I review TVs for a living, and here are the 3 best TVs you can buy today
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One big benefit to being a full-time TV reviewer is hands-on experience with all the best TVs. That level of access, of course, helps immensely when gauging the performance level and feature set of top models from the most established brands, but also sets a benchmark for evaluating all manner of TVs, from mid-range to budget models.
Of the 30-plus TVs TechRadar reviewed in 2024, three stood out and captured my attention. Not surprisingly, these three were flagship models for their respective brands and, also not surprisingly, they are priced above what most people would consider paying for a TV. What did come as a surprise? A mini-LED model made my top three list.
In the past, any list of top TVs would be dominated by the best OLED TVs, mainly because of their ability to reliably deliver pictures with infinite contrast, detailed shadows, and rich, eye-catching color. But today's best mini-LED TVs are catching up with OLED TVs on those picture quality fronts, and they additionally provide high brightness, making them a great option for not only movies and gaming but also daytime sports viewing.
I've been impressed by the mini-LED TVs I've tested over the years, and have even given some of them five-star picture quality ratings. But of all those TVs, the Sony Bravia 9 is the first mini-LED model I've reviewed that approached OLED-like performance when it came to rendering shadows in dark movie scenes, and its picture was virtually free of any backlight 'blooming' effects. Having lived with Bravia 9 for a few weeks while testing it, I can honestly say I admired its picture as much as the other two models in this list, the Samsung S95D and LG G4 OLED TVs.
Sony created something of a stir when it announced it would switch from OLED to mini-LED for its only new flagship TV in 2024. But in initial demonstrations of the Bravia 9, the company made an effective case for the new XR Backlight Master Drive with High Peak Luminance tech, which uses a highly miniaturized 22-bit LED driver (other TVs typically use 10- or 12-bit drivers) for enhanced local dimming – something also helped by a 325% increase in local dimming zones over Sony's previous top mini-LED TV.
What does this mean for you? A screen that's brighter for stunning colors and HDR, but with the super-cinematic dark tones and contrast of OLED. I measured the peak HDR brightness at 2,280 nits (in Standard mode), meaning the Bravia 9 is capable of rendering the full range of highlight detail in movies with high dynamic range, and its ability to also display detailed shadows is second to none for a mini-LED TV.
I was also impressed with the X-Wide Angle feature that ensures pictures look uniformly good over a wide viewing arc, so it doesn't matter if you're sitting way off center.
On top of that, there's a 2.2.2-channel, 70-watt speaker system with 'Frame' tweeters positioned in the sides of the TV's frame and 'Beam' tweeters located at the top for audio performance that's as good as basically any TV I've heard, meaning the Bravia 9 qualifies as a complete premium TV package, as I said in my full Sony Bravia 9 review.
Samsung's top OLED TV made its mark as the brightest OLED TV we've ever measured, thanks to a QD-OLED panel working in tandem with clever AI processing that optimizes HDR handling plus detail and color enhancement. It also uses the company's Glare Free tech to virtually eliminate screen reflections in bright rooms – a traditional pain point for OLED TVs due to their limited fullscreen brightness compared to LED models. Sick of seeing mirror-like image of yourself or windows on your TV? Thanks to a matte screen here, you literally can't – we were so impressed by the difference in our full Samsung S95D review.
Our review praised the bright and rich colors, the very impressive texture and lifelike realism to images, and the supreme contrast that OLED TVs are known for – having seen it in person, I can attest to all this. The Samsung S95D was our pick for best TV in the TechRadar Choice Awards 2024 mainly owing to its fantastic overall picture quality.
But that's not all you get with Samsung's flagship OLED TV. Its 4.2.2-channel, 70W built-in speakers deliver immersive, yet precise sound with powerful bass. It also has a slim, elegant design with an external One Connect Box handling all inputs to the TV, meaning that only a single cable goes into the screen itself, so it's very tidy. The box can be hidden away somewhere else. It also an unbeatable set of gaming features, including four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support and Samsung's Gaming Hub for cloud-based gaming.
The LG G4 is the company's brightest OLED TV yet, an advancement made possible by a new generation of LG's OLED evo display panel with Micro Lens Array (MLA) tech, which uses microscopic lens elements to enhance picture brightness. Not only does this panel design boost brightness, but colors are also elevated with a more robust, detailed look, which gives the G4 a notable picture quality edge over the also impressive LG C4 OLED TV.
Our brightness measurements for the G4 weren't as high as the S95D above, but in our full LG G4 review, we noted that this doesn't really matter so much in practice. We found that it delivers a beautiful and well-layered image, with super-accurate colors out of the box, and we said it's a "a master at picking out detail in darker areas of an image", which is exactly what you want from a cinematic OLED screen.
The G4's exceptionally slim design makes it a perfect choice for wall mounting, and there's a custom bracket that means it sits totally flush to the wall. It also comes with a table stand for the 55- and 65-inch models.
LG's flagship OLED TV is packed with gaming features, including 4K 120Hz (and up to 144Hz for PC gaming) across all four HDMI 2.1 ports, along with 4K 120Hz Dolby Vision gaming. Despite its slim frame, the G4 also has strong onboard sound, with a 4.2-channel speaker system and an AI Sound Pro mode that upmixes audio to 11.1.2-channel virtual surround sound – though other two TVs I've picked here offer better built-in sound overall.
Obviously, my picks here are all pretty high-end – but it's the expensive stuff that tends to be the best, naturally! If you want something more mid-range, I can strongly recommend the Hisense U8N mini-LED TV, or the TCL QM851G mini-LED TV for US buyers.
At the more budget end, we rate the Hisense U7N mini-LED TV, or I also highly recommend the Roku Pro Series mini-LED TV.
The best TVs for gaming
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They remain an excellent option, in fact, given that you can still buy them for what are often now much lower prices than the newer and more advanced competition. But Sony has just released the most compelling reason to upgrade your best noise-canceling headphones to date — the Sony WH-1000XM6. They've got a new design, a new sound signature, and some of the best call quality we've ever experienced. They could be just what you've been waiting for if you've been rocking the XM4 since their first release. So let's put the two head-to-head and find out which ones are the better pair of headphones to spend money on in 2025, or whether you should upgrade your aging cans. Sony WH-1000XM6 Sony WH-1000XM4 Price $449 / £399 / AU$699 $348 / £229 / AU$399 Colors Black; Silver; Midnight Blue Black; Midnight Blue; Silver Size Not specified Not specified Weight 8.9 ounces 9 ounces Battery life (rated) Up to 40 hours Up to 30 hours Connectivity Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC and LDAC support Bluetooth 5.0 with SBC, AAC and LDAC Special features Adaptive ANC, Ambient Sound Mode, DSEE Extreme Audio, Bluetooth multipoint, customizable sound, quick charge, passive mode, 360 Reality Audio Adaptive ANC, Ambient Sound Mode, DSEE Extreme Audio, Bluetooth multipoint, customizable sound, quick charge, passive mode, 360 Reality Audio With the release of the XM6, Sony has raised the price of its flagship cans. They cost $449, a full $50 more than the previous model. That also makes them more than some of their key competitors, like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, and the same as the brand new Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 — which I awarded 4 and a half stars. You can also still pick up the XM5 for $399, so if you're looking for a way to upgrade without spending as much money, that might be a good way to go. You won't get all of the shiny new features of the XM6, but you get a very good pair of headphones for less money. On launch, the XM4 were $380 — around $70 less than the launch price of the XM6. Since then they've seen significant price drops. If you shop around, you can find a pair for as little as $340, and potentially even less. Wait for sales events like Black Friday and you'll be able to pick up a pair for less than $300, making them a flagship headphones bargain. Sony still produces the XM4 as well, so you won't have any problems finding either on Amazon or other retailers like Best Buy. Given that the XM6 are the more expensive pair and that you can still buy the XM5, this first round is going to go to the XM4. The Sony WH-1000XM6 present a much bigger visual update over the XM4 than they do the XM5. They've got a more minimalist style than the older headphones, with cleaner looking earcups and a completely redesigned headband. It would be difficult to argue that they're not the better looking headset. While available in the same colors as the XM4, the XM6 wrap the headset in a more premium finish, set off by more subtle design focal points in the hinges. They're clean and attractive. Unlike the direct successor to the XM4, the XM6 bring back the folding hinges that many users loved on their headphones. That allows for a smaller carrying case so that you can fit them into a wider range of backpacks. That case is a big design departure from the traditional headsets we've seen from Sony as well. Instead of a zipper holding everything in place, there's now a magnetic clasp mechanism. It's harder, too, making the whole package feel more confidence inspiring. There are some benefits to the XM4, however. The hinge mechanisms feel sturdier than the thinner versions on the XM6, and some might appreciate their more involved design. Both headphones are extremely comfortable, with the XM6 and its wider headband doing away with the cranial pressure often found in the XM5. You'll have little problem wearing either for long periods of time. Put the two side by side and you can see the progression — but the XM6 and their new design touches and unexpected returns to form means they take this round. As with all of its headphone models, Sony has stuck with touch controls for the XM6. They're intuitive and easy to use. Swipe left and right to skip tracks, and double tap to pause playback. The most useful touch control is the instant transparency mode trigger — hold your hand over the right earcup, the volume drops, and transparency mode turns on. It's very helpful to quickly order a coffee at a cafe, or grab a bus ticket. There are two physical controls on the XM6: The power button and the ANC button. These have been redesigned. The power button is a round button, and the ANC control a small rectangle. This distinction between the two makes it much easier to work out which is which when you can't see what you're doing. No more accidental ANC activation when you want to turn the headphones off, and vice versa. The WH-1000XM4 share the same touch controls with the XM6, all the way down to their gestures. Much like the newer pair, they're intuitive and easy to use. They lack the round power button for easier on-head activation and de-activation of ANC — so the XM6 take this round. Sony went back to the sonic drawing board with the XM6, focusing on vocal clarity rather than bass response and soundstage. The result is an excellent-sounding pair of headphones, with the clearest vocals you'll find in a pair of wireless headphones. They sound good for all genres, from R&B to classical and everything in between. Managing Editor of AV at Tom's Guide, Nick Pino, was a particular fan of the "unmatched" vocal clarity. There are some caveats. Soundstage is restricted, and there's still the pervasive bass that Sony has become known for. They're still an excellent-sounding pair of headphones, but their sonic shortcomings are well worth noting. The XM4 are a less refined listen than the XM6, but they retain that signature Sony low-end grunt. They don't have the vocal clarity of the XM6, but they have a wider soundstage and slightly improved bass response. This is going to be mostly down to taste, although the XM6 manage greater control over the frequency range. As a result, the new headphones win out. It is closer than you might expect, however. The XM6 pack in an incredible array of features, with many shared from previous iterations of the line. Thanks to Bluetooth 5.3, you get excellent codec support, including LDAC, SBC, AAC, and LC3. Then there's Sony's proprietary DSEE Extreme, which can make wireless playback sound even better. Sony also has the best array of noise canceling modes out of just about anything. There are not just levels to the ANC so that you can dial it, but the chip inside the headphones will change the ANC dynamically depending on ambient noise levels. The GPS activated ANC that changes depending on your location is also here as a bonus. You can also adjust the EQ with a comprehensive 10-band EQ. There are customized options as well for different genres too. The feature set is nicely rounded out by Sony's 360 Reality Audio, although it only works with Amazon Music Unlimited. There's a "Spatial Upmix" feature coming down the road, but we are yet to get our hands on it to test it out. You'd be surprised how few features the XM4 forgo due to their age. You still get the solid Codec support, although there's no Auracast on account of the aging Bluetooth 5.0 specification. You still get a host of noise canceling modes, although the ANC doesn't shift dynamically depending on ambient noise. There are only 5 bans in the customizable EQ. For the price, though, the feature set remains very much appreciated. Sony's noise canceling algorithm has long kept its headphones amongst the best noise canceling headphones, and the WH-1000XM6 are no exception. They block out loads of noise and easily silence a noisy office or chaotic commute. It might not be as big an improvement as we were hoping for over the XM5, but it still does a great job of keeping the noise out. There's a focus this time around on the high frequencies, making it easier to listen to podcasts and audiobooks in louder environments. There are still struggles for the ANC — crying children, very busy coffee shops, and the like. 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Yet there is still a case to buy the XM4. Given their much lower price and just how close they where to the XM6 in all of our testing, they're still a very compelling buy if you're looking for good headphones without breaking the bank. XM4 users looking to upgrade to Sony's latest flagship will find plenty of reasons to part with their cash as well — and given that your headphones are now likely closing on 4 years of use, the time might be right. Sony WH-1000XM6 Sony WH-1000XM4 Price and value (5) 3 4 Design (15) 13 12 Controls (10) 7 7 Sound quality (25) 22 19 Active noise cancelation (20) 19 17 Call quality (10) 9 7 Connectivity (5) 5 4 Battery life (10) 8 8 Total Score (100) 84 78
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Apple reportedly ditching its OS naming system for something more... confusing?
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Apple teases iOS redesign in WWDC 25 clip
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Quick Summary Apple's changes to iOS may be clearer after a new tease. We're expecting something inspired by the Apple Vision Pro. It's a jubilant time of year of year for Apple fans. The brand will be hosting its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday 9th June. That event has historically played host to a wide range of new software and operating system-based goodies. The brand often utilises its opening keynote speech as a platform to introduce new software for every part of its portfolio. All of the rumours and leaks so far have pointed to a new design, which will take on the glass-like aesthetic seen in the Apple Vision Pro's VisionOS. And the latest teaser from the brand seems to support that theory. The WWDC website has been changed to offer a new tagline. That reads 'Sleek Peak' and is topped by an Apple logo which appears to be made from frosted glass. It should be an exciting update. Everything in the in the Apple catalogue from the Apple Watch to the iPad and the iPhone to the Mac is expected to receive the update, and we'd expect them all to make use of this theme in some way. I think that's a much needed update. The brand has always been known for sleek, classy and minimal designs, and this embodies that perfectly. Keeping the design consistent across all of its products would also help to tie the entire ecosystem together a little more. It's not the only big change expected either. Earlier rumours suggested that the brand is set to change the numbering convention of its software, to better align with the year. That means that we'll see all of the various operating systems released as xOS 26 this time out. There's not too much else to go on right now – Apple has always been pretty good at keeping things under wraps. Still, with less than a week to go before the show takes place, there's not much longer to wait for the news direct from the source.
