The best TVs to buy in 2024

With excitement building for two of the most anticipated sporting events of the year: the 2024 Paris Olympics and Euro 2024, the time is right to upgrade your TV to make the most of the spectacle.

The latest 4K UHD TVs offer brighter and sharper images than ever before, thanks to advances in panel design and processing. AI is increasingly being used to improve picture clarity and ease of use, while advanced smart TV systems make streaming your favorite shows easier than ever to find and watch.

Whether you’re a die-hard sports fan or just looking to upgrade your home entertainment experience, buying on a budget or going out at the highest level, we’ve put together a comprehensive buying guide to help you find the perfect screen to enjoy every game to enjoy. moment.

  • Screen size — Today’s 4K TVs have much smaller bezels compared to models from five or six years ago, so upgrading will require you to increase the screen size. Keep in mind that 4K TVs have much more detail in their images and are more comfortable to view up close than their HD Ready and 1080p predecessors.

  • Smart TV platforms — Every new TV worth its salt has a built-in smart TV platform. If you’re a big Amazon Alexa user, then a model with Fire TV might suit you best. If you want hundreds of extra free channels, look for models with their own linear streaming services, like Samsung and LG.

  • Display technology — there are different TV technologies on the market, so choose the one that suits you best. LED dominates the budget segment of the market, while Mini LED offers much higher peak HDR brightness and is excellent for display in bright rooms. OLED remains a favorite because of its cinematic image quality and is suitable for films in a dark room.

  • Sound system – the audio quality of a thin TV can be quite poor, so plan on adding a soundbar – unless your chosen set has a powerful built-in multi-speaker sound system.

  • HDR — All 4K UHD TVs offer HDR (High Dynamic Range), but not all HDR TVs are created equal. HDR programs, often found on streaming services such as Netflix, Apple TV+, Prime Video and Disney+, as well as BBC iPlayer and Sky TV, offer greater subjective image depth with bright HDR highlights (lamps, street lamp, fireworks and so on) with high peaks Brightness. On cheaper TVs these HDR highlights can look a bit muted, while more expensive models, capable of greater HDR peak brightness, bring a real sparkle to their images.

  • Dolby Vision — Dolby Vision can manage a 4K TV’s HDR capabilities for the most cinematic images. It is a feature film that is sought after by film fans.

Toshiba

Display type: LED | Number of HDMI inputs: 3 | Screen size: 55″ | Smart platform: Amazon FireTV

💸 Reasons to buy: An impressive 55-inch 4K HDR for under £300? This Toshiba offers much more than the price tag suggests
✋ Reasons to avoid: The build quality is a bit plasticky
💰 Best deal we found: The 55UF3D can be picked up for £299 from John Lewis or just £263 on Amazon.

We consider this Toshiba to be a great all-rounder that won’t break the bank. The image quality is above average for the price, with clear 4K HDR and sharp details. The set uses the Amazon Fire TV smart platform with Freeview Play, so all your favorite streaming apps and catch-up services are on board.

There’s also Dolby Vision, to get the most out of movies and TV shows on Netflix and Disney+, and Amazon Alexa smart voice control built in.

The motion processing is extremely good for this class of screen, making this a solid budget option when it comes to sports.

The built-in stereo sound system was designed by hi-fi specialist Onkyo and sounds good enough, but you can easily improve it with a soundbar, via HDMI eARC.

Positives

  • Fire TV smart TV platform
  • Dolby Vision
  • Value for your money
Cons

  • Lightweight build quality

£299 at John Lewis

Sony

Display type: OLED | Number of HDMI inputs: 4 | Screen size: 65-inch | Smart platform: Google TV

💸 Reasons to buy: Stunning OLED picture quality means every night is a movie premiere, while best-in-class motion processing also puts this device in the top class for sports
✋ Reasons to avoid: It’s a bit pricey
💰 Best deal we found: The 65-inch A80L can be picked up for £1899 from John Lewis and Currys

No TV brand can handle movements as well as Sony. The MotionFlow interpolation system effortlessly removes vibrations and keeps processing artifacts at bay, ensuring fast-moving objects such as footballers and balls remain sharp and clear even during the most hectic matches. If you’re looking for a new TV to get the most out of the Euro, look no further.

Not only is the image quality high, the set also has a best-in-class audio system. The 50W Acoustic Surface Audio sound system is clean and articulate, with good but not overwhelming bass. Ideal for following dialogues in your favorite dramas.

The set runs Google TV, so there’s no shortage of shows to stream when you’re not watching the footie, and two of the four HDMIs support 4k 120Hz gameplay, making it an obvious partner for PlayStation 5 owners. Anyone want a quick game of EA Sports FC 24?

Positives

  • Impressive HDR with Dolby Vision
  • Google TV
  • Premium design
  • Excellent Dolby Atmos audio
Cons

  • Only two HDMI inputs support 4k 120Hz

£1,899 at John Lewis

Metz

Display type: LED | Number of HDMI inputs: 3 | Screen size: 50-inch | Smart platform: Roku

If you are looking for a user-friendly 50-inch TV, then this affordable 4K smart TV from the German brand Metz is definitely worth considering. It’s built around the popular Roku smart TV platform and features an excellent selection of popular streaming apps, including Netflix, Apple TV+, Prime Video and Disney+.

There’s also a Freeview Play tuner, which comes with a full range of catch-up TV services. The build quality is decent and the picture performance is decent, although don’t expect class-leading HDR 4k performance. However, you do have to make a budget for a soundbar, because the built-in 2×10 W speakers sound a bit thin.

Positives

  • Easy to use Roku smart TV
  • Value for your money
  • Looks smart
Cons

  • Average sound
  • Lack of Dolby Vision

£239 at Appliances Direct

Sky

Display type: QLED | Number of HDMI inputs: 3 | Screen size: From 43 inches | Smart platform: Sky TV

Sky is offering viewers a very different way to upgrade their TV. A Sky Glass set TV is offered together with your chosen channel package as part of a monthly subscription.

No dish or TV antenna is required. Sky Glass receives all its programs via Wi-Fi. This allows you to place it effectively in any room. Sky Glass is also available in a range of five color finishes and has a high-quality specification.

Sky Glass runs on the smart Sky Entertainment OS system, built around smart voice control. The picture quality from the QLED panel is excellent, with vibrant colours, excellent 4K detail and effective HDR brightness. The display also comes with a premium integrated 215W Dolby Atmos soundbar.

With Sky Glass you get an extensive premium TV experience and the choice of a wide choice of sports and movie channels. TV shows are ‘recorded’ by a cloud DVR. Just add your favorites to a playlist and they’ll always be available to stream. The set also comes with key apps such as Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Disney+.

Positives

  • You get Sky TV without needing a dish
  • Impressive Dolby Atmos sound system
  • Good 4K HDR image performance
Cons

  • Monthly subscription is correct
  • UHD and ad-skipping paid extras

From £19 p/m on Sky

TCL

Display type: Mini LED | Number of HDMI inputs: 4 | Screen size: 55″ | Smart platform: Google TV

This 55-inch 4K TV from TCL offers formidable specs for the price and is hard to resist. Using a Mini LED screen, it offers accurate, clear HDR visuals with excellent image detail and color, plus support for high frame rate gaming. If you have a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S, you can play games in super smooth 4k 120HZ.

Build quality is excellent, with a brushed titanium metal frame. Movie buffs will also appreciate Dolby Vision, while sports enthusiasts will appreciate the excellent motion handling.

Smart TV coverage comes via Google TV, home to all the usual streaming and catch-up TV services. Audio quality is excellent, thanks to the Onkyo-designed speakers, and you can stream Dolby Atmos to a compatible soundbar for full cinema sound.

Positives

  • Excellent image performance
  • Google TV platform
  • Dolby Vision
  • High frame rate gaming
Cons

  • May lose color and contrast when viewed from the side

£594 at Argos

TCL

Display type: QLED | Number of HDMI inputs: 4 | Screen size: 65-inch | Smart platform: Tizen

The cheapest Mini LED in Samsung’s Neo QLED range. Crisp HDR, excellent contrast and deep, vibrant colors make the QN85C a great option when it comes to viewing in a bright room, with its sharp images cutting through the summer sun, which is exactly what you need when you’re watching in the afternoon. watching sports. It’s also a solid choice for console gamers, as it supports high frame rate gameplay up to 4K 120Hz on each of the four HDMI inputs.

The TV also features a great Dolby Atmos sound system that uses Samsung’s OTS (Object Tracking Sound) immersive speaker technology, which places sounds high and wide. Smart TV functionality is excellent. Samsung’s Tizen platform features all the major streaming apps, including Netflix, Prime Video and AppleTV+, as well as broadcasts from the BBC, ITV and others, plus Samsung’s own free-to-view channel collection.

Positives

  • Bright, colorful picture performance
  • OTS Dolby Atmos sound system
  • Tizen smart platform
  • High frame rate gaming

£899 at Amazon

LG

Display type: OLED | Number of HDMI inputs: 4 | Screen size: 65-inch | Smart platform: webOS

OLED TVs, with their perfect inky blacks, excellent contrast and rich colours, have long been seen as the TV choice of connoisseurs, and when you look at the LG C4 it’s easy to see why. With Brightness Boosting technology, it offers high-quality HDR, along with a host of AI-powered image processing, including a Personalized Picture Mode that uses AI Deep Learning to work out your favorite image features so you don’t have to fiddle around in the menus.

Not only is the picture excellent, but it also has an excellent smart TV platform, in the form of webOS. This is home to all the major streaming and catch-up services, including Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Rakuten TV and LG’s free streaming channels. The set also supports 4K 120Hz playback from gaming consoles and has a dedicated Game Optimizer and Game Dashboard to maximize settings. Expensive, sure, but few TVs can compete with it.

Positives

  • Top class image performance
  • Excellent webOS smart TV platform
  • High-end build quality
  • Great game spec
Cons

  • Pricey
  • Audio isn’t as impressive as picture quality

£2,699 at John Lewis

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