How do you feel about your TV? Maybe you're satisfied with a screen that's bigger than your smartphone for the World Cup Finals. Or maybe the built-in sound quality irks you.
Choosing the right TV for your home is a big deal, and you may not notice the pros and cons of your purchase until later. That's why CNET's People's Picks gives readers a chance to share their opinions on their TV's interface, sound and picture quality. Many of our readers love LG and Samsung TVs, but some other brands win readers over when it comes to cost and ecosystem.
CNET's editor-in-chief, David Katzmaier, has 26 years of experience reviewing TVs and says his recommendations align with CNET readers' preferences.
“I've always liked Roku and Google TV better than proprietary systems from Samsung and LG, and I'm happy to see that CNET readers took our advice and bought LG and Samsung OLED TVs — because they're the picture-quality champs,” said Katzmaier.
Exactly how close do readers' sentiments align with CNET's recommendations? Here's which brands won readers over and what our experts think.
LG/J. Hazelwood/CNET LG Overall People's Picks winner LG is well-known among TV brands for its OLED screens, and it's a favorite among CNET editors and readers. LG earns high marks in many of CNET's People's Picks categories and wins three awards from readers: picture quality, fast-moving content and OLED/QD-OLED.
CNET editors give LG several nods for recent OLED TVs, lauding the contrast in the new C6H, the color accuracy of the G5 — recipient of a CNET Lab Award — and the contrast and brightness of G6 for movie buffs. The LG OLED G4 is one of the best gaming TVs for its top-notch gaming features, especially as a more cost-effective option compared to the LG G6.
CNET readers crown LG as a winner for picture quality. More than 3 out of 5 (61.7%) of CNET readers who own an LG TV reported an “Excellent” experience with their LG TVs in bright rooms and during the day. Readers say there's no glare and it's beautifully bright, and 65.1% of readers with LG TVs report perfect dark scenes with inky blacks and zero light bleed — performance that's common on OLED models and can really improve the look of movies and TV shows. That brings LG's picture quality to 63.4%.
Sony is a runner-up for picture quality, based on nearly half (49.8%) of readers with a Sony TV saying the brand has inky blacks with no bleed and great daylight performance.
LG wins for flawless, fast-moving content. Of readers, 71% say LG TVs are perfectly smooth, are without blur and are without weird, artificial artifacts with fast-moving content, whereas 28% say LG's fast-moving content quality is natural but occasionally slightly blurry. When it comes to gaming, CNET readers (59.8%) who have an LG TV say fast-moving content is flawless and incredibly responsive and that the TV has great gaming menus.
Sony is the next top pick, with 60% of readers saying its fast-moving content is flawless on Sony TV screens.
Lastly, LG sweeps the OLED/QD-OLED category with 82.4% of readers with an LG TV preferring the brand for its OLED displays. If you're considering an LG OLED TV, the latest LG OLED G6 has excellent contrast, an improved antireflective coating and good brightness for gaming. One of CNET's lab-tested favorites is the previous LG OLED G5. CNET editors say it has the best color accuracy. The C4 is still a favorite, but if you want the latest and greatest, LG's C6 and C6H are standout OLED picks. The C6 is the ultra version of the C6 TV, and it comes in larger sizes with higher brightness and better colors.
Samsung trails behind LG with 45% of readers who own a Samsung TV have an OLED or QD-OLED model. That's not surprising because Samsung has only been selling OLED TVs since 2022 after a single model in 2013, whereas LG's OLED models have been on sale for more than a decade. Both the S90F and S95F are Samsung OLED TVs that get praise from CNET for image quality and glare reduction.
Roku/J. Hazelwood/CNET Budget TV Runner-up: Vizio
Roku wins three categories in CNET's People's Picks — budget, smart TV ecosystem and standard LED/LCD. Roku has several affordable TVs. Most CNET readers (72%) have purchased a Roku TV that's under $500. And nearly half of readers with Roku TVs have purchased their TV within the past year.
Roku has a few popular TV picks under $500, including the TCL 4-Series, the Pioneer 50-inch 4K smart Roku TV and the Roku – 40″ Class Select Series Full HD (1080p) LED Smart RokuTV. Roku's cost-effective options don't skimp on quality. For instance, the Pioneer 4K Roku TV is an LED TV with 4K resolution and a smart TV interface, and it supports High Dynamic Range to improve your picture quality.
Vizio is next up to Roku, with 45% of readers having Vizio TVs costing less than $500. If you're in the market for a mini-LED TV, Vizio has its Mini LED Quantum Series 4K TV for under $500 in two sizes (65 and 75 inches). Interestingly, 40.8% of CNET readers with Vizio TVs have had them the longest (over five years) — speaking to its quality and longevity for the price.
Trust me, a smart TV's interface can make or break your day-to-day experience. Roku understands that and wins over 59.1% of CNET readers.
Most readers with a Roku TV say its interface is fast, clean and very easy to navigate. No readers reported the interface being cluttered, slow or frustrating to use — the only TV brand to do so. Roku recently released a new interface that includes a “For You” section, which combines AI suggestions, saved entertainment and what you're already watching. And the new interface has a “Quick Access” section to get to your most used apps faster, but we have a guide if you're not a fan and want to turn it off.
TCL is a runner-up for the Smart TV ecosystem category. Over half (56.5%) of readers who own a TCL TV say the interface is fast, clean and easy to navigate, while 22.5% say the interface is good but has too many ads or sponsored recommendations.
Standard LED and LCD TVs use LED backlights and are usually the most cost-effective compared to other TVs. Roku wins 34.8% of its owners over for this category. There are a few budget-friendly Roku LED TVs worth considering, including the onn 43″ Class 4K UHD Roku Smart Television and the Hisense 50″ Class 4K UHD LED LCD Roku Smart TV. The Roku Select Series LED TV is a CNET favorite for its usability features, like Roku's interface and remote finder.
Readers say Vizio is the next top pick for LED/LCD TVs, with 32.7% owning an LED or LCD Vizio TV.
Hisense/J. Hazelwood/CNET Sound quality Runner-up: Sony Hisense wins CNET's People's Picks for its sound quality. Nearly half of readers (45.7%) with Hisense TVs rate the internal audio as “great.” And that's nearly double CNET readers' satisfaction with popular brands like Sony (25.2%), Samsung (23.8%) and Vizio (22.2%). One of the perks of Hisense's latest U7 and UR8 models is Dolby Atmos, which uses surround sound to deliver 3D audio. The U7 models also have a built-in 2.1.2-channel speaker system for more immersive sound. CNET's favorite budget TV, the Hisense QD7 TV, also supports Dolby Atmos.
Sony is next up for the sound quality category, with 25.2% of owners saying Sony TVs have great sound quality with clear dialogue and decent bass. Some (41.7%) say it's adequate for casual watching.
TCL/J. Hazelwood/CNET Mini-LED/QLED Runner-up: Hisense
Mini LED TVs use tiny LEDs to give you better brightness, blacks and contrast compared to most standard LED TVs. When it comes to mini-LED and QLED TV panels, TCL wins, with 57.5% of readers owning mini-LED/QLED TCL TVs and naming it their primary TV brand. TCL has been producing mini-LED TVs longer than most TV makers, and many of them have earned CNET's praise.
According to CNET editors, the TCL QM8K is nearly comparable to an OLED TV in terms of picture quality for less money. TCL's QM8L is another mini-LED QLED TV that CNET loves for its brightness, color and contrast, too.
Over half (52.1%) of readers with a Hisense TV have a mini-LED/QLED TV, with its model ranking second to TCL. Hisense has a few mini-LED models, including the U6, U7 and the new RGB mini-LED UR8, which we got a glimpse of at CES 2026. It's around $1,300 and comes with better-than-before color reproduction.
Many TVs have similar features that may make it seem like the best deal is the biggest screen for your buck. Of everything to consider, CNET's TV senior editor Ty Pendlebury advises looking at price, size and picture quality to help narrow down your options.
“It's always what fits their budget, so not necessarily a 'budget' model. If an OLED is within your budget, get it, that's the quickest shortcut,” said Pendlebury.
And don't worry about perfecting your TV's sound quality during your upgrade. Pendlebury says that most TVs sound tinny, so you should consider a soundbar as a separate purchase for better audio.
Katzmaier also has some practical advice to help you feel more satisfied with your purchase years later. For instance, bigger doesn't always mean better.
“A bigger TV is great, but it can expose lower-quality sources,” said Katzmaier. The reason is that a bigger screen can show imperfections more than a smaller one. If you still want a bigger screen, consider subscribing to 4K plans to streaming services like Netflix and YouTube TV for better picture quality. You can also try adjusting your picture settings, such as putting the TV in Filmmaker Mode, but Katzmaier says that's not a cure-all.
Watch this: TV Jargon Demystified: Here's What You Need to Know About Color and Brightness 04:36 Instead of screen size, focus on getting a picture quality you're satisfied with. “The biggest improvement would be getting a new display technology, especially QD-OLED/OLED,” said Katzmaier. “TVs with those kinds of screens deliver clear improvements in contrast and viewing angle that the others can't match.”
CNET editors and readers highly recommend LG. But other brands were close runners-up. If you're looking for deep black levels and strong color reproduction, readers recommend Sony as a second contender. Or if you're struggling to watch TV in a room with a big window, consider TCL or Samsung — all CNET favorites.
CNET has plenty of reviews of some of the latest TVs, like the TCL QM8L, if you're looking for a brighter TV, or the Samsung S90F, if you're looking for the best value for overall picture quality. Regardless, there are also guides to help narrow down your TV choice, like choosing between LCD and OLED TVs, what to know about micro-LED and a list of everything to look for when buying a new TV.
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