I’m Caleb Denison with Digital Trends — I’ve been reviewing TVs professionally for 14 years, and if you’re in the market for an OLED TV in early 2025, this is the guide for you. OLED TVs today start from a very high baseline: perfect black levels, incredible contrast, instant pixel response, and fantastic color. The hard part is picking which one fits your needs and budget. Below I break the best OLEDs into practical categories so you can decide quickly and confidently.
How to use this guide
If you want the short version: OLEDs are all excellent. Pick the size and features that matter to you. If you can find a 2023 model of the TV you like, grab it — you’ll usually save a lot and only miss minor, enthusiast-level refinements. Otherwise, read on for my picks across budgets and use cases.
“OLED TVs start at a baseline of awesome.”
Budget-friendly OLEDs
Sansui 55V1U — Best ultra-budget OLED
If you want true OLED picture quality without spending a fortune, the Sansui 55V1U is the least expensive OLED you can buy right now and a surprisingly solid option.
- Picture quality: True OLED blacks, great contrast and color.
- Build quality: Better than you’d expect from a licensed brand name.
- Caveat: The Google TV interface can feel sluggish depending on model; an inexpensive streaming stick (around $50) fixes that easily.
- Best for: Bedrooms, smaller living rooms, buyers on a tight budget who still want OLED.
LG B4 (or 2023 B3) — Best value if you want a range of sizes
LG’s B-series is a great mid-budget choice. It doesn’t use the absolute top-tier processor or reach the peak brightness of the C-series, but it delivers outstanding OLED picture quality at lower prices.
- Sizes: From a $648 48-inch up to an 83-inch option — the most affordable big-screen OLED on the market.
- Performance: Slightly lower brightness than the C-series, but excellent in light-controlled rooms.
- Best for: Buyers who want excellent OLED performance without needing the absolute brightest HDR highlights.
Sweet-spot high-performance OLEDs
Samsung S90D (and S90C if you find it) — Smart QD-OLED buy
The Samsung S90D is a compelling QD-OLED that balances color performance with price. If you can still find last year’s S90C at clearance prices, it’s an absolute steal for a 65-inch high-performance OLED.
- Panel: QD-OLED — delivers colors other panel types can’t match.
- Why buy: Excellent color vibrancy and strong overall performance for gamers and movie watchers alike.
- Tip: If you find the 2023 S90C for around $1,000 (65-inch), buy it immediately — those deals won’t last.
LG C4 (or C3) — Great all-around performer, excellent upscaling
The LG C4 sits in the same performance tier as Samsung’s S90D. It features LG’s Alpha 9 Gen 7 processor, which does an outstanding job upscaling and cleaning low-bitrate content.
- Strengths: Full-screen SDR brightness and strong HDR highlight performance; upscaling and motion handling are particularly good.
- Best for: Viewers who watch a lot of non-4K sources — cable, satellite, YouTube, or lower-bitrate streaming.
- Choice decision: Between the C4 and S90D you’ll be deciding on color vs upscaling, interface preference (webOS vs Tizen), and subtle differences in motion handling and color volume.
The absolute best OLED TVs (top-tier picks)
These four TVs represent the top of the OLED heap. Any of them is a winner. Your choice should be guided by features, room environment, and personal taste rather than raw picture quality, because they’re all phenomenal.
Panasonic Z95A — Classy, cinematic presentation
Panasonic has a relaxed, classy image processing style that many viewers love. The Z95A continues that tradition and is a bright, engaging OLED.
- OS: Runs Amazon Fire TV — perfectly fine but not my personal favorite.
- Ports: Two HDMI 2.1 ports, with one shared with eARC — something to consider if you need multiple high-bandwidth inputs.
- Best for: Folks who want a cinematic, inviting look and don’t need lots of HDMI 2.1 inputs.
Sony A95L QD-OLED — Sony’s refinement and best-in-class audio
Sony’s flagship A95L is a refined performer with stellar processing and one of the best integrated audio systems on the market.
- Panel: QD-OLED (prior-gen panel compared to Samsung’s latest) — excellent color, slightly less peak brightness than the Samsung S95D.
- Software: Google TV built in (which I appreciate).
- Audio: Sony’s Bravia Theater Quad Dolby Atmos system — my favorite onboard audio of this group.
- Best for: Viewers who value Sony’s processing, HDR handling, and a superb integrated soundstage.
Samsung S95D QD-OLED — Best for bright rooms and color brightness
If your TV room has lots of windows or lamps, the S95D stands out thanks to an exceptional anti-reflection system and very high color brightness.
- Bright-room performance: Best in class among OLEDs because of its anti-glare, anti-reflection technology.
- Color: Extremely high color brightness — one of the most colorful OLEDs I’ve measured.
- Gaming: Samsung’s Gaming Hub offers cloud gaming options, which is great if you want to play without a console.
- Best for: Rooms with ambient light and buyers who prioritize color brightness and bright-room reflectance control.
LG G4 Gallery Series — Brightest OLED with industry-leading warranty
LG’s G4 is a galley-style powerhouse: blazing bright (thanks to MLA tech and brightness algorithms), excellent processing, and a very compelling warranty.
- Brightness: One of the brightest OLEDs available, excellent HDR highlights.
- Inputs: Four HDMI 2.1 ports — great for multiple high-end consoles and devices.
- Warranty: LG offers a five-year warranty that explicitly covers burn-in — unique and comforting if you watch the same channels for many hours daily.
- Best for: Heavy TV users or those worried about long-term OLED burn-in risk who still want top-tier OLED performance.
How to pick the right OLED for you
- Budget: If price is the primary constraint, Sansui 55V1U or LG B4/B3 give you OLED for far less than top-tier models.
- Room lighting: Bright room? Lean toward the Samsung S95D for its anti-reflective system. Light-controlled room? LG B4, C4, Sony A95L, and Panasonic all excel.
- Gaming and inputs: Need many HDMI 2.1 ports? The LG G4 with four ports is ideal. Check port sharing (eARC) on others if you have multiple consoles or devices.
- Content quality: If you watch lots of low-bitrate or lower-resolution content, LG’s C4 (and Sony’s processing) shine at upscaling.
- Longevity concerns: If you worry about burn-in from long, repetitive viewing, LG G4’s five-year burn-in-covered warranty is a standout.
Final tips and buying advice
If you can find 2023 models of the TVs you like, they’re usually the smartest buy for most people — you’ll save money and only miss small, enthusiast-level upgrades in 2024/2025 models. Otherwise, choose based on where the TV will live (bright vs dark room), how many high-bandwidth inputs you need, and whether long-term warranty coverage matters to you.
All the TVs above are winners. For most people, the Samsung S90D and LG C4 will hit the sweet spot between price and performance. If you want the very best and are willing to spend more, pick from the Panasonic Z95A, Sony A95L, Samsung S95D, or LG G4 based on the specific strengths I’ve outlined.
Wrap-up
Choosing an OLED in early 2025 comes down to matching features to your preferences. From budget-focused winners like the Sansui 55V1U and LG B4 to high-performing QD-OLEDs and premium Gallery series options, there’s an OLED that fits your room, viewing habits, and wallet. If you want help narrowing options by exact size or ports, tell me the room and devices you plan to use and I’ll give a tailored recommendation.
Happy hunting — you’re about to enjoy one of the best picture technologies available.
