The best Samsung TVs in 2021
May 24th, 2021
The best Samsung TVs: The best QLED in 2021
Which is the best Samsung TV you can buy? As Samsung is the world's largest TV maker, there is certainly a huge selection, and 2020 is no exception with a new OTS sound system that enhances the sound of Samsung's advanced TVs, a rotating Sero TV for watching smartphone videos, an expanded 8K TV range as well as new 32-inch / 75-inch sizes of the stylish The Frame TV .
Does it sound like there is a lot to keep track of? Samsung's selection and variety can mean that it's hard to choose the very best Samsung TV for you. That's why we've put together a guide to our top picks that fits your budget and desired specifications.
We have tested the latest new Samsung TVs and below we assess which is the very best. Whether you are looking for a cheap LCD TV that does not cost a fortune or a super bright QLED TV that is certainly not cheap, there is a wide range of Samsung TV models to consider. Keep in mind, however, that only a few models include the Samsung One Connect box , and it's worth checking to see if that solution is included, if that's something you're after.
Scroll down to see a selection of the best models available on the market along with a review of the Samsung brand and how to differentiate Samsung's TV product names.
WHY BUY A SAMSUNG TV?
Since you have landed on this page, we assume that you are looking for a TV from Samsung - why else read about the best Samsung TVs? But maybe you're still just researching the market, and you may not be quite sure that Samsung is the right choice. Here we can tell a little about why so many - both reviewers and enthusiasts - are so excited about Samsung.
Samsung has convinced many because their TVs are generally more colorful and much brighter than the competition, especially when looking at the QLED series.
It is also important to be aware that smart TVs from Samsung are typically quite good for upscaling (change HD to 4K), and they are usually better than TVs from eg LG when they have to handle scenes with fast movements. They also have a technology called HDR10 + that makes the colors look super vibrant, and the input delay is generally also quite low, which is great for gamers who want to use the TV with Xbox Seies X or PS5 .
On the other hand, a Samsung TV is generally more expensive than its competitors, and they are not always quite as long-lasting. If you are not aware of this, you should also be aware that Samsung has unfortunately sometimes created some explosive products .
Another problem with Samsung TVs is that they do not support Dolby Vision - which is an HDR format that delivers higher brightness and better colors than HDR10.
But after all, the good often outweighs the bad, and here at TechRadar we recommend Samsung TVs to those who want to pay a little more and are looking for the most picturesque TVs (although there are some good budgets and middle class options also as you will see in this guide).
The best Samsung TVs in a nutshell:
1. Best Samsung TV: Samsung Q95T QLED TV
2. Best Designer TV: Samsung The Frame (2020)
3. Best for gamers: Samsung Q80T QLED
4. Budget choice: Samsung TU8000
5. The luxury option: Samsung Q950TS 8K QLED
6. Best value for money: Samsung Q800T 8K QLED
7. The strangest choice: Samsung Sero TV
1. Best Samsung TV: Samsung Q95T QLED TV
Samsung's flagship 4K QLED from 2020 is a beautifully designed 4K TV with excellent specifications. We were a little reluctant to give this TV first place, as last year's Q90R QLED , which is pretty much sold out these days, actually had better specifications. But it does not go unnoticed that Samsung's Q95T / Q90T models offer a good example of 4K QLED technology. It's a brilliant HDR performer with brightness and contrast that really makes the scenes appear clear and distinct. The maximum brightness reaches 2,000 nits, which is far above ordinary LCD or OLED TVs , giving colors fullness and power even in well-lit conditions. However, Samsung's entire QLED series from 2020 has been hit by quite aggressive dimming of the backlight, which may mean that some HDR objects do not live up to their full potential - but it is still a good picture. Samsung's usual upscaling algorithms also do a good job, even when using low - resolution sources. The Q95T and Q90T are basically the same TV, but the former also comes with Samsung One Connect . It's not exactly cheap, but it's cheaper than last year's Q90R was, making the small downgrade of specifications a little easier to swallow. If you want the best Samsung 4K TV, you can be sure that the Q95T is a really good choice.
2. Best Designer TV: Samsung The Frame (2020)
Samsung The Frame (2020) is the most accomplished iteration of Samsung's painting-inspired TV we've seen so far. With a bold metal case, customizable frames and an Art Mode feature that displays classic artwork and photographs, this is the closest a TV comes to resembling an actual painting - and once mounted on the wall, your guests may not be able to see the difference. With an ambient mode that offers more dynamic screensavers, dials, and weather or news updates, there are plenty of options for individual choices that determine how much attention your Frame TV gets when not in use. The QLED panel and Quantum Processor 4K upgrade are also not entirely crazy with predictable upscaling that is better than usual, and an impressive picture - although the brightness is surprisingly weak on this QLED TV, and skin tones at times, look a little wrong. But if you want a TV that really puts a thick line under the look and fits perfectly with the decor all day long - with One Connect keeping things tidy - then Samsung The Frame (2020) is a great choice for your home.
3. Best for gamers: Samsung Q80T QLED
Samsung Q80T QLED is a new 4K TV from 2020 that does a lot for scars appeal to gamers and make them love the Samsung family. With an ultra-low input delay of 8.7 ms, only a very small delay is seen when playing, and the TV also supports 4K at 120Hz on its HDMI 2.1 port. Add to that VRR (Variable Refresh rate), ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and FreeSync for PC-AMD gamers, and then you have a number of technologies that make this a really solid choice as a gaming TV You sacrifice some image quality for this ultra-low input delay, but there is also something to be gained with Game Motion Plus, which keeps the delay below 20 ms but retains some motion smoothing for a clearer image. For HD games, you do not need razor-sharp reflectors, so here the preset default settings hold fine.
4. Budget choice: Samsung TU8000
If your living room - and your budget - are not quite ready for a 65-inch TV , take a look at Samsung's truly spectacular TU8000 series. You get an incredibly low input delay (only 9.7 ms) as well as a motion handling technology that ensures that the image is constantly kept smooth. What more can you ask for? You will not get all the gaming technologies that you find in some other series on this list, such as HDMI 2.1, VRR (variable refresh rate) or a 120Hz panel - but for the everyday gamer, this is a TV that has all the basics in place. You need to pay attention to the limited viewing angles: The content looks best directly from the front, and the colors diminish from other viewing angles. Therefore, it may not be the best choice for Switch games with four participants. All in all, though, this is a solid choice.
5. The luxury option: Samsung Q950TS 8K QLED
Samsung Q950TS 8K QLED is Samsung's 8K flagship this year - and by that we mean Flagship. With a screen with 33 million pixels and groundbreaking upscaling to make even low-quality sources look good, the Q950TS has plenty to offer. However, the real change from last year's Q950R is the design. The Q950TS has an almost invisible frame that leaves an impression of a floating screen. It is available in sizes 65-, 75-, and 85-inch and will definitely affect your home. The OTS + (Object Tracking Sound) sound technology certainly also gives a feel and volume to the sound - as you'd expect with eight drivers and 70 watts of output power - although our full tests found that the sound side was a bit worse than we had hoped. Nevertheless, it is a step up from 8K QLEDS from earlier times. You certainly pay for the privilege, and those looking for more affordable quality may still want to consider the Q80R QLED or its 2020 successor, the Q80T. But if you do not mind paying from around DKK 45,000 and up to DKK 90,000, this is really a TV that you can show to anyone.
6. Best value for money: Samsung Q800T 8K QLED
Okay. An 8K TV may seem like a strange choice when looking for the most value for money, but let's elaborate on this! The Samsung Q800T is Samsung's entry-level 8K model in 2020, and it's priced at around the same level as with last year's 4K flagships. Of course, you still pay around DKK 22,500 for the minimum 65-inch TV, but it is still significantly less than the prices of the Q950TS models above. The 8K images are incredibly beautiful and the TV beautifully upscales HD sources. The new OTS (Object Tracking Sound) sound system also adds an element of depth and width to the sound that you do not get with cheaper 4K QLEDs. There are some little things that annoy. For example, the colors can sometimes be a bit dull, and the somewhat aggressive local attenuation dims bright HDR objects so they do not look quite as good. But as a more affordable alternative to the Q950TS without all the fancy, the Q800T is a smart choice in 2020.
7. The strangest choice: Samsung Sero TV
This rotating TV is aimed at social media users as it is capable of displaying content in both landscape and portrait mode. With this TV, you can watch a Netflix movie one moment and then scroll through your feed on Twitter or TikTok the next moment. With a single touch of a button, the TV rotates 90 degrees and it only takes 2-3 seconds. If you want a TV for social media, this is a bold - but imperfect - realization of that dream, and there is nothing like the market. The 60W speakers ensure that you do not have to make an effort to hear voices or soundtracks, and all in all, it is definitely an upgrade of the audiovisual output that you would otherwise find on a regular smartphone. You also get Samsung's excellent Tizen smart TV platform . That said, using the Sero as a smartphone screen is not without its problems. Social media apps do not immediately support Tizen, which means you will have to watch TV and the phone you cast from, respectively. It is also not possible to use the TV remote control to navigate your scrolling feeds and timelines. Sero feels like a solution that is in search of a problem, and it basically seems unnecessary, whether or not you are a big consumer of social media. A flagship smartphone may be a better option, in which case you do not need Sero at all. There are also some issues with rotation and AirPlay 2, and that means this is a TV that is best suited for Android (especially Samsung) smartphone owners rather than iPhone users.
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