The TV landscape has changed dramatically this past year. New art televisions now look like matte-finish paintings on the wall. RGB televisions use red, green, and blue lights for accurate color. But OLED televisions still reign supreme for deep and rich blacks. They can control individual pixels or turn them off completely for an inky, cinematic look.
Fortunately, probably because of this intense competition, many OLED televisions are more affordable than ever. After testing many of the best models this year, I narrowed down my favorites to the ones that truly deserve a place on your TV stand.
For more home theater and audio recommendations, check out related guides to the Best RGB TVs, Best Home Theater Projectors, and Best Soundbars. Or, if you don't know where to start, read our guide on How to Buy the Right TV in 2026.
Love WIRED? Add us as a preferred source on Google to see more of us.
Why Choose an OLED in the First Place?
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronAn OLED television is different from LCD displays like LED and Micro RGB TVs. OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) uses special organic material that lights up when fed electricity. That means each individual pixel can be turned completely on and off independently of one another.
For movies and shows, that’s means dark scenes look more realistic and show extra shadow detail. In practice, when Star-Lord flops onto the screen in the intro of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, you can see more details in his dark gray suit—folds, ripples, and belts.
What Size TV Should I Get?
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronA good rule of thumb? Choose your OLED size based on the size of the room and how far away you will sit from the screen.
Larger sizes are more expensive—doubly so for OLED models. While an 85-inch OLED screen will look spectacular, it will cost you, and be really hard to move around and install.
For most larger living rooms or group viewing areas, 65-inches is the standard. Anytime we quote a price or link to a retailer below, assume we are linking to the 65-inch version of the TV (unless we specifically call out another size).
Are RGB TVs Better Than OLED?
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronI've tested a lot of RGB TVs in 2026, and put them through the wringer against OLED models, often in the same room. In my results, OLED TVs still generally have the upper hand because individual pixels can be dimmed dark gray or turned off completely. Dark scenes in movies like The Batman look more realistic on an OLED than an RGB TV. However, I expect RGV TV tech to improve quickly. By next year, it might finally trump OLED.
Best Overall OLED TV
- Photograph: John Brandon
- Photograph: John Brandon
- Photograph: John Brandon
- Photograph: John Brandon
Samsung
S95H QD-OLED TV
$3,400 $2,300 (32% off)Best Buy
$3,400 $2,300 (32% off)Samsung
Samsung S95H Specs
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronDisplay typeQD-OLEDRefresh rate165 HzOperating systemTizen OSConnectivityHDMI 2.1 (x4), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, Optical, EthernetVoice assistantAmazon Alexa, Samsung BixbySpeaker layout4.2.2 channelWhat sets the Samsung S95H apart from other OLED models is a brighter, clearer, and more colorful picture. It's simply the best OLED display I’ve tested this year.
Picture quality is outstanding. Extra features like the AI picture optimizer actually made a big difference in eking out even more detail. For example, Game of Thrones looked a bit dark at first watch, that is, until the AI optimizer kicked in and made everything more visible, no diving into settings necessary.
The S95H also has a new, sleek design this year. The main display sits just in front of a silver bezel, giving it a more modern, picture frame-esk look. (The previous Samsung S95F was all black with no silver bezel.) Another win for the S95H is that it no longer requires the Samsung One Connect breakout box to use. You can use one if you want (purchased separately), but the HDMI ports are now on the TV itself, which I find far more convenient for keeping my gear in one place near my TV. The remote is still logical and intuitive, though I can't say the same for the Tizen operating system (you get used to it).
Best Budget OLED TV
- Photograph: John Brandon
- Photograph: John Brandon
LG
B6 OLED TV
$1,200 $600 (50% off)Best Buy (48-Inch)
$2,000 $1,200 (40% off)Best Buy (65-Inch)
$2,000 $1,000 (50% off)Amazon (65-Inch)
LG B6 Specs
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronDisplay typeOLEDRefresh rate120 HzOperating systemWebOS 26ConnectivityHDMI 2.1 (x4), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, Optical, EthernetVoice assistantAmazon Alexa, LG voice recognitionSpeaker layout2.0 channelUsing the word “budget” to describe any OLED television might seem misplaced. However, the LG B6 bucks the trend at $1,300, and performed commendably in most of my tests.
I love how easy it is to set up using the LG ThinQ app, which does most of the heavy lifting like choosing which apps to install by default. The all black, unassuming design (no silver accents here), won't turn heads, but at this price, that's expected.
Picture quality is great for the price, but obviously outclassed by pricier models like the midrange LG C6 and flagship LG G6. Still, some of my test movies, like The Creator, looked surprisingly cinematic and colorful for a budget TV. For more challenging scenes (dark scenes in Game of Thrones and The Batman), be ready to tweak the settings dial in the picture. The 120-Hz refresh rate makes this TV no slouch for gaming, either—Resident Evil: Requiem running on a high-end gaming PC look photorealistic.
Best Gaming OLED TV
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Sony
Bravia 8 II QD-OLED TV
$3,300 $2,498 (24% off)Amazon
$3,300 $2,500 (24% off)Best Buy
Sony Bravia 8 II Specs
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronDisplay typeQD-OLEDRefresh rate120 HzOperating systemGoogle TVConnectivityHDMI 2.1 (x2), HDMI 2.0 (x2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Optical, EthernetVoice assistantGoogle GeminiSpeaker layout2.2 channelA Sony OLED only makes sense for gaming, especially on a Sony Playstation 5. The Sony Bravia 8 II runs at a common 120-Hz refresh rate, but works seamlessly with the PS5 in ways other TVs don't. It can automatically enable features like HDR tone mapping (for a more colorful picture) and low-latency gaming mode (for a slight advantage in quick controller nudges).
Of course, the Bravia 8 II is excellent outside of gaming too. For movie night, we found that 4K and even older 1080p HD movies and shows looked crisp and colorful, with deep blacks. Off-angle viewing is also exceptional, helping those sitting off to the side in your entertainment room to still enjoy the experience without any weird dimming or glare. It also runs Google TV OS, one of the easiest operating system to use. Google Gemini in particular is great at searching for content—questions like “show me the best psychological thrillers from the '90s” actually worked.
One downside is ports—this TV only has two HDMI 2.1 ports. Most premium models these days have four. Viewing in especially bright rooms can be challenging, but that is a common problem with many OLED TVs.
Best Premium OLED TV
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
LG
G5 OLED
$1,493 $1,400 (6% off)Amazon (55-Inch)
LG G5 Specs
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronDisplay typeOLEDRefresh rate165 HzOperating systemWebOS 25ConnectivityHDMI 2.1 (x4), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, Optical, EthernetVoice assistantAmazon Alexa, LG voice recognitionSpeaker layout4.2 channelYes, this model was replaced by the LG G6 (which we are still testing), but honestly, the 2025 LG G5 is a crown jewel of OLED televisions, and on sale for much less than the G6. With deep and rich blacks, a speedy operating system, and exceptional gaming features like a 165-Hz refresh rate, it’s one of my favorite premium OLED TVs.
I tested the movie Tron: Ares on this television and was blown away by the picture quality. The OLED tech made the blacks look so rich and inky, even the helmet on the main character looked realistic, with clearly visible crevices and shadows on his uniform.
Sound is also premium—the G5 supports Dolby Atmos surround sound on the television itself, making movies sound more like they do in the theater straight out of the box (though I would still recommend a soundbar).
Sure, the Samsung S95H is the better overall pick, but the G5 surprised and delighted me with things like it's lightning fast processor, operating system, and size options (it goes all the way up to a 97-inch model that costs $25,000).
Honorable Mentions
Roku Pro Series OLED for $1,200: If you're OLED-curious, on a budget, and a big fan of the Roku operating system, consider the Roku Pro Series OLED. It's incredibly easy to setup, runs on Roku's simple operating system, and has a great remote-finding button on the side of the TV itself. It's even cheaper than the LG B6, though it isn't as bright or as colorful.
Sony Bravia 6 OLED for $2,000: This entry-level OLED launched in 2025 and has been on sale at up to 40 percent off, putting it at the same price tier as the LG B6. One reason to pick the Bravia 6 over the LG B6 is operating system—the Bravia 6 runs on Google TV, which I strongly prefer for quick voice searches using Google Gemini compared to webOS on the LG models. The B6 has a superior picture and deeper blacks, though.
OLED Alternatives
For picture quality, OLED TVs still reign supreme because they can control individual pixels and turn them off completely. However, over the last year, art TVs and RGB TVs have started to take more and more real estate on store shelves. Some brands, like Hisense and TCL, have a totally OLED-free TV lineup for 2026, switching focus to RGB and mini-LED. If you're curious about the competition, I’ve listed a few other TV types to consider.
An art TV: Samsung The Frame Pro (2026) I absolutely loved this premium art television. I mounted it on the wall in my office for a couple of months, showcasing shipwrecks and masterpiece paintings daily. The matte finish and anti-glare tech make this television able to display more like a piece of wall art in a museum than a shiny, reflective black box. The Pro version in particular offers far better picture quality for TV shows and movies than other art TVs on the market.
An RGB TV: LG Micro RGB Evo 75-inch My top pick for an RGB television, the LG Micro RGB Evo is highly customizable in terms of picture quality. You can tweak just about every color and brightness setting to make sure dark scenes look textured and clear and colors look realistic, not oversaturated. It's unfortunately only available in larger sizes: 75, 86, and 100-inches.
A projector: AWOL Vision Aetherion Max If you want to skip the rectangular box and TV stand altogether, consider a high-end, ultra-short-throw projector like the AWOL Vision Aetherion Max instead. While I do recommend using a projector screen, I’ve found some high-end projectors like this one can even outclass OLED in terms of color richness and black depth.
What We’re Testing Next
The WIRED reviews team is busy testing the ever-popular midrange LG CG and premium LG G6. Given their past history, we expect them to be strong contenders for top accolades.
Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that's too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.
