This year has seen some incredible advancements in the world of TVs, with improvements in OLED and mini-LED technology serving to improve the next generation of TVs. You could say that OLED still reigns supreme in 2024, but mini-LED technology is quickly catching up, levelling the playing field as to which models take the title of best TV.
Among the highlights so far is Sony’s decision to move from OLED to mini-LED for its flagship TV, the brilliant Sony Bravia 9, which uses its new XR Backlight Master Drive technology (with 22-bit LED drivers) to deliver more refined local dimming. We’ve also seen Samsung, LG and Philips claim their OLED TVs can hit peak brightness over 3,000 nits (something we’ve yet to confirm in our testing), and we measured peak brightness over 1,000 nits on mid-range OLEDs like the LG C4 for the first time.
Microlens array (MLA) technology has entered its second generation, and is used to maximum effect in OLED TVs like the LG G4. Meanwhile, QD-OLED has reached its third generation, and is used in one of this year’s best OLED TVs, the Samsung S95D (spoiler: this isn’t the last you’ll hear about this TV). Even mini-LED has evolved beyond Sony’s Bravia 9, with TVs from brands like TCL hitting a staggering 6,500 nits.
Of the TVs I've reviewed this year, from the most premium OLEDs to budget QLED models, several have stood out from the crowd. Here are the three best TVs I've reviewed in 2024.
1. Samsung S95D
The Samsung S95D is one of the best OLED TVs I’ve ever seen. In my review, I described it as “the standard-bearer for OLED in 2024.” Featuring QD-OLED technology (a combination of an OLED panel with QLED technology for increased brightness and richness of colors), the S95D delivers spectacular contrast, dazzling HDR highlights, and intense colors. Its NQ4 AI Gen2 processor also allows it to deliver incredibly well-defined and realistic textures and details.
The S95D's main secret weapon is its anti-glare OLED display. This anti-glare technology uses a matte screen and an anti-reflective coating to effectively eliminate reflections, arguably one of the biggest problems with OLEDs. I described this anti-glare OLED display as “the star of the show” in my review, as I found that I could even view the dark and challenging images on The Batman in bright viewing conditions, something other OLED TVs I've tested have struggled with.
But it’s not just the picture that stands out with the S95D, as it’s also a well-equipped gaming TV with an ultra-low 8.9ms input lag and four HDMI 2.1 ports supporting 4K 144Hz, VRR (with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro included) and ALLM. Combine that with its picture and you’ve got one of the best gaming TVs on the market.
The S95D also looks fantastic, with a “floating” design thanks to its base and extremely thin depth. As an added bonus, its built-in sound is good too, with controlled bass, good placement of effects and bright directional sound. It’s certainly a premium buy, but the S95D is easily the best TV I’ve reviewed this year. As I said in my review, it’s “what OLEDs should aspire to be.”
2. TCL C855
The affordable mini-LED TV market is an incredibly crowded one, with models like the Samsung QN85D, Hisense U7N, Hisense U6N, and others all looking to offer the best value for money. I’ve seen and tested my fair share of affordable mini-LED TVs this year (including the three I just mentioned), and one stands out among them: the TCL C855. It’s worth noting that this TV is only available in the UK and Australia – the closest alternative for American viewers is the TCL QM851G (which is slightly more expensive) or the Hisense U8N.
During my time with the C855, I was surprised by how good the picture looked even straight out of the box. It delivers exceptional black levels (especially for a mini-LED TV in this price range), vivid colors, and realistic textures with detail “similar to the more premium Samsung S95D,” as I said in my review. Its high full-screen brightness makes it an excellent TV for sports, and motion in both sports and movies is handled well (though sports will benefit from some settings tweaking).
The C855 also offers ample gaming features for the price, supporting 4K 144Hz, Dolby Vision, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium Pro included), and ALLM. Gaming performance is smooth, and the C855’s picture quality makes it an excellent gaming TV, too. It only has two HDMI 2.1 ports and a 14.6ms input lag time, which is slightly higher than the best gaming TVs, but at this price, it’s hard to argue with what the C855 achieves.
The real draw of the C855, however, is its price: the 65-inch model I tested costs £1,299 (AU$2,295). While that price will still be high for many, it's exceptional value for a 65-inch TV offering this level of performance and features. As I said in my review: “You'll be hard pressed to find a mini-LED TV with a better picture at this price.”
3. Philips OLED809
I was a fan of Philips’s 2023 mid-range OLED TV, the Philips OLED808, and so was naturally excited to check out its successor, the new Philips OLED809. It didn’t disappoint. (It’s worth noting again that this is a UK-only TV; for US and Australian readers, the closest alternative will be the LG C4.)
I'm also a fan of Philips' Ambilight technology, which is a built-in feature that projects colored lights onto the wall behind the TV. Ambilight adds an extra layer to the viewing experience, particularly with bright, colorful movies (in my review, it was Star Wars: The Last Jedi) and the deep, vibrant colors of the lighting technology give the OLED809's picture a sense of extending beyond the screen.
In addition to Ambilight, the OLED809 offers exceptional picture quality, with intense detail, powerful contrast, and of course, dynamic colors. In my review, I noted how the OLED809 displayed the “punchy colors of La La Land with astonishing accuracy,” but no matter what movie I was watching, the OLED809 delivered a stunning picture.
The real surprise of the OLED809, however, is its sound quality. Despite having only a single set of 2.1 speakers, I found its sound to be powerful and accurate. When watching movies like The Batman and La La Land During testing, the TV's speaker balance and strong directional placement of sound effects were demonstrated. When I compared it to another mid-range OLED, the Panasonic MZ1500, I was surprised at how well it performed.
On top of that, the OLED809 includes all the gaming features you could want, and is competitively priced with other mid-range OLED TVs (the 55-inch model we tested costs £1,499, while the 55-inch LG C4 costs £1,399). The OLED809 is one of the best mid-range OLED TVs I’ve tested.
