If you want the most immersive movie-watching experience possible, then a properly set up big-screen 65-inch TV is a great purchase.
Though they’re not the biggest available, with some TVs these days easily breaking the 85-inch barrier, based on our experience 65 inches is a comfortable middle ground.
The size means the TVs can comfortably fit into most medium-to-large-sized lounges without completely dominating the space, while also delivering a wonderfully immersive big-screen viewing experience.
But, be warned, not every 65-inch TV is worth your time, money, or space. These days there are a number of 65-inch sets covering multiple price points on the market and based on our time reviewing them, some are outright terrible.
Regular issues we experience range from poor picture quality, especially if you invest in a cheaper set, to sluggish performance that makes even basic tasks, like navigating the set’s menu a colossal pain to outright terrible audio.
Here to help you avoid these sets, we’ve created this buyers’ guide detailing the top 65-inch TVs we’ve tested that are still on the market. Every set here has been tried and tested by our team of TV experts to ensure it’s worth your hard-earned cash.
How to choose the best 65-inch TV for you
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Size matters with TVs, and going large on a 65-inch screen can often be worth surrendering a little bit of image quality and next-gen display tech for those few precious extra inches of prime picture real estate. But once you've committed to a screen size, what else should you consider when weighing up features and price?
The type of display you choose will have a huge bearing on your TV's picture performance. Without a doubt, OLED has become the premium TV technology of choice, thanks to its perfect blacks, extraordinary contrast and exceptional viewing angles. QLED, which combines LED (or Mini LED) backlighting with ultra-vibrant Quantum Dots, is a strong alternative, though, largely thanks to being capable of greater brightness and punchier colours. Meanwhile, standard LCD TVs (often, confusingly, sold as 'LED' TVs on account of their LED backlights) are more variable in overall quality but, if you shop carefully, can offer excellent bang for your buck.
But visuals aren't everything, and it's important to decide if want to combine your new TV with a dedicated sound system. We'd always recommend doing so as most TVs sound passable at best, even at the high-end. But if you're determined to keep things neat and rely on the in-built speakers, check our reviews to make sure that they're good – there's no point in a great picture if the accompanying sound is rubbish.
If you're a gamer, you'll want to consider the next-gen connectivity features of your prospective new TV. Xbox Series X and PS5 owners can gain a competitive advantage on certain games if their TV supports 4K 120Hz , while VRR support can result in a smoother gameplay experience. ALLM , meanwhile, simply ensures that you automatically get the best visual experience from both games and movies / TV shows. If you're a more casual gamer or not a gamer at all, you can pretty much disregard these features, and doing so will likely save you a lot of cash.
While not a change that all buyers appreciated, LG decided in 2021 that its premium G-series OLED TVs needed more than just a fancier design to make them a compelling step-up alternative to the brand’s all-conquering C series.
So 2021’s G1 benefited from a new, higher brightness ‘Evo’ panel that the C1 did not get – and instantly did a much better job of justifying its higher price.
LG continued this approach in 2022: while the new C2 does now have an Evo panel, the G2 boasts a new heat sink element that allows it to be driven even harder – or brighter, in other words – than its predecessor.
In short, if you want LG’s best 4K OLED TV in 2022, this is it.
The OLED65G2 is easily LG’s best OLED TV yet. Its sound is a solid improvement over LG’s 2021 built-in audio, while the extra brightness it achieves thanks to its new heat sink and accompanying new processor delivers nothing but positives, enriching everything from basic HD SDR to sparkling 4K HDR and the finest graphical wares of the latest gaming consoles and PCs. All without anything looking forced or like ‘brightness for brightness sake’.
The extent of the improvements over the new C2 panel is more gentle than dramatic, perhaps raising questions for many about whether the OLED65G2 is worth £600 more than the OLED65C2. The cost issue is even more worthy of thought if you’re not wall-mounting and will therefore need to budget for the optional stand.
While not truly extreme, though, the OLED65G2’s advantages are not only easy for anyone to see, but crucially lift pretty much every image frame to a higher level. So if you’re an enthusiast who just can’t rest unless you know you’re getting the best home cinema experience available, the OLED65G2 is going to be seriously hard to resist.
Read the full LG OLED65G2 review
While there are certainly reasons that you might want to opt for a rival, LG's OLEDs have been the go-to premium TV of choice for most people for years now. That means there is huge anticipation for each year's new models – particularly those in the C-series, which have typically been the sweet spot between performance, features and price.
That said, last year saw a picture quality gap emerge between the C-series and the brighter G-series. There is a gap this year, too; this year’s C2 has the ‘Brightness Booster’ technology of last year’s G1, while the new G2 takes things to ‘Brightness Booster Max’ levels.
Having put both the G2 and C2 through their paces, we are happy to proclaim that while the G2 certainly justifies its position at the top of LG’s 2022 OLED range, the C2 is still the model that most people should buy.
While not as bright as the G2, the new C2 is brighter than all of last year's LG OLEDs. There is noticeably more punch to the whole image, which pops much more effectively, and there is significantly greater contrast and dark detail. Crucially, there’s no down side, either. There is nothing artificial to the image – it’s lifted, but naturally, with no detriment to the colours or black depth.
The C2’s punchier, more attacking delivery is a definite improvement over the C1, too, although there is also a slight rattle from the speaker cabinet when the set is challenged by very deep bass, which is a bit of a shame.
As is now expected of LG's premium OLEDs, the feature set is practically flawless, particularly where next-gen gaming is concerned.
Those with seriously discerning tastes and the budget with which to satisfy them will find it worth levelling up to the G2 or Sony’s A95K, but the C2 is the current performance-per-pound champ of 2022.
Read the full LG OLED65C2 review
The Samsung S95B is one of the world’s first Quantum Dot OLED TVs (along with the excellent Sony A95K). So if you like the idea of immersing yourself in a brand new TV technology, the Samsung QN65S95B is well worth considering.
While not always the most subtle performer, the S95B QD-OLED delivers thrills aplenty. It's incredibly thin over the vast majority of its rear – just a couple of millimetres deep. It's also displays a wide selection of digital artworks on the screen when not watching TV.
But, why would you not be watching TV when the S95B serves up such phenomenal contrast, delivering the sort of immaculate, ultra deep blacks long associated with the best of the OLED world. Better yet, it offers a level of brightness that we haven’t seen before on any regular OLED TV.
Connectivity is superb, audio quality is pleasant enough, and Samsung has included no less than three built-in voice assistants (Bixby, Google Assistant and Alexa). The new Tizen interface feels a tad cumbersome compared to previous versions, but it's still extremely good.
All in all, the S95B is a brilliant argument for QD-OLED TV technology. If it's within budget, there's very little to disappoint the early adopter.
Read our full Samsung QN65S95B review
The Philips 65OLED806 is an absolutely superb TV that performs even better than its Award-winning predecessor while throwing in the next-gen HDMI features that would have previously put off some customers.
Of the four HDMI ports on the 65OLED806, two are full-fat HDMI 2.1 48Gbps sockets that support 4K@120Hz , VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) in all of its current forms (G-Sync certification is in progress), and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), making this a very well-specified gaming TV. The very low input lag of around 14ms certainly helps matters, too, as does the HGiG mode, which broadly results in more accurate tone mapping of HDR games.
On the HDR front, the OLED806 has pretty much the full house, with HDR10, HLG , HDR10+ and Dolby Vision all supported. HDR10+ Adaptive is on board, too, allowing the TV to adjust HDR10+ content to ambient lighting conditions automatically. While Dolby Vision IQ isn’t officially supported, Philips says the combination of standard Dolby Vision and its AI-powered light sensor effectively does the same thing.
It’s very well appointed for apps, too. Netflix , Amazon Prime Video , Apple TV and Disney+ are all present in their complete 4K, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos glory (Amazon features HDR10+ content as well); Google Play Movies & TV (soon to be simply ‘Google TV’) has 4K Dolby Vision content, too, while Rakuten is in 4K HDR10; you get BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4 and My5 courtesy of the Freeview Play platform; the integrated BT Sport app will be useful for many; Plex and VLC can handle playback of your own media files; and Spotify , Tidal , Amazon Music and BBC Sounds are all on board. The only real absence of note is Now , and that won’t be a deal-breaker for many.
To get the best out of the exceptionally sharp and punchy display on the Philips 65OLED806, you’ll need to tweak its default settings, but the effort is more than worth it. There’s not a better TV available at its price.
Read the full review: Philips 65OLED806
If your budget can stretch to a 65-inch TV, but perhaps not a 65-inch OLED or flagship QLED then the Sony XR-65X90J (or near-identical XR-65X94J in the UK) could be just what you’re looking for thanks to its heady mix of fancy features, perfectly-pitched picture performance and a mid-range price tag.
Those features include two HDMI 2.1 sockets that support 4K@120Hz (but not VRR... yet) and the new Google TV operating system. The picture is brilliantly natural, authentic and balanced, and the sound is clear and direct too.
There's plenty of content options thanks to the Google TV OS. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and Apple TV are here in all of their 4K, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos glory; Plex and VLC make for easy playback of your stored content; and Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music and Deezer give you plenty of options for music streaming. However, users in the UK should take note that native apps for Now , BT Sport and My5, but BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub and All 4 are all missing.
While this mid-range, direct-backlit LCD TV can’t match its OLED stablemates for black depth, but the backlight is consistent, with none of the clouding or blotchiness that’s common of big TVs in this price range. The set may not go perfectly black, but it goes very bright and the colours are excellent with a cinematically warm and rich delivery as well as a subtlety of shading that’s extremely rare at this end of the market.
Read the full review: Sony XR-65X90J
While Sony’s OLEDs are highly regarded, it’s typically hard to justify buying one over a rival LG. Historically, the Sony has a more authentic picture and better sound but is also a step behind on features and usability – and at least a level or two more expensive.
But what if Sony could produce a TV with most of those previously missing features, a more satisfying user experience, and a unique high-quality movie streaming app, all while raising the picture and sound quality to even greater heights? That's exactly what the company's done with the A90J.
In performance terms, the Sony A90J is an absolute stunner. It takes OLED picture performance to new, thrilling levels while maintaining the authenticity for which Sony is justifiably renowned. It also sounds significantly better than all of the other TVs you might be considering. The new Google TV operating system means the user experience is better than that of any pre-2021 Sony TV, too, and the exclusive Bravia Core streaming service is a genuine value-added feature.
UK catch-up apps are currently missing but we don't expect that to remain the case for very long. Hardcore gamers might want to take a wait-and-see approach, though, as the set doesn't yet support VRR (an update has been promised but not dated) and we found the 4K@120Hz support a little buggy.
However, if movies and TV shows are your priority and you have a big budget, we haven’t tested a better television than the Sony A90J. It’s pricey, but it’s also a clear cut above the competition.
Read the full Sony XR-65A90J review
LG’s C-series model has been the go-to pick of its OLED range for several years. It has always been the most affordable model with the company’s best panel and picture processing wizardry. Spending more would get you a fancier design and potentially better sound, but the picture would be no different.
That’s not the case in 2021. LG has introduced a new, brighter and sharper ‘OLED Evo’ panel, and the C1 doesn’t have it.
With so much of the focus on the upgraded G1, it’s perhaps predictable that the C1 isn’t much of an improvement on its predecessor, but there wasn’t much that needed improving. The picture performance and feature set were already exemplary, and LG has slightly improved the former with its new Cinematic Movement motion processing and enhanced de-contouring feature (which reduces banding), and slightly improved the latter with a better menu system and a more complete app selection (all UK catch-up apps are present).
The G1's picture is undeniably better in terms of brightness, sharpness and detail, but we're not talking huge margins and most people will struggle to justify the extra £500 ($500), particularly when the niche design and weaker sound are taken into account.
Ultimately, in performance-per-pound terms, the C1 is the better buy. In fact, it's one of the most recommendable TVs available right now.
Read the full LG OLED65C1 review
The Philips 65OLED986 takes last year’s Award-winning OLED806 and adds an extra picture processor, a brighter OLED panel, and a B&W speaker system consisting of Continuum-cone drivers and a Nautilus-tube tweeter. This is a real statement piece with a price tag to match, but if you want and can afford the best, this is (currently) it.
The obvious difference between the OLED986 and the average TV is that it’s floor-standing, with a height measurement of 134cm. The portion of the stand below the speaker bar can be removed so that the rest can be wall-mounted, but the screen and speaker system are symbiotic – neither will work without the other.
The OLED986 boasts, alongside two standard HDMIs, two 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 connections that support a host of features, including eARC, ALLM (auto low-latency mode) and VRR (variable refresh rates, in all current formats). The OLED986 can handle 4K at 120Hz signals, though the resolution is halved, and there’s wide-ranging HDR support with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision alongside the more common HDR10 and HLG. While Dolby Vision IQ isn’t officially included in that list, HDR10+ Adaptive is, and the AI-powered light sensor can adapt any signals to the ambient light in the room. There’s a Dolby Vision Game mode, too, which Xbox Series X users will appreciate, plus an HGiG setting that makes it easier to get an accurate HDR performance from many next-gen games.
It’s common for us to complain about the out-of-the-box picture settings of Philips TVs and, while things are improving, this TV still requires a lot of tweaking to get it to perform at its best. But if you take your time with the menu, you’ll be rewarded with superb contrast and exceptional sharpness, making for a hugely impactful image, with colours that are both subtle and superbly vibrant as required.
Sonically this is the most musical TV we’ve heard since its predecessor, with authenticity and naturalism that are just as impressive when dealing with movie soundtracks. With Dolby Atmos decoding, it spreads sounds out to the sides and towards the ceiling, and while not the most immersive, it projects detail and dynamic flexibility that no other TV and very few soundbars can match.
Read the full Philips 65OLED986 review
Last year was very much the year of Mini LED. The technology, which sees the traditional LEDs of a TV backlight miniaturised to increase contrast, was a feature of the 2021 line-ups of most major TV brands, including LG and Philips.
Mini LED TVs sit below their OLED models for those brands, but for Samsung, Mini LED is its flagship technology (assuming you discount its eye-wateringly expensive new Micro LED sets).
The company has developed its own Mini LEDs, which it says are even smaller and more efficient than those of its rivals, and combined them with its existing Quantum Dot tech to create a range of premium TVs that it calls Neo QLEDs. The QE65QN95A is the first Neo QLED we've tested and Samsung's flagship 4K set for 2021.
In real-world performance terms, Mini LED might not quite be the revolution that Samsung is pitching it as, but it is still a substantial upgrade to an already excellent range of TVs. The overall contrast offered is staggering, and the QN95A combines near-OLED black levels with awesomely crisp white highlights and fabulously vibrant colours, all while retaining an effortless sense of naturalism.
Throw in the best, most app-packed operating system in the business, a delightfully slim design and a full set of next-gen HDMI sockets, and this is (a lack of Dolby Vision support aside) as complete a package as can be imagined.
It’s early days for 2021 TVs, but Samsung has thrown down the gauntlet in emphatic style, and it will be fascinating to see how its rivals respond.
Read the full Samsung QE65QN95A review
For the last few years, the C-class model has been the sensible choice of each new LG OLED range. Until now, it has been the most affordable model with the latest panel and picture processing tech: go further up the range and you might get better sound and a fancier design, but you won’t get a better visual performance.
For 2021, though, LG has introduced a new ‘OLED Evo’ panel that promises increased brightness and sharpness, and to get the Evo panel you have to step up to the G1. That’s slightly disappointing because you also end up paying extra for a rather niche design (the G1 is designed to be wall-mounted, to the extent that there's no stand or feet in the box) that you may not want.
Still, if the design works for you and you don't mind forking out the extra £500, the G1 is undoubtedly the best OLED that LG has ever produced. It takes the picture performance of last year’s GX and CX and improves upon it in almost every way, particularly in terms of brightness, sharpness and detail. That makes it a seriously stunning picture performer. It's also packed with apps and next-gen HDMI features, including 4K@120Hz on all four sockets.
Sound is less strong, but if you were always planning to combine your new TV with a separate sound system and the design works for you (and you've got deep pockets), the G1 should be seriously considered.
Read the full LG OLED65G1 review
Samsung’s first flush of Neo QLED TVs has been nothing short of revolutionary to date. The extra-fine level of lighting control that mini LED brings has put LCD’s high peak brightness to sophisticated use. It’s the added care with contrast that’s led to a more nuanced on-screen image, with a more solid, three-dimensional depth than ever before.
If N94A seems a bit of an odd model number, that’s because it indicates that there’s only a small difference between it and Samsung’s flagship 4K TV for 2021, the QN95A (above). The QN94A TV is identical apart from missing out on the One Connect box – a discrete box that houses all of the QQN95A’sconnections, including power.
The difference in price between the QN94A and QN95A isn’t huge, but if you’re not interested in the One Connect box and are content with just one HDMI 2.1-certified socket, it’s worth saving that little bit of money. Picture quality is excellent regardless of which you choose, and the sound isn’t bad at all. An OLED might look better in some scenes, but there’s something quite addictive about the brightness of this set. Its super-contrasty and punchy HDR delivery is ever so more-ish.
TThere’sstill no Dolby Vision support, but you’ll be getting so much from HDR10 alone that it will hardly be on your mind. This is a great TV and a terrific buy at this price.
Read the full Samsung QE65QN94A review
The 65XH9005 is one of the TVs that Sony is selling as "ready for PS5". That means it will have 4K@120Hz (often referred to as HFR), VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode). We say "will" because the set requires a firmware update, but Sony assures that it is expected to land in time for the PS5's launch.
With or without these console gaming features, this is an awesome TV. There are plenty of connections for hooking up partner kit, and you won't be wanting for onboard tech: this is a full-array LED-backlit TV with local dimming and supports the HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision HDR standards, and Dolby Atmos for sound. It’s also Netflix Calibrated and IMAX Enhanced.
And the picture quality? Excellent. Sony’s X-Motion Clarity motion processing technology is reliably superb, making fast-moving pictures like games, sports and action films as smooth as butter. There are plenty of options to fiddle with, but leave it on auto, and you'll still be treated to a great experience visually. It's got good sound, too. A little lightweight compared to some, but it's clear, precise and well-projected. An ideal option for both gamers and non-gamers alike.
Read the full Sony KD-65XH9005 review
The 65OLED805 is a Philips OLED as it should be; genuinely excellent. If you’re prepared to forego the odd next-gen feature, it's the best performance-per-pound OLED you can currently buy.
It produces stunningly crisp and detailed pictures from all sources, delivers far more accomplished audio than most rivals, adds awesome Ambilight (which extends the onscreen action onto the wall around the TV in the form of coloured light) to the mix, and has a lower price tag than its LG, Sony, Panasonic and Samsung equivalents.
Gamers may be put off by the lack of next-gen HDMI features such as VRR (HDMI eARC is missing too), but for everyone else, the 65OLED805 represents an excellent purchase.
Read the full Philips 65OLED805 review
No TV carries with it a greater sense of expectation than a C-class LG OLED.
For the last few years, this has been the most affordable model in LG’s OLED range that gets you the company’s best panel and processing tech – that’s a huge deal when you consider that LG is the progenitor of the current OLED TV revolution and the brand responsible for manufacturing the panel of every OLED TV you can currently buy, regardless of the badge on the bezel.
The C9 was a brilliant TV, and this CX improves upon it in several small but significant ways, such as increased dark detail, richer colours and better motion.
The Philips 65OLED805 offers an even sharper and punchier picture, plus Ambilight and HDR10+ as well as Dolby Vision, and all for a lower price – but the CX responds with a better operating system and a complete set of next-gen HDMI features.
Ultimately, which you go for will depend on what you’re looking for from your next TV (and where you live – the Philips isn’t available in the US or Australia), but the LG CX’s popularity is well deserved.
Read the full LG OLED65CX review
The Samsung QE65Q80T will be many people’s idea of a great value, high performing 4K TV. It has a big screen with a bold picture and superb HDR images; it delivers impressive sound and has just about every smart feature and app streaming service under the sun.
What’s more, the Tizen OS makes calibration and navigation easy, meaning this set is a good choice for those who want to tweak, as well as those who wish to do no more than take it out of the box, place it on the stand and switch it on.
The Q80T range’s popularity is well-founded, but before you get out the credit card, you should also consider the Award-winning Sony KD-65XH9005 above. For a little less money, you get a picture with a touch more maturity, just as much impact and even better motion processing. There isn’t a huge amount in it, though – both are killer TVs.
Read the full Samsung QE65Q80T review
While most people will opt for LG's C-class OLED, which is the most affordable set with all of the best picture processing, this GX takes that same picture and adds more powerful sound and a beautiful design.
This is LG's 'Gallery' model, and as such, is entirely intended for wall-mounting. You don't even get a stand in the box (although feet can be bought separately), with a low-profile mount provided instead. The set is a uniform 2cm deep, which is exceptionally slim. The CX, by comparison, is 4.7cm deep at its thickest point.
Picture-wise, LG has taken the exemplary performance of its 2019 OLEDs and improved it in a few key areas, with dark detail, colour richness and motion handling all getting a worthwhile boost. The set sounds decent, too, particularly for one with essentially invisible speakers.
The only issue for UK buyers is the current lack of catch-up apps such as BBC iPlayer, but LG assures us it's working on this. Either way, this is a stunning TV.
Read the full LG OLED65GX review
This 2020 model wasn't the successor to the Q90R that we were expecting it to be, but it is a brilliant TV in its own right and launched at a lower price than did its 'predecessor'.
It has fewer dimming zones and goes less bright in real terms than the Q90R, but the Q95T is otherwise better in every meaningful way. It delivers a richer, more solid and more natural picture, much-improved motion processing, and better sound.
The Tizen operating system is largely unchanged, and that's no bad thing. No other operating system has as much content or more quickly gets you to what you want to watch. All in all, definitely one of the best 65-inch TVs you can buy.
Read the full Samsung QE65Q95T review
How we test TVs
Testing a TV is a long and complex process because a modern TV simply does so much. Not only does it need to handle a variety of content resolutions – standard-def, 1080p, 4K and sometimes 8K – and both standard dynamic range and high dynamic range (the latter in a number of formats), all of which need to be specifically tested, is also has a sound system with various advanced settings and a full smart platform. A TV is an all-in-one device in the best sense, but that also makes it a challenging review proposition.
As part of our testing process, we manually check that every major app – from Netflix to All 4, Prime Video to Spotify – is not only present but also outputting in the video and sound formats that it should. Just because there's a Disney+ app doesn't necessarily mean it's working in Dolby Vision and/or Dolby Atmos. In fact, in many recent cases, it hasn't been.
We also connect both a PS5 and Xbox Series X in order to establish which advanced gaming features are and aren't supported, and on which of the TV's HDMI ports. Is 4K 120Hz supported? How about VRR? Is there a Dolby Vision game mode? Is there an HGiG preset for more accurate HDR tone mapping? We check all of these things and measure input lag using a Leo Bodnar device.
We then test the TV's picture quality using a vast variety of content, from old DVDs to the latest 4K Blu-rays and plenty of streamed movies and TV shows in between. Every TV is tested against the best model at its price and size – we have a stockroom packed full of Award-winners for this very purpose.
We don't accept the out-of-the-box settings that a TV comes in either. While we intentionally don't go down the route of professional calibration (you shouldn't have to have your TV professionally calibrated in order to get the best out of it), we do spend hours adjusting settings using a mixture of test patterns and real-world content until we're sure we're getting the best out of a TV so that it has the best chance to shine.
While we almost always advise that a new TV is combined with a dedicated sound system such as a soundbar or AV amplifier, many people still prefer to stick with their flatscreen's built-in speakers, so we thoroughly test these too, using a wide variety of movie and music content and with great attention spent to the TV's many processing modes and individual settings.
We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London, Bath and Reading, where our team of expert reviewers do all of our testings. This gives us complete control over the testing process, ensuring consistency. What's more, all review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole rather than an individual reviewer, again helping to ensure consistency and avoid any personal preference.
The What Hi-Fi? The team has more than 100 years of experience reviewing, testing, and writing about consumer electronics.
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