A TV is judged first on picture quality, then on how bright it gets and what it costs at the size you want. Our pick is the LG G5 OLED, with an SR Score of 93 — the brightest OLED panel made to date, with four HDMI 2.1 ports and Dolby Vision. The Samsung S95F (91) is the runner-up and the gaming pick, while value hunters should jump to the TCL QM8K.
The ranking
| Rank | TV | Best for | Type / 65” price | SR Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LG G5 | Best overall picture | OLED / ~$2,300 | 93 |
| 2 | Samsung S95F | Gaming & brightness | QD-OLED / ~$2,200 | 91 |
| 3 | Sony Bravia 8 II | Movie purists | QD-OLED / ~$2,800 | 90 |
| 4 | TCL QM8K | Best value big screen | Mini-LED / ~$1,300 | 88 |
| 5 | Hisense U8Q | Bright-room value | Mini-LED / ~$1,099 | 86 |
| 6 | LG C5 | Step-down OLED | OLED / ~$1,800 | 85 |
| 7 | Roku Plus Series | Budget 4K | Mini-LED QLED / ~$650 | 80 |
Methodology
The Picture Score v2026 rubric weights five criteria:
- Picture quality (35) — contrast, color accuracy, processing.
- Brightness & HDR (20) — peak nits, HDR format support.
- Value for money (20) — picture per dollar at common sizes.
- Gaming features (15) — HDMI 2.1 ports, refresh, input lag.
- Reputation & reviews (10) — reviewer consensus.
Picture leads. Value is weighted heavily because the OLED-vs-Mini-LED price gap is large. Re-weight Value up and the TCL QM8K, which costs roughly half the flagship OLEDs, challenges for the top.
LG G5
The best all-rounder, around $2,300 for 65”. LG’s brightest OLED yet, with four HDMI 2.1 inputs, Dolby Vision, and webOS. It balances contrast, color, and brightness better than any set here for mixed movie-and-sport use.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Picture quality | 34/35 |
| Brightness & HDR | 18/20 |
| Value for money | 14/20 |
| Gaming features | 15/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 10/10 |
Trade-off: a flagship price, and the brightness gains over the cheaper C5 are not worth it for every buyer.
Samsung S95F
The gaming and brightness pick, around $2,200 for 65”. A flagship QD-OLED with punchy, top-tier brightness, four full-speed HDMI 2.1 ports, and very low input lag.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Picture quality | 33/35 |
| Brightness & HDR | 19/20 |
| Value for money | 15/20 |
| Gaming features | 15/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 9/10 |
Trade-off: no Dolby Vision support, and aggressive processing can put off purists.
Sony Bravia 8 II
The movie-purist pick, around $2,800 for 65”. A QD-OLED Sony quotes as 25% brighter than the A95L it replaces, with the most natural color and best dark-scene handling here.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Picture quality | 34/35 |
| Brightness & HDR | 18/20 |
| Value for money | 12/20 |
| Gaming features | 14/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 10/10 |
Trade-off: the priciest set on the list and only two full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports.
TCL QM8K
The value big-screen pick, around $1,300 for 65”. A QD-Mini-LED with very high brightness, 144Hz gaming, and anti-reflective screen tech at roughly half a flagship OLED’s price.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Picture quality | 30/35 |
| Brightness & HDR | 19/20 |
| Value for money | 19/20 |
| Gaming features | 14/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: Mini-LED blooming around bright objects on dark backgrounds, which OLED avoids entirely.
Hisense U8Q
The bright-room value pick, around $1,099 for 65”. A Mini-LED that hits extreme brightness, ideal for sunny rooms, with strong HDR and good gaming features for the money.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Picture quality | 29/35 |
| Brightness & HDR | 19/20 |
| Value for money | 18/20 |
| Gaming features | 13/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: more blooming and weaker off-angle viewing than OLED.
LG C5
The step-down OLED, around $1,800 for 65”. The same self-lit perfect blacks and four HDMI 2.1 ports as the G5 in a less bright panel at a lower price — the value OLED choice.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Picture quality | 32/35 |
| Brightness & HDR | 16/20 |
| Value for money | 16/20 |
| Gaming features | 15/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 9/10 |
Trade-off: dimmer than the G5, so it struggles more in very bright rooms.
Roku Plus Series
The budget pick, around $650 for 65”. A Mini-LED QLED with Dolby Vision, automatic brightness, and the simple Roku interface — outstanding value for a secondary or first 4K set.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Picture quality | 26/35 |
| Brightness & HDR | 15/20 |
| Value for money | 19/20 |
| Gaming features | 11/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: a 60Hz panel limits high-refresh gaming, and processing trails the premium sets.
How to choose
Start with your room and your budget. For the best all-round picture in a mixed-use living room, the LG G5 leads — bright enough for daytime, perfect blacks at night, and Dolby Vision. Gamers chasing maximum HDR punch should take the Samsung S95F; movie purists who watch in the dark will prefer the Sony Bravia 8 II. If you want the biggest, brightest screen for the least money, the TCL QM8K and Hisense U8Q are Mini-LED bargains that win the moment you re-weight the rubric toward Value. The LG C5 is the sweet-spot OLED, and the Roku Plus Series covers tight budgets. Pick by room first, and the score follows.
Verification
- LG G5 — ~$2,300/65”, four HDMI 2.1, Dolby Vision verified via LG, Best Buy, and What Hi-Fi.
- Samsung S95F — QD-OLED, no Dolby Vision, ~$2,200/65” verified via Samsung and Best Buy.
- Sony Bravia 8 II — 25% brighter than A95L verified via What Hi-Fi and Tom’s Guide.
- TCL QM8K — Mini-LED, 144Hz, ~$1,300/65” verified via TCL and RTINGS.
- Hisense U8Q / LG C5 / Roku Plus Series — type and pricing (~$1,099 / ~$1,800 / ~$650) verified via TechRadar, RTINGS, and Roku/Best Buy listings.
Related rankings
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- Best 4K Monitors 2026: 7 Scored
- Best Action Cameras 2026: 7 Scored
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best TV in 2026?
- The LG G5 OLED for most buyers who want the best picture: the brightest OLED yet, four HDMI 2.1 ports, and Dolby Vision. For gaming and pure brightness, the Samsung S95F QD-OLED; for movie purists, the Sony Bravia 8 II; for value, the TCL QM8K Mini-LED.
- OLED or Mini-LED in 2026?
- OLED (LG G5, Samsung S95F, Sony Bravia 8 II) gives perfect blacks and the best contrast for movies and dim rooms. Mini-LED (TCL QM8K, Hisense U8) gets brighter for sunny rooms and costs far less for big sizes.
- Does the Samsung S95F support Dolby Vision?
- No. Samsung does not support Dolby Vision on any of its TVs, including the S95F, using HDR10+ instead. If your priority is Dolby Vision streaming content, the LG G5 or Sony Bravia 8 II support it.
- Which TV is best for gaming?
- The Samsung S95F and LG G5 both offer four full-speed 4K/144Hz+ HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR, and very low input lag. The S95F edges ahead on raw brightness for HDR gaming; the LG matches it on ports and adds Dolby Vision gaming.