Shopping for a new TV can be challenging; with so many different manufacturers, it can be hard to know which is the best TV brand and where to start. Some TV brand names are well-known, but popularity doesn't equate to being the best TV brand, as even the best brands' entry-level models don't perform well. Some budget-friendly TV brands are starting to make waves in the market and often release models that are better than more expensive options. We've bought and tested more than 425 TVs, and you can see a full list of each brand's 2024 TV lineups here.
From smart features to design, each brand has its own way of doing things. So, how do they stack up? Keep reading to see our take on the best TV brands in the U.S. Also, see our recommendations for the best smart TVs, the best TVs for movies, and the best 4k TVs, or vote on which TVs you want us to buy and test.
The best Sony TV on the market is the Sony A95L OLED. It's very similar to the Samsung S95C OLED, as it features the same impressive QD-OLED panel that delivers incredibly deep, inky blacks and bright, vibrant colors that stand out well. It features the amazing processing capabilities that Sony is known for, so it's a great choice for movie lovers looking for the absolute best TV for a basement home theater setup. It's also a great TV for gaming, with a nearly instantaneous response time and very low input lag that results in a very responsive experience, although its input lag is higher than competing models from other manufacturers.
As amazing as this TV is, it's expensive and only worth it for home theater enthusiasts wanting the best movie-watching experience. If you want a Sony OLED for Sony's processing capabilities but don't necessarily want to pay for the premium price tag of this model, look up the dimmer but cheaper Sony A80L/A80CL OLED. The A80L uses a WOLED panel, so it isn't nearly as colorful as this TV. However, it still has Sony's legendary processing capabilities. If you don't care as much about dark room performance, Sony also makes some impressive LED models, like the Sony X95L or Sony X93L/X93CL, which are amazing for bright rooms. The X95L, in particular, is the best overall LED TV on the market, but unfortunately, it's only available in an 85-inch size in North America.
You can also check out the best Sony TVs here.
The Samsung S95C OLED is a high-end 4k TV in Samsung's 2023 lineup, replacing the 2022 Samsung S95B OLED. There are a few design changes compared to the 2022 version, as the S95C uses Samsung's Slim One Connect external input box and has a sleeker, more uniform design. It's powered by Samsung's Neural Quantum Processor 4k, first introduced in 2022 and designed to deliver better upscaling, optimized on a scene-by-scene basis. It's also a gaming powerhouse, with a fast 144Hz refresh rate for PC gaming and support for HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on all four ports. Like other Samsung TVs, it uses Samsung's proprietary Tizen OS smart interface, which offers a large selection of apps and games.
We bought and tested the 77-inch Samsung S95C, and these results are also valid for the 55-inch and 65-inch models. Note that the last five letters in the model number (AFXZA in this case) vary between retailers and individual regions, but there's no difference in performance.
Our unit was manufactured in January 2023; you can see the label here.
The Samsung S95C is an incredible OLED TV and a slight improvement on the first-generation Samsung S95B OLED. It gets brighter and delivers better colors than WOLED models from LG and Sony, but it still lacks a polarizer, and the screen finish has a purple tint in a bright room. Overall, it's an impressive TV that outperforms most similarly-priced models on the market, although its younger and cheaper siblings, the Samsung S90C OLED and Samsung S89C OLED, are almost as good. It has an excellent selection of extra features and delivers fantastic picture quality. Along with the Sony A95L OLED and the LG G3 OLED, it's one of the best TVs from 2023.
See our recommendations for the best OLED TVs, the best 4k TVs, and the best 70-75-77 inch TVs.
Source: Rtings