Best Smart TVs of 2024: Features and Reviews

High-End Smart TVs

Samsung QN900C Neo QLED 8K

The Samsung QN900C Neo QLED 8K is the epitome of high-end smart TVs in 2024, offering stunning 8K resolution with incredible clarity and detail. Its Quantum Matrix Technology Pro ensures deep blacks and bright highlights by precisely controlling the mini LEDs. The TV supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision for an immersive viewing experience. With AI upscaling, even non-8K content looks sharp and vibrant. The QN900C comes with Samsung’s Smart Hub, providing seamless access to popular streaming services, and it supports voice control through Bixby, Alexa, and Google Assistant.

LG G3 OLED Evo

The LG G3 OLED Evo stands out with its self-lit OLED pixels, delivering perfect blacks and infinite contrast. The Evo panel enhances brightness and color accuracy, making it ideal for watching movies and playing games. The TV supports Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos for a cinematic experience. Powered by the α9 Gen 5 AI Processor, it offers superior picture quality and smart features, including personalized content recommendations. The sleek design allows for wall mounting, giving a gallery-like appearance to your living room.

Sony A95K QD-OLED

The Sony A95K QD-OLED combines the best of OLED and Quantum Dot technologies, providing exceptional color volume and brightness. The Cognitive Processor XR enhances contrast and clarity, making every scene look lifelike. This model supports HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision, ensuring compatibility with various content formats. Sony’s Google TV interface is intuitive and offers a vast array of apps and services. Additionally, the Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology creates an immersive sound experience by turning the entire screen into a speaker.

Panasonic JZ2000 OLED

The Panasonic JZ2000 OLED is a filmmaker's dream, boasting professional-grade color accuracy and support for all major HDR formats, including HDR10+ Adaptive and Dolby Vision IQ. The HCX Pro AI Processor delivers stunning picture quality, while the built-in upward-firing speakers and Technics-tuned audio system provide rich, immersive sound. The TV’s My Home Screen 7.0 interface is user-friendly and customizable, offering quick access to streaming apps and live TV.

Philips 9636 Mini LED

The Philips 9636 Mini LED TV offers a unique blend of picture quality and Ambilight technology, which projects colors from the screen onto the surrounding walls for an immersive viewing experience. Its Mini LED backlight provides deep blacks and bright highlights, while the P5 AI Perfect Picture Engine optimizes picture quality in real-time. The TV supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision and comes with Android TV, offering a vast selection of apps and services. The integrated Bowers & Wilkins sound system ensures top-notch audio performance.

Budget-Friendly Smart TVs

TCL 6-Series Roku TV

The TCL 6-Series Roku TV is a standout budget-friendly option, offering impressive performance and features at an affordable price. It features QLED technology and Mini LED backlighting, delivering excellent picture quality with vibrant colors and deep blacks. The TV supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 for a dynamic viewing experience. The built-in Roku platform provides easy access to thousands of streaming channels, and the simple interface is user-friendly. Voice control via Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri adds convenience.

Hisense U8H

The Hisense U8H is a great budget-friendly smart TV, combining ULED technology with Quantum Dots for enhanced color and brightness. The Full Array Local Dimming Pro feature ensures deep blacks and high contrast. The TV supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG, offering compatibility with a wide range of content. The VIDAA U5 smart platform is fast and intuitive, providing access to popular streaming services. With built-in Alexa and Google Assistant, voice control is a breeze.

Vizio M-Series Quantum

The Vizio M-Series Quantum delivers excellent value with its Quantum Color technology, providing over a billion shades of color. The Active Full Array backlight with up to 90 local dimming zones ensures deep blacks and bright highlights. The TV supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG for a superior HDR experience. Vizio’s SmartCast platform offers a wide range of streaming apps and supports Apple AirPlay and Google Chromecast for easy content sharing. The included voice remote works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri.

Samsung AU8000 Crystal UHD

The Samsung AU8000 Crystal UHD is a reliable budget option, featuring a sleek design and impressive picture quality for its price range. The Crystal Processor 4K upscales content to 4K resolution, and the TV supports HDR10+ for enhanced contrast and detail. The Tizen smart platform offers a wide array of apps and streaming services, and the TV is compatible with Samsung’s SmartThings ecosystem for easy integration with other smart devices. Voice control is available via Bixby, Alexa, and Google Assistant.

LG UP8000

The LG UP8000 is an affordable smart TV that doesn’t compromise on performance. It features an IPS panel for wide viewing angles and supports HDR10 and HLG for improved picture quality. The TV is powered by the α5 AI Processor 4K, which enhances clarity and reduces noise. LG’s webOS platform is user-friendly and offers a wide range of streaming apps. The TV is compatible with Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit, and voice control is available through Alexa and Google Assistant.

Picture and Sound Quality

HDR and 4K Resolution

High Dynamic Range (HDR) and 4K resolution are essential features in modern smart TVs, enhancing picture quality with greater detail and contrast. HDR formats like Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG provide a wider color gamut and brighter highlights, making images more lifelike. TVs with 4K resolution offer four times the detail of Full HD, ensuring sharp and clear visuals. High-end models like the Samsung QN900C Neo QLED 8K and LG G3 OLED Evo take it a step further with 8K resolution, offering unmatched clarity and detail.

OLED vs. QLED

Choosing between OLED and QLED technology depends on your viewing preferences. OLED TVs, like the LG G3 OLED Evo and Sony A95K QD-OLED, offer perfect blacks and infinite contrast, as each pixel emits its own light and can be turned off individually. This results in superior picture quality, especially in dark scenes. QLED TVs, such as the Samsung QN900C Neo QLED 8K and TCL 6-Series, use Quantum Dots to enhance brightness and color accuracy. QLED TVs are often brighter than OLEDs, making them ideal for well-lit rooms.

Sound Quality

Sound quality is a critical aspect of the viewing experience, and many smart TVs come with advanced audio technologies to deliver immersive sound. High-end models like the Sony A95K QD-OLED and Panasonic JZ2000 OLED feature integrated sound systems with Dolby Atmos support, providing multi-dimensional audio that surrounds the viewer. Some TVs, like the Philips 9636 Mini LED, come with built-in sound systems from renowned audio brands like Bowers & Wilkins, ensuring top-notch audio performance. Budget-friendly options like the Vizio M-Series Quantum and Hisense U8H also offer good sound quality, often enhanced by DTS Virtual

or similar technologies.

Refresh Rate and Motion Handling

A high refresh rate and good motion handling are essential for a smooth viewing experience, especially for fast-paced content like sports and action movies. TVs with a 120Hz refresh rate, such as the Samsung QN900C Neo QLED 8K and Sony A95K QD-OLED, provide smoother motion and reduce blur. Features like Motion Smoothing and Game Mode further enhance motion clarity, making these TVs suitable for gamers and sports enthusiasts. Budget models like the TCL 6-Series and Hisense U8H also offer good motion handling with features like Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM).

Viewing Angles

Wide viewing angles are crucial for maintaining picture quality when viewing the TV from different positions. OLED TVs generally offer better viewing angles than QLED or LED models, ensuring consistent color and contrast from any angle. High-end models like the LG G3 OLED Evo and Sony A95K QD-OLED excel in this regard, making them ideal for family viewing. Some QLED TVs, like the Samsung QN900C Neo QLED 8K, use advanced panel technologies to improve viewing angles, ensuring a great picture even from the sides.

By focusing on these top high-end and budget-friendly smart TVs, along with key features that enhance picture and sound quality, this article aims to provide comprehensive insights and help readers make informed decisions when purchasing a smart TV in 2024.