The best smart TVs for streaming in 2024

The Roku Plus series TV is one of the best smart TVs for streaming in 2023.
The Roku Plus series TV is one of the best smart TVs for streaming in 2023. (Image credit: Roku)
Best Smart TV: Quick Menu

The best smart TVs for streaming are instant portals to the world of apps and can whisk you away to services like Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu and more.

Not only are the fast and easy to navigate, but the best smart TVs also offer robust search engines that can find the exact shows and movies you're for and they often come with features like Chromecast Built-in or Apple AirPlay that will allow you to send whatever you're watching from your phone to the TV.

Some of these features can be found on streaming devices like the Roku Premiere, Apple TV 4K or Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, however, it's often more convenient for people to have those smart TV platforms built right in. That way, you can use one remote to jump from streaming services to live TV. 

So how do you choose? After hours of testing and dozens of reviews, we've compiled a list of the best smart TVs for streaming based on a number of factors, including value for your dollar which, you'll notice, mostly mirrors our list of the best TVs

The quick list

Here's a quick overview of the best smart TVs you can buy right now based on our testing and reviews. And keep up on scrolling if you want to see our in-depth analysis of all the top TVs for every budget. 

The best smart TVs for streaming

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Best Smart TV

Sony Bravia XR A95L QD-OLED TV in living room

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
Thanks to Google TV and its high-end processor, the A95L OLED is the best smart TV

Specifications

Available Screen Sizes: 55, 65, 77
Screen Type: QD-OLED
Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
HDMI ports: 4 (2 HDMI 2.1, 2 HDMI 2.0)
Size: 56.9 x 32.8 x 1.4 inches
Weight: 51.6 pounds

Reasons to buy

+
Remarkable picture quality
+
Unparalleled HDR color gamut coverage
+
Superb sound
+
Google TV interface remains powerful, easy to use

Reasons to avoid

-
Only two HDMI 2.1 ports
-
Not the lowest input lag you can find

There is no TV better suited for content streaming than the Sony A95L OLED. Not only does it have the most well-laid out smart platform with Google TV, but it has a processor that makes navigating said interface lightning fast. The sheer selection of apps is fantastic, and you can mirror your smartphone thanks to both Chromecast or Apple AirPlay support.

As a TV for streaming services, the A95L is awesome. But as a straight-up TV it's even better. This set, which sits at the top of Sony’s expansive TV lineup, unites the industry’s defining technologies and Sony’s own groundbreaking processing and picture enhancements to deliver superlative performance in every area. And our own test results back this up.

In terms of color accuracy, the A95L covers a record-setting 89.41% of the Rec2020 color standard and tops out at around 1,200 nits in peak brightness. Both its motion processing and 4K upscaling tech are second to none in the industry, and its Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology makes this one of the best-sounding TVs Sony's ever made.

Read our full Sony Bravia XR A95L review.

Best Google TV

Hisense U8K Mini LED TV

(Image credit: Future)
A more affordable Google TV with outstanding performance

Specifications

Available Screen Sizes: 55, 65, 75 inches
Screen Type: Mini-LED
Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
HDMI ports: 4 HDMI (2 HDMI 2.1)
Size: 57.2 × 35.9 × 14.8 inches
Weight: 56.4 pounds

Reasons to buy

+
Extremely bright
+
Incredibly colorful
+
Great sound quality
+
Built-in ATSC 3.0 tuner

Reasons to avoid

-
Color accuracy can be an issue
-
Not the lowest lag
-
Colors desaturate off-axis

Of course, the Sony A95L isn't the only TV that uses Google TV as its smart platform. In fact, there are a number of TVs from Hisense and TCL that use them, too. One of the absolute best, though, is the Hisense U8K, our current pick for the best TV of 2024 due to its perfect balance between price and performance.

Like other Google TVs, the Hisense U8K offers all the major streaming services and comes with features like Chromecast Built-in for easy casting. Its HiView Processor is a little slower than Sony's Cognitive XR Processor, hence why the U8K is down at #2 instead of at the top of our list, but the moving around the interface is still relatively snappy. 

 In terms of performance, the U8K uses a Mini-LED panel with Full Array Local Dimming lighting. This enables even better contrast and higher peak brightness, which is great if you plan on streaming shows and movies in HDR. For color saturation, the U8K covers 80% of the Rec2020 Color Space, making it one of the most colorful TVs on the market right now. As far as streaming TVs are concerned, it's really at the top of its class, especially for the price.

Read our full Hisense U8K Mini-LED TV review.
 

Best WebOS TV

LG OLED C3 menu screenEditor's Choice

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
LG's WebOS comes in second, but it's still fantastic

Specifications

Available Screen Sizes: 42, 48, 55, 65, 77, 83 inches
Screen Type: OLED
Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
HDMI ports: 4 HDMI 2.1 (1 eARC)
Size: 56.7 x 32.5 x 1.8 inches
Weight: 36.6 pounds

Reasons to buy

+
Superb picture quality
+
Improved smart interface
+
Top-notch gaming features, performance

Reasons to avoid

-
Dimmer than QD-OLED 
-
Average-at-best sound
-
No ATSC 3.0 tuner

Google TV is the top streaming platform in 2024, but what's in second place? For us, it's LG's WebOS that may not have as strong of recommended content as Google, but has a streamlined smart platform that's easy to navigate. Hopping from one app to another always feels fast (unless said app needs an update, which happens occasionally) and it's got more or less all of the same features as Google TV. There's casting built-in, and WebOS even comes with the Google Assistant. 

Pretty much any LG OLED TV will deliver the best WebOS experience, but the more modern the model, the longer the smart platform will get updated. LG has announced that it will announce the latest WebOS experience for up to five years, but after that, there's no guarantee that your TV will get future updates. For that reason, it's best if you buy a 2023 or 2024 model when shopping for a WebOS TV.

Of all the 2023 models, the one that makes the most sense for streaming enthusiasts is the LG C3 OLED. Like other OLED TVs like the Sony A95L, the C3's performance is great but you're not overpaying for features you may not even need. 

Read our full LG C3 OLED review.

Best Tizen TV

Samsung QN90C Neo QLED TV

(Image credit: Future)
Samsung's Tizen is great for smart home lovers

Specifications

Available Screen Sizes: 43, 50, 55, 65, 75, 85 inches
Screen Type: QLED
Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
HDMI ports: 4 HDMI all HDMI 2.1
Size: 57 x 32.7 x 0.7 inches
Weight: 49.2 pounds

Reasons to buy

+
4 HDMI 2.1 ports
+
Excellent off-angle viewing
+
Spectacularly bright
+
Less blooming than previous model
+
Rechargeable remote

Reasons to avoid

-
No Dolby Vision support
-
Included stand isn’t very sturdy

Once upon a time, Samsung's Tizen was in the conversation for the best smart platform, but then two years ago, Samsung changed the whole platform, and it's...well, not great. It still has lots of great apps, and some ways to stream games over services like Nvidia's GeForce Now, but it's not nearly as good as it was. Thankfully, it's pretty easy to screen cast to it, so when in doubt you can always whip out your phone to find content in a jiffy. 

If you're a big smart home enthusiast, the other big advantage Samsung's Tizen has is its tie-in with SmartThings. You can control your entire home using the SmartThings interface on Tizen, which is great if you're at home on the couch and want to keep an eye on your security cameras. 

As for a TV that works great with Tizen, consider going for the Samsung QN90C. It's not Samsung's top model (you can see a pattern here) but it's the one that offers the best performance for your dollar.

Read our full Samsung QN90C Neo QLED TV review or browse our Samsung promo codes

Best Roku TV

Roku Plus Series 4K QLED TV streaming

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
Roku's older smart platform trades glamor for practicality

Specifications

Available Screen Sizes: 55, 65 inches
Screen type: QLED
Refresh rate: 60Hz
HDMI ports: 4 HDMI 2.0
Size: 33.1 x 57 x 4 inches
Weight: 36.7 pounds

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent value
+
First-rate HDR color
+
Good sound
+
Solid Roku TV smart interface

Reasons to avoid

-
So-so brightness
-
Only 60Hz refresh rate

We really have Roku to thank for the modern smart TV platform. Yes, the likes of WebOS and Tizen have been around forever, but Roku made smart platforms a household name with their streaming players. It makes sense then, that the Roku Plus got a spot on our list, even if it's a bit lower than the competition.

The Roku smart platform is down here not because it's missing features or substantially worse than the competition, but because it's the one that sees the least amount of visual updating year over year. This is very intentional on Roku's part. It wants people who are familiar with the platform not to get confused when they hop between their players and their TV, so both use a very similar interface. 

While other platforms have marquee billboards on their homepages for new movies and shows, Roku will greet you every time with the same ol' home screen that you saw close to a decade ago. New sections are added every year or so, but for the most part Roku — and by extension, the Roku Plus Smart TV — are simple, easy-to-use and pragmatic compared to their showboaty competition.

Read our full Roku Plus Series review.

Best Fire TV

The Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series is a huge step forward for Amazon's TV ambitions.

(Image credit: Amazon)
Amazon's native son is a rock-solid QLED TV with an ad-laden smart platform

Specifications

Available Screen Sizes: 65, 75 inches
Screen Type: QLED
Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
HDMI ports: 4
Size: 56.5 x 37 x 9 inches
Weight: 47 pounds

Reasons to buy

+
Cool smart features
+
Fire OS works well
+
Generally good picture performance

Reasons to avoid

-
Not the brightest
-
Fire TV has ads

Ah, the Amazon Fire TV platform. It's...something. It has ads on the home screen. Ads on start up. Ads on ads. You can't blame the world's largest online retailer for using the biggest screen in your home for advertising, but it can feel a bit overwhelming. It's not like there's a huge advantage by using an Amazon Fire TV. There's Alexa, sure, and some smart home integration, but really that's about it. 

So why would you ever buy one? Well, if you home is a haven for Amazon's smart assistant, and you're already tied into the Amazon ecosystem of products, then the Omni QLED is a good centerpiece for the home. It can pair with Amazon Echo speakers. It has remote-free voice commands. It will help you control all of the myriad Alexa devices scattered across your home. It's a great fit for that Amazon customer that's built their whole digital life around Alexa and the Omni QLED, a solid and relatively inexpensive smart TV, is the cement that holds everything together.

Read our full Amazon Omni QLED TV review.

How to choose the best TV for streaming

What makes a smart TV good for streaming?

When it comes to smart TVs there are plenty of factors to consider, but a great streaming TV has a few key characteristics. Let's start with the operating system.

Software: The modern smart TV is essentially a computer, and that means dealing with software. For smart TVs this means the operating system, which serves as the main interface for all of your menus and content, and then a broad selection of apps that let you customize your experience.

Apps: Operating systems and apps vary a bit from one brand to the next, but you can count on most TVs offering similar support for a fairly similar lineup of apps. Popular services like Netflix and Hulu get support pretty much across the board, while other services, like HBO Max and Apple TV are less so. Once you start looking at more specialized apps, it can be very hit or miss as you consider different smart TV systems. When in doubt, look up whether the app in question is supported for the TV you're considering before you make the decision to buy.

Some brands, such as Vizio's SmartCast platform, may have a limited selection of local apps, but allow the use of missing apps through built in Google Chromecast or Apple AirPlay. In these situations, you may still be able to enjoy the content and services you want, but you'll need to use another device, like your phone, to get them. 

Picture modes: For those who really want to optimize the streaming experience, you'll want to know about picture modes. Several brands, including LG, Samsung and Vizio all offer Filmmaker Mode, which eliminates motion smoothing (the so-called Soap Opera effect) and presents movies and shows pretty much untouched, preserving the filmmaker's original intentions.

Other brands, like Sony and TCL, have opted to skip that specific mode, though you can turn off unwanted motion smoothing and color correction manually on the sets. And Sony offers a Netflix Calibrated mode, a picture mode developed in partnership with Netflix to display all of the shows and movies from the big name streamer at optimal settings.

Voice interaction: Other streaming friendly features include voice search to quickly find exactly what you want without getting bogged down in on-screen keyboards. This voice interaction will often include voice controls for functions like opening specific apps or adjusting volume, but voice search is generally the most useful application for TVs.

Streaming TV FAQs

Which manufacturer has the best smart TV interface?

While you're unlikely to buy a TV purely for its smart TV interface, how good its app selection is and how easy it is to use is likely to impact your experience with the TV more than you might realize. 

Samsung's Tizen and LG's WebOS have long battled it out to be the very best smart TV interface, and the truth is, you won't be disappointed by either. They're fast, easy to navigate, and filled to the brim with all your favorite streaming apps, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and Apple+. 

Sony uses Google TV (formerly known as Android TV) as do TCL and Hisense alongside their own, less accomplished operating systems. Google TV is trying to improve on the legacy of Android TV, which was known to be a little clunky in operation, but it's still not quite up there with the very best. Still, the app selection is good, so you won't be disappointed there.

It's always worth looking out for Roku and Amazon Fire-powered TVs, which use the popular interfaces you may have seen on Roku and Amazon Fire TV streaming sticks. The TVs that these interfaces sit on are usually not the best in terms of out-and-out performance, but having such a strong streaming interface at their heart certainly helps to make them even more desirable.

What are the best streaming apps?

Most people will have an idea of the streaming apps they would like their smart TV to offer, but once you get past your standard fare of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, which other ones should you look out for?

For what it's worth, HBO Max is our favourite video streaming service. We love it for its incredible selection of top TV shows - both past and present - as well as a strong selection of movies, including Dune, Space Jam 2 and The Suicide Squad. You can find out more of what to expect in our pick of the Best Shows and Movies on HBO Max, which we think makes it a compelling competitor to the likes of Netflix - especially with Netflix's recent price rise.

If Disney is more your (or your kids') bag, Disney+ is an absolute must-have, incorporating all of your Disney favourites as well all the Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars movies too. The content is refreshed and updated regularly, so you can't move for good stuff to watch here. Even the Simpsons is on there. All 30 seasons of it.

As for a more affordable option, Hulu offers well-priced access to most of the major network shows for just $7 a month, while Sling TV allows live streaming from around 30 real-time channels for $35 a month - much cheaper than comparative offerings.

Want to read more? Take a look at our piece on best video streaming services in 2022 for more to consider, as well as find out if your TV brand of choice supports your choices natively. 

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 Google 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.

Don't forget your network

Finally, the thing that might have the biggest impact on your streaming performance might not be your TV at all. If you haven't upgraded your router in the last year or two, chances are high that you're not using current equipment, whether it's a basic Wireless AC router or the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard.

And while you're at it, you also want to make sure you've got one of the best cable modems and check out our guide What internet speed do I need? to make sure that you've got a broadband plan that can handle all of your streaming needs. And we've also got a handy guide to the best Wi-Fi setup for streaming that can help you make the most of your wireless signal, so you never get stuck buffering or watching at low resolution.

Check out all of our home networking coverage:

Best Wi-Fi routers | Best mesh routers | Best Wi-Fi 6 routers | Best Wi-Fi extenders | Best powerline extenders | Best cable modems

Nick Pino
Managing Editor, TV and AV

Nick Pino heads up the TV and AV verticals at Tom's Guide and covers everything from OLED TVs to the latest wireless headphones. He was formerly the Senior Editor, TV and AV at TechRadar (Tom's Guide's sister site) and has previously written for GamesRadar, Official Xbox Magazine, PC Gamer and other outlets over the last decade. Not sure which TV you should buy? Drop him an email or tweet him on Twitter and he can help you out.

  • Casey-90
    This TCL 40-inch TV offers a great solution for most casual home setups. We have put it in our closet like armoire that had been previously accommodating a fifteen year old standard definition 42" plasma TV. That old plasma had been handed down from our family room a few years ago when we upgraded. The problem was, it required we keep an extra cable box setup in our bedroom at a cost of $11/month. Since we infrequently use the bedroom TV it did not make financial sense to keep the cable setup and as a result we sacrificed a usable TV. This TV was a reasonable investment whose upfront cost would offset the cable box setup in a little over a year. We also now have Netflix, Youtube, Amazon Music and many broadcast channels from the internal antenna jack and all the app channels we care to add on (ESPN, News, etc).
    The installation was simple and required nothing but another device with an internet connection to verify connections/logins (I used my iPhone). The remote control is simple to use and the TV's interface is simple to navigate. For a simple home setup, this TV is perfect; with its nice HD picture, simple interface, reasonable price and internal speakers. This was well worth the purchase for our needs and I would recommend this TV for all but those looking to use it as part of some glorious theater setup.
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