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In the world of TV technology and marketing, there’s no shortage of acronyms. You’re probably familiar with common terms and phrases like OLED, 4K, 1080p, and LED-LCD, but what about “QLED?” Introduced several years ago, the “Q” in QLED stands for “quantum-dots.” These are color-enhancing compounds that allow LED sets to get ultra-bright and ultra-colorful when charged by TV backlights. We have a full explainer on QLED tech you can read, too. QLED TVs are made by companies like Samsung, Sony, TCL, and Hisense.
Who would benefit the most from a QLED TV? Pretty much anyone who loves a bright picture with lots of boldness and punch in the colors and contrast departments. These TVs are fantastic for watching and playing 4K HDR and SDR movies, shows, and video games. They’re also great at holding up against ambient light sources like lamps and in rooms with a lot of windows.
There are plenty of QLED TVs to choose from, and it’s our job to let you know what all the best models are. So to that end, we’ve created this list of the best QLED TVs you can buy.
Sony Bravia 9
The best overall QLED you can buy
Pros
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Super-clean picture
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Deep blacks, minimal blooming
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Excellent contrast
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Searing HDR highlights
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Excellent motion handling
Cons
Every once in a while, a TV comes along that just blows us away, and that is precisely what happened in August when we reviewed Sony’s much-hyped Bravia 9 mini-LED TV.
The Sony Bravia 9 is a simply gorgeous TV that excels in bright rooms thanks to Sony’s new IC processing chip that Digital Trends’ editor-at-large (and TV reviewer supreme) also praised as being responsible for some of the most accurate colors, contrast, and brightness levels he’s ever seen on a mini-LED, so you can rest assured that this set will be excellent for all your movie and TV viewing. Additionally, the Bravia 9 also supports HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision HDR formats, ensuring excellent contrast.
With two of its four HDMI ports being HDMI 2.1 that support 4K/120Hz and VRR (variable refresh rate), the Bravia 9 is not only excellent for fast-moving action movies but gamers will be smiling ear-to-ear, too. The other two HDMI ports aren’t slacking either, with support for 4K/60Hz — all four ports support ALLM (auto low latency mode) that automatically adjusts the picture quality modes depending on the source input.
As Denison points out in his review, the Bravia 9 could do better at off-angle viewing, but it’s not likely to be a deterrent unless that’s a specific concert to you. The Bravia 9 also features a big and bold sounding 70-watt, 2.2.2 audio system built-in, which means you might not need to add a soundbar or an AV receiver and additional speakers.
Sony Bravia 9
The best overall QLED you can buy
Samsung QN90C Neo QLED
The best runner-up QLED TV
Pros
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Class-leading HDR performance
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Excellent black levels, backlight control
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Outstanding color performance
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Powerful processing
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Premium design and build
Cons
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Frustrating Smart TV OS
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Lofty price
It’s hard not to love a Samsung TV. Over the last decade or so, the manufacturer has consistently delivered one amazing set after another, and has been producing some top-notch QLEDS for several years now, and this year’s crop should prove to be no different.
Until we get our hands on the 2024s for ourselves, we’ll still sing the praises of the 2023 Samsung QN90C. Available in sizes ranging from 43 to 85 inches, the QN90C is going to be the best QLED for most folks; although some may be interested in taking things a step further with the flagship performance of the Samsung S95C QD-OLED.
As for those of us who choose to remain with a more traditional QLED, the QN90C has it all. We’re talking near-impeccable HDR performance, chart-topping peak brightness levels, terrific reflection handling, and some of the best gaming features you’ll find. Many of these features are further enriched by Samsung’s Neural Quantum Processor 4K, which optimizes each and every source to give you as much picture detail as possible, whether you’re watching brand-new Netflix 4K HDR releases or your vintage DVD collection.
When it comes to contrast, QLED TVs are also getting better at acting more like OLEDs, which bodes well for those of us who want our movies and TV shows to be packed with rich colors and amazing black levels. The QN90C is an LED-powered TV, and we did notice a bit of light blooming during darker scenes, but that’s a small grievance about an otherwise remarkable picture.
Samsung QN90C Neo QLED
The best runner-up QLED TV
TCL QM8 QLED 4K mini-LED
One of the brightest TVs we’ve ever seen
Pros
Cons
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Some motion artifacts
TCL is at it again with its lineup of mini-LED QLED TVs that continue to prove that you can have high-end features and quality at prices that are way more reasonable than the marquee TV brands. And the TCL QM8 is literally the brand’s shining example … blindingly shiny with peak brightness levels of 2,500 nits in our tests, making it one of the brightest TVs we’ve ever seen. Our reviewer was so impressed with the QM8, in fact, that he praised it as his “go-to TV recommendation for probably 90% of people this year.”
In-line with QLED’s ability to deliver bright images that are great for those setting up their TV in a light-drenched room, the MQ8 also has it where it counts in the contrast area, too, with support for Dolby Vision, HDR10, HRD10+, and HLG, and excellent local dimming that also make it a good performer in darker rooms with decent black levels. Are they as inky as OLED? No, but not much is, and with OLED still costing a premium, it’s getting harder and harder to make a viable case for spending the extra cash. The QM8’s mini-LED technology delivers excellent color accuracy, too, with 97% coverage of DCI-P3 and about 76% of BT.2020 color gamuts.
The TCL QM8 is a Google TV-based TV, which makes for easy setup and use as well as access to all the streaming services and apps you could ever want via the Google Play Store, plus it’s got Chromecast built-in for easy mirroring and casting from your devices.
With a 120Hz refresh rate, fast-action movies are smooth, and gamers will appreciate the TV’s support for variable refresh rate (VRR) and Game Accelerator that boosts things up to 240Hz and AMD FreeSync Pro for even smoother gameplay.
The TCL QM8 also features a built-in subwoofer for bigger bass sound, but you’re still probably going to want an external soundbar. Available in 65-, 75-, 85-, and 98-inch sizes, the TCL QM8 ranges in price from $1,200 to $10,000.
TCL QM8 QLED 4K mini-LED
One of the brightest TVs we’ve ever seen
Hisense U8N ULED TV
Hisense’s beautiful and bright QLED for 2024
Pros
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Intense brightness
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Deep blacks/contrast
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Vibrant, accurate color
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Great sound
Cons
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Overly bright HDR
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Poor off-angle viewing
Hisense’s U8 QLED TV for 2024 is the U8N, and it’s a diamond in the rough just like its predecessor, the U8K (also on this list). Impossibly bright, sharp, and colorful for the price has been Hisense’s (and TCL’s for that matter) calling card for years now, making them attractive QLEDs for the value-conscious. They range in size from 55 to 100 inches and in price from around $1,000 to $5,000.
Like its predecessor, the Hisense U8N’s picture is crazily close to that of an OLED. It’s technically considered a mini-LED backlit, quantum-dot-infused LCD TV that Hisense calls ULED, but it competes directly with QLED, which is why it’s on this list. Thousands of local dimming zones make for some excellent peak brightness levels as well as some deep, inky blacks. Plus, the quantum dots make for some vivid and accurate colors.
All the best picture support features are here too, including HDR 10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision, and for gamers it’s also got a refresh rate of 144Hz and features variable refresh rate (VRR) and is FreeSync Pro certified. Our reviewer Caleb Denison loved the picture quality on the TV, praising its brightness and backlight control as being close to the LG G4 OLED, which is high praise.
The U8N runs on the Google TV operating system, so you have access to all your streaming services and other apps form the Play Store. Google Assistant, YouTube, and YouTube TV are pretty well weaved into the TV, for those who like those sorts of things.
Denison’s final word on the Hisense U8N: “It’s freaking awesome to behold. It’s easily one of the best buys of 2024. Maybe even the best buy of the year.”
Hisense U8N ULED TV
Hisense’s beautiful and bright QLED for 2024
TCL Q7 QLED
Great for gaming
Pros
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High brightness
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Great contrast
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Vivid color
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Great for gaming
Cons
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White balance is just bad
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Color is technically inaccurate
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Inconsistent picture quality from streaming apps
We’ve been very impressed by TCL’s Mini LED models over the last few years, so it’s no surprise that the brand gets more than one mention in our roundup. Sitting one rung below the QM8, the TCL Q7 is another awesome QLED that competes with models like the Hisense U7K and the Sony X90L. We tested the 65-inch version ourselves (it’s also available in 55-, 75-, and 85-inch sizes), and were taken aback by the Q7’s high brightness output and vivid colors.
Now as far as nit metrics go, the TCL Q7 is a bit on the lackluster side Not only did it score some so-so peak brightness readings (around 1,100 nits) with HDR playback, but the meh results found their way into SDR content too (about 700 nits for peak brightness). Compared to TVs like the Hisense U8K, the Q7 just doesn’t touch the kind of QLED brightness of some of its competitors, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to love about it.
Two of the Q7’s four HDMI inputs are full-bandwidth 2.1 ports that support 4K at up to 120Hz. It also runs the latest version of Google TV for all your Netflix and Prime Video streaming needs. Plus, you’ll be able to use Google Assistant to search for media and control your smart home devices, and there’s also AirPlay and HomeKit support.
In a way, we love the TCL Q7 because it’s not a perfect QLED. But what it does well, it tends to do very well, and the price just can’t be beat.
TCL Q7 QLED
Great for gaming
Samsung QN900C Neo QLED TV
The best 8K QLED
Pros
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Delivers up to 8K resolution
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Excellent local dimming capabilities
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Intuitive smart TV platform
Cons
Many consumer tech companies put the cart before the horse, and the world of TVs may be one of the biggest offenders when it comes to horse-less transportation. In the case of a TV like the Samsung QN900C, our equestrian analogy is best represented by a hardware versus software comparison. Quite simply, the QN900C is an amazing 8K TV, but we’re still living in a world that is primarily dominated by 4K and 1080p content.
Fortunately, Samsung’s next-gen QLED has some fantastic picture processing tech under its hood. The QN900C is outfitted with Samsung’s Quantum Matrix Pro, which itself is powered by mini-LED lighting. Translation, please? You got it! Matrix Pro is Samsung’s fancy-pants terminology for local dimming zones (a small block of LED lights), and because the QN900C uses mini LEDs, the QLED has a lot of control zones. At the end of the day, this means you can expect the QN900C to deliver excellent peak brightness and color brightness to the parts of the panel that require said brightness, while the rest of the screen is enshrouded in darkness (that’s a good thing).
And because this is an 8K TV, the QN900C will upscale whatever 4K or regular high-def HDR and SDR sources you feed it. Of course, you won’t be looking at a true 8K image, but it’ll be dang close! This is also an Infinity One Samsung QLED, which means the chassis is extremely thin and there’s essentially no physical frame to speak of. So, when it comes time to plug in your components, you’ll be doing so with the TV’s external One Connect box (because there’s no HDMI ports on the TV itself).
If you’re into future-proofing your consumer tech, the Samsung QN900C is an 8K TV that will rule your home theater setup for years to come.
Samsung QN900C Neo QLED TV
The best 8K QLED
Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED
The best budget QLED TV
Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Review
Pros
Cons
Amazon has been making its own TVs for a few years now, and while these models definitely err toward the more “budget-friendly” side of the price and quality spectrums, we’ll admit that we were pretty impressed by the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED series. Available in 43-, 55-, 65-, and 75-inch sizes, the Omni QLED delivers a pretty great picture. Now, it’s not the touting the most amazing specs and features in town, and the fact that the Omni QLED only tops out at 60Hz is a bit disappointing, but where the Omni QLED truly shines is in its Fire TV smart UI.
From the ground up, this is a TV built around Amazon’s larger smart home ecosystem, to the point where the Omni QLED has Alexa built right into it. This means you can fire off voice commands right from your living room couch, as well as control everything from smart lights and locks to web-connected security systems. You’ll even be able to see a live view from any compatible smart cameras right on your TV screen. And when the Omni QLED is powered down, you’ll be able to use the Fire TV Ambient Experience to display artwork and photos.
Other add-ons like Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive support bring a few more picture perks to sweeten the deal. Again, the Fire TV Omni QLED may not be the best QLED ever made, but it’s definitely worth adding to our list.
Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED
The best budget QLED TV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is QLED TV?
The “Q” in QLED stands for quantum dot, a nanoparticle that emits light when energized. Quantum dots can be tuned to emit specific wavelengths of light, so TV makers add green and red quantum dots in a layer over their blue LED backlights, which creates a much purer white light than a single LED backlight can create on its own. With a pure white backlight, the TV’s color filters can produce much more accurate colors, leading to significantly better picture quality than regular LED TVs.
UHD vs. QLED: What’s the difference?
UHD stands for ultra-high definition, also known as 4K. It’s a description of resolution, or the number of pixels that make up an on-screen image. It can refer to the resolution of a specific piece of content (many streaming services offer movies in UHD) as well as the native resolution of a TV. QLED refers to the kind of display technology a TV uses (see above). QLED TVs come in various native resolutions, from HD to 8K, including UHD.
Is QLED better than OLED?
It depends. Right now, QLED TVs are capable of getting brighter than OLED TVs, which deliver better black levels and contrast. We feel that OLED TVs still produce a better overall picture quality, but if your viewing area is especially bright, or if you want a really big screen, QLED models might be a better choice for you.
Is QLED the best TV technology?
Once again, it depends on your particular situation. For instance, if you want a TV for your patio, where it will experience partial or full sun, an OLED TV simply won’t get bright enough to compete with all that daylight, and a QLED TV is definitely superior. On the other hand, if you can darken your media room whenever you want, an OLED TV will still deliver the deepest blacks and highest contrast.
What should I look for in a QLED TV?
Finding the right QLED TV for you is all about balancing size, picture quality, features, and price. First, figure out your budget, then prioritize the rest of your list. If getting the biggest TV for your money is the top priority, you’ll be able to find 75-inch and larger models from brands like TCL, Vizio, Hisense, and LG that are still quite affordable. If picture quality matters more – especially when viewing HDR material – you should choose a model with a very high peak brightness. If gaming is a top consideration, make sure you find a model that’s equipped with VRR, ALLM, and 4K at 120Hz for the best possible experience.
Which is the best Samsung QLED TV?
Samsung has two flagship QLED models depending on whether you want 8K resolution. The QN900C is the company’s top 8K model, and the QN90C is its top 4K model.
Are QLED TVs good for gaming?
Yes, but picking the right model is key. You’ll want to look for a TV that has the latest HDMI 2.1 features, like VRR, ALLM, and 4K at 120Hz. Another feature that gamers will appreciate is support for AMD’s FreeSync or Nvidia’s G-Sync, which are two proprietary VRR technologies used by game consoles like the Xbox Series X and many gaming PCs.
Do QLED TVs have problems with burn-in?
No. Burn-in is a permanent form of image retention caused by leaving the same image on a TV for many hours at a time. In OLED TVs, this can cause individual pixels to age prematurely, leaving the “shadow” of some parts of the image on screen even after the image has changed. Because QLED TVs use a backlight for their brightness, their pixels aren’t susceptible to this kind of uneven aging.
How long do QLED TVs last?
Theoretically, a QLED TV will outlast an OLED TV, at least in terms of maximum brightness, because OLED pixels lose their ability to produce brightness at a faster rate than a QLED TV’s backlight. But you would likely have to keep your TV on for eight hours a day, seven days a week, for many, many years before this difference became noticeable. That said, a QLED TV should last a decade or more as long as none of its individual components fail — something that can be hard to predict even for the best TVs.
When will QLED prices drop?
QLED prices, much like OLED prices, are dropping all the time. A few years ago, you’d need to spend well over $2,000 for a 65-inch QLED TV. Today, you can find them for less than half that price.
Is a QLED worth it?
Definitely. If you have a choice between a standard LED TV and a QLED TV, the QLED model will deliver brighter, more accurate colors, which should yield a better image overall. And as QLED TVs become the norm for non-OLED models, you won’t have to pay much of a price premium to get one.
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