In 2024, we have seen the discharge of wonderful TVs overlaying a spread of applied sciences and budgets. We have witnessed unbelievable improvements on the excessive finish, and likewise price range fashions that significantly outperform their worth.
As TechRadar’s workers TV reviewer, I have been lucky over the previous yr to get my arms on a few of the greatest TVs I’ve ever seen – and that features my time promoting TVs in AV retail!
Now, these units I’ve chosen right here aren’t utterly the identical ones because the TVs chosen for this yr’s TechRadar Alternative Awards, however are ones I’ve personally examined and reviewed. I have been fortunate that I have not actually come throughout a nasty TV this yr, however the ones beneath are my private favorites.
1. Samsung S95D
What higher place to start out than with TechRadar’s, and my private, alternative for TV of the yr: the Samsung S95D OLED TV. Whereas it impressed in all of the methods you’d anticipate from one of many greatest OLED TVs, it was its comparatively easy improvements that earned it excessive reward.
Display reflections have been an enemy of OLED TVs, primarily on account of their restricted brightness. To fight this, the Samsung S95D makes use of OLED Glare Free anti-reflection tech, which is the truth is a matte display screen. Whereas this will likely appear easy, it blew me away throughout testing, with reflections “all however eradicated” as I stated in my Samsung S95D evaluation.
It wasn’t simply there that the S95D impressed. I used to be additionally blown away by the lifelike image particulars made potential by the Actual Depth Enhancer AI function. Plus it delivered spectacular distinction, breath-taking shade and very good black ranges., The S95D additionally asserts itself as one of many greatest gaming TVs with an ultra-low 8.9ms enter lag time for ultra-responsive gameplay plus a stack of gaming options together with 4K 144Hz, VRR, ALLM and 4 HDMI 2.1 ports.
Spherical that off with excellent built-in TV sound and a surprising, razor-thin design that offers a futuristic and glossy “floating” look, and the S95D presents itself as “the usual bearer in 2024”, as I stated in my evaluation.
2. Samsung QN90D
One other Samsung set, however this time a flagship mini-LED TV: the Samsung QN90D. Whereas it didn’t fairly wow me as a lot because the Samsung S95D, it did plenty of issues very properly, particularly when watching sports activities.
Sport is a tough factor for some TVs to indicate precisely. Use an excessive amount of processing and the picture might seem easy, however there shall be clipping or ‘ghosting’ of the ball (the place it disappears). Go too mild on smoothing and the picture will show judder and blur, particularly throughout back-and-forth photographs up a subject in say, soccer.
Neither are a difficulty for the Samsung QN90D, although. Its unbelievable movement dealing with earned severe plaudits in my Samsung QN90D evaluation, the place I discovered that “intense sequences and quick panning photographs had been expertly dealt with.” Even when watching in Filmmaker Mode the place there’s no blur or judder discount processing utilized, the QN90D made brief work of quick movement footage. It’s no surprise it sits atop our listing of the greatest TVs for sport.
The QN90D’s excessive brightness and wonderful reflection dealing with additionally make sports activities simple to observe through the day, and it delivers lifelike textures, daring colours and spectacular distinction. Its built-in sound is nice and it is well-stocked with gaming options, once more with 4 HDMI 2.1 ports and 4K 144Hz, VRR, and ALLM all coated.
3. TCL C855
The TCL C855, a mid-range mini-LED mannequin, was for me considered one of 2024’s most shocking TVs. For the cash, you possibly can’t go improper. I used to be typically wowed by the C855 after I reviewed it, however some areas particularly stood out.
Mini-LED TVs typically endure from backlight blooming (a ‘halo’ impact round brighter objects on darkish backgrounds). Whereas the C855 did endure from this when considered off-center after I examined it, when considered straight on its black ranges, native dimming and distinction had been unbelievable. In some scenes, its blacks even rivaled OLED TVs! It additionally displayed vibrant colours and particulars that appeared true to life.
The C855 has sensible gaming options, with 4K 144Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium Professional, no much less), ALLM and Dolby Imaginative and prescient gaming all on supply. As I stated in my TCL C855 evaluation, “No matter how chaotic the sequence I performed, the C855 made mild work of it.” It even has respectable built-in sound!
However, the TCL C855’s actual excessive level is its worth. For the 65-inch mannequin I examined, you’d be trying to pay £1,299, which is a steal for a TV with its options and efficiency. I went in with pre-conceptions in regards to the C855 and what it may do and was very blissful to be confirmed improper.
It’s value noting that this TV is just accessible within the UK, however when you’re in search of one thing with an analogous worth and even higher efficiency within the US, you will get the C855’s cousin, the TCL QM851G, which additionally earned four-and-a-half stars in our evaluation.
4. Hisense U7N
The Hisense U7N is one other mini-LED TV that made the listing. 2024 was an enormous yr for mini-LED, and whereas it may be simple to deal with extra premium fashions just like the mesmerizing Sony Bravia 9, or the Samsung QN90D and TCL C855 talked about above, there have been additionally nice TVs on the price range finish of the value spectrum. And no TV in 2024 did price range mini-LED higher than the Hisense U7N.
The U7N impressed me with its element, vivid shade and efficient native dimming efficiency. It could not have the identical image high quality as extra premium units, nevertheless it was simple to overlook simply how inexpensive this TV is when it.
Worth is the U7N’s largest spotlight, and it additionally has an amazing inventory of gaming options akin to 4K 144Hz, Dolby Imaginative and prescient gaming, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium Professional and Nvidia G-Sync) and ALLM. In my testing, it carried out at a degree you wouldn’t anticipate at this worth throughout gameplay.
Over Black Friday, I noticed the Hisense U7N’s 65-inch mannequin, the identical dimension I examined, drop to a staggeringly low $680, which is a jaw-dropping worth. Within the UK, it’s not as properly priced, however you possibly can nonetheless get it for roughly £999 – once more excellent worth.
The U7N isn’t the best-in-class in any space, however I nonetheless described it as an “general nice performer” in my Hisense U7N evaluation. For its efficiency versus worth alone, it must be thought of considered one of my high TVs of the yr and considered one of 2024’s greatest mini-LED TVs.
5. Philips OLED809
It is no secret that I am a fan of Ambilight, going so far as to say that I felt like a child at Christmas after I examined the Philips OLED808 final yr. So, it is no shock that after I bought my arms on its successor, the Philips OLED809, I used to be blown away as soon as once more.
Ambilight is a love/hate expertise, however for me, it enhances the cinematic expertise with its colourful lights that mission across the display screen.
However, the OLED809 does a lot greater than Ambilight. Throughout my testing, I used to be impressed by its element, daring, vibrant colours, refined distinction and beautiful black ranges. As I stated in my Philips OLED809 evaluation, “Working in tandem with Ambilight, it’s a surprising TV for these searching for a novel film expertise”.
The OLED809 additionally delivers for gaming, with 4K 144Hz, VRR, ALLM and Dolby Imaginative and prescient gaming all supported, and it has wonderful built-in sound, with correct placement and surprisingly punchy bass. It truly is a improbable all-rounder and simply the most effective mid-range OLED TVs of 2024.
The OLED809, like all of Philips’ TVs, is not accessible within the US, so when you’re in search of an alternate, you possibly can’t go improper with the LG C4.