The top-rated TV brands that meet all needs and budgets
Our TVs are one of the hardest working items in our homes – from steaming, to gaming and creating home cinemas.
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Whether you’re bingeing the latest shows, playing your favourite video game or hosting movie night in a home theatre, a good TV is an essential part of your home entertainment set up.
With so many sizes, price points and panel technologies to choose from though, it’s easy to get overwhelmed when it comes to picking out a shiny new screen.
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To help narrow things down, we’ve rounded up the best TV brands for every budget and requirement, with each one ranking consistently well for picture and audio quality, smart compatibility and ease of use.
BEST TV BRANDS GUIDE
From luxury OLED to standard HD TVs, these brands offer a range of top models that have been highly rated by Aussie customers.
BEST CHEAP TV BRAND
While there are plenty of extravagant TV options around, you don’t need to spend a fortune to snap up a decent model.
Chinese brand Hisense has carved out a name for itself by offering a range of affordable TVs that still impress when it comes to smart compatibility and ease of use.
While the brand doesn’t produce the tech-forward designs of its larger competitors, it offers surprisingly great picture quality, good performance and reasonable audio.
Hisense has also recently started to add gaming features such as variable refresh rate to many of its models in order to compete with higher-end entertainment options.
If you do want something more than a standard TV, the brand also offers some higher quality ranges such as Series Q8; which features impressive colour accuracy and clear definition at a reasonable price point.
One downside is that Hisense TVs often have a fairly narrow viewing angle. Some models have also been known to develop uniformity issues, so it’s a good idea to read customer reviews before deciding which model to buy.
If you are looking for an alternative to Hisense, TCL also has an excellent range of budget-friendly models that offer decent picture and audio quality.
TOP SELLERS
HISENSE 50AE7400FTUK 50” 4K UHD HDR SMART TV, RRP $695.95
With a 4.4 star rating from more than 160 customer reviews on Amazon Australia, this Hisense model is great value for money.
Featuring Freeview Play, built-in Alexa, Dolby Vision HDR and access to Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube and more, the model delivers on entertainment without costing the earth.
HISENSE 55” U8G 4K UHD HDR SMART ULED TV, RRP $1,583
If you do have some extra cash to play with, the Hisense U8G is a step up. The model is packed with plenty of great features including built-in voice assistant, compatible video streaming apps and a Game Mode that automatically kicks in when connected to a compatible gaming device.
The model also supports both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, displays a wide colour gamut and has a high native contrast ratio.
BEST HIGH-END TV BRAND
If you’re looking to splash out on a seriously decent TV, Samsung has plenty of stand out options to consider.
The South Korean brand is now one of the most popular on the market thanks to its innovative range, modern technology and exceptional picture and sound quality.
While LG is still its biggest competition, Samsung tends to focus in on LED TVs rather than OLED models.
Its flagship ‘Quantum Dot’ display technology produces a wide colour gamut that results in premium, high-contrast displays that are difficult to beat.
The brand also makes both 4K and 8K TVs and has recently released a Mini LED range titled Neo QLED, which continues to build on the QLED experience.
Those looking to invest in Samsung’s more luxurious models can expect to pay top dollar for them, with high-end options ranging between $4,000 and $11,000.
If you aren’t willing to fork out a small fortune though, the brand also has plenty of fantastic mid-range options on offer.
TOP SELLERS
SAMSUNG QN85A QLED, FROM $2,749
Available in sizes ranging from 55-inch to 85-inch, the Samsung QN85A QLED comes extremely highly rated. Awarded a 4.8 star rating from more than 780 customer reviews on the Samsung site, the model offers stellar picture quality and fantastic sound.
The TV also features Mini LED backlighting, resulting in thinner panels and increased brightness.
SAMSUNG THE FRAME QLED 4K SMART TV (2021), FROM $1,395
Samsung’s expertly crafted The Frame TV is a great example of the brand’s innovative nature. The wall mounted design comes in a stylish metal casing and can be set to an ‘Art Mode’ that displays classic artworks and photographs when the TV isn’t in use.
Featuring Quantum Dot technology and HDR10+, the model also delivers clear picture quality and excellent audio.
BEST TV BRAND FOR PICTURE QUALITY
South Korean multinational brand LG offers arguably some of the best TVs around, with many of its models packing a punch in the visuals department.
As a pioneer in the OLED market, the brand offers everything from entry-level OLED models up to luxury 8K models; in addition to regular HD TVs and high-end 4K options.
LG claims that its 4K series has 20% more colours than regular LED TVs, helping to enhance the picture for a true ‘home cinema’ experience.
Some of its OLED TVs meanwhile use a new generation of OLED panels, which LG calls ‘evo panels’, to deliver better luminosity and punchier images.
Overall, the brand offers exceptional picture quality across its range, which is reflected in its consistently high customer ratings.
Due to its large product offering, LG is also able to offer great models at all price points, making it easy to find an option to suit your needs and budget.
TOP SELLERS
LG 75” NANO91 4K UHD SMART TV, RRP $2,995
Featuring eight million pixels, the LG Nano91 offers sharp, detailed pictures and vivid colours.
The model also comes equipped with Full Array Dimming Technology to balance light levels and enhance contrast.
LG 55” BX 4K UHD SMART ESSENTIAL OLED TV, RRP $2,395
Delivering great performance and incredible colour contrast, the LG BX is great value for money.
The highly-rated model comes with premium features such as webOS smart TV and 4K resolution, but at a lesser price point than many of LG’s other OLED options.
BEST TV BRAND FOR GAMING
Proving that it can do no wrong, LG is also our top pick for the best gaming TV brand.
Offering top-notch options like the C1 OLED, LG offers exceptional picture quality and enhanced colours to make games instantly more immersive.
It also performs well in terms of sound quality and offers several models with rapid refresh rates that are ideal for fast-paced 4K games.
LG’s top gaming TVs do come with a pretty hefty price tag though, so expect to pay between $2,500 and $5,000 if you want the best the brand has to offer.
If LG’s TV range does prove too costly, Hisense also offers some great alternatives for gamers, such as the U8G model, at lower price points.
TOP SELLERS
LG 55” C1 4K UHD Self Lit OLED Smart TV, RRP $2,795
The LG C1 is widely considered one of the brand’s top offerings thanks to its 4K display, pure blacks and wide viewing angle.
It also comes with LG’s speedy, fourth-gen Alpha9 processor and Dolby Vision HDR, making it ideal for all entertainment lovers.
LG 55” G1 4K UHD GALLERY OLED SMART TV, RRP $3,295
With it’s cutting-edge gaming features and intense clarity, the LG G1 is worth the spend for those who can afford it.
Featuring bright HDR performance, four HDMI inputs and 4th Gen Alpha 9 image processor, the TV handles 4K games with ease.
BEST TV FOR SOUND QUALITY
Known for its impressive array of headphones and speakers, it comes as little surprise that Sony performs well when it comes to TV audio.
The Japanese electronics company mainly offers HD, 4K and OLED options, with its models frequently delivering a tech-forward approach.
Higher-end options from the brand feature Sony’s Acoustic Surface Audio+, which uses drivers to emit sound from the TV panel itself, rather than through the accompanying speakers.
Sony’s TVs also perform well when it comes to picture quality, though they lack gaming features like VRR support and have a tendency to lag, which means that serious gamers may want to look elsewhere.
While Sony’s TV range can be a little bit pricier than some others on the market, the brand does offer a range of models at various price points, with 32-inch screens starting at around $700.
TOP SELLERS
SONY A90J 65” BRAVIA XR OLED 4K ULTRA HD TV, RRP $4,995
If you’re looking to create your very own home cinema, the Sony A90J is one of the brand’s best OLED models to date.
Fitted with the Cognitive Processor XR, the award-winning model takes both vision and sound to a whole new level.
SONY X70G 65” LED 4K ULTRA HD TV, RRP $1,295
Featuring ClearAudio+, the Sony X70G offers immersive audio that lends clarity to both music and dialogue.
Additional features include Smart Plug and Play, immediate access to YouTube and Netflix and 4K resolution.
HOW DO I CHOOSE THE BEST TV FOR MY NEEDS?
There are plenty of factors to consider when purchasing a new TV, the first of which is price. While affordable TVs do exist, there are plenty of models out there that sit well above the $1,000 mark. Deciding on a budget ahead of time will help you to significantly narrow your search.
You’ll also want to consider where your TV is going to go and how much room you have to play with so you can decide which screen size will be the best fit for your home.
Once you’ve decided on the basics, you can start to think about the resolution, technology and features that best suit your lifestyle and compare models that meet these requirements.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I EXPECT TO PAY FOR A GOOD TV?
With so many TV types and sizes available, the cost of a ‘good’ model can vary quite a bit.
Generally speaking, if you’re looking to invest in a model that ticks all the boxes in terms of picture quality, audio, smart compatibility and ease of use, you can expect to pay around $1,000 – $2,000. However, there are definitely much cheaper models out there.
Those who are happy to forego all the bells and whistles and purchase a standard TV set up can get away with paying between $300 – $700.
As with most electronics though, you should expect to compromise on some features if you’re picking a lower-budget model.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LED, QLED AND OLED?
When browsing for a new TV, one of the first things you’ll notice is the variety of types now on offer. Most electronics sites will filter your TV search by asking you whether you want to view LED, QLED or OLED options. So, what's the difference?
As the name suggests, LED TVs typically use TFT-LCD panels with LED backlighting to offer better colour and brightness. However, the backlight prevents blacks from being truly dark, which can be a downside.
OLED TVs meanwhile use pixels that are self-illuminating, lending these models high levels of contrast, deep blacks and realistic-looking colours.
QLED sits somewhere in between the two, though it is closer to a regular LCD TV than it is to an OLED model. Essentially, a QLED TV is just like an LED TV, but uses quantum dots to enhance brightness and colours.
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