Best TVs 2021 for All Budgets

In order to truly maximize the at-home movie and TV watching experience, it’s important to find a television set that delivers lush visuals. 4K is buzzworthy, but there’s much more than merely resolution to factor in. Panel technology high dynamic range (HDR) implementation, and a slew of other specs dictate picture quality. Check out the best TVs in 2021 for all budgets!

TV Buying Considerations 2021

When purchasing a television, there are many different factors, from resolution and video processing, to size and panel type. It’s important to understand the underlying panel technology.

Television Technology: LED vs. QLED vs. OLED

The most common TVs on the market are LED TVs, a type of LCD or liquid crystal display, technology. An LED TV refers to the an LED-backlit LCD screen. Further breaking down LED TVs, you’ll find several different versions. In-plane switching (IPS) panels provide accurate colors and improved viewing angles. TN or Twisted Nematic displays boast low response time, high refresh rates, and affordability. As such, many gaming-oriented computer monitors are TN panels. Unfortunately, TN displays suffer from poor color reproduction and abysmal viewing angles.

VA or vertical alignment LED TVs feature good color reproduction, contrast ratio, and viewing angles. But response time is often low. Quantum dot LED televisions are increasingly popular. While most LED TVs utilize white light, quantum dot panels instead emit a blue light. Quantum dots in a QLED or Quantum dot LED TV, glow at specific wavelengths of color. A thin layer of quantum dots sits in front of blue LEDs, and the different red, green, and blue quantum dots provide a different color in the red-green-blue (RGB) spectrum required to create a colored image on a television set. Picture quality is stunning with a bright image, and great local dimming.

On the other hand, OLED or organic light-emitting diode is a completely different type of television than LED. Pixels emit their own light in an OLED panel so a backlight isn’t necessary. As a result, OLED televisions are thinner than LED TVs. However, the real benefit in an OLED panel is image quality. Black levels and contrast ratio is superb, screen uniformity is unrivaled, and viewing angles are spectacular, so even sitting to the side, the on-screen picture doesn’t degrade. If you can swing it, an OLED TV will give you the best picture quality possible. However, OLED TVs can’t get as bright as LED televisions, so for viewing in a bright room, QLEDs are great. What’s more, OLEDs are pricier than LED TVs.

Types of TVs:

• IPS: In-plane switching, a variety of LED panel
• VA: Vertical alignment, a type of LED TV
• TN: Twisted Nematic, a form of LED monitor
• QLED: Quantum Dot LED, uses quantum dot technology paired with LEDs
• OLED: Organic light-emitting diode, non-LED TV

Resolution, Size, Video Processing, Smart Capabilities, and More

At this point, 4K TVs are so prevalent that unless you’re opting for a smaller screen such as a 32-inch set, a 4K panel is the way to go. Even most budget 4K televisions deliver an excellent picture, assuming you’re actually getting 4K video content from a streaming service or a Blu-ray player. 4K Ultra HD (UHD) panels offer four-times as many pixels (3840×2160) as a 1080p HD (1920×1080) TV. Provided that you’ve got a large screen and you’re sitting close enough, you’ll definitely notice a difference between 1080p and 4K.

What screen size is right for you depends on your space and how far back you’re sitting. For a typical living room where you’re seated about six to ten feet back from the viewing area, a 50-60 inch TV is a great choice. If you can go larger, more screen real estate is never a complaint for cinephiles and TV enthusiasts. A projector is a consideration that yields the best bang for the buck when it comes to screen size and price.

Most modern TVs come with smart capabilities. Still, an external streaming box is a worthy choice. You’ll get better performance since the average television features an underpowered processor. Roku, Apple TV, and Android TV are all extremely popular. However, if you’d rather reduce the clutter and use built-in smart TV apps, think about your preferred streaming ecosystem. Roku comes baked into TCL TVs, while Amazon Fire TVs and televisions with Android TV onboard are available as well. Still other manufacturers offer a proprietary smart TV operating system (OS) such as LG’s webOS.

Unfortunately, even high-end televisions generally include lackluster built-in speakers. If you’re serious about the movie and TV watching experience, an external soundbar or receiver is a must-use. ARC, or audio return channel, is an HDMI component that pipes incoming audio from your TV to an external audio device. For ARC to work, your TV HDMI input and soundbar or receiver must both be ARC-compatible. But there are some limitations. ARC might not be able to transmit 5.1 surround sound formats like Dolby Digital or DTS. 5.1 passthrough is required, and not all TVs support it. Newer HDMI 2.1 devices support eARC which does support uncompressed 5.1 and 7.1 signals for DTS:X and Dolby Atmos passthrough. Likewise, number of inputs is important. Many casual viewers might hook up a streaming device, while power users may need inputs for game consoles, Blu-Ray players, streaming devices, and more.

And for image quality, there’s a lot to think about. Contrast ratio, or the difference between the brightest and darkest a TV can be will play into picture quality. Likewise, black levels define the brightness level of the darkest part of an image. HDR is a key component that matters more than resolution. High Dynamic Range makes a noticeable difference by creating vivid brights and deep darks. Similarly, wide color gamut or WCG delivers accurate colors. There are several different implementations of HDR including HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG. Dolby Vision is generally considered the best, but you’ll need a TV, streaming device, and video content that support it. Local dimming helps TVs actually display HDR content properly. A television with local dimming operates such that backlighting is grouped into various zones so the panel itself can adjust the brightness accordingly and therefore deliver a more lifelike picture. Since the pixels in an OLED TV generate their own individual brightness, it’s similar to having an entire screen of dimming zones rather than a handful.

TV buying considerations:

• Screen size
• Resolution
• Smart apps
• Speakers
• ARC or eARC
• HDMI version
• Number of inputs
• Contrast ratio
• Black levels
• HDR (HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision)
• Local dimming

Best Budget 4K TV – Hisense H8G Quantum Series

The Hisense H8G is a spectacular budget-conscious television. It’s a VA panel that excels at producing deep, dark blacks. There’s full-array local dimming with 90 different zones along with HDR and WCG support. Available in a 50-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch variants, it’s a stunning screen that won’t break the bank. Sporting Dolby Vision compatibility, the Hisense H8G quantum series boasts a lush image. For smart apps, Hisense opts for Android TV. On the input/output side, the H8G is decked out with four HDMI ports, one with ARC, Ethernet, dual USB hosts, an RF input, composite RCA jacks, headphone output, and a digital TOSLINK audio out.

Unfortunately, the Hisense H8G Quantum Series isn’t perfect. While there’s Android TV baked in, Hisense includes a stingy 4.4GB of usable storage space. As such, you’ve got little room to add your own apps. Granted, its USB ports provide a solution for expandable storage. Moreover, performance is prone to stutters and lockups on occasion when utilizing its built-in Android TV ecosystem. External streaming devices, Blu-ray players, and game consoles are unaffected. For a gorgeous picture at a low price, the Hisense H8G Quantum Series is a spectacular choice and the best cheap LED TV.

Pros:

• Android TV built-in
• Excellent I/O: 4 x HDMI, 2 x USB, Ethernet, RF, RCA composite, 3.5mm out, TOSLINK
• Ethernet
• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision
• HDR and WCG
• Quantum Dot technology, up to 90 local dimming zones and 700 nits of brightness
• 4K UHD
• Available in 50″, 55″, 65″, and 75″ sizes
• ARC
• Affordable

Cons:

• No eARC
• HDMI 2.0 only
• 4.4GB onboard storage (expandable via USB)
• Underpowered processor

The Best TV for the Money – TCL 6-Series

TCL has made a name for itself in the television market. With an excellent price to performance ratio, the TCL 6 series ranks as the best value TV available. Image quality is top-notch with great black levels, a lush contrast ratio, and lifelike colors. It’s a bright panel that looks gorgeous in a darkened room or bathed in ambient light. The 6 series sports HDR10 and Dolby Vision. And it’s available in a 55-inch or 65-inch set. A versatile TV, the TCL 6 series handles everything from movies and TV to sports and gaming with aplomb. Thanks to quantum dot technology, the 6 series makes drastic improvements over its non-QLED predecessor. And with Roku onboard, it’s easy to use.

Comparing its picture quality to a high-end OLED or even LED TV, the TCL QLED 6 series won’t look quite as good. However, for most users, it’s the best television for the money. Clocking in around $550 USD for the 55″ version, it’s a fairly priced option. The Roku OS is user-friendly, picture quality is lovely, and you can get a lot of screen for not much cash. Alternatively, the TCL 5-series is an alternative to save a bit of money. You lose out on local dimming, and its refresh rate is limited to 60Hz. But the TCL 5 series retails for around $400. Springing for the TCL 6 series will afford a better image with its QLED screen local dimming, and best-in-class performance. Overall, it’s the best TV for the money.

Pros:

• QLED
• 4K UHD
• HDR and WCG (Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG)
• Excellent picture quality (black levels, contrast ratio, brightness, color accuracy)
• Roku OS onboard
• Fantastic price to performance ratio
• Great I/: 4 x HDMI, 1 x USB, TOSLINK, RCA composite, RF, Ethernet, headphone jack
• Ethernet jack
• Bluetooth
• Wi-Fi
• Dolby Atmos Audio
• Full array local dimming
• 55″ and 65″ sizes available

Cons:

• Not as good as an OLED
• No HDMI 2.1
• Lacks eARC
• No HDR10+
• 60Hz refresh rate

The Best 4K LED TV Overall – Sony X950G

Sony has long ruled in the home cinema space. Its PlayStation 3 game console helped solidify the Blu-ray format in the HD DVD versus Blu-ray format war, and its Blu-Ray players still remain top picks among home theatre enthusiasts. And the Sony X950G is hands-down the best looking LED TV on the planet. The X950G yields an unbelievably solid image, particularly for an LED panel. Contrast ratio and black levels are mind-blowing. A 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth fast motion video. HDR10 and Dolby Vision are both supported, and the wide color gamut allows for rich, vibrant colors. Screen sizes range from 55-inches to 85-inches. What’s more, there’s HDMI 2.1 with eARC compatibility.

Its legs are spaced quite far apart. That’s a growing trend, with most televisions opting for two thin legs on opposite ends of the TV rather than a single stand in the middle. Yet even so, the X950G’s legs are far enough apart that it limits placement options. Although there’s HDMI 2.1 with eARC, advanced gaming options like variable refresh rate and automatic low-latency mode are curiously absent.

Pros:

• LED  TV
• Great black levels
• 120Hz refresh rate
• HDR (HDR10, Dolby Vision)
• HDMI 2.1 with eARC
• Wide color gamut
• Accurate color reproduction
• Fantastic contrast ratio

Cons:

• HDMI 2.1 lacks advanced features such as automatic low-latency or variable refresh rate
• Very wide stance for legs limits placement options

Best TV for Gaming – Vizio P-Series Quantum X

Most TVs should suffice for movies and TV. Gaming is another story. You’ll need a completely different feature set. Renowned for its affordable, high-performing televisions and soundbars, Vizio offers its P-Series Quantum X. It’s a stellar 4K gaming TV with a wide color gamut and superb HDR performance. Local dimming is great and its black levels as well as contrast ratio combine for a picturesque image.

Although the Vizio P-Series Quantum X lacks advanced gaming features such as Nvidia’s G-Sync or AMD FreeSync, its low input lag makes it a fantastic TV for video games. Since it’s a VA panel, the image degrades quickly at an angle. The Samsung Q80T boasts FreeSync onboard as well as HDMI forum’s VRR as well as full-array local dimming. Samsung’s RU8000 touts a slew of advanced gaming features such as auto low-latency mode and FreeSync. However, it lacks quantum dot technology.

Pros:

• Low input lag
• Great response time
• HDR (HDR10, Dolby Vision)
• Wide color gamut
• Excellent black levels
• Fantastic contrast ratio

Cons:

• Lacks FreeSync, G-Sync, and advanced gaming features

Best OLED for Most People – LG B9

OLED TVs deliver hands-down the best picture quality. But that lovely picture comes as a price, quite literally. LG’s B9 OLED television set manages to pump out a gorgeous image at a price tag less than flagship models. It’s an excellent premium TV with deep, dark blacks, incredible screen uniformity, extremely wide viewing angles for a picture that doesn’t degrade even at extreme perspectives, and superb color accuracy. HDMI 2.1 lends the LG B9 future-proofing. You’ll find support for the likes of Amazon Alexa and Apple AirPlay 2. Though most OLEDs can’t get as bright as LED tellys, which remains true of the B9, it’s still suitable for viewing in a bright room. In its testing, Rtings found that the LG B9 yielded an image on par with high-end OLEDs such as the LG C9.

The main downside for the LG B9 is its pricing. Expect to pay around $1,500 for the 55-inch version. Stepping up to the 65-incher bumps the cost to just under $2,000. Still, that’s more reasonable than the higher-priced LG C9 OLED. Sure, the C9 boasts somewhat better video processing, but the cost-savings are compelling, particularly since any difference in picture quality is barely noticable.

Pros:

• Out-of-this-world image quality
• Lifelike image
• HDMI 2.1 with eARC, Auto Game Mode, Variable Refresh Rate
• 55-inch, 65-inch, 77-inch versions available
• Superb color accuracy
• Excellent black levels
• Fantastic screen uniformity
• Wide viewing angles
• Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple AirPlay 2 onboard
• Nvidia G-Sync Compatibility
• webOS smart TV
• HDR (HDR10, Dolby Vision)
• Wide Color Gamut
• Dolby Atmos compatibility
• Great connectivity: 4 x HDMI, 3 x USB, WiSA speaker compatibility, 3.5mm audio out, RF antenna in, TOSLINK audio out, RS-232C, composite A/V in
• Ethernet
• Wi-Fi

Cons:

• Can’t get as bright as LED TVs
• Expensive

Best Small TV – TCL 3-Series

With the growing affordability of 4K LED TVs, and the increasingly spectacular picture produced by even budget televisions, it’s tough to recommend a 1080p display. Still, when it comes to small TVs, such as 32-inch units, you won’t find many if any 4K options. The TCL 3-series 1080p television is a no-frills TV. Rocking Roku onboard, it’s an economical purchase that saves you from having to buy a separate streaming device. You’ll find great connectivity including three HDMI ports, an RF antenna jack, headphone port, TOSLINK audio output, USB host, and composite video input.

While there’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, you won’t find an Ethernet jack. And of course you lose out on all the juiciness of 4K including HDR and WCG. But if you’re deadset on a 1080p or a smaller TV, the TCL 3-series is your best choice. If you can shell out a bit more, the TCL 4-series clocks in just over $200, while the 5-series can be had for around $300. It’s well worth the upgrade for the TCL 5-series or even 4-series. Alternatively, the sub-$200 Toshiba 43LF421U21 is a solid pick as a 43-inch 1080p TV with Fire TV built-in. If you’re on a tight budget, need a small good TV, or absolutely must stick with 1080p, the TCl 3-series will serve you well.

Pros:

• Budget pricing
• Roku onboard
• Great connectivity: 3 x HDMI, 1 x USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, TOSLINK, headphone jack, RF antenna input, composite A/V video
• 32-inch, 40-inch, 43-inch, 49-inch options available

Cons:

• Only 1080p
• No HDR or WCG

Best TVs 2021 – Final Thoughts

There are tons of different TVs to pick from. If you can afford an OLED, an entry-level OLED will blow away even high-end LED 4K televisions. Of course, starter OLEDs still clock in at premium prices. Many budget 4K TVs contend with mid-range to flagship models, particularly models outfitted with Dolby Vision and local dimming. Overall, you’ve got plenty of options for any budget to satisfy your movie and television watching needs.

Your turn: What TVs do you recommend in 2021?