What Is the Best Smart TV?

Nathan Rizzuti Avatar

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Updated Jun 27, 2022 11:14 PM

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In this modern age, many of the best TVs are known for more than just stunning picture quality. Now, TVs can run apps, stream video and music on-demand, download and transfer information over WiFi, and so much more. This article will explain what is the best smart TV based on your needs and expectations.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Smart TVs come with a proprietary operating system that determines what kind of smart platforms, streaming content, and compatible devices the device can access.
  • An OLED display offers superior picture quality and gives deeper blacks a dynamic range of colors than other display types.
  • Choosing the right smart TV will depend on your streaming, visual, sound, and functionality needs.

And for those who have recently made a big TV purchase, we have an article covering television warranty information.

The Best Brand of Smart TV

Smart TVs differ from their predecessors in one primary way: they can connect to a home WiFi network. From this difference springs many capabilities that were never possible on regular TVs. So below, we’ll examine a few different factors and help you decipher which television you’re looking for.

Insider Tip

If you are in the market for a gaming TV, prioritize finding an option with a high refresh rate.

If you finish this and are looking for further reading, we have a guide covering how to connect an external hard drive to a TV.

Best Image Quality

If you desire the richest possible image quality, go with an OLED display. The top two brands that offer OLED TV options are Sony and LG. Both displays provide excellent picture quality, especially when creating deep blacks and lifelike images. However, they offer different operating systems.

Best OS and User Interface

LG uses WebOS, which is considered one of the best operating system (OS) options for streaming apps and ease of navigation. It also connects with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Meanwhile, Sony runs on the Android TV OS, which is great because it connects to all Google TV services but still comes with exclusive Sony content. The only issue is that an Android TV’s OS crashes occasionally, but users are generally happy with the amount of content and overall layout.

It’s not quite unanimous, but the consensus is close that Web OS is about as good as it gets for simplicity, remote control accuracy, and refresh rates.

Best Value

The dark horse candidate here has to be the HiSense television. They consistently fall on the lower end of the price range for smart TVs. However, they also come with an impressive amount of smart features, and the VIDAA OS scores high marks among experts and users alike.

Warning

If you are looking to cut down on wires or save on space, you should probably avoid buying a surround sound system.

F.A.Q.S

Do the best TVs have 4k resolution?

4k resolution produces an excellent image quality. But now, there are even 8k resolutions, although some say it’s tough to tell the difference between the two.


What is the best smart TV system for streaming?

You’ll have to check each operating system to see what kind of streaming content it offers. However, Roku TV is known for its wide range of content and simple platform controls.


When should I buy a smart TV?

This answer depends significantly on your budget and whether your purpose for the TV is something other than recreational. But after the holidays can be an excellent time to find sales on the year’s newest smart TVs.


STAT: Most TVs come with two HDMI ports. (source)

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