GoKawiilKey takeaways:
High-end TV brightness has evolved from around 1,000 nits highs of over 4,000 nits, driven largely by Mini- and Micro-LED technologies.
TVs with exceptional peak brightness (e.g., TCL X11K, LG G5) can be up to half as bright when switched to the most color-accurate "Movie" or "Filmmaker" modes.
TVs that measure under 1,000 nits in accurate mode are still sufficient for a good viewing experience, including HDR movie watching and gaming.
CNET
Anyone who's ever been to a Best Buy or Target is familiar with the "wall of TVs" -- a long corridor of televisions with each one set to an eye-searing brightness. This mode is often called either "Shop Mode" or "Vivid" or "Dynamic" depending on the brand. Here at CNET, we've been saying for a very long time that Vivid is great for selling TVs, but not for watching TVs.
CNET has been testing TVs in our dedicated lab since the turn of the century, and we have a wealth of data covering every aspect of a TV's performance -- across hundreds of models. Yet, TVs have changed a lot in that time, as have the things we watch on them. It doesn't seem possible, but TVs continue to improve every year, and one of the most obvious ways has been in the amount of brightness they're capable of.
So, using test data my colleagues and I have gathered in the CNET TV Lab, I've seen how brightness has increased over the past few years. With this knowledge, I'm here to help you decide what kind of brightness you can expect when choosing a TV, and what all of that extra light is actually useful for.
Also read: Best TVs of 2026
What is a nit? A nit is a unit used to measure the brightness of self-emitting screens, and was originally used to measure cathode-ray TVs. Yet, it can be used to describe almost any device with a screen, from a TV to a tablet to a phone. A nit can also be expressed as candelas per square meter, and, as it sounds, compares the screen to the amount of light a candle would emit. Most of the TVs you can buy today would measure around 1,000-or-so nits, even in their brightest modes. You can read more about nits here.
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