Remember the bad old days when TVs had four channels? Nope, us neither. Smart TVs are the standard these days. With your favourite streaming services and apps built into them, you’ve got a world of entertainment at your fingertips.

There are so many smart TVs out there that choosing the best one can be a bit daunting. So we’ve created this guide to help you out, with tips and suggestions for all budgets and all types of TV viewer…

Best budget smart TV

Even if you’re on a tight budget, you can still get a quality smart TV. If you don’t need a super-large screen and go for a more modest size, the 32-inch Sony Bravia KD32W800P1U Smart HD Ready HDR LED TV could be the one for you.

Don’t be fooled by the low price - this is a TV packed with impressive audio tech, including a Bravia Engine processor that makes high-definition crisp and clear. You'll also get vibrant colours and natural tones, thanks to Sony's Live Colour technology.

Google Assistant is also built in, so you can use your voice to change channels, load apps or get recommendations by saying something like: "Ok Google, what should I watch?"

Best mid-range smart TV

If you’re thinking of going for a mid-range smart TV, there are plenty of quality 4K TVs with all the streaming services and features you need to keep yourself entertained.

The Samsung UE55CU7100KXXU 55-inch Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR LED TV has a lot of the same features found in much more expensive TVs. The Crystal 4K Processor is the big brain running the show here, using the latest in TV tech to boost the picture and sound of everything you watch in real-time. And thanks to the Object Tracking Sound Lite feature, everything you hear is incredibly realistic, with the TV speakers following the on-screen action. Samsung's smart TV platform is intuitive and easy to use, giving you access to all your favourite streaming apps and entertainment.

Best smart TV for picture quality

Take a look at TVs above the mid-price range, and you’ll find TVs with stunning picture quality. Most famously, Samsung QLED and LG OLED.

Both types of TV give you a picture quality that’s rich, colourful and full of jaw-dropping detail. It’s impossible to say which is best, so it’s really down to your personal preference. QLED TVs work have a high peak brightness and look great in well-lit rooms. OLED TVs, on the other hand, have deeper blacks and wider viewing angles.

Best OLED smart TV

OLED stands for ‘Organic Light Emitting Diode’. It’s a TV display made up of loads of tiny pixels which illuminate themselves – so there’s no need for an LED backlight.

Love your horror or moody sci-fi films? Then you’ll really appreciate the level of black you get with a TV like the LG OLED55C34LA 55" Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR OLED TV. It switches off pixels that make up the dark bits of the display, which means that absolutely no colour or light can be seen. It’s just as dark as when the telly is switched off.

Best 8K smart TV

8K is the highest resolution kind of ultra-high definition (UHD) TV available to buy right now. With miniscule pixels that can’t be seen individually by the naked eye, the picture is seriously sharp and bold - with incredible detail on show, no matter what you’re watching.

If you want to see what the fuss is all about, the Samsung QE65QN900CTXXU smart 8K HDR Neo QLED TV is up there with the best. With Neo Quantum HDR 8K PRO each scene will be packed with bold and vibrant colours. Even the smallest of details look true-to-life – those nature documentaries have never looked so good! Meanwhile, its Neural Quantum Processor 8K boosts brightness, contrast, resolution, and sound into incredible 8K. It's able to do this on the fly using AI and 64 neural networks while learning all the time.

Best smart TV for sports

Because LG OLED TVs have tiny pixels that light up independently, you get better contrasts and vivid colour. This adds up to a really lifelike sporting experience. If you’re watching a footie match, each team’s kit will look bold and vibrant, and every blade of grass on the pitch will be more detailed.

Go for the LG OLED65C34LA55 4K Ultra HD TV and enjoy the sight of a huge 65-inch screen with wide viewing angles - perfect when you’ve got a sporting crowd that wants to see the action. Wherever you’re sat – or stood – the picture looks great and stays super smooth without screen blur. Even when the action’s moving fast.

Best smart TV for sound quality

Want a TV with stunning sound quality? Well, with the Sony Bravia XR-55A84LU Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR OLED TV, the 55-inch screen IS the speaker.

The screen actually vibrates, turning every part of it into a powerful speaker with audio that moves with the picture. Sound comes from exactly the right place in the scene. So, if there’s a jet flying through the sky, you’ll hear it as it moves across the screen. And that’s not all - XR Surround virtually creates surround sound using just the TV - no sound bar or additional speakers needed.

Best smart TV for streaming

The TCL RC630K TV is a great mid-range 55-inch smart TV, with 4K HDR PRO and Dolby Vision working together to pack your entertainment with vivid detail.

It’s perfect for dedicated streamers, giving you instant access to the likes of Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, AppleTV+ and loads more. Plus, the personalised home screen allows you to sort your favourites any way you like it.

Best smart TV for apps

If you’re looking for an affordable smart TV that’s built with apps in mind, check out our range of TCL TVs. These affordable TVs have the Roku operating system inbuilt, giving you tons of apps and streaming platforms to choose from. All the big name like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Apple TV are present and correct, and there’s also support for Freeview Play and Roku’s own TV and movie channel. Here’s a guide to smart TV apps for more inspiration.

The Roku interface is easy to navigate, with a grid of large and colourful tiles you can customise - so you’ll always be able to access your favourite apps and channels quickly. This makes it one of the best TVs for elderly viewers too.

FAQs

Which brand smart TV is best?

According to a recent UK survey, there are over 15.5 million Samsung TV owners, 11 million LG TV owners, 7.4 million Panasonic TV owners and 7.2 million Sony TV owners. We can recommend all these brands, as well other names like JVC and TCL that offer budget-friendly smart TVs that really punch above their weight.

Which smart TV is easiest to use?

We’ve already mentioned how user-friendly the Roku TV interface is. Smart TVs that use the LG webOS are another good shout when it comes to ease of use. The interface is simple and clean, and apps are displayed at the bottom of the screen to make navigation a doddle.

Need any more help?

If you’ve got more questions about buying the best smart TVs, our TV buying guide is a great place to start. Or why not pop in-store and get advice from one of our TV experts? They’re always happy to chat.

We’ve also got lots of advice on how to set up your smart TV, including connecting your smart TV to the internet