The best Google TVs are some of the best smart TVs you can buy. That's because Google TV is one of the best smart platforms you can get due to its easy-to-use interface and robust app support. Simply put, Google TV makes finding something new to watch incredibly easy with a slew of new recommendations each time you turn on the TV.
Google TVs also come with Chromecast built-in, and Google Assistant, too. That makes controlling a Google-based smart home incredibly easy and sharing videos from your phone or tablet a cinch.
So where do you find the best Google TVs? After years of testing, we've found the best ones right now come from Sony, TCL and Hisense. Right now, the top of the list is the Sony A95L OLED, one of the best TVs we've ever tested.
The best Google TVs you can buy
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When it comes to Google TVs, there are none better than the Sony A95L OLED. It uses a QD-OLED panel that balances the best of both QLED and OLED TVs, plus its Cognitive XR Processor is custom built to make Google TV run smooth as butter.
As far as actual picture quality is concerned, the A95L is top of its class: The A95L can cover 99.95% of the UHDA-P3 color gamut and a ground-breaking 89.41% of the Rec2020 color space. That's better than any other TV we've ever tested. Brightness can be a bit low (this is built on an OLED panel, remember) but 1,215 nits in HDR, it's plenty bright enough to do justice to your favorite films and TV shows.
If there's any big drawbacks to the A95L, it's that it has a relatively high input lag of 16.1ms. That's going to make this set less-than-ideal for gamers. However, if you just plan on using this to stream content from services like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Max and others, this won't be something you need to worry about.
Read our full Sony Bravia XR A95L review.
As far as mid-range, affordable Google TVs are concerned, the Hisense U8N is the best out there. With support for Dolby Vision and over 3,000 nits of peak brightness, the Hisense U8N more than meets the needs of most Google TV users.
One of the major issues that some Google TVs have is that their processors aren't up to the task of navigating Google's image-rich UI. That isn't the case for the U8N. Thanks to its Hi-View Engine PRO chipset, the U8N navigates the UI with ease. Jumping between apps is fast and seamless, and content by and large looks amazing on the screen.
Does it beat out a $3,000 OLED TV? No, but the Hisense U8N is a third of the price and, thanks to its 3,000-plus nits of brightness, has a real wow-factor that's absent on other rival TVs.
Read our full Hisense U8N Mini-LED TV review.
Looking for a top-of-the-line Mini-LED Google TV? The Sony Bravia 9 is about as good as it gets in this class.
Not only is the Bravia 9 capable of sensational brightness (around 2,700 nits in HDR), its Mini-LED backlight control is among the best we've ever seen. As a result, the picture looks downright OLED-like in its presentation.
Although the Bravia 9 is one of the best Google TVs for movies, shows and sports, it's not quite as impressive when it comes to gaming support. There are only two HDMI 2.1 inputs here (one of which serves as the TV's eARC port), and unlike other Google TVs on this list, it won't support 4K gaming at 144Hz. Still, if you only plan on using current-gen game consoles with your next TV, the Bravia 9 should suffice; it supports 4K gaming at 120Hz.
The Bravia 9 is one of the pricier Google TVs on this list, but it's worth a look if you're shopping for a top-tier Mini-LED TV.
Read our full Sony Bravia 9 review.
Sony's latest OLED is the Bravia 8, an excellent TV for every occasion, but one that isn't as flashy as some of its OLED-based competitors. Nevertheless, if you're hesitant to splash out on the A95L, the Bravia 8 is one of the few other OLED TVs that comes with Google TV built in.
The Bravia 8 doesn't get nearly as bright as the Sony A95L, and it doesn't offer quite as much in the way of color volume. You are, however, getting Sony's exceptional picture processing, which tackles everything from motion handling to upscaling better than most TVs. (You can thank Sony's engineers for that.)
Like the other Sony-branded Google TVs on this list, the Bravia 8 is limited to two HDMI 2.1 inputs, and one of them is pulling double duty as the dedicated eARC port. Gamers with more than one console might be better off exploring alternatives.
But the Bravia 8 is an excellent choice if your first choice is a Sony OLED TV with Google built right in.
Read our full Sony Bravia 8 OLED review.
The Hisense U7N is the little sibling of the U8N. It offers many of the same features (including a nearly identical slate of gaming features) while coming in a much lower price point.
You won't find 3,000+ HDR brightness levels on the U7N, but it gets plenty bright for specular highlights to pop. It'll also hold up in sunny rooms.
The U7N's built-in Google TV platform runs smoothly despite the TV's relatively modest processing power. In addition, the U7N supports 4K gaming at up to 144Hz across a pair of HDMI 2.1 inputs.
If you're looking to save as much money as possible on a budget-friendly Google TV that still punches above its weight, the U7N is a reliable pick.
Read our full Hisense U7N review.
What is Google TV?
If you looked at the above list and noticed that some are Google TVs and others are Android TVs, you probably asked yourself the very reasonable question: what's the difference between Google TV and Android TV?
Both are based on Google's Android software, the same operating system found on smartphones, tablets, and other smart devices. For several years the TV-centric version of Android was simply known as Android TV. Ever since Android 8.0 was introduced in 2019, we've considered Android a top player in the smart TV space.
Starting in late 2021 with the rollout of Android TV 11, Google has renamed the operating system as Google TV. Going forward the Android TV name will be dropped, and all Google-powered smart TVs will be Google TV in the coming years.
But the differences go beyond the name. Google TV is a significant update from the previous version of Android, with a new interface, better live TV integration and discovery, a mobile remote, and personal accounts, including watchlists and kids accounts with parental controls baked in.
Get a more detailed look at the improvements that come with Google TV in our article Google TV vs. Android TV: What's the difference?
How to pick the best Google TV or Android TV for you
If you've already settled on a Google TV or Android TV model, then you've narrowed down your TV shopping considerably. But there are still several important elements to consider when finding the right TV for you. Here are the most important details to think about.
Size: You won't have to compromise on screen size, either. Or recommendations above include great options at 55, 65 and even 75-inch sizes, so your budget doesn't have to prevent you from getting a TV that's just as big as you want. Find the screen size that works best for you in our article What size TV should you buy?
HDR: 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.
Pay attention to ports: We recommend getting a TV with 4 HDMI ports whenever possible. And even though they do cost more, we prefer TVs that have HDMI 2.1 connections. They offer better gaming features and will keep your TV up to date for much longer.
From smart functions to port selection, we offer plenty of advice in our TV buying guide, which explains the ins and outs of features like HDR, different types of display, and even extended warranties. And if you still have questions about smart TV features and capabilities, check out Smart TVs: Everything you need to know.
How we test Google TVs and Android TVs
Every TV review, whether it has Google TV, Android, or any other smart TV software, is put through a standardized set of benchmark tests to measure the key elements of TV performance. Our lab tests measure several elements of picture quality, such as color accuracy, color gamut, brightness and contrast.
In addition to lab testing, every TV is also evaluated by the reviewer with extensive hands-on use. We'll watch movie clips, play test footage, and hook up one of the latest game consoles to see how well the TV performs in real world use.
These objective test results and personal evaluations combine in our reviews to give readers as accurate a description as possible of how well a TV performs. How does it look, sound and function? From the design of the remote to the smart functions and port selection, we look at every piece of the TV puzzle to help you know whether a TV is right for you.
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 | Best HDMI 2.1 TV | Best TVs with ATSC 3.0 | Best TVs with Chromecast
The smallest smart TVs | Best 43-inch TVs | Best 50-inch TVs | Best 55-inch TVs | Best 65-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.
