South Korean brand Samsung is one of the biggest players when it comes to TVs. The tech giant produces a whole range of different models in various sizes and can offer impressive feature specifications.
From dinky 24-inch TVs to meaty 98-inch sets, there is something for everyone. Samsung offers sets with QLED, QD-OLED and 8K technology, all of which the company was instrumental in pioneering. But which Samsung TV is the right pick for you?
We have decades of collective testing experience under our belt, and have reviewed every Samsung model we can get our hands on.
Below are our top recommendations based on the results of our thorough testing process. This includes putting each TV through its paces and looking for picture accuracy, sound reproduction, user-interface intuitiveness and gaming-spec bragging rights. We also compare these models with the current class-leading TVs and often their own predecessor from the year before.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the winners...
I’m a senior staff writer here at What Hi-Fi? and barely a day goes by when I don’t write something about a TV, whether it’s a news story, hands-on preview, or a full review. I’ve also seen Samsung’s latest developments up close and personal in the UK, Germany and its native South Korea, so I know its range inside out.
October 2026: Added Samsung S99H as best overall, and S85H as best budget. May 2026: Updated page to reflect current market.
The best Samsung TV overall
Samsung’s latest flagship OLED is a brilliant display of the technology, combining style and substance into one premium package.
The Samsung S99H features a two-layer design, with an OLED screen section mounted onto a slightly larger metal backplate, with a roughly 2cm gap between. The QD-OLED display can also produce a whopping 2700 nits in the Movie picture mode, and boasts a Glare Free coating to combat reflections from ambient light.
In terms of picture performance, the S99H delivers a wonderfully crisp and vibrant image that hugely impressed in our test room. We say in our review when watching Civil War: “The mix of detail, depth and contrast served up by the S99H is remarkable – the striking, bright flames contrast wonderfully with the dark background, and there is a real sense of intensity and warmth derived from how Samsung's OLED handles highlights.”
It's also a knockout when it comes to gaming, with four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 sockets with support for up to 4K/165Hz. Samsung includes a host of useful gaming features like VRR and ALLM, as well as a handful of game streaming apps if you don't have a console. Its Tizen operating system is also packed with movie and TV streaming apps, as well as a bunch of new AI-driven enhancement features.
It’s a solid performer when it comes to sound as well. There is a good amount of height and width by TV speaker standards, although it doesn’t go very loud.
While we wish it would go louder, the S99H has very few flaws of note, making it a stellar 2026 flagship outing for Samsung. We do, of course, wish the company would throw in the towel and give us Dolby Vision, but we'll have to keep dreaming on that for now.
Read the full Samsung S99H review
The best budget
If you are buying on a budget, then the best Samsung model on the market is the Samsung S85H. The entry-level OLED S85H boasts four full-speed HDMI 2.1 inputs, capable of carrying a 4K/120Hz signal for next-generation gamers. ALLM and VRR are also on board, so gamers are fully covered.
The latest-gen version of Tizen featured on the S85H is easy to navigate and includes a content bar at the top that splits your apps into categories, curated and arranged to automatically match your usage habits. That gives you access to streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV.
But what about its picture performance? We say in our review: “Its punchy, immersive and nicely three-dimensional picture is a cut above most of its entry-level rivals.” The only slight issue is that colours are pushed a touch too hard, with blues looking a smidge too vibrant and the picture a little too warm in general.
The S85H’s speakers are fine for watching the news or a casual series, but not quite good enough for even basic movie watching. You will need to invest in a soundbar or speaker system for that.
Read the full Samsung S85H review
The best small Samsung TV
If you are looking for a TV suitable for a small lounge or bedroom, or are simply low on space, a 48-inch model is a great way to go. And the S90F is the best Samsung has to offer, boasting a warm yet detailed picture, as well as impressive gaming specifications.
Before we get more into that, though, it's worth saying how easy and stress-free the S90F is to put together. The central pedestal stand is quick and easy to connect to the screen, with a screw-free design that takes less than a minute to assemble. There are also gaps in the pedestal’s top and sides which make it easy to pass cables through. The overall result is a sleek, clean finish.
And once it's set up, the S90F delivers a bright and punchy image that offers an engaging overall image. When watching True Grit, we say in our review: “The picture retains its spaghetti western, grainy feel, but features a wonderful sense of depth, with every stitch and dirt stain in the characters’ clothing looking sharp, but never artificial.”
The set is also well equipped for gamers, with four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 sockets, as well as VRR and ALLM. It actually goes beyond 4K/120Hz with its support for 4K/144Hz – though this is relevant only to hardcore PC gamers with similarly hardcore rigs.
In terms of sound, however, the 2.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos built-in audio falls short of greatness. As usual with any TV, we highly recommend budgeting for a Dolby Atmos soundbar or AVR and surround sound speaker package.
Those sonic drawbacks aren't enough to deter from the impressive picture, feature set and design, making the S90F a strong performer wrapped up in a pint-sized package.
Read the full Samsung S90F review
How to choose the best Samsung TV for you
Considering Samsung’s track record there’s certainly sound logic behind deciding to buy one of its TVs, but there’s so much choice within the range that picking the one that suits you best is a little bit trickier.
As with any TV purchase, size should be high on your list of considerations; there’s no point in having a TV that’s too big or too small for the space. It’s not an exact science, but if you take the size of a TV’s screen in inches and multiply it by 1.2, that’ll give you a good idea of how far away you should sit. You can read all about the theory behind which TV size you should buy, and while there are other factors to take into account, it’s a good place to start.
Most of Samsung’s TVs use either QLED or QD-OLED panels. The big difference between the two is that QLED TVs require a backlight and QD-OLEDs don’t, with the former usually noted for their brightness and the latter for their contrast, but there are pros and cons to both. We have a comprehensive OLED vs QLED explainer here.
If you’re looking for a larger TV, you’ll probably need to opt for QLED, particularly if 8K is on your agenda. There’s an argument that the lack of 8K content makes buying a TV capable of showing it completely pointless, but if you’ve got the money to spend, Samsung’s processing tech is generally excellent at upscaling 4K. One thing you won’t get from a Samsung TV no matter how much you spend, though, is support for Dolby Vision – Samsung has its own HDR codec called HDR10+.
Keen gamers should pay attention to a TV’s HDMI ports. To get the most out of your PS5 or Xbox Series X, you’ll need full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 sockets, so if you own more than one console and also want to plug in a soundbar, make sure the TV you’ve got your eye on has enough. PC gamers shouldn't feel left out either, with Samsung’s newest sets also including support for a maximum 144Hz refresh rate.
Samsung TV FAQ
What’s the difference between OLED, QLED, and QD-OLED?
All three are different types of screen technology, although there is a certain amount of crossover between them.
Like many LCD TVs, QLED TVs use an LED backlight, but instead of creating the colours by shining the light through an LCD layer, they have a layer of Quantum Dots instead. These go brighter and produce richer colours.
As you can probably guess from the names, OLED and QD-OLED are also related. OLED TVs don’t need a backlight, instead charging individual pixels and passing the light that’s emitted through an RGB filter to create the colours. QD-OLED differs in that it emits a blue light for each pixel, which then passes through green and red Quantum Dot layers. This allows QD-OLED TVs to be brighter, which is the main criticism that’s often aimed at OLED TVs.
To go into the full details on each would take up much more space than we’ve got here, but those are the basics. If you want more depth, this full explainer has you covered.
Should I buy an 8K Samsung TV?
It’s now six years since Samsung introduced its first 8K TV you could actually go out and buy, and the amount of 8K content available to watch is pretty much the same today as it was then: almost non-existent.
Sure, there’s the odd video on YouTube that might make a good demo, but none of the streaming services offer 8K and there isn’t a physical disc format that offers it either (and chances are there never will be).
Does that make buying an 8K TV a completely pointless endeavour? Not entirely, but because of the price it’ll only make sense for a very small number of people. Choosing an 8K TV today does futureproof you to a certain extent, and the QN900D is excellent at upscaling, so it can make 4K stuff look absolutely stonking in the meantime.
How we test the best Samsung TVs
Samsung is one of the most prolific TV manufacturers out there, so plenty of its sets pass through our doors every year – but how exactly do we test them?
Behind those doors are our state-of-the-art testing facilities – we have test rooms in the heart of London – which have been designed to provide the best environment for evaluating the picture and sound performance of a TV under the same conditions, ensuring consistency across all reviews.
Every TV is tested in isolation on its own merits, but as part of every review we also conduct side-by-side comparisons with the highest-rated TVs in the same price category from both the current and pervious year, which allows us to find the very best.
Each verdict is also formed after several pairs of eyes and ears have taken part in the testing (the What Hi-Fi? team has over 150 years of experience), so while the reviews are written by one individual, the final assessment is free from the influence of any personal preferences.
It’s from these reviews that we compile these Best Buy lists, so if you pick a product listed above as your next TV you can be sure that it’s going to live up to expectations.
You can read more about how we test products here.
Latest updates
- October 2026: Added Samsung S85H as best budget, and best Samsung S99H as best overall.
- May 2026: Updated page to reflect current market.
- January 2026: Replaced Samsung QN95D with QN90F as best QLED model.
- September 2025: Replaced Samsung S95D with S95F, also added S90F as best small. Removed QN900D as best 8K.
- March 2025: Replaced Samsung's QN95C with the newer QN95D TV in the best QLED entry.
- May 2024: Revised intro, 'how to choose', and 'how we test' sections, added an FAQ section and 'author' block.
MORE:
Our guide to the Samsung 2024 TV lineup
Our pick of the best Sony TVs
And the best LG TVs: LCD, OLED, 4K HDR
WRGB OLED vs Quantum Dot OLED: what are the differences and which is better?
