.
Amazon makes a full range of smart TVs that run on its Fire operating system. The Fire TV platform is not one of our favorites because ads are featured so prominently throughout. We just don’t appreciate the TV becoming a giant rotating billboard for content or ads when in screensaver mode. In addition, we’ve found other TVs tend to have better picture quality than most Fire TVs.
Many smart TVs come with some kind of voice assistant. All Amazon Fire TVs come with Alexa built-in, while Sony, TCL and Hisense TVs that run on Google’s operating system offer Google Assistant. Many new Samsung and LG TVs come with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa built-in as well. Roku TVs and Vizio TVs, meanwhile, respond to voice commands but don’t work with Alexa or Google Assistant.
On most of these TVs, you’ll need to speak into the remote to use voice commands, but some also respond to hands-free “Alexa” or “Hey Google” wake words, just like a smart speaker. Many TVs can also be paired with a smart speaker, such as an Echo Dot or Google Nest Mini, to receive voice commands.
In our opinion bigger is better, and your money is best spent on large screen sizes rather than a slight upgrade in image quality. The answer also depends on room size and seating distance: If you have a big room and sit farther away, you’ll want a bigger TV. The answer also depends on room size and seating distance.
Most TVs sound terrible because their thin cabinets don’t have room for decent-sized speakers or bass. If you want to get good sound you should buy an external audio system. Even an inexpensive soundbar will deliver much better audio quality than a TV’s built-in speakers. The Roku Streambar is a good example of a device that integrates a streaming system with a soundbar into one product.
