From Max and Apple TV to Netflix and Hulu, there is a wealth of streaming services, ensuring you’re never without something to watch. And TV manufacturers are attempting to make your life even easier by offering many of the best 4K TVs with smarts baked-in, so you can skip grabbing a streaming device.
TL;DR – The Best Smart TVs for Streaming at a Glance
- Samsung 65” Q70D Series QLED – best QLED
- LG 65" Class OLED evo C4 – best all-in-one
- Sony 65" A95L Bravia XR OLED – best for IMAX-enhanced
- Hisense 40" Class A4K Series – best budget
- Samsung 85" QN900D Neo QLED – best for blockbusters
The best Smart TVs for streaming offer easy-to-use software to access thousands of apps for watching shows and movies or even playing games. Unlike older displays that struggled with glitchy menus and poor internet connections, this new crop simplify your viewing experience with breezy navigation, voice control, smart assistants, and a whole host of features. Of course, that’s on top of a stunning picture to keep you immersed in your content.
No matter what you choose to consume, we’ve found a smart TV for streaming to suit your needs. Whether you’re after a sharp, future-proof 8K display, a stunning OLED picture, or a budget TV, our five picks offer an accessible interface and a powerful display to make every scene pop. Who knows? You may even manage to score a great TV deal on one.
1. Samsung 65” Q70D Series QLED
The best QLED Smart TV for streaming
The Q70D packs Samsung’s QLED technology, albeit in a more basic form than its higher-end offering, the Samsung QN90D, which we loved. Still, this stunning 4K TV manages a wide range of rich, vivid colors bolstered by Quantum Dot technology, and it’s even Pantone-validated. Contrast is commendable considering the lack of local dimming and HDR performance is satisfactory – just don’t expect super punchy highlights, especially in brighter spaces. However, the dual LEDs do an excellent job of creating dynamic landscapes with stark details.
Beyond solid picture quality, the Samsung Q70D’s wealth of features makes it a true standout. It’s a fully capable smart TV that runs on Samsung’s Tizen OS, which had some growing pains but has finally found its footing – for the most part. Streaming content from shows and movies to cloud gaming is straightforward and streamlined. Want to watch two things simultaneously? Multi-View splits the screen to do just that, while a Tap View can mirror your phone onto the display for extra functionality. Support for Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Smart Things, and more is ideal for integrating this TV with other smart home devices.
For those looking to use the Q70D as a gaming TV with the PS5 and Xbox Series X, it doesn’t disappoint. In addition to cloud gaming, it’s equipped with four HDMI 2.1 ports that support a refresh rate of 120Hz in 4K and VRR for butter-smooth action. That’s coupled with low input lag and solid response times for great motion fidelity. The TV even does a decent job of upscaling games and other content to 4K, making the most of its capabilities.
2. LG 65" Class OLED evo C4
The best all-in-one Smart TV for streaming
The LG OLED evo C4 tops many of our TV guides because it’s really just that great. From the breathtaking picture, major gaming chops, and host of features for a reasonable price – by OLED standards – it’s hard to beat. When streaming content, LG’s Web OS 24 is easy to navigate and full of all the most popular streaming services. A handy Quick Cards section keeps apps like Netflix and Hulu front and center, making content and setting adjustments easily accessible with the press of a button. LG’s Magic Remote even comes with a voice search to find the exact show, movie, or game you’re after.
No matter what’s thrown up on screen, it’ll look absolutely stunning, thanks to the OLED panel. We loved the picture quality of the LG C2 a few years ago, and with the latest model, it's just gotten better. Boasting high brightness and next-level contrast, the display’s blacks are deep, details remain rich, and colors look vivid. Dolby Vision and HDR10 bring even more clarity and texture to HDR content, while new AI processors can upscale picture and sound for even deeper immersion. If only Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology came baked in to take visuals even further, but that might make it too perfect.
Have a taste for gaming? The LG C4 offers VRR, a low latency mode, and up to 144Hz in 4K refresh rate. The four HDMI 2.1 ports support those features, so it's ready for hooking up two consoles and a gaming PC. Plus, there’s still room to slot in a soundbar for a more theatrical experience gaming or watching movies.
3. Sony 65" A95L Bravia XR OLED
The best Smart TV for streaming IMAX-enhanced movies
For those after a cinematic viewing experience, the Sony A95L picture is sure to take your breath away. Using Quantum Dots and OLED technology, this TV offers a wild peak brightness, next-level contrast, and true-to-life colors. The depth and clarity brought – even in darker scenes – place you right in whatever you’re watching. HDR content takes the details and highlights further. Plus, excellent reflection handling and viewing angles mean sitting down to watch from just about anywhere will result in a great picture.
Its Google TV interface is convenient and makes finding content a breeze. The look is fairly streamlined and straightforward, and if you already have a Google account, signing into streaming services or other apps is made simple. Features like Google Cast and Apple AirPlay will come in handy when sharing content from a smartphone, while voice search using Google Assitant is possible via the remote or the built-in TV mic.
Beyond Google TV, the A95L comes with Sony Pictures Core, formerly Bravia Core. This service provides access to IMAX-enhanced and calibrated movies at up to 80mbps streaming quality – something your average streaming services can’t offer. It’s a theater experience at home. It's also a great TV for PS5 with VRR, ALLM, a 120Hz refresh rate in 4K, and even a few PS5-exclusive features. However, we wish more HDMI 2.1 ports were on board, as only two is a little light, especially if you want to slot in the next-gen consoles and an audio device.
4. Hisense 40" Class A4K Series
The best budget Smart TV for streaming
The Hisense A4K has the smarts to stream the best content at an ultra-low price. Similar to the astronomically pricier Sony A95L, this TV offers a Google TV interface for simple navigation and access to pretty much any streaming service. Google Assistant-powered voice control is on the remote, so finding TV shows, hearing the latest weather, and adjusting the volume is breezy. And if you want to stream content from another device, Chromecast is built-in.
Admittedly, the picture quality of the Hisense A4K doesn’t hold a candle to the others on the list, but for under $200, expectations must be set accordingly. Still, at only 40 inches, the 1080p resolution is crisp with minimal pixel peeping. The full array LED backlight makes bright and colorful scenes come to life, though it’s also plagued by poor viewing angles. If gaming is in the cards, the 60hz refresh rate should keep graphics relatively smooth, while a game mode lowers input lag, so controller inputs reflect nearly instantaneously on screen. Two HDMI ports are available for slotting in consoles.
5. Samsung 85" QN900D Neo QLED
The best Smart TV for streaming blockbuster movies and shows
Take your streaming of blockbuster movies and shows to the next level with the fantastic Samsung QN900D. It’s one of the best 8K TVs for a future-proof setup and looks stunning, even at 85 inches, thanks to packing four times as many pixels as a 4K TV. Sure, native 8K content for streaming may be hard to come by, but an AI processor manages to upscale lower resolutions, bringing more depth and detail to scenes.
Rather than OLED, this TV uses mini LEDs with fine-tuned local dimming for near-OLED level contrast. Blacks will be rich and deep while highlights pop with minimal blooming. Colors are equally superb, and the TV gets exceptionally bright, especially when taking advantage of HDR support. Unfortunately, Dolby Vision isn’t available, but HDR10+ and HLG are on board for more realism and clarity. This excellent display is placed inside a unique, nearly bezel-less frame with a sound system offering 90W of power for a true home theater vibe.
Samsung’s Tizen software runs the show and comes with a home screen full of ways to access different streamers. One particularly convenient feature is a “For you” section, which lets you continue shows you’ve already started, and suggests what to watch next. Beyond that, there’s voice control and profiles for different users. And we’d be remiss not to mention the fabulous gaming features, including the chops to bump the frame rate up to a wild 240Hz with VRR in 4K or even 8K/60Hz.
Need help with your purchasing decision? Check out our TV buying guide for more info.
Sarah Thwaites is a freelance tech writer at IGN, with bylines at GameInformer, TrustedReviews, NME and more.
