Best OLED TV 2024: stunning sets from LG, Sony and Samsung

The brighter-than-average QD-OLED screen (we measured it at 1,100 nits in a 10% HDR window) of the S90C is the source of its magic, with the extra brightness providing noticeably more HDR punch than other OLED TVs at the same price, but also improving its colors, "giving them a purity in the lightest parts of the picture that’s a joy to behold", as we said in our review. At the same time, dark tones are as inky and delicate as you'd expect from an OLED TV, with pixel-perfect contrast that's truly cinematic. We also praised the clear-yet-natural sharpness of the S90C, its wide viewing angles, and its upscaling of non-4K video. We only had a complaint about its motion handling, which we found to be a little too smooth for 24fps movies out of the box, but it was easily fixed in the picture settings. While higher-priced OLED TVs can offer an even brighter experience, you have to pay a lot more for it – and if viewing in a dark room, the more gentle brightness of the S90C may be preferable anyway.

Samsung has included its Object Tracking Sound system here, which uses speakers placed around the edges of the display to create impressive positioning of sounds to match what's happening on-screen, and generally creating great width and height to the sound compared to almost any other TV. The speakers are also clear and impactful, handling both dialogue and explosions well. We noted in our review that "bass depths are limited and low-frequency sounds don’t seem to project as well from the TV’s bodywork as its mid-range and treble sounds", but that's no surprise. The S90C is just about as good as TVs get for sound at its price, and sounds better than LG's rival TVs.

Samsung's Tizen smart TV software comes with access to all the major streaming services you could want, but we don't think its fullscreen interface is quite as intuitive and user-friendly as the webOS system used on LG TVs, or compared to something like Roku. However, it's comprehensive and performs well, and the voice control is very strong and can help you avoid some of the less helpful menu layouts completely.

With four HDMI 2.1 ports, including full 4K 120Hz and variable refresh rate (VRR) support on all four ports, the Samsung S90C is a connectivity dream for gaming. You can have as many next-gen consoles hooked up as your budget can take, and get full performance from them. Well, nearly… the only thing missing is Dolby Vision gaming, but that's because the S90C doesn't support Dolby Vision HDR of any kind. It's a shame, but it's not like gaming on here looks anything less than stunning anyway. We measured the input lag of the S90C at just 9.2ms, which is effectively imperceptible, and Samsung's Game Bar makes it easy to switch rapidly between different features, depending on the game you're playing.

After price drops, it's common to find the 55-inch Samsung S90C for around $1,299 / £999 / AU$1,599 – this is around half its launch price, and you'll find nothing else that's so refined in the contrast, so bright, so feature-packed, and so good-sounding for this price. You'll find TVs that can do one or two of these things, just not all. The S90C is the complete package, and while it isn't cheap, it is literally unbeaten for value in 2024 in the opinion of our reviewers and editors.

It may only have the more basic kind of OLED panel that doesn't hit the brightness levels of more premium options (we measured the B3's HDR peak brightness at 649 nits in Standard mode on a 10% window, while the Samsung S90C at #1 in this list hit 1,110 nits in the same test), but what the B3 does with this panel is still magic. We admired the consistently deep black levels mixed with rich contrast, so darker pictures are accurate and yet balance beautifully with vibrant HDR colors. These carry both a punchiness and a natural tone, which means brighter scenes also thrive, although we noted that it favors a cooler color palette (ie, a little more blue mixed into its white tones than most other TVs here). It may not have QD-OLED, like the Samsung S90C, or Micro lens array (MLA) tech, like the LG G3, to help boost its HDR highlights and brightness, but the B3's overall picture quality means it put up a fight against higher-end OLEDs and as we said in our review "it's nothing short of superb". However, you will get a clear step up in color richness and dynamic range if you go for the more expensive models.

Sound is unfortunately one of the B3's weaker points. With a limited 2.0 speaker array, it can only do so much. While we commended its bass levels, speech was lacking in any of its preset sound modes, struggling to find its place over the rest of the mix. Despite Dolby Atmos support, a lack of directional speakers means its 3D reproduction is almost non-existent. There is an AI Sound mode available which improves nearly all elements, including speech, but it sacrifices bass to do so. Some may find the B3's sound serviceable – as we said in our review "it gives decent enough audio performance" – but a soundbar is still recommended to get sound to match the quality of the B3's picture. 

Equipped with LG's own webOS smart TV platform, the B3 benefits from the re-designed webOS 23, which features a tidier home screen with less intrusive ads, and a new Quick Cards feature that makes app organization a breeze. Thanks to the built-in Alpha7 Gen 6 Processor, performance is also smooth making navigation nice and easy. Easily one of the best smart TV platforms out there, and with support for all the major streaming services.

Nearly everything a gamer needs can be found on the B3, with 4K 120Hz, VRR (both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync are here), Auto Low Latency Mode, and Dolby Vision gaming supported. It also features LG's Game Optimizer, which allows you to tailor its options easily to suit you, and when its Boost mode is activated, it reduces the B3's input lag time from the 12.9ms we initially measured to a low 9.2ms. The B3 also shows off its gaming prowess with excellent performance, making light work of graphically intense sequences, as we found playing Battlefield V on Xbox Series X. Unfortunately, only two of its four HDMI ports are HDMI 2.1, meaning those with multiple consoles and a soundbar will struggle for connectivity space. However, this is the only real downside to an otherwise excellent gaming TV.

Upon release, the B3 was priced too close to its more premium sibling, the LG C3, and it struggled to demonstrate its value. Thankfully, prices quickly fell and the LG B3 offered a suitable entry-level option into OLED. The B3 has found itself a regular fixture during sales events like Prime Day, with the 65-inch B3 falling as low as $1,199 / £1,099 – a lot cheaper than the Samsung S90C's offer of $1,499 / £1,399 during Prime Day 2024. While other, more premium OLEDs may offer more brightness and a few more features, not many can match the value of the B3 and its affordable OLED price. 

We described the S95D's picture quality as "its absolute highlight" in our review, thanks to its new-gen QD-OLED screen that hits high brightness levels. We measured it at 1,868 nits on a 10% window in Standard mode (besting the LG G3's 1,449 peak brightness in the same tests) and providing stunning, rich contrast with beautifully deep black levels. We also said in our review that thanks to some new AI enhancements "textures are ultra-realistic – never has an OLED TV looked more detailed" as everything from object detailing to people's skin tones had a real lifelike quality. It also doesn't shy away from displaying bold, dynamic colors that jump from the screen, but it's the S95D's anti-reflection tech that we think steals the show, solving OLEDs' age-old problem with pesky reflections, due to the low full-screen brightness of OLED – this TV is comfortable and visible wherever you put it. Despite a lack of Dolby Vision HDR support and some black crush in the odd dark scene, we said that "This is what OLEDs should strive to be" and a lot of that stems from the S95D's spectacular picture. 

Built-in sound can be a tricky area for TVs and although the S95D's isn't perfect, it's very effective. Object Tracking Sound+ (OTS+) means sound and the action on screen are connected "flawlessly", as we said in our review. We also praised its punchy bass levels, which had plenty of power and heft to suit the most chaotic action scenes despite its thin design. Dialogue is also clear throughout, regardless of what you're watching. Unfortunately, we found the S95D's soundstage to be limited compared to TVs with better sound, such as the Sony A80L, but most people will be pleased it with overall. You may not need a soundbar, though we think the S95D's picture deserves one that offers equally epic audio if you can. 

Although Tizen hasn't seen as many significant upgrades as other smart TV platforms, such as LG's webOS, it's still solid overall. Its different hubs for Daily+, Game and Smart Things make navigation and organization smoother and more customizable that previous Samsung TVs. While the number of recommendations on its home menus can make it feel a little cluttered, it's still a good smart TV platform that most people will find easy to use, and has basically every streaming service you could want on board.

The S95D carries pretty much everything we look for in a gaming TV: four HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K, 144Hz, variable refresh rate including AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, HGiG HDR, auto low latency mode, and a great load of cloud gaming options from Xbox, Nvidia GeForce Now, Luna and more. Its ultra-low input lag time, which we measured at 8.9ms, means gaming itself is smooth, fast paced and responsive during any game, including graphically intense FPS games. Although it may be a little on the pricey side for some, we said the S95D is "a gamer's dream TV" and with all these features and its incredible performance, it's an unforgettable premium gaming experience. 

Value was one area where the S95D was always going to have to work hard, because it is pricey. For a 65-inch, you're looking at spending $3,099 / £2,899 / AU$4,495, which sits at the very top of the OLED TV market alongside the LG G4, which is priced at $2,999 / £2,699 / AU$5,295. However, we think it more than justifies its price with the performance it delivers and the features it carries, and prices are already falling on the S95D despite only being out for a few months, and its likely to be on sale during sales events like Black Friday. But, make no mistake - this elite TV comes at a price.

We measured the LG C4’s peak HDR brightness at 1,065 nits – a substantial boost over last year’s C3 and only slightly below the Samsung S90C OLED TV that sits at the top of our list as the best option for most people. This brightness increase helps to bring out the full range of detail in 4K movies with HDR and also makes colors look "startingly vivid", as we said in our review. OLED TVs generally excel at delivering deep and detailed shadows, and the C4 more than holds its own in that regard. The picture on OLED TVs also looks uniform over a wide viewing angle, and that quality will benefit larger C4 screen sizes when watching with a large group.

The LG C4 can upmix basic movie and TV soundtracks for a virtual 9.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos presentation – but still only from a limited set of speakers. In our review, we found dialogue on the C4 to be clear and that there was also a good degree of spaciousness when the TV’s AI Sound Pro mode was active. Bass is constrained, making a soundbar a recommended option. If you do go that route, the C4 has several features designed to work specifically with LG soundbars, including Wow Orchestra, which combines the TV’s built-in audio with the soundbar’s speakers, and Wow Cast, which transmits lossless Dolby Atmos soundtracks wirelessly from the TV to the soundbar. Basically, the built-in sound here is clear, but doesn't match the scale of the pictures fully.

LG’s webOS 24 smart TV interface on the C4 has a streamlined look, with a prominently featured Quick Cards section that makes it easy to see options for storing apps and accessing settings in the Games, Music, Home Hub, Sports, and Home Office categories. There are also content recommendations, although a fair number of these are meant to steer you to the LG Channels free ad-supported TV portal. A customizable Quick Menu lets you easily access picture and sound settings, or anything else you want to be just a quick button press away, and there’s even a chatbot available to help you diagnose and solve any issues with the TV.

The LG C4 has comprehensive gaming support. Its four HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K 120Hz, Nvidia G-Sync, AMD FreeSync, and 4K Dolby Vision gaming, and the C4 is among the first TVs to be 144Hz-certified by Nvidia. Cloud gaming is also covered on the C4, with GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, Utomik, Blacknut, and Boosteroid apps all available in the Gaming Quick Card. When the TV detects a connected gaming console, it conveniently switches into Game Optimizer mode, which enables an impressive 9.2ms input lag (in Boost mode) and also provides a game menu for making on-the-fly adjustments.

At $1,999.99 / £1,899 / AU$3,299 officially for a 55-inch model, the LG C4 isn’t exactly cheap, though we’ve already seen it drop considerably lower in Prime Day sales. If you value the picture quality advantages that OLED TVs bring to the table – and if you’re a movie fan or gamer, you should – then the C4 is a mid-range TV well worth considering, especially since it’s available for much less than more premium options. Considering the quality you get, it's a great investment in future-proof TV that you'll be happy with for a long time.

Sony's OLED TV can't deliver stunning images using giant brightness levels, so it has to rely on good ol' fashioned quality, and it's got that in spades. As we said in our review: "running the A80L side by side with a number of other key mid-range rivals, including the LG C3, sees Sony’s set producing pictures that look more richly textured, crisper, denser, more three-dimensional and more refined". That's thanks to its superb work with nuanced contrast, its excellent sharpening and upscaling that never goes beyond what feels natural, and color handling that we described as "mesmerizingly precise". At least, this is all true if you avoid the horrible Vivid mode. If you're watching in a dark, light-controlled room, the Sony A80L's pictures are positively cinematic… including the fact that they're not very bright. Yes, you will notice a clear improvement in HDR punch and wow-inducing contrast from the also-mid-range LG C4, let alone the high-end Samsung S95D. For comparison, the Sony A80L hits 675 nits of peak brightness in a 10% HDR window, while the LG C4 hits 1,065 nits, and the Samsung S95D hits 1,688 nits. Yes, that's over 50% improvement from the LG, and well over double (nearly triple!) for the Samsung. And the fullscreen brightness measurements (important for sports in lit rooms) is a similar gulf – 50% higher from the LG, and well over double from the Samsung. These other TVs will hold up better in rooms where you might watch sport or play games during the day while sunlight floods in, no question. But for pure movie magic in a home theater room, the A80L is outstanding.

This is obviously why we've chosen this TV in this guide, and for its price, nothing sounds better. In our review, we praised the "sound that emerges directly from the TV, creating a more direct and powerful effect than most TVs that use down-firing, rear- or side-mounted speakers", and that is also "able to go surprisingly loud without succumbing to any distortion or crackling". You simply get more clarity and scale to the sound here than its rivals, especially the LG C4 or LG G3 – and it's better than the Samsung S90C, though that model is closer to the Sony than the LG's for scale. But it's not just about that – Sony's system of using the screen itself to generate the sound means that the audio is "almost uncannily accurately connected to the onscreen action", as we said in our review. We added that "it’s startling how much this direct sound effect placement enhances your sense of involvement in what you’re watching – especially if the TV is receiving a Dolby Atmos soundtrack". This is the kind of thing we usually say about soundbars and not built-in TV speakers, and it's why we've picked this TV here.

Google TV is used here, which is second to none when it comes to presenting you with streaming app options, so you'll have no trouble watching whatever you want. However, while Google TV is very attractive, it's not quite as intuitive as some rivals, including the latest version of LG's webOS, and is a little less effective at recommending useful things you might want to watch. But it's comprehensive and it's certainly not difficult to find things on it – well, with the possible exception of the picture adjustment menus, though Sony sensibly provided a 'gear' button on the remote control that opens this straight up, so we appreciate that.

The Sony A80L is equipped with some very tempting gaming features, but it's not quite a total win. The good news is that it's a 'Perfect for PlayStation' TV, which means it supports some special PS5-friendly features, including superior HDR mapping (an advantage for its low-brightness screen) and auto-switching to different gaming modes depending on your genre of game. But for any console, it supports 4K at up to 120Hz on two of its four HDMI ports, and has Sony's Game Menu so you can tweak its game-friendly settings. However, we measured its input lag at 16.5ms, which is close to double the 9.8ms we get from Samsung and LG. Not a big deal for most players, but a disappointment to the most hardcore.

Available for a higher price than the Samsung S90C, but with lower brightness levels and less flexibility in its gaming connectivity, the Sony A80L is obviously not as strong value as that model. However, because its sound is so good, it may mean you don't need to add a soundbar (as we would recommend you do with some other mid-range OLEDs), giving it higher value points. And it has those unique features for PS5 users that may also make it better value for Sony loyalists. But we certainly think the S90C delivers more bang for buck overall.

With the combination of Micro Lens Array (MLA) tech, LG's OLED Evo panel and a powerful processor, the LG G3's picture quality is "nothing short of spectacular" as described in our review. Blending stunning black levels and contrast with bold colors, the G3 also proved that high brightness can be achieved by non-Samsung OLEDs (we measured its peak brightness at 1,449 nits on a 10% window, which was the highest we tested from the 2023 range of TVs) and although the Samsung S95D has passed it now, it's still a suitably bright TV that can handle well-lit viewing environments thanks to some good reflection reduction tech – we noted in our review that the G3 was "extremely impressive in how well it handled the bright testing facility lights". We loved the G3's picture quality and honestly couldn't find much at fault – and it's why its among the best OLED TVs still. 

The G3's built-in sound was good overall and while it won't rival a great soundbar, we still had a lot to praise about it. Its bass levels are suitably powerful, describing it as "thunderous" in our review and dialogue is clear no matter what you're watching. While it does have Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, its reproduction of these was restrained and difficult to hear in action-heavy movies such as The Batman. There's an AI Sound Pro mode which adds more immersion, but we found it sound "clinical". While many people will be happy with the G3's speakers, like the Samsung S95D, we feel the G3 deserves a soundbar to match the quality of its picture.

LG's webOS 23 is built into the G3 as its smart TV platform, and thanks to a tidier home menu with more tailored TV show and movie recommendations and a new Quick Cards feature that makes app organization nice and easy, it's easily one of the best smart TV platforms around. It also has plenty of settings for those who like to experiment with picture and sound – which you can make instantly accessible, mercifully – and built-in hands-free voice control options as well. A user-friendly experience all around, and with pretty much unbeatable streaming app support.

Gamers will be pleased with the amount of features the G3 offers, with four HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K 120Hz, Dolby Vision gaming, variable refresh rates, and auto low latency mode. The G3 also delivers the picture and performance to match, as when we played Battlefield V during testing, we said "Panning and swapping between targets was a breeze and kept the action feeling pacy". There isn't much missing for gamers on the G3, other than 144Hz refresh rate for PC gaming, which Samsung QD-OLEDs and the LG C4 carry, so it's makes for an excellent gaming TV – or as we called it in our review, "a paradise". 

Released at a premium in 2023, the G3 has seen several big price cuts since then and you're now looking at paying roughly $1,399 / £1,399 for its 55-inch model - which is roughly what you'd pay for the newer LG C4 released in 2024, but which is a step-down in LG's range. At this current price, it's a seriously competitive OLED TV and while it doesn't quite beat the likes of the Samsung S90C for value overall, it offers a lot at this price range – though remember that it comes with a wall-mount only, and not a stand!