7 Best Smart TVs To Buy This Season | Expert Picks

1. Samsung S90C 

The top spot on the list of the best smart TVs belongs to the Samsung S90C. This smart TV offers everything you need to create a world-class entertainment experience in your home. It provides exceptional versatility, with RTINGS praising its well-organized Tizen interface and comprehensive voice assistant support that makes finding your favorite content a breeze.

One of the main features users are looking for in a new smart TV is the variety and selection of apps. The more apps a smart TV offers, the better the experience. Streaming apps aside, most of us are also looking for a quality gaming experience. Samsung understands the value of gaming in the home entertainment space, and it’s this type of versatility that makes the Samsung S90C one of the best TVs on the market. 

So, why is this TV a gaming powerhouse? TechRadar explains that it boasts a 144Hz refresh rate and four HDMI 2.1 ports that support high-end gaming features, all while delivering superior built-in audio quality. The technological prowess extends even further, as GameRant notes, with the TV’s Neural Quantum Processor handling 4K upscaling and its dedicated Gaming Hub providing seamless access to both console gaming and streaming platforms. Just check out the Samsung Gaming Hub and hit the sticks. 

2. TCL 6-Series

Next up on the list of the best smart TVs is the TCL 6-Series. TCL is known for its affordable quality, and given that these smart TVs are available in various sizes, you’re sure to find a set that does not disappoint. The brand has established itself as the king of value with its 6-Series lineup, which USA Today Reviewed celebrates for delivering impressive QLED picture quality with deep blacks and HDR colors, along with gamer-friendly features like 4K 144Hz support on select HDMI ports.

As U.S. News and World Report points out, these sets manage to be the most affordable QLEDs on the market while still maintaining excellent picture quality, available in three generous size options. This model gives you a great picture on a very big screen for a fraction of the price of some of its competitors. It also comes in a variety of screen sizes so you can get the quality you’re looking for in an affordable model from TCL. 

The 6-Series offers a lot of control and customization. However, it’s also a great smart TV for anyone who wants to substitute the TV for a gaming monitor. Add in the fact that these TVs are designed with the Roku interface and you have one of the best smart TVs available on the market. Tom’s Guide reinforces TCL’s reputation for delivering outstanding performance at budget-friendly prices, highlighting how the latest 6-Series combines enhanced brightness and gaming capabilities.

3. Sony A95K

The third spot on the list of the best smart TVs belongs to the Sony A95K smart TV. Sony is one of the leading brands in the home entertainment space, and this smart TV is a major reason why Sony is at the top of the television market. While Samsung’s S90C OLED leads the pack for most viewers, RTINGS likes how Sony’s A95K OLED takes home theater to the next level with superior image processing and broader HDR format support through Dolby Vision.

Tom’s Guide also positions the A95K as the crown jewel of Sony’s lineup, where cutting-edge technology meets the brand’s proprietary processing prowess. It is engineered at less than a half-inch thick, making it ideal for designing the perfect living room space.

Sony designs its products to work together, so this smart TV works best with the PlayStation console – as will all Sony TVs. Sorry, Xbox users. Forbes points out that while the premium price tag might raise eyebrows, it’s justified by Sony’s industry-leading upscaling technology and optimized performance for both cinephiles and PlayStation gamers, delivering stunning visuals with perfect blacks and minimal input lag.

4. Hisense U8H

The fourth spot on the list of the best smart TVs belongs to the Hisense U8H. This model is powered by Google TV and offers one of the best home entertainment options to enhance every form of content imaginable. 

For viewers seeking exceptional value in a bright-room setting, CNET points out that Hisense’s UH8 outshines many competitors in both brightness and contrast, while also offering the bonus of an ATSC 3.0 tuner. RTINGS says that the TV’s Google TV interface, though requiring a brief learning curve, provides smooth navigation and convenient hands-free voice control for content discovery.

Google TV means you’ll have to utilize the Google Play Store to find your favorite apps, but it also means you’ll have a ton of streaming options. Couple this with the reflection-handling design of the Hisense and you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite streaming services with a clear picture even when there’s a glare on your TV. USA Today Reviewed rounds out the praise by highlighting how this mini-LED TV delivers OLED-rivaling performance with quantum dots and local dimming at a more attractive price point, all while running on Google’s robust smart platform.

5. Roku Plus Series

Next up on the list of the best smart TVs is the Roku Plus Series. Of course, the Roku Plus Series utilizes Roku’s streaming services, so you know this smart TV is designed to stream all of your favorite content. In the competitive mid-range TV market, CNET says Roku’s Plus Series distinguishes itself with premium features like QLED technology and full-array local dimming, elevating it above more basic models.

According to TechRadar, this model delivers picture quality that punches above its price class, with vibrant colors and impressive motion handling that avoids the common pitfalls of budget TVs. Tom’s Guide puts it in perspective by suggesting that while you can certainly find better TVs above the $1,000 mark, the Roku Plus Series stands as a remarkable value proposition that holds its own against pricier competitors.

The reliability and performance of this Roku smart TV make it a no-brainer for anyone on a budget—which is most of us. If you are a gamer, the Roku Plus Series isn’t designed specifically for gaming, but you can still rely on it for a quality gaming experience. 

6. Vizio MQX Series

The sixth choice on the list of the best smart TVs is the Vizio MQX. Vizio is known for engineering high-quality TVs at an affordable price, and the MQX smart TV offers everything you need to enhance your entertainment options. It has carved out an impressive niche in the affordable TV space, with GameRant highlighting its QLED technology, comprehensive HDR support, and robust streaming platform that includes free live channels through WatchFree+.

The quantum color technology that Vizio offers harnesses the power of over a billion colors to deliver a picture that’s simply radiant. And this smart TV is both PC and gaming console compatible. CNET says this is one of the most budget-friendly options to incorporate full-array local dimming, with an impressive number of dimming zones scaling up with screen size.

The MQX stands for Vizio’s M-Series Quantum X, which just sounds like an awesome futuristic television set. Name aside, this smart TV delivers an excellent all-around home entertainment experience. According to Tom’s Guide, Vizio has successfully brought premium features from its high-end P-Series down to a more accessible price point, including quantum dots, local dimming, and a gaming-ready 120Hz refresh rate.

7. Samsung QN90

Rounding out the list of the best smart TVs is another Samsung model, this time the QN90. Samsung is one of the pioneers of the smart TV market, and the QN90 line comes in a few different models such as the A-series and C-series, but regardless of which series you choose, you won’t go wrong with one.

If you’re battling bright room conditions, Forbes champions Samsung’s QN90C for its exceptional brightness that conquers both sunlight and artificial lighting without compromising picture quality.

Sports fans and avid daytime drama viewers will more than appreciate this Samsung’s ability to display a radiant picture when the sun is shining brightest during the day. These features also make the Samsung QN90 a great option for an outdoor TV set. U.S. News and World Report emphasizes how the Neo QLED technology delivers OLED-rivaling performance with reduced reflectivity while offering an impressive range of size options from a modest 43 inches all the way up to a massive 98 inches.

These smart TVs are equipped with features that make them perfect for movies, shows, and gaming. Tom’s Guide rounds out the praise by highlighting how the QN90C’s Mini-LED panel delivers on all fronts, from HDR performance to upscaling capability, making it a comprehensively premium viewing experience.