Top-Tier OLED TVs in 2025: Four Outstanding Models Recommended for Severe Cinephiles Based on Our Expert Opinions
If you're in the market for a top-tier TV and don't mind shelling out some cash, an OLED model is probably on your radar. And for good reason; these bad boys offer amazing picture quality that LED sets just can't touch.
But be warned: not all OLEDs are created equal. Some perform significantly better than others, making it tricky to choose the right one for your budget and needs. That's why we're constantly testing new sets and updating this guide with the best of the best.
Our current top pick is the Sony Bravia 8. This sucker offers fantastic picture quality, better-than-average sound, and pixel-level light control, resulting in perfect blacks and stellar contrast. Plus, it aces our rigorous comparative testing process in our viewing rooms.
If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, the LG C4 is still a great choice, especially with significant discounts now available. And if you've got some extra cash to burn, the LG G4 remains our recommended premium OLED TV – for now.
If you want detailed breakdowns of how we test OLED TVs or more info on LG's new C5, keep on reading!
Our Expert:I've been testing OLED TVs for more than 16 years as a technology journalist. That means I've spent countless hours in our dedicated test room, comparing each year's sets for picture and audio quality. The tech never stops developing, and there's always something new to check out.
Picture
Best Overall
Punchy, but accurate
1. Sony Bravia 8
★★★★★
Specifications:- OLED Panel- 4K Resolution- HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HLG support- Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology
Reasons to Buy:- Fantastic picture quality with strong color accuracy and vivid peaks- Excellent upscaling capabilities that deliver a sharp, three-dimensional image- Best-sounding OLED TV in this list, thanks to Acoustic Surface Audio+ tech
Sound
Reasons to Avoid:- Only two HDMI 2.1 inputs (one of which doubles as eARC)- Frame rate is capped at 120Hz, rather than the 144Hz seen on many rivals, limiting its appeal to PC gamers
The best you'll find on a TV
Despite the Sony Bravia 8 II launch this year, the base Bravia 8 remains Sony's latest step-down OLED. While its name suggests otherwise, the Sony Bravia 8 II is actually a successor to the step-up, more expensive Sony A95L QD-OLED from a couple of years ago. The Sony Bravia 8, then, remains the best OLED TV we recommend to most people.
★★★★★
For the money, the Bravia 8 delivers an incredibly strong performance-per-pound value. Highlights include a wonderfully punchy, yet accurate picture that offers fantastic peak brightness and plenty of shadow detail. Its Bravia XR processor is also a solid performer, with impressive upscaling powers and excellent light control offering a sharp, three-dimensional image, even when running challenging test titles like True Grit.
As a final perk, the Bravia 8 delivers better-than-average sound, thanks to its under-screen actuators, rather than traditional speakers. While we still recommend a soundbar or speaker package for truly great results, the Bravia's 8's speakers deliver a noticeable amount more control and directionality than the rivals we tested it against, including the LG C4.
Features
The combined package makes it a fantastic general OLED for most people, earning it our reviewers' glowing recommendation:
Solid app support, but not the best for gamers
"Skin tones are warmer and more realistic, and advances in its light control make the picture look wonderfully three-dimensional. Audio also remains a cut above the experience you'll get on rival sets. So while the Bravia 8 may be a hard sell for people who only recently bought an OLED TV in the past few years, it is still an incredible set worth considering for everyone else."
★★★★☆
Best Budget
2. LG C4
Specifications:- OLED Panel- 4K Resolution- HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HLG support- webOS interface with some ad-heaviness
Reasons to Buy:- Authentic, balanced picture quality with rich colors and well-handled motion- Excellent OS and gaming features, including four full-speed HDMI 2.1 inputs
Reasons to Avoid:- Dull sound means a soundbar is essential
Picture
We have tested the LG C5, and while we noticed a number of subtle but important upgrades over the outgoing C4, its higher up-front cost means the C4 remains our recommended affordable OLED.
Authentic, balanced picture quality
While it targets the same space as the Bravia 8 we list as the best "overall" option, the C4 is our recommended "cheap" set as it is available in smaller, considerably less expensive sizes. You can pick it up in 48- and 42-inch options, which retail for well under a grand at the moment – making them an absolute steal.
★★★★★
Despite being superseded by the newer model, the C4 is still an incredibly competent performer that will delight serious movie fans, sports fanatics, and gamers in equal measure. And you no longer need to pay full price for one, of course.
For your money, you'll get a truly impressive all-rounder that ticks all the boxes for most prospective buyers. Our five-star review of the 48-inch version declares it "a formidable step up" over its predecessor in terms of picture quality, with a rich and engaging picture that delivers punchy colors and well-handled motion.
Sound
The webOS interface is generally intuitive, if a little ad-heavy, and no matter which size you opt for, you get four high-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports that support the full gamut of gaming features: VRR, ALLM, HGiG, and 4K at up to 144Hz.
Dull sound
There are some differences between the sizes to be aware of though. Colors on the 42-inch version aren't as rich as the larger models, and its different stand configuration means there is limited space for a soundbar without blocking the bottom of the screen. And a soundbar is pretty much essential due to the lackluster performance of the speakers on all of the smaller sizes. The larger sets perform better with sound, but a separate sound system will make a real difference to your overall enjoyment.
★★★☆☆
We've been fans of LG's C-series for a long time now – and at these kinds of prices, that's not going to change any time soon.
- ^ Back to the top
Features
Best Premium
Excellent OS and gaming features
3. LG G4
★★★★★
Specifications:- OLED Panel- 4K Resolution- HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HLG support- MLA technology for improved brightness and peak brightness
Reasons to Buy:- Brighter and more refined picture quality compared to past OLED sets- Significantly cheaper than the newer LG G5- Four full-speed HDMI 2.1 inputs, ideal for gamers
Reasons to Avoid:- Inbuilt speakers aren't great; investing in a separate soundbar or speaker system is essential
Officially the G4's time as LG's flagship premium OLED has come to an end, with the newer LG G5 having taken its place. Still, the G4 remains the premium OLED TV we recommend to most people – for a few reasons.
First because it's significantly cheaper. Since the newer model went on sale, prices for every model of the G4 have gone down a lot.
Picture
Second, because, despite generally proving to be a solid upgrade on its predecessor when we tested it, the G5 currently suffers from a bug that makes streamed Dolby Vision content near unwatchable. The short version is that it suffers from noise and pixellation during mixed light and dark scenes. LG has confirmed a fix is incoming for the G5, but for now, from a performance-per-pound perspective we recommend the older model to most premium OLED shoppers as a result.
The best LG's delivered to date
Third and finally, because the G4 remains an amazing performer that competes with the best of the best based on our comparative testing. It's the only set on this list to feature Micro Lens Array (MLA) hardware. Why is that a big deal? Because MLA is a key technology that lets the G4 offer radically higher peak and maximum brightness levels than past OLED sets. The second-generation MLA panel on the G4 can deliver 3000 nits maximum brightness – a huge 1000-nit increase on what its predecessor, the LG G3, could offer with its first-generation MLA screen.
★★★★★
And that's not the only big upgrade the G4 offers. During our testing, the LG G4 proved to be one of the biggest year-on-year improvements we've seen with a TV in quite some time. MLA, combined with the use of a new Alpha 11 chip, helped it deliver radically improved picture-processing and led to great results across all our tests.
There's a wonderful heft to characters' movement during the fight in Blade Runner 2049, which we often use to test a TV's motion handling. Our reviewers then couldn't help but be impressed by the sheer volume of shadow detail on show when we ran the atypically dark The Batman, where it also retained its color accuracy and was blissfully free of the brown tinge we experienced on its predecessor.
Sound
Finally, there are the dazzling peaks we saw running our Pan peak brightness stress test – forgive our movie choice: it's terrible, but useful, thanks to its unusual 4000-nits mastering.
Thin and flat even by TV standards
For gamers, the inclusion of four, rather than the standard two, HDMI 2.1 inputs is also a blessing that will save those people with multiple current-generation games consoles and a Dolby Atmos soundbar a lot of cable swapping. This is why it is the first TV for close to a year to dethrone the older Sony A95 QD-OLED as the best premium OLED to buy right now. Our only minor quibble is that its inbuilt speakers aren't great; but at this price, you should be investing in a solid Dolby Atmos soundbar or speaker system to go with your new TV anyway.
★★★☆☆
Also Consider
LG G5
Features
If you are willing to pay more and pull the trigger before the promised fix for a Dolby Vision streaming bug, then the LG G5 is a fantastic OLED TV. Featuring a fourth-generation OLED panel, it's one of the brightest OLEDs we've tested.
The best you'l get for app support and gaming
Panasonic Z95A
★★★★★
A direct rival to the LG G4 above, Panasonic's Z95A uses the same brightness-boosting MLA screen technology, but the picture is more subdued – some people might prefer this. It also comes with a built-in soundbar, but the improvement in audio performance isn't enough to justify the higher price you have to pay as a result.
What we look for in an OLED TV
Value for money: Even though OLED TVs are by nature a luxury item, whenever we review any product we put performance-per-pound (or dollar, if you're in the US) first. This is a key metric we use to determine if something is good value for money – which is why if an OLED costs thousands more than a direct rival, we expect it to perform significantly better.
Picture quality: This is a primary point we look at when reviewing any OLED set. Key factors include: are the colours accurate? How good is the motion handling (which is a fancy way of saying do movements look natural and free of the dreaded Soap Opera Effect)? Is the picture vibrant and enticing? Is the HDR performance up to scratch in all the common standards, such as HDR10, Dolby Vision and HLG? Are blacks deep enough and is there plenty of shadow detail?
Audio: On top of that, we gauge any OLED's audio performance. There are plenty of OLED TVs doing the rounds with attached speaker bars purporting to "remove the need for a soundbar or speaker package". We're yet to find one that delivers on this promise, so we still check key things such as how they handle bass-heavy scenes, dialogue, and (where applicable) surround-sound formats and/or Dolby Atmos.
Picture
Gaming: Given that many people now regularly play games on their TV, when reviewing an OLED we always make sure it features the connectivity required to run a current-generation console or PC at full speed. Key things include the ability to run games in 4K at 120Hz, whether or not it suffers from input lag and support for gaming-specific HDR standards, such as Dolby Vision Gaming. Of course, we also go beyond the specs and test whether games look and feel good when played through the TV on test.
An solid improvement on last year's model
How we test OLED TVs
★★★★★
We always test OLEDs using the same approach we do with any category of products. As a starting point, we always test OLEDs in controlled conditions – usually our viewing room – and directly against the other TVs that we think buyers looking at this specific set should also consider or be upgrading from. This is to ensure our experiences are uniform among all the TVs we test. We never review a product in isolation or gauge performance based on memory. Every review will feature conclusions we've made directly comparing the TVs we mention.
As part of this, we use a reference system for the TVs. This includes a Panasonic DP-UB820EB Blu-ray player, which we use to run our test discs, and a Sony TA-AN1000, which we use to split the same source material simultaneously across the OLED TVs we're comparing. For gaming features, we connect current-generation Xbox Series X and PS5 game consoles. If there are any changes to the reference set-up, we will flag them in the review.
Sound
For picture quality, we always use an ever-changing portfolio of test discs to gauge specific aspects of the TV's performance. For example, we may use a 4K Blu-ray of an incredibly brightly mastered movie, such as Pan, to gauge peak brightness. Meanwhile, we will watch scenes from an incredibly darkly mastered movie, such as The Batman or Oppenheimer, to check shadow detail.
Middling audio means a soundbar is essential
We do not professionally calibrate TVs during testing as this is beyond what most normal buyers would do and requires specialist equipment and knowledge, even on expensive OLEDs. However, we do not just use the out-of-the-box settings. As a rule, when testing an OLED TV, we will experiment with all the settings, using a mixture of test patterns and 'real' content, until we feel we have got the absolute best picture possible out of it.
★★★☆☆
OLED TV FAQ
Should you wait for the new 2025 OLED TVs to launch?
Features
Probably not. New TVs are typically not radically different from the models they replace, and the enhancements they offer often do not justify the additional cost. Furthermore, the tech takes time to trickle down, so you can expect a more significant upgrade with the next version of your chosen model, especially if it's relatively new.
Flawless HDR and gaming specifications
How is OLED different?
★★★★★
OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) TVs use organic compounds suspended within an emissive layer to produce light using an electric current. Unlike LED TVs, which use backlighting to illuminate the screen, OLED TVs produce light directly at the pixel level. Since each pixel can be individually controlled, OLED TVs can achiever deeper blacks, more accurate colors, and better contrast compared to LED TVs. Additionally, OLED TVs are thinner and more flexible than LED TVs because they do not require a backlight or a thick framing structure.
Is OLED better?
In many respects, yes. OLED TVs offer superior picture quality, better color accuracy, deeper blacks, and faster response times compared to LED TVs. However, OLED TVs can suffer from burn-in in extreme cases, where static images on the screen remain for long periods. LED TVs do not have this issue because they use a backlight that can be adjusted to prevent burn-in. Additionally, OLED TVs are typically more expensive than LED TVs.
Is QD-OLED and MLA (Micro Lumioudness Augmentation) the same as OLED?
QD-OLED and MLA are variations of OLED technology aimed at improving brightness and color saturation. QD-OLED uses quantum dots to emit light more efficiently and more accurately than traditional OLED panels. MLA uses a layer of hexagonal micro-lenses to direct light more efficiently, resulting in improved brightness and color saturation. Both technologies aim to address the issue of reduced brightness and color saturation in traditional OLED panels by addressing the way the light is emitted and directed.
Are there any cheap OLEDs?
Cheap OLEDs do not exist. OLED TVs are inherently expensive due to the materials and manufacturing process required to produce them. However, some OLED TVs may be cheaper than others due to factors such as size, features, and brand. It's always best to compare TVs and make a decision based on performance and value for money rather than the price alone.
Should I worry about OLED burn-in?
Burn-in is a potential issue with OLED TVs, but it is relatively rare with normal use. Burn-in typically occurs when static images remain on the screen for extended periods, causing the organic compounds to break down and leaving permanent residue. This can result in visible ghosting or persistence of the static image on the screen. To avoid burn-in, it's recommended to use dynamic screensavers, adjust the settings to prevent static images from remaining on the screen for long periods, and avoid displaying the same static images for extended periods.
Recent Updates
We have updated the guide to include information about the LG C4, LG G4, and the upcoming LG G5. We have also added a new section about the differences between QD-OLED and non-QD OLED panels and included a summary table for easy comparison. Finally, we have added a new FAQ section to answer common questions about OLED TV technology and performance.
- The Sony Bravia 8 is a top choice for an OLED TV, offering fantastic picture quality, superior sound, and exceptional light control, earning it our experts' recommendation.
- If you're on a tighter budget, the LG C4 is still a great option, especially with current discounts available.
- For those with more money to spend, the LG G4 remains our recommended premium OLED TV.
- The LG C5 model has shown subtle upgrades over the outgoing C4, but the C4 remains the more affordable option for most buyers.
- When testing OLED TVs, our experts consider factors such as picture quality, audio, gaming capabilities, and value for money.
- OLED TVs are directly compared with other sets in controlled conditions to ensure uniform experiences and fair comparisons.
