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Choosing the best TV in 2022 is becoming increasingly difficult, with major brands like Samsung, Sony, and LG all releasing new and exciting display technologies that vow to provide the best visual experience ever. How are you meant to choose the best TV for your needs if you aren’t bang up to date with the latest news?
It feels like a new display technology or feature is being released every couple of months, with QD-OLED, OLED, QLED, 8K, and 16K all adding to the confusion. Furthermore, with so many sizes, models, features, and budgets to get your head around, buying a new TV in 2022 can be a real headache.
Fear not though, we’ll be taking the stress of purchasing a new TV away by handpicking some of the market’s leading options. Whether you’re looking for a 55-inch TV on a budget, a new 48-inch gaming TV, a high-performance OLED TV, or something that combines the qualities of all the latter, our guide will recommend a TV that suits your exact needs.
So, if you’re looking for one of the best TVs in 2022, look no further, we have all the most up-to-date options.
Best TVs: Our top picks
01
Best TV in 2022
LG OLED42C2
02
Best LED TV
Samsung 43QN90A
03
Best OLED TV
LG G2 OLED Series
What to look for in a TV?
So, you’re looking to invest in a brand new TV and you want to make sure the model you buy is right for your specific needs. However, you’re relatively new to display technology and aren’t really sure what to look for.
Don’t worry, our experienced team of display experts has whittled down the most important specifications and features you need to worry about when buying the right TV for you. We’ll be outlining each feature and how it impacts your visual experience so you know what to look for.
Resolution
Resolution is a relatively simple concept, referring to the total number of pixels a TV or monitor can display. Resolution is an important feature to consider when buying a TV as it not only affects the quality of your image but could also impact what size screen you plan to get (something we’ll discuss in the following section).
In today’s market, there are plenty of resolutions to choose from, with the most common listed below:
As you can imagine, prices fluctuate quite a bit when moving up the theoretical resolution ladder, with only the market’s most expensive offerings featuring 8K and above screen resolutions.
To get a better understanding of how resolutions compare, we must first understand the numerical values of each.
- 1080p = 1920 x 1080
- 4K = 3840 x 2160
- 8k = 7680 x 4320
- 16K = 15360 x 8640
The first number refers to the horizontal pixels and the second number refers to the vertical pixels. If you want to work out the picture clarity differences between the resolutions, simply multiply the two numbers of any resolution together to give you a total pixel count.
For example, 1080p = 1920 x 1080 = 2,073,600. Compare that to 4K (3840 x 2160 = 8,294,400) and it’s easy to see how resolution can impact the image quality so dramatically.
Screen size & pixel density
Of course, when we think of resolution we must also consider screen size and the relevant pixel density it provides. Screen size refers to the physical size of the light-emitting portion of the display – not inclusive of the bezel. Modern TVs come in all shapes and sizes, with the latest panels ranging from 42-inches right up to over 85-inches.
But what is pixel density? Pixel density is another way to more accurately measure the sharpness of a TV – using the display’s size and total pixel count. Essentially, you can calculate the pixels per inch (PPI) of a monitor to determine whether the resolution is right for the respective screen size.
For example, an 85-inch TV with a 4K screen resolution won’t look quite as sharp as a 48-inch TV with the same resolution. It’s for that reason why 8K and 16K are starting to become utilized in consumer TVs more frequently.
Refresh rate & VRR
Refresh rates are a relatively well-known term today, utilized in the marketing of most TV models to showcase it’s ability to handle fast-moving images and gaming content. Refresh rate refers to the speed at which the monitor refreshes the image you’re viewing – measured in hertz (Hz) per second. On average, the faster the refresh rate the more capable a TV is at handling fast-moving images and perceived blur.
Variable refresh rate technology, on the other hand, allows your TV to synchronize its refresh rate to the output of your PS5, Xbox, or PC. Using this feature will help eradicate any possibility of screen artifacts like screen tear (a visual defect where two frames are rendered at the same time).
While VRR has been used for PC gaming for some time now, the same can’t be said for modern TVs. Consoles are only just catching up on this feature in recent years, with the PlayStation only just announcing VRR support for the PS5 recently.
For that reason, VRR is hugely important – displaying noticeable improvements in the smoothness and fluidity of gameplay.
Panel/ backlight technology
The panel and backlight technology of your TV are hugely important features that determine how well it performs in color and picture scenarios. With new technologies being developed almost monthly now, choosing the right panel technology for your needs can be relatively confusing especially when you consider all the available options right now; LED, Mini-LED, Micro-LED, QD-OLED, OLED, QLED, Neo QLE – to name but a few.
Ultimately, most TVs you find in today’s market will be LED – featuring in the majority of today’s TVs. That said, OLED and QD-OLED are becoming much more popular, with almost every brand now featuring an OLED model.
LED technology is the basis for many modern TVs, utilizes in every non-OLED TV. LED TVs make use of LED backlights for the illumination of pixels, meaning they can produce far greater luminance levels compared to OLED and QD-OLED panels.
OLED TVs utilize organic compound layers to produce light – with independently operating pixels that help to create perfect blacks, infinite contrast ratio, and superb HDR. OLED TVs are some of the market’s most expensive, so be ready to fork our a premium if you are interested in an OLED TV.
QD-OLED is slightly different, but, ultimately, still makes use of an OLED layer. Samsung recently finished work on a new QD-OLED panel technology which merges the main benefits of QD (Quantum Dot) and OLED (organic light-emitting diodes). The new technology is only being rolled out in a few panels, meaning you’ll have to wait sometime before a variety of options become available. Having said that, recent leaks suggest that new 77″ and 49″ variants are being worked on by the Korean manufacturer.
How we choose the best TV
Choosing the best TVs can often be a tricky task, especially when you consider just how many great TVs there are in today’s market. Luckily, our veteran team of display enthusiasts has a tonne of experience when it comes to TVs and monitors, allowing us to handpick the best TVs in today’s market.
Like all the hardware we recommend, each TV we choose goes through a strict testing process that allows us to determine which is the best when it comes to gaming, movie consumption, and everday usage. We run numerous tests using purpose-built equipment, enabling us to confidently recommend the best TVs across the web.
Best TV in 2022
LG OLED42C2
Pros
- Excellent gaming performance
- OLED image quality
- Gaming-tailored features
- Near instantaneous response time
- Evo OLED panel technology
Cons
- Not as bright as QD-OLED or LED models
Our best all-round TV goes to the hugely popular LG C2 OLED TV series – LG’s latest mid-tier TV lineup. The LG C2 was announced back at CES 2022, becoming hugely popular and sparking excitement amongst keen fans of the brand.
The LG C2 comes in a variety of sizes that range from the world’s first 42-inch OLED TV all the way up to an impressive 83-inch model. that said, this TV delivers excellent versatility for both gamers and everyday consumers, equipped with a high-performance Evo OLED panel that is far brighter than its older generation OLED models. It offers up new build materials which create an easier to unbox and wall mounting experience – all while retaining LG’s stylish design language.
Design aside, the LG C2 performs at the highest level, equipped with the brand’s latest Evo OLED panel technology. While LG’s Evo OLED panel was once restricted to the more premium LG G1 series, the same isn’t the case for the latest mid-tier C2. The Evo OLED panel allows this TV to become much brighter than the C1, meaning it produces far better performance in daytime conditions.
Gamers will also be happy with the C2’s new game optimizer menu – enabling users to fine-tune the visual experience of games more freely. Of course, HDMI 2.1 and VRR are both supported by this TV, making it a fine choice for the next-gen PlayStation 5 console.
Samsung Neo QLED QN90A
Mini LED LCD (1344 – 2340 zones)
Pros
- Exceptional image quality for gaming and movies
- HDMI 2.1 support
- Packed with features
- Easy to use platform
If you’re looking for a brighter, LED TV, then Samsung’s popular QN90A series could be the right choice for you. The QLED-based TV series has impressed ever since its release, with the Neo QLED variant offering up some improvements to image handling and general picture quality. Ultimately, the Samsung QN90A delivers stunning image quality that is head and shoulders above other LED-based panels.
Alongside its QLED panel technology, the QN90A also featured the latest mini-LED backlight technology – increasing the TV’s ability to deliver HDR scenes. The QN90A also offers a higher peak brightness than many of its competitors, giving it a wider contrast ratio. Of course, the QN90A can’t match the infinite contrast ratio of the OLED C2, but don’t let that put you off, it excels in areas where the OLED struggles.
As far as gaming performance goes, this is another TV that supports next-gen consoles. Gamers will be happy to hear that the QN90A supports both Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 – delivering [email protected] gameplay via a number of HDMI 2.1 inputs. The mini-LED TV also features key gaming options such as Motion Xcelerator Turbo Plus and VRR for both FreeSync and G-Sync. ALLM mode is also utilized in this TV, offering up better motion handling when playing games with fast-moving images.
All being said, let’s not forget that this is a pretty expensive TV – meaning you’ll have to fork out for the premium features it brings to the table. That being said, if you want a brighter visual experience than our top pick, there aren’t many that do it as well as the QN90A.
LG G2 OLED Series
55″, 65″, 77″, 83″ 97″
Pros
- Evo OLED panel technology
- WebOS smart platform
- 120Hz @4K gameplay
- HDMI 2.1 support
- Stunning image quality
If you’re set on OLED panel technology and want the best of the best, the LG G2 is the brand’s flagship ‘gallery’ esque TV. As you’d expect, the G2 offers up a plethora of improvements when compared to the G1 – making for an even more attractive visual experience. Despite this TV being one of the most expensive in this guide, it delivers on all fronts and still manages to display decent value for money.
LG has changed the design of the new 2022 G2 ever so slightly, opting for a more refined right-angled frame instead of the 45-degree picture frame look of the G1. Additionally, while the G1 was limited to wall-mounting only, the same can’t be said for the latest G2. Users now have the option to purchase a standalone stand – allowing the G2 to be placed in almost any location.
From a performance standpoint, it’s hard to argue with what this TV brings to the table. It is the brightest OLED display LG has designed, featuring a new heat-sink design that aids in higher peak luminance without increasing the chances of burn-in. Alongside existing features – which include VRR, HDMI 2.1, FreeSync/G-Sync, and [email protected] gameplay – the G2, like the C2, will also offer up a newly-optimized Game Menu, HGIG, and LG’s new Alpha 9 Gen 5 processor.
Take all these features into consideration and you have one of the best OLED TVs in 2022.
Hisense U8G
Pros
- Decent 4K detail
- Decent colors and deep blacks
- Smart TV platform
- Supports [email protected] 120Hz gameplay
Cons
- Motion clarity isn’t amazing
If you’re looking for a budget-tailored TV then look no further – the Hisense U8G is a fine choice with plenty of features to boot. This cheap TV comes in a number of different sizes and features enough motion-handling performance to make it excellent value for money. Despite the U8G being the cheapest TV in this guide, it still delivers great gaming in both 60Hz and 120Hz, respectively.
As you can imagine, the Hisense U8G doesn’t feature the same OLED/Mini-LED backlight technology as other TVs in this guide. Instead, the U8G utilizes a 120Hz VA LED panel that features an excellent native contrast ratio and deep, inky blacks. while picture quality won’t be quite as good as other options in this guide, it’s still a perfectly fine visual experience for everyday use and movie consumption.
On a more positive note, the U8G does feature FALD (full-array local dimming) that performs equally well in both normal and game modes. Better yet, even though this TV only features HDMI 2.0, it still manages to offer HDMI 2.1 bandwidth – allowing users to reap the rewards of 4K @120Hz gameplay.
Overall, the Hisense U8G is a very efficient LED TV that performs well as an all-round TV. If you’re on a budget, this could be the TV for you.
Samsung S95B
Pros
- Excellent image quality
- QD-OLED panel technology
- Gaming-tailored features
- Highly accurate colors
If you’re one for keeping up with the latest display technology, there is nothing newer than the QD-OLED S95B. The latest high-end TV from Samsung features all the bells and whistles you could want for a truly fantastic visual experience, including the latest QD-OLED technology.
Being Samsung’s newest OLED offering, the S95B really looks like an excellent TV – packed with features that suit all scenarios. At its heart lies the brand’s Neural Quantum Processor 4K, Samsung’s most powerful AI-Powered processor to date. It will help deliver stunning picture and sound quality by, “combining 20 multi-layer neural networks”. The processor will allow the S95B to intelligently analyze images and restore detail when upscaling to higher resolutions. Users can also enjoy automatically adjusted brightness, fine-tuned contrast, and enhanced objects for great visual fidelity.
Thanks to the manufacturing process Samsung use, the QD-OLED S95B will also be one of the thinnest TVs on the market, potentially even beating LG’s OLED TVs. Premium materials will be used throughout the S95B’s design, allowing you to easily wall-mount the TV if you wish.
Of course, gaming won’t be an issue for this TV either – equipped with a speedy 120Hz refresh rate and a bunch of game-enhancing features that help reduce perceived blur when gaming. This TV will also support the latest next-gen consoles thanks to its HDMI 2.1 support and 120Hz refresh rate, also equipped with VRR technology for FreeSync systems.
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Final word
So, there you have it, our comprehensive guide to the best TVs in 2022. With so many new technologies to get your head around, choosing the best TV for your needs can be a little tricky. Once you understand the core features and specifications of a TV, however, you’re in a much better position to select a TV that is right for you.
We’ve given the LG C2 our best TV of 2022 award as it produces stunning image quality, great gaming performance, and excellent versatility without breaking the bank. Of course, every TV we’ve recommended in this guide is of the highest quality – even the budget TV options.
If you have any questions regarding the market’s best TVs, feel free to drop us a comment in the section below.
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