The Best Flat Screen TVs in 2023 (By Category)

Are you confused about which is the best flat-screen TV to buy? You’re not alone; it’s not easy with all the options.

I bought my first TV over 25 years ago and have owned all the different types since – CRT, plasma, LCD, LED and OLED (which I currently have). So, I’ve experienced the pros and cons of each over the years.

In this article, I will help make your choice easier by recommending a specific model for five scenarios – best all-rounder, best for home theater, best OLED, best LED and best gaming TV.

If you’re in a hurry, the best all-rounder is the fantastic Samsung S90C OLED TV. It works well for most room types and uses – from home theater to gaming and sports. And it’s not the most expensive TV either.

Read on for more details and find out the other TV recommendations.

Best All-Rounder

Buying a new TV always balances performance and what you can afford. Most of us don’t have unlimited money to buy the best TV on the market.

Therefore, for the best all-rounder, I’ve selected a TV with the best balance between the three most important factors – cost, picture quality and features.

This TV isn’t the most expensive. There are TVs with marginally better pictures and more complete features. But, overall, it is the best bang for your buck and will work well for most rooms and content types.

Top Pick: Samsung S90C OLED TV

The Samsung S90C is a 2023 4K QD-OLED TV that uses quantum dot technology to enhance brightness and color. It’s available in 55″, 65″, and 77″ screen sizes, with QD-OLED panels, while the 83″ model uses regular WOLED.

The design is extremely thin at the edges (Samsung calls it their Infinity One design) with minimal bezels, though thicker in the middle since it lacks an external connections box like the pricier S95C. The sleek design matches the exceptional OLED picture quality.

The S90C has a Neural Quantum Processor 4K for AI upscaling. It supports features like Quantum HDR OLED for optimized contrast and color, with an anti-reflection coating. Motion blur is reduced by Motion Xcelerator Turbo Pro.

It has full 4K 120Hz and VRR support for gaming on all 4 HDMI ports – and it even works at a 144 Hz refresh rate for PC games. There’s also a super low input lag of 9.2ms, AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility, and a dedicated gaming hub interface.

There’s an improved 40W 2.1 speaker system with object-tracking sound (OTS) on the audio side. The sound is better than last year’s S95B model but less advanced than the S95C. 

Although, I recommend a soundbar or amplifier and speaker system for the best sound, so this won’t be an issue.

The S90C uses Samsung’s Tizen-based smart TV platform, which provides extensive streaming app support but can have an unintuitive interface. Voice controls help mitigate this.

In terms of brightness, the S90C QD-OLED hits over 1000 nits, which is around 20% less than the flagship S95C. But it’s still brighter than regular OLEDs, leading to vibrant, pure colors. 

The slightly gentler brightness may suit darker room viewing better for movies. Black levels and contrast are still excellent, thanks to the OLED panel.

While not as stunningly bright as the S95C or LG G3, the S90C provides fantastic picture quality for its lower price point. It makes the new QD-OLED technology more affordable, as any new technology initially comes with a price premium. 

The main omissions are a lack of Dolby Vision support and weaker sound than the S95C (which isn’t a problem if you use a soundbar or AV receiver).

Overall, the S90C delivers superb performance with bright, accurate visuals, especially for gaming and movies. The sleek design and more intelligent processing compared to last year’s models make it a compelling 2023 Samsung TV option.

Best Home Theater TV

There are many reasons you may want a new TV. For the family room, the kitchen or the bedroom. However, the strength of this TV is it will work well for a home theater.

It must have outstanding picture quality for movies in a dark room. Plus, the most important home theater features – all the latest HDR formats, great viewing angles and full support for the best audio formats.

The TV’s sound is irrelevant because a good home theater will use an external sound system.

Top Pick: LG G3 OLED TV

The LG G3 OLED TV is quite simply one of the most spectacular displays ever seen, earning it the top spot as the Best Home Theater TV. LG has outdone itself with the G3, delivering unparalleled picture quality and setting a new gold standard for home cinemas.

LG’s innovative Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology is at the heart of the G3’s jaw-dropping performance. The Micro Lens Array enables images with incredible brightness, contrast and detail by focusing and amplifying the light from each OLED pixel. 

HDR content truly comes alive with vibrant, ultrasharp visuals made even more impactful by the over 70% boost in peak brightness. However, the 83-inch version doesn’t have MLA, so only expect a 30% increase in brightness compared to last year’s model.

This makes the G3 ideal for dedicated home theaters where controlled lighting brings out the best in this display.

Black levels are perfectly inky, while shadow detail remains outstanding. Bright, colorful highlights pop from the screen. Fast action stays smooth and crisp, with the G3’s HDMI 2.1 ports enabling 4K/120fps gaming. 

Gamers will also appreciate AMD Freesync and NVIDIA G-SYNC support for buttery gameplay and a low input lag of 10 ms.

Cinematic movies shine on the G3 thanks to Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos compatibility. LG’s acclaimed webOS platform makes navigating intuitive with the included Magic Remote. The G3’s minimalist design blends seamlessly into any living room.

Make no mistake, this level of performance commands a steep price. More affordable OLED options from LG and other brands (Samsung, especially) remain excellent for less discerning buyers. 

But for home theater enthusiasts seeking the absolute best visual experience, the LG G3 OLED TV stands alone. Its sublime picture quality earns the highest recommendation.

Best OLED TV

OLED TVs have the best image quality. So, if your priority is picture quality, buy an OLED television. 

There are two main OLED types: standard WOLED and the newer QD-OLED models. Both TV types look absolutely fantastic, with perfect black levels and bright, colorful images. You can’t go wrong with any of these.

However, if you’re being picky, QD-OLED TVs have a slight edge, so you should buy a QD-OLED model for the absolute best picture.

Top Pick: Sony A95L OLED TV

The Sony A95L represents a new pinnacle in OLED television technology, earning the Best OLED TV accolade for its simply breathtaking picture quality and innovative features. 

This flagship model for 2023 utilizes a high-performance QD-OLED panel in conjunction with Sony’s world-renowned image processing, taking OLED to new heights.

The results are jaw-dropping – incredible peak brightness hitting over 1400 nits, perfect black levels thanks to self-illuminating pixels and remarkably vibrant, accurate colors enabled by quantum dot technology. 

Whether watching the latest blockbuster movie, your favorite TV show, a live sports event, or playing video games, the A95L delivers an unrivaled viewing experience that is about as close to real life as it gets.

You must watch in a dark room for the best results, though the screen handles reflections well if there is some ambient light in the room.

Viewing angles are excellent, so you can comfortably use this in your home theater with a wide seating arrangement.

The stunning visuals are matched by nearly flawless motion handling, so fast action scenes look wonderfully smooth and sharp. Sony’s Cognitive Processor XR also upscales lower-resolution content beautifully. 

Gamers will appreciate the buttery-smooth gameplay made possible by cutting-edge HDMI 2.1 features like 4K/120Hz, VRR, and ALLM. 

If you don’t want to install a separate speaker system (which you should, really), the Acoustic Surface Audio+ creates a decent cinematic audio experience by emitting sound directly from the screen.

Built on Google TV, the smart platform makes accessing popular streaming apps like Netflix and Disney+ a breeze. Voice control is handy with Google Assistant support, too. 

While there are some limitations, like only 2 HDMI ports and a premium price tag, the Sony A95L represents the pinnacle of OLED technology in 2023. 

For those seeking the absolute best OLED TV viewing experience, the A95L is a tour de force that is hard to beat.

Best LED TV

LED TVs have become the most popular flat-screen technology in recent years. They are cheaper, available in more sizes, are more suited for bright rooms and don’t have the risk of image burn-in.

While standard LED TVs slowly replaced the older LCD TVs, the main complaint was always poor picture quality compared to OLED televisions. QLED televisions raised the bar for LED picture quality, so the best LED TVs today are QLED models.

Top Pick: Samsung QN90C QLED TV

The Samsung QN90C QLED TV wins the Best LED TV award for its phenomenal combination of picture performance, gaming capabilities, smart features and striking design. 

This 2023 flagship 4K TV clearly stands out from lower-priced LED models, justifying its premium price tag.

Leveraging Samsung’s quantum dot filter alongside mini-LED backlighting with precise local dimming zones, the QN90C delivers sensational colors, deep inky blacks and searing brightness up to nearly 2000 nits. 

HDR content truly pops with vivid, realistic details in bright and dark scenes. The advanced backlighting preserves shadow details and prevents halos.

Not only does the QN90C produce remarkable contrast with deep blacks, but its anti-reflective screen maintains excellent clarity even in well-lit rooms. No need to close the curtains to enjoy this TV. Vibrant, accurate colors and impressive HDR specular highlights make for incredibly dynamic and nuanced 4K images.

Gamers will feel at home with the QN90C’s four future-proof HDMI 2.1 ports, all three VRR format support and extremely low input lag.

Navigation is swift and responsive thanks to the intuitive Tizen smart platform, which provides quick access to popular streaming apps. Bixby, Alexa and Google Assistant voice controls make operation seamless.

It’s a shame the QN90C doesn’t support Dolby Vision HDR and have better off-angle viewing. But these are small trade-offs considering the QN90C’s stellar contrast, brightness, motion handling and low lag gaming. 

For the best LED-lit 4K TV that cuts no major corners, the Samsung QN90C is a top-tier choice.

Best TV for Gaming

Most of the recommended TVs here will work well for all types of content. However, if you want a TV that is best for gaming, there are a few specific features to look for.

A gaming TV should have a low input lag (less than 15 ms), a high native refresh rate (120 Hz), HDMI 2.1 support and the latest variable refresh rate (VRR) technologies like AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync.

Of course, you also want a great HDR picture quality, but that’s a given.

Top Pick: Samsung S95C OLED TV

The Best TV for Gaming award winner is the incredible new Samsung S95C OLED TV. This second-generation quantum dot OLED display represents Samsung’s best effort yet, with massive improvements in key areas that matter most for gaming.

Let’s start with the picture quality – it’s simply stunning. With a measured peak brightness of around 1200 nits, the S95C delivers jaw-droppingly vivid HDR images that truly pop off the screen. 

The self-illuminating OLED pixels produce perfect inky blacks, too. This creates an unbeatable contrast ratio that makes games feel more immersive and detailed than ever before. You’ll experience richer colors and improved clarity in shadows during gameplay.

The S95C also impresses big time on the gaming features front, including a very quick input lag below 10 ms. 

You get four HDMI 2.1 ports enabling lag-free 4K 120Hz gameplay (144 Hz is supported for PC games), variable refresh rate support to prevent screen tearing, and extremely low input lag for responsive control. Fast-paced visuals in action games stay crisp and fluid.

The three main versions of variable refresh rate (VRR) are present, providing smoother motion with supported devices:

• VRR over HDMI (for supported consoles and PCs)
• G-SYNC (NVIDIA graphics cards)
• FreeSync (Xbox One and Radeon graphics cards)

Samsung’s gaming dashboard neatly organizes all your connected consoles and titles. The TV also auto-switches to low-latency game mode and clearly labels your devices. It’s a streamlined user experience catered to gamers’ needs.

In terms of design, the S95C looks superb with its ultra-thin Infinity One profile and separate One Connect box to eliminate messy cables. The minimalist style blends into both contemporary and classic living room decor. 

This gaming-centric OLED TV deserves its award for bringing truly next-generation display technology and tailored features that provide the ultimate gaming experience.

Comparison Table

Top Flat-Screen TVs Comparison

TV Model	Refresh Rate	HDR	HDMI In	Audio Out
Samsung S90C (QD-OLED)	144 Hz	HDR10/HDR10+/HLG	4 (HDMI 2.1)	Optical/3.5mm
LG G3 (WOLED)	120 Hz	HDR10/Dolby Vision/HLG	4 (HDMI 2.1)	Optical
Sony A95L (QD-OLED)	120 Hz	HDR10/Dolby Vision/HLG	4 (2x HDMI 2.1)	Optical
Samsung QN90C (QLED)	120 Hz	HDR10/HDR10+/HLG	4 (HDMI 2.1)	Optical
Samsung S95C (QD-OLED)	144 Hz	HDR10/HDR10+/HLG	4 (HDMI 2.1)	Optical
Note: All these TVs are 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160)

Buying Guide

There’s no getting away from it; buying a new TV can be tricky. Too many acronyms and geek speak! If you need help determining what features to look for, this TV buying guide covers the essentials.

Types

There are two main types of flat-screen TVs to choose from – LED and OLED:

• LED TVs: Use LED backlighting and are the most common and affordable model on the market. They come in a wide range of sizes, from small screens up to 85 inches or larger. Look out for new versions called the QLED and Mini-LED TVs. These use improved LED technology to enhance color, brightness and contrast.
• OLED TVs: Use self-emitting pixels to produce superior contrast and black levels. OLEDs are more expensive than LEDs of a similar size. There are two types: WOLED and QD-OLED. Both look great, but the newer QD-OLED screens have a slight edge in picture quality.

Generally, LED TVs are cheaper and work better in bright rooms for general viewing. Meanwhile, OLED screens are best for darker home theater rooms where you can appreciate the cinematic picture quality.

Screen Size

Picking the right screen size for your room is an important decision. You want a TV that fits the space appropriately without seeming too small or overwhelming.

There are main ways to think about this:

1. The best viewing distance based on the screen size.
2. The ideal screen size based on your viewing distance.

Here are some general guidelines:

• The easiest way to work this out is to use a TV distance calculator or a TV size calculator.
• A rough rule of thumb is to use one foot of distance for every ten inches of diagonal screen size. So, 7 feet for a 70-inch screen, 8 feet for an 80-inch screen etc.
• Also, consider the room’s purpose – is it a living room for casual viewing or a dedicated home theater for movies? Larger screens are more immersive for home theater.

These are only guidelines. What feels right for one person won’t suit another, so use your gut feeling.

Resolution

You’ll see 1080p and 4K Ultra HD resolutions when selecting a TV. Higher resolutions mean sharper detail, but you need a large enough screen to appreciate the difference.

There are three common resolutions to choose from:

• 1080p: AKA Full HD. Adequate for smaller screen sizes under 50 inches.
• 4K:  AKA Ultra HD. Provides sharper detail and is recommended for screens over 50 inches. You need 4K content sources to appreciate the full benefit.
• 8K: A new format that is expensive to buy. There is little 8K content to watch, and it will only benefit very large screen sizes over 90 inches.

Most modern TVs are 4K these days, so you may not have a choice. Smaller budget models may be 1080p.

Refresh Rate

You’ll see the refresh rate measured in hertz (Hz) when looking at TV specifications. This refers to how many times the screen redraws the image per second.

• Standard refresh rates are 60 Hz and 120 Hz. You may see higher numbers like 240 Hz or 480 Hz, but these don’t reflect actual screen performance.
• A 120Hz refresh rate generally provides smoother motion when viewing fast action scenes in sports, video games, and action movies. It may also help reduce motion blur.
• However, considering that most content is 24 Hz (movies) or 30 Hz (broadcast TV), the benefits of higher refresh rates are minimal for most TV watching and movies.
• The refresh rate needs to match the frame rate of content for smoothest playback. Most TVs and movies won’t sync perfectly with 120 Hz or higher.
• A higher refresh rate may appeal to gamers and sports fans, but 60 Hz is adequate for regular TV watching. Refresh rate alone shouldn’t drive your overall TV decision unless you are a gamer with the latest hardware.

While a 120 Hz refresh rate may provide some motion benefits, it likely won’t make a huge difference for everyday TV viewing. Focus on more impactful features when choosing a TV.

Picture Quality

When it comes to picture quality, LED and OLED TVs each have their strengths:

• LED TVs are a great choice for rooms prone to ambient light or daylight glare from windows. They achieve higher peak brightness that cuts through more ambient light.
• OLED TVs excel in dedicated home theater rooms with lights down and windows blocked. Their pixel-level lighting control enables perfect black levels without backlight bleed. This superior contrast reveals subtle shadow details in dark scenes lost on LED screens.
• For mixed usage with TV, sports, gaming and daytime viewing, an LED is a solid all-around option. But movie lovers will likely prefer OLED in a light-controlled room.

Consider room lighting and viewing habits to decide between LED for bright rooms or OLED for immersed movie watching in a dark home theater. 

Both technologies can provide an excellent, realistic viewing experience, and the best choice depends on your circumstances.

HDR

HDR (High Dynamic Range) makes a bigger difference to picture quality than the screen’s resolution. For the best picture quality, ensure your TV has HDR (most 4K models do today).

• HDR increases the color depth, contrast ratio and content brightness compared to standard dynamic range (SDR).
• This makes images appear more vivid and life-like, with bright highlights and detailed shadows. HDR-encoded content looks dramatically better.
• HDR content is available from 4K Blu-rays, streaming services like Netflix and Amazon, some cable channels and gaming systems.

There are a few HDR formats to be aware of – mainly HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG. 

Look for a TV that supports multiple formats. If it doesn’t, you won’t be able to watch content with that version of HDR.

Smart Features

Modern TVs come with built-in smart platforms that provide access to streaming apps directly on the TV:

• Apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu and more provide a vast library of on-demand movies and shows.
• You will need an internet connection via WiFi or Ethernet to use the apps.
• Different TV brands use different smart platforms, which dictate the interface’s look and availability of certain apps. Common platforms include webOS (LG), Tizen (Samsung), Android TV (Hisense), Roku TV (TCL), and Google TV (Sony).

Having built-in streaming apps eliminates the need for a separate streaming device. However, you may not need the TV’s smart features if you already have a device you like.

Sound Quality

The built-in speakers in most flat-screen TVs are basic and only suitable for general, casual viewing. They lack bass and are mostly stereo only. 

For a better audio experience with movies, TV shows and gaming, you should consider adding an external sound system:

• Adding an external soundbar provides louder, clearer sound and better bass than TV speakers. Soundbars offer a simple audio upgrade.
• For a true home theater experience, build a multi-channel surround sound system with an AV receiver and surround sound speakers. Using bookshelf or floor-standing front speakers, surround speakers, and a subwoofer delivers an engrossing soundscape when watching movies.
• While some TVs provide Dolby Atmos sound, it will sound nothing like as immersive as you get with a proper surround sound system.

Investing in a quality soundbar or speaker system makes a huge difference and completes the entertainment experience. Otherwise, you won’t get the full benefit of your new TV.

Connections

Pay attention to the connections of the TV if you want to install external devices, like Blu-ray and DVD payers, game consoles and cable TV boxes. You may also need an audio output for connecting to a sound system.

• HDMI ports are essential. They connect devices like Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, cable boxes and streaming sticks. Aim for at least 3-4 HDMI ports.
• HDMI cables carry both high-quality digital video and audio signals. Look for HDMI 2.1 ports on new TVs for higher bandwidth needed by 4K 120Hz gaming.
• Some TVs also offer legacy connections like component video, composite video and S-Video inputs for hooking up older DVD players, camcorders and other devices.
• Audio outputs like optical digital audio, coaxial audio and RCA analog audio help connect to home theater speaker systems. Or, look for HDMI ARC and eARC, which send audio to your speaker system using an HDMI cable.

Several HDMI ports future-proof your TV, while ethernet and Wi-Fi provide access to streaming content from the web. Think about what you will need before buying your new television.

Other Features to Look For

In addition to the major factors already discussed, here are some other helpful features to look for when choosing a TV:

• Viewing Angles: Wider viewing angles allow you to see a clear, colorful image from the side of the screen. This is great for larger rooms with multiple seating positions. OLED is better than LED for wide angles.
• Input Lag: Important for gaming, input lag refers to the delay between user input and screen response. Look for a low input lag rating of less than 15 ms, especially if you plan to connect a gaming console.
• Screen Reflection: Screens with an anti-glare coating diffuse ambient light to reduce distracting screen reflections. This is useful for bright rooms. Matte screens cause less reflection than glossy.
• Brightness: Measured in nits, brightness indicates how luminous the TV’s panel can get. This is crucial in HDR performance for creating bright and colorful images. Brighter is better for well-lit rooms; LED TVs can get brighter than OLED in nits. But don’t concentrate on peak brightness alone, as this is measured in a tiny screen area rather than across the whole screen.
• Upscaling: Video upscaling converts lower-resolution content like DVDs to fit the TV’s native resolution. If you watch lower-resolution content regularly, look for quality upscaling to improve lower-resolution picture clarity. Watching content that matches your screen’s resolution will give the best picture.

Consider these extra aspects as you evaluate different television options to find one that best fits your viewing needs.

Wrapping Up

When shopping for a new flat-screen TV, consider the type, size, resolution, picture quality, HDR capabilities, smart features, sound, and connections to meet your needs and room setup.

There is plenty to think about, but after narrowing it down to the essentials, it’s not so hard.

But if it’s too much for you, why not check out the recommendations here? 

The Samsung S90C OLED TV is a fantastic all-rounder that will suit most rooms and uses, from home theater to gaming and general viewing. And it’s much cheaper than the other high-end models suggested here.

But, if you want the best experience for your home theater, check out the other suggestions.