Best TV for 2021 – CNET [CNET]

After more than a year of COVID-related restrictions, many people are looking to make the most of their home entertainment space. This may entail upgrading your couch, rearranging your living room or tricking out your binge-watching setup for ultimate enjoyment, perhaps investing in a soundbar or upgrading to a bigger and better TV. 

If you’re looking to enhance your TV-viewing experience, we’re here to help. There are a lot of TVs on the market, but generally speaking, the best TV is the one that will fit your space and budget. An OLED television will give you the best picture quality but it’s expensive and might not be available in the size you want. That’s where this list comes in. I’ve gathered the best TVs I’ve reviewed at different prices, sizes and technologies — models with HDR, Ultra HD 4K, QLED, 120Hz and HDMI 2.1 and more — based on my years of experience and side-by-side comparisons in CNET’s test lab (for the foreseeable future, that’s my basement). My focus is on finding the best picture quality for the money, regardless of TV brand.

In my comparisons I look at things like contrast ratio, local dimming, color and uniformity, gaming input lag and refresh rate, as well as the number of HDMI ports. All of these TVs have great picture quality, and while 4K resolution is nice, it’s not necessary for an excellent viewing experience. The other critical factor was how well the television supports your streaming app (or apps) of choice, like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV, Sling TV and Disney Plus. Here are my recommendations for the best TV to watch your favorite TV shows, movies and more, with the following notes to keep in mind:

• Unless noted otherwise, all of the prices you’ll see are for 65-inch models.
• Looking for a specific screen size? Check out: 32-inch TVs, 43-inch TVs, 55-inch TVs, 65-inch TVs and 75-inch TVs.
• If you’re worried that new 2021 TVs will have some great feature or picture quality enhancement you’ll miss out on if you buy a TV now, relax. TVs are generally a mature technology and our advice is that if you need a new TV now, you should get one. 
• Most of the TVs below came out in 2020. The new 2021 models just started becoming available and I’ve reviewed a couple so far. For the 2020 TVs on this list I’ve included a “2021 outlook” section with everything I know (so far) about the new models. 
• This list is updated periodically.

Read more: Do this to your TV now: 9 crucial settings to improve the picture

Other stuff to know about buying a new TV in 2021

I’m pretty sure you’d be happy with any one of the TVs above, but a new set can be a big investment, so maybe you’re looking for a bit more information. Here’s a quick and dirty list.

• In my opinion, bigger is better. Big TVs are cheaper than ever, and your money is best spent on large screen sizes rather than a slight upgrade in image quality.
• If you don’t like the built-in smart TV system, you can always add a streaming device from Roku, Amazon, Google or Apple. They’re generally cheap and easy to use, and receive updates more frequently than most smart TVs. See our picks of the best streaming devices here.
• The sound quality of most built-in speakers is terrible, so it’s worthwhile to pair your new set with a sound bar or other speaker system. Good ones start at around $100. See the best soundbars here.

Looking for even more info? 

• Buying a new TV in 2021
• Best TV antennas for cord cutters, starting at just $10
• Dolby Atmos: Why it’s cool, how it works and how to get it
• Best Sonos speakers starting at $100
• QLED vs. OLED: Which TV tech should you buy?
• HDR formats like Dolby Vision, HDR10, Technicolor and HLG explained
• Best TVs for gaming with low input lag
• Best 75-inch TVs for 2021
• Best Blu-ray players of 2021