The Best TVs of 2026: What WIRED’s New Picks Reveal About the State of Screens

Background

Buying a TV in 2026 is both easier and harder than it was five years ago. Easier, because display technology has converged on a few excellent choices that reliably deliver deep blacks, punchy highlights, and silky motion. Harder, because so many models—across Sony, Samsung, LG, and the ascendant value brands—now look great on a sales floor yet differ meaningfully in how they handle brightness, color volume, tone‑mapping, and the ever‑confusing tangle of HDMI and HDR standards.

A rapid recap of how we got here:

• OLED leveled up. Classic white‑OLED (WOLED) panels have steadily improved peak brightness and near‑black handling, helped by heat spreaders and micro‑lens array (MLA) technology in higher tiers. QD‑OLED, using quantum dots to convert blue OLED light into pure red and green, boosted color volume and off‑axis luminance, particularly in vivid HDR scenes.
• Mini‑LED found its stride. High‑zone, high‑amperage backlights gave LCD TVs far better local dimming, making bright‑room performance and HDR specular control competitive with OLED in many scenes—often at lower prices and larger sizes.
• Gaming became table stakes. 4K/120 Hz, VRR, ALLM, and low latency migrated from niche features to must‑haves across midrange and up. Some sets even flirt with 144 Hz and sophisticated black‑frame insertion to sharpen motion with fewer artifacts.
• Smart TVs got smarter—and nosier. Google TV, webOS, Tizen, and Roku matured, but ad placements and data collection ramped up. Many enthusiasts now pair premium panels with external streamers to regain control.
• The spec sheet got trickier. “HDMI 2.1” became a label, not a guarantee; HDR formats splintered (HDR10, Dolby Vision, HDR10+), and audio passthrough support (Dolby Atmos, DTS:X) varies by brand.

That’s the landscape framing WIRED’s latest roundup of the best TVs they’ve tested, which pulls from major brands at multiple price points. The list itself is a buyer’s guide; taken as a signal, it also tells us how the market has settled, where it’s still moving, and what genuinely matters before you part with four (or five) figures.

What happened

WIRED has updated its picks for the best televisions of 2026, spanning premium OLED and QD‑OLED flagships, high‑brightness Mini‑LED LCDs for sunlit spaces, and aggressively priced midrange options that punch well above their cost. As usual, the shortlist is dominated by Sony, Samsung, and LG at the top, with compelling alternatives from value‑first makers who’ve turned Mini‑LED into a strength rather than a compromise.

You don’t need model numbers to spot the themes:

• A premium OLED (often from Sony, Samsung, or LG) still anchors the “best overall” slot, prized for black levels, clean motion, and near‑perfect pixel‑level control. The flavor—WOLED with MLA or QD‑OLED—changes the ceiling on brightness and color volume, but these sets are consistently the reference for dark‑room cinema.
• A top Mini‑LED LCD usually takes “best for bright rooms” and “best value big screen.” Packed with thousands of LEDs and hundreds (sometimes over a thousand) local dimming zones, these TVs fight glare, stay punchy at midday, and cost less per inch, especially beyond 75 inches.
• Gaming “best picks” increasingly overlap with the top two categories. The difference is how many HDMI 2.1 ports you get, how stable VRR is across refresh windows, and whether motion‑enhancing tricks (like 120 Hz black‑frame insertion) are usable without distracting flicker or massive brightness penalties.
• Budget recommendations are less compromised than ever. A solid midrange Mini‑LED can now outclass last‑gen premiums on brightness, HDR specular control, and input lag—though uniformity, off‑axis performance, and tone‑mapping finesse still separate the champs from the challengers.

If there’s a thread running through WIRED’s updated guide, it’s maturity. You no longer need to contort your use case to your TV—OLEDs hold highlights longer before automatic brightness limiters step in, Mini‑LEDs bloom less and manage dim scenes more gracefully, and all major brands have ironed out the worst of early HDMI 2.1 foibles. The differences are still real; they’re just narrower and more about fit than flash.

Reading between the lines

• Peak brightness wars are tapering into usability debates. Whether an OLED peaks at 1,000 or 1,500 nits matters less than how long it can sustain highlights, how cleanly it rolls off tone‑mapping, and whether ABL cuts the legs out from full‑field HDR.
• Processing is a differentiator again. Upscaling, motion interpolation, and dynamic tone‑mapping vary widely. Sony still emphasizes filmic motion and natural gradients; Samsung leans into sharpness, color volume, and bright‑room pop; LG balances gaming feature completeness with flexible picture controls. Value brands keep closing the gap—but premium silicon still earns its keep in challenging scenes.
• The OS experience can make or break daily use. Google TV’s recommendations are solid; webOS is faster than in its ad‑heavy middle years; Tizen integrates cloud gaming well. But bloat and ads remain friction points, and privacy toggles are often buried.

Key takeaways

• Choose by room, not by hype.

  • Dark, controlled room: OLED or QD‑OLED remains the gold standard for inky blacks, low‑level shadow detail, and uniformity.
  • Bright, open living space: A high‑zone Mini‑LED LCD offers more sustained brightness and glare resistance, with only minor trade‑offs in blooming and viewing angle.

• OLED vs QD‑OLED vs WOLED with MLA.

  • QD‑OLED typically delivers higher color luminance and better off‑axis brightness; WOLED with MLA closes much of the brightness gap and remains superbly uniform.
  • Burn‑in risk is low with mixed use and modern protections. Static news tickers or 10‑hour HUD gaming marathons every day still call for caution.

• Mini‑LED is the value king at big sizes.

  • Above 75 inches, a good Mini‑LED can be half the price of a comparable OLED while outperforming it in daylight viewing.
  • Look for: thousands of LEDs, hundreds of zones, and dimming algorithms that avoid pumping and near‑black crush.

• 8K is still not the move.

  • Content is scarce, bandwidth demands are high, and upscaling improvements benefit 4K sets just as much. Spend on better brightness, processing, or a larger 4K screen instead.

• Gaming features: don’t settle.

  • Seek four HDMI 2.1 ports if you have multiple consoles and an eARC‑based sound system. Confirm 4K/120, VRR (HDMI Forum and/or FreeSync Premium), and ALLM. Check whether the TV maintains low input lag with motion enhancement tools enabled.

• HDR formats: buy for your ecosystem.

  • Dolby Vision remains common on streaming platforms and UHD discs; HDR10+ shows up on certain services and is entrenched on some brands. Every TV supports HDR10. Prioritize a set whose default tone‑mapping doesn’t clip highlights or oversaturate skin tones.

• Audio: plan on a soundbar or AVR.

  • Slim cabinets equal slim physics. Even premium TVs benefit from external audio. Make sure the set supports eARC and passes through the formats you need (Dolby TrueHD/Atmos, DTS‑HD/DTS:X if you use discs).

• Smart TV realities.

  • Expect ads and data collection prompts after setup. Opt out where you can. If you prefer a clean interface, use an external streamer and turn off automatic input switching.

• Size, distance, and mounting.

  • The price‑per‑inch free‑fall means 77–83 inches is now mainstream for large rooms. A rough rule: seating distance in inches ÷ 1.2 ≈ recommended screen size in inches for cinematic immersion. Mount at eye level to center screen roughly one‑third up from the bottom.

• Calibration and picture modes.

  • “Filmmaker Mode,” “Cinema,” or “Movie” are the most accurate starting points. Skip “Vivid.” If you can, budget for a professional calibration—or at least run built‑in test patterns and set black/white clipping correctly.

What to watch next

• OLED material and optics gains.

  • Efficiency improvements and optical layer tweaks continue to push OLED brightness and lifespan. That means fewer ABL artifacts, brighter small highlights, and better HDR roll‑off without crushing near‑black detail.

• Even finer Mini‑LED control.

  • Expect more dimming zones, refined backlight scanning, and smarter algorithms to cut blooming further—especially around subtitles and UI elements.

• MicroLED remains aspirational.

  • Modular, emissive, and stunning—but still priced like a car. The trickle to sub‑100‑inch sizes is real, yet mass affordability is likely years away.

• NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) confusion.

  • Broadcaster adoption and content protection policies have been in flux, and tuner support varies widely by model and region. If over‑the‑air 4K HDR sports matter to you, verify local station support and real‑world tuner compatibility before you buy—or consider an external tuner box.

• Firmware roulette.

  • TV makers regularly ship updates that can change brightness curves, gaming latency, or app support. Before updating, scan user reports; after updating, revisit your picture settings.

• Cloud gaming and app ecosystems.

  • Native apps for GeForce NOW and console streaming are becoming common. If you play casually, you might skip a set‑top box entirely—just verify controller pairing and network stability.

• Sustainability and longevity.

  • Expect more energy‑aware modes and panel protection features by default. Stands and bezels are getting friendlier to repair/recycle, but panel swaps are still rarely economical out of warranty—consider extended coverage if you’re risk‑averse.

FAQ

• Should I buy OLED or Mini‑LED?

  • For dark‑room movies and immaculate blacks, OLED is still the reference. For bright rooms, long daytime viewing, and big sizes on a budget, Mini‑LED is hard to beat. If you split time between the two, a high‑zone Mini‑LED or a brighter QD‑OLED is a safe middle ground.

• Is burn‑in still a problem with OLED?

  • It’s uncommon with mixed content. Avoid leaving static logos or game HUDs parked for hours daily, enable pixel‑refresh routines, and vary content. If you binge news channels with tickers, consider Mini‑LED.

• Do I need 8K?

  • No. Native content is rare, streaming costs are high, and good 4K upscaling already looks superb. Spend the difference on a larger or better 4K set.

• How many HDMI 2.1 ports do I need?

  • Ideally four if you have multiple consoles and an eARC soundbar/AVR. If you only game on one device, two ports can suffice. Confirm each port’s bandwidth and feature support—“HDMI 2.1” isn’t a guarantee of 48 Gbps.

• Dolby Vision or HDR10+—which is better?

  • Both deliver dynamic metadata for HDR. Dolby Vision is more common across streaming and discs; HDR10+ shows up on select services and brands. If you’re format‑agnostic, judge the TV by how it tone‑maps bright highlights and skin tones in the real apps you use.

• What size should I buy?

  • If you can accommodate it, go bigger. For cinematic feel, seat distance in inches ÷ 1.2 approximates the screen size in inches. Ensure your stand or wall can handle the weight and width—and check doorways and elevators before delivery.

• Do I need a soundbar if the TV supports Dolby Atmos?

  • Likely yes. TV speakers can simulate height cues but lack bass and dynamic range. A soundbar with eARC (or a full AVR system) will transform clarity and impact.

• Should I pay for professional calibration?

  • If you’re particular about accuracy and have a high‑end set, it’s worthwhile. Otherwise, use “Filmmaker/Cinema” mode, disable edge‑enhancement, set black/white clipping with test patterns, and tame motion smoothing.

• Are smart TV ads inevitable?

  • Increasingly, yes. You can often reduce them by declining personalized ads during setup and disabling unnecessary “home screen recommendations.” Many users plug in a dedicated streaming device to get a cleaner UI and better update cadence.

Source & original reading

https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-tvs/