Top OLED TVs: The Best Picks for Stunning Picture Quality
When it comes to OLED TVs, these beauties deliver unparalleled picture quality, especially if you’re upgrading from traditional LED sets. OLEDs are renowned for their perfect blacks and lack of blooming, making them ideal for immersive viewing experiences. They shine brightest in dark rooms, but today’s models are more than capable of handling some ambient light. With cutting-edge tech like QD-OLED and Micro Lens Array (MLA), OLEDs are pushing the boundaries with more vibrant colors and dazzling brightness. For a deeper dive, check out our QLED vs. OLED vs. LED comparison to understand why OLEDs stand out.
1. Best OLED TV: Sony A95L
- Mixed Usage: 9.2
- TV Shows: 8.9
- Sports: 9.1
- Video Games: 9.3
- HDR Movies: 9.3
- HDR Gaming: 9.1
- PC Monitor: 9.4
If you’re looking for the absolute best OLED TV, the Sony A95L is your top pick. It delivers an incredible home theater experience, thanks to its support for Dolby Vision HDR, which provides an exceptional HDR experience from nearly any source. Sony’s processing technology shines here, ensuring that brightness and colors stay true to the creator’s vision. Additionally, it supports DTS
passthrough over eARC, allowing you to streamline your AV setup without sacrificing audio quality.
In dark rooms, the A95L’s nearly infinite contrast ratio delivers perfect blacks without any blooming. Its QD-OLED panel ensures vibrant colors and impressive brightness, making it suitable for brighter environments too. Gamers will appreciate its minimal input lag, Dolby Vision HDR support at 4K @ 120Hz, and compatibility with G-SYNC and HDMI Forum VRR for smooth gameplay. Available in 55″, 65″, and 77″ sizes, it’s a top choice for a premium viewing experience.
2. Best Value OLED TV: Samsung S90C
- Mixed Usage: 9.0
- TV Shows: 8.6
- Sports: 8.9
- Video Games: 9.4
- HDR Movies: 8.9
- HDR Gaming: 9.3
- PC Monitor: 9.5
For those who want exceptional quality without the hefty price tag, the Samsung S90C is the best value OLED TV on the market. It comes close to the Sony A95L in performance but at a significantly lower cost. While it lacks Dolby Vision HDR and some advanced audio features like DTS
, it still offers fantastic picture quality with deep blacks and no distracting blooming.
The S90C shines with its four HDMI 2.1 ports, each capable of 4K @ 144Hz. It maintains color vibrancy and brightness even in Game Mode, ensuring your games look spectacular. Moreover, it supports all three VRR technologies—FreeSync, G-SYNC, and HDMI Forum VRR—making it a great choice for gamers. While it doesn’t offer Dolby Vision HDR gaming at 120Hz like the A95L, its overall value and performance make it a standout option.
3. Best Upper Mid-Range OLED TV: LG C3
- Mixed Usage: 9.0
- TV Shows: 8.6
- Sports: 8.8
- Video Games: 9.4
- HDR Movies: 9.0
- HDR Gaming: 9.1
- PC Monitor: 9.4
The LG C3 OLED is a top performer in the upper mid-range category. It offers stellar picture quality, with perfect blacks and no blooming, just like other OLEDs. However, its color vibrancy is slightly less impressive compared to the Samsung S90C or Sony A95L due to its different OLED panel. What sets it apart is its value and wide range of sizes, from 42″ to 83″.
In terms of gaming, the C3 excels with its rapid response time, low input lag, and comprehensive gaming features. It supports HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on all four inputs for 4K @ 120 fps, and offers native FreeSync, HDMI Forum VRR, and G-SYNC compatibility. Additionally, it handles Dolby Vision HDR gaming at 120Hz and runs on the user-friendly webOS platform. If you’re looking for a great balance between performance and price, the C3 is a strong contender.
4. Best Mid-Range OLED TV: LG B3
- Mixed Usage: 8.7
- TV Shows: 8.3
- Sports: 8.5
- Video Games: 9.3
- HDR Movies: 8.8
- HDR Gaming: 9.0
- PC Monitor: 9.2
For those venturing into OLED territory without needing all the bells and whistles, the LG B3 OLED offers excellent mid-range value. It provides many of the features of the LG C3 but with a slightly lower brightness and only two HDMI 2.1 ports. Nonetheless, it still delivers superb picture quality, with deep blacks and no blooming.
The B3 covers a wide color gamut and offers great accuracy right out of the box. It’s also a solid option for gaming, with support for 4K @ 120Hz and Dolby Vision gaming at 120Hz. The TV supports all VRR technologies and features an impressive response time and low input lag. Its webOS interface is smooth and easy to navigate. If you’re after a budget-friendly OLED, the B3 is a fantastic choice.
Notable Mentions
- Sony A80L/A80CL: A solid OLED with excellent image processing but comes at a high price. It doesn’t offer the same value as the Samsung S90C or LG C3.
- Sony A75L: A great mid-range OLED that surpasses the LG B3 but is close in price to the Samsung S90C. Available in only two sizes.
- Samsung S95C: A high-end model like the Sony A95L but less versatile and not worth the extra cost over the S90C.
- LG G4: Competes well with the A95L with superior brightness and gaming features but falls short in color vibrancy compared to QD-OLEDs.
- Panasonic MZ2000: Known for its accuracy and features but not available in the US.
- Philips OLED+959: Promises high brightness and a dedicated gaming menu, but we haven’t tested it yet.
Gvlin FAQs | Choosing The Best OLED TVs
1. What makes OLED TVs stand out compared to traditional LED TVs?
OLED TVs stand out due to their exceptional picture quality, particularly when compared to traditional LED TVs. The key advantage of OLED technology is its ability to deliver perfect blacks thanks to its individual pixel lighting, which eliminates any blooming effects around bright areas. This results in a stunning contrast ratio and vibrant colors, making OLEDs ideal for immersive viewing, especially in dark rooms. Moreover, modern OLEDs have improved brightness levels, allowing them to perform well even in rooms with some ambient light.
2. What are the newest technologies enhancing OLED TVs?
Recent advancements in OLED technology include QD-OLED (Quantum Dot OLED) and Micro Lens Array (MLA). QD-OLED improves color vibrancy and brightness, making images more vivid and highlights more striking. MLA further enhances brightness by directing light more efficiently, which also contributes to improved color accuracy and contrast. These technologies set high-end OLED models apart from their predecessors, offering an even more impressive visual experience.
3. Which OLED TV is considered the best overall?
The Sony A95L is widely regarded as the best OLED TV available. It excels in home theater performance due to its support for Dolby Vision HDR, which delivers an advanced HDR experience from almost any source. Sony’s processing technology ensures that the brightness and colors of HDR content are accurately represented. Additionally, the A95L supports DTS passthrough over eARC, simplifying your audio setup without compromising sound quality. It also shines in dark rooms with its perfect blacks and vibrant colors, and its gaming features, including minimal input lag and Dolby Vision HDR at 4K @ 120Hz, make it an excellent choice for gamers.
4. What is the best value OLED TV on the market?
The Samsung S90C is considered the best value OLED TV. It offers performance close to that of the Sony A95L but at a significantly lower price. While it lacks some advanced features like Dolby Vision HDR and DTS
audio support, it still provides fantastic picture quality with deep blacks and no blooming. The S90C features four HDMI 2.1 ports capable of 4K @ 144Hz, making it a great option for gamers. It maintains color vibrancy and brightness even in Game Mode and supports all three VRR technologies—FreeSync, G-SYNC, and HDMI Forum VRR. Despite missing Dolby Vision HDR gaming at 120Hz, its overall value makes it an attractive choice.
5. Which OLED TV is the best for upper mid-range buyers?
The LG C3 OLED stands out in the upper mid-range category. It delivers impressive picture quality with perfect blacks and no blooming, similar to other OLEDs. While its color vibrancy might not match the Samsung S90C or Sony A95L due to its different OLED panel, it offers excellent value and a wide range of sizes from 42″ to 83″. The C3 is particularly strong in gaming with its fast response time, low input lag, and full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth support for 4K @ 120 fps. Additionally, it supports Dolby Vision HDR gaming at 120Hz and runs on the user-friendly webOS platform, making it a well-rounded choice for those seeking a balance between performance and price.
6. What makes the LG B3 a good mid-range OLED TV?
The LG B3 is a solid mid-range OLED TV, offering many features of the more expensive LG C3 but at a more affordable price. Although it is dimmer and has only two HDMI 2.1 ports compared to the C3, it still delivers outstanding picture quality, particularly in dark rooms, with deep blacks and no blooming. The B3 provides accurate color representation and is a strong performer for gaming, supporting 4K @ 120Hz and Dolby Vision gaming at 120Hz. It also supports all VRR technologies and features a great response time and low input lag. Its webOS interface remains smooth and easy to use, making it a great entry point into the OLED market.
7. Are there any notable OLED TVs worth mentioning?
Yes, there are several notable OLED TVs to consider:
- Sony A80L/A80CL: While it has excellent image processing features, it is quite expensive and doesn’t offer the same value as the Samsung S90C or LG C3.
- Sony A75L: This mid-range model is better than the LG B3 but is close in price to the Samsung S90C, making it less attractive due to the latter’s superior performance.
- Samsung S95C: As a higher-end alternative to the S90C, the S95C competes with the Sony A95L but is less versatile and not worth the extra cost over the S90C.
- LG G4: Competing with the Sony A95L, the G4 offers better brightness and gaming features but falls short in color vibrancy compared to QD-OLEDs.
- Panasonic MZ2000: Known for its accuracy and features, but unfortunately, it’s not available in the US.
- Philips OLED+959: Promises high brightness and a dedicated gaming menu but hasn’t been tested yet.
8. What should you do if you want the best OLED TV for your needs?
To find the best OLED TV for your needs, consider what aspects are most important to you—whether it’s top-tier performance, value for money, or specific features. The Sony A95L and Samsung S90C offer exceptional performance in their respective categories, while the LG C3 and B3 provide excellent value at mid-range prices. Make sure to evaluate each TV based on your viewing habits, room conditions, and desired features to select the perfect model for your setup. Enjoy exploring the world of OLED and elevate your viewing experience to new heights.
That’s It
Choosing the right OLED TV depends on your priorities—whether it’s top-tier performance, value for money, or mid-range features. Each of these picks offers something special, ensuring you get the best viewing experience for your needs. Dive into the OLED world and enjoy a picture quality that redefines your TV watching.
