Best TVs of 2018
Consumer Reports tests hundreds of televisions each year. These 4K sets rise to the top.
With prices still falling and more movies and TV series being presented in 4Kand high-dynamic range (HDR), this might be the year you decide to buy a 4K TV.
We’ve been testing the new 2018 TVs as they come on the market, and some are already top performers in Consumer Reports’ TV ratings, which also include a selection of 2017 TVs.
Below, you’ll find a selection of some of the best TVs of the year in several categories, including two sets that are battling it out for the top spot in our ratings. While many of the best TVs are pricey, we also picked out one great set, a 55-inch 4K TV, you can buy for less than $1,000.
Once again this year, there are two basic TV technologies available: LCD—also called LED TVs due to their LED backlights—and OLED. OLED TVs can deliver a truly stunning picture, in part because they do a great job of displaying the blackest parts of an image. They also have unlimited viewing angles, so the picture still looks great if you view the TV from the side of the room.
The huge majority of TVs being sold are LCD sets. They tend to cost less than a similarly sized OLED TV, and you can find some highly rated LCD sets for less than $1,000 even in the largest screen sizes. (Premium LCDs can cost several times that.)
LCD-based sets generally can’t deliver OLED-like blacks but they get better every year, especially models that use full-array backlights, where the LEDs are spread across the entire rear panel instead of just along the edges. LCD TVs also tend to be brighter than OLEDs, making them a good choice in well-lit rooms.
But before you choose an LCD-based model, check out the viewing angle if you expect people to watch the TV from a variety of angles. Sets with a narrow viewing angle look their best only when seen head-on.
Each year we test about 250 individual TVs from major well-known brands such as LG, Samsung, Sony, and Vizio to emerging TV companies. All of the sets in our ratings go through a battery of objective measurements and subjective evaluations designed to push them to their limits.
In our ratings, you’ll see separate scores for high-definition picture quality, UHD performance (for 4K models), viewing angle, motion blur, and sound quality. We also consider ease of use and versatility. And we let you know how well a TV does with HDR content in the detailed test results on the TV’s model page. (HDR can produce enhanced contrast and brighter specular highlights when done well.)
Like all the products that Consumer Reports tests, every TV we evaluate is purchased at retail. We don’t accept freebies or handpicked models from manufacturers, so every tested model is just like the one you might take home.
One last thing: It’s still early in the testing year, so keep checking back for our latest updates on the best TVs because some new models may replace our current picks.
LG OLED65C8PUA, $3,500
As in past years, an LG OLED TV tops our ratings in 2018, though this year it pushes ahead by fractions in our ratings scores. (See Best TV, Part II, below.)
Though it’s not inexpensive by any stretch of the imagination, the 65-inch LG OLED65C8PUA—a mid-tier OLED model for 2018—offers a great balance of price and performance. You get excellent high-definition picture, excellent UHD performance, and very effective HDR, something not true of all HDR-compatible TVs this year. (LG 4K TVs support several HDR formats: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG, and Advanced HDR by Technicolor.)
Like all OLED TVs, this model has an almost unlimited viewing angle, and the sound is also excellent. (As a bonus, it supports Dolby Atmos audio, which can give a soundtrack a more three-dimensional effect.) LG’s updated smart TV platform includes its own voice-enabled ThinQ artificial intelligence platform as well as built-in support for the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa digital voice assistants.
Best TV Overall, Part II
Sony XBR-65A8F, $3,800
LG OLED TVs have dominated our TV ratings for the past several years, but in 2018 Sony’s newest OLED TV gives even LG’s best OLED sets a run for the money.
Whether you choose the 65-inch Sony XBR-65A8F or the LG above, it’s pretty much a toss-up. The Sony has the same overall score and nearly identical performance: excellent HD picture quality, excellent UHD performance, and very effective HDR, among the best of any tested sets. (The Sony supports the HDR10 and HLG HDR formats; the company says Dolby Vision capability will be added via an update soon.)
This set also has Sony’s unique “Acoustic Surface” audio technology, which uses vibrating actuators that turn the entire panel into a speaker and delivers excellent sound quality. Sony 4K TVs use Google’s Android TV smart TV platform, which offers access to Google Cast for streaming from mobile devices. It also includes built-in Google Assistant and is compatible with the Amazon Alexa digital voice assistant.
Best TVs That Aren’t OLEDs
LG 65SK9500PUA, $2,500
Samsung QN65Q9FN, $3,800
This year two flagship 65-inch LCD TVs battle it out to almost a draw.
Both of these models offer excellent HD picture quality, excellent UHD performance, and excellent sound quality. In addition, they have full-array LED backlights with local dimming, which can improve blacks and contrast.
But there are some differences. For example, the LG 65SK9500PUA—the top model in LG’s “Super UHD” LCD series for 2018—has a significantly lower price and a wider viewing angle. The LG supports Dolby Atmos and its updated smart TV platform includes its own ThinQ AI platform, plus Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa digital voice assistants.
The Samsung QN65Q9FN, the company’s top QLED TV for 2018, delivers better HDR performance on a par with the best sets we’ve tested, something the LG can’t match. Samsung’s smart TV platform has Bixby, its own digital voice assistant that works with other Bixby and SmartThings-enabled devices. There’s also a new Ambient Mode that mimics the color and pattern of the wall behind the TV when it’s off to blend into its surroundings—it’s pretty cool when you see it in action. And the set can also play music and display information about the news, weather, and traffic.
Best Super-Sized TV
Samsung UN75MU800D, $2,280
Until we test bigger 2018 sets, this jumbo 75-inch 4K smart TV from Samsung, a model from last year, reigns supreme. The good news is that it’s now a few hundred dollars cheaper than it was last year.
The Samsung UN75MU800D delivers excellent high-definition picture quality, excellent UHD performance, and excellent sound. This model, mainly found in warehouse clubs, also has generally effective HDR performance, though it falls short of the best sets we’ve tested. This TV incorporates Samsung’s Tizen smart TV platform, but not the company’s Bixby voice-powered digital assistant found on many new 2018 models.
Best TV $1,000 and Under
Samsung UN55MU9000, $1,000
The price for this 2017 TV is a bit higher in our ratings chart, but you can buy it for $999.99 at Best Buy right now. The Samsung UN55MU9000 was the company’s top model below its collection of QLED TVs last year. It offers excellent HD picture quality, excellent UHD performance, and generally effective HDR. It also has very good sound.
Like the jumbo-sized TV above, it has Samsung’s Tizen smart TV platform, but not Bixby. One other quick option for shoppers to look at: We’ve seen the 55-inch Samsung QN55Q6FN set, the company’s entry-level QLED TV from last year, for about the same price. We didn’t test this set but did review its bigger sibling, the Samsung QN65Q6FN, which did well in our ratings.