Vizio PX65-G1 65" Quantum 4K HDR TV - Best LED LCD TV Overall
Vizio is doubling down on quantum dot technology, with most models in the company's lineup receiving this technology that other manufacturers reserve for their pricier sets. As such, the vaunted P-Series has now been split into two separate lines. The former P-Series (no suffix) is now the P-Series Quantum, adopting its name from last year's top-of-the-line model. The previous P-Series Quantum has now been designated the P-Series Quantum X, and is the new flagship of Vizio's TV lineup. In addition to several technical upgrades, Vizio now offers this model in 65-inch and 75-inch screen sizes.
The P-Series Quantum X shares its design with the model it replaces, with the same bezel-less appearance and minimalist appeal. It's a look that's been around for a few years, but still manages to look modern and unobtrusive at the same time. Connectivity is unchanged from last year: 5 HDMI ports, a single shared component/composite video input, one USB port, TOSLINK digital audio out, a single analog audio out, and an Ethernet port. Thankfully, the cable/antenna input remains, after being reintroduced for the 2018 model. HDMI 1 supports ARC (no eARC support yet), while HDMI 5 is a dedicated game input that drops HDR support in favor of lower input lag.
The major upgrades this time around are under the hood, so to speak. Last year's P-Series Quantum was easily one of the top performers in terms of outright picture quality, and we found nothing to fault with its class-leading black levels and amazing colors. Vizio has seen fit to upgrade the set anyway, doubling the backlight's local dimming zones from 192 to 384 on the 65-inch version. Thanks to its bright and effective backlight, the P-Series Quantum X is particularly adept with HDR content. The only drawback is the narrow viewing angle (like many LED LCD TVs) - despite the inclusion of an "Enhanced Viewing Angle" feature, the P-Series Quantum X is best viewed from straight ahead. In any case, this is one of the rare TVs with a picture that will look as good in your home as it does in the store.
Another carryover is SmartCast; it should be familiar for anyone who has used a Vizio smart TV from the last few years. Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube, and many others come pre-loaded, eliminating the need to download additional apps. It's great that so many apps are included, since there is still no way to install additional apps. Instead, the P-Series Quantum X features built-in Chromecast, and any content not covered by the built-in apps can be streamed to the TV from your phone or computer. A recent firmware update adds Apple AirPlay as well, covering both ends of the mobile streaming spectrum. While the built-in smart TV interface itself is ultimately the limiting factor, we appreciate Vizio's attempts to find creative solutions to users who need more flexibility.
Despite the smart TV woes, we have no qualms about naming the P-Series Quantum X our best HDTV overall for 2021. Even though the company is a relative newcomer to quantum dot technology, Vizio's efforts pay off big time with a TV that can face off against the best and hold its own. The real draw is in the value quotient; all of the TVs that offer incrementally better picture quality cost hundreds, if not thousands more. The P-Series Quantum X is simply that good - the only question left is how Vizio will find a way to improve from here.
LG OLED65C1 65" C1 Series OLED TV - Best Picture Quality
LG's OLED TVs are now a known quantity, notable for their world-beating picture quality, absolute zero black levels, and stunningly slim cabinets. With the latest C1 OLED, LG has chosen to refine the formula by keeping the basics while adding extra future-proof technology. Ads before, we're hard-pressed to come up with reasons why anyone looking for picture quality can justify spending more.
It takes a keen eye to spot any external differences between the C1 and the model it replaces. Both share the same impossibly-thin bezels and central stand, and it appears that the overall design language for LG's OLED models has more or less been fully established for several years at this point. The lower casing houses all of the inputs; you'll find 4 HDMI inputs with full support for HDMI 2.1 and a trio of USB ports. Non-HDMI audio output options include TOSLINK optical output and a 3.5mm jack. Analog video support has been dropped entirely, so you'll need an AV receiver with composite/component video inputs if you're using older devices. Rounding out the connectors is a single Ethernet port for cases where Wi-Fi is not an option.
As with its predecessors, the C1 is easily one of the best performing HDTVs of all time, thanks to the perfect black levels afforded by its OLED panel. Even though it can't get as bright as many of the higher-end quantum dot LED LCD TVs, this set excels with both standard and HDR content without resorting to eye-searing light output. Motion handling and color accuracy are both on par with its predecessors, and that's no bad thing - they left almost no room for improvement to begin with. However, LED LCD TVs retain one advantage - as with any other OLED TV, the C1 is susceptible to the same burn-in and image retention. In order to mitigate this issue, we recommend cycling content shown on the screen and avoid displaying static images, score boards, or station icons that can get "stuck" on the screen over time. For more information, rtings.com has an excellent series where they document OLED burn-in in real life.
LG's webOS remains one of our favorite smart TV interfaces, and the C1 proves no different. The menu structure is straightforward and intuitive, and the remote itself can be used as a pointer if you prefer not to use the buttons. All of the most popular channels are supported - Netflix, Amazon/Prime TV, Disney Plus, Hulu, and YouTube can be found in the quick links, and LG's Content Store offers a wide selection of add-on apps if your favorites didn't make it into the default selection. LG also provides a smartphone app that goes a long way towards reducing remote clutter, and the whole ecosystem makes an external streaming box a redundant purchase.
Rather than rewrite the rulebook, LG chose to refine an already award-winning design. The only nit to pick here is its price; though OLED TV prices have dropped in general, the C1 remains more expensive than many of the top LED LCD TVs it competes with. If it's ultimate picture quality you're after, nothing else will suffice.
Samsung QLED Q90T Series HDTV - Runner Up
Samsung truly produces a TV for every purse and purpose, but it's at the high end of the market where the company shines the brightest. These TVs feature a streamlined design with premium materials, and offer the best picture quality-enhancing technologies to complete the experience. The Q90R is a major update to last year's Q9F; it represents the flagship of Samsung's 2019 4K TV lineup, and is easily one of the best TVs of 2019.
High-end Samsung TVs have carved a niche in the premium/luxury display market, and the latest Q90R fits right in. Picking up where the Q9F left off, the Q90R shares the same minimalist vibe, with a small metallic strip of a bezel that seemingly disappears when the display is switched on. As before, there's an unobtrusive block centered at the bottom of the display; it's emblazoned with the Samsung logo, and houses the physical controls for the TV. The stand has been redesigned as well - it's now a solid base that seems to fill in the empty space of the Q9F's wire-style stand. One benefit to this design is that the Q90R is among the rare few TVs left that doesn't require furniture as wide as the TV itself if you choose not to mount it to the wall. Samsung's One Connect box returns as well, and appears more or less unchanged from last year's iteration. Inputs include 4 HDMI ports (HDMI 3 is now marked for ARC; sadly, eARC is not supported) and a trio of USB ports. There's a single cable/antenna input, but as before, no support for any analog connectivity otherwise. A TOSLINK digital optical output handles sound with devices not compatible with ARC, and a single Ethernet port is offered for wired internet connectivity.
It's been a few years since quantum dot technology became mainstream in LED LCD TVs, and the Q90R benefits greatly from the constant refinements. It's hands-down one of the best performing TVs on the market today, with inky black levels and accurate, saturated colors that can create a better 3D experience than the gimmicky 3D TVs from earlier in the decade. Compared to OLED TVs, however, we'll cut straight to the chase - an OLED TV can deliver superior black level performance, but the Q90R comes extremely close. On the other hand, the Q90R can get much brighter than any OLED TV can, making it an outstanding choice for environments with lots of ambient light. As well, it provides for superior HDR performance in any setting, since the lofty brightness levels don't require carefully controlled lighting. Uncharacteristically for an LED LCD TV, the Q90R offers a decently wide viewing angle thanks to its special "Ultra Viewing Angle" layer. Unlike many other implementations of this technology, the Q90R manages to preserve its impressive black levels, and does not suffer from any odd refractions or color shifts.
The Q90R receives the latest iteration of Samsung's Tizen smart TV interface. Among in-house smart TV suites (meaning not compared to Roku or Android TV), it stands out simply because of how intuitively it operates. Out of the box, the Q90R defaults to showing Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and Hulu quick links; the menu is customizable, and Samsung's marketplace is comparable to Android/Roku in terms of content. The remote supports voice control as well as Samsung's own Bixby assistant; many TV functions can be accessed by issuing a voice command (changing channels, swapping inputs, powering on and off). If you have other Samsung SmartThings-compatible devices or appliances in your household, the Q90R can be fully integrated into your smart home as well.
The Samsung Q90R is certainly an impressive TV, and displays no obvious shortfalls in design or performance. Its smart TV interface is easy to navigate and offers tons of content, and the ability to integrate with your smart home ecosystem is an attractive benefit. Where it comes up short is value; though Samsung's flagship model is priced like the premium product that it is, the elephant in the room is LG's OLED lineup that offers better picture quality at a comparable price. For the money, we can recommend the Samsung Q90R for two distinct circumstances: you need a TV with outstanding bright room performance, or you tend to leave the screen on a static image for long periods of time.
Sony Bravia XR65X90J 65-Inch LED LCD TV - Consider
Sony's flagship LED LCD X90J returns to claim its spot for 2021, boasting outstanding picture quality and an attractive design. In a twist, the company has also kept last year's X900H as a more affordable alternative, and insists that the new model exists to supplement the X90J in the model lineup rather than replace it outright. In any case, we're recognizing the X90J for many of the same points that the X900H offered; that the new model is also an excellent value proposition is a pleasant surprise that rounds off one of the best HDTVs sold today.
After years of variations on design, Sony seems to have settled on a motif. The X90J appears outwardly identical to last year's X900H; barring the back of the TV, anyone would be forgiven for confusing the two. Either way, the X900H was a very attractive set to begin with, and the new X90J could do much worse than repurposing its design. Connectivity is nearly unchanged; 4 HDMI ports are present (HDMI 3 supports ARC/eARC), as are 2 USB inputs (one of which is USB 3.0). Strangely, HDMI 2.1 support is limited to ports 3 and 4. The fact that HDMI 3 is the designated ARC/eARC port may potentially create a bottleneck if you have multiple devices to connect. Analog video connectivity relies on a 3.5mm breakout adapter for composite video only, as well as a single cable/antenna input. The X90J also offers a remote IR input, which is convenient for custom installations. Audio is supported via the aforementioned HDMI ARC/eARC port, as well as a TOSLINK audio output and a single 3.5mm analog audio jack. Finally, a LAN/Ethernet port is present in case you prefer to hard-wire your TV to your network.
Picture quality is largely unchanged from the X900H, and we have no complaints. Black levels are impressive, and the X90J is one of the most color-accurate TVs on sale today - even out of the box. Motion handling capabilities are class-leading thanks to Sony's expertise in image processing, and the X90J can smoothly display 24p content even if the feed is 60p or 60i. On the other hand, some detractors remain due to technical limitations. The local dimming feature works very well to deliver deep blacks without blooming or crushing details, but OLED TVs perform better still in this regard. As well, viewing angles remain relatively narrow due to the inherent nature of VA LCD panels. While it's hard to justify an upgrade if you already own the X900H, anyone upgrading from a 2017 or older TV will be hard-pressed to find an LED LCD TV with a picture that looks as good.
One area where the X90J is a noticeable improvement over the X900H is its smart TV interface. Google TV replaces Android TV as the new OS, and it's not just a renaming of the older system. Several new functions appear to seamlessly integrate the X90J with your other smart devices, and there's more support for streaming live content. The sheer abundance and variety of apps is unchanged, and the X90J comes pre-loaded with all of the favorites, including Netflix, Amazon Video, Disney Plus, and Hulu. The remote also includes a built-in mic for voice control; because the X90J natively runs Google TV, the mic can also be used for Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. As far as smart TV interfaces go, the X90J gets our nod for one of the best TVs for streaming content.
The X90J does carry a pricing premium over its direct competitors, but the extra money buys noticeable picture quality improvements through Sony's renowned image processing capabilities. We can even go out on a limb and say that the X90J represents good value for money; while it's certainly not cheap, it avoids the eye-watering prices that OLED TVs and Samsung's flagship QLED sets demand. It's hard to find faults with the Sony X90J, which is why it's one of our top picks for Best HDTVs.
TCL 65” Class 6-Series 4K UHD Mini-LED LCD TV - Honorable Mention
TCL was one of the industry standouts last year with its flagship 6-Series, going toe-to-toe with some of the best performers on the market with a price tag that no other manufacturer could hope to match. The latest R635 remains competitive despite its age, which proves how far TCL was ahead of the competition to begin with. Paired with its Roku interface, it's one of the most impressive HDTV options available in 2021.
The R635 has received several refinements to its design, with a slimmer bezel that fits in with modern design themes that favor minimalism. The stand has been redesigned as well, with angled legs that take up less space overall. HDMI 4 now supports ARC/eARC; unfortunately, the R635 still does not feature HDMI 2.1. As before, analog video connectivity is limited to composite video via a 3.5mm jack (requires a breakout cable to function) and a cable/antenna input. Component video is not supported, so you'll need a converter for legacy devices. If your setup does not include an ARC-capable audio device, the R625 includes a TOSLINK digital audio output as well as a standard 3.5mm audio output jack.
One of the primary draws of TCL's "6-Series" models is their outstanding picture quality irrespective of price, and the R635 doesn't disappoint. The R635 aims to build on last year's model in subtle but noticeable ways; it keeps the quantum dot technology introduced in the preceding model while bumping the native refresh rate to 120 Hz. The latter finally allows TCL's flagship model to keep up with fast-moving sports action. Combined with its superb black levels and bright backlight, the R635 delivers a picture that simply can't be matched in this price range. We suggest taking the money you save by choosing the R635 over a more expensive set and investing in a professional calibration for the best possible picture quality.
The R635 continues to utilize Roku for its smart TV interface, right down to the remote control. Not only does the inclusion of Roku endow the R635 with one of the most user-friendly streaming platforms on the market today, it also benefits from the frequent updates and neverending content library that comes with any add-on Roku device. The remote itself offers quick access buttons to launch Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, and Sling TV; the built-in microphone enables voice control as well.
The R635 is one of the most impressive performers on the market even before factoring in price; if value is what you're after, the R635 can't be beat. Combined with one of the best smart TV interface options on the market today, the R635 is a no-brainer for anyone shopping for a new TV regardless of budget.