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The best 65-inch TVs of 2020: The LG CX OLED Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

The Best 65-Inch TVs of 2023

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

The best 65-inch TVs of 2020: The LG CX OLED Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

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Editor's Choice Product image of LG OLED65C2PUA
Best Overall

LG OLED65C2PUA

The LG C2 OLED is one of the best TVs we've ever seen. It's spectacular for movies and games, especially if you don't have a bright living space. Read More

Pros

  • World-class picture quality
  • A top-tier gaming TV
  • Wafer-thin design

Cons

  • Not as bright as top-shelf QLED TVs
  • Slight off-angle color shift
2
Editor's Choice Product image of Sony XR-65A95K
Best Upgrade

Sony XR-65A95K

The Sony A95K is not only the best OLED we’ve ever tested, it’s also the best TV, period. Its top-of-the-line picture quality outshines a handful of minor flaws. Read More

Pros

  • World-class picture quality
  • Superb design
  • Fast, flexible software

Cons

  • Gaming support so-so
  • Minor color fringing
3
Editor's Choice Product image of Hisense 65U8H
Best Value

Hisense 65U8H

The Hisense U8H is one of the best budget-friendly TVs of the year. It offers excellent performance and useful features for a surprisingly low price. Read More

Pros

  • Excellent contrast and color
  • Easy-to-use smart platform
  • Strong gaming support for the price

Cons

  • A few picture processing quirks
  • Narrow viewing angle
  • Lackluster design
4
Editor's Choice Product image of Samsung QN65QN90BAFXZA
Best For Bright Rooms

Samsung QN65QN90BAFXZA

The Samsung QN90B Neo QLED is a dazzling, premium TV whose stunning brightness allows it to perform at a high level in bright rooms. Read More

Pros

  • Incredibly bright
  • Brilliantly showcases HDR
  • Great for next-gen gaming

Cons

  • No Dolby Vision
  • Noticeable light bloom
  • Would benefit from calibration
5
Editor's Choice Product image of LG Evo OLED65C3PUA

LG Evo OLED65C3PUA

With an exquisite picture and exhaustive features, the LG C3 OLED is an incredible TV for movies, gaming, and everything in between. Read More

Pros

  • Incredible contrast
  • Vivid, accurate color
  • All the gaming features you’ll need

Cons

  • So-so smart platform
  • Not as bright as competitive OLEDs

For decades, we’ve tested picture quality, design, and features to determine the best TVs around. Since 65-inch screens are one of the most popular sizes, it only seems right to give them special attention. From top-shelf TVs to great deals, we’ve rounded them up for you.

The best 65 inch-TV we've tested so far is the LG C2 (available at Amazon) . We love this OLED TV for its ultra-thin design, sensational contrast, and cutting-edge gaming enhancements. Still, you don't have to spend thousands of dollars to get a solid 65-inch 4K TV—we’ve found great options at every price point.

The LG C2 OLED TV displaying 4K/HDR content in a living room setting
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

The LG C2 combines the unbelievable performance of an OLED with an array of exciting features.

Best Overall
LG C2
  • Screen sizes: 42”, 48”, 55”, 65”, 77”, 83”
  • HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
  • Smart platform: LG webOS

The LG C2 OLED took our previous favorite, the LG C1, and made it even better to become the best 65-inch TV you can buy right now.

As an OLED model, this TV’s pixels are self-lit. Each one can brighten, dim, or even turn off, enabling perfect black levels and unbelievable contrast. Of course, that’s standard for OLED TVs. What isn’t standard is LG’s OLED evo display technology, which improves the brightness capability of the C2 vs the C1.

In HDR, this TV can produce specular highlights in the 700- to 800-nit range, it covers about 97% of the HDR color space (DCI-P3), and it supports Dolby Vision. SDR content, like most cable broadcasts, also looks spectacular, albeit a little dimmer.

The C2 is our top pick for gamers. All four inputs are full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1, and support 4K gaming at 120 hertz (Hz).

The C2 also features auto low latency mode (ALLM) and variable refresh rate (VRR), including AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync. LG’s Game Optimizer settings menu toggles game options like VRR and picture info, and relays frame rate information.

There are some weaknesses. With no DTS audio support, you may not get the most out of all of your Blu-rays. We’re also not fans of LG’s webOS smart platform, which is sluggish and weighed down by sponsored content. If you spring for the C2, we recommend using an external streaming device.

The LG C2 is one of the best OLED TVs that we’ve tested. It’s pricier than most TVs, but the price is justified by its world-class performance and impressive, all-encompassing list of features.

See our full LG C2 review.

Pros

  • World-class picture quality

  • A top-tier gaming TV

  • Wafer-thin design

Cons

  • Not as bright as top-shelf QLED TVs

  • Slight off-angle color shift

Credit: Reviewed / Tim Renzi

The A95K is the best TV we’ve ever seen.

Best Upgrade
Sony A95K
  • Screen sizes: 55", 65"
  • HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
  • Smart platform: Google TV

The A95K is Sony's first QD-OLED—an OLED TV with quantum dots. They’ve made something absolutely incredible. This is the best picture quality we’ve ever seen on a television. Unfortunately, it's also one of the highest prices we’ve ever seen, too, which may put it out of reach for most shoppers.

The A95K has perfect black levels and wide viewing angles, like all OLED TVs. However, it also addresses the relatively lower brightness compared to LED TVs that most OLEDs struggle with. This is one of the brightest OLEDs we’ve tested, great for both daytime and nighttime viewing as long as it’s not sitting in a sunbeam.

Thanks in part to Sony's quantum dot technology (dubbed Triluminos Color), the A95K's colors are staggering. It covers 100% of the HDR color gamut (DCI-P3). Its bold, bright colors pop on any kind of content. It particularly excels at rendering skin tones and subtle gradations without color banding.

The A95K's Google-based smart platform is fast, flexible, and relatively easy to use. It's great for everyday streaming.

While the A95K doesn't offer as much gaming flexibility as its competitors, it can keep up with modern consoles. Two of its HDMI 2.1 inputs support 4K gaming at 120Hz, though one is also the dedicated eARC port for soundbars. The A95K also gives you ALLM and VRR with G-Sync compatibility.

Most folks will understandably balk at the A95K's head-spinning price tag, but if you're looking for the absolute best picture money can buy, look no further.

See our full Sony A95K review.

Pros

  • World-class picture quality

  • Superb design

  • Fast, flexible software

Cons

  • Gaming support so-so

  • Minor color fringing

The TV on display in the Reviewed labs with the screen showing off a large and bright blue splash.
Credit: Reviewed / Tim Renzi

The Hisense U8H offers great performance for a price most people can justify.

Best Value
Hisense U8H
  • Screen sizes: 55", 65", 75"
  • HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
  • Smart platform: Google TV

The Hisense U8H is one of the best value options of the year. This mini-LED TV features quantum dots for an excellent picture at a surprisingly low price.

The U8H's local dimming performance rivals its higher-end competitors, with shockingly little light bloom when combining darkness and light on screen. It also delivers plenty of brightness in HDR and SDR, day or night. We measured a peak brightness of around 1,700 nits for specular highlights in HDR, and average brightness as high as 900 nits in SDR. That’s almost unheard of in this price range.

Colors on the U8H are rich and voluminous, too, thanks in part to the quantum dots. The U8H covers an impressive 97% of the HDR color gamut (DCI-P3), according to our lab tests. Practically speaking, that means everything from SDR TV shows to HDR movies will look realistically colorful.

You can certainly pay more for a stronger gaming TV, but considering the U8H’s price, it’s remarkably fit for modern gaming. You're getting two HDMI 2.1 ports capable of 4K gaming at 120Hz, with ALLM and VRR with FreeSync Premium Pro.

The smart platform is solid, too. Google TV is fast, easy to use, and full of great app options.

There are a couple of drawbacks worth mentioning. Hisense's picture processing isn’t as strong as Sony's, Samsung's, and TCL's, particularly for upscaling sub-4K content. Off-axis viewing can be an issue, too. The U8H's picture quality begins to drop as you shift away from a direct, head-on viewing position.

Still, few TVs deliver this level of performance for the money. There's far more to love about the U8H than there is to nitpick. It's a terrific, value-forward TV that most folks will be thrilled to call their own.

See our full Hisense U8H review.

Pros

  • Excellent contrast and color

  • Easy-to-use smart platform

  • Strong gaming support for the price

Cons

  • A few picture processing quirks

  • Narrow viewing angle

  • Lackluster design

The Samsung QN90B displaying 4K/HDR content in a living room setting
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

The Samsung QN90B is one of the brightest LED TVs we’ve reviewed this year.

Best For Bright Rooms
Samsung QN90B
  • Screen sizes: 43”, 50”, 55”, 65”, 75”, 85”, 98”
  • HDR: HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
  • Smart platform: Samsung Tizen OS

The Samsung QN90B is a top-shelf TV that blends cutting-edge features with a powerfully bright picture. It’s our current pick for the best TV for bright-room viewing.

The QN90B has Samsung’s Neo QLED technology, their name for the combination of contrast-enhancing mini-LEDs and color-enhancing quantum dots. The result is one of the brightest pictures we’ve ever seen on a TV that also excels at reining that brightness in when needed. This is one of the best LCD/LED TVs around for showcasing HDR content.

The QN90B is loaded with gaming features. All four HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K gaming at 120Hz, with ALLM and VRR for low-latency gaming free of visual artifacts like screen tearing. FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync support are both included, as well.

Unfortunately, Samsung TVs like the QN90B don’t support Dolby Vision. Additionally, the QN90B sometimes falls victim to minor light bloom, particularly when viewed from an off-axis position.

Still, if you want a bright picture and premium features, the Samsung QN90B is one of your best bets.

See our full Samsung QN90B review.

Pros

  • Incredibly bright

  • Brilliantly showcases HDR

  • Great for next-gen gaming

Cons

  • No Dolby Vision

  • Noticeable light bloom

  • Would benefit from calibration


Other Top 65-Inch TVs We Tested

Product image of LG Evo OLED65C3PUA
LG C3
  • Screen sizes: 42”, 48”, 55”, 65”, 77”, 83”
  • HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
  • Smart platform: LG webOS 23

With its incredible picture quality and extensive selection of A/V- and gaming-related features, the LG C3 OLED is one of the best all-around TVs you can buy. It’s a better-performing TV over our Best Overall pick, the LG C2, but its premium price keeps it from the top spot while the C2 can be found at deep discounts. Still, if you want the newest and best version of LG’s C Series OLED, go with the C3.

Like its predecessor, the C3 pairs picture-perfect black levels with punchy highlights and rich, voluminous color. It’s brighter than the C2, but only by a hair, due to new picture processing enhancements that manage light output.

The C3 is at its best when displaying HDR content, covering an impressive 99% of the HDR color gamut (DCI-P3) and doling out highlights as bright as 800 nits. Picture purists will appreciate the TV’s out-of-the-box accuracy and Dolby Vision support, and everyone in the room will appreciate the C3’s remarkably wide viewing angles (a hallmark of OLED displays).

Few TVs offer as many gaming-related features as the LG C3 including ultra-low input lag, four HDMI 2.1 inputs that support 4K/120Hz gaming, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). The C3 also supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility. LG’s Game Optimizer is back, too, which gives gamers an easy-to-access menu for adjusting the TV’s picture and toggling its gaming-related enhancements on the fly.

See our full LG C3 review.

Pros

  • Incredible contrast

  • Vivid, accurate color

  • All the gaming features you’ll need

Cons

  • So-so smart platform

  • Not as bright as competitive OLEDs

Product image of Samsung QN65S95CAFXZA
Samsung S95C
  • Screen sizes: 55”, 65”, 77”
  • HDR support: HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
  • Smart platform: Samsung Tizen OS

The second generation of Samsung’s quantum dot-enhanced OLED display technology is even more stunning than the first. With class-leading brightness, incredibly vibrant color, and a bevy of gaming features, the Samsung S95C picks up right where its predecessor (the S95B) left off. An S95B on sale is still the better financial option, unless you’re after a 77-inch model or want the flexibility of Samsung’s One Connect box which puts all connections in a conveniently detached box, both only offered with the S95C.

The S95C is the brightest OLED we’ve tested to date, with HDR specular highlights reaching as high as 1,400 nits. Colors on the S95C look spectacular no matter what you happen to be watching, but HDR movies, shows, and video games look especially vibrant. The S95C covers 99% of the HDR color gamut, and the sheer luminosity of its quantum dot-enhanced palette truly makes a difference.

The S95C is a gaming powerhouse and its low input lag and 144Hz native refresh rate are just the tip of the iceberg. All four of its HDMI 2.1 inputs support 4K/120Hz gaming, along with Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and AMD FreeSync Premium. Like last year’s model, the S95C also offers Samsung Gaming Hub (a cloud gaming platform) and Game Bar, a settings menu that puts the TV’s various gaming enhancements right at your fingertips.

As is the case with all Samsung TVs, you won’t be getting Dolby Vision support with the S95C. Instead, the TV offers HDR10+ support in its place, an HDR format that harnesses frame-by-frame metadata similarly. In addition, while the S95C’s software has seen subtle improvements year over year, we find the user interface to be somewhat confusing and certain processes to be slow, which might disappoint those looking for a simple, easy smart platform experience.

See our full Samsung S95C review.

Pros

  • Incredible contrast

  • Dazzling color

  • Fantastic gaming support

Cons

  • Sluggish, cluttered software

  • Raised black levels in ambient light

  • No Dolby Vision support

Product image of Samsung QN65S95BAFXZA
Samsung S95B
  • Screen sizes: 55”, 65”
  • HDR: HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
  • Smart platform: Samsung Tizen OS

Quantum dots are typically used to enhance LED TV color and brightness to rival those of OLED. But the Samsung S95B adds quantum dots to an OLED display for an incredible picture. This tech is called QD-OLED technology, and this TV showcases it brilliantly.

For years, OLED TVs have faced criticism for their lack of brightness compared to LED TVs, especially ones with quantum dots. The S95B may not get as bright as a TV like the Samsung QN90B, but it’s still the brightest OLED we’ve tested to date.

Coupled with OLED’s perfect black levels, the S95B’s added brightness has an incredibly powerful impact on HDR content, be it a movie, a video game, or otherwise. Specular highlights pop off the screen, adding an astonishing level of depth. But the quantum dots are perhaps most notable in the S95B’s color reproduction. In particular, reds and greens look stunning on this TV.

It's built for modern gaming, too. All four of the S95B’s HDMI ports support 4K gaming at 120Hz, Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). Samsung also included Game Bar, a dedicated menu for game optimization settings.

There are downsides. We wish Samsung TVs like the S95B supported Dolby Vision. Samsung’s Tizen-based smart platform isn’t our favorite, either—it’s laggy and difficult to navigate. We recommend pairing the S95B with an external streaming device.

Finally, the out-of-the-box picture settings aren’t particularly close to reference standards. Picture purists may need to shell out for a professional calibrator. Alternatively, they might simply check out the LG C2. That OLED TV’s out-of-the-box picture is more in line with reference standards.

All in all, the S95B is uniquely suited for bright room viewing for an OLED. There are concerns around pricing, Dolby Vision, and its smart platform. However, the amazing picture quality and strong brightness make the Samsung S95B a total game-changer.

See our full Samsung S95B review.

Pros

  • QD-OLED is a game changer

  • Excellent gaming TV

  • Superb design

Cons

  • No Dolby Vision

  • Might need to be calibrated

  • Minor color artifacts

Product image of Samsung QN65S90CAFXZA
Samsung S90C
  • Screen sizes: 55”, 65”, and 77” (QD-OLED), 83” (WOLED)
  • HDR support: HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
  • Smart platform: Samsung Tizen OS

The Samsung S90C is Samsung’s most affordable OLED TV. While it’s not quite as impressive as the step-up S95C, it shares many of the same benefits and features. As such, it’s a great way to save some money on a high-end Samsung TV.

Every model in the S90C series other than the 83-inch uses a QD-OLED display. The 83-inch version uses a WOLED display and will likely perform differently. Our recommendation, therefore, covers the 55-, 65-, and 77-inch models.

The inclusion of quantum dots helps to explain why the S90C is brighter and slightly more colorful than many OLED TVs in its price range (like the LG C3 and the Sony A80K). When paired with the perfect black levels OLED TVs are known for, the S90C’s added brightness makes for a fantastically cinematic experience, particularly in HDR. Small, concentrated areas of brightness really pop.

Picture purists will appreciate the S90C’s razor-sharp Filmmaker mode, which produces an incredibly accurate picture right out of the box. Gamers, on the other hand, will love the S90C’s full-hearted support for current-generation consoles, as the S90C supports 4K gaming at up to 144Hz across all four of its HDMI 2.1 inputs. It also supports ALLM, VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium, and Samsung’s Gaming Hub streaming software suite.

There are a couple of downsides to report, unfortunately. Being a Samsung TV, the S90C does not support Dolby Vision, opting instead for the open-source alternative, HDR10+. A/V enthusiasts might miss having the option to watch Dolby Vision-enhanced content in its native format. In addition, the S90C’s software (especially its built-in smart platform) often feels like it gets in its own way.

It’s also worth noting just how much pricier the 65-inch model is when compared to the 55-inch version. The 55-inch S90C is the most competitively priced model, and there’s a significant price jump when moving up to the 65-inch version—more so than with most TVs in its class.

Nevertheless, if you’re interested in landing a Samsung-branded OLED TV, the S90C is the most affordable route.

See our full Samsung S90C review.

Pros

  • Brighter than most OLEDs

  • Fantastic color

  • Wealth of gaming features

Cons

  • So-so software experience

  • No Dolby Vision

Product image of Sony XR-65A80K
Sony A80K
  • Screen sizes: 55", 65", 77"
  • HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
  • Smart platform: Google TV

The A80K is the most affordable Sony OLED TV of the year and is currently seeing some deep discounts, making it a terrific option for 65-inch OLED bargain hunters who appreciate the look and feel of a Sony-branded TV.

Like all OLED displays, the A80K sports perfect black levels and incredible contrast, especially when viewed in a dark room. It also boasts the ultra-wide viewing angles of an OLED, maintaining excellent contrast and color saturation wherever you’re sitting in the room. Its color gamut coverage is remarkable, covering 99% of the HDR color gamut (DCI-P3) with impressive accuracy when using the “Custom” picture mode.

Unfortunately, A80K loses some luster when you compare it to other OLED TVs in its price bracket. It isn’t as bright as the competition, topping out at around 700 nits of brightness when displaying small, concentrated highlights. Meanwhile, the LG C2 bumps right up against 800 nits and the Samsung S95B eclipses 1,000 nits. OLED TVs already struggle in bright rooms, and the A80K struggles more than most in its price range.

The A80K is also not quite as gaming-friendly as competitively-priced OLED TVs. It features HDMI 2.1 and all of its benefits (ALLM, VRR, and 4K gaming at 120Hz), but only on two of its four inputs—one of which is also the dedicated eARC port. Meanwhile, the C2 and the S95B have those features on all four inputs.

Nevertheless, the A80K sports a sensational picture, a fast, user-friendly smart platform powered by Google TV, and an elegant design. Sony’s superb picture processing ties the whole recipe together. As long as you’re not planting the A80K in a bright room (and you don’t mind missing out on some of the benefits of its competitors), it’ll serve you well.

See our full Sony A80K review.

Pros

  • Excellent color and contrast

  • Elegant design

Cons

  • Not as bright as other OLEDs

  • Only two HDMI 2.1 ports

Product image of TCL 65QM850G
TCL QM8
  • Screen sizes: 65”, 75”, 85”, 98”
  • HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
  • Smart platform: Google TV

The TCL QM8 is one of the best TVs TCL has ever made. It combines mini-LEDs and quantum dots for a bright, colorful picture, a better-than-average selection of gaming features, and a reliable smart platform, all for a price that comes in lower than most 65-inch TVs with similar spec sheets.

The QM8 is one of the brightest TVs of the year, and it doesn’t matter what you’re watching. SDR content (cable TV, over-the-air broadcasts, and most streaming content) is bright enough to hold up in even the most sun-drenched rooms, and HDR content (UHD Blu-rays and Dolby Vision streaming titles, for example) looks superb. Specular highlights climb as high as 2,000 nits, and the QM8’s impressive local dimming algorithm ensures that the TV’s high-octane mini-LEDs aren’t bleeding into surrounding darkness. In fact, the QM8’s ability to limit light bloom (while still providing fiercely bright highlights) is its best quality.

Almost as good as the QM8’s contrast is its color production. Its quantum dot-enhanced display covers about 96% of the HDR color gamut, and while it’s not quite as accurate out of the box as other TVs in its price range, its most accurate picture mode still looks great.

At first blush, gaming enthusiasts might balk at the fact that only two of the QM8’s HDMI inputs support 4K gaming at up to 144Hz, but there’s good news: The TV’s dedicated eARC port is separate from its pair of gaming-enhanced inputs, so owners of multiple current-generation consoles don’t have to play favorites with their ports.

Like most mini-LED TVs, off-axis viewing is a good way to spoil the fun; the QM8’s contrast is at its worst when viewed from off to the side. Its design isn’t as fetching as other TVs in its class, either. That said, if you’re looking for a jaw-droppingly bright 65-inch TV with a friendlier price than most, the QM8 might be the ticket.

See our full TCL QM8 review.

Pros

  • Bright and Colorful

  • Exceptional local dimming

  • Great for gamers

Cons

  • Design lacks polish

  • Picture quality drops off-axis

Product image of TCL 65R655
TCL 6-Series with Roku
  • Screen sizes: 55", 65", 75", 85"
  • HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
  • Smart platform: Roku TV

The TCL 6-Series is a bright mini-LED TV with our favorite smart platform and some great gaming features. When you factor in its price, it’s an especially strong contender.

As a Roku TV, the 6-Series features our favorite smart platform right out of the box. We love that Roku is easy enough for newcomers, while having a wide breadth of offerings for streaming enthusiasts.

Its picture quality is quite good, regardless of ambient light. Bright highlights (as high as 1,300 nits during HDR content) are accentuated by deep black levels. Meanwhile, quantum dots boost color saturation across all content types.

The 6-Series covers 92% of the wide HDR color gamut—not quite as impressive as the similarly priced Hisense U8H, but good nonetheless. The 6-Series balances that shortcoming with better picture processing than the U8H, especially when it comes to upscaling content.

The 6-Series is also a terrific option for gamers. Two of its HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K gaming at 144Hz with variable refresh rate enabled. Crucially, this TV's dedicated eARC port is separate from its gaming-optimized ports, so you can hook up two gaming consoles and a dedicated soundbar all at once. It also supports Auto Low Latency Mode and FreeSync Premium Pro.

Unfortunately, the 6-Series is scarce on picture and audio customization within the TVs menus. There are some basic picture presets. You can also make basic adjustments to the backlight and color temperature, but that’s about it. The design of the TV is also pretty basic.

While not as bright and colorful as the Hisense U8H, the 6-Series is a superb budget option, especially if you don’t care about fine-tuning your picture. If you do want deeper control over your TV's settings, take a closer look at the U8H.

See our full TCL 6-Series review.

Pros

  • Bright, colorful picture

  • Built-in Roku smart features

  • Class-leading gaming features

Cons

  • Not enough A/V customization settings

  • Out-of-the-box picture is too cool

  • Chunky, ho-hum design

Product image of Sony XR-65X90K
Sony X90K
  • Screen sizes: 55", 65", 75", 85”
  • HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
  • Smart platform: Google TV

If you’re looking for a touch of high-end performance without the high-end price tag, consider the 65-inch X90K. For a reasonable price, it delivers a bright, colorful picture, a user-friendly smart platform, and a handful of useful gaming features. It's one of the best 65-inch TVs for shoppers who'd rather not pay a top-shelf price.

With an average picture brightness of around 600 to 700 nits in both SDR and HDR, the X90K is a great choice for those who watch cable TV or stream their favorite shows during the day. Small highlights (like the sunlight reflecting off a car's rearview window) get even brighter, and with both HDR10 and Dolby Vision support in tow, the X90K is one of the best ways to showcase HDR content at this price point. Thanks to Sony's Triluminos quantum dot technology it covers about 92% of the HDR color gamut (DCI-P3). With Sony’s much-lauded picture processing conducting the proceedings behind the scenes, everything from upscaled content to native 4K content looks clean and accurately expressed.

Unfortunately, you’ll probably notice some light bloom whenever bright picture elements are overlaid on a dark background. The light bloom is especially prominent when viewing the X90K from an off-axis position. This is because the X90K isn’t equipped with very many dimming zones—something you don’t have to worry about as much if you invest in a higher-end mini-LED TV. Its gaming support is also more limited as only two of the X90K’s four HDMI inputs support 4K gaming at 120Hz, with ALLM and VRR. Non-gamers won't be affected by this limitation, though.

The X90K is a sensible compromise for folks who want a handful of cutting-edge features and a great 65-inch picture, but who don’t feel comfortable jumping up to the high-end, heavy-hitting options that often cost twice as much.

See our full Sony X90K review.

Pros

  • Bright enough for daytime viewing

  • Great smart platform

  • Accommodating design

Cons

  • Moderate light bloom

  • Narrow viewing angle

Product image of Hisense 65U6K
Hisense U6K
  • Screen sizes: 55", 65", 75", 85”
  • HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
  • Smart platform: Google TV

The Hisense U6K is the most affordable mini-LED TV on the market, making it a great choice for those shopping for a budget-friendly TV with a hefty amount of performance-related upside. Its picture quality is better than most TVs in its price range, and although it's not packed to the brim with features, its flexible smart platform and handful of gaming features should be enough to satisfy most bargain-hunters.

The U6K owes most of its success to its mini-LED display. This hardware is typically reserved for pricier TVs, but the U6K features a scaled down version of the technology with fewer dimming zones, which keeps it firmly locked into a budget-friendly price bracket. With mini-LEDs in tow, the U6K offers tighter dimming zone control than entry-level and mid-range TVs that rely on traditional LEDs.

It’s bright enough for casual daytime viewing and looks good in the dark, too. With quantum dots in play, the U6K is also quite colorful for a mid-range TV; it covers an impressive 96% of the HDR color gamut (DCI-P3). It’s not as gaming-friendly as pricier TVs from Hisense and competitive brands, but Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) are included.

There are a few drawbacks to the U6K’s otherwise excellent approach: Its design isn’t as sturdy or sleek as we’d like, and there are some picture processing issues that spoil some of the fun. Like many Hisense TVs, the U6K often exhibits a subtle, red-tinted ghosting effect on objects in motion, particularly during dimly lit scenes in warm lighting. It also struggles to upscale sub-4K content as cleanly as other mid-range TVs.

Still, if you’re looking for an affordable 65-inch TV that delivers better performance than most in its class, the U6K is a great pick.

See our full Hisense U6K review.

Pros

  • Offers mini-LEDs for less

  • Bright enough for daytime viewing

  • Excellent quantum-dot color

Cons

  • Motion-related color fringing

  • Narrow viewing angle

  • Lackluster design


How We Test TVs

Credit: Reviewed

Our lab is outfitted with much of the same equipment you would find at a factory that manufactures and calibrates televisions.

The Testers

Reviewed has been testing TVs for over a decade. Our current Home Theater expert is Michael Desjardin. Michael is a Senior Staff Writer who’s been on the Reviewed tech team since 2014. A film enthusiast and TV expert, he takes picture quality seriously, but also understands that not every TV is a good fit for everyone.

John Higgins is Reviewed’s A/V and Electronics Senior Editor. In his A/V career that has spanned two decades he has written about TVs, speakers, headphones, AVRs, gaming, and all manner of technology. He is also an ISF Level III-certified calibrator.

A TV tester measuring a TV's contrast
Credit: Reviewed / Chris Snow

We measure things like peak brightness, black level, hue, and so on.

The Tests

Our seriousness about testing TVs is underscored by the equipment at our Cambridge laboratory. We use much of the same tech that manufacturers use to make and calibrate televisions.

We measure color and brightness with a SpectraCal C6 colorimeter and a LS-100 luminance meter. A Leo Bodnar input lag tester measures gaming acuity, and a Murideo Seven 8K signal generator helps us test 8K TV features. We’re also swimming in Blu-rays.

For software, we use the industry-standard Portrait Displays’ Calman Ultimate color calibration software.

Over the years, we’ve refined our testing process to gather all the deep data that curious video engineers could want, while focusing on what an average person wants from a TV. We way our findings based on how the human eye prioritizes information–brightness first, then color, and so on.

We also spend a lot of time just using each TV to see how enjoyable it is. We use the smart features, stream video, and hook up a Blu-ray player. We check out the ports, remote, and on-set buttons. We examine everything that might affect someone’s experience with a TV.

What You Should Know About Buying a Television

A “good” TV should push past a mixture of pixels and make you feel like you’re seeing reality, moving seamlessly and lit and colored like the world around you.

A good TV should have great contrast between dark and bright imagery. It should djisplay vibrant color that meets the relevant color standards. It should process video so that motion looks realistically smooth.

Any individual spec can be sky-high, but if the elements of a TV’s performance aren’t working in tandem, it’s going to be frustrating. It’s just like how intense speed isn’t enough to automatically make a good car.

What TV Terms Do I Need To Know?

TV terminology can be overwhelming, or even misleading at times. To help make sense while you shop, here are some key terms:

LCD/LED: LCD displays use “liquid crystal,” a semi-solid substance that morphs in reaction to tiny electrical jolts and allows light to pass through. LCD displays have been around for decades. But they need to be lit so you can see them.

LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, are the most common light source for an LCD screen. They use minimal power and help create a crisp image.

OLED:Organic Light Emitting Diodes sound similar but are different than LEDs. Instead of an image layer and a light source, OLED panels have one layer of self-lit pixels that can produce both light and color. These TVs have a shorter lifespan, but offer wider viewing angles, sharper contrast, and more accurate colors.

Read more about QLED vs OLED.

4K/UHD: Usually 4K refers to resolution—the number of pixels in a screen, which affects the quality and clarity of the image. 4K screens have a field of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels, the current standard.

UHD means Ultra High Definition, which refers to several picture improvements in media, and to TVs that can display them. 4K resolution is among them, but for UHD you also need Wide Color Gamut, which can display many more shades than HD TVs.

High Dynamic Range: High Dynamic Range (or HDR) refers to both a type of content and to TVs that can display it. HDR TVs have many times the brightness and 30% more color production than non-HDR TVs. Current top HDR formats include HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision.

60Hz/120Hz: A TV’s "refresh rate," is how often it re-scans and updates the picture in a single second. This scans/second measurement is called Hertz (Hz). Higher refresh rates are better, but not always necessary.

The current standards are 60Hz and 120Hz. That means the screen refreshes either 60 times or 120 times every second.

Smart TV: A “smart TV” is any TV that connects to the internet with a built-in ethernet or WiFi connection. Today, smart TVs are used mainly for streaming services like Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, or Amazon Prime Video. A few may have extra features like web browsers or calendars.

Quantum Dots: Quantum dots are microscopic nanocrystals that can produce vivid, intense colors. They’re used to improve the color production of LED/LCD TVs to compete with OLEDs. However, some higher-end OLED TVs also use them.

Local Dimming: LED/LCD TVs can’t turn off individual pixels like an OLED. However, they can still control brightness on different parts of the screen with “local dimming”. Small clusters of LEDs dim or boost brightness on different parts of the screen depending on what’s being shown. This can vastly improve the performance and worth of a TV if done well.


Meet the testers

Michael Desjardin

Michael Desjardin

Senior Staff Writer

@Reviewed

Michael Desjardin graduated from Emerson College after having studied media production and screenwriting. He specializes in tech for Reviewed, but also loves film criticism, weird ambient music, cooking, and food in general.

See all of Michael Desjardin's reviews
John Higgins

John Higgins

Managing Editor, Tech

@johntmhiggins

John is Reviewed's Managing Editor of Tech. He is an ISF Level III-certified calibrator with bylines at ProjectorCentral, Wirecutter, IGN, Home Theater Review, T3, Sound & Vision, and Home Theater Magazine. When away from the Reviewed office, he is a sound editor for film and musician, and loves to play games with his son.

See all of John Higgins's reviews

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Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.

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