You're shopping for the best TVs the market has to offer. "best" can be subjective. Is 4K enough or do you want perks like local dimming zones? Do you want an electronic device? Do you want to upgrade to the newer version of the TV OS, or do you prefer the old one? What is your budget? We've gathered our top picks to appeal to a wide audience so you can find the one that's right for you.
What are the best TVs?
The Hisense H9G Quantum Series is the best TV you can buy in 2021. The television has an excellent 4K ULED display, a modern design, and plenty of HDMI ports. You get all of this for a great price.
The TCL 4-Series is a good choice for budget shoppers who want a bigger screen. It's one of the more affordable picks on the list, but still looks great for its low price.
The Sony A80J could be considered the "best" Android TV for its impressive spec's and color performance, but you'll have to spend a lot more to get one.
Hisense
Hisense knocked it out of the park with the U8G. The TV looks amazing, has a lot of features, and comes in a reasonable price.
A sleek design with small pieces of metal.
The picture is 4K.
120Hz refresh rate.
There are four HDMI ports.
Works with both.
High energy usage.
There are only two sizes available.
The Hisense U8G Quantum Series is the best overall pick among all the TVs out there. It's not the most impressive television you can find, but it has the best mix of features and value. The H8G series acts as an upgrade for the Hisense H9G Series that was launched in 2020, but we're here for newer versions despite odd names.
The U8G has a sleek and modern design. It's a nice overall package that feels more sophisticated and refined because of the metal feet for the base and slimmer bezels. It comes in two sizes, 55 and 65 inches, and has four HDMI ports. The native 120Hz screen on the PS5 or Xbox Series X will allow you to play games at 120 frames per second.
The H9G has a feature that adjusts its brightness based on the room. The screen dims when it's really dark. The brightness is raised when it's sunny. It makes using the H9G so much easier. The U8G can respond even when the screen is off with the hands-free feature of the Google Assistant.
The Hisense U8G Quantum is a good value for its features and specifications.
The source is Sony.
Not entirely sold on what the U8G has to offer? The X80J is a great option. There are different size options to choose from, it's more energy efficient, and the picture is gorgeous.
The image quality is gorgeous.
There are a lot of sizes available.
Modern design.
It was included in the TV.
If you don't think the Hisense U8G Quantum will be a good fit for you, the Sony X80J is a solid alternative. This is a slightly less premium television, and while that does mean a lower price, the added value could be worth it for some buyers. Our top pick doesn't have just yet, but it's updated with a new TV platform.
The Sony X800H is a 4K television. The X-Reality PRO engine helps upscale HD content to 4K and Sony's Triluminos display technology gives you more vibrant colors. One of the best 4K images you'll find in this price range is delivered by the Sony X1 processor.
The X80J is Sony's audio product, and it features custom X-balanced speakers that provide rich sound in a compact form. Four HDMI ports for all models and relatively low power consumption are some of the highlights.
The Sony X80J won't have the more powerful specifications of a Sony Bravia XR TV. We think it still holds up as a reliable purchase that won't break the bank.
The Sony X80J is a good choice for an Android TV with top-notch picture quality and plenty of screen sizes.
The source is TCL.
There's a good chance you've overlooked the TCL -Series, but it has a lot to offer. The TV has a 4K resolution and three HDMI ports. The -Series is very affordable no matter what size you are.
The resolution is Crisp 4K.
It is possible to use the HDR10 for vibrant images.
There are three HDMI ports.
Pricing is super affordable.
It is more expensive than 4-Series.
If you're looking for real value, and you're budget-conscious, you may want to start here. The quality of its panels has grown since it brought them to the US, and a quality TV that won't break the bank will probably impress you once you see it.
There are four sizes of the 5-Series. The four models support 4K and have vibrant colors. We're happy to see that there are three HDMI ports and one eARC port, which is good for this price range.
The TCL 5-Series ships with a number of tricks up its sleeve. This is one of the best 4K TVs for the Xbox Series X and the PS5 as it offers support for Virtual Reality and an Auto Game Mode to provide the lowest latency possible without sacrificing picture quality.
The 4-Series of TCL TVs are good, but not all of them are Android TVs.
The source is Sony.
If you're willing to spend twice as much, the Sony X90J will give you a serious upgrade on our favorites. This TV gives you a great experience without costing much more than anOLED. It has the latest interface for TV.
The display is notmatched.
120Hz refresh rate for 4K.
A full array panel has local dimming.
Impressive processor.
Both the Vision and the Atmos.
The Sony X90J is on the opposite side of the price spectrum. This is the best upgrade for most of our readers that they can afford, and it's not as expensive as other Sony TVs.
The Sony X90J brings back full array dimming, great color performance, and an upscaling to 4K. It also adds a new cognitive processor that improves 4K content automatically with better contrast and depth of field, and a mode for next-gen gaming on your PS5 or Series X.
By default, it also adds the same apps as Android TV but with better recommendations. The TV has two side speakers that match the sound of the action, but you get passthrough for the soundbar. The complete package is the X90J.
Hisense
Want next-gen gaming perks like 4K@ 120Hz, Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and Variable Refresh Rate without paying a couple grand? The "G" in Hisense U7G was designed for frugal game players who want a beautiful, high-performing screen while saving money.
There are two HDMI 2.1 ports.
1000 nits with 72 local dimming zones.
Both the HDR10+ and the Vision/ Atmos are compatible.
The price is great.
Stadia was built-in.
There is no Google TV.
Not good viewing angles.
You had to spend a lot of money to get a TV with an HDMI port. Thanks to Hisense, you can get a 55-inch model for under a grand with two next-gen ports for amazing gaming performance, Game Mode Pro tools and the usual Android TV perks.
The Hisense U7G is best viewed dead-on, rather than from the side. It has a bright panel that produces vivid colors and great contrast thanks to its ULED dimming zones, and it has some great color performance. Your gaming consoles will look great on a U7G, and your movies will sound great with the latest technology.
The U8G gives you an extra 500 nits of brightness and almost twice the number of dimming zones. If you subscribe to Stadia Pro, the Hisense TVs will have Stadia built-in without the need for a Chromecast.
Buying a PS5 will clean out your bank account, so save some money with this Hisense U7G TV.
The source is Sony.
It costs more than the competition because it beats every other TV type for deep blacks, contrast, and viewing angles. The Sony A80J adds a more powerful upscaling processor, a more powerful HDMI 2.1 port, and more features than last year's excellent Sony A8H. The A80J is a more future-proofed purchase.
The display is made of organic material.
Rich colors and dark colors.
4K for gaming.
There is support for the TV from the internet.
Not affordable by any means.
Every TV on this list has anLED display. The most common technology for TVs is led displays. If you have a lot of cash and want to get the best picture possible, you should buy the Sony A80J.
Sony did everything it could to give the A80J a picture that was heart-rending. The TV can have rich and deep blacks and vibrant colors thanks to the panel. It has the same perks as the 2021 X90J, including a super-fast processor that automatically upscales and improves the video, removes blur for fast- moving content, and converts soundtracks to 3D audio. Next-gen consoles can be used to play movies with the help of the HDMI 2.1 ports.
The Sony A8H, the 2020 predecessor with similar brightness and color performance at a lower price, was the slot. If you don't need the new XR processor or the new HDMI 2.1, you can save a few hundred dollars. If you're truly loaded, you can upgrade to the gorgeous A90J for an extra grand.
Are you ready to go all-in with a display? The Sony A80J is one of the best in the business.
The source is TCL.
There's a good chance you've overlooked the TCL 4-Series, but it has a lot to offer. The TV has a 4K resolution and three HDMI ports. The 4-Series is very affordable.
The resolution is Crisp 4K.
It is possible to use the HDR10 for vibrant images.
There are three HDMI ports.
Pricing is super affordable.
Doesn't have either of those.
There is no Google TV.
If you're looking for real value, and you're budget-conscious, you may want to start here. The quality of its panels has grown since it brought them to the US, and a quality TV that won't break the bank will probably impress you once you see it.
There are four sizes of the 4-Series. The four models support 4K and have vibrant colors. We're happy to see that there are three HDMI ports and one eARC port, which is good for this price range.
It's not a bad thing that you don't have either of those, but given how cheap the series is, that's to be expected. The 2021 TV was upgraded to a newer operating system, but may not get access to the internet.
The 4-Series of TCL TVs are good, but not all of them are Android TVs.
The market for Android TVs is limited to a few brands like Hisense, Sony, and TCL. These brands give you a wide range of prices, features, and upsides that you should be able to find a model that checks every personal box.
We think the Hisense U8G Quantum is the best TV you can buy in 2021. It brings a combination of great features and an affordable price in one package. It's a setup that Hisense should be proud of, because it allows it to stand out from the competition. The U8G has an amazing 4K picture with all the bells and whistles, and it runs on theANDROID TV platform.
The H9G may not be the best TV for you. You could be willing to spend more for a visual upgrade if you need a lower price. You can get a different TV if you want to get the latest version of Google TV. We'll answer your most common questions about the TVs.
1. What's the name of the TV?
You can access all of your favorite streaming apps from your TV with the custom version of Android TV. You can watch shows from a lot of different companies with the help of the Android TV. There are a couple of tricks that you won't find anywhere else.
It has built in support for Chromecast. If you're on your phone watching a video, looking at pictures in a photo service, or something else, you can send the image to your TV by using the Chromecast icon on your phone. You can use your phone as a TV remote.
The remote that comes with your TV has a button that you can use to access the Google Assistant. You can use the Assistant just like you would on your phone or smart speaker, meaning you can ask about the weather, control smart home devices, check your calendar, and virtually anything you can think of.
You get access to a lot more apps from the Play Store than other platforms, which is about 700,000. The flexibility of your Android TV will be more than most other platforms.
2. Should I buy a streaming box or a TV?
Phil Nickinson is a Cordcutter.
If you want to avoid buying a television with a built-in TV, you can buy one of the best TV boxes and attach it to your TV. Is it better to build a streaming device into your TV or not?
If you're already planning on buying a new television, you should get one that has the built-in TV. This list is proof that there are a lot of great options out there for a lot of budgets, and you can start watching your favorite shows and movies right out of the box.
If you already have a TV that works perfectly, but want to experience something else, you should go with a streaming box. Once it's all hooked up and ready to go, it will give your old TV the interface you get on one of the TVs featured here.
If you wanted to, you could buy a streaming box with a TV and upgrade it to a TV with an operating system other than TV. Attach the $50 dongle to the TV and you're done. You have a lot of options.
3. What is the difference between the two?
We have a full explainer on the differences between the two. You'll get the same apps with both platforms, but a better navigation experience with the new version of the TV.
Better recommendations can be provided by the improved features of the artificial intelligence on the TV. While your favorite shows will be pushed onto the home page regardless of the app, you will also be recommended new ones. People who can't decide what to watch will find this appeal.
For people who love their TV, it's not necessary to have a TV with the internet. Some of the recommendation tools for the TV are already updated by the company. The old interface will probably get buggier and more boring as time goes on, while the new interface will probably get better. If it's an option, it makes sense to upgrade to the internet TV service.
4. What is the difference between the three types of light?
We mention a few different display types for TVs in this article. We've got you covered if you're not sure what these things mean.
The most common type of TV display is the light-emitting diode. The array of pixels that make up the final image you see on the panel is referred to as an LCD one. Even when there are dark colors on the TV, the display is still lit up.
ULED stands for "Ultra Light Emitting Diode." It's a type of screen technology used by Hisense, and the main benefit is how the screen is illuminated. Local dimming on ULED screens means less light bleeding andhalo effects when there's a bright image on a dark background. ULED gives you a wider color gamut and smoother animations. The Hisense U8G Quantum is able to mimic the 120Hz refresh rate thanks to its Motion Rate 240 feature.
This is the most expensive type of TV display currently available. The panels don't need a backlight to create the image you see, as they can produce color and light on their own. The biggest benefits of anOLED panel are more vibrant colors and deeper blacks.
The entire screen of anOLED TV doesn't light up for every picture you see. If you're watching something with a lot of black colors, the black area is turned off so that your content is more realistic. The Sony A8H costs as much as it does because of the high production costs of the OLED TV panels.
5. How many ports do I need?
Joe Maring is from the Android Central.
Different TVs come with different numbers of ports, but how many do you really need? It depends on how many devices you plan on plugging in.
You don't need a separate streaming box to access things like Netflix and Hulu, since the Android TV interface built-in allows you to use an HDMI port. If you have any of the game consoles, you need to account for them on your TV. Some soundbars have an HDMI cable. If you have a local 4K player, that also plugs in with the HDMI cable.
I use all four of the HDMI ports on my TV as a person with a PS4, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and Sonos Beam. If you don't have as many things plugged into your TV, four HDMI ports might be overkill. There's no way to add additional HDMI outputs after the fact, so make sure the TV you get has enough for the devices you have.
6. Do I need to have a 5.1 surround sound system?
Do you own a PS5 or Xbox Series X, or want to use your TV as a PC gaming monitor? Yes, if so. Most likely no, if not.
The new spec for HDMI 2.1 allows for up to 48 Gigabits per second to be sent from an external device to your television screen. This allows a huge amount of visual data to appear at the same time, allowing 4K resolution images to refresh up to 120 times per second. Variable refresh rates, where the Hz goes higher or lower based on the current output of the gaming device, is one of the features that can be found in HDMI 2.1.
The newest consoles and PCs can use the HDMI 2.1 to run games with the best performance. TV streaming and older consoles have no use for them. For most other contexts, 4K at a lower refresh rate is fine. Unless you're a serious game player, don't worry if your TV only supports HDMI 2.0
Buying an Android TV can be difficult at first, but if you take your time and know what you want, it doesn't have to be. If you decide to read this guide, you can rest assured that you're getting one of the best ones the market has to offer. Good luck!
The team worked on this guide.
Joe Maring loves anything with a screen and a computer. He's been talking about the phone in one form or another since 2012 and often does so while camping out at the nearest coffee shop. You can reach him on the social networking site.
After working as an ebook developer, Michael became a tech writer and covered everything from virtual reality to gaming guides. He is a Bay Area native and loves to torment his friends as the D&D and Star Wars campaign director.
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