While many of the top TVs this year are OLEDs, that’s not always the best type of TV for you. If you’re putting it in a bright room, want to watch it with the curtains open or have a lamp on in the corner, QLED TVs are arguably far better. They deliver higher brightness and a more punchy-picture making them much better suited for brighter rooms. And the best QLED TVs, like our top pick, the Sony Bravia 9, has incredible contrast that rivals its OLED siblings.
The best QLED TVs give you a bright, gorgeous picture, even in the afternoon sun.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers
The best QLED TVs don’t even sacrifice much for that additional punch, either. One budget-friendly pick, the Hisense U8N, is only a few steps behind the Sony Bravia 9, and it can give you a great picture for almost a third of the price. Here are the best QLED TVs you can add to your space right now, and if you’re still not sure if a QLED TV is best for your space, be sure to check out our guide on how to choose a TV.
Size: 65-inch | Resolution: 4K | Refresh rate: 120Hz | Operating system: Google TV | HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision
Pros:
Incredible brightness
Strong contrast and vibrant colors
Excellent features for gaming
Cons:
Expensive
Some reviews claim some image degradation at wide viewing angles
The Sony Bravia 9 sits atop Sony’s latest stack of TVs, even above its latest OLEDs, for a very good reason. It’s a TV that can do it all: It has incredible brightness, close to 2,000 dimming zones at 65-inches and some of the most impressive contrast we’ve ever seen in a QLED TV. The quantum dots only enhance color further, making this TV incredibly vibrant and overall delivering a picture quality that’s very close to OLED, while still enjoying the brightness and burn-in protections of Mini-LEDs.
This TV is also blazing fast for gaming, with a high refresh rate, fast response time and incredibly low input-lag. It has multiple HDMI 2.1 ports for connecting the latest games consoles and gaming PCs, and it has Sony’s fantastic upscaling processor, which makes older TV shows, 1080p Blu-Rays and home movies look far higher quality. Its refresh rate isn’t quite as high as some QLED TVs, which can offer up to 144Hz for gaming PCs, and like most Mini-LED panels, the best picture can be seen if you’re viewing it right at its center. But that besides, there’s nothing to complain about with this panel.
What our editors say: During a hands-on, consumer tech editor Rebecca Isaacs found it to have a gorgeous contrast. “The Sony Bravia 9’s bright picture excels when it comes to vivid scenes. It can handle sunny living rooms while showcasing a wide range of colors. And, since it’s a Sony panel, PlayStation 5 owners can enjoy a host of gaming features dedicated to the console on this TV.”
Size: 65-inch | Resolution: 4K | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Operating system: Google TV | HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HDR10+
Pros:
Vibrant colors
Supports all major HDR standards
Fast for gaming
Cons:
Image degrades at steeper viewing angles
Lacks the brightness of very top models
Reports of occasional blackouts on display
Hisense produces some absolute stellar midrange TVs, and the U7N is arguably the best example of that. It gets plenty bright for viewing in dark and bright rooms and with quantum dot enhancement, it gives colors some real vibrancy. It doesn’t have the crazy nit values of top models, so don’t expect HDR mode to quite “wow” you like a TV 3-4 times the cost of this one, but it still delivers an excellent picture that punches well above its weight. Best of all: It’s less than $1,000, and can usually be found on sale for even less, making this a great budget choice for your home.
Reflection handling is strong on this TV, so you don’t need to fear external light sources quite like you did with older TVs. Its viewing angles aren’t the best, so make sure you’re seated right in the center for the best picture. Gamers will love this TV too, with its high refresh rate for gaming PCs and consoles, impressive response time, and support for variable refresh rate and auto low latency mode. It’s go the makings of a truly great TV, at a very affordable price. That said, during our team’s testing of other Hisense panels, we experienced random blackouts on the display that lasted for one second. We expect that to be resolved soon, and as soon as we learn more, we’ll update this story.
Samsung is well known for its ultra-bright QLED TVs—almost as much as its flagship QD-OLEDs. The king of that respective hill in 2024 is the QN90D, a TV that showcases vibrant, bright colors on its display at a more affordable price point. It’s a serious contender for the top QLED TV and only really misses out because it can’t get quite as bright for HDR highlights. Still, expect up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness for flashes of HDR highlights, and even not far off that in SDR modes according to most reviewers.
Gaming is a real strong suit of this TV, too; it has four HDMI 2.1 ports with the full bandwidth, so you can use one for eARC and then spread your consoles and gaming PC over the other connections. It has a fast 144Hz refresh rate and very low input lag, making it great for competitive play, and the fast response time and strong motion handling means it won’t blur details during fast paced games (or when watching sports and other high-speed action). It also has built-in access to the Samsung Gaming Hub, so you can stream your games directly to your TV.
Best Hisense QLED TV
A Great Balance Of Price And Features
Amazon
Hisense U8N
Size: 65-inch | Resolution: 4K | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Operating system: Google TV | HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HDR10+
Pros:
One of the brightest TVs in the world
Vibrant colors make for a gorgeous picture
Cons:
Some image degradation at extreme angles
Highlights might be a little too bright for some
Reports of software glitches
The Hisense U8n’s brightness eclipses that of even top contenders like the Samsung QN90D, making it a stellar TV for bright rooms, and especially so at around $1,500. Its support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision make it excellent for HDR movies and TV shows, and though its contrast can’t measure up to OLED, it still delivers dark blacks and near-blinding highlights. It actually might be a bit too much for some, but if you like your movies punchy, this TV will give you everything it’s got. It’s available in a range of sizes, and maintains its affordability even at greater sizes, but this 65-inch model is such a good deal.
As with most QLED TVs, it has some image degradation at wider viewing angles, so sit in the center of this one for the best results. It’s solid for gaming, with a high 144Hz refresh rate and very fast response time for a QLED TV. It also has HDMI 2.1 ports for connecting your games consoles and gaming PC, and a low input lag so you won’t feel like your TV is holding you back from your next online victory. During our testing, the Hisense panel did have the black-out software glitch, though. If you can handle that though, its picture is worth it.
What our editors say: After testing this panel for a few weeks, Isaacs says, “For the price, the U8N is a great combination of affordability with intuitive features. Games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Stardew Valley looked smooth and vibrant on the display, and I felt the screen is bright enough to be placed in any space. That said, it’s almost too bright, so you may want to play around with the settings to make it ideal for your space.”
Best TCL QLED TV
One Of The Best Affordable TVs Ever
Best Buy
TCL QM8
Size: 65-inch | Resolution: 4K | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Operating system: Google TV | HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HDR10+
Pros:
Great contrast for gaming and movies
Solid motion handling for sports viewing
Cons:
Some image degradation at extreme angles
Lower frame rates require smoothing to de-judder the picture
TCL’s QM8 offers amazing brightness, strong contrast, vibrant colors and a fast and responsive gaming experience, making it the top TCL QLED pick. It’s everything you could want in a bright room Mini-LED TV. The upscaling is impressive if you watch older or lower-resolution content, though make sure you enable the de-judder option if you’re watching older low-frame-rate content, as this TV’s handling of that motion isn’t as strong as it could be.
For gaming at higher frame rates it’s stellar, though. You have a high 144Hz refresh rate and low input-lag, with full support for variable refresh rates, and an auto low latency mode to enhance your experience. HDR is handled really well, too, and with full support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, you know your TV will support all the content you like, not just half of it.
Best 8K QLED TV
A Taste Of The Next Generation
BestBuy
Samsung QN900D 85-inch
Size: 85-inch | Resolution: 4K | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Operating system: Google TV | HDR: HDR10, HDR10+
Pros:
Native 8K resolution looks stunning
Fantastic brightness and contrast
Samsung Tizen OS also comes with the Samsung Gaming Hub for easy cloud gaming access
Cons:
Very expensive
Native 8K content is still limited
If you want a feel for what the future of TV will probably look like, the Samsung QN900D is it. This native 8K resolution TV is gigantic but makes full use of its 85 inches to deliver a crisper and clearer picture than you’ll find on any 4K set. It gets fantastically bright too, and its nearly 2,000 local dimming zones mean the HDR is nuanced and with minimal blooming. There’s no Dolby Vision support, like all Samsung TVs, but HDR10 and HDR10+ are there to pick up the slack.
There isn’t much in the way of native 8K content, still, but what is available is gorgeous and the list is growing all the time. The onboard processor is fast at upscaling too, so whether you’re watching 4K or even older 1080p content, this TV will make them look better than ever before. This version is 85 inches which is top-tier for a home movie theater, but you can get a more affordable 75-inch or 65-inch version if you’re mindful of your space. But consider that at 8K resolution, you can enjoy a much bigger TV without making pixels as visible as you would in 4K.
What the reviews say: Isaacs fully reviewed the Samsung QN900D 8K TV. In her review, she says, “Gaming felt clear and colorful on the screen. I tested across a multitude of games, from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Stardew Valley to Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. I also hopped on the Samsung Gaming Hub to test it on Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Starfield. The Nintendo Switch games looked great on-screen, and the TV automatically goes into a dedicated gaming mode for ease of use, then exits when you’re done. Even pairing the controller felt seamless, with easy, digestible instructions that had my Amazon Luna controller connected in less than two minutes.”
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted tech team is well-versed in all things digital. We rely on our own expertise and hands-on testing as well as consulting with other experts to recommend the best 4K TVs, the best 65-inch TVs, the most splurge-worthy portable projectors and more.
Jon Martindale, the author of this article, has extensive experience in the tech space. Martindale formerly ran his own PC hardware review website and writes many TV buying guides, including the best TVs under $500, the best OLED TVs, and the best Sony TVs for Forbes Vetted.
Consumer tech editor Rebecca Isaacs is a TV expert with years of experience reviewing the latest in screen technology. She has personally tested most popular TV models currently on the market, including the LG G4, the Roku Pro Series and the Hisense U8N TVs.
The tech world moves fast, so we regularly review our content to ensure it stays accurate and relevant. This story was last updated in November 2024 to include all new models.
How We Chose The Best QLED TVs
To find the best QLED TVs, we researched the various ranges of QLED displays from major TV manufacturers, including Samsung, LG and more.
Once we narrowed down our shortlist of picks, we looked at and compared the specs and overall performance of each TV, their size options, resolution, refresh rate, operating system and HDR support.
We leveraged our team’s personal experience with many of these models to determine if they should make the final list. Isaacs has personally tested a number of them to help provide detailed insights.
In addition to our hands-on testing, we spoke with other product experts and industry leaders to help us determine what sets each TV apart from the rest.
Every TV we included has stellar customer reviews, with no fewer than 4 out of 5 stars.
