13 best TVs to buy in 2025 for cinematic quality at home

Score: 98/100

If you’re after the top home cinema experience, this Panasonic OLED TV is hard to beat, winning our tests with a high score of 98/100. Its stunning 4K picture quality brings movies and shows to life, with deep blacks, bright highlights, and rich detail in every scene. Thanks to clever image processing and top-notch HDR support, everything looks its best, whether you’re watching a dark thriller or a colourful animated film.

The sound is just as impressive. With multiple built-in speakers, including ones that fire sound upwards for a more immersive effect, plus a powerful subwoofer, you get deep bass and clear dialogue without needing a separate sound system.

It’s also the first high-end TV to run on Amazon’s Fire TV platform, meaning all your favourite streaming apps are built in. Plus, with a Freely tuner, you can watch BBC, ITV, and other major channels over wifi, without needing an aerial or satellite dish.

Gamers will appreciate the fast response time and dedicated gaming features, though only two of this TV’s HDMI ports support the highest refresh rates. The Z95A is definitely a premium TV with a price tag to match, but if you want top-quality picture and sound in one package, this is the one to pick.

Score: 95/100

The Philips OLED909 combines top-tier performance with stunning design. Its ultra-thin bezel and “Ambilight” mood lighting make it a standout in any living room. The Ambilight system uses lights on the back of the TV to “extend” the colours from the screen onto the wall behind it, creating an immersive viewing experience. You can also sync it to your smart home lighting for extra ambience.

This TV’s picture quality is highly impressive, thanks to its excellent OLED panel and powerful processor. On test, HDR content from Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video looked incredibly bright and vivid, with deep contrast and rich colours that make images pop. It also handles fast-moving sports smoothly, though gamers should note that, while it supports 4K at 120Hz on two HDMI ports, its 60Hz performance isn’t the best.

Sound is another highlight, with a high-quality Bowers & Wilkins speaker system delivering impressively clear and powerful audio. It’s not a full home cinema setup, but it’s better than most built-in TV speakers.

The Google TV smart platform is easy to use and packed with streaming apps, though UK catch-up TV options are currently limited to just ITVx and My5. If you’re after a stylish, high-performing OLED TV, though, this is one of the best we’ve tried.

Score: 95/100

It may not be Sony’s flagship set, but this well-appointed OLED TV is a brilliant value-for-money proposition. The picture quality from streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ is excellent, with superb detail and wide, vibrant colour, and its 50W Acoustic Surface Audio sound accompaniment is crisp and powerful.

We reckon the set is ideal for long weekends spent watching back-to-back episodes of your favourite TV shows, and there’s plenty available from the Google TV smart platform. The TV even comes with Sony’s dedicated movie streaming service, Sony Pictures Core (formerly Bravia Core).

The screen earns top marks for its slick, minimalist design and metallic grey colour scheme. Two of its four HDMIs are 120Hz 4K compatible, for high frame rate game playing on the newest consoles. Its “Motion Flow” motion handling is also extremely effective and works well for live sports, so consider this a great choice for watching the footie.

Score: 93/100

The Samsung S95D is not your average OLED TV. It’s a third-generation QD-OLED model, which employs a quantum dot filter to heighten the intensity of its colour performance. It’s also stunningly bright for OLED technology.

We were wowed by its performance. The S95D delivers HDR peak brightness that ensures images have a huge dynamic range and are capable of deliciously high contrast. Blacks are inky dark, colours bright and engaging, all with superb levels of detail. The only downside is the lack of Dolby Vision HDR support, often coveted by film fans.

This set's other USP is the glare-free matte screen, which significantly reduces unwanted screen reflections. You can view the TV in a brightly lit room, and daylight will barely impinge.

Connected TV functionality is extensive. It works seamlessly with SmartThings devices, while the Tizen smart TV platform offers a comprehensive selection of streaming services (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video and more), plus all the mainstream catch-up TV players like BBC iPlayer and ITVX.

One distinguishing point about the S95D is its One Connect Box. Separate from the screen itself, it’s into this that you plug your aerial feed (terrestrial or satellite) and any connected devices. There’s a choice of four HDMI inputs, plus a trio of USB ports, and a digital optical audio output. The One Connect Box then connects to the panel using a single lead, which also supplies power. This keeps things tidy when wall-mounting.

The set has good gaming functionality, with a dedicated Game Hub and enviably low latency. Not only are all HDMI inputs compatible with 4K 120Hz gameplay, there’s also a 144Hz frame rate mode for PC gamers. The audio performance is well above average for a screen this slim too. It directs audio around the set’s eight speakers, creating a sense of movement and sonic immersion. It can also be coupled to a Q Symphony-capable Samsung soundbar, wherein all available speakers are used in unison.

Overall, the S95D is a superb performer. If you’ve never considered an OLED before and can afford the high price tag, it’s well worth it.

Score: 90/100

The Sony Bravia 8 is a fantastic choice for sports fans, thanks to its superb motion handling and smooth, detailed picture quality. This OLED TV delivers stunning visuals with rich detail and lifelike colours, making fast-moving action look crisp and fluid. While it’s not the brightest OLED out there, it still offers excellent HDR performance, and the “Vivid” mode makes images pop.

Its sleek, ultra-thin design looks great in any room, and you can position the feet centrally or at the edges to fit different TV stands. We also like how Sony includes two remotes: a standard one and a slim, backlit, USB-powered version.

Gamers will love the Bravia 8 too, with support for 120Hz 4K gameplay on two of its four HDMI ports, a handy game dashboard, and impressively low input lag. The sound quality is also a step above the competition, thanks to Sony’s Acoustic Surface Audio+ system, which effectively turns the screen itself into a speaker (and has a built-in subwoofer) for immersive, well-balanced audio.

Running on Google TV, this set comes packed with streaming apps and UK catch-up services. Whether you’re watching a big match or playing your favourite game, the Bravia 8 delivers an outstanding experience.

Score: 90/100

With the U8N models, Hisense delivers an excellent TV for living room viewing in normal ambient lighting, although this is a model that’s only available at either 65-inch or 75-inch, so it’s aimed at those with a lot of space. If you’ve got the room, it’s a terrific option for strong black levels and vibrant colours. We also loved the sleek design, with a minimal bezel and adjustable stand to accommodate a soundbar.

On test, it handled dark scenes well, with good contrast. Its upscaling is impressive, and the motion handling is solid with minimal blur. It’s also great in daylight as it reaches high brightness and deals with glare better than most TVs we’ve tested. There are some minor downsides to note like a slight halo effect around bright objects onscreen (like torches against black backgrounds) and some issues with the reproduction of yellow and purple colours. But it’s overall a terrific performer.

Its Dolby Atmos sound significantly enhances the audio experience and creates an immersive environment, and there are various sound presets to choose from. We also found the maximum volume provided impressive sound without distortion. It’s a TV that excels for gaming too, delivering 4K quality at 120Hz with a low input lag. We did note that it doesn’t have a dedicated gaming preset, but there is a game menu for tweaking the most important settings.

We found it easy to use, especially with the integrated Freely service and a user-friendly remote control with buttons to take you directly to YouTube, Prime Video, Netflix, Freely and Disney+. The programme guide is intuitive and there’s a good choice of built-in streaming apps too. The voice control is also reliable, and both accessibility features and parental controls are well-implemented.

Score: 90/100

There’s a lot of value here, including amazing picture and sound quality courtesy of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, impressive Mini LED backlighting, a sleek and minimal look with a thin bezel design and high frame rate support for 4K 120Hz and 4K 144Hz gaming.

During our tests, we noted peak brightness levels and black-level performance that come close to what we’ve experienced from OLED panels. Native 4K content is sharp, and the HD and SD upscaling was clear and detailed too. We noted strong colour reproduction with accurate vibrancy and natural tones. We were also impressed by the clarity in bright and dimly lit environments – it will work well for daytime viewing.

The Hisense is especially impressive when it comes to accessibility options. We think the option that reads aloud what you’re currently highlighting with your remote will be invaluable to some users. We like that there’s a good range of voice control options, but it didn’t always accurately pick up what we said. However, we did find that parental controls are intuitive and easy to access.

It is a great option for gamers with its low input lag and high frame rate options, although it is a shame that it doesn’t have a dedicated gaming mode. It has a great range of streaming apps including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+, and essential catchup services like BBC iPlayer, ITVx, Channel 4 and My5.

The durable construction withstood our drop test and although the stand doesn’t swivel, we’re fans of the TV’s sophisticated design.

Score: 89/100

Amazon’s premium Mini LED TV is an impressive competitor. It’s super slim but still delivers a great picture, with deep blacks and bright, vivid colours. To get the best experience, switch the picture mode from “Standard”, which dims the brightness to save power, to “Vivid”, for a punchier look.

This TV supports all major HDR formats, including Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+, making movies and shows look sharp and detailed. As you’d expect, it works seamlessly with Amazon’s Fire TV platform, offering all the big streaming services and catch-up apps. Plus, it comes with the Fire TV Ambient Experience, which lets you display artwork, personal photos, or useful info when the TV is on standby.

Voice control is built-in with Alexa, so you can turn on the TV and search for content hands-free. The sound quality is decent, but if you want a more immersive experience, you can add a soundbar or connect Bluetooth headphones for private listening. Gamers will appreciate the smooth performance, thanks to low input lag and a 120Hz refresh rate for optimised console gaming.

If you’re after a smart, stylish, and feature-packed TV with Amazon’s operating system and “Ambient Experience”, this is a fantastic choice.

Score: 89/100

This 2025 edition of LG’s C Series offers incremental improvements over its predecessor, the best-selling C4, which scored 88/100 in our tests.

The C5 is available in a wide variety of screen sizes, from 42 inches through to 83 – we tested the 65-incher. The TV’s build quality is great, with a thin metallic frame, a matching central stand, and an attractive slate-like finish to the back panel.

All four HDMI ports support 4K at 120Hz for the best quality gaming experiences, with eARC if you want to pass Dolby Atmos through to a soundbar. The set comes with both terrestrial and satellite tuners, although the former lacks Freeview Play.

The latest version of LG’s webOS smart platform is a little more personal and intuitive. Its Voice ID allows the TV to now recognise different users, customising recommendations and AV settings by command (“Hey LG, darken the picture!”), while all the key streaming services are still on board. The LG C5's picture quality doesn’t put a foot wrong. Its colour reproduction is rich but never garish, its blacks are deep and precise. Images are razor sharp, and the set also handles HDR content brilliantly. It’s capable of very high peak brightness, which brings depth and sparkle to films and TV shows.

Motion handling is fine, and we particularly liked the “Cinematic Movement” option, which keeps movies looking filmic and free from the dreaded soap opera effect. For gamers, LG’s Game Optimiser and dedicated dashboard remain key attractions.

LG has upgraded the sound system, and its new “AI Sound Pro” widens the soundstage but can make dialogue overly sharp. We recommend adding a Dolby Atmos soundbar to improve the experience.

Score: 88/100

The latest iteration of LG’s best-selling OLED Evo TV line, and a replacement for the 2023 C3 model, the C4 boasts excellent picture quality, generous connectivity and class-leading gaming features.

Connection options include four HDMI ports (one with eARC/ARC support) capable of 4K 120Hz playback, three USB inputs, LAN, Bluetooth, wifi, and an optical audio output. It also has both satellite and Freeview Play terrestrial tuners. The TV comes in various screen sizes from 42 to 83 inches; we put the 65-inch model through its paces.

In good news for gamers, all four HDMI inputs support 4K 120Hz gameplay, and there’s also compatibility for smooth PC gaming. A “Game Optimizer with Dashboard” mode offers easy access to gaming settings, and the latency is good, we only measured a 13-millisecond input lag in the game mode.

It uses LG’s proven webOS platform for smart functionality, where there’s a wide selection of popular streaming apps and catch-up TV services available. It's easy to use too – this model introduces user profiles for personalised recommendations and offers improved app navigation.

The image quality is also outstanding. The OLED panel benefits from brightness-boosting picture processing, which delivers excellent peak highlights that add depth and detail to its pictures. The colours are vibrant but never overly garish, while motion handling is also excellent, with various picture modes available. A Cinema Home mode is ideal for movie enthusiasts, while sports benefit from smooth interpolation.

The 20W audio experience benefits from AI-enhanced virtual soundscapes. However, our advice would be to pair this model with a compatible LG soundbar, for “Wow Orchestra” functionality, which means both the soundbar and the set’s speakers work simultaneously.

Overall, we rate the LG C4 as a well-specified, high-performance OLED television. Whether you're an avid gamer or a movie buff, you’re guaranteed an impressive viewing experience.

Score: 86/100

If you’re looking for a slim 4K TV that ticks all the boxes, without costing loads, then TCL’s C805 should top your shortlist. This QD Mini LED model oozes style and is feature-packed. We love its brushed titanium metal frontage, with a single central pedestal, and the tech specification is formidable.

With four HDMI inputs, there’s support for high frame rate 4K 120Hz and 4K 144Hz gaming, so console and PC owners won’t feel short-changed. Film fans get Dolby Vision along with an excellent HDR performance.

Making great use of its Mini LED backlight, this model offers precise HDR control, with class-leading peak brightness and perfect inky blacks, while colours are deep, rich and vibrant. Google TV is TCL’s smart platform of choice, and it comes with all the usual streaming apps and mainstream catch-up services. The set also works with Alexa and has Google Assistant voice control.

The stereo audio system, designed by Onkyo, isn’t as spectacular as the picture, but you can always upgrade to a Dolby Atmos soundbar for immersive audio. The C805 is available in 50, 55, 65, 75, 85, and 98-inch screen sizes. We tested the 50-inch model, which sells for a sensible price of £525.

Score: 85/100

The Sky Glass Gen 2 is the second iteration of Sky’s experiment to reimagine premium pay TV. The premise remains unchanged: Sky Glass combines a 4K HDR TV, a Dolby Atmos sound system, and the full Sky streaming platform in a single package. All you need is your wifi. There’s no dish involved.

This model is a significantly different performer from its predecessor, in a good way. The biggest upgrade here is the new QLED panel. With more local dimming zones and higher brightness, the new Sky Glass is better equipped to handle high-dynamic-range content. Its peak brightness is a big improvement over its predecessor, so it looks great regardless of ambient light levels. It’s probably not a screen built for cinematic purists hunting for studio-level colour accuracy, but if you love bold, punchy images and vibrant colours, it delivers in spades. There’s even an “extra vivid” mode!

The built-in sound system now uses seven speakers rather than six. This gives Dolby Atmos audio a wide, cinematic presence. We did find the bass to be a little light, and you can engage the “Bass Boost” mode for some welcome extra weight. The Gen 2 maintains the distinctive design of the original and still comes in 43, 55, and 65-inch sizes. The aluminium frame is available in grey, silver, or blue, with a colour-matched fabric speaker grille for a more polished appearance. The TV has a flush-mounting back panel for tidy wall installation. It also has an improved stand mount with a simple slot-in stand rather than a heavy pedestal.

We found a lot to like in Sky OS, Sky’s ever-evolving smart TV platform. It blends live Sky TV channels, on-demand shows and movies, catch-up, and apps like Netflix and Disney+ into a single interface. It’s intuitive, and it's easy to jump between services and search with voice control. You can also save shows using the ‘+’ button on the remote, adding them to your personal playlist. One area where Sky Glass Gen 2 still falls short is gaming performance, though. It has a 60Hz panel and unimpressive input lag, so it’s clear it wasn’t built with console addicts in mind.

The Sky Glass Gen 2 is available on monthly plans, starting at £14 for the 43-inch size. This covers hardware only, though, and you’ll need to add Sky channel packages on top.

Score: 80/100

There’s finally some competition in the world of “artwork” TVs. In fact, we’re even more impressed by the Hisense Canvas than we were with the last Samsung Frame we tested. This is a beautiful TV with an appealing design, a matte display that’s designed to reduce the effect of ambient light, and magnetic wooden frames that come in the box (these are an optional extra on the rival).

When not in use, the Canvas transforms into a striking art display with a gallery of landscapes and iconic art pieces. On test, we were impressed at how well the display dealt with glare and reflections, and that it was great at showcasing scenes with fast motion and vibrant colours, while having enough brightness for well-lit rooms. It did leave a little to be desired when it came to HDR performance and contrast, but the overall experience is immersive.

We found that using a soundbar with the TV on the stand would likely mean that the soundbar would obscure the picture, but this is clearly designed for wall-mounting instead. We found it capable for sound, especially for clear dialogue at moderate volumes. But, at higher volumes, it can become unbalanced. We’d recommend a soundbar for the best experience.

The Canvas is easy-to-use and packed full of all the most important streaming apps in its operating system. It also doesn’t disappoint for gamers, with low lag, adaptive refresh rates and the ability to play games from the latest consoles in full 4K resolution at 120Hz. So, if you’d like your TV to look like a work of art when wall-mounted, the Hisense Canvas is the one we’d recommend.