The best TVs we’ve reviewed in 2025: Sony, Samsung, LG and more
Respectful notes
There are so many good TVs available, we can’t add them all to our top list. Here are some great options that were either left off our top list.
Hisense U8QG: The U8QG is at its lowest price (about $1,000 for a 65-inch model) and a solid choice above that price, especially if you want eye-catching brightness above all else. I noticed some SDR color accuracy issues (some images looked too red) and it was difficult to keep some content from being too bright. Fortunately, you can always turn it down, and its core powerhouse comes with excellent black levels, deep contrast, and plenty of features. I actually prefer the same U8N as last year, but it’s getting harder to find in stock.
TCL QM7K (2025): I had a love-hate relationship with the QM7K. Part of TCL’s new Precise Dimming series, its luxurious black levels and contrast reach OLED heights, matched by good brightness for spectacular moments. problem? The colors on my review model were mixed, with the odd green tint on selected black and gray content. Fortunately, I have confirmed that the latest TCL firmware update has fixed this issue. The TV’s image processing and colors are still not up to premium TVs, and this is the second year in a row that I’ve had a problem with the QM7’s performance. You shouldn’t buy it at full price, but if you can get the 65-inch model for $1,000 or less, it’s a very tempting choice.
Samsung S95D: Samsung’s previous S95 with its amazing matte screen is still an amazing QD-OLED TV that will look great in almost any TV room. We like the newer version better, which makes less compromises when it comes to deep black levels, but if you can find the older version at a killer deal, you won’t regret it.
Hisense U7N: If you’re looking for a TV at the same price as the QM6K but with a bit of eye irritation, the Hisense U7N offers a serious brightness boost over our top pick from last year and remains among our favorite options for the money. Its control flourishes and screen uniformity aren’t as refined as the QM6K’s, but it has plenty of features, including excellent gaming credentials and a simple Google TV interface. It’s still a great buy while stocks last, especially at $700 or less.
Sony A95LSony has finally replaced this sweet screen with the Bravia 8 II 2025, which offers the same superb image processing and enhancement, along with improved colors and higher HDR brightness. That shouldn’t dissuade you from considering the lower-priced A95L (9/10, WIRED recommends). With superbly immersive picture quality and an intuitive Google TV interface, this is a premium package that’s very enticing in a good deal.
Sony Bravia 7: The Bravia 7 is a stunning display that delivers brilliant brightness, natural colors and incredible finesse in fine detail. Its biggest knock is the very poor off-axis viewing, which can eat into its high list price. Otherwise, it’s worth considering for fans of that Sony brilliance, especially since Sony seems to discount its best QLED TVs much more liberally than its OLED models.
Other TVs that we have tested
Samsung The Frame Pro: I put the Frame Pro through my full review process and was both puzzled by the software issues and (so far) unimpressed by the performance. The matte screen looks soft when displaying artwork, especially if you buy one of the side frames (frame for the frame?) from Samsung or Deco TV Frame. Image performance was mediocre at best. The frame is much brighter than the traditional frame and colors are more prominent, but its mini LED system does not look good with dark 4K HDR content, even in the daytime. Additionally, I had issues with its very slow operating system (which others have reported) and stuttering Blu-ray playback. We’re waiting for the second model, which will hopefully fix the software issues, but stay away for now.
TCL QM7: Only one thing stands in the way of the 2024’s beautifully balanced QM7: a software glitch. During the review, I experienced an issue where setting SDR backlight levels affected HDR, which could lead to severe brightness limitations. While TCL fixed the issue for me in a firmware update, I never received confirmation of a wider OTA fix. Most people probably won’t have this problem, so the QM7 is still worth checking out, but be sure and check it out before you throw it out of the box.
The TVs we test next
Samsung S90F: The continuation of our favorite gaming TV could be one of the best OLED values of the season (it usually is). I’ll be testing it over the course of a few weeks, so I’ll have to find every nook and cranny for an in-depth evaluation.
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