Best TVs to buy in 2025: our top picks

TVs in 2025 are brighter, smarter and packed with amazing features. Movies now look more cinematic, console games feel more responsive, and everyday streaming is smoother than ever.

If you're hunting for a new television this year, we've picked out a few below that are well worth considering. We've covered various price points and different types of screen tech. And we've answered the most commonly asked TV questions, to give you all the info you need.

Best OLED TV

OLED TVs have always been about perfect blacks and cinema-like contrast. This year there are two big players: Tandem OLEDs, which are brighter than ever. And QD-OLEDs, which push colour even further.

A TV that stands out for us is the Tandem OLED Panasonic Z95B. Its Primary RGB Tandem panel makes movies look incredible, with brightness that holds up even in daylight. Panasonic's processing adds detail to everything from the latest blockbusters to older shows, and colour accuracy is spot-on.

If you're looking for the punchy colours that QD-OLEDs are famous for, the Sony Bravia 8 II is a solid choice. The screen paints every scene with deep blacks and vivid colours, and the XR Triluminos Max tech produces a wide range of shades with pinpoint precision. It's a real feast for the eyes.

Want to know more about the different types of screen tech? Check out our guides on QD-OLED vs OLED and Mini-LED vs OLED.

Best Mini LED TV

Mini LED TVs sit in the middle ground between OLED and QLED. And they're a real step up from older LED TVs. Instead of a few hundred lights behind the screen, there are now thousands of tiny ones. That means much better brightness and contrast.

The Sony Bravia 9 really shows off what this tech can do. If you're watching the match on a sunny afternoon, you've got no glare issues. For film nights with the lights down, every scene looks lifelike and atmospheric. And because it's built with Sony's latest processor, motion looks smooth and natural - which is perfect for sport.

Best QLED TV

So, what are QLED TVs all about? Well, instead of using pixels like OLED, QLED uses a backlight with a quantum dot layer that boosts brightness and colour accuracy. That makes them especially good for rooms that get a lot of natural light, or for anyone who watches a lot of sport during the day.

The TCL 98C655K is a great QLED TV. The colour and contrast have been given a real boost, so each scene is packed with more depth and detail. And for sound that matches the picture quality, there's Onkyo 2.1 speakers and Dolby Atmos virtual surround sound.

If you're weighing up between QLED and OLED, our OLED vs QLED guide breaks down the differences clearly.

Best LED TV

LED TVs are a dependable choice. They don't quite match OLED's contrast or QLED's punchy colours, but they're great value. They look good in all sorts of lighting conditions and they use less energy than plasma or older LCDs. Plus, they're available in big screen sizes at attractive prices.

The Samsung Crystal UHD U8000F is a good shout. It handles daytime viewing well, with a bright, sharp picture that makes it perfect for action-packed viewing. And because it comes in sizes up to 75 inches, it's brilliant for families who want a bigger screen on a budget.

Best TV under £1000

OLED isn't just for high-end buyers. This Panasonic Z80 OLED comes in under £1000 and gives you those famous inky blacks, sharp contrast and vivid HDR that make OLED TVs special. And With Dolby Vision boosting the contrast and colours, you'll see everything the way the director intended.

Best TV under £500

You probably won't find a decent OLED TV for under £500, so QLED is your best bet here. Some of these QLED models really punch above their weight, so you're getting a lot for your money.

The Hisense 55" QLED is a great example. Colours look vibrant, HDR holds up well, and it even throws in gamer-friendly touches like low input lag. For a TV under £500, its specs and features are better than you might expect.

Best budget TV

Need something straightforward and reliable? The LG UA73 55" nails the essentials, with a sharp 4K picture, HDR support and an easy-to-use smart interface. It's also one of the more stylish budget TVs, with slim bezels and a tidy stand design that'll look sharp in most living rooms.

Best cheap TV

If you just want a TV that covers the basics, the TCL RC650K 43" is a cool little buy at less than £200. It has a 4K screen, HDR, and Roku is built in for all your favourite apps. Roku makes it easy to hop between Netflix, Disney+ and live TV. It's perfect for a bedroom or student setup, and you won't feel like you're missing out on features just because it's cheaper.

Best TV with AI features

AI is becoming an essential feature in TVs. It expertly tweaks picture and sound in real-time, so everything automatically looks its best. Voice assistants are more accurate, recommendations are smarter, and AI TVs are even learning how to reduce energy use based on your habits.

The Samsung S95F OLED Vision AI is an amazing TV. It can automatically enhance contrast scene by scene, boost voices in dialogue-heavy shows, and link up with your smart home devices. Privacy features are built in too, so you're in control of how it all works.

Best TV for gaming

Gamers need a TV that keeps up. Low input lag, high refresh rates and VRR (variable refresh rate) all make a big difference. The LG C5 OLED has all of this (with a refresh rate up to 144Hz), so it's perfect for fast-paced console games.

It also features HDMI 2.1 support across multiple ports, so you can plug in both a PlayStation 5 and an Xbox Series X without having to swap cables. This model comes in lots of sizes, from a 42" option that works like a gaming monitor, right up to 83" for a huge immersive setup.

For more ideas, check our best TVs for PS5 guide.

Best 8K TV

If you want the sharpest TV, 8K is the highest resolution currently available. It's an eye-popping option, especially for larger TVs.

The Samsung QN900D Neo QLED 8K is our pick of 8K TVs in 2025. It handles detail brilliantly and has the processing power to make non-8K content look incredible. With Quantum Matrix Technology Pro, colours pop and blacks stay deep. While the AI Motion Enhancer keeps sports and action movies silky smooth - perfect for spotting every offside in a football match (who needs VAR, eh?).

Best big-screen TV for home theatres

Nothing beats a giant TV for a proper home cinema vibe. The TCL C7K 98" is a massive 4K QD-Mini LED TV that makes every moment seem bigger and more fun. Its ultra-bright display and precise dimming zones produce vivid colours and deep blacks, even in well-lit rooms. The built-in Dolby Atmos sound makes movies and games feel alive without extra speakers. And with Google TV built-in, you can easily stream all your favourites and use voice control.

If you're serious about creating a home cinema, our guides on setting up your own home cinema and sound features to consider when buying a new TVs will help.

FAQs

What's the difference between OLED, QLED, and LED?

• OLED is top of the TV screen tech. Every pixel lights itself, so blacks are pitch dark and contrast is unbeatable. But they can be more expensive, and while modern OLEDs are brighter than ever, they still don't quite match the best QLEDs in a sunlit room.

• QLED uses a traditional LED backlight but adds a quantum dot filter, which makes colours pop and brightness soar. This makes them a safe bet for gamers or anyone who leaves the same news channel on all day.

• LED is the simplest TV tech. It doesn't have the same depth of contrast as the ones above, but they look good even in bright rooms. Plus, LED TVs come in large screen sizes at more affordable prices than OLED and QLED.

Is 8K worth it over 4K in 2025?

8K TVs pack four times as many pixels as 4K, which adds up to around 33 million in total - which means sharper images and finer detail. Today's 8K sets also use AI upscaling and powerful processors to make everything you watch look spectacular, even if it isn't true 8K content.

If you want a TV that makes every scene pop, 8K is the magic number to go for. 4K Ultra HD TVs still look fantastic, of course, but 8K adds that extra layer of detail and depth that makes familiar shows feel fresh. With HDR10+ for richer colours, deep contrast, and HDMI 2.1 ports for smoother gaming and fast-paced sports, it's the best way to future-proof your living room.

Which TV size is best for my room?

It's tempting to go as big as possible, but it's worth thinking about distance. If you sit 2–3 metres away, a 55–65" screen is usually the sweet spot. Got a larger room or want that cinema feel? Go for 75" or more. If you're not sure, here's our guide to what size of TV you should buy.

Are budget TVs good for gaming?

Surprisingly, yes. A lot of TVs under £500 now include a gaming mode that cuts down input lag. That means your button presses feel instant on screen, which is the most important part of gaming. What you _don't_ always get at this level is higher refresh rates like 120Hz or 144Hz, so if you want super-smooth motion for PS5 or Xbox Series X, you'll probably need to pay more.

Any more questions?

Our TV buying guide is packed with useful info and advice, and we've also got a handy guide to the best smart TVs. If you view a lot of live events, take a look at our top questions to ask when buying a TV for watching sport.

Or if you'd prefer to ask for advice in person, pop down to your local store for a chat with one of our TV experts.