Games, films and sports as they should be seen: The best TVs of 2024

Samsung’s flagship model for 2024, the S95D has absolutely everything you could ask for in a television. Stunning picture quality courtesy of its 4K QD-OLED display, and 8 million self-illuminating pixels – essential for the best HDR displays - to provide superb contrast. It also introduces Glare Free technology, to massively reduce glare from any other light sources in your room. An AI processor helps to enhance brightness, colour and detail, while HDR Pro and Dolby Atmos Sound complete the audio-visual experience. The screen has that all-important 120Hz refresh rate for silky smooth gaming, and can even go up to 144Hz for PC gaming. 

This set has eight speakers built-in to provide Object Tracking Sound+, where the sound follows the action on screen, with 70W of power. AI also supports audio performance, with tools such as Adaptive Sound Pro and Active Voice Amplifier helping to balance dialogue with other sound effects. All of this is ably supported by Samsung’s Smart platform, which includes both Bixby and Alexa voice assistants.  

The incredibly slim bezels – just 11mm (about 0.43 in) – mean this is a beautiful television which is all screen. With an RRP of £2199 for the 55-inch model, it certainly isn’t the cheapest. But in return, you’re getting what is, quite simply, one of the best TVs on the market.

LG regularly produces some of the best TVs for gaming, thanks to the ultra-smooth display, Auto Low Latency Mode, and Variable Refresh Rate up to 144Hz for PC gaming, and 120Hz for everything else. There’s also the Game Optimiser mode, which the C4 can switch to automatically when it detects a console has been connected. There are also four HDMI 2.1 ports, to support rapid data transfer between console and screen, as well as FreeSync and G-Sync compatibility. 

As well as being built to suit gamers, the LG C4 is brilliant in lots of other ways as well. The OLED display is crystal clear, ably supported by AI to reduce image noise. HDR support for Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG is available to provide the best possible picture no matter the format. The display is even brighter than the C3 model of 2023, so you’ll be fine watching even in bright conditions. Adaptive Sound Control helps balance the audio of whatever you’re listening to, alongside Dolby Atmos. LG’s webOS is also a user-friendly smart TV platform. 

We’ve often seen this on sale for below the RRP of £1899.99 for the 55-inch model, sometimes for closer to £1500. That makes this a superb, versatile TV that’s great for gaming, but does everything else brilliantly as well.

If you want a truly immersive experience from your 65-inch TV, we don’t think you can look beyond the Philips The One 65PUS8909 Ambilight TV. As a new model for 2024, it is packed with great features that make this a great telly – and still comes in under the £1000 mark, with an RRP of £899. 

Starting with the picture and sound, this TV supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, to complement the 4K ultra-HD LED display. The display offers Variable Refresh Rate of up to 144HZ for super smooth PC gaming via the HDMI 2.1 port. There’s also support for HDR, Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG picture formats, to give you sharp images regardless of what you’re watching. Four 10W speakers help to create a rich and immersive soundscape. 

But the standout feature on a Philips TV is still Ambilight, which uses integrated LEDs on the back of the screen that react to whatever you’re watching. By matching the colour of what’s on the screen, it makes the screen seem larger and more immersive, and Philips claims it can help to reduce eye strain. It’s a great extra feature that elevates this compared to a lot of its competitors.

This Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED TV is among the best budget TVs for a few reasons. You're getting a great screen, supported by Amazon's OS, which is connected to Prime and other Amazon services. Fire TV is a comprehensive smart TV platform, offering support for all the major streaming services – Netflix, Disney Plus, Apple TV and Prime Video, as well as Now TV and Discovery+.

The star of the show is the 4K QLED screen – offering rich colours, deep blacks, vibrant pictures and finishes with really impressive sound. It utilises a full-array LED setup to deliver the best possible contrast. It really is impressive for a television at this comparatively affordable price point (the 55-inch model has an RRP of £749.99). 

If you’re a gamer, this telly offers a 60Hz panel rather than the 120Hz you’ll get on more expensive models. But it still supports variable refresh rate and auto low latency mode, to help in fast moving games where lag can make the difference between winning and losing.

The best Sony TVs are consistently among the very best on the market, and the latest flagship model, the A95L, is no exception. If you want one of the best pictures around – which, let’s be honest, is exactly what you should want for your home cinema – this is it.  

The 4K-QD-OLED screen is simply incredible, using AI to provide super contrast and clarity. The screen has millions of self-illuminating pixels to support HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision, while it also automatically upscales images close to 4K. XR Clear Image reduces image noise and blur, while XR OLED Motion reduces any blurring caused by fast movement – perfect for watching sports, or for gaming. 

Speaking of gaming, two HDMI 2.1 ports support variable refresh rate and auto low latency mode, as well as a 120Hz refresh rate. And with it being a Sony TV, of course it integrates seamlessly with a PlayStation 5 and gives you a couple of extra features. Auto Genre Picture Mode automatically adjusts the picture mode to maximise visual quality and performance. Auto HDR Tone Mapping instantly optimises HDR settings during the initial PS5 setup. 

The A95L doesn’t skimp on sound, either. Acoustic surface Audio + turns the whole screen into a speaker, which makes the sound appear from the right place in the scene. This augments Dolby Atmos, while XR Surround uses the TV speakers to create 3D audio without any additional soundbars or surround sound speakers.   

Our one gripe is the feet, which are put at the very edges of the bottom of the screen. You’ll either need a huge TV stand, or a wall mount. That said, if you want the best for your home cinema, this is it.

On a sunny day, watching your favourite show, a major sporting event, or playing some video games can be difficult if the screen isn’t bright enough. Instead of watching the action, you get treated to your own frustrated face as your TV becomes a black mirror. The Samsung QN90C is one of the best TVs for bright rooms, because of the technology that underpins it. 

This TV uses quantum dot technology– mini-LEDs roughly the size of a grain of sand – which offer higher peak brightness levels than many OLED screens, without compromising picture quality. The mini LEDS are placed in an array behind the screen, which enables it to produce a brighter screen. This means that for viewing in particularly bright conditions, this TV will outshine many more expensive rivals. It also has an anti-reflection screen, to help minimise glare. 

But it isn’t just about brightness. The QN90C also utilises AI to optimise sound and picture, improving contrast, reducing blur, and making voices sound clearer over background sound effects, for example. AI upscaling lets you stream your favourite content in 4K, and eight built-in speakers work with Dolby Atmos to create an immersive 3D audio experience. 120Hz refresh rates via the HDMI 2.1 ports make gaming a joy as well.

If you’re in a “money-is-no-object" kind of mood, or you simply want the absolute best that TV technology has to offer, then take a look at the Samsung QN900D – one of the best 8K TVs on the market. To be frank, this doesn’t come cheap – the RRP of £4999 is for the 65-inch model, rising to £9499 for the 85-inch. Then again, this is Samsung’s flagship model for 2024, so perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised. 

In return, you’re getting simply extraordinary picture quality. The new AI processor upscales other content, rendering everything as close to 8K as possible. It adjusts scene-by-scene, and improves brightness, contrast, motion, sound and resolution. It also has the highest density of Mini LEDs in any Samsung TV to create an incredibly bright image. 

The QN900D also has an impressive 12-speaker array that allows for Object Tracking – making the sound come from exactly the right part of the screen. And for gaming? Expect ultra-low input lag, buttery-smooth visuals, and Freesync Premium Pro.  

Clearly, with that price tag it isn’t for everyone. But if you want the best that 8K currently has to offer, this is it.

The best TVs for sound aren't just offering a gimmick - sound is often a crucial part of the cinematic experience. For that reason, we’re selecting the Panasonic MZ2000 as our favourite TV for sound quality. It features a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos speaker configuration, with upward firing speakers, side speakers, and a full external soundbar along the bottom. This delivers exceptional audio performance, complemented by Dolby Atmos. 

The sound creation mode allows you to really tailor the sound to your preferences, while the Space Tune function lets you tune each speaker individually, to get the perfect balance. Finally, the MZ2000 uses the array speaker system to enable you to create zones of different sound levels.

It’s not just a great sound system. The TV comes with a sharp OLED display that supports most HDR formats, there’s an ambient light sensor to automatically adjust brightness levels, while for gamers, HDMI 2.1 ports support high frame rates and variable refresh rates.  

It’s a superb package, with the best sound of just about any television on the market. The £2999.99 RRP is steep, but it’s one telly that you won’t need a separate soundbar or surround sound system for.

The LG C3 in a 42-inch size is a great choice if you want a TV in your bedroom. While it was a model released in 2023, it’s still a brilliant telly that offers plenty of high-quality features, in a small package – and relatively affordable price. While its RRP was £1500 at launch, it’s often available now for under £800. 

The slim bezels look fantastic, and the screen is a wonderful 4K OLED display that looks stunning. Great contrast thanks to the HDR support, and high pixel density create incredibly sharp images – although not quite as bright as larger models of this TV. There’s also a native 100Hz refresh rate. Not as good as the 120Hz you get on some models, but good enough for most content to look great. And via the HDMI 2.1 port, there’s support for 120Hz frame rates for games consoles, for example. 

If you’re looking for a screen for gaming, this doesn’t disappoint. Variable refresh rate, auto low latency mode, HGiG, FreeSync and G-Sync compatibility are all here, and the Game Optimiser mode automatically provides the perfect settings for a variety of game genres. 

A year on from its release, this is still a great television that works great in a bedroom.

If you’re looking for a bargain, and you want a TV that won’t take up too much space in your kitchen, then the 43-inch Hisense A6K is a top choice. With an RRP of just £249, it’s considerably cheaper than anything else on our shortlist. And while that does mean there are a few compromises, you’re still looking at exceptional value for money. 

This TV has a 60Hz panel, so it won’t give you the same smooth performance as a 120Hz display can. IT still supports auto low latency mode for gamers, however. The Direct LED backlit screen is an improvement over edge-lit TVs, offering better contrasts and brightness control. This also helps keep the price down. The A6K also uses AI Picture Optimisation to help enhance the image and sound quality of whatever you’re watching, while HDR support covers content in HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision formats.

Sound-wise, two seven-watt speakers are surprisingly solid, ably helped by DTS X sound technology, which helps to create a more immersive experience. It’s a little light on bass, but at this price point, that’s not too surprising. 

As we mentioned before, you can’t expect perfection at this price point. But for such a cheap price, you’re getting a telly that performs far better than you would expect.