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While it might be tempting to think that bigger is better, the size of set that’s right for you is closely dependent on how close to the screen you’ll be sitting, and the resolution of the source material you’re watching. With LGs' Game Optimizer feature included, the LG B3 is a real dark horse for gaming. The ability to tweak so many settings while playing really means you can tailor your gaming experience to whatever game you're playing. It also has 4K 120Hz, VRR, ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming support. It's just a shame that this is only on two of its four ports, but that's okay for the more casual among us. On the sound front, the Omni QLED is a simple stereo affair, and all the better for it. Instead of attempting fancy processing, it simply provides a clean, clear and direct audio performance that's ideal for general TV content. You're advised to add a soundbar for movies, though.
With its prices finally dropping, the LG B3 now offers an entry-level option to 2023 OLEDs but doesn't compromise on picture quality or gaming performance. Its features rival plenty of other OLEDs on the market, and you don't have to fork out as much to get sumptuous image quality. The 42-inch C3 has a different design to its larger siblings that makes it look more like a monitor or bedroom TV. The biggest design difference is that it has two blade-like feet rather than a pedestal. We didn't have any issues hearing dialogue in movies, but if you're going to watch something like a Christopher Nolan mumblefest then you might appreciate Clear Voice Pro, a setting that makes spoken dialogue clearer. Sports Mode has a rather tinny quality but the Music mode is more naturalistic, with no huge emphasis on any frequency band. There are also Cinema, Game Optimization and Standard listening modes to choose from, so you should be able to find an audio profile you like. However, if you're looking for a summary we'd say that QLED is a great option for brightness if you'll watch in bright, sunlit conditions; whereas OLED TVs offer better viewing angles and superior contrast for gorgeous movie-like images, as long as you can control the lighting. Is LG better than Samsung?As you can probably tell from our list above, LG, Samsung, Sony and Philips tend to be the top-performing brands at the premium end, though all bring out a wide range of models each year. Its pictures really do jump off the screen with an intensity far beyond anything else we have seen at anything like the same price. In fact, they leave the vast majority of much more expensive mid-range and even a few really premium TVs looking dull by comparison. Including, as TCL would want it to, OLED models, with even the latestMLAandQD-OLEDsets falling some way short of the sort of brightness the C845K can achieve. The picture is only half of the home cinema experience, but while it’s pretty easy to buy a TV that looks great, finding one that sounds even decent is a real challenge. That’s why we almost always recommend partnering a TV with at least a soundbar, if not a full home cinema system. For some, though, the idea of adding even one extra box to their setup is anathema, and it’s those people at whom the Panasonic LZ2000 is aimed. The Philips OLED807 is one of the few TVs that we can confidently call glamorous. This is Philips' latest OLED TV and it's eye-catching in a whole bunch of ways. It has an incredibly thin screen and high-quality metallic finish offset to spectacular effect by Philips’ Ambilight technology.
This 48-inch C3 actually sounds a little more upfront and engaging than its siblings did when we reviewed them, with a little more punch to effects and a degree of dynamic range. However, it's all too easy to provoke the set into bassy distortion that's horribly distracting, and the presentation is often cluttered and uncultured. LG just can't seem to get the sound right with its TVs.
TV Features & Technology
But behind the screen is Sony’s Acoustic Surface Audio+ tech, which uses three actuators behind the panel to create sound by vibrating the screen itself, creating a big open sound. There are two more actuators at the side to add width, while two woofer drivers add bass. Sony is another major player in the TV space. Its screens boast stunning picture quality and build quality. Although, like other brands in this list, there's a wide range across the board. One interesting difference about Sony is its really pushed its Cognitive XR processor, a processing chip added to its TVs from 2021 that boosts vision and audio performance. The C845K delivers outstanding sharpness and clarity with native 4K sources, and while its motion handling with 24p sources isn’t quite as refined and natural with or without processing active as the best rivals, it is fairly free from unwanted side effects and still looks natural enough to leave you immersed in what you are watching. Like other Sony TVs, the X90J uses Sony’s new X-Balanced Speaker to deliver clearer sound with less distortion at high volumes and the tweeters help broaden the soundstage of the TV—although it does make some compromises on the bass response.
Samsung's QN900B Neo QLED 8K TV boasts a variety of audio improvements over its predecessor, the QN900A, most notably the inclusion of up-firing speakers that make it possible to (technically) achieve Dolby Atmos sound. Additionally, Samsung's newest Neo QLED flagship now boasts the rather impressive ability to transmit Dolby Atmos audio to compatible Samsung soundbars over Wi-Fi. The sound quality is really its biggest weakness – you can certainly hear what's happening, but it's not rich or deep. A cheap soundbar would go a long way when paired with it, but that's true of all cheap TVs. There are very few TVs that sound good, though, so we almost always recommend adding a soundbar. Follow that advice and the 48-inch C3 is comfortably the best TV at its size. Again, there's no one answer to this question, particularly in terms of which brand to go for. But one thing worth considering in regards to longevity is the kind of TV tech that's being used.
B-series Soundbar
Outside of that, it retains the same core features we love about the C3 range as a whole. Specifically, it features the same Alpha 9 Gen 6 processor as every other C3 (and G3) and identical connectivity, with it sporting four PS5 and Xbox Series X/S-ready HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K/120Hz, VRR and ALLM. It can also handle Dolby Vision gaming (right up to 120Hz, in fact) and an HGiG mode for more accurate HDR gaming. The Samsung BU8500 is the company's highest-end TV from its 2022 range that doesn't include the more expensive QLED technology that Samsung is famous for. But that means you save a bunch on the price, and the image quality overall is still pretty much unbeatable at this level. You want the best TV and money is no object: The Samsung S95C ( #4 in this list) offers even better contrast, and the Samsung QN900C ( #5 in the list) is like this with even more brightness and 8K detail.
Although this guide is very much focused on audio specs, no one wants a TV that sounds great and looks mediocre. That's why every TV on this list has also been tested against the criteria we apply to all of our TV buying guides.
The Samsung S95C is Samsung's flagship QD-OLED for 2023 and offers everything you'd look for in a TV; exceptional picture quality, extensive gaming features, beautiful design and great built-in sound. It's no surprise that QD-OLED is becoming more popular with TVs like the S95C around. If you're buying a TV below 32 inches and can save a lot of money on a Full HD model, by all means go for it (4K won't be a huge benefit at that sort of size anyway), but otherwise 4K is both worthwhile and, in all likelihood, your only option. Should you buy an 8K TV? But the 807's picture quality might be even more striking than its design – and that's saying a lot. Philips’ latest picture processing engine pushes the panel hard for good brightness and great contrast. The result is some of the most vibrant pictures we've seen from an OLED at this price, though the Samsung S90C ( #1 on this list) and the Samsung S95C ( #4 on this list) have it well beaten for brightness. Although, you do need to do some tweaking to get its pictures to their best, and its menus can be a little confusing. High Dynamic Range is without a doubt a much bigger deal than 8K, and certainly something you should consider before buying your next TV. For a mid-range TV without any attached soundbar, the Sony X90J is surprisingly powerful in the sound category. Using only two 10W full range drivers and two side tweeters, the X90J delivers convincing and clear audio that, largely, sounds very good. It’s one of the more powerful TV speaker systems we’ve heard on a mid-range 4K TV.
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