Almost every TV sold these days comes with a smart platform built-in. But not all of them are made equal. Google TV and Roku are two of my favorites, but you can't go wrong with Samsung's Tizen OS or LG's webOS, either.
Choosing the right interface not only means having access to a slew of free content and the best streaming services, but also being able to do all that without wasting minutes navigating a needlessly complicated interface.
Using my years of TV testing and streaming know-how, I've pulled together my favorite smart TVs for streaming that should meet your needs and budget.
Quick List
- Roku 65" Plus Series Mini-LED TV: $649 @ Amazon
- TCL 75" QM6K 4K Mini-LED TV: was $999 now $749 @ Best Buy
- LG 55" C5 4K OLED TV: was $1,799 now $1,396 @ Amazon
- Samsung 65" S90F 4K OLED TV: was $1,997 now $1,697 @ Amazon
- Sony 65" Bravia XR A95L 4K OLED TV: was $3,499 now $1,998 @ Amazon
- Samsung 55" S95F 4K OLED TV: was $2,197 now $1,997 @ Amazon
- Hisense 85" U8QG 4K Mini-LED TV: was $3,498 now $2,247 @ Amazon
- Panasonic 55" Z95B 4K OLED TV: was $2,599 now $2,397 @ Amazon
Roku Plus Series Mini-LED TV
I'm a big fan of Roku. I have a smattering of Roku streaming devices across my household, which come in clutch as major upgrades for older TVs.
Roku also launched its own TV lineup, which saw several major improvements earlier this year. While the Roku Pro Series TV is its flagship model, I personally recommend the Roku Plus Series for the price and design changes. In our review of last year's Roku Plus Series TV, we gave it a near-perfect score, highlighting its excellent value in tandem with great sound and HDR color.
At the heart of the Plus Series is the Roku smart interface. It makes life so much easier, giving you access to tons of free content without being a hassle when it comes to navigation. As smart platforms go, you can't go wrong with Roku OS, and the 2025 Plus series is a serious win, given its new Mini-LED backlighting and enhanced luminance.
TCL QM6K Mini-LED TV
The TCL QM6K Mini-LED TV is the streaming set I'd recommend for gamers looking to save on a great display loaded with features.
What makes the QM6K ideal for streaming is Google TV. Just like Roku, Google TV is incredibly easy to navigate and has one of the most sophisticated voice assistants in the TV market, letting you jump into specific content with ease.
LG C5 OLED TV
The LG C5 OLED is one of the best OLED TVs you can buy right now. It's sleek, has tons of features, and is now offered at a value price.
The C5 runs on webOS, which comes packed with tons of free content to explore, called LG Channels. It's also home to tons of apps and all the streaming platforms, but if that wasn't enough, it's even loaded with cloud gaming services, such as Xbox Game Pass and GeForce Now.
LG's webOS is consistently being updated. LG promises that updates will extend over the course of five years, ensuring the C5 will remain up-to-date up to 2030.
Samsung S90F OLED TV
I've tested quite a few TVs this year, but so far they all pale in comparison to the Samsung S90F OLED TV. It's one of my favorite new TVs thanks to its exceptional performance metrics, slew of gaming features, and price.
Samsung's TV interface remains largely overshadowed by other notable rivals, such as Roku, Google, and webOS, but it, too, has access to a bevy of free content, which is regularly updated to include exciting new offerings.
Given it's an OLED, you can also expect the S90F to have near-perfect contrast. This was one of the major highlights for me while watching darker movies like "The Batman" and "Interstellar" in HDR. Unfortunately, the Samsung OLED doesn't support Dolby Vision, which could be a major letdown if you pay extra for the highest-tier Netflix account.
Sony Bravia XR A95L OLED TV
For the longest time, Sony's A95L held the top spot among several categories of best TVs. It remains the best smart TV for streaming, as it not only uses Google TV as its interface but also has incredible performance for an OLED TV despite its age.
The Sony Bravia XR A95L OLED TV was succeeded earlier this year with the Bravia 8 II, but it remains one of the best Sony TVs you can buy. Sony is known for delivering cinematic experiences, offering performance where it matters most, including HDR color volume, audio quality, and more.
Google TV is the icing on the cake. You get the best picture quality that Sony is known for, built on the backbone of Google's ecosystem with its myriad apps and easily accessible content. It also comes with one notable feature that many other OLEDs lack: an ATSC 3.0 tuner.
Hisense U8QG Mini-LED TV
The Hisense U8QG Mini-LED TV is a premium set built at an incredible price, plus it has some of the highest brightness we tested all year in our lab.
Google TV is yet again the star of the show for the U8QG. It's especially snappy and intuitive on the Hisense display. You can also gain access to smart home functionality via Google Home, making your house feel like it's set in the future.
Aside from its impeccable brightness numbers, which we tested at 3,916 nits in HDR content, the U8QG also has serious color accuracy and volume. Most TVs tend to struggle in the Rec2020 test, but the U8QG covers 83.98% of the gamut. In short, expect beautiful colors and eye-watering brightness.
Panasonic Z95B OLED TV
I've ranted and raved about the Panasonic Z95A in the past, and things haven't changed with its successor.
Although the Z95B is built on Fire TV, there's still a lot to love with the platform. It's not the easiest to navigate and doesn't have as robust a list of free content, but it does make for a great interface if you're well-invested in the Prime Video and Amazon ecosystem.
For cinephiles, the Z95B is equipped with the entire range of HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10+, ensuring excellent picture quality in a wide range of content. It's also built with a 10-channel speaker system with a 180W output. There's also a 30W subwoofer built into the TV, making this one of the most bombastic sets money can buy.
The Panasonic Z95B is ideal if you're looking to get a smart TV that has it all. It's the most expensive smart TVs on this list, so it's definitely not a set for everyone, but I think it delivers exceptional performance for the price.
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