Katarzyna Petru
In the latest episode on ChooseTV, we’re putting the 2025 televisions to the test, which truly make a difference – from "brown" everyday heroes, through "silver" sure bets, to "gold" screens without compromises. Instead of dry tables, you get impressions from tests, real brightness in movies and games, plus tips on who will benefit the most from each model. There are also interesting exceptions that didn’t snag any awards but can steal your heart with their price or features. You’ll find links to the best deals in the video description – and if you want to get 100% out of your new TV, don’t forget about our calibration with a satisfaction guarantee.
TVs mentioned in the film:
Hisense U78Q Pro
Affordable mini-LED that shines like the old "flagships": plenty of dimming zones, around 1500 nits peak and four full HDMI 2.1 for gaming >120 Hz. The new Pentonic 800 processor does wonders in upscaling and noise reduction, and the 288 Hz mode for PC is a nice bonus. Perfect if you're focused on processing quality and want a gaming setup at a low price.
TCL C7K
Rival U78Q Pro with a similar number of zones and brightness of around 1500 nits, winning with its ecosystem: Google TV offers a huge range of apps and integrations. Two HDMI 2.1 ports and refresh rates up to 240 Hz for PC provide smooth gaming. A choice for those who want to "just turn it on and have everything."
Samsung S85F (55”)
Budget OLED, which in this size got a QD-OLED panel. The result? About 800 nits in HDR, phenomenal colours (wide BT.2020), great angles, and no motion blur. Four HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR, and low latency make it a gamer's dream. Note: In very bright light, the coating may slightly "cherry" – it disappears in the evenings.
Samsung QN80F
Mini-LED without a trophy, but with a powerful argument: price. This is the cheapest Samsung with true local dimming – blacks and HDR finally look “as they should”. Tizen runs quickly, SmartThings connects the home, and in sales for 65–75” it can be unbeatable.
Panasonic W95B
Finally, a successful mini-LED from Panasonic: 700–800 nits in reference HDR modes, excellent processing, and low motion blur in sports. The system with Voice Assistant might not be to everyone's taste, but if you appreciate the Japanese school of image, it's a reasonable offering in "bronze".
Hisense U8Q
“Silver” breakthrough. A huge range of zones, high and stable brightness, and the Pentonic 800 elevates picture quality to a new level. Plus a unique feature: USB-C with DisplayPort for quick connection to a laptop/PC. A great choice for bright living rooms and for hybrids “work + entertainment.”
TCL C8K
“Silver” sure thing that realistically improves daily experiences: a panel with better angles and a solid audio system prepared with an industry partner makes games and films sound more mature without a soundbar. Quality is similar to C855 at a more sensible price than C9K – that’s why it takes the podium.
Samsung QN92F
“Silver” for the mini-LED that has matured. The biggest improvement is the calmer, more predictable local dimming compared to the QN92D, and the phenomenal matte finish – the image is clear even in bright sunlight. Downsides: weaker viewing angles due to the removal of Ultra Viewing Angle. For bright living rooms – a perfect choice.
Sony Bravia 7 (2024)
“Old but gold” and still a champion in processing. It doesn’t chase brightness or hertz records, but it provides the purest, most natural motion and image in lesser content. Less gaming “fireworks” (less HDMI 2.1), but for a film buff who values naturalness – common sense wins.
LG C5
“Silver” OLED that exceeds the 1000 nit barrier. It’s the first C with truly strong HDR without sacrificing the beauty of OLED. WebOS is fast and convenient, and the Magic Remote makes it easy to use, while the complete HDMI 2.1 on every port makes the C5 also a fantastic screen for PS5/XSX/PC (4K120, VRR, ALLM).
Samsung S90F
"Silver" OLED with an ace up its sleeve: in 65”, it features a QD-OLED panel that delivers a brighter, more vibrant image. On top of that, it has Tizen, SmartThings, and Game Motion Plus – a proprietary game smoothener that makes many titles look simply smoother. The absence of Dolby Vision is balanced by HDR10+ support on VOD platforms.
Philips OLED 820
just off the podium, but with strong advantages: a panel like in the C5 (over 1000 nits) and Ambilight, which makes an impression on the wall. The processing and smoothness of tones can be less natural than competitors, and the IR remote feels a bit dated – however, this year's progress is significant. If you love Ambilight, you'll be pleased.
LG G5
“Golden” king of brightness and references. The new tandem OLED panel pulls >2000 nits in HDR and ~800 nits in typical SDR, so for the first time we’re talking about an OLED “for every room, at any time”. After calibration (3D LUT), the colours are reference-quality, and the improved processing smooths out imperfections without losing naturalness. On top of that, a 5-year warranty on the panel – certainty that you’re buying without compromise.
Samsung S95F
“Golden” QD-OLED that combines two worlds: brilliant viewing angles and anti-reflective for daytime, absolute black for nighttime. The One Connect Box makes wall mounting easy, and for gamers – a full package (HDMI 2.1, VRR, Game Motion Plus). The 83” version uses a tandem OLED panel – the quality is still top-notch, you’ll only notice the differences in a direct comparison.
Sony BRAVIA 9
“Gold” reference point for LCD. It’s mini-LED, which has come closest to OLEDs not only in blacks but in the way it builds the image. In a dark cinema viewing, the differences become minimal, and in a bright lounge, BRAVIA 9 shows how far zone lighting technology has come.
