The Best Smart TVs for Streaming in 2023 (2023)

Many new smart TVs have a voice-enabled remote with an integrated virtual assistant or a smart speaker like the Amazon Echo or Google Nest for expanded voice controls.

Brands like Samsung, LG, and Sony have taken the next step in home entertainment and have released TVs capable of 8K resolution; however, these models are costly, and limited 8K content is available.

Or Maybe These?

• I want a curved screen. The Samsung TU-8300's curved QLED screen works with HDR technology and an updated processor for crystal clear native 4K resolution andupscalingnon-4K content.
• What about 8K? Sony's 65-inch QN900A 8K TV gives you four times the resolution of 4K and 16 times that of 1080p HD.
• I have money to burn. The 11K Hisense 100L10E laser TV is the only choice for you. It uses cutting-edge laser projection technology to give you over one billion colors, excellent 4K resolution, HDR support, and ultra-smooth on-screen action.

What to Look For in a Smart TV

The best smart TVs are rapidly becoming the new gold standard for home entertainment. They let you download your favorite streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify to the TV to have thousands of shows, movies, and songs at your fingertips. A lot of smart televisions now have hands-free voice control capabilities as well. They use voice-enabled remotes, dedicated apps, or a connection to a third-party smart speaker to give you expanded controls over your TV and make it easier to find new things to watch or listen to. There are a few different options for voice controls; most TVs support Alexa and Google Home with voice-enabled remotes or smart speakers, while others, like Samsung, have proprietary voice assistants or use Siri via iOS devices.

Screen mirroring is another intelligent feature that more and more televisions are beginning to offer. This option lets you wirelessly connect your smartphone, tablet, or computer to your television and share what's on the screen to view photos or watch short home videos. Some newer Samsung televisions let you screen mirror your devices while simultaneously watching a movie or show, perfect for watching videos from friends and family or catching up with news updates. With so many smart features available, knowing what you may need for your home can be difficult.

Brands

The place to start when deciding on the best smart TV to buy is the brand. There are dozens of television manufacturers, each with different size classes, price points, and smart features available. If you're working with a budget, brands like TCL and Hisense are great brands with affordable options. They still offer quality streaming platforms like Roku or the Android TV operating system to give you access to thousands of apps and limited voice controls and connectivity options. Mid-range options are available from more prominent brands like Sony, Samsung, and Vizio. These models may have a higher price point but offer many more smart features.

Besides streaming and voice controls, you'll also get local dimming zones on the screen for enhanced scene-by-scene analysis of your favorite shows and movies for superior contrast, color volume, and detailing. Some may also use Dolby Atmos audio technology to produce virtual surround sound for a more immersive cinematic experience. High-end models from Sony, Samsung, and LG give you everything you could ever want in a smart TV. They offer larger screen sizes with more advanced picture technologies like QLED or OLED panels, AI-assisted rendering and upscaling, native voice controls, and ambient sound and light sensors that automatically change picture and sound settings to fit your environment. Knowing which brands offer what features in their televisions makes it easier to set a budget and narrow your options.

Smart Features

Now that you've decided which brand you'd like, it's time to focus on exactly which smart features you'd like to have. Streaming capabilities are necessary for customers looking to cut the cord with their cable and satellite providers. Fortunately, all modern smart TVs feature preloaded apps like Prime Video, Hulu, and YouTube or have advanced operating systems allowing you to download your favorites. If you want to start a smart home network or already have devices like an Amazon Echo or Google Home, you may want a TV that allows for hands-free voice controls. This lets you turn your TV on and off, choose apps, or change settings without fumbling with a confusing remote control. If you're always online, screen mirroring is an important feature that lets you cast your smartphone, tablet, or computer screen to your television for better viewing or simultaneous watching with your favorite movies and shows.

For customers looking to create a custom home theater, the best smart TVs feature ambient noise and light sensors that constantly monitor your environment and automatically adjust picture and sound settings to suit the room. They also feature Bluetooth connectivity for wireless audio equipment setup and custom home theater configurations. For die-hard console gamers, a TV with AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G Sync technology is necessary. These technologies automatically detect when you start playing a game, reducing input lag and motion blur while boosting color volume and contrast for buttery smooth action, beautiful visuals, and near real-time reactions to your controller inputs.

User Interface

Smart features are lovely, but the user interface can make or break a home entertainment experience. Family movie nights or watch parties with friends can be instantly ruined by navigating confusing menus and clunky interfaces to access Netflix or Hulu. Roku-based televisions have a streamlined hub menu that puts all your divides, apps, and inputs in one convenient location. Each input is clearly labeled with what is connected so you can quickly and easily access your game console, Blu-Ray player, or cable box without remembering input names.

Televisions that use Android TV also have a clean, simple interface with clearly marked menu icons for browsing apps, accessing voice controls, or looking at recommended content. LG televisions use the webOS operating system and have an ultra-clean-looking interface. Apps are displayed in easy-to-recognize tiles for quick and easy access. Luckily, TV manufacturers have realized that an easy-to-use interface is essential as more people stream their movies and shows. Older TVs' clunky, confusing interfaces are gone, leading to more enjoyable home entertainment.