09-04-2025
The best TVs of 2025, expert tested and recommended
All the TVs on this list do the same thing: they show your content in great quality. But what if there was something else? How about a full set of rear-mounted LEDs on the TV to cast colours across the wall in sync with the on-screen action? That's what Ambilight does and it's the preserve of Philips TVs.
The Philips PML9009 is a mid-range Mini-LED TV offering good value for money in this space, which is why I've picked out this model. If you're interested in Ambilight then don't think you have to stop here: Philips also offers some excellent OLED models, running to the excellent OLED 809, which would be my choice for its balance of performance and price if you're after an OLED with Ambilight.
Ambilight can be a dividing technology. Personally, I'm a huge fan and my TV of choice at home is an Ambilight. I think it brings more immersion with colours splayed across the walls. Football gets a wider green spread, BBC News gets the red colours reflected across the walls and so on.
At the same time, I accept that it can be a distraction – and dark moody moments might lose some gravitas when there's a glow coming from around your TV. If you don't like it, don't buy Ambilight or simply switch it off.
Elsewhere, the Philips PML9009 is a competent mid-ranger and while the picture performance for this particular model doesn't quite compete with some of the TVs on this list from a pure quality perspective, that's reflected in the price, as you can get this 65-inch model for close to £1,000.
The Titan OS is easy enough to use, giving you access to all the streaming services, with a 144Hz refresh rate and the HDMI 2.1 connections for gaming. The remote is a little fiddly, however, and only works via line of sight, which feels a bit basic in 2025.
Key specifications
TVs FAQs
Which TV is best: QLED or OLED?
OLED is usually regarded as the best technology for picture performance. This comes down to the ability to switch off at a pixel level, so complete black can be represented. QLED dims in zones and even though these zones are numerous it can't (yet) replicate the control that OLED offers.
The flip side to this is brightness: QLED TVs are often much brighter than OLED, so can look more dramatic, while also having the brightness to punch through reflections on the screen from lights or windows.
For a controlled home cinema room (or just a room with shutters or heavy curtains) then OLED is best, but on your bright kitchen wall next to bi-fold doors, QLED's brightness might be needed.
Which type of TV is best for image quality?
Image quality is governed by several factors. Currently, all TVs have access to the same content through streaming services or discs but it's a combination of detail (resolution), colour, contrast and motion. HDR has boosted the impression of quality and I'd always want 4K Dolby Vision or HDR10+ to get the best image.
Then you have processing, which is where some of the high-end brands like Samsung perform well when it comes to motion handling. Processing can clean up an image, upscale it for a larger display and reduce things like banding and ghosting with motion.
OLED generally gives better overall image quality, because of the ability to more precisely control the light, but in a bright room, you might lose that advantage because of screen reflections.
Which TV brand is best for sound quality?
There are a number of TVs that offer more advanced sound systems. The Panasonic Z95A is our top choice thanks to the built-in soundbar, but the Philips OLED+ models with a built-in soundbar also sound great.
Then you have various models with Dolby Atmos speakers in the TV that will work with compatible soundbars, like the Samsung Q-Symphony, for a more immersive experience, but you'll have to spend more to get that system.
Sony also has some great sound options, with the Acoustic Surface system in the Bravia 8 and Bravia 9 with speakers behind the display.
What is the best 55-inch TV?
All the TVs listed above come in a 55-inch size. The best 55-inch TV would be the LG OLED C4, for its combination of picture quality and performance for the price.
