Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
How do you feel about your television? Maybe you’re satisfied with a screen larger than yours Smartphone to World Cup Finals. Or maybe the built-in sound quality bothers you.
Choosing the right TV for your home is important, and you may not notice the pros and cons of your purchase until later. That’s why CNET People’s Picks It gives readers a chance to share their opinions about the TV and AV interface Image quality. Many of our readers love LG and Samsung TVs, but some other brands appeal to readers when it comes to cost and ecosystem.
CNET Editor-in-Chief David Katzmaier has 26 years of experience reviewing TVs and says his recommendations align with CNET readers’ preferences.
“I’ve always liked Roku and Google TV more than the proprietary systems from Samsung and LG, and I’m happy to see that CNET readers took our advice and bought LG and Samsung OLED TVs — because they’re the champs in picture quality,” Katzmaier said.
How exactly do readers’ sentiments align with CNET’s recommendations? Here are the brands our readers liked and what our experts think.
LG is best known among TV brands for its OLED displays, and they’re a favorite among CNET editors and readers. LG received high marks in several CNET People’s Choice categories and won three reader awards: picture quality, fast-moving content and OLED/QD-OLED.
CNET editors give LG several nods for its recent OLED TVs, praising the contrast of the new C6H, the color accuracy of the G5 — a CNET Lab Award winner — and the contrast and brightness of the G6 for movie buffs. The LG OLED G4 is one of the best gaming TVs due to its premium gaming features, especially since it is a more cost-effective option compared to the LG G6.
Image quality
runner up: Sony
CNET readers crown LG as picture quality winner. More than 3 out of 5 (61.7%) of CNET readers who own an LG TV reported an “excellent” experience with their LG TVs in bright rooms and during the day. Readers say there’s no glare and it’s beautifully bright, and 65.1% of readers using LG TVs report perfect dark scenes with deep blacks and no light bleed – a performance that’s common in OLED models and can really improve the look of movies and TV shows. Thus, LG’s picture quality reaches 63.4%.
Sony takes second place for picture quality, based on nearly half (49.8%) of readers who use a Sony TV saying the brand has deep blacks with no bleeding and great daylight performance.
Fast-moving content
runner up: Sony
LG wins with flawless, fast-moving content. Among readers, 71% of readers say LG TVs are perfectly smooth, blur-free, and free of weird artifacts with fast-moving content, while 28% say LG’s fast-moving content quality is natural but a little blurry at times. When it comes to gaming, CNET readers (59.8%) who have an LG TV say that fast-moving content is flawless and incredibly responsive and that the TV has great game menus.
Sony is the next best choice, with 60% of readers saying its fast-moving content looks flawless on Sony TV screens.
OLED/QD-OLED
runner up: Samsung
Finally, LG sweeps OLED/QD-OLED with 82.4% of readers who have an LG TV preferring the brand for its OLED displays. If you’re considering an LG OLED TV, the latest LG OLED G6 TV has excellent contrast, an improved anti-reflective coating, and good brightness for gaming. One of CNET’s lab-tested favorites is the previous LG OLED G5. CNET editors say it has the best color accuracy. The C4 is still a favorite, but if you want the latest and greatest, LG’s C6 and C6H are premium OLED choices. The C6 is the premium version of the C6 TV, and comes in larger sizes with higher brightness and better colours.
Samsung lags behind LG as 45% of readers who own a Samsung TV have an OLED or QD-OLED model. This is not surprising since Samsung has only been selling OLED TVs since 2022 After one model in 2013while LG’s OLED models have been on sale for more than a decade. Both the S90F and S95F are Samsung OLED TVs that have received praise from CNET for picture quality and glare reduction.
year
Budget TV
runner up: Physio
Roku wins three categories in CNET’s People’s Choices – budgetSmart TV system and standard LED/LCD display. Roku has many affordable TVs. Most CNET readers (72%) have purchased a Roku TV for under $500. Nearly half of readers who use Roku TVs have purchased their own TVs within the past year.
Roku has a few popular TV picks under $500, including the TCL 4-Series, Roku 50-inch 4K Smart TV from Pioneer and Roku – 40-inch Class Select Series Full HD (1080p) LED Smart RokuTV. Roku’s cost-effective options don’t skimp on quality. For example, the Pioneer 4K Roku TV is a 4K LED TV and smart TV interface, and supports high dynamic range for improved picture quality.
Vizio comes in behind Roku, with 45% of readers owning Vizio TVs that cost less than $500. If you’re in the market for a Mini-LED TV, Vizio has it Mini LED Quantum Series 4K TV Priced at less than $500 in two sizes (65 and 75 inches). Interestingly, 40.8% of CNET readers with Vizio TVs had it the longest (more than five years) — indicating their quality and longevity for the price.
Smart TV ecosystem
runner up: TCL
Trust me, a smart TV interface can make or break your daily experience. Roku knows this and wins over 59.1% of CNET readers.
Most readers who use a Roku TV say its interface is fast, clean, and easy to navigate. No readers reported the interface as cluttered, slow, or frustrating to use — the only TV brand to do so. Roku recently released a new interface that includes a “For You” section, which combines AI suggestions, saved entertainment, and what you’re already watching. The new interface contains a “Quick Access” section to access your most used applications faster, but we have guide If you’re not a fan and want to turn it off.
TCL is the runner-up in the Smart TV Ecosystem category. More than half of readers (56.5%) who own a TCL TV say the interface is fast, clean and easy to navigate, while 22.5% say the interface is good but contains too many ads or sponsored recommendations.
Standard LED/LCD
runner up: Physio
standard LED and LCD TVs Use LED backlighting and are usually the most cost effective compared to other TVs. Roku won over 34.8% of owners in this category. There are a few budget-friendly Roku LED TVs worth considering, including Onn 43 Inch Class 4K UHD Roku Smart TV and Hisense 50 Inch Class 4K UHD LED LCD Roku Smart TV. the Roku Select Series LED TV It’s a CNET favorite for its ease-of-use features, like the Roku interface and remote finder.
Readers say Vizio is the next best choice for LED/LCD TVs, with 32.7% of them owning a Vizio LED or LCD TV.
Hisense
Sound quality
runner up: Sony
Hisense won a CNET People’s Choice award for its sound quality. Nearly half (45.7%) of Hisense TV users rate the interior sound as “great.” That’s nearly twice as satisfied as CNET readers with popular brands like Sony (25.2%), Samsung (23.8%), and Vizio (22.2%). One of the perks The latest models of Hisense U7 and UR8 It is Dolby Atmos, which uses surround sound to deliver 3D sound. U7 models also have a built-in 2.1.2 channel speaker system for more immersive sound. CNET’s budget TV favorite, Hisense QD7 TVIt also supports Dolby Atmos technology.
Sony is next in the sound quality category, with 25.2% of owners saying Sony TVs have great sound quality with clear dialogue and decent bass. Some (41.7%) say it is suitable for casual viewing.
TCL
Mini LED/QLED
runner up: Hisense
Mini LED TVs use tiny LEDs to give you better brightness, blacks, and contrast compared to most standard LED TVs. When it comes to mini-LED and QLED TV panels, TCL wins, with 57.5% of readers owning TCL mini-LED/QLED TVs and calling them their primary TV brand. TCL has been producing Mini-LED TVs longer than most TV manufacturers, and many of them have earned praise from CNET.
According to CNET editors, TCL QM8K It’s almost comparable to an OLED TV in terms of picture quality for less money. TCL’s QM8L is another small QLED TV that CNET loves for its brightness, color, and contrast, too.
More than half (52.1%) of readers who have a Hisense TV have one Mini LED/ QLED TV, with its model ranked second after TCL. Hisense has a few Mini-LED models, including the U6, U7, and newer RGB Mini LED UR8which we took a look at at CES 2026. It’s priced at around $1,300 and comes with better color reproduction than before.
Don’t buy a new TV without reading this first
Many TVs have similar features that can make it seem like the best deal is the biggest screen for your money. Of all the things to consider, Ty Pendlebury, CNET’s senior TV editor, recommends looking at price, size and image quality to help narrow down your options.
“It’s always something that fits their budget, so it’s not necessarily a ‘budget’ model. If OLED is in your budget, get it, that’s the quickest shortcut,” Pendlebury said.
And don’t worry about improving your TV’s sound quality while upgrading. Pendlebury says most TVs look small, so you should consider… Speakers As a separate purchase for better sound.
Katzmaier also has some practical tips to help you feel more satisfied with your purchase years later. For example, bigger doesn’t always mean better.
“Having a larger TV is great, but it can expose lower-quality sources,” Katzmaier said. The reason is that a larger screen can show more blemishes than a smaller screen. If you still want a larger screen, consider subscribing to 4K plans for streaming services like Netflix and YouTube TV For better image quality. You can also try adjusting picture settings, such as putting the TV in Movie Maker mode, but Katzmaier says this isn’t a cure-all.
Watch this: Demystifying TV terms: Here’s what you need to know about color and brightness
Instead of screen size, focus on getting the image quality you’re satisfied with. “The biggest improvement will be having new display technology, especially QD-OLED/OLED,” Katzmaier said. “TVs with this type of screen provide visible improvements in contrast and viewing angle that other devices cannot match.”
CNET editors and readers highly recommend LG. But other brands were in second place. If you’re looking for deep black levels and strong color reproduction, readers recommend the Sony as a second contender. Or if you have trouble watching TV in a room with a large window, consider TCL or Samsung — all CNET favorites.
CNET has plenty of reviews of some of the latest TVs, e.g TCL QM8LIf you’re looking for a brighter TV, or… Samsung S90Fif you’re looking for the best value for overall image quality. Regardless, there are also guides to help narrow down your TV choice, like choosing between LCD and OLED TVs, what to know about microLED and a list of everything to look for when buying a new TV.
Did you like these results? People’s choices at CNET are community-based and help us spread the word about the technology and services you love. Take our running Survey of mobile companies Tell us what you like about your personality.
