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Best TVs for 2024: Which? Best Buy TVs and expert buying advice

Which? puts every TV through hundreds of tests to find the models that look and sound good enough for your home
Martin PrattPrincipal researcher & writer
LG 4K OLED TV in a modern living room

In this article

Those thin-bezel flatscreen TVs from Hisense, LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony may look more or less the same, but our TV reviews reveal the big differences, plus pick out the best and worst.

Our lab tests show which TVs have superb picture quality, sound fantastic and are easy to use, as well as those that have thin reedy sound and cope with motion about as well as someone in plimsoles on an icerink. Plus, our survey of owners reveals which brands last the longest and those that people would buy again. 

Compare all of the models we have tested with our TV reviews.

Best TVs for 2024

We test everything from SD picture quality to susrround sound effects on every TV, so you can be sure you're buying an excellent model that's right for you. Only logged-in Which? members can view our recommendations. If you’re not yet a member, you can get instant access to all of our online reviews if you join Which.

The TVs here are some of the best we've tested at different sizes and prices. The highest-rated TVs tend to be expensive, which is why we've chosen some Great Value models, too, because not everyone needs the most high-end model out there. 

TVs by type

TVs by price

Why you can trust our TV reviews

A TV is an expensive purchase and it's a device that you're likely going to use a lot, so you want it to be good. Our tests are exhaustive and each TV spends more than month in our lab before we're ready to give our verdict. This means that when you read our reviews, you can have absolute confidence in those expert verdicts and Best Buy recommendations. 

A Best Buy TV will have rich, balanced sound that's versatile and suitable for whatever genre you enjoy watching. It will look fantastic, too, with crisp, precise detail with balanced and vibrant colours, and broad contrast at every resolution.

We go further than just picture and sound, as we also test to see how easy a TV is to use if you're blind or partially sighted, and check how it handles your personal data.

Plus, we never take samples from brands. Every model we test was bought from a shop, so we know our tests align with your experience with the TV at home.

The UK is a nation of TV lovers and whatever you like to watch, it should look and sound good, especially as some sets can cost up to £2,000. There are too many poor TVs out there to risk wandering into Currys and picking one, particularly as picture modes that make them look so vibrant in stores could look gaudy and artificial at home. Our lab calibrate TVs for home settings so they're reflective of real use.

Martin PrattSenior Researcher/Writer

Where to buy a TV

New TVs can cost a small fortune, but 4K ones are available for as little as £300 once they've been on sale for a few months. Popular online retailers include:

  • AO sells smart TVs from big-name brands, including LG, Samsung and Sony. Prices for 4K TVs start at around £300.
  • Argos has a sizeable range of TVs, including ones from its own brands Alba and Bush. These models tend be at the cheaper end and prices start from around £250
  • Currys has a wide range of 4K TVs, along with OLED and QLED models. 4K TVs start at around £250. If you opt for an OLED, you'll spend at least £900. 
  • John Lewis names LG, Samsung, Sony and Panasonic among its most popular brands. It gives a five-year warranty with most of the TVs, which is longer than many retailers.
  • Richer Sounds has a varied selection of TVs and offers up to 24 months interest-free credit on some models. It offers a six-year warranty on most TVs, which is longer than any other leading retailer.

To see which retailers are rated highly by Which? members, read our guide on the best and worst shops.

How much do I need to spend on a good TV?

Typically, 32-inch HD TVs cost between £200 and £400. For a similar price you could find slightly larger 40 to 43-inch TVs, most of which have a better 4K Ultra HD screen. You won't see any 32-inch 4K sets since the screens are too small to really notice the difference in sharpness.

We rarely find Best Buys for less than £400, but there are several between £500 and £1,000. 

Do I need to pay more?

Yes and no. 

Yes, because more expensive TVs will have better technology and a sharper design, often with thinner bezels. Better motion processing is a hallmark of high-end modelss, so they will often produce smoother pictures, while cheaper models can sometimes judder. 

No, because many TVs will drop in price significantly in the months following its release. So provided you're prepared to wait a bit, you can bag yourself a bargain. 

It's true that TV quality tends to improve as the price gets higher, but that doesn't mean there aren't some diamonds to be found in the entry-level ranges. 

Need a new one now? See our pick of the best cheap TVs.

What is a Great Value TV?

To get a Great Value recommendation from us a TV needs to score at least 65% and cost less than most models.

We work out average prices depending on the size range:

  • 24 to 32-inch TV
  • 40 to 43-inch TV
  • 48 to 50-inch TV
  • 55 to 58-inch TV
  • 65 to 75-inch TV

Our Great Value badge guarantees that it's good enough to consider buying and costs less than most others of similar quality. Great Value TVs can be Best Buys, but don't have to be. A TV needs a score of 71% or above to be a Best Buy, while a Great Value TV needs to score at least 65%.

See some of the latest Great Value options.

What TV features do you need?

  • TV tuner All TVs have a Freeview HD tuner, meaning you can plug in an aerial for subscription-free SD and HD TV channels and radio. Some TVs have satellite tuners that can receive services, such as Freesat if you have a dish installed, but not all are licensed by Freesat, so experiences can differ (check our TV reviews for licensed sets).
  • PVR Many sets come with built-in recording functionality, so you can record TV programmes if you connect an external hard drive via a USB port. A disk size of 500GB will store around 100 hours of high-definition (HD) programmes or 250 hours of standard definition (SD). TVs with twin-tuner PVRs can record one programme while you watch another, or record two programmes simultaneously. See our PVR reviews for more information.
  • Smart-enabled Adds streaming and catch-up services such as BBC iPlayer, Netflix and YouTube. TVs have wi-fi connections and some have ethernet ports, too. Very few TVs aren't smart these days.
  • Advanced HDR All 4K TVs now support HDR10 and HLG, so look out for advanced formats, such as Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ that can adjust contrast to suit each scene. Read more about the different formats in our HDR guide.
  • Voice control Change channels, inputs and even search for shows in apps with your voice.
  • 120Hz display A great feature gamers and, eventually, sports enthusiasts. Having a screen with higher Hz means you see more frames per second, which makes compatible content look smoother.
  • Accessibility features The amount of features to help people who are deaf or blind vary enormously depending on the brand and TV you choose. Some have advanced options that make TVs more accessible and simpler to use, while other models are lacking even the most basic accessibility options.

Learn more about how to hear your TV better or check out the best models for people who are blind or partially sighted.

The different types of TV explained

Different resolutions, screen types and software means it's more than just the price that sets them apart from each other. The screen type is important, but it's not the be all and end all. It doesn't make a bit of difference to the audio or how easy the TV is to use and you shouldn't discount a model based purely on what screen it has.

LCD and LED TVs

LCD displays are the most common and it's likely your current TV uses one. Several bulbs, known as a backlight, shine on a layer of liquid crystals to create the images on screen. These TVs are cheaper to produce than OLEDs and QLEDs, which is why they are more common, particularly at smaller sizes. 

Organic LED (OLED) TVs

Widely considered the best screen technology for contrast and motion. OLED TVs start at about £1,000 for a 42 or 48-inch screen, but can stretch up to a few thousand pounds. 

Typically among the most expensive on the market, replacing plasma screens in recent years. They don't use a backlight – each bulb in the display is self-emitting, which is why the contrast and motion control is so excellent. 

QLED TVs

QLED TVs have more in common with LCDs. They still use a backlight, but it illuminates a layer of quantum dots as well as liquid crystals. These dots are said to produce more vibrant colours.

There are Neo QLEDs, too, which use a backlight with far smaller bulbs. This means there are more of them and Neo QLEDs have better contrast control as a result.

TV

Which TV brands offer the best software and security support policies?

Security and software support is an important consideration when buying a smart TV, dictating how long the brand aims to update the device with new features and security patches to guard against emerging threats.

We estimate the 'lifetime' of a smart TV – the average time we’d expect a TV to last before it breaks down or deteriorates significantly – is 6.8 years. This is based on robust analysis of recent product surveys and is a conservative estimate, and we’re confident that the genuine average is longer.

We asked the biggest brands for information on their support policies and many are falling well short of this lifetime estimate.

  • Amazon Fire Amazon offers a decent support period of four years since the product is last available to purchase.
  • Samsung told us its TVs get five years from launch.
  • LG Expect these sets to get support for five years from launch.
  • Hisense typically supports TVs for four years from launch. 
  • Philips didn't offer a typical support policy, but we expect its TVs to be supported for around three years from launch.
  • Panasonic Despite previously stating a minimum five-year support period, Panasonic now says it offers three years from launch.
  • Sony expects to support its TVs for two to four years from launch, depending on the model.
  • TCL said it will support its TVs for three years.
  • Sky The current Sky Glass range can be expected to receive support until the end of 2025.

While you may not be at immediate risk if you're using an unsupported device, it makes sense to buy and use a device you know will receive update support for a decent period. For more, read our guide to smart home security.

What are the risks of an insecure TV?

Your home network is only as strong as its weakest link, and with dozens of items connected to your router there are plenty of areas for a hacker to attack.

If your TV isn't secure, it could allow a hacker access to your router – and if that's compromised then anything on your network could be at risk. It could contain personal data such as app and wi-fi login data, as well as card details in some cases if you've rented a film or signed up for an app through your TV.

Hackers can hijack a TV to display their own content. They could put up fake versions of app login screens to trick you into entering your card details and steal your information.

Find out the most reliable TV brands from our customer satisfaction survey.

Which HDMI cable do I need?

Retailers will be quick to promote expensive HDMI leads with fancy sounding features, such as gold-plated connecting pins. Some may cost the same as a decent Blu-ray player. However, save your money and buy the cheapest leads available.

Which? testing has shown that cheap HDMI leads – even value ones costing just a few pounds – can perform just as well as more expensive ones. When we last ran HDMI tests, we found that a £10 HDMI lead from a supermarket gave no discernible difference in picture quality to one costing almost £100.

HDMI features explained 

  • HDMI eARC An updated version of HDMI ARC. It does the same thing, but is compatible with higher-quality video and audio signals.
  • HDMI ARC Available on most TVs these days, HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) can be a great way to connect up a home cinema system, AV receiver or sound bar with less fuss. Basically, it allows you to just use one HDMI lead to send audio from your TV to your sound receiver. However, not all TVs support multi-channel audio via HDMI and that means they won't support 5.1 surround sound, for example.
  • HDMI CEC Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) is a neat but often underused HDMI feature that enables you to control multiple different CEC-enabled devices, such as a TV, DVD player and set-top box, that are connected via HDMI from the same remote control.
  • MHL cables Many modern TVs allow you to connect your smartphone or tablet using an MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) cable plugged in the phone and then connected via the TV's HDMI. This allows you to share content such as videos or photos on the larger screen, and it charges your device at the same time.  
  • HDMI 1.4 Most TVs now have HDMI 1.4 connectors as standard. These ports can support broadcast HD TV, as well as 3D Blu-rays played through a 3D TV. While you can use a HDMI 1.3 lead with these ports, the picture quality won't be as good as a HDMI 1.4 lead.
  • HDMI 2.0 With the advent of 4K ultra-high-definition (UHD) TV, a new HDMI 2.0 standard was agreed. HDMI 2.0 brought various improvements, including support for 4K UHD resolution at 60 frames per second (measured in Hz) and the Rec. 2020 colour space. This as vital now that 4K UHD is more widely distributed to televisions. 
  • HDMI 2.1 The latest HDMI version supports resolutions up to 8K at 60Hz and 4K up to 120Hz. It's particularly useful for gaming since the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 are able to play games up to 120Hz. You don't need any new cables to take advantage of these features at the moment, but as people start buying more 8K TVs, they may need a 48Gbps HDMI cable to more quickly transmit the large amount of data required for 8K content. This isn't such an issue now because 8K sets are scarce and not worth buying because there's very little 8K content to watch on them aside from some YouTube videos.

Is my TV repairable? 

In 2021, new laws were introduced to make sure TVs were more easy to repair by the owner and third-party repairers. Manufacturers are now required to make some parts available for seven years after the TV's release and that's whether you're buying a £2,000 OLED or a £200 32-inch Full HD TV.

To everyone for seven years:

  • External power supply
  • Remote control.

To professional repairers for a minimum of seven years:

  • Internal power supply
  • Connectors to connect external equipment, including cable, antenna, USB, DVD and Blu-ray
  • Capacitors above 400 microfarads,
  • Batteries and accumulators
  • DVD/Blu-ray module if applicable
  • Hard drive or solid state drive (HD/SSD) module if applicable.

Looking for a truly huge screen? Check out our pick of the best home projectors for 2024.

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