Every year, brands battle it out for the title of best 65-inch TV. This is the most popular TV size sold in America today. Yes, there are bigger options out there — 75-inch and 85-inch screens are gaining in popularity — but it's 65-inch that are the best fit for most folks.
It's such a common size, in fact, that it's the primary size we test in our TV labs and the one I have set up in my own home. The best 65-inch TVs offer lots of great features, strong performance and a reasonable price point. Bigger can sometimes be better when shopping for a TV, but 65-inch TVs are the sweet spot.
Speaking of sweet spots, the best 65-inch TV I've tested in 2024 is the Hisense U8N, which can often be found for $1,100 or less. It's capable of over 3,000 nits of brightness in HDR, tempered by thousands of local dimming zones. The result is great contrast and eye-popping colors (to say nothing of its useful gaming features).
If you have more to spend on a TV, don't miss out on the LG G4 OLED. It's an astonishing TV that will last you for years — though the 65-inch version is far more expensive than our top pick. More affordable options can be found further down the list, including the ultra-affordable TCL Q6.
Now that November is upon us, we'll be paying extra-close attention to the 65-inch TV market in the coming weeks ahead of Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the holiday shopping season.
The quick list
The best 65-inch TVs in 2024: quick list
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Picture ★★★★★
Features ★★★★☆
Value ★★★★★
Like its predecessor, the 65-inch U8N is a fantastic TV at a reasonable price. It delivers class-leading brightness and color saturation for right around $1,000.
Picture ★★★★★
Features ★★★★★
Value ★★★☆☆
The 65-inch LG G4 OLED is more costly than the Hisense U8N by a wide margin (it's a premium OLED TV, after all) but the tradeoff is better contrast and color accuracy. If you want the best 65-inch TV at any price, the G4 is it.
Picture ★★★★☆
Features ★★★★★
Value ★★★★★
Now that you can't pick up a TCL 6-Series Mini-LED TV, the TCL QM8 is the best value in TVs. It can be found for under $1,000 and it delivers pretty much all of the same features of its 6-Series predecessor.
Picture ★★★★★
Features ★★★☆☆
Value ★★★☆☆
If you want a Samsung-made 65-inch QLED, look no further than the QN90D Neo QLED. This isn't Samsung's flagship QLED, but it's the one that offers the best combination of performance and value. We highly recommend it, as it's one of the most versatile Mini-LED TVs on the market.
Picture ★★★☆☆
Features ★★★★☆
Value ★★★★★
The TCL Q6 is a decent performer with wide appeal due to its easy-to-use, built-in smart platform and low price. Right now, a 65-inch version is priced below $500.
Picture ★★★★★
Features ★★★★★
Value ★★★☆☆
Look, if it wasn't several thousand dollars, the Sony Bravia XR A95L would be the best 65-inch TV. Unfortunately, it's the most expensive TV on the list by a country mile. It's glorious to behold, but it sure is pricey.
The best 65-inch TVs you can buy today
Best 65-inch TV
Everyone shopping for a 65-inch TV wants (nearly) the same thing: Good picture quality at a reasonable price. Yes, there are TVs that you could drop a few thousand on that will look wonderful (like the Sony A95L OLED) but most folks simply want a screen that works well, looks impressive and doesn't break the bank.
The Hisense U8N is that TV. It's a cutting-edge Mini-LED TV with several thousand contrast control zones for the best possible black levels while maintaining a peak brightness over 2,000 nits. It sports all of the essential streaming services on-board with its built-in Google TV smart platform, and it supports both Dolby Vision and the latest VRR technology. Add on top of all that a built-in ATSC 3.0 tuner that makes this TV capable of grabbing NEXTGEN TV content from over-the-air.
In our test results, the Hisense U8N delivered a peak brightness of 3,296 nits for some of the best-looking HDR content we've seen at this price range while covering 82.07% of the widest Rec2020 color gamut. It had slightly higher input lag than we'd like to see (13.1ms) but it was still very much under the 20ms needed for smooth gameplay. Finally, its color accuracy out of the box wasn't the best of any TV, but that's fixable with a few tweaks.
There are some slight hiccups in performance — older HD/SDR content doesn't look as good here as it will on, say, Samsung or Sony TVs with the newest AI-driven upscaling algorithms — but, for the price, you won't find any better option.
Read our full Hisense U8N Mini-LED TV review.
Best OLED TV
There are a lot of 65-inch OLED TVs to pick from in 2024, but if you're going to get one, I think the LG G4 OLED is the one to go for. Not only does this year's model come with a stand (something you would've had to buy separately in previous years) but it also offers the best performance of any LG OLED TV yet thanks to its next-gen META panel. Thanks to LG Display's latest Micro Lens Array technology, the G4 can get brighter for longer than any other LG OLED while still keeping colors accurate.
We tested the 65-inch version of this TV in mid-2024 and its numbers spoke for themselves. SDR brightness might've only peaked at 431 nits, but HDR was just shy of 1,500 nits — surprisingly high for an OLED screen. Color accuracy (measured by Delta E) was a crazy low 1.4041, which means that the G4 was one of the most accurate TVs we've ever tested. (The closer a Delta E score is to 0, the more accurate its colors are.) Finally, its UHDA-P3 and Rec2020 color gamut coverages of 97.17% and 72.91% are nothing to sneeze at, either. The Hisense U8N does perform slightly better in these areas, but it's relatively close overall.
If you want a premium 65-inch OLED, the LG G4 is this year's top choice.
Read the full LG G4 OLED review.
Best value TV
If you do a lot of digging around other sites, you'll see them recommending the TCL QM8 as the best 65-inch TV. And while we agree that it's one of the top TVs, the U8K has a few more advantages going for it, including the ATSC 3.0 tuner, better sound quality and more consistent picture quality. That's not to say the QM8 is a bad TV, because at this price point it's a steal, it's just up against some tough competition.
So why is it #3 on the list? In our tests, the QM8 delivered incredible results. In 5%, 10% and even 25% window sizes the QM8 could hit over 2,000 nits of peak brightness. It can cover around 80% of the Rec 2020 color space. And it comes with two HDMI 2.1 ports for 4K/120Hz gameplay. It's a very similar TV to the Hisense U8K in pretty much every metric, even the not-so-good ones. Like the U8K, the QM8 had an out-the-box Delta E score of 4.4614, which means you'll have to do some tweaking.
Again, nothing's a deal breaker here, and if you want an alternative to the U8K made by TCL, the QM8 is a very solid second choice.
Read the full TCL QM8 Mini-LED TV review.
Best Mini-LED TV
At the 65-inch screen size, competition is fierce. There are a lot of great TVs that could be on our list, but the one that keeps springing to mind is the Samsung QN90D. It's one of the best Mini-LED TVs of the year, as well as one of the top models from Samsung.
Our reviewer, Matthew Murray, heaped praise on this set for its impressive brightness and exceptional contrast. Like the Hisense U8N, the QN90D uses a blend of Mini-LED backlighting and quantum dots to deliver this level of performance. However, it also uses Samsung's NQ4 AI Gen2 Processor for better upscaling. Folks who own a Samsung mobile device will find some neat crossover features between it and the TV, and the TV's build-in smart platform, Tizen, is a good alternative to Google TV (though not quite as good, in my opinion).
Its four full-spec HDMI 2.1 ports for 4K/120Hz gaming are a huge boon for console gamers, however Tizen offers apps like Xbox and GeForce Now that let you game without ever hooking up extra hardware. It has similar test results to the other QLED TVs on the list, but these extra additions definitely help set it apart from the bunch.
Read our full Samsung QN90D Neo QLED TV review.
Best budget TV
If you're shopping for a 65-inch TV on a budget, you ought to look into the TCL Q6. It's an affordable TV with wide appeal, thanks to some key features. Right now, the 65-inch version is just $450.
The Q6 won't turn heads the way a brighter, higher-end TV might, but its display leverages quantum dots for better overall brightness and color volume. This is one of the main reasons I'd recommend the Q6 over a more affordable 65-inch TV like the Samsung DU7200. It's not quite cut out for daytime viewing in a heavily sun-soaked room, but it most living spaces should be fairly accommodating for its modest backlight. Regardless of what you're watching — be it cable TV, Netflix, or an over-the-air broadcast — the Q6 looks great, especially in its most accurate picture mode.
The Q6 arrives with the Google TV smart platform baked right into the software — another win for the budget-oriented, set-it-and-forget-it crowd. Google TV is one of our preferred smart platform due to its ease of use and wide selection of downloadable apps.
Compared to a mid-range or high-end TV, there aren't as many gaming-related features on board, but the TCL Q6 nevertheless supports ALLM and VRR. And, although 4K gaming at 120Hz is out of the question, the Q6 is capable of showcasing 1080p and 1440p content at 120Hz, which could be nifty for semi-serious gamers.
If you want a better gaming TV (or just a better-performing 65-inch TV overall) and you still want to walk away feeling like you got a bargain, I recommend springing for the TCL QM8. Otherwise, the Q6 is a great all-around TV at a perfectly reasonable price.
Read our full TCL Q6 QLED TV review.
Best QD-OLED TV
If I didn't have a mortgage to pay off, I'd highly consider buying the $3,300 65-inch Sony A95L OLED. It is a superb TV. Probably better than every other model on this list. But its price is three times that of our top pick, and twice as much as every other model. It's a great TV, absolutely, but it's not two or three times as good as the rest of the TVs mentioned above.
So why, exactly, does it cost as much as it does? The A95L OLED uses a QD-OLED panel just like the Samsung S95C above, but Sony takes things a step further by adding a ton of picture and audio-enhancing technology on top. There's the Cognitive XR Processor that creates truer-to-life colors and better motion handling, there's extra-wide viewing angle technology that prevents off-axis color desaturation, there's a Brightness Booster Max technology that helps push every possible pixel to its highest light output...the list goes on and on.
There are some downsides here that feel semi-inexcusable at this price (only two HDMI 2.1 ports, really Sony?) but those little critiques don't take away from how truly amazing this QD-OLED TV is for the lucky few who can afford one.
Read out full Sony Bravia XR A95L QD-OLED TV review.
Best 65-inch TV Test Results
Best 65-inch TV test results
| TV | HDR peak brightness (10% window) | Delta-E (lower is better) | Rec. 2020 gamut coverage | Input lag |
| Hisense U8N | 3,296 nits | 3.2 | 82.07% | 13.1ms |
| LG G4 | 1,487 nits | 1.4 | 72.91% | 9.2ms |
| TCL QM8 (2023) | 1,348 nits | 3.2 | 74.66% | 13ms |
| Samsung QN90D | 2,024 nits | 2.6 | 72.52% | 9.6ms |
| TCL Q6 | 498 nits | 2.1 | 68.92% | 8.9ms |
| Sony A95L | 1,215 nits | 2.8 | 89.41% | 16.1ms |
How to choose the best 65-inch TV for you
How to choose the best 65-inch TV for you
If you're in the market for a new TV, you'll want to consider a few factors before you spend your money. Our TV buying guide breaks down the fine details of what features matter and what distinguishes a great TV from one that's just okay. For a 65-inch set we strongly recommend going with 4K resolution. There are a few older 1080p models still available, but they simply aren't a good value today. And while 8K TVs are hitting the market, it will still be some time before 8K resolution gets mainstream support.
Size and space: For a 65-inch 4K TV you'll want to sit between 8 to 9 feet from the screen to hit the sweet spot of being close enough to enjoy all the sharp details, but not so close that you'll be able to make out the pixels that make up the picture.
Price: A basic 65-inch 4K smart TV will range between $500 and over $3,000, depending on how much you're willing to spend on performance and features. The TCL Q6, our current pick for the best budget TV, is priced right around $500 for a 65-inch model, while the LG G4, our pick for the best OLED TV, is priced at around $2,300.
Features: For the best picture, we recommend getting a set that offers high dynamic range (HDR) support. HDR10 is the base standard, while Dolby Vision is a higher-caliber format, and we recommend opting for Dolby Vision support when you have the choice. To learn more about whether or not this format is essential for your purposes, check out our guide on the importance of Dolby Vision.
Ports: Port selection ought to be a primary consideration. More HDMI ports will let you connect more devices, like game consoles and satellite boxes. Typically, TVs offer four HDMI ports, but budget-oriented models (like the TCL Q6) often arrive with just three. In addition, if you have a soundbar, you'll probably want to connect it using an HDMI port with eARC (a standard feature on almost all TVs). Lastly, TVs use one or two HDMI formats: HDMI 2.0 and HDMI 2.1. Mid-range and higher-end TVs will offer at least two HDMI 2.1 inputs, which will unlock several enhancements, most of which are gaming-centric. To learn more about these HDMI types, check out our HDMI 2.1 explainer.
Software: For people who don't intend to use one of their TV's HDMI ports for a dedicated streaming device, finding a reliable smart TV platform is essential. Companies like Samsung and LG use their own proprietary software, but many use more broadly available software, like Google TV and Roku. The biggest issue is app selection, as some specific apps you may want won't be available on every smart TV platform, or there may be a months-long delay for a new service to come to some smart TVs after launching on others.
But you'll also want to look into more advanced features, like smart home control, video conferencing capability, and other features that may be brand exclusive, or at least unevenly distributed between premium and budget sets.
If you've narrowed down your TV shopping by brand, price range or screen size, check out our picks for the best TVs in each.
Best TVs | Best 4K TVs | Best smart TVs for streaming | Best TVs for gaming
The best TVs under $1000 | The best TVs under $500
Best TV brands | Best Samsung TVs | Best TCL TVs | Best LG TVs | Best Roku TVs | Best OLED TVs | Best QLED TVs | Best 8K TVs
The smallest smart TVs | Best 43-inch TVs | Best 50-inch TVs | Best 55-inch TVs | Best 70-inch TVs | Best 75-inch TVs | Best 85-inch TVs
And don't forget to watch out for the latest TV reviews.
How we test the best 65-inch TVs
How we test the best 65-inch TVs
When it comes to evaluating TVs, we're serious about getting it right. That's why every TV we review is put through a rigorous testing process that measures key standards of picture quality and performance.
Our lab tests involve testing for color accuracy and color gamut using an X-Rite i1 Pro spectrophotometer, an AccuPel DVG-5000 video test pattern generator and SpectraCal CalMAN Ultimate calibration software. These tools are relied on by professional calibrators throughout the industry, and we've paired them with custom workflows to gather the information needed for our reviews. These measurements are taken first in standard mode to simulate the average watching experience, and then taken again in other display modes to find the top color and brightness performance offered by each set.
Our testing measures contrast and maximum brightness, as well as lag time. Using a Leo Bodnar Video Signal Input Lag Tester to test video signal delay, we time how long it takes for content to travel from the original video source to the screen, measured to the millisecond. Shorter response times equate with faster gaming performance, letting us objectively know which TVs are better for gaming.
We use all of these objective test results to make comparisons about quality and performance between different TVs, but our evaluation doesn't end there. We also spend hours with each set, watching shows and movies, and using carefully selected video samples to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each set and help us tell you which TVs look and sound the best in a real home viewing environment.
And there's more to today's TVs than just viewing, so we also check out the smart TV functions and evaluate everything from the interface to the remote control design. This lets our reviews speak to the technical capabilities of today's smart TVs and how they fit into your connected home.
- Smart TV FAQ: Everything you need to know
- The best gaming TVs for consoles old and new
