That annual “big game” is nearly upon us, which sounds like as good an excuse as any to upgrade your television to something that will look amazing. Here are four models that rate tops in CNET’s testing.
LG OLEDB6P series
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The LG B6 outperforms every other TV we’ve tested, with the exception of even more-expensive 2016 OLED TVs, which perform about the same. It evinced perfect black levels, wide viewing angles, accurate color and a brighter picture than last year. It’s compatible with both types of HDR TV shows and movies, Dolby Vision and HDR10. Its striking design features a super-slim panel.
The bad: It’s still expensive.
The cost: $1,636.52 to $1,999.99
The bottom line: LG’s high-end 2016 OLED TVs deliver the best picture quality of any TV we’ve ever reviewed, and the B6 is the best value of the bunch.
Vizio M-Series 2016
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The affordable Vizio M series has excellent overall picture quality that competes well against even more expensive TVs. It can handle both high-dynamic-range formats. The remote is a fully functional Android tablet. The Google Cast system offers more apps and frequent updates than many dedicated smart-TV systems.
The bad: Using the tablet for settings and streaming apps is often more of a hassle than traditional onscreen menus. No built-in tuner, so you can’t watch over-the-air antenna broadcasts unless you attach a separate tuner.
The cost: $699.99 to $999.99
The bottom line: Despite the inconvenience of its tablet-based menus and apps, the Vizio M series’ excellent image quality and value make it a top choice for the price.
Vizio P-Series 2016
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The Vizio P-Series has outstanding overall picture quality that competes well against the highest-end TVs. It can handle both high-dynamic-range formats. The remote is a fully functional Android tablet. The Google Cast system offers more apps and frequent updates than many dedicated smart-TV systems.
The bad: Using the tablet for settings and streaming apps is often more of a hassle than traditional onscreen menus. No built-in tuner, so you can’t watch over-the-air antenna broadcasts unless you attach a separate tuner. No HDR10 compatibility until a promised future software upgrade arrives.
The cost: $1,298.00 to $1,299.99
The bottom line: Forget the “free tablet,” the real story with Vizio’s excellent P-Series TV is top-notch picture quality and future-ready features at an affordable price.
LG 55EG9100
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The LG 55EG9100 OLED TV’s picture is better than any LCD or plasma TV. It’s equally adept in bright and dark rooms, showed accurate color, and looks better from off-angle than any LED LCD. Its 1080p resolution is plenty for a 55-inch screen. The TV looks striking in person, with organic curves and an insane 0.25-inch depth on most of its body.
The bad: Albeit the most-affordable OLED TV yet, the 55EG9100 is still very expensive for a 55-inch TV. Unlike most high-end TVs it doesn’t support HDR sources, and some LED LCDs can get brighter. Its 3D picture quality isn’t great, and uniformity problems can appear in the darkest scenes.
The cost: $1,349.52 to $2,497.00
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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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