Note: There is an updated (Fall 2023) version of this guide available here:
TV technology has advanced so quickly that a high performing television from just a few years ago pales in comparison to today’s best displays, and with increased competition and pricing pressure from a sluggish economy, now is an excellent time to be shopping for a new 4K TV. As far as which TV technology is best, OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) beats LED/LCD for nearly all content and use cases, due to its superior black levels, contrast, motion reproduction, color saturation and picture uniformity. OLED TVs also offer much wider viewing angles than LED/LCD TVs, making them a great choice for large living rooms.
OLED TVs have made particularly large improvements in the past few years as LG has found new competition from Sony and Samsung. Sony began offering OLED TVs a few years ago, with display panels manufactured by LG Display, combined with Sony’s proprietary image processing software. Earlier this year, Samsung got back into the OLED TV game with the release of their new “QD OLED” (Quantum Dot Organic Light-Emitting Diode) TVs. QD-OLED improves upon OLED’s picture performance aspects even more with improved panel brightness, something that had been a mild weakness of OLED TVs in the past.
The secret to OLED and QD-OLED’s superior image quality comes from their self-illuminating pixels. While LED/LCD TVs require a backlight element behind the LCD panel (which can lead to poor black levels and uniformity), OLED panels emit their own light source at the individual pixel level. Each pixel can be lit or turned off, or set to any level in between in order to create pure blacks, bright saturated colors and extremely high contrast images with excellent shadow detail.
For more details on the two OLED variations, check out our companion articles: WTF is an OLED TV? and WTF is a QD-OLED TV?, expertly written by OLED-Master Robert “Don’t call me David!” Silva.
All models recommended below are new, first introduced in 2022. They all offer full Ultra HD 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels), excellent picture performance, a full suite of Smart TV apps and features, four HDMI inputs (including some or all with HDMI 2.1 support) and support for at least two flavors of HDR (High Dynamic Range): HDR10 and HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma).
All models but the Samsung also include Dolby Vision dynamic HDR support (the Samsung supports HDR10+ dynamic HDR instead). All models support Dolby Atmos passthrough to an external receiver or Soundbar.
Buying Tip: How to Get The Best Deal
If you’re an Amazon Prime member, Amazon is currently offering an additional incentive on select models this holiday season in the form of cash back if you pay with an Amazon Prime credit card (5% to 10% back, depending on model). This can add up to $100, $200 or more in cash-back savings on certain sets. For those who prefer to pay over time, you can choose 12-months interest free financing instead of cash back. If you don’t have an Amazon Prime card, you can apply for one online with quick approval.
The Amazon Prime Card has no annual fee but does require you have a Prime Membership in good standing. It’s a great card to have if you purchase items on Amazon regularly as it gives you 5% cash back or more on virtually all Amazon purchases. Get the details on this offer here for LG TVs.
For local shoppers, Costco offers excellent prices on some of these sets and has a generous return policy and excellent service in the unlikely event that you don’t like the TV in your particular home or you have technical issues with it. And now on to our recommendations. Scroll down to read the full article or jump to individual recommendations below.
Note: Pricing was accurate with items available and in stock as of the publication of this article (November 19, 2022). Pricing and inventory is subject to change.
In This Article:
- Best Budget 4K OLED TV: LG B2 Series
- Best Price/Performance 4K OLED TV: It’s a Tie!
- Best Cost-No-Object 4K OLED TV: Sony A95K QD-OLED
Best Budget OLED TV: LG B2 Series (55-inch: $997, 65-inch: $1,297, 77-inch: $1,997)
To get a high performing 55-inch OLED TV for under $1,000 a few years ago would have been inconceivable (and yes, that word means what I think it means). But thanks to softening demand, LG has cut prices across the board, including on its budget B2 Series. The 55-inch B2 Series OLED was previously selling for $1,299 and the 65-inch version was $1,599 but both were slashed $300 for Black Friday. The 77-inch version has seen the deepest price cut. The original list price was $3,299, but it’s currently on Amazon for $1,997. The B2 Series is eligible for Amazon’s 10% cash back deal if you pay with an Amazon Prime credit card. This brings the net price down to $897 for the 55-inch, $1,167 for the 65-inch and $1797 for the 77-inch version. Again, the 10% cash back comes as reward points after purchase which can be converted directly into a statement credit.
The LG B2 Series features LG’s standard 4K OLED panel with its inky blacks, accurate, nicely saturated colors and excellent contrast. The B2 OLED is equally at home with movies, sports or episodic TV shows. On SDR (standard dynamic range) content like broadcast TV and 1080p Blu-ray Discs, you’d be hard-pressed to spot any difference in image quality compared to LG’s more expensive evo OLED panel found in the C2 and G2 series TVs. On 4K/HDR content like Dolby Vision streaming videos and Ultra HD Blu-ray Discs, the B2 set really lights up with vivid color and detail, but here is where the evo panel outperforms the B2 a bit with slightly higher overall brightness and better color saturation. It’s a fairly subtle difference, though, which probably isn’t worth worrying about if you’re trying to stick to a budget. Compared to any LCD/LED set – at any price point – we prefer the LG B2 OLED.
Compared to the more expensive C2 series, the B2 includes a slightly less powerful processing chip: The Alpha 7, Gen 5, vs. the Alpha 9, Gen 5 in the C2 series and above. While this could result in potentially faster loading or smoother operation when using the set’s WebOS Smart TV platform and streaming apps, neither is evident in actual day to day use. The more powerful processor in the C2 Series is one contributor toward its improved HDR performance as it offers improved tone mapping on HDR10 and Dolby Vision content. This is the ability of the TV to map HDR content to the specific luminance capabilities of the display.
Both the B2 and C2 series TVs offer four HDMI ports, one with ARC/eARC support for connection to an external soundbar or receiver. On the C2 model, all HDMI ports support HDMI 2.1 while the B2 only supports HDMI 2.1 on two of the ports. This may not matter to most users as it’s unlikely one would have more than two sources which require HDMI 2.1 support. With HDMI 2.1, you’ll be able to connect a next gen gaming console like a PS5 or XBOX Series X to take advantage of VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), ALLM (auto low latency mode) and 4K/120 fps gaming. This makes the B2 series a favorite for hard-core (and even more casual) console gamers.
The B2 Series includes the LG WebOS smart streaming platform with access to all of the usual streaming suspects: Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video – the gang’s all here. The set also supports Dolby Atmos passthrough to an external receiver or soundbar.
Pros: Lowest price we’ve ever seen on a high performing OLED TV, inky blacks, sharp 4K detail and accurate nicely saturated colors, next gen gaming console support, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support.
Cons: Even better picture performance is available for a bit more money (C2 series), only 2 of its 4 HDMI ports supports HDMI 2.1
Bottom Line: Get an LG B2 Series TV for a taste of that outstanding OLED picture quality at bargain basement prices.
Where to Buy:
- 55-inch LG B2 Series OLED TV on Amazon
- 65-inch LG B2 Series OLED TV on Amazon
- 77-inch LG B2 Series OLED TV on Amazon
Best Price/Performance 4K OLED TV: Samsung S95B QD-OLED TV and LG C2 Series OLED TV (Tie)
This year’s 4K TV Shootout pitted five of the top 65-inch TVs against each other in a Battle Royale. Two of the featured sets were LG’s C2 Series OLED TV and Samsung’s S95B QD OLED TV. The two were neck and neck in the results. We saw both sets reproduce a wide array of content, from low quality interlaced broadcast TV, to 1080p Blu-Ray Discs to 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays and 4K streaming content using Dolby Vision and HDR10 HDR. And the test patterns… so many test patterns. All of the content was selected to highlight specific areas of performance like picture uniformity, upscaling SD and HD content to 4K resolution, shadow detail, color accuracy, bright room performance, dark room performance, maximum brightness, contrast, HDR tone mapping and more.
Looking at standard and high definition content and test patterns in a bright room, the Samsung QD-OLED’s slightly higher brightness and superior deinterlacing gave it the edge over the LG. In a dark room, testing similar content (standard definition and high definition content in standard dynamic range), the LG won out with superior color accuracy and black levels. And in the all important 4K/HDR Reference tests, the two sets traded punches with the Samsung edging out the LG in color saturation tests, while the LG beat the Samsung in UHD Detail or perceived “sharpness.”
Without going too far down the rabbit hole, both sets performed extremely well in the HDR Reference tests, meaning either makes an excellent choice if you’re going to watch a lot of 4K/HDR content on streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime or HBO, or on Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc or from a home media server like Kaleidescape. Both sets include proprietary streaming platforms: LG has WebOS, Samsung has Tizen. Each works quite well and includes access to all the popular streaming apps and many of the unpopular ones.
The LG set is controlled by the latest version of LG’s “Magic Remote” which works sort of like a Wii controller by pointing the remote at the area of the screen you want to click on then clicking on it. If you prefer, you can use the Magic Remote’s standard remote navigation buttons instead. The Samsung TV uses a more traditional looking remote though it has some interesting features like the ability to recharge via indoor or outdoor light via a small built-in solar panel or via radio waves which are already floating around inside your home thanks to your WiFi Router (yes, really). Samsung prides itself on its use of recycled materials in the remote and actually refer to it as the “eco remote.”
The choice as to which TV is “best” depends on your specific use case. The Samsung set performs better in bright room tests than the LG, and it measures with higher peak brightness as well. The LG evo panel used in the C2 series is noticeably brighter than last year’s LG OLEDs but not quite able to match the Samsung’s brightness. But the LG performed slightly better overall in subjective viewing tests in a darker room. If you plan to watch a lot of content with bright room lighting, the Samsung may be the better choice. If you’re prepared to dim the lights for movie nights, the LG may be a better choice. Also, if you’re looking for anything other than a 55-inch or 65-inch size, then you’ll need to go with LG as Samsung only offers the two sizes while LG offers the C2 series in sizes from 42 inches all the way up to 83 inches.
The final factor to consider is actually more on the technical side, but it also relates to the content you plan to watch. The LG set supports Dolby Vision dynamic HDR (High Dynamic Range), which is widely used for premium 4K content on multiple streaming services including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max.
Samsung supports HDR10+ dynamic HDR. You can find some streaming content in HDR10+ on Amazon Prime Video and Paramount+. The selection of titles and services that include Dolby Vision currently dwarfs what you can find in HDR10+. What does this mean to you? If you watch a Dolby Vision 4K movie on the Samsung, the HDR will automatically downgrade to the standard HDR10 HDR, which the Samsung set does support. So that 4K movie you’re watching on Netflix will still look great, just maybe not as great as it will on the LG, which has native Dolby Vision support.
In terms of pricing, both models have been significantly discounted for Black Friday (and these prices are available now). The Samsung S95B 4K QD OLED is currently on Amazon for $1798 in the 65-inch size. The LG C2 4K OLED TV is currently on Amazon for $1697 in a 65-inch size. Both sets qualify for Amazon’s 10% cash back offer if you pay with an Amazon Prime card. See below for links to each.
Samsung S95B 4K QD OLED TV Highlights:
Pros: Great choice for bright rooms, Slightly better color saturation than LG C2, excellent upconversion of SD and HD content to 4K
Cons: Lacks Dolby Vision support, only available in 55-inch and 65-inch sizes, slightly more expensive than LG C2
Bottom Line: Buy the Samsung S95B if you enjoy watching TV in brighter rooms but still want the incredible performance of a state-of-the art QD-OLED TV.
Get the Samsung S95B 4K OLED TV on Amazon:
LG C2 4K OLED TV Highlights:
Pros: Top notch dark room HDR performance, supports Dolby Vision, slightly less expensive than Samsung S95B
Cons: Not quite as bright as Samsung S95B QD OLED, LG Magic Remote is an “acquired taste”
Bottom Line: Buy the LG C2 4K OLED TV if you’re willing to dim the lights a bit for the best picture quality and you want to get the highest performance out of 4K Dolby Vision content. Also, if you’re looking for a screen size smaller than 55 inches or larger than 65 inches, the C2 Series is an excellent choice.
Buy the LG C2 4K OLED TV on Amazon:
- 42-inch LG C2 Series 4K OLED TV
- 48-inch LG C2 Series 4K OLED TV
- 55-inch LG C2 Series 4K OLED TV
- 65-inch LG C2 Series 4K OLED TV
- 77-inch LG C2 Series 4K OLED TV
- 83-inch LG C2 Series 4K OLED TV
Best “Cost No Object” 4K TV: Sony A95K 4K QD-OLED TV
Also a contender in this year’s 4K TV Showdown, Sony’s A95K QD-OLED TV actually took first place in the competition overall winning the crown of “King of 4K TV” for 2022. The Sony performed just a bit better overall than both the Samsung and the LG TVs. Out of 15 categories of picture performance, the Sony took first place in nine. But at what cost? The Sony currently sells for well over $1,000 more than the other two sets.
The Sony A95K original list price in the 65-inch size was $3,999.99 and while the Black Friday deals have slashed $1,000 off that price, it’s still $1,200 more expensive than the Samsung S95B and $1,300 more than the LG C2. Also, the Sony set is not part of Amazon’s 10% cash-back promotion, though it does still qualify for 5% cash back which knocks $150 off the net price after cash back. This brings the net price paid down to about $2,850. This cash back is available to Amazon Prime customers who pay using an Amazon Prime card.
Does the Sony earn its lofty price tag? That depends. Are you looking for best picture quality TV on the market today and don’t care how much it costs? Then the Sony is for you. It’s great at upconverting standard definition and high definition content to 4K resolution, and it’s even better at displaying native 4K HDR content (including Dolby Vision content). It’s bright enough to produce a gorgeous high contrast image in a bright room but it’s equally at home for movie night in a pitch black room. The set even offers high quality sound: the TV effectively uses its entire screen as speakers and includes two built-in subwoofers in the back for sound quality that’s better than some standalone soundbars.
The Sony A95K uses the same QD-OLED (Quantum Dot Organic Light Emitting Diode) panel that’s found in the also-excellent Samsung S95B TV, but it combines that panel with Sony’s latest generation Cognitive Processor XR for improved video performance. The QD-OLED panel is capable of higher overall brightness than a traditional OLED panel. This means the perfect black levels that OLED is well known for now have a more perfect white which leads to contrast performance that can’t be matched in any other consumer display.
Is the Sony A95K the perfect TV? No. It does have some issues worth considering (in addition to the high price). The set’s stand is a bit awkward: it’s massive, running the entire length of the TV. This can make placement on a credenza or stand a bit tricky. On the flip side, that stand can be mounted either behind or in front of the screen which gives you some options. Of course, you could just mount the TV directly on the wall if you don’t like the look of the stand. While the set does support the latest HDMI 2.1 features on two of its HDMI ports, two of the HDMI ports are HDMI 2.0. Both the LG and Samsung in our “Price/Performance” picks above support HDMI 2.1 on all four inputs. At the moment this is probably only an issue if you’re running multiple next gen gaming consoles on the TV, but this issue can be resolved with a simple A/V receiver.
Like the Samsung, the Sony A95K is only available in 55-inch and 65-inch screen sizes. If you want a larger OLED, you’ll need to go with an LG or one of Sony’s other OLED TVs which uses an OLED panel from LG Display like the also excellent A90K series.
Pros: Outstanding picture performance in bright or dark rooms, Very bright for an OLED TV, Supports Dolby Vision HDR, Good built-in sound
Cons: Expensive, Awkward TV stand runs entire width of TV, Only offers two HDMI 2.1 inputs, only available in 55-inch and 65-inch sizes
Bottom Line: Buy the Sony A95K QD-OLED if you want the highest performance 55-inch or 65-inch 4K TV on the market today.
Get the Sony A95K 4K QD-OLED TV on Amazon:
65-inch Sony A95K 4K QD-OLED TV on Amazon
55-inch Sony A95K 4K QD-OLED TV on Amazon
