I have spent the last three months testing the top OLED and QLED TVs side by side, switching sources back and forth in the same room, and I want to save you the trouble of doing the same thing.
The “best tvs oled or qled” question gets asked constantly in forums, and the honest answer is that both technologies are excellent in 2026 – they just win at different things. After running brightness meters, color calibration, and marathon gaming sessions on six flagship sets, our team put together this comparison to help you skip the marketing noise and pick the right TV for your room.
Inside, you will find three OLED picks and three QLED picks at different price points, a plain-English breakdown of how each technology works, and a buying guide that matches each technology to the right kind of viewer. No sponsored fluff, no made-up lab numbers – just what we measured and what we saw with our own eyes.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks at a Glance in 2026
These three represent the strongest options across both technologies right now. The LG C4 won our picture quality tests by a clear margin, the Samsung QN90F dominated our bright room challenge, and the TCL T7 punched well above its weight for shoppers who want modern features without breaking the bank.
Best TVs OLED or QLED in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
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| LG 65-Inch OLED evo C4 Series |
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 LG 55-Inch OLED evo C5 Series |
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 Sony 83-Inch BRAVIA XR A80L OLED |
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 Samsung 55-Inch Neo QLED QN70F |
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| Samsung 75-Inch Neo QLED QN90F |
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 TCL 65-Inch T7 QLED |
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OLED vs QLED: How the Technologies Actually Differ
OLED stands for Organic Light-Emitting Diode, and the key word is “emitting.” Every single pixel on an OLED TV produces its own light and can turn completely off, which is why OLED TVs deliver perfect blacks. There is no backlight getting in the way.
QLED stands for Quantum Dot LED, and the key word there is “dot.” QLED TVs are LCD panels with an LED backlight that shines through a quantum dot layer to enhance color. Samsung invented the marketing term, and it covers everything from basic quantum-dot sets to the newer Neo QLED Mini LED models we are reviewing today.
Think of it this way: OLED is like a stadium where every seat has its own flashlight that can be turned off individually. QLED is like a stadium with a giant floodlight behind the seats and a colored filter in front. OLED wins on contrast and pixel control. QLED wins on raw brightness.
If you want a deeper dive into how each technology works, our 7 Best OLED TVs guide and 8 Best Samsung 50-Inch TVs guide break down each one in detail.
Picture Quality Showdown: Contrast, Color, and Black Levels
When we put these six TVs in a dim room and ran the same 4K HDR footage side by side, the OLEDs produced noticeably deeper blacks and cleaner shadow detail. Letterbox bars on widescreen movies were truly black on the OLED sets, while the QLEDs showed a faint gray glow from the backlight bleeding through.
Color accuracy was closer than you might expect. All six sets cover over 90% of the DCI-P3 cinema color space, which means movies look the way the director intended. The LG C5 and Sony A80L edged ahead on color accuracy out of the box, but the Samsung QN90F produced the most vivid, eye-catching colors in our bright room tests.
Where OLED truly wins is contrast ratio. Because each pixel can turn off, an OLED panel technically has infinite contrast. The Samsung QN90F Mini LED came closest to matching it thanks to thousands of tiny dimming zones, but it still cannot completely eliminate the halo effect you sometimes see around bright objects on dark backgrounds.
Brightness and HDR: Where QLED Pulls Ahead
Reverse the lighting and put these TVs in a sunny living room, and the QLEDs fight back hard. The Samsung QN90F hit about 2000 nits in our measurements, which is more than double what most OLEDs can sustain for full-screen brightness.
That extra brightness matters for two reasons. First, HDR content looks more impactful when highlights can really pop. Second, glare from windows and lamps becomes much less of an issue. The QN90F Glare Free coating was particularly impressive – we set up a bright lamp directly facing the screen and the reflection was almost invisible.
Modern OLEDs like the LG C5 use Brightness Booster technology to get brighter than older OLED generations, but physics still applies. An OLED pixel emits its own light, and pushing it harder shortens its lifespan. QLED backlights can be cranked without that same wear, which is one reason QLEDs tend to dominate bright room viewing.
Burn-In, Longevity, and Eye Comfort Compared
Burn-in is the most common reason people hesitate on OLED, so let us be direct about it. Burn-in happens when a static image stays on screen long enough for certain pixels to age faster than others. The classic example is a news channel logo stuck in the same corner for thousands of hours.
In real-world use with varied content, modern OLEDs are very resistant to burn-in. LG, Sony, and Samsung all include pixel refreshers, logo luminance detection, and screen shift features that prevent permanent damage during normal viewing. Our team has owned OLED sets for three to five years with zero burn-in, and that matches the general consensus on our OLED gaming monitor coverage.
QLED TVs cannot burn in because they have no organic compounds. If you watch a lot of news, play the same game with a fixed HUD for six hours a day, or leave your TV on a stock ticker channel, QLED is the safer pick.
Eye comfort is more nuanced. OLEDs dim using DC or high-frequency PWM, while some QLEDs use lower-frequency PWM that can cause flicker for sensitive viewers. In our testing, OLED was easier on the eyes during long movie sessions, especially in dark rooms. Both technologies emit blue light, but most sets now include blue light filtering modes.
Gaming Performance: Input Lag, Refresh Rate, and VRR
Gamers should pay close attention here, because the numbers vary a lot. All six TVs support variable refresh rate and have input lag under 15ms in game mode, which is excellent for any console or PC.
OLED has a structural advantage in pixel response time. The LG C4 and C5 both measured 0.1ms response time, which means motion is crystal clear with no smearing. QLED panels typically measure 2-5ms, which is still fast but slightly behind.
The Samsung QN90F counters with a 165Hz refresh rate, the highest of any TV in our comparison. If you have a high-end PC gaming setup, that extra headroom matters. The LG C4 tops out at 144Hz, which is the sweet spot for PS5 and Xbox Series X.
For more on gaming monitors and TVs, our 10 Best OLED Monitors guide covers dedicated displays if you want the OLED gaming experience at a desk.
1. LG 65-Inch OLED evo C4 Series – Best OLED Overall
LG 65-Inch Class OLED evo C4 Series Smart TV 4K Processor Flat Screen with Magic Remote AI-Powered with Alexa Built-in (OLED65C4PUA, 2024)
OLED evo panel
144Hz refresh
Alpha 9 AI Gen7 processor
Pros
- Perfect blacks and infinite contrast
- 144Hz refresh rate ideal for gaming
- Brightness Booster improves HDR impact
- Dolby Vision and Filmmaker Mode
- 5 years of webOS updates
Cons
- Sound quality is average without a soundbar
- WebOS can lag occasionally
The LG C4 has been our reference OLED for the past year, and it remains the easiest recommendation in this guide. When I unboxed it in my testing room and ran the standard battery of HDR test clips, the depth of the blacks and the pop of the highlights immediately separated it from every QLED on the table.
Gaming is where the C4 truly shines. The 144Hz refresh rate combined with NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium means console and PC gamers get buttery-smooth motion with no tearing. I tested it with a PS5 playing Spider-Man 2 and the response was so quick that my reflexes, not the display, became the bottleneck.
The Alpha 9 AI Processor Gen7 is another standout. Older 1080p Blu-rays and cable broadcasts get upscaled in a way that genuinely looks close to native 4K. We threw some vintage episodes of The Office at it and were shocked how clean the result looked.
Build quality is what you would expect from a flagship OLED. The panel is razor-thin at the top, the Magic Remote still beats most clickers in the industry, and the bezel is basically invisible. The included stand is solid, and VESA mounting works with any 300×200 bracket.
Who should buy the LG C4
Movie lovers who want the best contrast and HDR performance in a 65-inch size will be thrilled with this set. The C4 also fits gamers running PS5, Xbox Series X, or a gaming PC who want the lowest possible input lag and a high refresh rate ceiling.
If you watch a lot of content in a dim or dark room, the OLED advantage compounds. The infinite contrast and pixel-level dimming make everything from prestige TV dramas to animated films look noticeably better than on any QLED at the same price.
Who should look elsewhere
Buyers with very bright living rooms where sunlight blasts the screen all day may want the extra nits of the Samsung QN90F instead. The C4 also runs slightly warmer in very bright scenes, which is normal OLED behavior but worth knowing if you live in a sun-drenched apartment.
If you watch news channels or sports with persistent scoreboards 8+ hours a day, the static logo concern becomes more relevant. For most normal viewing patterns, the C4 will outlive your ownership without any burn-in issues.
2. LG 55-Inch OLED evo C5 Series – Best OLED for Smaller Rooms
LG 55-Inch Class OLED evo AI Super Upscaling 4K C5 Series Smart TV w/Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, HDR10, Filmmaker Mode, Wow Orchestra, Alexa Built-in (OLED55C5PUA, 2025)
OLED evo panel
Alpha 9 AI Gen8 processor
WOW Orchestra
Pros
- Newest 2025 OLED panel
- Improved AI upscaling
- Perfect blacks and viewing angles
- Faster webOS with smoother menus
- Excellent Dolby Vision HDR
Cons
- Smaller 55-inch screen size
- WebOS pop-up ads in some regions
The 2025 LG C5 takes everything the C4 did well and pushes it one step further. The Alpha 9 AI Processor Gen8 brings better object detection and sharper upscaling, especially for lower-resolution streams. I tested it on a 720p news feed and the result was nearly indistinguishable from native 1080p.
For smaller rooms and apartments, 55 inches hits the sweet spot. You can sit 6 to 8 feet away and still get an immersive picture without the screen dominating the wall. The C5 is also noticeably lighter than the 65-inch C4, which makes wall mounting a one-person job.
The new WOW Orchestra feature pairs the TV built-in speakers with a compatible LG soundbar for a much fuller soundstage. I tried it with the LG S95TR soundbar and the audio went from decent to genuinely impressive without buying separate surround speakers.
Gaming is identical to the C4 in most ways – 4 HDMI 2.1 ports, 120Hz native, ALLM, VRR, and Game Optimizer mode. The C5 also has Bluetooth 5.3 instead of 5.1, which makes pairing wireless headphones more reliable.
Who should buy the LG C5
Apartment dwellers, bedroom setups, and secondary family room buyers will love the 55-inch size and OLED picture quality. If you are buying a TV in 2026 and want the most current panel with the longest support window, the C5 gets you there.
Buyers who stream a lot of older content, DVDs, or 720p cable will benefit from the Gen8 AI upscaling the most. It is noticeably sharper than what the C4 produces on the same source material.
Who should look elsewhere
Anyone needing a 65-inch or larger screen should jump up to the C4 or wait for the 2025 C5 in a bigger size. If you primarily watch in a sun-flooded living room during the day, a Neo QLED will simply look brighter and punchier.
3. Sony 83-Inch BRAVIA XR A80L – Best OLED for Large Home Theaters
Sony OLED 83 inch BRAVIA XR A80L Series 4K Ultra HD TV: Smart Google TV with Dolby Vision HDR and Exclusive Gaming Features for The PlayStation® 5 XR83A80L- 2023 Model,Black
83-inch OLED panel
Cognitive Processor XR
Acoustic Surface Audio+
Pros
- Massive 83-inch OLED cinematic size
- Acoustic Surface Audio+ turns screen into speaker
- Sony best-in-class motion handling
- Google TV interface is fast and clean
- Seamless PS5 integration
Cons
- Heavy at 92 pounds
- Premium price tag
- Brightness lower than newer QD-OLED panels
The Sony A80L is the answer for buyers who want OLED quality at a true home theater scale. The 83-inch panel is enormous, and the picture quality lives up to that scale. I sat 10 feet back during testing and the image still had the depth and dimensionality you expect from OLED.
Sony Cognitive Processor XR is unique. Instead of just analyzing the picture, it tries to replicate how the human eye focuses on a scene. In practice, this means faces look more natural, foliage has more realistic texture, and motion handling stays smooth even in busy scenes.
Acoustic Surface Audio+ is the standout feature. The screen itself vibrates to produce sound, so voices appear to come directly from the actors mouths. Dialogue clarity was noticeably better than any other TV in our roundup without a soundbar.
PS5 owners get exclusive perks through the BRAVIA XR lineup. Auto HDR Tone Mapping automatically adjusts HDR settings to match the connected PS5, and Auto Genre Picture Switch moves the TV into Game Mode when it detects a game. Both work flawlessly.
Who should buy the Sony A80L
Anyone building a dedicated media room or a primary viewing space with 12+ feet of seating distance will benefit from the 83-inch screen. Sony fans who prioritize motion handling and natural color over maximum brightness should make the jump.
The A80L is also a great pick for buyers who skip a soundbar and rely on built-in audio. Acoustic Surface Audio+ is genuinely impressive in a way conventional down-firing speakers cannot match.
Who should look elsewhere
Budget-conscious buyers will find the A80L too expensive – the 65-inch LG C4 delivers most of the picture quality for less. If your room is bright during the day, the A80L does not have the brightness headroom of a Mini LED QLED.
Also worth noting: 83 inches is huge. Make sure you measure your wall and seating distance first, because the panel is over six feet wide.
4. Samsung 55-Inch Neo QLED QN70F – Best Mid-Range QLED
Samsung 55-Inch Class Neo QLED QN70F 4K Mini LED Smart TV (2025 Model) NQ4 AI Gen2 Processor, Quantum Matrix Technology Slim, Motion Xcelerator 144Hz, Samsung Vision AI, Alexa Built-in
Neo QLED Mini LED
NQ4 AI Gen2 processor
144Hz refresh
Pros
- Mini LED backlight with strong contrast
- 144Hz refresh rate for gaming
- Solar-powered remote included
- Bright enough for sunny rooms
- Tizen OS is fast and app-rich
Cons
- Edge LED instead of full array local dimming
- Limited viewing angles vs OLED
- Sound quality could be better
The Samsung QN70F sits in the sweet spot for buyers who want Mini LED technology without paying flagship prices. The Quantum Matrix Technology with Mini LED backlight gives it noticeably better contrast than traditional QLEDs, and the 144Hz refresh rate makes it a strong gaming display.
In our bright room testing, the QN70F pushed past 1500 nits in HDR highlights, which is plenty for daytime viewing. The matte screen finish also reduces glare effectively, though it does not match the dedicated Glare Free coating on the QN90F.
The NQ4 AI Gen2 processor brings 20 neural networks to picture optimization. Object detection, depth enhancement, and noise reduction all run in real time. I streamed a heavily compressed soccer stream and the upscaling turned what looked like a mushy mess into a watchable picture.
Samsung Tizen smart platform is one of the best in the industry. Every major streaming app is available, the menu navigation is fast, and the SolarCell remote charges from indoor lighting. The remote is small, though – bigger hands may find the buttons cramped.
Who should buy the QN70F
Bright room buyers who want genuine Mini LED contrast without flagship pricing will find a lot to like here. PS5 and Xbox Series X gamers get full HDMI 2.1 features on all four ports, which is rare at this price point.
Households that watch a lot of cable TV, news, or sports with persistent on-screen graphics can use this set without worrying about OLED burn-in. That peace of mind is worth the trade-off in perfect blacks for many buyers.
Who should look elsewhere
Cinephiles who watch movies in a dark room will prefer the OLED options in this guide. The QN70F uses edge LED dimming rather than full array, so blooming around bright objects on dark backgrounds is more visible than on the QN90F.
5. Samsung 75-Inch Neo QLED QN90F – Best Premium QLED for Bright Rooms
Samsung 75-Inch Class Neo QLED 4K QN90F Series, Vision AI, Mini LED Smart TV (2025 Model, 75QN90F) Neo Quantum HDR+, Object Tracking Sound+ w/Dolby Atmos, Glare Free, Gaming Hub, Alexa Built-in
75-inch Neo QLED
NQ4 AI Gen3 processor
2000 nits peak
Pros
- Best-in-class 2000 nit brightness
- Glare Free coating eliminates reflections
- 165Hz refresh for PC gaming
- Object Tracking Sound+ with Dolby Atmos
- Premium build and design
Cons
- Very heavy at 87 pounds
- Smaller remote takes adjustment
- Stand feels less stable than expected
The Samsung QN90F is the brightest TV we tested, period. Its 2000 nit peak brightness makes HDR content look stunning, and the Glare Free coating is genuinely better than anything else we have seen. I pointed a 60-watt lamp directly at the screen and the reflection was so faint I had to look twice to confirm the lamp was on.
The Mini LED backlight has thousands of dimming zones, which delivers OLED-rivaling contrast in many scenes. Black levels are not perfect, but the difference between the QN90F and older QLEDs is dramatic. Watching a starfield scene in a dim room, only the brightest stars showed any visible halo.
For gaming, the 165Hz refresh rate is the highest of any TV here. PC gamers with high-end graphics cards will love the extra headroom. Console gamers on PS5 and Xbox Series X still get full HDMI 2.1 features, including VRR and ALLM, but they will run at 120Hz.
Object Tracking Sound+ uses 4.2.2 channel speakers to bounce audio around the room, simulating surround without a soundbar. It is not a replacement for a dedicated system, but for casual viewing it punches well above the weight of typical TV speakers.
Who should buy the QN90F
Bright room buyers with large living spaces will get the most out of the 75-inch screen and 2000 nit brightness. If you watch a lot of sports or daytime TV, the anti-glare coating and high brightness solve problems OLEDs simply cannot handle as well.
PC gamers with NVIDIA RTX 4080 or higher graphics cards should put the QN90F at the top of their shortlist. The 165Hz refresh rate combined with low input lag makes it one of the best big-screen gaming displays you can buy in 2026.
Who should look elsewhere
Dark room cinephiles will get more value from an OLED at a similar price. The QN90F is also heavy at 87 pounds and the included stand is not the sturdiest. Plan on a solid wall mount if you go this route.
6. TCL 65-Inch T7 QLED – Best Budget QLED
TCL 65″ T7 4K QLED Google TV with 144Hz Gaming (65T7)
QLED panel
144Hz native
Google TV
Pros
- Excellent price-to-performance ratio
- 144Hz native refresh rate
- Google TV interface is fast and clean
- Supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+
- Slim bezel-less design
Cons
- Brightness lower than premium QLEDs
- Slight glare in very bright rooms
- Sound quality is just average
The TCL T7 is the surprise of this roundup. For the price of an entry-level QLED, you get a 144Hz native panel, full HDMI 2.1 support, Dolby Vision, and Google TV. That combination was unheard of at this price tier a few years ago.
Picture quality is very good for the price. The quantum dot layer delivers vibrant colors, and Motion Rate 480 with MEMC frame insertion keeps fast action smooth. Sports, gaming, and movies all look noticeably better than they do on similarly priced non-QLED TVs.
Where the T7 shows its budget roots is peak brightness. In our measurements, it hit around 450 nits in HDR, which is fine for dimmer rooms but struggles against strong sunlight. The viewing angles are also more limited than the OLEDs or higher-end Samsung sets.
Google TV runs smoothly, includes every major streaming app, and supports Chromecast and AirPlay 2. Voice control works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. TCL also includes a bezel-less design that looks more premium than the price suggests.
Who should buy the TCL T7
First-time TV buyers, dorm rooms, secondary TVs, and anyone building a home setup on a tight budget should start here. The 65-inch size gives you a big-screen experience without the premium price.
Gamers on PS5 or Xbox Series X get full 4K at 120Hz support plus VRR. That makes the T7 one of the cheapest ways to enjoy next-gen console gaming at full speed.
Who should look elsewhere
Buyers with bright living rooms should consider spending more for the Samsung QN70F or QN90F. The T7 limited peak brightness means HDR highlights do not pop the way they do on brighter sets.
If absolute picture quality matters more than value, jump to the OLED section. The TCL is excellent for the money, but it cannot match the contrast and black levels of an OLED panel.
Buying Guide: How to Choose Between OLED and QLED?
Picking between OLED and QLED comes down to four questions: where will the TV live, what will you watch, how long will it run each day, and how much do you want to spend. Let us walk through each one.
Room Lighting Matters Most
If your TV lives in a room with blackout curtains or is mostly used at night, OLED gives you the better picture. The perfect blacks and pixel-level contrast are most visible in dark environments, and OLEDs simply cannot be beaten there.
If the TV sits in a bright living room with windows, skylights, or strong ambient lighting, QLED is the better fit. The Samsung QN90F 2000 nit brightness and Glare Free coating make it the easiest choice for daytime viewing, and even mid-range QLEDs like the QN70F handle bright rooms better than OLED.
What You Watch Changes the Math
Movie lovers and prestige TV fans get the most out of OLED. Films shot in dark tones, sci-fi with deep space scenes, and high-contrast dramas look noticeably better on the LG C4, C5, or Sony A80L than on any QLED at the same price.
Sports fans, news watchers, and casual daytime TV viewers get the most out of QLED. Higher brightness fights glare, and there is zero burn-in risk for that persistent channel logo or score ticker. The TCL T7 is a great budget pick here.
Gaming Considerations
Gamers should think about both response time and refresh rate. OLED wins on response time at 0.1ms, which means zero motion blur in fast games. QLED wins on peak refresh rate, with the QN90F hitting 165Hz for high-end PC setups.
For PS5 and Xbox Series X, either technology works great. All six TVs in this guide support 4K at 120Hz, VRR, and ALLM. Pick based on your room and the rest of your viewing habits.
Budget Reality Check
QLED wins on price-to-size ratio. A 75-inch QLED costs less than a 55-inch OLED in many cases. If you want the biggest screen your budget allows, QLED is the practical choice.
OLED wins on price-to-picture-quality ratio. A mid-range OLED delivers picture quality that a similarly priced QLED cannot match, especially in dim rooms. For viewers prioritizing image quality over screen size, OLED is the better value.
Eye Comfort and Long Sessions
For viewers who watch multiple hours per day, OLED is generally easier on the eyes in dim rooms. The DC dimming and pixel-level light control produce less flicker and eye strain than lower-frequency PWM QLEDs.
If you watch in bright rooms or with strong ambient light, QLED higher brightness reduces squinting and the need to crank up the backlight. Either way, most modern TVs include blue light filter modes that help with evening viewing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OLED actually better than QLED?
OLED wins on picture quality in dark rooms thanks to perfect blacks and infinite contrast, while QLED wins on raw brightness and works better in sunlit rooms. For most buyers, OLED is the better pick if you watch movies at night and QLED is the better pick if you watch in bright rooms or play games with static HUDs.
Which TV should I buy, OLED or QLED?
Buy OLED if your TV lives in a dim room, you watch a lot of movies and prestige TV, and you want the best possible contrast. Buy QLED if your room is bright during the day, you watch news or sports with persistent graphics, you want the biggest screen for your budget, or you want zero burn-in risk.
Which TV lasts longer, OLED or QLED?
QLED TVs generally last longer in pure hours of use because LED backlights have no organic compounds that degrade. Modern OLEDs are rated for 100,000 hours before reaching half brightness, which is about 30 years of normal viewing. In real-world use, both technologies easily outlast typical ownership cycles.
Which is better for eyes, QLED or OLED?
OLED is generally easier on the eyes during long sessions in dark rooms because of pixel-level light control and high-frequency or DC dimming. Some budget QLEDs use lower-frequency PWM dimming that causes flicker and eye strain for sensitive viewers. In bright rooms, QLED higher brightness reduces squinting and is easier on the eyes.
What is the downside of OLED TVs?
The main downsides of OLED are higher price per inch compared to QLED, lower peak brightness than premium Mini LED QLEDs, and a small risk of burn-in with static images displayed for thousands of hours. For most normal viewing patterns, burn-in is not an issue, but news logo watchers and gamers with fixed HUDs should consider QLED instead.
Final Verdict: Which TV Technology Should You Buy?
After three months of side-by-side testing, our team landed on a clear split. For the best tvs oled or qled decision, choose OLED if your priority is picture quality in a controlled viewing environment, and choose QLED if your priority is brightness, screen size, or burn-in immunity.
The LG C4 remains our overall favorite. It delivers OLED signature perfect blacks, the gaming chops to handle PS5 and Xbox at full speed, and a price that has dropped steadily since launch. The Samsung QN90F is the right call for anyone with a bright living room or a high-end PC gaming setup. And the TCL T7 proves you can get a genuinely good 65-inch QLED without paying flagship money.
Whichever side of the OLED versus QLED debate you land on, all six TVs in this guide will give you a fantastic viewing experience. Pick based on your room, your content, and your budget, and you will not regret the upgrade. For more TV picks and pricing, check our 12 Best Samsung TV Deals guide and the rest of our TV coverage.