These four TV sets are some of CNET’s favorites, especially for watching a major sporting event.
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TCL 6 series (2018 Roku TV)
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/tcl-55r617-2018-roku-tv/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The affordable TCL 6 series has excellent overall image quality, with deep black levels, very good brightness, rich contrast and accurate color. Its Roku smart TV platform is the best available, with a simple interface and extensive streaming app support. The TV handles both HDR10 and Dolby Vision high dynamic range sources.
The bad: Brightness and video processing fall short of some more expensive TVs.
The cost: $649.50 to $649.99 (55-inch)
The bottom line: With superb picture quality that rivals TVs costing twice as much, TCL’s 6 series is the best TV value we’ve ever reviewed.
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LG OLEDC8P
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/lg-oled55c8pua/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The LG C8 is the best performing TV we’ve tested to date. It delivers perfect black levels, wide viewing angles, accurate color and a great bright-room picture. Uniformity and video-processing options are slightly better than last year. Its striking design features a super-slim panel.
The bad: The C8 is expensive, and a cheaper LG OLED is due later in 2018. It can’t get as bright as competing LCD TVs.
The cost: $2,496.99 to $2,499.99 (55-inch)
The bottom line: LG’s C8 OLED TV sets the standard against which all high-end TVs will be judged.
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Vizio M-Series (2017)
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/vizio-m55-e0/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The affordable Vizio M-Series has better overall picture quality than anything else at its price, and in some ways outperforms even more expensive TVs. It can handle both HDR10 and Dolby Vision high-dynamic-range formats. The Chromecast built-in system offers more apps and more frequent updates than many dedicated smart TV systems, and can even be controlled by a Google Home speaker.
The bad: Not as bright as some competitors. No built-in tuner, so you can’t watch over-the-air antenna broadcasts unless you attach a separate tuner. Mediocre external design and poor smart TV onscreen menus. Only one HDMI input is compatible with every 4K HDR source.
The cost: $599.99 to $789.99 (55-inch)
The bottom line: The Vizio M-Series remains the best choice for mainstream budgets that prioritize image quality over everything else.
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Sony XBR-X900F series
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/sony-bravia-xbr-55x900f/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The Sony XBR-X900F evinces excellent image quality, with deep black levels, accurate color, solid video processing and very good high dynamic range performance. Its modern, minimalist styling is a cut above budget models. The Android TV operating system beats many competitors with more apps and integrated Google Assistant.
The bad: More expensive than Vizio and TCL TVs with similar image quality. Smart TV and voice control features can occasionally be slow to respond.
The cost: $1,298.00 to $1,299.99 (55-inch)
The bottom line: It might not be the best value, but the Sony X900F offers an excellent picture, superb style and enough extras to tempt buyers who don’t want a bargain brand.
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The following CNET staff contributed to this story: Section Editor David Katzmaier and Senior Editor Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, please visit www.cnet.com.
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