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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThere is no single best TV for everyone in the 2025 lineup. The LG C5 OLED is a strong all-round choice, the TCL QM7K Mini-LED is a value-oriented bright-room alternative, and the Samsung S95F OLED is a premium option notable for glare handling. The right pick depends on your budget, room lighting, viewing habits, and exact screen size. This is a retrospective of 2025 models, not a claim that they are still the newest TVs available in October 2026.
Which 2025 TV should you buy?
| Model | Best fit | What stands out | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| LG C5 OLED evo | Most people seeking a balanced OLED | OLED contrast and viewing angles, with stronger highlight brightness than entry-level OLED sets. Tom’s Guide included it among its year-end favorites. | OLED is not always the best fit for a very bright room; compare the exact size and price available to you. |
| TCL QM7K Mini-LED | Value-minded shoppers and brighter rooms | Tom’s Guide called it the best-looking Mini-LED under $1,000 in its assessment. | That under-$1,000 characterization is the review’s framing, not a current price guarantee; the review also says it does not match OLED picture quality. |
| Sony Bravia 8 II OLED | A/V enthusiasts who prioritize image processing | Tom’s Guide highlights accurate color, clean upscaling, and calibration. | The review notes lower brightness than some rivals, fewer features, and a higher cost. |
| Samsung S95F OLED | Premium OLED buyers concerned about reflections | TechRadar named it its 2025 TV of the Year and highlighted glare handling. Samsung describes its Glare-Free technology as a product feature. | Samsung TVs lack Dolby Vision HDR; treat manufacturer brightness and glare claims as claims, not independent test results. |
| LG G5 OLED | Premium buyers prioritizing OLED brightness | TechRadar reports a peak-brightness measurement above 2,000 nits for its tested set and identifies the G5 as the first TV using LG Display’s Primary RGB Tandem OLED structure. | The measurement is for the reviewer’s tested set and conditions, not a guarantee for every size or viewing mode. |
These are different kinds of recommendations, not a shared consensus winner. Tom’s Guide’s year-end favorites were the C5, QM7K, and Bravia 8 II; TechRadar named the S95F its 2025 TV of the Year and also praised the G5 and QN90F in its 2025 testing discussion. See Tom’s Guide’s year-end TV picks and TechRadar’s TV guide and 2025 coverage for their distinct assessments.
Choose for your room and viewing habits
For dark-room movies and wide seating
OLED pixels can dim individually, giving OLED sets deep blacks and strong contrast, with wide viewing angles. The C5 is a versatile example in the 2025 recommendations. If your room is dim and film viewing is a priority, OLED’s contrast may matter more than maximum brightness.
For daylight, sports, and reflections
In a bright room, consider brightness and how the screen handles reflections. TechRadar notes that OLED can be less bright than LED or Mini-LED, particularly at larger sizes. The S95F is a glare-handling OLED contender, while Mini-LED models such as the QM7K offer a different bright-room option. Samsung’s Glare-Free description is a manufacturer claim; actual results depend on placement, light sources, and the specific set.
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#1 Best Overall
- 4k Ultra HD (2160p resolution): Enjoy breathtaking HDR10 4K movies and TV shows at 4 times the resolution of Full HD, and upscale your current content to Ultra HD-level picture quality.
- High Dynamic Range: Provides a wide range of color details and sharper contrast, from the brightest whites to the deepest blacks.
- All-in-one: Get right to your good stuff. With Fire TV, you can enjoy a world of entertainment from apps like Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max. Plus, stream for free with Fire TV Channels, Pluto TV, Tubi, and more. Access over 1.8 million movies and TV episodes. Subscriptions may be required. Feature and content availability may vary.
- Smart Home: Your smart home hub. Pair Fire TV with compatible smart home devices to see live camera feeds, use AirPlay, control your lighting and thermostat, and more.
- Free Content: Stream for free. Access over 1 million free movies and TV episodes from popular ad-supported streaming apps like Fire TV Channels, Tubi, and Pluto TV. Subscriptions may be required. Feature and content availability may vary.
TechRadar measured the LG G5 above 2,000 nits peak brightness in its 2025 review conditions. It also reported 2,068 nits peak and 667 nits full-screen brightness for the Samsung QN90F. Those are reviewer measurements for those models, not guaranteed specifications, and they should not be treated as a direct head-to-head comparison when test settings may differ. Read the TechRadar television coverage for its model-specific context.
For games
Compare the exact size and regional version for HDMI 2.1 inputs, refresh rate, variable refresh rate (VRR), auto low latency mode (ALLM), and input lag. TechRadar describes Samsung as especially strong in gaming features, but feature availability should be confirmed in the specifications for the particular model you are considering. Do not assume every size or market variant has identical ports or capabilities.
Rank #2
- POWERS DRAMATICALLY CLEAR COLOR AND SOUND: Enjoy your movies and shows in stunning 4K, regardless of the source resolution. Plus, get the most out of what you're watching with AI-optimized color-boosted picture and audio quality, enhanced according to the type of content*
- OVER A BILLION COLORS THAT STAY TRUE, EVEN IN THE BRIGHTEST SCENES**: Appreciate every beautiful shade of color with incredible precision. The nano-sized Quantum Dots can display the entire color spectrum, **so you can admire billions of shades at any brightness level.
- SLEEK AND SLIM DESIGN FOR A LOW-PROFILE: This TV blends right into your wall with a slim design and brings clutter-free minimalism to any room.
- A WORLD OF CONTENT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. NO SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED: Watch 2,700+ free channels including 400+ Samsung TV Plus premium channels and on free streaming apps. Enjoy national and local news, sports, movies and more. Explore new content being added regularly.***
- BRINGS SMOOTH MOTION TO SPORTS AND TEAR-FREE GAMING: Experience smooth visuals and elite speeds for VRR gaming at up to 4K 144Hz.****
For older or lower-resolution video
If you watch a lot of broadcast television, older films, or other lower-resolution material, image processing and upscaling may be important. Tom’s Guide points to the Bravia 8 II for accurate color and clean upscaling, with brightness, feature count, and price as trade-offs.
Check the exact model before you buy
2025 was the product year, not a promise of 2026 stock. LG USA announced the U.S. rollout of the C5 and G5 on March 11, 2025, with preorders at LG.com and later availability through authorized retailers. That announcement confirms the models’ U.S. launch context, but not present-day availability. Samsung’s 2025 CES announcement also cautions that Vision AI features vary by model and that availability may differ by country.
Rank #3
- 4k Ultra HD (2160p resolution): Enjoy breathtaking HDR10 4K movies and TV shows at 4 times the resolution of Full HD, and upscale your current content to Ultra HD-level picture quality.
- High Dynamic Range: Provides a wide range of color details and sharper contrast, from the brightest whites to the deepest blacks.
- All-in-one: Get right to your good stuff. With Fire TV, you can enjoy a world of entertainment from apps like Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max. Plus, stream for free with Fire TV Channels, Pluto TV, Tubi, and more. Access over 1.8 million movies and TV episodes. Subscriptions may be required. Feature and content availability may vary.
- Smart Home: Your smart home hub. Pair Fire TV with compatible smart home devices to see live camera feeds, use AirPlay, control your lighting and thermostat, and more.
- Free Content: Stream for free. Access over 1 million free movies and TV episodes from popular ad-supported streaming apps like Fire TV Channels, Tubi, and Pluto TV. Subscriptions may be required. Feature and content availability may vary.
- Confirm the screen size, full model name and suffix, and regional version; similarly named sets can differ by market.
- Check current price and stock with a retailer serving your location rather than relying on a past review’s price framing.
- For gaming, verify the ports and supported features for the specific size and market variant.
- Outside the U.S., check regional model names, tuners, and availability. The recommendations here are largely based on U.S.-oriented coverage; RTINGS’ 2025 lineup guide notes that Panasonic announced three 2025 models for release in Europe and the U.S.
Sources: LG’s March 2025 U.S. rollout announcement, Samsung’s CES 2025 Vision AI announcement, and RTINGS’ 2025 TV lineup guide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Remember the setup, not just the screen
Built-in sound can be a weak point on thin TVs, so include an optional soundbar in your setup planning if audio quality matters to you. Wall mounting is another choice rather than a requirement: check the wall type, mount rating, and TV compatibility before installation. These costs and constraints can affect which TV fits your overall budget.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- HDR: Enjoy great contrast in all your content. High Dynamic Range (HDR) expands the contrast between the lightest and darkest parts of a scene, so you can enjoy a wide spectrum of colors and visual details.
- OBJECT TRACKING SOUND LITE: Feel like you're part of the scene with audio that follows the action on screen. Featuring a virtual top channel, every sound is precisely placed in space, placing you in the heart of the scene.
- SAMSUNG KNOX SECURITY: Your TV experiences are secured. Samsung Knox Security defends against harmful apps and phishing sites while keeping sensitive data, such as PINs and passwords, secure. It also safeguards your IoT devices connected to your TV.
- ONE UI TIZEN: Stream your favorite movies and shows and access your favorite apps and games on an intuitive smart TV platform, powered by Samsung Tizen OS.
- ENDLESS CONTENT: Access 2,700+ free channels including 400+ Samsung TV Plus premium channels with just your WiFiconnection. Enjoy national and local news, sports, movies, kids’ shows and more -live and on demand. With content frequently added, there’s always something new to discover.
Rank #4
- DESIGNED TO LOOK LIKE A PICTURE FRAME: Looks like real art with a slim design that mounts flush to the wall, customizable bezels* to match your style, and an external hub that connects the TV to power and your devices with a single wire.
- YOUR PERSONAL ART GALLERY ON YOUR TV: When you're not watching TV, the Frame transforms into art**. Access a curated collection from the Art Store*** or upload your own photos****. Finish the look with various mat styles and colors.
- LIFELIKE PICTURE WHEN IT’S ON, MUSEUM-WORTHY WHEN IT’S OFF: Enjoy stunning colors when you're watching TV and admire lifelike artwork when you're not. Discover subtle details and bold colors and appreciate art as if you were in a gallery.
- THE NEXT BIG THING IN TELEVISION: TV, tailored to you with AI-enhanced***** picture & sound plus revolutionary personalized experiences that let you engage more deeply with your content.
- MAKES ART LOOK LIKE REAL ART WITH A PRINT-LIKE FINISH: See your favorite works like you're seeing them hanging in a gallery or museum. The virtually glare-free screen has subtle, matte texture, making art look like a real print.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
