The Best Smart TVs for Streaming in 2024

It's time to upgrade to a TV that can do it all

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Many smart TVs have a voice-enabled remote with an integrated virtual assistant or a smart speaker like the Amazon Echo or Google Nest for expanded voice controls.

Brands like Samsung, LG, and Sony have taken the next step in home entertainment and have released TVs capable of 8K resolution; however, these models are costly, and limited 8K content is available.

Best 85-inch

Samsung UN85TU8000FXZA Crystal Display TV

SAMSUNG 85-inch Class Crystal UHD TU-8000 Series - 4K UHD HDR Smart TV with Alexa Built-in (UN85TU8000FXZA, 2020 Model)

Amazon

Pros
  • Updated processor and OS

  • Integrated cable management

  • Under $2,000

Cons
  • Very heavy

  • No Chromecast support

If your living room is on the larger side, or you're looking to convert your finished basement into a home theater, you need a TV to fit, and the Samsung Crystal UHD 85-inch television is tailor-made for large-screen entertainment. It features an updated Crystal 4K processor and the Tizen operating system, which uses HDR10+ technology to create stunning 4K resolution and color. It gives you access to all your favorite movies, shows, and next-gen apps to keep you on the cutting edge of home entertainment. The screen has an exceptionally narrow bezel to give you an edge-to-edge picture for a more immersive viewing experience at almost any angle. The back of the television features integrated cable management channels and clips to help keep your cords and cables organized and tangle-free for a clean-looking home theater setup. 

The voice-enabled remote has Bixby and Alexa built-in and works with Google Assistant. With Bluetooth connectivity, you can wirelessly connect speakers, soundbars, and subwoofers for the ultimate home theater configuration. With Apple AirPlay2 and SmartCast, you can screen mirror your iOS and Android mobile devices. The Ambient Mode turns your TV into a work of art or decor when not used to blend into the room's aesthetic or show off your favorite paintings and photos. The TU8000 has a V-Chip that allows parents to block inappropriate shows and movies from little ones, ensuring family-friendly entertainment. With a price tag under $2,000, the TU8000 is one of the more affordable large-format televisions available.

Size: 85 Inches | Panel Type: Crystal UHD LED | Resolution: 4K | HDR: HDR | Refresh Rate: 60Hz

Best 65-inch

Samsung QN655QN90AAFXZA Neo QLED 4K TV

SAMSUNG 65-Inch Class Neo QLED 4K UHD QN90A Series Mini LED Quantum HDR 32x, Object Tracking Sound+, Ultra Viewing Angle, Smart TV with Alexa Built-In...

Amazon

Pros
  • Stunning picture

  • Object tracking sound

  • Samsung Tap View

Cons
  • No Dolby Vision or Dolby Atmos

If you're willing to spend a bit more to get the best of the best on smart TVs, Samsung's QN90A is a worthy investment. Like its sibling, the QN85A, it uses a mini-LED panel and Samsung's QLED tech to create a picture that rivals OLED; it also uses a neural network processor for enhanced upscaling of non-4K content, contrast, and color ranges. It's compatible with Samsung's One Connect box, which allows you to use a single cable to connect all of your game consoles and playback devices to your new TV for a super clean-looking home theater. 

The voice-enabled remote works with Alexa or Google Assistant for hands-free controls. With object tracking sound and the Space Fit Sound tech, no matter the size or shape of your living room or home theater, you'll get incredibly immersive, room-filling sound without the need to set up sound bars or other home audio equipment. The improved Multi-View function now lets you watch up to 4 videos at once, and if you have a Samsung mobile device, you tap it on your TV to instantly share your screen.

Size: 55-85 Inches | Panel Type: Neo QLED | Resolution: 4K | HDR: Quantum HDR 24X | Refresh Rate: 120Hz

8K

Samsung QN900A 65-Inch Neo QLED 8K TV

SAMSUNG 65-Inch Class Neo QLED 8K QN900A Series UHD Quantum HDR 64x, Infinity Screen, Anti-Glare, Object Tracking Sound Pro, Smart TV with Alexa Built-In...

Amazon

Pros
  • VRR support

  • Solar-powered remote

  • Neural network processor

Cons
  • Expensive

  • Limited 8K content

Samsung has taken the next step in home entertainment with their QN900A 8K television. This TV gives you four times the resolution of 4K and 16 times that of 1080p HD. While there isn't any native 8K content available to stream or watch via broadcast media, the improved processor uses a neural network for better upscaling of non-8K content, so you can still take full advantage of your TV. If you've managed to get a hold of a PS5 or Xbox Series X, these consoles are capable of 8K output and high refresh rates for an incredible gaming experience. 

The QLED panel features contrast zones and individually lit mini-LED bulbs, creating OLED-level colors and details. With object tracking sound, you'll get virtual 3D surround sound audio without the hassle of setting up extra home audio equipment like soundbars and subwoofers. The virtually invisible bezel gives you an edge-to-edge picture for a more immersive viewing experience and better viewing angles. The remote is solar-powered to help make your home theater more eco-friendly and voice-enabled for hands-free controls.

Size: 65-85 Inches | Panel Type: Neo QLED | Resolution: 8K | HDR: Quantum HDR 48X | Refresh Rate: 120Hz

Curved

Samsung TU-8300 Curved 65-inch 4K TV

Samsung TU-8300 Curved 65-inch 4K TV

Amazon

Pros
  • Remote PC access

  • Auto game mode

  • Screen mirroring

Cons
  • Requires special wall mount bracket

  • Limited HDMI inputs

While curved TVs didn't take off as manufacturers had hoped, Samsung still offers their TU8300 model for fans of the concept. The curved QLED screen works with HDR technology and an updated processor for crystal clear native 4K resolution and upscaling non-4K content. The curvature of the TV is meant to reduce glare from overhead and environmental lighting and to preserve color volume and saturation at extreme viewing angles for a consistent cinematic experience. 

If you work from home or use your desktop for gaming, you can use your TU8300 as a remote-access monitor to review reports, work on spreadsheets, or play a few rounds of Fortnite from the comfort of your couch or bed when you need a change of pace. Console gamers can use the automatic game mode and low auto latency input mode, which prevents screen tearing and stuttering for smoother playback. If you use a virtual assistant, you can use the voice-enabled remote or a smart speaker for hands-free controls. And with AirPlay2 support and Tap View, you can easily share your iOS or Android mobile device screen for more ways to entertain family and friends.

Size: 55 & 65 Inches | Panel Type: Curved LED | Resolution: 4K | HDR: HDR | Refresh Rate: 60Hz

What to Look For in a Smart TV

The best smart TVs are rapidly becoming the gold standard for home entertainment. They let you download your favorite streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify to the TV to have thousands of shows, movies, and songs at your fingertips. A lot of smart televisions now have hands-free voice control capabilities as well. They use voice-enabled remotes, dedicated apps, or a connection to a third-party smart speaker to give you expanded controls over your TV and make it easier to find things to watch or listen to. There are a few different options for voice controls; most TVs support Alexa and Google Home with voice-enabled remotes or smart speakers, while others, like Samsung, have proprietary voice assistants or use Siri via iOS devices. 

Screen mirroring is another intelligent feature that more and more televisions are beginning to offer. This option lets you wirelessly connect your smartphone, tablet, or computer to your television and share what's on the screen to view photos or watch short home videos. Some newer Samsung televisions let you screen mirror your devices while simultaneously watching a movie or show, perfect for watching videos from friends and family or catching up with news updates. With so many smart features available, knowing what you may need for your home can be difficult.

LG OLED G7P Signature Series 4K Ultra HD TV
LG OLED G7P Signature Series 4K Ultra HD TV. Image provided by Amazon

Brands

The place to start when deciding on the best smart TV to buy is the brand. There are dozens of television manufacturers, each with different size classes, price points, and smart features available. If you're working with a budget, brands like TCL and Hisense are great brands with affordable options. They still offer quality streaming platforms like Roku or the Android TV operating system to give you access to thousands of apps and limited voice controls and connectivity options. Mid-range options are available from more prominent brands like Sony, Samsung, and Vizio. These models may have a higher price point but offer many more smart features. 

Besides streaming and voice controls, you'll also get local dimming zones on the screen for enhanced scene-by-scene analysis of your favorite shows and movies for superior contrast, color volume, and detailing. Some may also use Dolby Atmos audio technology to produce virtual surround sound for a more immersive cinematic experience. High-end models from Sony, Samsung, and LG give you everything you could ever want in a smart TV. They offer larger screen sizes with more advanced picture technologies like QLED or OLED panels, AI-assisted rendering and upscaling, native voice controls, and ambient sound and light sensors that automatically change picture and sound settings to fit your environment. Knowing which brands offer what features in their televisions makes it easier to set a budget and narrow your options.

Sony XBR-X900C Series 4K Ultra HD TV
Sony XBR-X900C Series 4K Ultra HD TV. Image provided by Sony Electronics

Smart Features

Now that you've decided which brand you'd like, it's time to focus on exactly which smart features you'd like to have. Streaming capabilities are necessary for customers looking to cut the cord with their cable and satellite providers. Fortunately, all modern smart TVs feature preloaded apps like Prime Video, Hulu, and YouTube or have advanced operating systems allowing you to download your favorites. If you want to start a smart home network or already have devices like an Amazon Echo or Google Home, you may want a TV that allows for hands-free voice controls. This lets you turn your TV on and off, choose apps, or change settings without fumbling with a confusing remote control. If you're always online, screen mirroring is an important feature that lets you cast your smartphone, tablet, or computer screen to your television for better viewing or simultaneous watching with your favorite movies and shows. 

For customers looking to create a custom home theater, the best smart TVs feature ambient noise and light sensors that constantly monitor your environment and automatically adjust picture and sound settings to suit the room. They also feature Bluetooth connectivity for wireless audio equipment setup and custom home theater configurations. For die-hard console gamers, a TV with AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G Sync technology is necessary. These technologies automatically detect when you start playing a game, reducing input lag and motion blur while boosting color volume and contrast for buttery smooth action, beautiful visuals, and near real-time reactions to your controller inputs.

TCL 28S3750 28-Inch Roku TV
TCL 28S3750 28-Inch Roku TV. Image provided by Amazon.com

User Interface

Smart features are lovely, but the user interface can make or break a home entertainment experience. Family movie nights or watching parties with friends can be instantly ruined by navigating confusing menus and clunky interfaces to access Netflix or Hulu. Roku-based televisions have a streamlined hub menu that puts all your divides, apps, and inputs in one convenient location. Each input is clearly labeled with what is connected so you can quickly and easily access your game console, Blu-Ray player, or cable box without remembering input names. 

Televisions that use Android TV also have a clean, simple interface with clearly marked menu icons for browsing apps, accessing voice controls, or looking at recommended content. LG televisions use the webOS operating system and have an ultra-clean-looking interface. Apps are displayed in easy-to-recognize tiles for quick and easy access. Luckily, TV manufacturers have realized that an easy-to-use interface is essential as more people stream their movies and shows. Older TVs' clunky, confusing interfaces are gone, leading to more enjoyable home entertainment.

FAQ
  • What size TV should I buy?

    Contrary to what you may think, there is such a thing as a TV that is too big for your room. To find the perfect screen size, measure the distance from where your new TV will be placed to where you will be sitting and divide that by two. If your couch is 10 feet (120 inches) from the wall mount or TV stand, the best TV size for your room would be around 60 inches. You can go a bit bigger or smaller depending on the model and your budget, but it's a good idea to stay within that range.

  • Is an 8K TV worth buying?

    At the moment, no. Not only are 8K televisions expensive, but there is very little native 8K content available over cable, satellite, over-air broadcast, or even streaming. If you want to know more about these resolutions, check out our article about 8K and how it compares to 4K.

  • What apps can I use with my new TV?

    Many new smart televisions have a suite of preloaded apps like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube so you can get started binge-watching your favorite shows, videos, and movies right out of the box. With Wi-Fi connectivity, you'll be able to download thousands of others like Disney+, Spotify, and PlutoTV to have access to free live TV, thousands of songs, and even more entertainment options.

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