In every CNET TV review, I compare three or more similar TVs side by side in a dedicated, light-controlled test lab. With each review, I employ a rigorous, unbiased evaluation process honed over more than two decades of TV reviews. I test TVs with a combination of scientific measurements and real-world evaluations of TV, movies and gaming content.
To evaluate picture quality, I use an AVPro Connect 8×8 4K HDR splitter so each TV receives the same signal. I test the TVs using various lighting conditions, playing different media, including 4K HDR movies and console games, across a variety of test categories, from color to video processing to gaming to HDR.
Best OLED for Most Buyers: LG C6
The one-line verdict: The most carefully tuned TV of 2026. The one we’d put in most homes.
The LG C6 is what happens when a company resists the temptation to chase every spec record and instead focuses on getting everything right. What Hi-Fi? called it “simply superb“; high praise given that they simultaneously found its brighter sibling, the G6, to be over-tuned at the cost of colour accuracy.
In a head-to-head against the Sony Bravia 8, the C6 won on both picture quality and gaming performance. RTINGS recently elevated it to the top of their “Best Upper Mid-Range TV” ranking.
For a dedicated home theatre with good light control, or a living room with quality curtaining or blinds, the C6 delivers the OLED experience at its most complete: the Alpha 11 Gen3 processor, four HDMI 2.1 ports, full Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support, a 5-year panel warranty, and webOS 26 with Google and Microsoft AI integration.
Best Big-Screen RGB Mini-LED: TCL X11L
The one-line verdict: For the 85-inch-and-above home cinema wall, nothing challenges it on specification or value.
If your home theatre brief includes a screen that demands attention in a large room, the TCL X11L enters a category of its own. TCL claims up to 10,000 nits peak brightness via its Halo Control System and up to 20,000 precise dimming zones in the largest sizes. Whether the eye can discern every nit at the peak end is a fair philosophical debate; what isn’t debatable is that the X11L delivers a viewing experience unlike anything from a conventional LED or OLED at its sizes.
The X11L runs Google TV, supports Dolby Vision, and includes a native 144Hz panel with Motion Rate 480 motion handling. For clients who want the large-screen home cinema without OLED pricing at scale, TCL’s aggressive price-to-spec positioning is worth a serious conversation.
Seamless Streaming and Access to Popular Apps
Built-in apps are the heart of modern viewing. Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, and YouTube load faster than ever. These smart TV features remove the need for external devices completely.
If you’re wondering again, “what is a smart TV?”, this is the easiest answer—instant entertainment without setup headaches.
1. Easy Screen Mirroring, Casting and Device Connectivity
Screen mirroring lets you show photos, videos, or even presentations straight from your phone. Once I mirrored vacation photos for family, it instantly became a habit.
Among all smart TV features explained, this one feels the most practical for everyday use.
2. Voice Control and Smart Assistant Integration
Voice commands are no longer gimmicks. You can change channels, search for movies, or adjust volume just by speaking. These smart TV features are especially helpful when the remote disappears.
It’s another clear sign of how a smart TV has evolved beyond basic watching.
3. Personalised Recommendations and Smarter Content Discovery
Modern TVs learn what you like. Over time, they suggest shows that actually match your taste. This is one of those smart TV features explained that quietly improves daily viewing.
You spend less time searching and more time watching.
4. Gaming Support: Low Latency, VRR and High Refresh Rates
Gamers love newer TVs for smoother gameplay and reduced lag. Even casual players feel the difference instantly.
These advanced smart TV features make TVs future-ready, especially for next-gen consoles.
What is a Smart TV and Why Does It Matter?
A Smart TV is more than just a television — it’s a connected entertainment hub. It lets you stream content from apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime without needing external devices. You can browse the internet, mirror your smartphone, or even control your TV with your voice.
But not all Smart TVs are created equal. The right one depends on your viewing habits, room size, and budget. Let’s explore what to look for before you buy.
Best Lower Mid-Range TV
If the fits your needs, but it’s out of your price range, you can go with the cheaper TCL QM7K and still get a great TV overall. It’s dimmer than the Hisense, but it’s still bright enough to handle glare from indirect lighting. However, unlike the Hisense, any lamps or windows facing the TV do cause mirror-like reflections. There’s a bit more glow around bright lights and subtitles than there is on the Hisense, but blacks still look bold. Colors aren’t quite as vibrant, and bright areas don’t pop out as much in HDR content, but they still stand out well enough for an impactful experience. Its viewing angle is relatively narrow, so it’s best to sit directly in front of the screen for the best experience.
Beyond its solid image quality, this model offers similar gaming features to those of the Hisense. With two HDMI 2.1 ports, support for 4k @ 144Hz, 1080p @ 288Hz, and VRR, it’s a great choice for both console and PC gamers. It also supports both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, so you’re set no matter which HDR format your content uses. If you’re looking for an option that delivers solid performance and a wealth of features without breaking the bank, the QM7K is a fantastic choice.
TV Industry Overview in India 2026
The Indian TV market continues to witness strong growth driven by increasing demand for 4K content, OTT streaming platforms, gaming consoles, and smart home integration. OLED, QLED, Mini LED, and AI-powered televisions have become increasingly popular among consumers seeking premium entertainment experiences.
According to industry reviews and TV testing platforms, brands such as Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL, and Xiaomi continue to lead the market due to their consistent innovation, display quality, and customer support.
What Screen Resolution Do You Need?
Resolution means the number of pixels on your screen. Modern TVs come in 1080p “Full HD” resolution (1,920 x 1,080 pixels), 4K Ultra HD or “UHD” (3,840 x 2,160), and 8K “8K UHD” (7,680 x 4,320) variants. TVs below or above 4K UHD resolution are relatively rare but for opposite reasons: Full HD screens are now old tech and are reserved for only the smallest and cheapest models; 8K resolution is available mostly on expensive, big-screen TVs and 8K content is still virtually nonexistent.
What’s the difference? More pixels! 4K TVs have about four times the number of pixels as 1080p screens, and 8K TVs have about four times that of 4K models, or 16 times (!) that of 1080p. In theory, this means a much clearer picture than 4K TVs, but that’s not necessarily the reality. Because the pixels in a 4K TV at standard sizes (55-65 inches) are already packed so densely into the display, you may not be able to see the difference between 4K and 8K TVs unless you’re watching from a close range or on a very large screen (75 inches or above).
The lack of 8K content also means most of the video you’re watching will need to be upscaled, or raised to the TV’s resolution by its internal processing system. For this reason, if you’re buying an 8K TV, you’ll usually want to buy a more premium model with good upscaling from a brand that makes them regularly, like Samsung’s QN900 series.
A Little Bulky, With Thoughtful Additions
While it’s a little bulkier than other, sleeker options my tech team and I tested, we found the Hisense U8 Series TV to be an excellent value pick for its solid picture, intuitive operating system and more—often costing just over $1,000. The remote’s large, tactile buttons helped users easily find and select commands, and the backlight felt helpful for late movie nights. Its Google TV OS was also easy and useful: Voice commands responded quickly.
Rich Colors, Decent Action Smoothness
Typically, in more budget-friendly panels, there’s some kind of trade-off—the picture quality may not be as good, or the audio sounds weaker than more expensive panels, as examples. Our panelists found the Hisense U8 Series Mini-LED bucks that tend: Colors looked textured and rich, with vibrant hues. One tester also noted little “blooming. Action was on par, with no blur,” he said. There’s a slight loss of crispness, especially at wide viewing angles, but unless you’re a hardcore cinephile, you won’t notice; our testers felt it was suitable for their viewing needs.
Gorgeous Details, With No Blooming
The Samsung S95H OLED earned unanimous praise from our panelists for its excellent picture quality, and that’s partially thanks to its impressive OLED technology. Texture on Frankenstein’s Monster’s fur coat was sharp and detailed, and one tester commented she could see “pores on the actors’ faces.” Also impressive was the deep contrast, which helped showcase darker details while still allowing bright spots of color—like torches and candles—to pop in several scenes without any blooming. Motion also stayed very consistent and smooth during action sequences. Colors, such as Elizabeth’s auburn hair, vibrant green dress and red necklace looked vivid and consistent, though our testers noted that in general, the picture was a hair darker than they preferred.
Samsung Tizen Offers Plenty Of Extras, Including Cloud Gaming
The Samsung S95H OLED uses the Samsung Tizen operating system; while our testers felt some of the app icons were a little smaller than they’d like, most felt the system was intuitive, with access to software like Samsung TV channels and an art mode. It also offers extras like the Samsung Gaming Hub, which connects you to your cloud gaming services like Amazon Luna, Nvidia GeForce Now, Blacknut and more. The TV also includes Copilot and Samsung’s visual AI interface to help you receive answers to your questions, which our testers liked.