The 6 best smart TVs of 2024

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Virtually all TVs sold today are smart TVs that connect to the internet, enabling built-in access to popular streaming apps and features like voice search. The best smart TVs offer snappy navigation and intuitive menus without sacrificing picture quality.

I've been reviewing home entertainment tech for over a decade, and I've used my expertise to curate a list of the best smart TVs you can buy. My picks include models that use each of the most popular smart TV interfaces available: Roku OS, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, LG webOS, Samsung Tizen, and Vizio Home. For instance, if you want a display that uses Samsung's platform, I recommend the S90C OLED, which has exceptional picture quality and access to Xbox cloud gaming. Meanwhile, if you want a less expensive set with Roku's more user-friendly interface, I suggest checking out the Roku Pro Series QLED.

Below, you can find all of my best smart TV picks. Each display represents my recommendation for the top overall value available with that specific interface. Every model is sold in multiple screen sizes, so be sure to select the size you want from each retailer's listing page.

Top picks for the best smart TVs

Best Roku TV: Roku Pro Series QLED TV - See at Amazon

Best Tizen model: Samsung S90C OLED TV - See at Walmart

Best Google TV: TCL QM7 QLED TV - See at Best Buy

Best webOS display: LG C3 OLED TV - See at Amazon

Best Amazon Fire TV: Amazon Omni QLED TV - See at Amazon

Best Vizio Home set: Vizio Quantum Pro QLED TV - See at Walmart

Best Roku TV

The Roku Pro Series is the best smart TV available with the simple and intuitive Roku OS. As the company's top QLED, it delivers impressive midrange picture quality with advanced features like quantum dots, a Mini LED backlight, and one of the most user-friendly interfaces.

The Roku OS is my favorite system for accessing apps since it presents a clean, no-fuss design that lays out all your favorite streaming services up front and center. Unlike other operating systems with homepages cluttered with content recommendations, Roku cuts out all the fat and focuses on the essentials with big icons for your apps and connected devices. Navigating through menus and services is quick and our reviewer didn't run into any glitches or lag when testing the display.

The included Voice Remote Pro 2 is also a joy to use. It features an integrated battery that recharges via USB-C and can last for around three months per charge. It supports voice search by pressing a button or through a hands-free "wake" word. (A dedicated microphone mute switch is included for privacy.) And though Roku TVs don't come with integrated support for Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri, they can pair with smart speakers from those smart assistants.

Our reviewer especially loved the remote's backlit keys, which make it easy to use when watching movies in a dark room. That's a feature that even high-end Samsung and LG remotes lack, so it's great to see on a midrange model like this. Another cool perk is the "lost remote finder," which you can activate via a button on the TV or through the Roku app. This feature plays a chime through the remote so you can locate it.

Beyond smart TV conveniences, the Roku Pro Series delivers great picture quality. The display can reach over 1,000 nits of brightness, which is the standard for a lot of high-dynamic-range (HDR) content. Specular highlights, like explosions, pop from the screen with realistic intensity. And though black-level control isn't on par with pricier TVs, the Pro Series' Mini LED backlight and local dimming enable solid contrast. Our reviewer only noticed minor instances of light bleed in dark environments.

That said, the display's picture processing isn't as clean and smooth as options from other brands. Some blocky colors and jerky motion showed up here and there during testing. Likewise, the screen is prone to reflections, and colors distort a lot if you sit to the side of the panel. However, these flaws are common for QLED displays in this price range.

Despite a few drawbacks, the Pro Series is the best-looking display available with Roku's operating system, and in that context, it's an excellent option for anyone who favors the brand's streamlined smart TV experience.

Read our Roku Pro Series 4K TV review.

Best Tizen model

Buyers who want an excellent Samsung TV should look no further than the S90C OLED. Like all of the brand's displays, the S90C uses Samsung's proprietary smart TV interface which is built on the Tizen operating system. Though Samsung sells pricier models that can get a bit brighter, the S90C's picture quality is unbeatable for the money, and it offers a comprehensive suite of smart features.

The Tizen OS offers access to popular streaming apps, seamless integration with other Samsung smart devices, and a few extra perks you won't find on other brands. The homepage looks similar to other interfaces from competitors. There's a top row with an icon for your most recently used service/connected device, next to icons for popular content searches. This is followed by a row of icons for your favorite TV apps, and then various rows of recommended programs. It's a fairly standard layout that gets the job done, but I prefer the more streamlined approach used by Roku and Google.

On the Tizen sidebar, you can access dedicated pages for search, an ambient mode, Samsung Daily+ (where you can find health, work, and smart device control apps), and a gaming hub. The gaming hub is particularly noteworthy since it offers access to cloud services like Nvidia GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, and Xbox Game Pass.

Samsung is the only brand that offers the Xbox streaming app on its smart TVs, and this feature lets Game Pass members play Xbox games without a console. In my experience, performance can be hit or miss since playability is highly dependent on your internet speed and connection stability. Likewise, games played this way are limited to HD resolution, standard dynamic range (SDR), and stereo sound. So, while not the ideal way to experience high-end titles, it's still a cool perk.

When it comes to voice search, users can choose between Alexa or Samsung's own Bixby assistant. As a whole, Tizen is fairly reliable across all Samsung TVs, but it's prone to minor lag, particularly when first booting up a display. Likewise, I've run into a few small quirks. For instance, with the latest Tizen update on an S90D (which should behave the same on the S90C), the OS automatically opens the last app or device you used, despite having this behavior disabled in the settings menu. Thankfully this type of glitch should be easy to fix with firmware.

But while the OS has some drawbacks, the S90C's image quality is nearly flawless. The TV's OLED panel provides pixel-level contrast with perfect black levels that disappear into a dark room. The S90C also uses quantum dots, enabling a brighter and wider range of colors than on competing LG OLEDs. The results are spectacular, with a peak brightness of around 1,000 nits and gorgeous HDR images that impress with bold saturation. When it comes to balancing price and image quality, the S90C is my top pick for the best TV overall.

Samsung sells a newer version of this display, called the S90D, that can get about 200 nits brighter. But since the S90C is often sold for at least $200 less, this model remains a better value while supplies last.

Read our Samsung S90C 4K TV review.

Check out our guide to all the best Samsung TVs.

Best Google TV

The Google TV operating system is used on displays from multiple brands, including models made by TCL, Hisense, and Sony. But when it comes to overall value for your dollar, the TCL QM7 stands out from the competition. This midrange QLED features some of the best image quality I've seen in its price range, and it offers a smooth smart TV experience.

The Google TV interface offers an updated take on the company's older Android TV design. Though Android TV got the job done, I always found its design to be rather drab and barebones. Google TV offers a more attractive aesthetic, and I find its layout to be second to only Roku in terms of general usability.

There's a homepage with a row for top-pick curations, followed by your favorite apps, a continue-watching section, and additional rows of recommendations across various categories. It's not exactly a unique design, but it's more user-friendly than similar layouts from Amazon, LG, and Samsung. As you might expect, the system also integrates seamlessly with an existing Google account, so you can opt to sync your photos for screensavers, share account data with the display, and seamlessly pair with other Google smart devices.

Google TV navigation speed and app stability can vary a lot depending on which specific model and display brand you buy. For instance, our reviewers have encountered slightly sluggish performance on some Hisense Google TVs compared to options from Sony. Thankfully, the TCL QM7 is one of the fastest Google TVs. During my testing, I didn't encounter any lag outside some minor slowdown when pulling up settings or while streaming HDR YouTube videos. Voice control with Google Assistant also works great, and you have the option of using it hands-free or via a button on the remote. The remote is also backlit, which is a nice touch.

Though the QM7's picture performance can't match that of a high-end set from LG, Sony, or Samsung, the display punches way above its class. It's actually the brightest TV on this list, with an impressive peak of around 1,700 nits. As a result, it produces bold and rich HDR images. Its contrast is also high thanks to the QM7's Mini LED backlight and local dimming. That said, I did notice some light bleed when watching movies in a dark room. Likewise, the display's picture processing isn't as clean as pricier sets, so lower-quality sources don't look as sharp and motion can stutter slightly in some streaming content.

Buyers who want a premium Google TV with better black levels and processing should consider the Sony A95L OLED, which is my pick for the top high-end TV on the market. However, the A95L costs about triple the price of the QM7. For the money, few Google TVs can match this set's overall performance.

Read our TCL QM7 4K TV review.

Best webOS display

All of LG's displays use the company's webOS system, and the LG C3 is the best smart TV value of the bunch. This midrange OLED delivers incredible image performance, and it has some perks you won't find on Samsung OLEDs, like Dolby Vision support and a remote with motion controls.

LG's webOS has undergone several iterations over the years. The interface used to work purely as a pop-up menu that appeared at the bottom of the display, but LG now offers a full-screen homepage like competing platforms. The organization is similar to other systems, with rows of icons for apps and content recommendations, as well as specific pages that focus on categories like home office, games, and music. As is the case with many smart TV systems, some ads are visible by default, but you can disable them from showing up on the home screen.

Navigation speed is solid on the C3 and across LG's entire lineup. However, I've found that webOS can occasionally be slow to load graphics on the home screen and in certain apps. On the plus side, voice search options are plentiful with Alexa and Google Assistant available through hands-free controls or the remote. The remote itself stands out from other brands since it supports motion controls. In addition to navigation with standard buttons and a click wheel, you can point the remote at the screen to move a virtual cursor around, similar to a Nintendo Wii controller.

The LG C3 is a picture quality champ and is nearly neck and neck with the Samsung S90C as the best-looking TV in this guide. Its OLED panel provides an infinite contrast ratio with pixel-level dimming, so black levels truly disappear in a dark room. But, unlike Samsung's OLED, the C3 doesn't use quantum dots. As a result, the C3 has a slightly narrower range of colors and can't get quite as bright, with a peak of around 800 nits versus 1,000 on the S90C. Even so, it still delivers excellent HDR performance, and it has the added bonus of including Dolby Vision support, which Samsung TVs are missing.

Dolby Vision can give the TV more detailed guidance on how to render colors and contrast to best match the capabilities of its panel. The differences between Dolby Vision and other HDR formats are subtle, especially on high-end TVs, so I don't consider it a must-have feature. But it's still a nice perk. Check out our HDR TV guide for more details.

Shoppers should keep in mind that LG also sells a 2024 version of this display, called the C4. I got a hands-on look at the C4, and it offers a similarly impressive image and a slightly brighter picture. That said, it usually costs more than the C3. Unless you can find the C4 for the same price, I recommend saving a bit and opting for the older C3.

Best Amazon Fire TV

Amazon has been licensing its Fire TV operating system to budget-friendly manufacturers like Insignia and Toshiba for several years, but the company didn't start making its own smart TVs until 2021. The brand's best offering is its Fire TV Omni QLED, and it's a solid value if you favor Amazon's interface and prioritize perks like hands-free Alexa support.

The Fire TV OS is used across all of the company's smart TVs and streaming devices, including its Fire TV sticks. The interface has received a few welcome refreshes over the years to help alleviate some of the clunkiness of earlier iterations, but it's still one of my least favorite layouts.

My main gripe is that Amazon only puts a handful of app icons up-front and center at the top, so you have to go through some extra steps to access your entire lineup of downloaded streaming services. I also don't love how sponsored recommendations and picks geared toward Prime Video are emphasized so heavily on the home screen.

However, those drawbacks are mostly nitpicks. Functionally, the interface works fine and still offers all of the basic features found on competitors. Amazon now even has a new "Ambient Experience" that works like similar modes on other brands, with screensavers and widgets for the time and weather. One of the Omni QLED's other selling points is support for hands-free Alexa voice control, which is rare to find on cheaper Fire TV displays. In practice, this allows the TV to perform a lot like an Echo speaker.

The Omni QLED also delivers solid image quality for a lower-midrange TV, but its performance can't match that of similarly priced options from Hisense. The TV has quantum dots and local dimming to provide a wide range of colors and decent black levels. However, brightness caps out at around 500 nits and the display uses regular-sized LEDs rather than Mini LEDs in its backlight. This gives it less control over its contrast compared to the Hisense U6N, which is often on sale for the same price.

Buyers who want a Fire TV display with step-up picture quality should check out Panasonic's recently released lineup, which includes the flagship Z95 OLED, the midrange Z85 OLED, and the midrange W95 Mini LED TV. Though more than double the price of the Omni QLED, these Panasonic models are the only high-end smart TVs currently available with Amazon's interface.

Read our Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED review.

Check out our guide to all the best Amazon Fire TV devices.

Best Vizio Home set

Like Samsung and LG, Vizio uses its own smart TV system rather than licensing one from Google, Roku, or Amazon. The brand previously used an OS called "SmartCast," but its latest TVs use a revamped interface called "Vizio Home." The 2023 Quantum Pro was one of the first displays to launch with the new design, and it remains the top model in the company's current lineup.

The Vizio Home layout is most reminiscent of Google TV, with features like a "Trending Now" section and a prominent row for your favorite apps. Navigation speed is responsive and smooth, which isn't always a given on TVs in this class. The interface also has a well-organized layout for various picture and system settings, which is less cluttered than other options like Samsung's Tizen OS.

However, our reviewer didn't love the Home interface's heavy emphasis on Vizio's Watch Free+ TV service. Other brands include similar ad-supported internet TV apps, but Vizio pushes its content a bit more, and the selection isn't exactly top-caliber. One of the homepage's biggest pieces of on-screen space is dedicated to recommendations of forgotten movies like 2005's "Bewitched" reboot. There's also no "Continue Watching" section on the homepage, which is a convenience that most smart TV interfaces include.

The Quantum Pro does include a voice remote that works well, but like Roku TVs, the system doesn't feature integrated support for Alexa or Google Assistant. Thankfully, you can still pair the TV with a separate smart speaker from those brands. The remote itself is compact and ergonomic, with a simplified set of controls that's similar to Roku's design.

With a bright image that peaks at about 1,000 nits, the Quantum Pro offers solid picture performance, especially when watching TV during the day. It has quantum dots to produce a wide range of colors and local dimming to darken specific portions of its screen. That said, the TV uses regular-sized LEDs rather than Mini LEDs and it has an IPS-style panel. These two factors lead to a lower contrast ratio and lighter black levels than most competing QLEDs with local dimming. As a result, the Quantum Pro's images can look a bit washed out when watching TV in a dark room.

On the plus side, the IPS-style panel does help in one area that most QLEDs struggle with: viewing angles. Colors and contrast still shift a bit when you sit to the side of the display, but the loss of quality is far less severe than it is on QLEDs from Hisense and TCL. So, while not the best smart TV for critical viewing in a home theater environment, the Quantum Pro is a solid option for buyers who favor more casual viewing in a lighter living room with off-center seating.

Read our Vizio Quantum Pro QLED review.

How we test smart TVs

To choose the best smart TVs, our team tested various models from every major brand. We focused on selecting displays that represent the best overall value across each of the main smart TV interfaces available. Our testing methodology involves evaluating key performance areas, including operating system speed, smart features, picture clarity, contrast, brightness, color capabilities, and viewing angles.

We use an X-Rite iDisplay Plus colorimeter to record a TV's peak brightness. Various test patterns from the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark 4K Blu-ray disc are also used to check other objective metrics.

Grids and color bars can only reveal so much, so we also place a big emphasis on real-world content in our testing. We use a curated selection of scenes from movies and TV shows specifically chosen to demonstrate a TV's HDR performance, black levels, color, and fine detail. Demo material includes a mix of native 4K resolution (Ultra HD), high definition (HD), and standard definition (SD) programs through streaming, Blu-ray disc, and cable. This helps us see how a display's processing handles both high- and low-quality sources. Testing is done in both dark and bright conditions.

When reviewing the best smart TVs, we also focus on putting each display's operating system to the test. Navigation speed is evaluated to see how long it takes for apps to load and to determine how smooth and consistent each interface is when adjusting settings and moving between menus. We note if any major TV apps are missing and take into account extra perks, like Alexa or Google Assistant support, ambient modes, smart home integration, and cloud gaming support.

Learn more about our tech product review process.

Smart TV FAQs

Which smart TV system is best?

The best smart TVs all have built-in operating systems, but different brands use different platforms. Here's a breakdown of popular smart TV systems and the brands that use them:

• Android TV: Older models from Sony, TCL, and Hisense
• Fire TV: Amazon, Panasonic, Toshiba, Insignia, Pioneer, Hisense
• Google TV: Sony, TCL, Hisense
• Roku TV: Roku, TCL, Hisense
• Vizio Home: Vizio
• Tizen: Samsung
• webOS: LG

Though app selection and general functionality are similar across each OS, their interface style, personalization options, digital assistants, and extra features vary. Ultimately, which smart TV system is best for your needs largely comes down to personal preference and whether you're already invested in a specific smart home ecosystem.

For instance, a Google TV or Fire TV will pair more seamlessly with existing Google or Amazon accounts, and they're built to work well with other devices from those brands.

When it comes to overall interface design, I generally favor Roku's system the best since it's the most straightforward and reliable. However, its design is a little outdated compared to other platforms that offer a more slick, content-focused style.

For more TV recommendations across various smart TV systems, check out our full suite of display guides:

• Best 4K TVs
• Best OLED TVs
• Best budget TVs
• Best TVs under $500
• Best 50-inch TVs
• Best 55-inch TVs
• Best 65-inch TVs
• Best 75-inch TVs
• Best 85-inch TVs

Are there smart TVs that use Apple's tvOS interface?

Apple does not license its tvOS interface to display manufacturers. As a result, there are no smart TVs with the Apple interface built in. The only way to get the tvOS interface on your display is to purchase a separate Apple TV streaming device.

Do all smart TV platforms offer access to the same streaming apps?

Just a few years ago, app selection varied a lot between different smart TV systems. Certain popular services — like HBO, Peacock, and Apple TV Plus — were only available via select smart TV systems. However, by and large, this is no longer the case. Generally speaking, all smart TV systems now offer access to the same core selection of video apps.

For instance, all of our picks for the best streaming services are available across all of the main TV operating systems, from the Roku OS to Samsung Tizen. That said, there are still exceptions when it comes to smaller services and niche offerings. For example, LG's webOS lacks access to the Criterion Channel app, while the Fire TV and Google TV OS don't support the Spectrum app to stream live TV from my cable plan.

If you're shopping for a new smart TV and you frequently use a specific streaming app, check that service's device support page to ensure that it's available on the model you choose. But thankfully, even if you do end up with a smart TV that's missing one of your favorite apps, you're not out of luck. Chances are that the service in question is available via a stand-alone streaming device, which you can purchase separately.

How do smart TVs compare to stand-alone streaming devices?

The best smart TVs all deliver solid streaming performance, and most buyers will be satisfied with their built-in interfaces, app catalogs, and features. However, navigation speed and overall app stability tend to be a bit snappier when using a separate streaming device. Likewise, some people may prefer a different interface or digital assistant than the ones that come built into their TV.

If you're unhappy with your smart TV's navigation speed, service selection, or visual design, you should check out our guide to the best streaming devices. Picks include set-top boxes and streaming sticks from Amazon, Google, Roku, and Apple. Reliable entry-level options are frequently on sale for as little as $20, while flagship models tend to cost between $70 and $150.