Best TV 2019 – Buyer’s Guide

BEST OVERALL

When picking our best overall television, we wanted to find something which has the whole package. A great picture quality, choice of screen sizes and the full smart package are just some of the things we thought made a standout.

Enter the Samsung Q90, which is the closest to having it all. 4K streaming is amongst the best on the market, so you will have a futureproof set for its lifespan. It also uses HDR 2000 technology, for darker blacks and more impactful colours, so everything looks as it would in real life.

100% colour volume also means nothing will appear lacklustre or washed out. Direct Full Array Elite gives precise, pin-sharp contrast across the entire screen, so every single pixel is how it should be.

When the television is not in use, it can be placed in Ambient Mode. This will allow the screen to look more like a picture than a television, using decorative customisable content perfect for wall-mounting or acting like a digital photo frame. Or, it can display photos or important information such as the weather and time. Why not upload a picture which is the exact colour of the paint behind the screen to make it look invisible?

There is also an ultra wide viewing angle for clearer visibility wherever you are sat in the room. Bixby voice control is also built in, so you just need to talk to change channels or apps. Or, connect it to an existing Google Home, Amazon Alexa or SmartThings if you want to make it part of your existing smart home setup.

BEST SMART TV

Many televisions are smart these days, but just how smart they are still varies. The C9 works with Google Assistant so you can control it via your voice. Change the channel or adjust the volume by speaking to the remote, so you don’t have to spend ages getting to where you need to be.

If you have other LG items around the house, you can also control these through the remote with the help of ThinQ AI. So when you’re settling down in front of the television, you can ask it to play the movie and adjust the lights in one sentence.

When the latest boxset isn’t playing, Gallery Mode brings world-famous travel attractions to your living room, using pictures updated seasonally by TripAdvisor. When it is, there is a choice of some of the most popular apps like Netflix 4K, Amazon Prime Video 4k, Rakuten TV and Chilli, as well as catch-up services or music apps.

It isn’t just one of the best smart TV’s around, but also one of the best televisions for sound quality. You have Dolby Atmos, which brings the audio quality right up to match the picture. Big blockbusters are suddenly given surround sound treatment which could rival any cinema. 5.1 Virtual Surround Sound gives the feel of an entire home cinema system without the clutter.

The technology isn’t the only thing which boosts the sound, though. The stand may look the part, relatively subtle yet substantial, but it has primarily been designed to funnel sound from the TV’s downward firing speakers. This ends up going right to you, so you’ll always get loud, clear audio.

If you occasionally like to play games on the screen too, it is up to the job. A 1ms response time and 12.9ms input lag makes it a super fast option for all your high-octane requirements.

BEST BIG SCREEN

If you want (or need) the biggest screen possible, then an 82” is going to be your limit. Which we are sure you’ll actually be pretty pleased with.

This is a television packed with all of the necessary bits and bobs for making your screen pop out at you, and there is a generous choice of screen sizes if you decide that 82” is a little extreme on second consideration.

You have a razor-sharp 4K resolution and dynamic HDR support for a spectacular picture, as well as 100% colour variation for vivid brights and dark blacks. Samsung’s HDR Elite, a version of HDR10+, gives incredible contrast and the complete range of brightness.

There is also Quantum 4K technology, so content not made for 4K viewers will be upgraded and upscaled in spectacular fashion. If you still love your older shows, they will now look like you have never seen them before.

It is a Smart television thanks to instant connection to Samsung’s built-in Smart Hub. At the press of a button, you have Netflix, Apple TV, BT Sport and all those other subscription and catch-up platforms you can think about. Apple TV is rare when it comes to non-Apple televisions or smart setups, so this is a standout if you love that service.

When you aren’t sitting down to watch the latest films, the television can blend in with the environment. Ambient mode can all be controlled with your phone so you get the exact look you want, or it can blend in with the background or display the weather and time.

It uses Bixby voice assistant, to control your TV with a vocal command. And as it is a Samsung, you can use SmartThings to control other smart devices around your home too, such as the lights. It is also Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple AirPlay compatible if you prefer these setups

BEST 8K TELEVISION

While they are still rare, you could consider buying an 8K television now so you are on the game when content for the service starts being released, or if you want the absolute best upscaling and Quantum Processor money can buy.

This is the best 8K currently around in our opinion. It is a Samsung, so also benefits from their top-notch QLED screen technology for a perfect picture combination. Plus, the price is not too extortionate compared to a lot of the other ones out there.

Not only do you get pin-sharp contrast and full colour range, but HDR 4000 gives a staggering brightness range too. Dolby Digital + audio quality improves the experience as well, so you get crisp sound without the need for too many extra speakers and

It has Ambient Mode technology so you can blend it into the background or show the world your favourite family photos. There is also Bluetooth present, which can be rare amongst some other TVs but is still a fab way of getting content from one device onto the big screen.

There are a couple of other features which may appeal to you as well, depending on how you use the telly. Game Enhancer mode adapts the sound and picture to suit your game, so even if you need things to be lightning fast, it will handle it with a breeze. Adaptive Sound also changes things depending on what you’re watching, as well as the acoustics of the room.

Finally, Quantum Processors are what makes your TV tick. They’re the brains behind the system, ensuring everything flows. The 8K QP in this model doesn’t only make the adjustments mentioned above, but also learns what you like to watch, giving recommendations and making it easier to access them. Rewatched Peaky Blinders, Line Of Duty and Breaking Bad in the past few months? The latest gritty crime drama will likely be appearing at the top of your must-watch list.

BEST TELEVISION FOR STYLE

Designed by the Bouroullec brothers, The Serif is another one of the latest televisions which can incorporate style into your living space.

Serif Ambient Mode can turn the otherwise black blank screen into artwork, displaying decorative content from the Bouroullec palette with two exclusive patterns. The slim body broadens at the top to form a flat surface, and it sits on an elegantly designed metal stand to give it a minimalistic yet bold look.

NFC and Bluetooth connectivity allows you to pair it with your phone or laptop and stream music when the picture isn’t in use, acting like a speaker for your home. Sound is adaptive at all times, to suit both the content of what you’re watching, and the acoustics of the room.

Both the sound and picture work fast to keep up with demand, making it a great choice for gaming or sports. It is smart, too, using an intelligent assistant called Bixby to help you manage your TV and compatible smart home devices. Alexa, Google Assistant and Smart Things devices are all compatible.

You still get QLED technology and Q HDR to improve picture quality and the colour palette available to your eyes. So in all, it is a well-designed TV with modernity at its core, but still with Samsung’s famed quality technology.

BEST FOR GAMING

When you’re gaming, you need something with a high refresh rate which can keep up with the demand of fast changing screens, vivid colour which shows everything perfectly, and plenty of connections to hook every games console up.

Well, the RU8000 is a great bet. There is a dedicated Game Mode which offers incredibly low lag while delivering superb picture quality, with a FreeSync variable refresh rate. You also get enhanced sound, and the AI 4K processor finely tunes everything depending on what it is you’re playing.

Dynamic Crystal Colour technology offers a huge range of colours, and brings out the best to make everything look incredibly lifelike. Subtle colours are brought out, and the blacks look darker while the whites are bright. HDR10+ adjusts the contrast frame by frame.

Bixby voice control can help you access Netflix with a simple vocal command, or simply change the channel quickly so you don’t miss a second of that 9pm drama. As it is a Samsung, you also get SmartThings integration so you can control smart home devices like lightbulbs and thermostats too.

It is compatible with all three of the big smart providers too, so whether your home is filled with Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple AirPlay, this telly can become part of the wider picture. Samsung’s Universal Guide will also display everything which is available for you to watch in one handy place, so if you are subscribed to Amazon Prime Video, you’ll see top picks alongside standard live programming from the BBC and ITV.

The audio power isn’t the absolute best around for a television of this size, but is better than some others in the price range. You may still want to purchase a soundbar, though. And the price may be more than you were originally hoping to pay, but if you will be using it as an ordinary main television too, then it is one of the best performing units around for both TV and gaming for the cost.

BEST BUDGET 4K UNDER £500

This television is not just well under £500, but under £400 too. This should give you plenty of leftover dollars if you want to jazz up the setup with speakers and other additions.

As it is 4K, it is four times as clear as standard HD. This luxury can often seem like it comes at a price, but the AO8UHD shows it is now more affordable than ever to have the best of the best. You get 70 subscription-free channels via Freeview HD, so can get watching straight away. It is also fully smart enabled, with apps such as Amazon Instant Video, Netflix and YouTube all there within the press of a few buttons. You also get a web browsing app so you can surf the internet on the big screen.

Film Picture Mode, Sports Mode and Gaming Mode are two additional settings which will vastly improve different media forms. From boosting the clarity and vividness of the colours to adjusting lag time for fast sequences, it isn’t just live television which you can enjoy.

There is also a Recommended Content addition, which will pop up available content based on the shows and films you have previously enjoyed. If it is going to be the main television in a family home, the Parental Control will let you limit what the kids can watch.

Techwood may be a make you have never heard of before, but if you want a budget 4K-ready television which is simple to control and navigate, they have shown it is now more possible than ever.

BEST FOR COLOUR EXPERIENCE

The majority of higher end televisions you’ll find nowadays will boast great colour ranges and clear quality, so when looking for the absolute best for colour range, we had to slightly adjust what we were looking for.

Step up the Philips OLED803/12. Philips pioneered the Ambilight technology, so you know the colour will be vivid and popping. This sends the colours from the screen outwards from three sides of the television onto the wall or surface surrounding the unit like a backlight. Because of this, it is one of the best televisions for wall mounting, especially if you have a blank light wall paint.

Combine this with the OLED screen and HDR technology which gives the absolute best colour range, and you will no longer be disappointed by lacklustre content. It can upscale older content into 4K so you always get the best out of your programming.

It is smart ready, with access to Netflix and catch up services. There is also a Google Play portal store, so you can purchase additional apps according to your usage. Voice control from Google Assistant  via the remote allows you to switch channels, adjust the volume or open apps with a vocal command, too. It will also support HDR Gaming.

The Android control panel can sometimes be a bit slow and laggy, taking a while to load, but the voice control will boost things by cutting out some steps.

BEST VALUE UNDER £200

When looking for a budget telly under £200, we wanted to find the one which offered the most for your money. And this one has loads of little extras which make it the perfect standalone television.

There is Freeview HD, giving you 70 channels as well as 15 in HD quality. It is a smart TV too, which can be rare with budget television models. Two HDMI sockets and a USB gives you plenty of choice over what to connect, whether it be a memory stick of films or a Blu-ray player.

Talking of DVD’s, it is a TV/DVD combi model. This is another rarity amongst modern televisions, but if you have a large DVD collection but have got rid of your player to stop the clutter, you’ll be happy to see that they can still be used.

It is Alexa enabled, so you can connect it to your Amazon Echo and switch channels or apps with your voice. Sound is good for the size of the unit, and is clearer than a lot of other models tested in its price range. There is a HDMI ARC socket in case you do want to add a soundbar though.

You can mount it to your wall safely, or use the static stand provided. A few other users have said it makes the perfect addition to a bedroom or caravan because of the DVD player inclusion, and full range of smart services and Freeview.

You also have Game Mode if it is hooked up to an Xbox or PlayStation, and a Movie mode too, so despite the relatively low refresh rate, it’ll be able to adjust and keep up with the action.

BEST SMALL SCREEN

First thing first – this TV isn’t smart. But if you want smart services and already have a Streaming Device set up, or aren’t bothered about streaming/are happy to access it through your phone or laptop, then this is a perfect affordable television.

It is one of the most popular small televisions on the market, and great for anyone looking for a small television. Easy to set up, the picture and sound are surprisingly on the good side for a small telly.

A lot of users and other reviewers have said that it is the perfect size and clarity for their kitchen, bedroom or conservatory, but also for anyone who wants a primary living room television and aren’t bothered about an all-singing-all-dancing model.

It has a scart socket, which is a rare thing these days for new televisions. If you have an older games console this will really appeal though, and it could therefore make the perfect addition to a games room or bedroom. You also get two HDMI sockets and a USB, so there is a nice balance for the set up you want.

The audio output isn’t magnificent and booming but decent for the size, and there is an output socket for connecting a speaker if you want a little boost. To say it comes very comfortably under £150, you’ll have money to spend on jazzing it up – you can’t really ask for more.