The best LG TVs of 2026
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Steven Cohen/Business Insider
I've spent more than a decade testing home entertainment gear, and year after year, LG consistently stands out. The brand is especially well known for its OLED TVs, which routinely deliver some of the best picture quality available. That said, not every LG display is created equal. To make shopping easier, I've rounded up the best LG TVs you can buy right now, with picks for different budgets, room setups, and viewing habits.
The LG C5 OLED is my top choice for most people. It's a midrange model that balances price and performance beautifully, delivering great picture quality without the higher cost of LG's flagship sets. But if you're building a serious home theater and want an even better image, the LG G5 OLED is my upgrade pick. It's one of the most impressive-looking consumer TVs I've tested, offering a brighter picture than the C5.
I've also included more affordable LG TVs, including a budget-friendly OLED and a basic LED model that's solid for everyday viewing. And if you want to go big, several of these sets are available in 77-, 83-, 86-, and even 97-inch options, which are perfect for turning your living room into the ultimate spot for movie marathons or sports events like the March Madness tournament.
Our top picks for the best LG TVs
Best overall: LG C5 OLED 4K TV - See at Amazon
Best high-end: LG G5 OLED 4K TV - See at Amazon
Best budget OLED: LG B5 OLED 4K TV - See at Amazon
Best entry-level: LG UA77 LED 4K TV - See at Amazon
Best overall
The C5 is one of the most impressive midrange OLED TVs available, not just from LG, but from any brand.
The TV uses a WOLED panel, enabling it to deliver pixel-perfect contrast and deep black levels that blend seamlessly into a dark room. Other types of TVs, even high-end QLEDs with Mini LED backlights, are prone to uneven brightness patches, which can result in elevated black levels and halos around bright objects. But the C5 is completely free from any backlight inconsistencies. It boasts an infinite contrast ratio, resulting in exceptional image quality. For more details, check out our OLED vs. QLED comparison.
Peak brightness is also solid for an OLED in this tier. Our reviewer measured a max of around 1,174 nits, which is about 200 nits more than the older C4. High-dynamic-range (HDR) content looks great, with solid impact in specular highlights (such as explosions) and a wide range of vivid colors. That said, very bright colors can't maintain their saturation as well as they do on TVs that use quantum dots, but this is hard to notice unless you have a side-by-side comparison.
John Higgins/Business Insider
All LG OLEDs, including the C5, also have one perk that rival Samsung models are missing: Dolby Vision support. Dolby Vision is a popular HDR format that offers a slightly more accurate image than other formats. Its benefits are too subtle for me to call it an absolute must-have, but it's a cool perk nonetheless. You can learn more in our HDR TV guide.
Like all OLED TVs, the C5 offers wide viewing angles, so contrast and colors shift only slightly when viewed from off-center positions. This makes the C5 a great choice for rooms where you can't always sit directly in front of the TV. It's also a great gaming TV thanks to its high 144Hz refresh rate.
The C5 isn't LG's most advanced display, but it's one of the most well-rounded TVs on the market. When factoring in price and performance, the C5 is the best LG TV for overall value. It's also available in many sizes, ranging from 42 to 83 inches.
Buyers should note that a 2026 version of this TV, the C6, is now available to preorder. The new model offers improved processing to reduce banding but is otherwise very similar. That is, unless you opt for the 77- or 83-inch sizes. Those larger models offer a noticeable brightness upgrade. However, the C6 currently costs a lot more than the C5. While it's in stock at a lower price, the C5 is the better value.
Read our full LG C5 4K TV review.
Check out our guides to all of the best 4K TVs and best smart TVs.
Best high-end
LG's G5 is one of the most impressive TVs the brand has released to date. It's pricey, but this high-end OLED is one of the best premium displays I've reviewed.
Unlike the cheaper C- and B-series, which use WOLED panels, the G5 uses a different OLED screen type, referred to by LG as a "Tandem" or "four-stack" OLED. This type of panel retains all the traditional benefits of OLEDs, including infinite contrast ratio, wide viewing angles, and deep black levels. However, on top of all that, four-stack OLEDs can get significantly brighter than WOLEDs and deliver even better color performance.
Steven Cohen/Business Insider
I measured a peak brightness of around 2,400 nits using an industry-standard 10% test pattern. That's the highest reading I've ever recorded on an OLED TV, enabling the G5 to deliver exceptional HDR performance that surpasses dimmer models like the C5. That said, the G5's higher brightness only comes into play when watching certain HDR content. A lot of movies and TV shows are mastered for a peak of 1,000 nits, so that kind of material won't look that different on the G5 compared to how it would look on the C5. But studios are producing a growing number of titles with higher luminance, and these kinds of videos absolutely stun on the G5.
For instance, "Mad Max: Fury Road" and "Aquaman" are both mastered for brightness well beyond 1,000 nits, allowing the G5 to unleash its full potential. "Fury Road," in particular, is packed with intense explosions and shimmering reflections that pop from the screen with incredible impact. Meanwhile, "Aquaman" is full of vivid colors that carry bold saturation.
Another area where the G5 rises above LG's C- and B-series is its refresh rate. Cheaper sets typically max out at 120Hz or 144Hz, but the G5 can handle up to a 4K/165Hz signal when paired with a gaming PC. This allows it to display smoother motion, provided your PC can render high frame rates, and helps cement it as one of the best gaming TVs.
Finally, the G5 stands out from LG's other offerings thanks to its handsome "Gallery" design, which allows it to be hung flush on a wall with its included mount. That said, the TV does not come with a traditional pedestal stand, so you'll need to buy one separately if you don't want to mount it.
Most people will be satisfied with the performance offered by the more affordable C-series, but the G5 is the best LG TV for home theater fans willing to pay a premium for industry-leading image quality. The G5 is sold in 55-, 65-, 77-, 83-, and 97-inch sizes. However, the 97-inch model doesn't use a four-stack OLED panel, so it can't get as bright as the smaller models.
A new 2026 edition of this set, the G6, is now rolling out to stores. I got an early look at the G6, and it is impressive in person, with a brighter screen, better reflection handling, and improved processing to reduce banding. That said, it costs about $1,000 more than the G5 currently sells for. Big enthusiasts may want to consider paying extra for the G6, but for now, most people are better off saving with the G5 or waiting until the G6 comes down in price.
Read our full LG G5 4K TV review.
Check out our guides to all of the best TVs, best OLED TVs, and best TVs for picture quality.
Best budget OLED
LG's B5 is about as close to budget-friendly as OLED TVs get. It's still pricey compared to many LED displays, but the B5 is one of the most affordable OLED models available.
Despite being cheaper than the brand's C- and G-series models, the B5 still delivers the same pixel-level contrast control, wide viewing angles, and deep black-level performance as all OLED TVs. However, the B5 does have some drawbacks compared to LG's step-up OLEDs. Most notably, its brightness and refresh rate can't match those of its pricier siblings.
Steven Cohen/Business Insider
The B5 can hit a peak brightness of around 700 nits. That's a respectable number, but it's under the 1,000 nit standard that a lot of HDR material is designed for. This means that some high-dynamic-range content may appear dimmer on the B5 than the filmmakers intended. Likewise, the TV's lower brightness means it's less effective at overcoming reflections in rooms with a lot of ambient light.
The TV's refresh rate maxes out at 120Hz, which is solid. That said, it's still lower than the 144Hz and 165Hz that the C5 and G5 can support, respectively. A 120Hz refresh rate is still high enough to unlock the smoothest gameplay modes on a PS5, Xbox, or Switch 2, but PC gaming enthusiasts may want to spend extra to get a TV with a higher refresh rate.
But even with those shortcomings, the B5 still offers better picture quality than any of LG's non-OLED TV models. Its contrast control and precise black levels result in better overall image performance than all of the brand's QNED, Mini LED, and standard LED displays. The B5 is available in 48-, 55-, 65-, 77-, and 83-inch sizes.
Check out our guide to all of the best budget TVs.
Best entry-level
LG's UA77 is one of the brand's entry-level LED TVs. This is a budget set for people who just want a simple smart TV for casual viewing and don't care about paying extra for better image quality.
Unlike the pricier LG OLED TVs in this guide, the UA77 uses a standard LED screen. It's also missing features like local dimming and quantum dots, which are found on some of the brand's pricier LED models. This ultimately results in some notable limitations in overall picture quality.
The UA77 can't control its backlight across different zones, so black levels will suffer when watching TV in a dark room, leading to a more washed-out and uneven look in shadowy scenes. Likewise, the TV is a lot dimmer than more expensive models, and its color gamut isn't as wide. This means the set isn't a great fit for rooms with lots of sunlight. Although it can technically process HDR10 (but not Dolby Vision) videos, it cannot produce bright or colorful enough images to properly showcase the benefits of HDR content.
That said, the TV still offers 4K resolution with sharp detail, and it can play typical live TV broadcasts and SDR streaming content without issue. It also has the same webOS smart TV platform as LG's step-up models. Buyers can choose between 43-, 50-, 55-, 65-, 75-, and 86-inch sizes.
While the UA77 is a suitable entry-level option for those who prefer the LG brand, it's worth noting that TVs from other brands can offer better image quality for a slightly higher price. For instance, the TCL QM6K is often available for about $100 to $150 more than the 65-inch UA77, but TCL's model features local dimming and quantum dots, which offer improved contrast and color performance.
For more affordable TV recommendations from other brands, check out our guide to the best TVs under $500.
What else we considered
David Murphy/Business Insider
Though the four models highlighted above are our top picks for the best LG TVs, the brand also offers several other worthwhile displays. Here's a rundown of a couple of other LG TVs we tested, along with details on why they didn't quite meet the criteria for this guide.
LG C4 OLED 4K TV - See at Amazon
The C4 is LG's older 2024 version of the C5. It offers very similar performance but is about 200 nits dimmer than its successor. We originally recommended the C4 over the C5 because it was once widely available at a lower price. However, remaining inventory for the C4 is low, and the C5's price has come down to match it at many stores. With that in mind, the C5 is now a better value overall.
Read our LG C4 review.
LG StanbyME 2 TV - See at Amazon
The StanbyME 2 is a unique portable 27-inch TV with an integrated battery and rollable stand. We reviewed the original first-gen model, but it has since been replaced by a second-gen version with a slightly higher-resolution screen, longer battery life, and quick detachability for use like a tablet. It's a cool fit for people who want a space-saving TV that's easy to move from room to room. However, it's expensive for such a small screen, and its use cases are limited to very specific kinds of buyers.
Read our LG StanbyME review.
How we test LG TVs
John Higgins/Business Insider
We selected the best LG TVs based on a combination of hands-on testing and research informed by extensive experience with various LG models. We've been reviewing home entertainment products for over a decade, and used that expertise to vet our recommendations and build our testing methodology.
Our review process focuses on key performance metrics, including brightness, color coverage, contrast, black levels, viewing angles, design, and overall value. We also test LG's webOS interface to gauge navigation speed and general smoothness of operation.
When recording a TV's brightness, we use a colorimeter with test patterns from the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark 4K Blu-ray disc. That said, test patterns can only reveal so much, so we place a heavy emphasis on watching real-world content on each LG TV we review to see how the displays perform with various types of videos in both bright and dimly lit rooms. We've curated a selection of scenes from movies and TV shows to assess HDR highlight quality, shadow detail, posterization, color fidelity, and fine details, using a mix of 4K, high-definition (HD), and standard-definition (SD) samples. We also use a PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch to test gaming performance.
For our guide to the best LG TVs, we paid careful attention to how each LG model performs relative to other TVs in the brand's lineup and to similar rivals from competing brands. This enables us to highlight key benefits and limitations across the company's entire collection.
For more information on our review methodology, check out our breakdown on how we test tech products.
Meet the expert behind this guide:
Steven Cohen, senior tech editor: I've spent more than a decade reviewing home entertainment gear, and my team and I get our hands on the latest TVs year-round. I also attend LG's annual reviewer workshops, so I get an early look at the company's newest video and audio tech before it hits stores. I studied film production, which basically means I'm a stickler for picture accuracy, wanting movies and shows to look the way their creators intended. Beyond lab testing with calibration tools and benchmark discs to measure brightness and color, I live with every LG TV I review. That means real-world streaming, movie nights, gaming marathons, and regular channel surfing. My goal is to cut through the jargon and help you find the best LG TV for your budget.
Learn more about the Reviews team at Business Insider.
LG TV FAQs
Steven Cohen/Business Insider
When will 2026 LG TVs be available?
LG announced new 2026 TVs at the CES tech tradeshow in January. The lineup includes new OLED, QNED, and Micro RGB models. LG is also introducing a Gallery TV to compete with Samsung's Frame TV. The brand's flagship C6 and G6 OLED TVs are now available to preorder, but exact release dates and pricing for the rest of the lineup are still pending. You can learn more in our roundup of 2026 LG OLED TVs and top CES 2026 TVs.
It's also important to remember that 2025 LG TVs will remain available until stock runs out, and historically, previous-gen TV models tend to stay the best value for much of the year since they get great discounts.
What smart TV interface does LG use?
LG TVs use the brand's proprietary webOS smart TV interface. Versions of webOS have been used on LG TVs since 2014. The latest iteration is webOS 25, with webOS 26 set to arrive with the brand's new 2026 TV models later this year.
Although older versions of webOS used a pop-up menu, newer versions have transitioned to a full-screen homepage design. This homepage is similar to a lot of other smart TV interfaces, with access to streaming apps and various rows of content recommendations.
In general, webOS is a solid smart TV system with support for all the best streaming services, though it's not quite as smooth or intuitive as Google TV or Roku OS. The platform's organization places a bit too much emphasis on sponsored content and shopping recommendations, but we do like that you can disable most of these ads via a toggle in the settings menu.
The best LG TVs with the latest version of webOS also support various AI features, including an AI Concierge search function and personalized picture and sound optimizations based on your viewing preferences. Although we generally recommend leaving these functions off to achieve the most accurate image and audio, they're worth experimenting with if you're unhappy with how the TV looks or sounds.
Amazon Alexa is also built in, and top webOS TVs come with LG's Magic Remote, which supports traditional button clicks for navigation as well as motion controls that let you move a virtual cursor on screen by pointing the remote at the display.
What TV sizes does LG offer?
LG offers a wide range of TV models in sizes from 27 to 98 inches. In 2026, the brand will debut a 115-inch model.
For TV recommendations specific to certain sizes, check out our size-specific buying guides:
- Best 100-inch TVs
- Best 85-inch TVs
- Best 75-inch TVs
- Best 65-inch TVs
- Best 55-inch TVs
- Best 50-inch TVs
- Best 43-inch TVs
Does LG make 8K TVs?
Though LG has sold 8K TVs in the past, it currently has none in its lineup. The only major brand with new 8K models is Samsung.
Are LG TVs better than Samsung TVs?
LG and Samsung are both reliable brands that make several excellent TV models. In most respects, it's hard to say that one is definitively better than the other. Instead, each has strengths and weaknesses across its lineup, depending on your viewing needs and which models you're considering.
LG was the first TV brand to bring 4K OLED displays to the mass market, and it offers a comprehensive collection of OLED models in many sizes. Meanwhile, Samsung entered the 4K OLED market much later and initially had a more limited lineup. This has started to change in the last two years, though, and now Samsung offers a similar selection of sizes and performance tiers. However, LG is still the only brand that sells a 97-inch OLED.
Both companies use WOLED panels in some of their models, while Samsung also uses QD-OLED screens in certain sizes. QD-OLED panels have an edge in color and brightness, but WOLED panels offer deeper black levels in rooms with ambient light. LG also utilizes a four-stack OLED panel in its high-end G-Series OLEDs, which surpasses the brightness of Samsung's QD-OLEDs.
Both companies also sell LCD-based TVs, with entry-level options that use standard LED panels and more advanced models with QLED screens, local dimming, and Mini LED backlights. LG brands its more advanced LCD TVs as QNED and NanoCell, while Samsung brands its high-end LCD TVs as Neo QLED. Though LG's newest QNED TVs have gotten a lot better than past models, generally speaking, Samsung's Neo QLEDs offer better backlight control. Check out our guide to the best Samsung TVs to see our top picks.
In 2026, both brands will also offer Micro RGB TVs that use red, green, and blue LEDs in their backlights to deliver better color capabilities. It remains to be seen whether one company has an edge over the other in Micro RGB performance.
LG and Samsung both use their own proprietary smart TV interfaces, and they both support Xbox Game Pass streaming and similar AI functions. That said, LG's remotes stand out for their motion controls, and Samsung's remotes stand out for their SolarCell technology that works without a battery.
Another important distinction between the two brands is that LG supports Dolby Vision HDR on its mid- and high-end TVs, while Samsung supports the competing HDR10+ format. These formats offer similar performance, but Dolby Vision content is more widely available across streaming services and 4K Blu-ray discs.
Should you worry about burn-in on an LG TV?
LG TVs branded as LED, NanoCell, and QNED are not susceptible to burn-in. However, LG's OLED TVs are technically capable of burn-in in extreme situations. That said, burn-in is rare under typical viewing conditions.
Burn-in is an issue that can occur if you leave a static image on an OLED TV for an extended period, such as the CNN or ESPN logo in the corner of the screen. When burn-in occurs, a faint afterimage remains on the display.
Although shoppers should be aware of this risk, LG OLED TVs feature design elements that help prevent burn-in, including pixel refreshers, logo dimmers, and automatic pixel shift modes. Websites like Rtings have conducted long-term burn-in tests with OLEDs, including LG models. Although their results show that burn-in can occur, it requires specific circumstances that don't apply to average use cases.
I owned an LG OLED for more than three years and never saw any signs of burn-in on my display, even after long gaming sessions and watching football all day. As long as you don't plan on keeping the same cable news channel on nonstop, you shouldn't worry about burn-in when deciding whether to buy an LG OLED TV.
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Reviewed by mimisabreena
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Friday, March 20, 2026
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