Pros: Excellent price for 65-inch model, QD-OLED panel with infinite contrast and bright colors
Cons: Smart TV navigation can lag a bit, doesn't support Dolby Vision, harder to find in stock
Samsung's 2022 S95B remains the best 65-inch TV you can buy. For a street price of around $1,600, there simply isn't a better TV out there with this level of performance at this size. But you'll have to act fast to snag this model since Samsung is phasing it out to make room for newer, more expensive 2023 OLEDs.
Unlike OLED TVs from LG, the S95B uses quantum dots to enable brighter colors. Coupled with the TV's infinite contrast ratio, the S95B's quantum dot filter leads to gorgeous high dynamic range (HDR) images and an impressive peak brightness of around 1,030 nits. You'd have to pay around $1,000 more to get a 65-inch OLED that delivers better picture performance than this.
And though it's disappointing that Samsung still doesn't support Dolby Vision, which can provide a more finely-tuned HDR image, the S95B's standard HDR10 capabilities are so strong that we don't think most people will notice a difference. The TV also upscales lower resolution content well, though it can't quite match the picture processing you'd get on a high-end Sony display.
Whether you're watching 4K movies in a dark room or just flipping through cable channels in a bright living room, the S95B looks fantastic. The smart TV interface is solid as well, though it's not as snappy as we'd like. On the plus side, Samsung's operating system is the only smart TV platform that currently supports Xbox Game Pass, so you can stream high-end games without a console.
Really, the S95B's only big downside is its dwindling availability. Since this is a 2022 model, it's getting harder to find in stock. Samsung has a new 2023 TV with very similar capabilities, called the S90C, but it's usually more expensive. However, if you can't find the S95B, we recommend the S90C as our next top pick.
Read our Samsung S95B OLED 4K TV review.
Pros: Sony's image processing delivers unrivaled picture accuracy
Cons: Pricier than similar OLEDs, new 2023 model is launching soon
Sony's A95K OLED is built for home theater enthusiasts. It's expensive, but the TV matches or exceeds the Samsung S95B's picture performance in nearly every way. It's the ideal choice for shoppers who are willing to pay a premium to get the best movie-watching experience in a dark room.
What sets the A95K apart from other high-end TVs is Sony's proprietary picture processing powered by the company's "Cognitive Processor XR." Though that sounds like marketing jargon, this advanced processor does actually make a difference when it comes to optimizing the TV's images. The improvements can be subtle outside of side-by-side comparisons, but the A95K has an edge over virtually every other display on the market. Its HDR tone mapping is also more accurate than Samsung's, and it supports Dolby Vision so you'll get superior high dynamic range performance.
The display complements its high-end picture with a premium design that features a unique stand that can either be attached to the front or back of the TV so you can choose to hide it from sight. On the downside, the stand's low profile means you can't put a soundbar in front without blocking the display.
The A95K's smart TV performance is strong as well. Powered by Google TV, the display integrates seamlessly with an existing Google account and offers reliable streaming access to tons of apps. The A95K also comes with a webcam that can be used for video calls and gesture controls, which is a cool extra perk.
Buyers considering the A95K should keep in mind that a new 2023 version of this TV, called the A95L, is set to hit stores in mid-October. The new model boasts similar specs but Sony says it can deliver a 200% jump in peak brightness. That's a substantial upgrade. The 65-inch A95L costs $3,500, while the A95K goes for around $2,800. We'll need to get hands-on with the A95L before offering a full judgment, but if your budget allows, you might want to wait for the new model.
Read our Sony A95K OLED 4K TV impressions.
Pros: Local dimming and quantum dots for great price, solid brightness
Cons: Blooming around bright objects, picture degrades from an angle
You can find plenty of 65-inch TVs in the $700 price range, but few deliver all the picture quality perks that you get with Hisense's U7H. The QLED display uses quantum dots for wide color and local dimming to enable better contrast control than a lot of other displays in this price range.
With peak brightness at around 1,000 nits, the U7H gets plenty bright and delivers great HDR performance. It supports all of the major formats, including both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. Contrast is also solid thanks to the TV's local dimming feature which enables it to adjust brightness across specific zones.
Black levels aren't as good as they are on an OLED TV, however, and there's a bit more blooming around bright objects than you'll see on pricier QLED models. But considering its low price, it's hard to find too much fault with the U7H's picture performance. It even manages to pack in a 120Hz panel with high-frame rate gaming and variable refresh rate capabilities.
However, the U7H has mediocre viewing angles. Contrast and colors distort when viewed from the side, so the U7H isn't the best 65-inch TV for viewers who plan to sit off-center from their display. We recommend going with an OLED TV or one of Samsung's high-end QLEDs, like the QN90B, to get better off-axis quality.
The U7H is a 2022 TV model but it remains an excellent buy at a street price of around $640-$700. Hisense just released a new 2023 model, called the U7K, which uses a Mini LED backlight that could provide even better contrast. The new TV carries a retail price of $1,050 but it's sometimes on sale for under $800. If you can find the U7K for around the same price as the U7H, we recommend snagging the newer model.
Pros: Incredible value for the money, one of few TVs in this price range with local dimming and quantum dots
Cons: 60Hz panel, viewing angles aren't great, dimmer screen than more expensive TVs
Hisense's U6H is proof that you can still snag a great 65-inch TV on a budget. Though there are some performance tradeoffs compared to our more expensive picks, the U6H delivers incredible value at this size.
Like the U7H, this more budget-friendly option also uses a QLED display with local dimming and quantum dots. It has fewer dimming zones, however, so contrast control isn't as precise. This means you're more likely to see blooming, and black levels won't be as consistently deep. The U6H also has limited brightness compared to high-end QLEDs, so it's not as good for rooms that let in a lot of light.
But at a peak of around 600 nits, the TV can still deliver highlights with just enough pop to start showing off the benefits of high dynamic range content. And thanks to its quantum dot filter, it delivers an expanded range of colors when watching HDR programs. You'll just want to be watching those programs from a centered view since, much like the U7H, colors and contrast fade when seated off to the side. However, this level of off-axis performance is the norm for TVs in this price range.
It's becoming increasingly hard to find 65-inch TVs with the U6H's level of performance and budget-friendly price. Similarly priced competitors typically cut local dimming to save on costs, which leads to a big drop in contrast and black level performance. For a current sale price of under $500, there simply isn't another 65-inch TV that balances price and performance quite like the U6H. But if you're willing to spend a bit more, you should also consider Hisense's newer U6K. The 2023 version has similar specs but now uses a Mini LED backlight which should deliver even better contrast.
Pros: Peak brightness of around 2,000 nits, minimizes glare and reflections well
Cons: Minor blooming and vignetting visible, some lights can cause scattered rainbow effect on screen
The QN90B is one of the brightest 65-inch TVs you can buy. Other top displays in this guide top out at around 1,000-1,350 nits of brightness, but the QN90B beats them all with a whopping peak of 2,000 nits. This incredible brightness gives the TV some key benefits over dimmer displays.
For one, high brightness is handy for combating ambient light so you can watch TV during the day in rooms with lots of windows. And at night, that incredible brightness delivers fantastic HDR performance with highlights that really pop in a dark room. This makes the QN90B a great choice for both average living rooms and dedicated home theater spaces.
But while the QN90B's contrast performance is top-notch for a QLED, it's still not on par with the pixel-level dimming of an OLED. You'll see some mild blooming and vignetting in dark scenes that can cause halos around bright objects or crushed shadows. But these flaws aren't as pronounced as they are on cheaper QLEDs, like the Hisense U7H and U6H.
Off-axis viewing is also much better on the QN90B thanks to an "Ultra Viewing Angle" layer that Samsung applies to the panel. On the downside, this layer and the TV's anti-glare coating can cause a streaking rainbow trail to appear when certain types of light hit the screen from some angles. So while the QN90B is fantastic at reducing typical glare, the tradeoff is an occasional rainbow reflection.
Samsung's new QN90C model for 2023 uses a different type of screen, so it's not prone to this rainbow issue. It typically retails for more than $2,000, however, while the QN90B is often available for $1,600. In general, we still think the QN90B is the better value, but the QN90C is a good buy if you're willing to spend extra to avoid any side effects from the QN90B's screen filters.
Pros: Matte screen mimics look of canvas, comes with mount to attach flush to wall, magnetic bezels can be swapped for different styles
Cons: Lacks local dimming, peak brightness limited compared to Samsung's top QLED models
The Samsung Frame TV is perfect for buyers who want a 65-inch display that can blend seamlessly into their living room decor. Built with an emphasis on design, the TV features interchangeable bezels and a matte screen that can make it look like a piece of art hanging on your wall.
The bezels come in different styles that magnetically attach to the display. The Frame also comes with a Slim-Fit Wall Mount that lets you hang it flush against your wall. And unlike most TVs, the Frame uses a separate One Connect Box to house all of its ports so you just need one cable running from the display. If you need to connect a cable receiver, streaming device, or gaming console you simply hook those up to the TV's external box, which gets rid of all those unsightly wires on your wall.
The screen itself features a matte finish rather than the glossy look of most modern TVs. This helps to reduce reflections and gives the Frame a canvas-like appearance. The Frame also has an "Art Mode" which lets it display paintings, photos, or other images when not in use as a TV. Built-in motion sensors can be activated so the Art Mode turns on when the TV senses that someone is in the room. You can use your own images or have the Frame cycle through art from Samsung's Art Store (subscription required).
But while the Frame's design is high-end, its picture quality is a mixed bag. The QLED panel offers wide color support but brightness is limited compared to Samsung's top QLEDs. It also lacks local dimming, which results in the worst contrast and black level performance of any 65-inch TV in this guide.
The Frame isn't geared toward wowing you with high dynamic range imagery. Instead, it's meant to appeal toward buyers who want a 65-inch display that can serve as both a design piece for their living room and a TV for casual viewing. And in that sense, it excels.
Pros: No-gap wall mount included, infinite contrast ratio, wide viewing angles, bright for an OLED
Cons: Doesn't include a stand, 2023 model gets even brighter (for more money)
Those who want a design-focused 65-inch TV that also manages to deliver top-notch home theater performance should look no further than the LG G2.
Like the Samsung Frame, it has a uniformly thin profile and comes with a flush wall mount so you can hang it on your wall with virtually no gap. But unlike the Frame, the G2 uses an OLED panel for superior picture quality with much better contrast, black levels, and viewing angles. You do miss out on the Frame's matte screen, separate connection box, and interchangeable bezels, but the jump in image performance is substantial.
And despite not using quantum dots like high-end OLEDs from Sony and Samsung, the G2 can get just as bright as the S95B and A95K. Color volume isn't as wide, but brightness caps out at a around 1,000 nits.
But while the G2 looks wonderful on a wall, it's not a top pick if you plan to put it on an entertainment console. It doesn't even come with a stand, so you'd have to buy one separately which adds to the cost. At a current street price of around $2,000, the G2 is still a solid value for what you get, but you're better off going with the less expensive S95B if you want a 65-inch OLED that comes with a stand.
Buyers should also keep in mind that LG has a new 2023 version of this TV, called the G3. It has a similar design and feature set, but can deliver an impressive 40% jump in brightness. That makes the G3 one of the brightest OLEDs you can buy. However, the 65-inch G3 costs around $600 more than the G2, so we still think the G2 is the better overall buy for most people.
Read our LG G2 OLED 4K TV review.
To pick the best 65-inch TVs for our guide we used a combination of hands-on testing and research bolstered by a decade worth of expertise covering the home entertainment product industry. When we test displays we evaluate them for general picture clarity, contrast performance, HDR peak brightness, color, off-axis viewing, smart TV interface, and value for the money.
Brightness is measured using an X-Rite iDisplay Plus colorimeter. Other objective display capabilities are evaluated using test patterns found on the Spears & UHD HDR Benchmark 4K Blu-ray disc.
To get a sense of real-world performance, we also watch scenes from movies and TV shows with clips specifically selected to emphasize a display's black levels, highlights, color capabilities, and upscaling. Our demo material includes a mix of 4K, 1080p high definition (HD), and standard definition (SD) content from streaming devices, cable TV, and Blu-ray discs.
The best 65-inch TVs will also have excelllent smart TV features, so we test overall navigation speed and app stability, as well as voice search, digital assistant integration, and extra perks like game streaming support.
Is it worth buying a 65-inch TV?
If you have the space for it, we think 65 inches is the ideal size to consider when shopping for a new TV, especially a 4K model. Many brands use 65 inches as their flagship size to show off their top displays, and this size is great for delivering big-screen immersion without taking up too much room.
How much should you spend on a 65-inch TV?
Exactly how much you should spend on a 65-inch TV depends on what your viewing needs are. The best 65-inch TVs range in price from around $500 to more than $3,000. You can also find cheaper entry-level 65-inch TVs for under $400, but we generally recommend paying a bit more to get one of the options we highlight above.
Buyers shopping for a midrange 65-inch TV should expect to spend $500-$1,000. You can find 65-inch QLED TVs in this price range that still offer advanced picture quality features, like local dimming, and good brightness performance that can reach 600-1,000 nits.
Buyers who want an upper-midrange or high-end 65-inch TV should be looking to spend $1,000-$3,000. You can find advanced 65-inch QLED TVs that deliver up to 2,000 nits of brightness in the $1,000-$2,000 range, while top 65-inch OLED TVs with infinite contrast ratios tend to sell for $2,000-$3,000.
How far should you sit from a 65-inch 4K TV?
The benefits of a 4K screen become most noticeable when you sit at a distance of around one to 1.5 times the size of your TV. At that distance, you'll be able to see the extra detail that 4K resolution offers compared to a 1080p high-definition screen. For a 65-inch 4K TV, the ideal viewing distance should be between 5.4 and 8.1 feet from your TV.
You can of course sit further away and still enjoy a 65-inch 4K TV, but that range will yield the best level of visible detail. Otherwise, you'll want a bigger screen to get the full benefits of 4K.
Should you purchase a 65-inch 8K TV?
Though some brands do sell 65-inch 8K TVs, we don't recommend buying one in this screen size. 65 inches just isn't big enough to really show off the benefits of an 8K resolution screen when viewing it at a reasonable distance.
A 75-inch or larger 8K TV is much better suited for highlighting the additional detail you get with 8K resolution, but even then the benefits are subtle. In general, we recommend saving money and going with a 4K model if you want a 65-inch TV.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@insider.com.