The Best TV Brands and Models to Buy in 2021

Buying a new TV isn’t getting any easier. While TV screen size, picture technology, contrast ratio, backlighting, refresh rate, and stand-out smart features are improving every day, this means there’s plenty more to consider nowadays when forking over the dough for your new living room set.

With a wide range of sophisticated features, resolutions, sizes, and brands to choose from, there’s plenty to consider before swiping your credit card. After all, the average American watches more than five hours of TV per day. And whether you’re looking for the absolute best TVs on the market, the best 4K TVs under $500, or something in the Goldilocks Zone like the best TVs under $1,000, you don’t want to waste your time.

As such, we’ve put together a guide to all the best TV brands of 2021 — past and present — so, when the time comes to upgrade, you’ll know where to start your search.

At a glance

Note: Our categories, by and large, represent the U.S. TV market. Some companies (like Sony) are less prevalent worldwide, while others (TCL) sell more sets in the Chinese market. Further, for this guide, we avoided putting a great deal of stock in a TV’s operating system, considering the popularity and accessibility of streaming sticks and set-top boxes.

Heavyweights

These are the big boys — the brands that occupy premium real estate on both physical and digital shelves everywhere.

Samsung

South Korea’s Samsung is the de facto market leader in the world television space, leading competitors like LG and Sony by a wide margin in terms of overall sales. That’s partly a result of the company’s size (Samsung ranked 15th on the 2020 Fortune 500, placing it as the second most valuable electronics company, behind Apple), but mostly it’s because Samsung makes great TVs with a focus on accessibility.

Operating system: Tizen/Eden 2.0

Technically, it’s called Samsung Smart TV Powered by Tizen, but let’s just go with Tizen. Like Samsung’s best smartwatches, the company’s TVs run on a Tizen-powered user interface called Eden 2.0. For clarity, we’ll refer to it as Tizen, the UI’s building blocks.

Tizen places all your apps in a row along the bottom of the Smart Hub (read: home screen). It’s got all the popular streaming apps as part of a 2,000+ app library, and a neat feature that activates when you select an app, showing you popular sub-categories (like Netflix shows or Spotify playlists) for that app.

Perhaps most impressive is how Tizen works with the Samsung app family, including SmartThings, Smart Connect, and Smart View. You can use those to mirror content from your phone — even iPhones — to your TV or send TV playback directly to your phone (only on Samsung phones). If you’ve got compatible smart home devices, you also can use the TV as a control hub.

Also, Samsung’s newer models — QLED and otherwise — offer some cool features like importing app logins from your phone to save time, and the Samsung One Connect box, built to simplify messy cable nests behind TVs (and to enable cleaner wall-mounting).

Calling card: QLED

Samsung has so far avoided producing OLED displays like those of LG. So, instead of striking a deal to use LG’s panels, Samsung branded its own LCD tech QLED. For a detailed breakdown, check out our QLED TV versus OLED TV comparison, but the general gist is this: QLED uses quantum dots to enhance performance by producing purer light than LEDs are capable of on their own. In practice, QLED televisions are brighter than less expensive LCD TVs, and unlike OLED, can be more affordably built into large displays (100 inches and beyond). For what it’s worth, Samsung is working on Quantum Dot-OLED hybrid tech, or QD-OLED, though we won’t see the fruits of that fusion for quite some time.

LG

Another South Korean company, LG may not be as massive as the tried-and-true Samsung TV, but thanks to its OLED TV display technology, it has minimal competition when it comes to top-of-the-line picture performance.

Operating system: WebOS

WebOS — currently in its sixth iteration, WebOS 6.0 — completely revamps the LG smart experience. Where past models relegated apps to the bottom of the display (similar to Samsung Tizen), LG’s WebOS 6.0 sets utilize the entire screen for apps and other recommended web content. LG’s Magic Motion Remote has also been redesigned to support voice commands for both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, along with a “Magic Explorer” feature that lets viewers get additional info about the show or movie they’re watching, from what actors appear in the series or film, along with other notable trivia.

As with Tizen, webOS allows users to screen share (using Miracast), though that ability is limited to Android devices and Windows computers. The 5.0 update added VR capability to webOS, in case you’ve got any 360-degree videos or photos you’d like to view.

Calling card: OLED

OLED — Organic Light Emitting Diode — is the premier display technology today. OLED TV panels are capable of reaching black levels never before seen, with better contrast across the board, and because the pixels themselves light up, OLED televisions boast quicker response times (and less input lag) than other types of displays, and the picture integrity is stunning at any viewing distance. To see how OLED stacks up against regular old LCD, take a look at our head-to-head comparison.

Sony

Sony, standing as the last great Japanese TV heavyweight in the U.S. (sorry, Panasonic, Toshiba, and JVC), doesn’t market as many proprietary technologies as Samsung or LG, but it has all the tech it needs to create awe-inspiring TVs.

Operating system: Android TV/Google TV

Android TV — versions of which run on many other devices, like the Amazon Fire TV family — isn’t quite as slick as WebOS, but it’s arguably more powerful. Unlike WebOS and Tizen, the Android TV home screen is laden with apps and suggestions, and you can scroll down for even more. Sony’s 2021 catalog is the first generation of sets to switch over to Google TV, an overhaul of the Android TV OS that features a faster, more intuitive user interface, complete with recommended and sponsored web content. Users can expect a similar experience to the new Chromecast with Google TV.

Further, Google TV has built-in support for Google Assistant (via a microphone in the remote or in your phone) and Chromecast, for both video and audio. Plus, as with Tizen, Google Smart Lock can automatically sync logins from your mobile device to your TV.

And, if that’s not enough, you can download the Logitech Harmony app to control your smart home devices from the couch. Our only gripe with Android TV is that its implementation feels sluggish and unresponsive at times.

Calling card: Cognitive Processor XR chip

Sony is now one of a handful of companies offering OLED televisions (the list has recently expanded to include Panasonic, Philips, HiSense, and Vizio) thanks to a deal with LG allowing Sony to build TVs using LG panels. Thanks to the new Cognitive Processor XR chip, Sony’s Bravia flagship TVs will offer greater contrast, improved sound, low input lag, and faster web performance than we’ve ever seen.

Vizio

Among the brands in the “heavyweights” category, Vizio offers the most affordable TVs. Don’t take that as a sign of lower quality, though; Vizio’s 2021 lineup includes new, breathtaking OLED panels, featuring some absurdly thin bezel designs, Dolby Vision HDR support, and powerful local dimming for excellent contrast.

Operating system: SmartCast

Before 2017, all of Vizio’s Smart TVs ran a system that required users to download an application on their smartphone or tablet, which would be used to cast any content to the screen. In a nutshell, they were designed for mirroring. These days, they’ve split the difference by loading them with most of the leading streaming services — Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, etc. — to boot, while those after more niche offerings still need to stream the content from a companion device to their television.

Calling card: Quantum

As with Samsung, Vizio is big on quantum dot-powered panels. The 2021 lineup boasts vastly improved brightness levels and similarly improved local dimming capabilities at every screen size, with some displays utilizing up to 240 individual dimming zones. 2021 Vizio televisions also support voice control via both Alexa and Google Assistant; Google Assistant is a little more powerful, as it can search through apps for programs, while Alexa is a little more limited. (They do have universal text search, though, a la Roku.)

But with all that said, the American TV brand’s ambitions for its 2021 TV lineup are bold, offering improved brightness and support for multiple HDR formats, Dolby Atmos, and HDMI 2.1. Plus, gamers will be happy with Vizio’s announcement of a free firmware update to its 2021 models, allowing for compatibility with AMD’s FreeSync technology, which enables smoother graphics when used with compatible gaming consoles and PCs.

Up-and-comers

They may not be household names just yet, but these brands are on the rise, heading for the “heavyweights” division in a few short years.

TCL

TCL was barely a blip on the radars of seasoned LED TV reviewers half a decade ago. Today, it’s the fastest-growing brand out there, offering up 4K UHD and HDR-capable models at preposterously low prices.

Operating system: Roku and Google TV

TCL isn’t the only company making Roku TVs — Insignia, Sharp, and Hitachi do the same, among other manufacturers — but it has been the most successful so far. We love Roku here at Digital Trends; from the affordable Roku Express to the Roku Streambar, the Roku TV platform’s vast selection (5,000+) of channels and its snappy cross-app search function are second to none. Roku’s smart TV user interface is a little less slick than webOS or Tizen, but we think it works better, and it’s more straightforward. Additionally, TCL has expanded into Google TV territory, recently releasing several of their popular 5- and 6-Series panels, equipped with the latest Google TV operating system for those who may be more interested in Google’s platforms.

Calling card: Value

If you’re on a tight budget, but you still want some buttery 4K goodness up in your TV (not to mention HDR), TCL is the way to go. They’re affordable and are equipped with the latest version of Roku OS, featuring a dedicated Dolby Access channel to show off HDR-laden trailers.

Hisense

Chinese manufacturer Hisense has been steadily making moves in the TV market over the years, licensing Sharp’s brand name (and buying its North American factory outright in 2015), buying Toshiba’s business in 2017, and making TVs under all three names for the U.S. market. Sharp later complained about the quality of Hisense’s production, but eventually dropped the lawsuit. With the dust settled, Hisense has been getting into more of a rhythm making its value-conscious Quantum 4K panels.

Operating systems: Roku, Android TV, VIDAA

Hisense is unique in that it doesn’t have a singular operating system tied to its line of televisions. Some of its TVs use Android TV, like Sony, some of its TVs use Roku OS, like TCL, and some use VIDAA U, a slick-looking software that you can learn more about here.

Calling card: Variety

OK, maybe this is something of a cop-out, but Hisense doesn’t have one particular technology or aspect of its TVs to point to and say “this is our signature,” though it’s working on that task as we speak. What Hisense does offer is a vast selection of LCD TV offerings, utilizing a wide range of technologies and operating systems, all at great prices (not necessarily TCL-level prices, but great prices nonetheless). If you can afford to splurge for a top-tier TV, you probably don’t need to consider Hisense, but in the midrange, there’s a lot to like here.

Panasonic

With over half a century of skin in the game, it’s weird to consider Panasonic an up-and-comer. It’s seen better days, particularly when plasma TVs were the hottest thing going and Panasonic was the leader of that bunch. But, boy, have times changed. With the fall of plasma, the company has packed up its American dream and taken it back to Europe and Asia, where scores of consumers are enjoying some of the best OLED sets available.

Operating System: My Home Screen

Up against the titans of the industry, Panasonic’s smart TV operating system falls a bit flat. It doesn’t touch anything running LG’s WebOS, Roku, and even Samsung’s Tizen in overall functionality. It works, but it’s extremely basic. The app selection isn’t exactly thin — you have all the majors like Netflix and YouTube, some IPTV apps, and an assortment of fringe niche offerings — but you’ll probably be looking to grab a streaming device for more particular needs, especially with juggernaut newcomer Disney+ being out of reach. Recently, however, its JX800 LCD TV became the first Panasonic TV to feature the Android TV platform.

Calling card: Panel supremacy

Panasonic doesn’t bring much disruption to an ever-changing industry with its latest 4K OLED sets save for one important trait: Picture quality. Just as it was back in the day, you will not be disappointed with the clarity, color accuracy, brightness, and vibrancy of a Panasonic TV. The panels themselves come from LG, just as most commercial OLED sets do at present, but you’ll see a big difference with Panasonic’s HCX PRO Intelligent processor. LG and Sony sets are just as amazing, but Panasonic has its own dreamy flair that could eventually restore its name as one of the top TV brands in the world.

Legacies

Remember these? These are the TV brands many of us grew up with, but they’re no longer leading the pack.

Toshiba

For most of the 20th century, Toshiba was the preeminent name in Japanese television manufacturing, having produced the first Japanese transistor TV in 1959.

What happened?

As mentioned above in the Hisense section, Hisense spent more than $110 million to buy 95% of Toshiba’s TV business in 2017. The real nail in the coffin came back in 2015, though, when (after years of flagging sales and a de-prioritization of the sector) Toshiba gave up on making TVs for the U.S. market. Reportedly, the decision came after years of trying to compete with an expanding global market by lowering prices and costs without sacrificing quality.

The decision to invest in Canon’s SED technology in the mid-aughts turned out poorly as well. For a company that once reigned as one of the leaders in the CRT (cathode-ray tube) and rear-projection TV manufacturing, it’s a shame, but Toshiba is still chugging along just fine, making other appliances and electronic control systems.

RCA

For all the more seasoned folks reading, RCA was once the most respected bastion in American television development, having deployed the first-ever TV test pattern in 1939 (!) and pioneered the first color TV standard, NTSC (so named after the National Television System Committee) in 1953.

What happened?

By the mid-1980s, RCA had been lapped by Japanese manufacturers and was no longer the powerhouse many remembered. A massive $6 billion-plus deal in 1985 saw the entire company sold to General Electric, then, in 1988, GE turned around and sold the rights to GE and RCA-branded televisions to French company Thomson. Thomson later sold the GE rights to TCL in 2004 and the RCA rights to Korea’s ON Corporation, which currently makes RCA-branded TVs.

Magnavox

Magnavox may never have been the most dominant name in the American TV game, but it was a prominent player for some years following the technology’s proliferation.

What happened?

In 1974, Philips acquired Magnavox’s consumer electronics division, later introducing and selling televisions under the “Philips Magnavox” brand name to try and bolster sales in the U.S. Eventually, Philips sold those rights to Funai, which now makes TVs under both the Philips and Magnavox brands. Magnavox (the company) is still a subsidiary of Philips.

JVC

JVC used to be part of the Panasonic Corp. and started manufacturing TVs in 1953. For decades, JVC was one of the most well-respected TV brands on the market. Few companies sold more CRT sets over the back half of the 20th century.

What happened?

Around the turn of the millennium, JVC started seeing dwindling sales in its TV division. In 2008, the company merged with Kenwood and closed many TV manufacturing plants in the next few years. They also had to phase out TV production to increase the manufacturing of other products.

In 2011, JVC Kenwood ceased television production altogether and licensed the brand name out to Taiwanese manufacturer AmTRAN for the North American market. When that license expired, the next deal went to China’s Shenzhen MTC, which currently makes TVs under the JVC brand in the U.S. and elsewhere. JVC still has a stellar reputation for projectors, which they still produce and sell.

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