The best Samsung TVs of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

Looking for a TV to take your gaming to the next level or to make movie night special? Need something for everyday viewing? Samsung’s newest additions to their TV line-up offer plenty of reasons to consider upgrading your old Samsung set. The latest TVs provide the premium video and audio quality Samsung is known for, along with a 144Hz for smoother action in movies, shows, and games. No matter what you’re looking for, there’s a Samsung set that will fit your needs.

Also: The best TVs you can buy

What is the best Samsung TV right now?

ZDNET staff went hands-on with plenty of Samsung TV models, and our pick for the best Samsung TV overall is the Samsung S95D for its Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Sound+ support, 144Hz maximum refresh rate, and anti-glare coating. We know everyone has different budgets and needs for their TV, so we built a list that includes a variety of Samsung TVs for any situation.

The best Samsung TVs of 2025

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The S95D sits at the top of the company’s OLED line of TVs, and not only will you get signature OLED picture quality, you’ll also be able to push your TV’s refresh rate as high as 144Hz for smoother action during fast-paced scenes in movies, shows, and video games. You’ll also get high-quality audio with support for both Dolby Atmos and Samsung’s Object Tracking Sound+ technology for audio that follows the on-screen action as it moves.

If you’re a gamer, you’ll find support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR technology to prevent screen tearing and other visual glitches, plus Samsung’s Gaming Hub that gives you access to a depth of settings.

Also: Samsung’s S95D OLED is the best TV of CES 2024 and best in the world right now

ZDNET’s Editor-in-Chief, Jason Hiner, went hands-on with the S95D at a Samsung event, and he praised the new anti-glare coating on the screen, which helps improve visibility in brighter rooms and under harsh lighting. He also highlighted the TV’s ability to maintain bold, bright colors even with a matte finish for an impressive picture.

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If you want your TV to be eye-catching even when it’s not in use, there’s no better option than Samsung’s Frame — and it’s not even close. Many TVs these days have an “art screensaver” option where painting scroll by, but that’s not what The Frame does. Because of its ultra-thin design and anti-glare matte screen, this set actually looks like a canvas painting.

Of course, the specs on this set are amazing too. With its 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, Dolby Atmos audio, and Quantum Processor 4K, this TV checks all the boxes you want. Gamers will be happy with the Game Bar feature, and the AI upscaling makes any content shine.

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The Q90D builds upon its predecessor with an AI-assisted processor for better upscaling and picture rendering. You can choose a screen size from as small as 43 inches for a bedroom or office or as large as 98 inches for the ultimate home theater screen.

You’ll get both Dolby Atmos and object tracking sound for virtual 3D audio that follows the on-screen action. You’ll get a native 120Hz refresh rate that can be boosted to 144Hz for console or PC gaming to give you smoother action. And with the dedicated gaming dashboard, you’ll get access to cloud gaming services like Xbox GamePass and support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR technology to prevent annoying screen tearing and stuttering.

ZDNET’s Jason Hiner got a close look at the Samsung Q90D and said he was impressed by the AI-assisted upscaling for non-4K content, as well as the inclusion of the Samsung Knox security chip to better protect your online activity and private information from bad actors.

A Samsung Q90D Neo QLED TV on a grey background

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The Samsung Q80C was one of my top picks for the best 85-inch TVs, which already made it a top big-screen option. But Samsung has released a truly massive 98-inch version for a viewing experience that’s as close to going to a movie theater as you can get without leaving your house. It’s built with a QLED panel for better brightness, color, and contrast than previous Samsung models. It also allows you to perform custom calibrations with a companion app to create a personalized viewing experience.

The integrated speakers work with both Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Sound Lite for virtual 3D surround sound. You can also set up wireless subwoofers, sound bars, and speakers via Bluetooth for a custom home audio configuration. You can even use the Q80C to make video calls via the Google Meet app so you can join work meetings or catch up with family and friends from the comfort of your couch.

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The Samsung Q60C is an excellent option for anyone who needs a smaller-screen TV for their apartment, bedroom, or dorm. It’s available in screen sizes as small as 32 inches, making it almost perfect for a second screen or for saving space in a living room that’s on the tiny side. And just because it’s a small-screen TV, that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice cool features.

You’ll get object-tracking sound for virtual 3D audio and support for Alexa, Bixby, and Hey Google voice controls. With popular, preloaded apps like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+, you can start streaming your favorite movies and shows right out of the box. And with the Tizen operating system, you can download thousands more to turn your TV into the ultimate entertainment hub.

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If you want the most affordable Samsung TV, the DU6900 is going to be a strong contender for your best choice. The 55-inch model comes in at $279 right now, and that’s for a UHD panel with crisp detailing, bright colors, sharp contrast, and Crystal Processor 4K.

This set has Motion Xcelerator, meaning you’ll see less blur and lag while gaming, Object Tracking Sound Lite that lets you hear 3D surround sound that follows the movement on screen, and 4K upscaling. This set punches above its price, and is an excellent entry-level choice.

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Best Samsung TV	Price	Audio	Panel type
Samsung S95D	$3,400	Dolby Atmos, Object Tracking Sound+	OLED
Samsung Q90D	$3,300	Dolby Atmos, Object Tracking Sound+	Neo QLED
Samsung Q80C	$7,998	Dolby Atmos, Object Tracking Sound Lite	QLED
Samsung Q60C	$778	Object Tracking Sound Lite	OLED
Samsung DU6900	$279	Dolby Digital Plus	UHD

*Lowest price at the time of writing. Please note that prices may vary based on retailer and available promotions, sales, or discounts.

The biggest reason to choose Samsung over other manufacturers like LG or Sony is simply quality. TVs like the S90C and S95D are at the top of their class. Samsung is a versatile brand, with options that range from high-end to value-focused. No matter what type of TV you need, Samsung has options – and every one offers quality for the money.

Samsung TVs are also noted for their reliability, with the company making TVs for decades. In a television landscape that sees flashy new models roll out every year, many customers report being perfectly happy with their Samsung sets for many years.

If you’re a gamer, you’ll appreciate the Samsung Gaming Hub, found on newer sets like the S90C. The Gaming Hub gives you access to cloud-based services like Luna so you can game without a console.

Once you’ve hammered out a budget and made sure the new TV will fit in your space, the most crucial factor to consider when buying a new Samsung TV is how you will use it. Have you cut the cord and moved exclusively to streaming? Choose a model with a preloaded suite of popular apps and the ability to mirror your mobile device screens.

Are you a console gamer? Samsung offers dedicated gaming modes for reducing input lag and response times and toggling VRR technology like FreeSync and G-Sync on or off.

Buy this best Samsung TV…	If you need…
Samsung S95D	The best overall option. You get signature OLED picture quality and Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Sound+.
Samsung Q90D	A versatile Samsung TV that comes in sizes ranging from 43-98 inches.
Samsung Q80C	A big-screen Samsung TV with QLED panel for better brightness, color, and contrast.
Samsung Q60C	A small-screen Samsung TV. The Q60C is available in 32, 43, and 50-inch screen sizes for bedrooms, dorms, and apartments.
Samsung DU6900	A budget-friendly Samsung TV. The DU6900 retails for much less than other Samsung models and competitors but still offers great features.

While shopping for a Samsung TV, there are a few factors to keep in mind to help you stay on-budget and get the most value for your money:

Price: Samsung has a wide range of televisions available, from basic and budget-friendly to premium-grade OLEDs. We’ve included a variety of Samsung TVs at different price points to fit different budgets.
Picture and audio quality: While Samsung doesn’t include support for Dolby Vision HDR on their televisions, they do offer Dolby Atmos for virtual surround sound or Dolby Digital for enhanced audio. Samsung also uses a proprietary HDR codec to enhance detailing, color, and contrast for images. Each TV featured on this list has been ensured to support at least basic HDR10 and Dolby Digital audio.
Connectivity: A new TV, Samsung or not, isn’t worth much if you can’t do anything with it. Each product on this list has been tested and researched to ensure that they offer HDMI, USB, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity for setting up game consoles and playback devices as well as for screen sharing from mobile devices and downloading streaming apps.

There’s no reason to think that Samsung will stop being one of the top names anytime soon. Like every aspect of technology right now, AI is the popular trend. This year’s Samsung sets did incorporate some AI processing, and since AI isn’t going anywhere, expect to see more of that. Samsung has also done a good job with smart home connectivity, with recent models having a built-in SmartThings hub. It would be nice to see that expand to other ecosystems in the future.

While researching and testing each Samsung TV featured on this list, I and other ZDNET experts kept these criteria in mind:

Reasons to upgrade: It seems like every year, TV brands release updated product lineups with gimmicky features to try and get you to upgrade your current screen. Each Samsung TV on this list was chosen because it offered enough new and unique features over the previous generation of products to warrant a possible upgrade.
Smart features: People have come to expect smart features like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and virtual assistants as-standard in their new TVs. Each Samsung TV that was chosen offers a suite of features from hands-free voice controls to screen calibration and free TV channels.
Screen sizes: No two homes, and no two rooms within those homes, are exactly alike. It’s important to get the right sized screen for your space to avoid making the room either feel like an endless void due to a too-small TV or cramped and uncomfortable from one that’s too large.

The best way to find the ideal TV size for your space is to measure the distance (in inches) from where your TV will be mounted on the wall or placed on a stand to where you will be sitting, and then divide that distance in half. So if your couch is 120 inches (10 feet) from where your new TV will be, the ideal screen size for your room would be around 60 inches.

You can go a bit bigger or smaller depending on what sizes are available from each brand and what your budget allows. But there is such a thing as a TV that is too big or too small. A screen that is too large will overwhelm your space and could even cause motion sickness, while a screen that is entirely too small will make your room feel like a huge cavern and force everyone to crowd around in order to see.

Short answer: Marketing.

Long answer: Unlike OLED, the term “QLED” is a marketing gimmick rather than an acronym for a specific piece of technology. A QLED television from Samsung or another brand like Hisense really just uses a regular LED panel to create an image while a fancy processing chip uses proprietary software to boost color, brightness, and contrast. The “Q” in QLED stands for “quantum,” which is a marketing term to get you interested in the TV rather than an indication of actual quantum TV tech (whatever that would be).

In contrast, an OLED television uses a special LED panel where each individual pixel is represented by a single LED bulb with its own power source. By allowing individual LED lights to be switched off completely, an OLED television is capable of true blacks that make brighter colors pop and enhance contrast. They also use an organic substrate which is activated by an electrical current to produce colors. This substrate is very expensive and difficult to produce, which is why OLED TVs are much more expensive than their LED and QLED counterparts.

If you aren’t running your Samsung TV 24/7, you can reasonably expect it to last at least five years. You can extend the life of your Samsung TV by ensuring that the operating system and firmware are up to date via automatic updates.

Unfortunately, the era of TVs lasting decades as long as there weren’t any mechanical issues is long over. Because almost all new televisions are internet-enabled, there will eventually come a point where older TVs are no longer able to support new firmware updates or new versions of streaming apps. This means that you’ll almost be forced to buy a new TV every 10 or so years if you’ve cut the cord and moved exclusively to streaming your content. The average TV lifespan will give you plenty of time to save up for when the time comes to upgrade.

Absolutely! Along with a variety of screen sizes available, Samsung TVs like the QN90C and S95C include the Samsung Gaming Hub. The Hub gives you access to cloud gaming services like Nvidia GeForce NOW and Xbox Game Pass, as well as lowered input response times, support for VRR technology like AMD FreeSync, and enhanced contrast. You’ll also get multiple HDMI inputs for connecting more than one console, as well as an RF connection for some retro consoles like the SNES.