The best OLED TVs for your family movie nights

Score: 98/100

This 2024 flagship OLED TV from Panasonic offers arguably the best combination of sound and vision in its class. If you’re looking for the ultimate home cinema package, here it is. Boasting a brand new Master OLED Ultimate panel, with brightness-boosting “Micro Lens Array” technology coupled with a sophisticated HCX Pro AI Processor MK II processor, it delivers scintillating 4K pictures with inky blacks, nuanced shadow detail and bright, eye-catching highlights. Its HDR support is extensive and covers Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive. The result is images with tangible depth and believability.

You get an excellent cinematic sound too, thanks to a Technics-tuned 360 Soundscape Pro Dolby Atmos system. You won’t notice them with a cursory glance, but this TV has multiple speakers, which fire forwards, to the side and upwards for height information, plus a subwoofer. In total, there’s 150W amplification available. Watching a film is a genuinely immersive experience.

This is also the first high-end TV we’ve seen to use the Amazon Fire TV smart platform (normally it’s on cheaper models), so there’s no shortage of streaming apps. It even has a Freely tuner, which means you can get all the mainstream channels (BBC, ITV etc.) via wifi, without any need for an aerial or dish.

Gamers will appreciate the set’s Game Mode Extreme dashboard, which groups all the relevant info into one place, and the input lag is low. However, only two HDMI inputs support 4K 120HZ gameplay. While it’s certainly an expensive model, it’s not overpriced given its level of performance.

Score: 95/100

As with other OLED TVs from the Philips stable, this 4K set boasts “Ambilight” mood lighting, which delivers customisable colours and effects. It can make the screen feel bigger by emitting ambient light from the scene onscreen from the back of the TV – and, even when it’s not being watched, you can use it as part of your interior lighting design.

Sonically, the set offers a forward-facing 3.1 Bowers & Wilkins speaker array, powered by 85W of amplification. This sound system doesn’t deliver cinema-style audio, but it does sound remarkably good.

There’s no compromise when it comes to picture quality either. It uses a next-generation META Micro Lens Array OLED panel, coupled with the brand’s latest P5 AI processor. The image quality is colour-rich and dynamic and the OLED909 is also one of the best HDR performers on the market, capable of dazzling peak HDR highlights. Its picture really pops!

Keep an eye on the motion settings though. Our advice is to select “Pure Cinema” for films and TV dramas. The only catch is the set’s gaming performance. We found its 60Hz input lag quite poor compared to rivals. You’ll get the best results when playing games at 4K 120Hz, but only two of the four HDMI inputs support this.

The set runs on the Google TV smart platform and has a full library of streaming service apps. At the time of writing, the available UK catch-up TV players are limited to ITVx and My5. All things considered, though, we rate this as a stylish 4K screen, just not the first choice for gamers.

Score: 93/100

OLED TVs are generally awesome but can lose their punch in brightly lit rooms. Not so with this Samsung. A third-generation QD-OLED model, this set employs a Quantum Dot colour filter to improve its colour performance and is one of the brightest screens we’ve seen. You’ll notice the added intensity. Colours are rich, blacks are fabulously dark, and the fine detail is impressive.

It also helps that the TV has an unusual matte screen that’s glare-free. This reduces unwanted screen reflections, be it daylight streaming through a window, or bright table lamps that reflect in a darkened room. HDR coverage doesn’t extend to Dolby Vision, which will be a disappointment for movie lovers, but regular HLG, HDR10 and HDR10+ are covered.

Streaming services come via Samsung’s Tizen smart TV platform, which offers all the big names (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV+), as well as mainstream catch-up TV players (BBC iPlayer, ITVx, etc).

One possible snag, though, is the One Connect Box. It’s a separate unit into which you have to plug your HDMI gadgets (four ports are provided), and TV aerial. This box connects to the screen using a single lead, which also delivers power. This system is very helpful for wall mounting, as it cuts down on cable spaghetti, but you will need to find somewhere to store the One Connect Box.

A dedicated Game Hub groups together all the popular gaming functions. Helpfully, all four HDMI inputs support 4K 120Hz gameplay from consoles, and there’s also a 144Hz frame rate mode for PC gamers.

The audio is well above average for a TV this slim too. Samsung’s “Object Tracking Sound” system directs audio around the set’s various speakers, creating a sense of movement. The S95D can also be coupled to a “Q Symphony-capable” Samsung soundbar, wherein all available speakers are used together. The result is very impressive.

Score: 90/100

The Sony Bravia 8 is one of the best OLED TVs for sports enthusiasts, thanks to its exceptional motion handling and crisp, detailed picture quality. The only OLED released by Sony in 2024, it has a sleek and minimalist design, featuring a wafer-thin frame that will fit in well with any living room. We also like how it has flexible feet that can be placed centrally, or to the edge of the panel, so it will suit various TV stands.

During our testing, we found the picture performance is tremendous. This TV offers a high-brightness OLED panel and Sony’s advanced Bravia XR processor, which uses AI to enhance detail and tonal gradation. The HDR images are vivid, especially in the "Vivid" picture mode, though it’s not quite the brightest OLED on the market. It is perfect for sports fans, though, as fast-moving action looks incredibly smooth and clear.

Gamers will also appreciate the Bravia 8’s capabilities, with support for 120Hz 4K gameplay on two HDMI ports, a dedicated game dashboard, and low input lag for responsive gameplay. The audio performance surpasses our expectations, too, featuring Sony’s Acoustic Surface Audio+ system that turns the screen into a dynamic stereo speaker, complemented by a built-in subwoofer for rich bass.

Running on Google TV, the Bravia 8 offers a comprehensive range of streaming services and UK catch-up apps like BBC iPlayer and ITV. Plus, it comes with two remotes: a traditional one and a sleek, USB-powered, backlit alternative.

If you’re after a top-tier OLED TV for sports fans, gamers or film lovers, the Sony Bravia 8 is a great pick for stunning visuals, fluid motion, excellent features, and immersive sound quality.

Score: 89/100

The LG C5 is a modest upgrade over the best-selling C4, but it remains a top choice for film fans and gamers. Unlike many of its rivals, it’s available in a huge range of screen sizes from 42 to 83 inches. We tested the 65-inch model and were impressed by the sleek metallic frame, central stand and attractive slate-like back panel.

On test, the picture quality was outstanding, with rich, natural colours, deep blacks, and sharp details. The LG shines with HDR content, thanks to its impressive peak brightness that adds depth to the experience. Its motion handling is excellent, too, with the "Cinematic Movement" mode keeping films smooth without the soap opera effect.

Gamers will appreciate all four HDMI ports supporting 4K at 120Hz, low input lag, and features like LG's Game Optimiser dashboard. It’s a highly impressive choice for competitive gameplay.

When it comes to streaming, the smart webOS platform is intuitive, offering user profiles with personalised recommendations and all the key streaming apps. The sound quality sees upgrades with "AI Sound Pro", which widens the soundstage, although dialogue can be a bit too sharp. It’s worth pairing it with an LG soundbar, as this unlocks "Wow Orchestra" functionality, combining the TV and soundbar speakers for a richer and bigger audio experience.

While the upgrades from the C4 are incremental, the LG C5 delivers superb picture quality, solid audio, and excellent gaming features, making it a fantastic all-rounder for home entertainment.

Score: 83/100

Currently the best value OLED TV with “Ambilight” that you can buy, as prices drop to make way for the 55OLED909. This high-spec model offers three-sided Ambilight, advanced picture processing and a Game Bar interface, which supports up to 10 gamer profiles and provides quick access to gameplay-enhancing features like “Shadow Enhancer”, “Edge Enhancer”, and a customisable crosshair.

As you’d expect of Philips, the build quality and design standards are high. The screen is wrapped in a premium metal frame, which sits on a central pedestal stand with a handy swivel mechanism. This lets you adjust the viewing angle easily.

The Philips P5 processing engine does a great job of boosting colour and detail, without sacrificing black levels and shadow nuances. There’s support for a wide range of HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and IMAX Enhanced HDR.

The stereo sound system is good too, with 70W of amplification (30W of which goes to a built-in subwoofer). Connectivity includes four HDMI inputs, two of which can handle high frame rate 4K 120Hz gameplay from next-generation gaming consoles.

The smart TV comes via the Google TV platform, which means you’ll get all the big-name streaming services built-in, but UK catch-up support is patchy, so you’ll need to source them from another device.