Best OLED TVs in 2024 tested: December top picks from LG, Samsung and more

The LG B4 OLED next to the LG C4 OLED
The LG C4 and B4 are among the best OLED TVs in 2024 (Image credit: Tom's Guide / LG)

The best OLED TVs are the pinnacle of performance, offering phenomenal motion processing, and top-of-the-line upscaling, and plenty of useful features. With unbeatable black levels and perfect contrast, OLEDs offer a cinema-like experience for not that much more money than a traditional LED-LCD or Mini-LED TV.

Having tested them since their rollout in 2012, OLED TVs are my go-to choice when building a home cinema. I don't put one in every room of my house, but I love using one as my main TV.

As for which OLED TV wins the title of "best OLED TV", it changes every year. LG has an impressive track record of engineering award-winning OLEDs, and recently, Samsung walked away with the title. On occasion, the top OLED has been a Sony TV, and several years ago, the honor went to a Vizio OLED (back when those were still a thing). In short, I've been in the OLED game for a long time, and I've seen nearly of all the OLED TVs on the market.

Right now, I personally find the LG G4 OLED to be the best OLED TV available. It uses LG Display's cutting-edge OLED panels equipped with Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology alongside an AI processor. This results in a bright, colorful picture that looks super sharp in 4K.

There are plenty of options across different size and price points.

Recent updates

November 25, 2024
The LG B4 has earned a spot as our best value OLED right now.

The quick list

The best OLED TVs you can buy: quick list

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

About the author

Written by
Nick Pino is the Managing Editor, TV and AV at Tom's Guide
Written by
Nick Pino

My name's Nick and I look after our guides to the best TVs, best OLED TVs and best 4K TVs. OLED TVs are, in my opinion, one of the biggest revolutions in display technology of the past 20 years. They offer perfect black levels and wide color gamuts, while seeing incremental upticks in brightness every year. Lots of research goes into making an OLED TV look the way it does, and the same amount of care, time and research has gone into assembling this list. Why trust me? I have 10 years of experience covering AV, and before I joined Tom's Guide I was formerly the Senior Editor, TV and AV at TechRadar. If you've read a story about the breakthroughs of OLED TV sometime in the last decade, it probably has my name on it.

Best OLED TV

LG G4 OLED in living roomEditor's Choice

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
LG elevates its beautifully-designed G-Series to the next level

Specifications

Available Screen Sizes: 55, 65, 77, 83 inches
Screen Type: OLED with MLA
Refresh Rate: 120Hz (up to 144Hz)
HDMI ports: 4x HDMI 2.1
Size: 56.8 x 32.7 x 0.4 inches
Weight: 49.6 pounds

Reasons to buy

+
Outstanding picture quality
+
WebOS is simple to use
+
Strong gaming features
+
Four HDMI 2.1 ports

Reasons to avoid

-
No HDR10+ support
-
Built-in audio is average
-
No ATSC 3.0 tuner

The title of best OLED TVs can swing back and forth between LG, Samsung and Sony. But this year, the honor belongs to LG with the LG G4 OLED. While Samsung and Sony are pushing QD-OLED in their flagship models, the LG G4 OLED offers an enhanced version of WOLED with 2nd-generation Micro Lens Array technology. That's a real mouthful, but the basic idea here is that this new panel can produce better brightness than any other LG OLED previously, and it does so safely for long periods of time.

In our lab tests, the LG G4 OLED reached a peak brightness of almost 1,500 nits, while maintaining a color accuracy of 1.4041. That's a heck of a lot better than any other OLED TV. Add to that its low input latency of 9.2ms in Game Mode, and you've got the recipe for an award-winning OLED that can both play cinema-quality movies perfectly and give gamers an amazing experience.

Our test results and our anecdotal testing have proven to us beyond any doubt that this is the best OLED TV available to buy right now, bar none.

Read our full LG G4 OLED review.

Best value OLED TV

LG B4 OLED TV on table in living roomTom's Guide Recommended product badge

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
An entry-level LG OLED at an unbeatable price

Specifications

Available Screen Sizes: 48, 55, 65, 77, 83 inches
Screen Type: OLED
Refresh Rate: 120Hz
HDMI ports: 4x HDMI 2.1
Size: 57 x 32.8 x 1.8 inches
Weight: 37.7 pounds

Reasons to buy

+
Perfect black levels
+
Four HDMI 2.1 ports
+
Brilliant colors

Reasons to avoid

-
Middling audio
-
Missing ATSC 3.0 tuner
-
Reflective screen

If you're looking for a phenomenal TV at a lower price than most, consider the LG B4. It's LG's entry-level OLED TV for 2024, and right now, it's seeing some serious price cuts. The 55-inch set can be found for $950 to $1,100, while the 65-inch model is available for around $1,100 to $1,300.

The B4's best asset is its OLED display, which allows for perfect black levels and ultra-accommodating viewing angles. Even at this price point, the B4's high-contrast picture is impressive; its inky black levels help elevate its relatively dim highlights (which we clocked around 660 nits). 

When we reviewed the LG B4, we were impressed with its picture processing, particularly its motion handling. Fast-paced action movies and sports looked especially good in our lab. It's also worth noting that, in LG's Filmmaker mode, the B4  offers fantastic out-of-the-box color accuracy. This is another way in which the B4 offers many of the same benefits as higher-priced OLEDs.

Dedicated gamers will love the B4, too, as it offers most of the gaming enhancements found on higher-end LG OLEDs (support for 4K gaming across all four HDMI 2.1 inputs, for instance). 

If you're looking for a little more brightness but still prefer an OLED, the 65-inch LG C4 might be worth the extra cost. It offers a brighter picture than the B4 and support for 4K gaming at 144Hz. I wouldn't worry too much about missing out on the latter unless you're a dedicated PC gamer, but if your room is particularly sunny (or if you watch a lot of movies and shows with the lights on), the C4 ought to be on your radar.

For most people, though, the B4 is a great compromise. It offers an impressive picture at a reasonable price.

Read our full LG B4 review.

Best QD-OLED TV

Samsung S95C OLED TVTom's Guide Recommended product badge

(Image credit: Future)
Missing out on Dolby Vision, but this OLED is still a cut above the rest

Specifications

Available Screen Sizes: 55, 65, 77
Screen Type: QD-OLED
Refresh Rate: 120Hz
HDMI ports: 4x HDMI 2.1
Size: 56.8 x 32.7 x 0.4 inches
Weight: 41.7 pounds

Reasons to buy

+
One Connect box for cable management
+
Impressive brightness
+
Works as a SmartThings/Matter controller

Reasons to avoid

-
No Dolby Vision
-
Built-in audio is average

I never get tired of looking at Samsung OLED TVs. Most of them use a quantum dot OLED panel designed by Samsung Display, and they offer both beautiful contrast and expansive color gamut coverage. These are the kind of TVs that will wow you with their pop of colors and shockingly bright highlights.

The reason it doesn't sit at the top spot is two-fold: It's no longer new in 2024 (this is Samsung's 2023 OLED TV) and LG's MLA technology offers similar boost in brightness to Samsung's QD-OLED while offering support for Dolby Vision and the more robust webOS smart platform. These are minor qualms, admittedly, and only someone with a decade of experience (ahem) might find them to be an issue.

If you don't necessarily care about Dolby Vision because you don't pay for the highest tier of Netflix and don't have a 4K Blu-ray player, then the Samsung S95C is basically just a cheaper version of the LG G4 OLED with similar specs.

Read our full Samsung S95C OLED review.

Best new OLED TV

Panasonic Z95A OLED TV in living roomEditor's Choice

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
Panasonic's storied return to the US takes form

Specifications

Available Screen Sizes: 65 inches
Screen Type: OLED with MLA
Refresh Rate: 120Hz (up to 144Hz)
HDMI ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 2x HDMI 2.0
Size: 54.6 x 47.6 x 26.7 inches
Weight: 25.5 kg

Reasons to buy

+
Ample anti-reflective screen
+
Vibrant color palette
+
Incredible HDR performance
+
Bombastic sound system

Reasons to avoid

-
Only available in 65-inch size
-
Wi-Fi hitching on startup
-
Only two HDMI 2.1 ports

The Panasonic Z95A is a true stunner. In its return back into the US market, Panasonic has delivered with incredible bounds bringing an utter performer to the foray that's built on LG Display's META gen two MLA panel. With a 144Hz refresh rate and all the latest gaming features, you're looking at a true beast.

It's a powerful HDR and SDR display, making entertainment pop from the likes of general blockbusters to even anime. Its low Delta-E score of 2.33 makes it ideal for colorful content, but even more impressive is its 1,625 nits of brightness in SDR. This helps to mitigate glare, as well, which is barely noticeable on the Z95A.

But a slew of HDR support, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+, make it ideal for this type of content, as well. An HDR brightness of 2012 nits, the highest we've tested on an OLED TV yet, makes it a promising new addition to the market and one worthy of its pricey investment. The only issues? The Panasonic Z95A comes at just over $3,000, so it's not exactly cheap, and only comes in a single 65-inch screen size.

Read our full Panasonic Z95A OLED TV review

Best for gaming

LG C4 OLED TV shown in a living roomTom's Guide Recommended product badge

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
The C4 OLED is a perfect companion for PCs and 4K consoles

Specifications

Available Screen Sizes: 42, 48, 55, 65, 77, 83 inches
Screen Type: OLED
Refresh Rate: 120 Hz (up to 144Hz)
HDMI ports: 4x HDMI 2.1
Size (65in): 56.7 x 32.5 x 1.8 inches
Weight (65in): 36.6 pounds

Reasons to buy

+
Superb picture quality
+
Svelte webOS smart platform
+
Strong gaming feature set
+
Four HDMI 2.1 ports

Reasons to avoid

-
Pricey for the performance
-
Average sound quality
-
No ATSC 3.0 tuner or HDR10+ support

If you don't follow them closely, it can be hard to know which OLED TVs are new and which ones have been sitting on store shelves for the last 12 months. The LG C4 OLED is the newest 2024 model and just became available in April of this year.

Because it's so new, it's more expensive than last year's C3 OLED, but our lab tests show that it offers a higher peak brightness (1,049 nits on the C4 vs 820 nits on the C3). If you plan on watching mostly HDR content from sources like Max, Disney Plus, Netflix and Amazon, then it's worth forking over the extra money. If you still watch HD/SDR content from your cable box, then save some money by picking up the LG C3 OLED instead.

While movie lovers will certainly enjoy the C4, it's gamers who will get the most bang for their buck with this screen as it packs all of the best gaming features from the flagship G4 OLED into a more affordable TV. 144Hz refresh rates, HDMI 2.1 ports galore, Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync support are all here, as is the LG Game Bar. It's so good, one of our staff uses it as his gaming PC monitor.

Read our full LG C4 OLED review

Best for PS5

Sony Bravia 8 in living roomTom's Guide Recommended product badge

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
Sony's only new OLED in 2024 is a great companion for PS5

Specifications

Available Screen Sizes: 55, 65, 77 inches
Screen Type: OLED
Refresh Rate: 120Hz
HDMI ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 2x HDMI 2.0
Size (65in): 56.9 x 32.8 x 1.5 inches
Weight (65in): 49.2 pounds

Reasons to buy

+
Generally high picture quality
+
Powerful Google TV smart interface
+
Well-designed remote control
+
Has ATSC 3.0 tuner

Reasons to avoid

-
Professional mode requires tweaking
-
Only two HDMI 2.1 ports
-
Mediocre game response time

The LG C4 OLED is the best for Xbox and PCs, but if you're a PS5 gamer, you'll likely want to stick with a Sony TV. The best OLED (well, really, the only new one released in 2024) from Sony is the Bravia 8 that we reviewed in September.

The Bravia 8 brings to bear all of Sony's great picture-processing technologies, and adds a few specific features for the PS5 like Auto HDR Tone Mapping (for optimizing HDR settings during PS5 setup) and Auto Genre Picture Mode. Unlike the C4 OLED, the Bravia 8 only has two HDMI 2.1 ports but that should only be an issue if you want to connect both the PS5 and new PS5 Pro.

In our lab tests, the Sony Bravia 8 scored decently well, hitting 815 nits in HDR and 287 in SDR. That's not quite as good as the competition, but it's a big improvement on the older Sony A80L from 2023.

If you want a TV that optimizes the PS5 experience, the Bravia 8 OLED is a great option.

Read our full Sony Bravia 8 OLED review

Other OLED TVs we tested

Here are all the OLED TVs that either are a bit too old to make it to the top of our list, or just missed a spot due to a few issues. Despite their flaws, however, they're still worth researching if you're in the market for a new OLED TV.

Samsung S95D OLED TV ★★★★★

Samsung S95D OLED TV ★★★★★
Samsung's S95D OLED is a true stunner at a cost. Priced over $2,000 for its 55-inch model, the S95D proves a premium display with AI upscaling chops unlike many other built on a 144Hz refresh rate with support for Dolby Atmos and HDR10+ Adaptive.

Read our full Samsung S95D OLED review

LG B3 OLED ★★★★

LG B3 OLED ★★★★
When it comes to the most affordable OLED TVs, the LG B3 OLED is king. It's often available in a 55-inch screen size for right around $1,000 and it's a very good screen for the price. The only thing going against it is that the C3 OLED, our top value pick, is only a few hundred dollars more and has a better processor.

Read our full LG B3 OLED review

Sony A80L OLED ★★★★

Sony A80L OLED ★★★★
If you want a TV that sounds as good as it looks or one that pushes the limits of the screen size without breaking the bank, the A80L delivers. It's older than a lot of the models above, but it sounds great and offers a great picture quality.

Read our full Sony A80L OLED review

OLED TV FAQs

How much do OLED TVs cost?

The majority of OLED TVs in the 55- and 65-inch range sell for between $1,500 and $2,000, but premium models will often cost more, and larger screen sizes can routinely sell for $3,000 or more.

What is OLED?

OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode, a display technology that uses organic compounds to create clusters of red, green, blue, and white points of light to make up the individual pixels of the TV. On a 4K TV with 3840 x 2160 resolution, that means a single OLED panel will have 8.29 million pixels. And unlike standard LCD TVs, each one of those pixels produces its own light, and can be individually turned on or off, brightened or dimmed.

That pixel-level control of brightness lets OLED offer the best contrast of any display technology, with neighboring pixels delivering everything from intense brightness to true black, and every color imaginable.

As a result, OLED TVs consistently outperform the majority of LED-lit LCD TVs, whether they use standard LCD panels or boost the picture quality with enhancements like quantum dots (also known as QLED) or discrete dimming zones.

You can find similar-performing technology out there (microLED is another display type that uses microscopic light-emitting diodes for perfect contrast) but OLED is still the most mainstream option out there.

Are OLED TVs worth buying?

If you want a truly excellent TV, OLED is absolutely worth considering. It offers better picture quality than standard LCD TVs can match, and with prices coming down every year, they're no longer prohibitively expensive either. In testing and reviews, OLED TVs have consistently offered some of the best picture quality available.

There are areas of performance where LCDs offer better performance. Brightness on OLED TVs is no match for the greater intensity you can produce with an LED backlight, and LCD sets don't have the same risk of burn-in or color drift that OLEDs have to contend with long-term. But in virtually every other area, from viewing angles to color accuracy, OLED sets match or beat LCD-based competitors hands down.

But there is some question of whether that improved quality is worth the added expense. When there are 4K models selling for under $500, why spend $1,000 or more on an OLED set? There is definitely a case to be made for spending less for quality that is comparable, if not exactly the same.

But if you want the best color, contrast and overall quality you can get from a TV today, OLED is the way to go.

Which brands offer OLED TVs?

Currently, of the major brands you're most likely familiar with, only LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony offer OLED TVs. The panels themselves are manufactured by LG Display and Samsung.

Due to the unique manufacturing process and the costs associated with production, OLED TVs are currently only available in the following sizes: 42, 48, 55, 65, 77, 83 and 97 inches.

How to choose the best OLED TV

How to choose the best OLED TV for you

The above selection of OLED TVs offer an embarrassment of riches for TV shoppers to choose from, with everything from basic functionality to advanced smart features and premium designs.

The biggest factor in most shopper's decision making will be price, but other differences include physical designs.

Smart features are also a differentiator. LG sets offer a pretty consistent experience across all of its models thanks to the webOS platform, but Sony's Google TV and Samsung's Tizen sets have strengths and weaknesses of their own.

Interested in a specific TV brand, price range or screen size? Check out our picks for the best TVs in each.

Best TVs | Best 4K TVs | Best smart TVs for streaming | Best TVs for gaming

The best TVs under $1000 | The best TVs under $500

Best TV brands | Best Samsung TVs | Best TCL TVs | Best LG TVs | Best Roku TVs | Best QLED TVs | Best 8K TVs

The smallest smart TVs | Best 43-inch TVs | Best 50-inch TVs | Best 55-inch TVs | Best 65-inch TVs | Best 70-inch TVs | Best 75-inch TVs | Best 85-inch TVs

How we test the best OLED TVs

How we test OLED TVs

Every OLED TV we review goes through a thorough testing and evaluation process, starting with rigorous lab testing and finishing with eyes-on evaluation by our reviewers. There's a lot more to it than just putting on a couple of 4K Blu-ray movies or hooking up a game console.

In our TV test space, we submit every TV to a number of lab tests, using industry-standard equipment, such as a calibrated spectrophotometer, calibration software and a dedicated test pattern generator. We measure for several indicators of picture quality, but these are the main metrics used in all of our reviews:

Color gamut, which measures how much color a given TV can produce. Expressed as a percentage rating, most OLED TVs meet or exceed 100% of the Rec709 color space.

Color accuracy, which measures the average deviation from perfect accuracy, expressed as a number (Delta-E), with higher numbers indicating less accurate color.

Contrast, measuring the difference between the darkest darks and brightest brights that a TV can produce, which is expressed as a ratio.

Brightness, measuring the peak luminance of a panel or display. This measure is reported in nits, an industry term for candela per square meter (cd/m2).

Lag time is the interval between a signal, such as button press on a game console, and the subsequent change registering on-screen. Measured with a Leo Bodnar Video Signal Input Lag Tester, this is measured in milliseconds, and provides a good indicator of how well-suited a TV is to modern gaming.

We pair this lab testing with hands-on time, viewing video samples and movies to see how these numbers translate into real-world performance. With that information, we can tell you which TVs look best, sound best and offer the best viewing experience.

Finally, we also evaluate the smart TV software and menus, getting a feel for the navigation and functions of each TV. We look at everything from the remote control design to the voice interaction to let us meaningfully talk about the smart features and overall ease-of-use for a smart TV.

TOPICS
Nick Pino
Managing Editor, TV and AV

Nick Pino heads up the TV and AV verticals at Tom's Guide and covers everything from OLED TVs to the latest wireless headphones. He was formerly the Senior Editor, TV and AV at TechRadar (Tom's Guide's sister site) and has previously written for GamesRadar, Official Xbox Magazine, PC Gamer and other outlets over the last decade. Not sure which TV you should buy? Drop him an email or tweet him on Twitter and he can help you out.

With contributions from
  • Apple Jackson
    Is there a reason you chose last year's LG models across the board? I have the 2021 model (C1) arriving tomorrow as a replacement to my tragically murdered B7 (2017) model, and now I'm getting nervous that I should've gone with last year's. With the current deals out there the newest model was actually cheaper though. Quite a testament to LG quality though that these TVs barely go down in cost. My old 2017 model is only about $150-200 less than I paid almost 5 years ago now. And, as I mentioned, last year's model costs as much or more than this year's, even with this year's models widely available.
    Reply