If you haven’t noticed, we’re in a new golden age of television thanks to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Disney Plus creating a wealth of original high-quality content. If you are in love with all the new movies and shows—not to mention modern video games—then upgrading your living room with one of the best TVs can bring a theater-like experience into your home. You'll get a crisper, brighter picture with more vibrant colors, smoother motion, better viewing angles, and even HDR—high dynamic range—that packs more colors onto the screen. Ans all at a competitive price, too.
The latest generation OLED TVs are true works of art, like Samsung's The Frame, which looks just ... [+] like a picture on the wall.
The great thing about many of the TVs on the market right now is that they've taken a major leap forward in quality in the past few years. Advances in display tech (with names like OLED, Mini LED and quantum dot) mean that the latest TVs enjoy unprecedented vibrancy, color accuracy and contrast, And they're more responsive than ever, which makes them awesome for game playing, too. The absolute best gaming TVs aren't always super affordable, but they're worth the cost if faster and more competitive gaming is important to you.
You don't have to spend thousands to get all of those features, either, as with increased competition among the top brands, comes better pricing. So, whether you're trying to get a new big screen for your home theater, something compact and affordable for your kitchen, or something to take your gaming experience to the next level, one of the best TVs of 2022 will have something for you.
Type: QD-OLED |Resolution: 4K | HDR: HDR10, HDR10+
Who it’s for: TV viewers who want the absolute pinnacle of TV picture quality in 2022, and don't mind paying for it.
Samsung is typically at the forefront of display technologies, though in recent years it's focused more on its LED developments, bringing smaller Mini-LEDs to market, alongside improvements in quantum dot technology. Now though, it's turning its attention to OLED TVs, and it's made something truly special.
QD-OLED is a combination of OLED and quantum dot technology to deliver a brighter, and more vibrant OLED image than ever before, whilst retaining the iconic near-infinite contrast ratio that OLED TVs are known for. It means you'll see new shades of the main colors on a TV like the S95B that you just won't be able to on any other TV ever made. QD-OLED is a real game changer.
Samsung has made extra effort to trim down the design of this OLED, and it shows. While it does have that typical chunky OLED bottom-half, the overall design is extremely thin and svelte, with tiny bezels and a minimalist stand. If you want to eliminate its footprint entirely, you can easily wall mount it with its full VESA compatibility.
The back has four HDMI 2.1 ports for full 4K 120Hz gaming on new-generation consoles, and three of them support eARC for making your home audio system as simple and streamlined as possible. There's also full support for Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.2
This TV supports all the big brands of HDR—except, in true Samsung fashion, Dolby Vision. It's available in 55- and 65-inch models, and it does trend toward the expensive end of the spectrum considering its new batch of technology. But that's to be expected. If you want the best of the best, you're going to have to pay for it, and the Samsung S95B is set to be the best TV of 2022.
Type: QLED (Mini-LED) | Resolution: 8K | HDR: Quantum HDR 32x, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
Who it’s for: Viewers who have 8K content that they want to do real justice to, and anyone looking to future proof their TV.
Where 4K is all the rage, 8K TVs are just starting to hit that sweet spot of affordability and accessibility, with a variety of native resolution content to enjoy. There are many great 8K TVs to pick from in 2022, but one of the best 8K TVs currently available is the Samsung QN900A.
A key feature of this TV are its Mini-LEDs. These are a fraction of the size of traditional LED backlights, allowing for much greater overall brightness, and a big improvement to local dimming zones, allowing for more nuanced HDR without the blooming you see on more typical LED TVs. It's not as good as OLED, where individual pixels can be turned on and off, but the QN900A goes a long way to closing that gap. If you watch a lot of HDR content and would love to enjoy it at 8K, this is the TV for you. Better yet, there's no risk of burn-in with a Mini-LED TV, either.
Along with its high resolution, this TV supports a wide range of HDR standards, and though lacking Dolby Vision, its peak brightness of over 1,600 nits means it can make bright elements in a scene really shine. Combined with its excellent out of the box color calibration, this TV makes visuals appear as lifelike as it gets in 2022—especially at the larger screen sizes. While the 65-inch model is the most affordable, this 75-inch model is competitively priced. However, there's also an 85-inch option if you want the ultimate 8K TV experience.
All HDMI ports on this TV are HDMI 2.1, meaning that you'll have access to all 8K local playback options as they become available in the next few years. That includes both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, as well as any next-generation physical media options that arise for 8K. Low input lag, high refresh rates and fast response times make this display particularly good for gaming too.
Type: OLED | Resolution: 4K | HDR: HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision, Dynamic Tone Mapping Pro
Who it’s for: Anyone wanting the best of both worlds. This TV has the brightness of LED and the contrast of OLED in one awesome package.
The LG G2 is the new-generation flagship OLED television from LG. It builds on the successes of the last-generation LG G1, improving the OLED Evo panel and with the addition of a huge internal heatsink. That cooling potential means this TV can get brighter still without increasing the risk of burn-in, and it makes the LG G2 an amazing OLED TV for watching anything in both daytime and darkened cinema rooms. Although OLEDs will always look their best when you dim the lights down, thanks to that infinite contrast ratio, the newer, brighter OLEDs are making big leaps in their ability to be enjoyed anywhere at any time.
Along with an improved overall picture, LG's dynamic upscaling has been improved in turn. As well as enhancing resolution of lower quality content, the TV can now improve the colors, and contrast, dynamically adjusting the various picture settings automatically using AI to decide what the best setting is at any time.
Another advance in this generation of LG OLEDs is in the physical sizing of the TVs. Bezels are thinner, giving it a seamless look from every angle, and the back is trimmer too, helping the LG G2 sit almost completely flush against the wall, with less of that typical OLED thicker rear end.
The LG G2 might not be the absolute best TV of 2022, but it's up there, and as far as traditional OLED TVs go, it's the one to beat.
Type: QLED | Resolution: 4K | HDR: Quantum HDR, HDR10, HDR10+
Who it’s for: Sports fans and gamers who want the fastest and smoothest picture so they don't miss any of the action.
When it comes to sports, you want a TV that's fast with excellent motion handling and has a high brightness for when you're watching in the afternoon with the curtains open. Samsung's new mini-LED-powered QLED TVs, including the QN85B, are really great for watching sports in a bright, vibrant and immersive way. Thanks to its super fast response time, all of the action looks crisp and accurate with little ghosting, letting you appreciate every move and play.
The maximum brightness for this TV is well over 1,000 nits, which is far more than you'd get on any OLEDs and most LED TVs. That means you'll get a fantastic picture that's fully legible even with direct sun shining on it, though you'd be better off pulling the curtains in most cases. When it is darker, you'll get the enjoyment of massive contrast ratio and excellent HDR support, with those small sections of screen glaring bright, while the darker sections remain as close to black as you can get on an LED TV.
Samsung's anti-reflective screen technologies continue to improve too. Similar to the matt coating it uses on its The Frame models, the QN85B is able to handle partial sunlight without diminishing the picture completely, and reflections are barely a problem any more, letting you watch with external light sources nearby without sacrificing picture quality.
When you're watching sports with a big group of friends, wide viewing angles are important to ensure everyone gets a great picture, and the QN85B has that in spades. Whether you're watching from the front or an extreme side shot, the picture quality will remain almost the same. That's partially thanks to the dynamic AI upscaling and picture quality adjustments, though those are also particularly good for enhancing SD live broadcasts.
If you want to do a little sports gaming in your downtime, the support for variable refresh rates (up to 120Hz) means you can make your games look buttery smooth. Low input lag makes them feel nice and responsive too, which is perfect for fast-paced games of all sorts. As a smart TV powered by the Tizen OS, this is a powerful and versatile television that’ll give you access to a wide range of streaming programming right out of the box.
Type: OLED | Resolution: 4K | HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
Who it’s for: Movie fans who want to make a true home-cinema-like experience.
You might have to pay a little more for Sony TVs, but they're oh so worth it. The Sony Bravia A90J OLED TV rivals some of the best OLED TVs in the world and has a simply stunning picture. It blends a near-infinite contrast ratio with a bright display, gorgeous color depth, and as with all OLEDs, it has a near-zero input lag, making it fantastic for high stakes gaming.
Although this TV does a lot right, its greatest strength is in watching movies on your favorite streaming service with full UHD 4K resolution support. It looks even better with UHD Blu-rays if you have that option, but in either case, movies look stunning on the A90J thanks to its super high contrast, and excellent HDR handling. It has impressive brightness for an OLED, and the deepest of possible blacks. The XR processor is a fantastic addition to this TV, too, offering impressive upscaling for 1080p content, making some of your favorite classic movies of the past two decades look better than ever.
Unlike some TVs that mandate a more expansive audio system in order to really enjoy your films, the A90J comes with an impressive speaker system built into the display. Using Sony's Acoustic Surface Technology, the screen itself acts as a set of speakers, delivering surprisingly robust sound quality in a standalone audio system, or acting as the center speaker in a more expansive (optional) surround sound setup.
You can get this TV at a big discount now too, because the next-generation Sony XR A95K is just around the corner. It'll be that bit better again, but it will be very expensive, so the A90J is likely to remain one of the more cost-effective Sony OLED TVs to buy in 2022.
Type: QLED | Resolution: 4K | HDR: Quantum HDR 32x, HDR10, HDR10+
Who it’s for: Gamers who want a cutting edge living room gaming experience and don't want to risk OLED burn-in.
The Samsung QN90B is one of the best LED TVs ever made, combining the vibrant colors of Samsung's typical QLED technology with its more recent Mini-LEDs to deliver greater overall brightness, more nuanced local zone dimming and better HDR support across the entire display. The result is a fantastic looking screen that isn't far off OLED TVs in contrast ratio without the risk of burn-in often associated with that technology.
While it looks great watching movies and TV shows though, the real strength of the Q90B is in gaming. It has the usual 4K 120Hz specs of many modern TVs, but it also enjoys a fantastically low input lag and great motion handling for a crisp picture, even when the action heats up. Unlike OLED TVs, it also has no risk of burn-in, so you don't need to worry about playing games with static HUD elements constantly on screen.
Samsung has improved the matte coating on the panel for reduced reflections this time around, making it easier to play in bright environments. It also enjoys extremely wide viewing angles for multiplayer gaming, and the super fast response time and very low input lag make it a great TV for immersive single player experiences or competitive gaming. If you're playing more atmospheric games where input lag isn't such a problem, you can also take advantage of AI upscaling for improved image quality and contrast, though that may not suit everyone's play style.
Type: OLED | Resolution: 4K | HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
Who it’s for: Competitive console gamers who want to make sure that their TV is as fast as possible, with the lowest input lag of any modern TV.
The LG C2 is the latest in a line of top console gaming TVs, following on from the stellar C1 in 2021. The new C2 now enjoys the Evo panel first introduced on the higher-end LG G1 TV, giving it much greater brightness for HDR and daytime gaming. It also comes equipped with the new LG Alpha 9 Gen 5 processor, which might add a slight touch of input lag, but does a wondrous job of improving contrast and saturation for a richer and more visually engaging gaming experience. It makes older movies look fantastic, too, thanks to very intelligent upscaling and visual enhancements.
The mix of 120Hz refresh rate and low input lag makes this a great TV for competitive gaming, and it has full support for both Freesync and G-Sync, so you can enjoy tear-free gaming no matter what system you have or what PC you connect to it. The LG Game Optimizer gives you fine control over a number of factors, as well as some standard presets for specific genres to enhance picture quality and responsiveness as necessary.
As you might expect from a brand-new generation TV, the LG C2 isn't the cheapest of TVs. You can save money by going for a smaller version, but you really shouldn't. The 48-inch and 42-inch models, while still solid OLED TVs in their own right, lack the Evo panel that makes the C2 so much better than it predecessor, the C1. Focus on the 55-inch and up models and you'll be able to enjoy the real benefits of a new-gen LG OLED.
LG is one of the best TV brands at a wide range of prices, but its OLED TVs are some of the best for gaming, and that pedigree continues with the LG C2.
Type: QLED | Resolution: 4K | HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants their TV to blend into the background, rather than dominate a room.
Modern big-screen TVs can really dominate the room they're in. When they're on, they're glaringly obvious, but even when they're turned off there's a big black panel on your wall which can be a bit unsightly or not in keeping with your decor. That changes with Samsung's The Frame, which employs such a capable matt coating on its screen that when it's displaying static images of paintings or other artwork, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between it and a framed picture. Especially since you can equip The Frame TVs with a wooden bezel that makes it look exactly like a framed picture.
That matte panel is also fantastic for daytime viewing or when you have a lot of lamps and other light sources in your room, since it has zero reflections and lets you enjoy the content you're watching to its fullest. The high brightness on this TV ensures it really shines through even with direct sunlight too—though that's not recommended long term.
As you might expect from a TV designed to look like art, this one comes with a unique chassis. You can have the standard black of most TVs, or encase this one in a wooden picture frame with a range of options available.
You’ll feel at home with the TV software if you’ve used other Samsung smart TVs in the past. It’s Tizen OS-based, which gives you the best hub for managing SmartThings equipment, plus there are tons of apps for watching all your favorite digital content. You’ll also get your choice of Bixby, Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa for voice control.
Type: QLED (Mini-LED) | Resolution: 8K | HDR: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG
Who it’s for: Those who want a cutting-edge 8K TV without paying thousands of dollars for it.
The TCL 6-Series 8K model is one of the most affordable 8K TVs you can buy, massively undercutting some of the flagship Samsung models, and costing just a fraction of what flagship 8K TVs cost a few years ago. This 8K TV is based on the Roku OS for a fully featured smart TV, and also enjoys great color support, a high refresh rate for sports and gaming, and it even gets pretty bright, making it a fantastic all-round 8K TV with some seriously smart features.
TCL takes full advantage of the built-in Roku operating system under the hood of this TV, giving it a full suit of streaming applications right out of the gate, including: Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, Vudu, Google Play Movies, Showtime, Crackle, ESPN+ and Spotify. There are also options for hundreds of additional apps and services you can access, too, and thanks to the Roku's generous processing power, the TV is swift and responsive to your commands. You also have quick and easy access to all of the HDMI and other inputs, of which there are many.
Two of the HDMI ports are HDMI 2.1, and this TV enjoys native G-Sync and Freesync support. That also gives it a low input lag and fast response time, which also makes it a great option for high-end gaming.
Type: OLED | Resolution: 4K | HDR: HDR, HDR10, Dolby Vision
Who it’s for: Anyone looking for a fantastic 55-inch TV with all the bells and whistles.
For a 55-inch TV, this one is a bit pricey, but it’s also feature-packed and it’s manufactured by Sony. This is a 4K OLED TV with a 120Hz refresh rate that runs using the Google TV operating system.
As with most of Sony's TVs, one of the reasons you pay a little more for them is the XR processor. It's a fantastic chip for upscaling older 1080p content to 4K, and even makes SD content look pretty decent. If you have an old collection of DVDs you haven't thrown out yet, or like to watch old recordings of sports games and classic TV shows that haven't been upscaled yet, the Sony A80J will do it for you and the end result is far better than the source material. It can upscale audio, too, which can be a real treat when watching scratchy and hard-to-hear home movies from yesteryear.
Not only will this 55-inch screen allow you to experience a home theater-like cinematic experience, it’ll automatically upscale content that’s not offered in 4K resolution, plus make your favorite video games look amazing. The speaker system is built into the screen itself, so you’ll get a better sound system than most TVs have built-in, and what you hear will perfectly match what you’re seeing, which isn’t always the case with incompatible surround sound systems or soundbars.
Sony is in the process of refreshing its entire lineup of high-end TVs, so if you don't mind spending more and waiting for it, the new batch of incoming Sony OLEDs with QD-OLED technology will be more impressive when they launch later in 2022.
Type: OLED | Resolution: 4K UHD | HDR: HDR 10, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG), Dolby Vision.
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a 65-inch TV that will look good no matter what you're watching or playing.
For most homes, a 65-inch TV is an ideal size. It will look awesome mounted directly on a wall, or can be used with a stand and placed on almost any flat surface or TV stand. Since most TVs come with a 65-inch option, this is a very competitive category, and any of the best TVs on this list would be a fine option, but if you want one at a great price in early 2022, the Sony A80J is a tough pick to beat. This Sony smart TV offers a lovely OLED display with 4K (2160p) resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, so you can expect high color accuracy and perfect contrast, along with a wide viewing angle and a crystal-clear picture.
Connection options on this TV are excellent, with four HDMI ports, a pair of USB 2.0 ports, and a Bluetooth 4.2 connection option for wireless headphones and soundbars. These aren't cutting edge, but unless you're trying to connect a range of modern devices, it's more than enough for most 4K content. There's an optical output too if you want to connect older audio systems, and the Ethernet port lets you more easily get this TV online if you'd rather skip Wi-Fi. There's also built in support for Google Assistant and Alexa, so if you prefer to control your gadgets with your voice, this TV can join your smart home network.
The only downside is that there are newer OLED TVs, like the LG C2 and Samsung S95B, which are much better looking. Sony's upcoming QD-OLED TVs are too, but all of them are much more expensive, making the A80J still a great buy in 2022.
All of the technical specifications associated with modern television sets can feel overwhelming. But don’t get intimidated by all of the technical jargon. The most important criteria to understand are screens size, resolution and refresh rate—and we’ve put together a simple explainer for these essential details.
When you're buying a new TV you need to know two key things: how much space do you have for it, and how far away are you planning to sit? These are two huge considerations for picking the right size of TV. Don't buy something you can't fit onto your wall or TV stand, and make sure you buy something big enough that you can clearly see everything when you're watching it from a distance.
The further away you are, the bigger the TV should be, but if you're putting it in your bedroom, you don't need to go huge. For most rooms, anywhere between 50 and 65 inches will be fine, but those wanting a more cinematic experience or wanting to put their sofa farther from the TV may want something bigger.
Most TVs today are 4K resolution—especially anything 48 inches or larger. 4K sets pack close to 4,000 pixels across the display (if you want to be precise, 4K sets have a resolution of 3840 × 2160 pixels) which is roughly four times the resolution of 1080p high definition. You won't save much money by going for 1080p, so unless you have an especially tight budget or need a really small TV for a spare bedroom, just buy a 4K TV.
There are some 8K TVs now and though they do offer the best picture quality, there isn't a ton of content you can enjoy on them just yet. It's increasing all the time though, so if you want to future proof your TV, 8K TVs are now more affordable than ever.
Refresh rate is often a more interesting spec because it can vary from TV to TV, but many modern mid-to-high-end TVs support a 120Hz refresh rate or better.
You don't need a high refresh rate, but if you play games or watch high speed content like sports of action films, a higher refresh rate can lead to smoother motion. If you play games, make sure your TV has a 120Hz refresh rate. You won't regret it.
While these monikers sound similar, they rely on different technologies to deliver a unique TV viewing experience—and each has its own benefits and drawbacks. LED backlighting technology is the most common and oldest of the three. This technology has been round for more than a decade. LED screens are typically the cheapest to produce and therefore tend to be found in more affordable TVs. The technology offers good colors and contrast ratios, and are not susceptible to burn-in.
QLED technology uses the same kinds of LEDs to backlight its LCD panel, but introduces a layer of quantum dot nano particles between the LED and LCD layers. That layer filters the light to deliver more vibrant and realistic colors, and a better overall picture. It can make nature documentaries and explosions really pop, and though quantum dots and QLED have become a bit of a marketing spin, they do give you something that just wasn't possible on older LCD screens.
One handy technology which is helping to bridge the gap between OLED and LED TVs are Mini LEDs. These are far smaller than traditional LEDs (as much as 1/40th the size) making it possible to pack more of them behind the screen for added brightness and much more nuanced local dimming. That has a huge impact on HDR, by increasing the accuracy of the brightness hikes for reflections and on-screen light sources, and cuts back on blooming too.
Still, OLED TVs do offer the best contrast ratio and the most accurate HDR brightening. Unlike LEDs, which offer more uniform backlighting, OLED TVs can adjust the luminescence of individual pixels through a wide brightness range. In fact, it’s so good that it turns them off entirely to show true black in a scene. That means OLED offers much deeper blacks, making it the perfect technology for immersive movies that play with darkness to great effect. OLED TVs also offer much faster response times, making them great for competitive gaming.
Most OLED TVs are more expensive than their LED counterparts, though, and they're more susceptible to burn-in where elements of the screen continue to show content after it's been turned off. This happens less and less with modern designs, though, thanks to clever mitigation technologies. Just don't leave the TV at full brightness with static on screen elements like logos or in-game HUDs.
The hot new technology in 2022 is Samsung's QD-OLED, or quantum dot organic LED. Although Samsung is marketing it as simply "OLED" on most of its TVs, it is a very different take on the classic OLED design.
Where traditional OLED TVs use a white organic LED which is then passed through a filter to generate different colors, QD-OLED uses a blue self-luminescence which is then adjusted by quantum dots to generate different colors, including pure white. This means there's barely any drop in brightness and a greater range of colors that are much more vibrant than other OLED TVs.
The end result is an image that has the contrast of OLED with a wide range of vibrant color, and a brightness that rivals non-organic LEDs. It's the best of both worlds, or at least it seems that way so far. LG OLED TVs still get a bit brighter, but they don't always have the same color accuracy or depth.
There aren't many QD-OLED TVs available just yet and they are expensive, but early reviews are in and they are very, very positive. Expect a much greater range of QD-OLED TVs from both Samsung and Sony throughout 2022.
The "smart" part of a smart TV, typically means it can connect directly to the internet and then run apps like streaming services. Most modern TVs have some smart functions, letting you access Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and other streaming services easily. You may also have some digital news channels or the ability to access a home Plex server. Some TVs don't have as many smart functions as others, however, which is where additional streaming sticks come into play.
There's also a lesser talked about smart function of modern TVs: Upscaling. Many now come with fast onboard processing for taking 1080p and making it look much closer to 4K using clever AI algorithms. That's typically much "smarter" than just giving access to certain apps, and it helps some high-end TVs stand out from the pack.
Most devices that connect to a TV, whether it's a games console, Blu-ray player, or A/V system, use HDMI cables. If you want to play the latest games and benefit from new features like eARC, you need to make sure your TV supports HDMI 2.1. Not all modern TVs do, though some are adding support later via firmware updates, so check your latest updates when you buy any new TV.
Other features worth considering are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth options for connecting to the internet and wireless devices like Bluetooth headphones. For legacy connections, some TVs also offer optical ports, and if there's a Gigabit Ethernet port, that can be good for providing stable wired internet without the need for a nearby Wi-Fi hotspot.
TV speakers typically don't sound that great. If you take your movie watching or TV shows seriously, then it's a good idea to invest in a sound bar or surround sound speaker system. The speakers built into the TVs are typically okay for casual channel surfers, but if you want to immerse yourself in a movie or game, you’ll find the audio quality inferior.
Another option is to use headphones. Most Roku and Prime sticks now let you stream audio to your phone and then to your Bluetooth headphones. That can be a great way for more private viewing when the kids are asleep.
There are a number of great TV brands worth considering in 2022, but the top three so far this year are the classics: Samsung, LG, and Sony. They each offer cutting edge TVs featuring the latest technologies, although some are a little different. LG's OLEDs have the brightest screens thanks to the new Evo panels, while Samsung's have the best coloring and vibrancy with the new QD-OLED technologies. Sony will follow suit in the coming months.
One downside to Samsung TVs is that they don't have Dolby Vision, but with HDR10+ support, there's no huge difference there outside of content availability. Samsung's QLED TVs are class leading in many ways, with new Mini LED designs giving greater brightness alongside the improvement to color saturation and vibrancy.
When it comes to 8K TVs, Samsung's are some of the best, but TCL has some great alternatives and as more 8K content becomes available, a wider range of 8K TVs will make their way into the market from various different manufacturers, so watch this space.
If you aren't looking for a flagship TV, though, there are other brands worth considering too. TCL's TVs continue to offer fantastic value for money, and Hisense is one of the best TV brands for mid-range TVs, offering serious competition to the big three TV makers.
If you want to make the most of your money, then no, it's not. Native 8K content is still extremely rare, and we're still a generation or two of graphics cards and games consoles away from 8K gaming really taking off. The prices of 8K TVs are also much higher and by focusing your budget there, you miss out on much greater innovation in panel type and brightness — the latest generation OLEDs really are something special.
However, if you have 8K content you want to watch, then there are no 4K TVs that can deliver the same kind of picture quality. The upscaling engines are also pretty good, so it's certainly possible to enjoy 4K content on an 8K TV and see an improvement over native 4K designs, but it's still a hard sell in 2022.
Pretty much every modern TV is a smart TV. They all come with a few built-in streaming applications, internet connectivity, and often a few adverts to go with it.
There are different operating systems on different TVs, though, with some of the best being Roku and Google, though Samsung and other manufacturers often use their own operating systems too.
If you don't like the default smart applications on your TV, or want expanded features, a good trick is to leave your TV itself disconnected from the internet, and instead use a smart streaming stick like a Fire TV or Roku stick.
There are a few different brands that if you pick any of their new or recent-generation TVs, you're going to get a great TV. There are budget brands that you won't have heard of and steering clear of them is a good call, but outside of that, there isn't one brand that's objectively the best.
Samsung, LG, Hisense, TCL, Sony, Panasonic, and Phillips all make fantastic TVs, and though, yes, Samsung, LG, and Sony make the best OLEDs, and you'll find more value for money in a TCL TV than others, any of them are a good fit for your next TV.
As long as you buy one of the recognized big name TV brands, the longevity of your TV is more dependent on the model and technology inside it than the brand. Most modern OLED TVs are rated for around 30,000 hours, which is enough to let you watch three hours of TV every day for more than 27 years. LCD TVs can be rated for anywhere between 30,000 and 60,000 hours, so you'll likely to buy a new TV before the one you choose stops working.
The real question of TV longevity is specifications and features. If you buy an 8K TV today, it's likely to remain relevant for the next decade or so, while modern 4K TVs might seem a bit antiquated when 8K becomes the norm in five years or so. Still, technology moves fast, so even buying top of the line today won't seem that impressive a few years from now.
Don't worry too much about longevity. Just buy the TV that is right for you today and will still look good a year from now: That's anything from the top names with a price tag of $500 or more.
You don't need to buy the biggest TV you can afford, and in actuality, buying one that best fits your room and has the features you need is a better idea. If you have a typical size room, then a 50 to 65-inch TV would be the best fit, for which you'll want to sit somewhere between eight and 10ft away for an ideal viewing experience.
If you have a bigger room or want to sit further away, it might be worth considering a 77 or even 85-inch TV, though those do get much more expensive.
You can still enjoy smaller TVs at greater distances, but know that you won't get that same immersive feeling as when sitting at an ideal distance from the right-size TV.