The best TVs on the market right now
It doesn't matter if you're big into watching sports like cricket, tennis, NRL, or AFL, or perhaps you're a movie buff longing for a better big-screen experience there's a lot of choice on the market when it comes to buying a new TV.
So, let me help you understand the choices out there and some picks of the bunch.
Here are some great TVs on the market today...
NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.
Philips 4K Smart TV, 65-Inch
Price: $849 (originally $1,595)
While this Philips 65-inch TV doesn't have the refresh rate of the Sony, it does have a great overall picture. Most importantly, it ticks the value box, with a 65-inch TV at your door for well under $1,000 there's nothing to be concerned about. 4K resolution means the best possible picture, in particular when you use streaming apps, which can push out 4K by default
This Philips 65-inch TV is capable of some of the best and latest display technologies like Dolby Vision and sound from Dolby Atmos too.
Sony X90K BRAVIA, 55-Inch
Price: $1,194 (originally $1,495)
At 55 inches this TV is actually on the small side when it comes to modern TV purchases. But for many, that's the perfect size. Better still, Sony's reputation is strong and for good reason – they make great TVs and that's not something to overlook.
Their BRAVIA range has for years offered a fantastic picture quality and response. Fast on-screen response rate means live sport is great viewing, while the Google TV operating system means every app you want is going to be there. Delivered to your door by Amazon, what could be easier!
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TCL C845 Series
Price: ranging from $1,596-$3,995
The C845 series TVs from TCL are a fantastic buy at any size with prices from $1,596 up to the 85-inch mega TV for just over $3,000!
What makes this such a great deal is this isn't old repurposed technology, the TCL C845 series features mini LED, which is the latest technology for backlighting a TV ensuring that the picture is as good as possible with a high contrast between black and colour on the screen.
With 2000nits of peak brightness, this is fantastic for Aussie homes which are often very bright with windows all around, but also a great TV for gaming thanks to the 144Hz Variable Refresh Rate, which will make everything seem smooth.
The TCL C845 also features IMAX-enhanced certification, this means that on some services, like Disney+ there will be more picture to see. While some TVs will show you black bars top and bottom of a movie, 'IMAX enhanced' means you will see what's in that black area, not a cropped picture, but actually more picture than a TV without that feature.
TCL is no doubt a challenger brand, but they have been doing big things in recent years to push their products and sales and the C845 is the flagship for the range in 2023.
LG OLED C3 Series
Price: ranging from $2,595-$8,995
LG has been making OLED TVs for 10 years, a full decade working with the most advanced technology in TV, which other brands have only in the last couple of years started to offer themselves. The reason is, it's complex to manufacture. Every pixel on an OLED TV lights itself up, meaning there is no bigger backlight to shine through, and also meaning if one pixel is white and another is black, you see no bleed between them. It's that which makes OLED the most desirable TV technology out there.
It is also the most expensive, but for the best picture, you might need to compromise on the size you were wanting to go to to keep your new TV within the budget, but give you the best viewing experience.
For gaming, sport, and movies, it does it all.
The C3 series is the sweet spot for LG, though the G series is probably a touch better for wall hanging if that's your plan.
You simply cannot go wrong with an OLED from LG.
Samsung Q80C, 98-Inch
Price: $9,995
If you said to me five years ago or more that you were buying a 98-inch TV I'd assume you won Lotto. That would have been a $100,000 investment back in the day. Today, it's under $10,000.
Now yes, that's a lot of money. But I have to tell you, if that painter's tape line in your lounge room suggests you can fit a 98-inch TV, start saving – you'll be blown away.
This is a theatre-like experience with fantastic quality from Samsung.
Quantum Dot technology for a fantastic colour on screen, and a 100Hz smooth motion rate that means no blurring when watching fast action or fast-moving live sport. You've also got Dolby Atmos for sensational sound, and direct full-array dimming for a great deep black and pure white on screen. Thanks to the on-board 'object tracking sound' the speakers intelligently follow the on-screen action making the sound appear more life-like than ever.
For the perfect picture quality and colour matching for your home lighting, use your smartphone to calibrate the colour on the screen – something unlike any other TV on the market.
No one is going to forget your TV after they've sat down and watched the best shows, sport, movies or games on your 98-inch TV.
Hisense U7KAU
Hisense has taken that good old "go big or go home" to the next level in 2023. This U7KAU model ranges in size from 55 inches right up to 100 inches! That's right, pipping the others by 2 inches to claim the "biggest" title.
What's great about that size selection is you can potentially find your TV within this single model based on either size or price. Featuring a 4K MiniLED display, with Quantum Dot technology this is an impressive screen too. Automatically switching to sports mode when the TV knows you are watching sport gives you the best colour and smoothness, while gaming credentials too are high so plug in that console for a great gaming experience.
IMAX certified as well as Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos you aren't missing much from a tech and capability standpoint. A must-see, and genuinely worth your dollar.
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What to look for when buying a new TV
Firstly, I think the most important decision is size. I say this ahead of budget, and other things, because you have to be sure you can fit the TV.
Grab a tape measure, and measure up the space you plan to put the TV. Look at overall space width and height, but also the width of your entertainment unit if you're not wall-mounting the TV.
Every TV company lists the exact dimensions of every TV on their websites, so once you narrow things down you can check that.
If you're trying to convince yourself, or you're better half, that you can indeed fit a particular TV or that it won't be "too big" do what I did – grab some painter's tape, and mark out the size of the TV so you can sit back on the lounge and look at how big it will be.
Additionally, there's an important factor that you cannot overlook, and that's budget. Of course, you can get cheap TVs and very expensive TVs, but what is your budget for this purchase? When you combine the budget you have and the minimum and maximum sized TVs you're willing to get, searching for a TV gets much easier.
Then there's content. What are you watching and how?
If you've got the latest 4K Blu-ray player then you don't need upscaling technology and you're probably a movie buff looking for the best picture. If you prefer to stream, does the TV have your preferred apps built in? Or do you plug a Fetch or Foxtel box into HDMI 1 and watch everything from there? Consider how you use a TV as much as how the TV looks.
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