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One of the most significant improvements to TV picture quality has been the introduction of OLED technology. An OLED TV can create perfect black levels with infinite contrast, as well as excellent color and great motion control. It's a technology that lends itself well to gaming using consoles such as the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5, as well as watching HDR TV shows and movies. I have tested the latest OLED TVs side-by-side in the CNET TV lab, with brands such as LG, Samsung and Panasonic. These are the models I recommend.
Read more: Best TVs of 2025
The best OLED TV
The best OLED TV for most users is the LG C Series -- either the C4 or C5. Both are very similar, and both TVs achieve the best balance of picture quality and price among OLED TVs I've tested. Yet, as the C4 is typically a few hundred dollars cheaper this makes it a better buy.
If you can spend more and want the best possible picture quality that you can get, then the Samsung S95F is a fantastic TV, especially in bright rooms.
Josh Goldman/CNET Photo Gallery 1/1 Josh Goldman/CNET Best OLED picture quality Samsung S95F 8.9 /10 SCORE Unless you live in a hermetically-sealed container, you are likely to have a bunch of different light sources competing with your TV in your living space. Overhead lights and windows can wreak havoc on your picture, and it's not always feasible to close the curtains or turn the lights off. The Samsung S95F is the best TV I've seen to effectively ban reflections, and the fact that it gives excellent picture quality as well makes it the ultimate TV for the movies or gaming fan who likes to watch during the day. ... Show more Get it now $2,998 at Amazon Learn more Samsung S95F review
Josh Goldman/CNET Photo Gallery 1/1 Josh Goldman/CNET Brightest OLED TV of 2025 LG G5 8.8 /10 SCORE LG's G series has shown appreciable improvements in picture quality every year, and the 2025 G5 is brighter than ever before. It's neck-and-neck with the S95F for picture quality in terms of contrast and color, and it's a blast to game on. I still like the S95F a little better, and that's mainly because of Samsung's reflection deterrence. ... Show more Get it now $2,800 at Amazon Learn more LG G5 review
Recent updates Oct 2 2025: Updated the list with new TVs including the Samsung S95F and the LG G5, plus added more information on my testing process.
I also tested Panasonic Z95A: It boasts excellent picture quality, thanks to OLED, and it also includes a dedicated speaker system. It's being replaced by the Z95B but it's still available in some stores. Read my hands-on of the Panasonic Z95B. LG C5: While the LG G5 is a huge leap from the model that came before it, the C5 is more incremental. That said, it is still an improvement and if it's the same price as the C4 then get this instead. See my full review of the LG C5.
Factors to consider when choosing an OLED TV Carly Marsh/CNET Screen size: OLEDs are available in sizes from 42 inches to 97 inches, and there are probably even bigger TVs coming in the future. One of the best pieces of advice I can give is, if you can afford it, always buy a TV one size bigger than you think you need. While 65 inches is the norm right now, TVs will keep getting bigger year after year, and you might consider buying a 77-inch to prevent an upgrade in the near future. However, if you're buying for a bedroom or a game room, then you could look at TVs 55 inches or less. Consider older models: At the affordable end of OLED, the yearly model updates aren't as dramatic when compared with the flagships. For TVs like the LG B5 or even C5, for instance, it makes sense to compare prices on last year's model and get whichever is cheapest. In the meantime, as we come into holiday sales season you're going to see 2025 models drop to the prices of the older models. HDR formats: While it's not completely necessary, compatibility with Dolby Vision is a plus. Of course, Samsung doesn't support the Dolby format and instead offers its own version it calls HDR10 plus, and this is gaining in popularity. In the end, though, almost every 4K TV supports HDR 10, and this will work just fine. Gaming: If you're a gamer then having gaming-enhancing features is a bonus, and these includes a dedicated gaming mode (for turning off processing and reducing lag), 120Hz or higher support and even gaming apps such as Xbox Game Pass, Amazon Luna and Steam Link. Operating system: With the introduction of the Philips Roku TV, most types of smart TV interfaces are now available on OLED televisions. Whether it's Google TV, Fire TV or one of the manufacturer-specific systems, opting for a popular smart TV interface gives you the most choice with apps and on-demand content.