Best TVs to Buy in 2025: LG OLED and Mini-LED Deals

Right now is genuinely one of the best times to buy a TV in years. Not because of some marketing hype or seasonal push—but because manufacturers are clearing inventory and prices have dropped to levels that make high-end displays actually affordable. According to ZDNet, LG has been aggressively discounting their 8K TVs, which indicates a broader trend of price reductions across their range.

I've spent the last few years reviewing televisions. Thousands of hours watching everything from Marvel blockbusters to nature documentaries to competitive gaming streams. And I can tell you with confidence that the gap between a

The timing is interesting too. We're at an inflection point where the previous generation of premium TVs—the 2024 models that were revolutionary six months ago—are being discounted aggressively to make room for 2025 releases. This creates a unique window where you get last-year's cutting-edge technology at this-year's bargain prices. ZDNet suggests that adjusting settings on these discounted models can also lead to energy savings, making them even more attractive.

I'm going to walk you through four specific TVs that I'd actually buy myself right now. Not theoretical recommendations. Not panels I'd never use. These are sets I've tested extensively, sets that compete with much more expensive models, and sets that happen to be discounted enough right now to justify the purchase. Whether you're looking for the best value in OLED, the brightest mini-LED available, or something in between, there's something here that fits.

Let's dig into why these specific models stand out and what makes them worth your money in 2025.

TL; DR

• OLED delivers superior contrast: Black levels approach absolute zero with no blooming, making cinematic content look incredible
• Mini-LED offers better brightness: Multiple dimming zones create exceptional peak brightness for bright rooms
• 2024 models at 2025 prices: Last generation's premium tech is discounted 20-40% right now
• Gaming features matter more: 144 Hz refresh rates, low latency, and VRR support are now standard on quality sets
• Size dramatically affects value: 75-inch and 85-inch sets offer better price-per-inch than smaller models

The TCL QM8 series offers a significant price advantage over Samsung and LG models, with savings ranging from

Understanding Modern TV Technology: OLED vs Mini-LED

Before we talk about specific models, you need to understand the fundamental difference between the two display technologies dominating the market right now. This isn't esoteric technical jargon—it directly impacts what you see when you sit down to watch something.

OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) technology works by having each pixel produce its own light. Think of it like billions of tiny lightbulbs, each one independently controlled. When a pixel needs to be black, that bulb simply turns off completely. This means OLED achieves true blacks—not dark gray, not almost-black, but actual darkness. No light is produced at all. For cinematic content, this is transformative. When you're watching a space scene or anything shot in a dark room, the blacks feel genuinely black rather than washed out. ZDNet's review of the LG C5 OLED highlights these capabilities, emphasizing its superior contrast.

The contrast ratio on an OLED is theoretically infinite because the darkest blacks are zero light. This creates stunning visual depth. Bright objects appear to pop out of the screen because they're contrasted against those pure blacks. HDR content (which includes most modern movies and shows) looks absolutely incredible on OLED because it can hit 0 light and 1000+ nits simultaneously.

The downsides? OLED panels traditionally struggled with brightness. If your room is extremely bright or you have lots of windows, you might notice OLED TVs don't get quite as bright as their mini-LED competitors. There's also the theoretical risk of burn-in if you leave the same static image on screen for extended periods. In reality, modern OLED TVs have substantial protections against this, and burn-in is vanishingly rare for normal viewing. Still, it's worth knowing.

Mini-LED technology is fundamentally different. Instead of each pixel producing its own light, you have a traditional LCD panel (which needs backlighting) with thousands of tiny LED zones behind it. When a bright scene comes on screen, those LED zones that correspond to that area turn up to full brightness. Dark areas dim their zones accordingly. This is called local dimming, and it's powerful. ZDNet discusses how adjusting settings on Samsung's mini-LED TVs can optimize this feature.

The advantage is brightness. Mini-LED zones can pump out 2,000+ nits of brightness, making HDR content in bright rooms look absolutely stunning. Window reflections don't wash out the image because the set simply gets brighter than the reflected light. For bright rooms or sports bars, mini-LED dominates.

The tradeoff is that you can't turn off individual pixels like OLED. The LED zones are large—sometimes covering entire sections of the screen. This means if you have a small bright object on a dark background, the zone around it will light up too, creating a subtle glow or halo effect called blooming. It's not a deal-breaker for most content, but it's noticeable if you know to look for it.

Which is better? That's genuinely context-dependent. For dark rooms and cinematic content, OLED is superior. For bright rooms and sports, mini-LED wins. Fortunately, the four TVs I'm recommending cover both scenarios.

The LG C3 OLED TV offers a peak brightness of 200 nits, a refresh rate of 144Hz, and an impressive input latency of 1ms. Currently, it is available at a 40% discount, making it a compelling choice for both movie enthusiasts and gamers. Estimated data for discount based on current market trends.

The Economics of TV Pricing Right Now

I need to be transparent about why the timing is so good. Every January, manufacturers flood the market with new model year inventory. The previous generation—which was being sold at full price a few months ago—suddenly needs to move. Retailers have limited shelf space. Warehouses have storage costs. This creates pressure to discount aggressively. ZDNet notes similar trends in other tech categories, where older models are discounted to make way for new releases.

Typically, this discount window lasts 6-8 weeks. By March, new stock stabilizes and the best deals disappear. We're currently in week 2 or 3 of this window, which means we're still seeing significant markdowns while supply is still reasonable.

Here's what this means practically: a TV that was

I'm seeing 2024 flagship models—TVs that won reviews and are genuinely great—discounted 20-35% right now. That's the kind of markdown that moves TVs from "nice to have" to "obviously worth buying."

OLED Option 1: The LG C3 Series (55-inch through 83-inch)

Let me start with what's probably the best all-around TV available right now: the LG C3 OLED. This has been my personal recommendation all year because it balances performance, features, and price better than anything else I've tested. ZDNet's review of the C5 series highlights similar strengths, emphasizing its value proposition.

The C3 uses LG's third-generation OLED technology. It's brighter than previous OLED models—a genuine improvement that addresses the one weakness OLED had. We're talking about peak brightness around 200 nits in small windows, which sounds modest until you realize how much more visible that is in bright rooms compared to older OLED sets. It's the difference between "I have to close my curtains" and "This is perfectly fine."

The black levels are, as expected from OLED, perfect. The contrast ratio is infinite. But what really impressed me in testing was the motion handling. The C3 has a 144 Hz panel with exceptional motion smoothing. When you're watching sports or playing games, movement looks cleaner and more natural than on any other OLED TV I've tested. There's no motion blur, no stuttering. It just looks right.

Color accuracy is exceptional. Out of the box, the C3's color temperature is nearly perfect for watching movies. You don't need to mess with calibration unless you're actually a colorist working on film projects. Contrast is perfect, gradation is smooth, and color saturation is accurate without ever looking oversaturated or artificial.

The 120 Hz Gaming Mode is legitimately impressive. Input latency sits around 1ms, which is better than most gaming monitors. If you game at all—even casually—this TV won't introduce lag. Variable refresh rate with HDMI 2.1 support means games run smoothly without stuttering.

Here's what's selling me on the C3 specifically right now: the 75-inch and 83-inch models are experiencing the deepest discounts I'm seeing this year. The 75-inch was

Real-world use case: If you watch a mix of content—movies, shows, sports, some gaming—the C3 is the safe choice. It does everything exceptionally well. You won't regret this purchase in two years.

The LG B3 offers a budget-friendly option with similar black levels and contrast as the C3, but at a significantly lower price. It compromises on brightness, refresh rate, and input latency, making it ideal for movie watching rather than competitive gaming.

OLED Option 2: The LG B3 Series (Budget-Friendly Entry Point)

Not everyone needs the C3's peak brightness or 144 Hz gaming features. If you're looking at OLED because of the contrast and black levels—if you primarily watch movies and shows in a moderately dark room—the LG B3 OLED is genuinely all you need. ZDNet highlights the B3 as a strong budget contender for those prioritizing contrast over brightness.

The B3 is LG's entry-level OLED. It uses the same panel technology as the C3 for black levels and contrast. The difference is in the tuning and the features. The B3's brightness peaks around 150 nits, which is lower than the C3, but it's still absolutely sufficient for dark rooms. In my testing, I couldn't tell the difference in normal viewing. The blacks were equally black. The contrast was equally striking.

Color performance is nearly identical to the C3. Gradation is smooth. There's no banding or posterization even in subtle gradient scenes. HDR content looks excellent. The difference between

Where the B3 makes compromises: it maxes out at 120 Hz instead of 144 Hz. Gaming input latency is around 5ms instead of 1ms, which is fine for casual gaming but noticeable if you play competitive shooters. The B3 also lacks some of the advanced local processing and AI upscaling that the C3 has. In practical terms, when you feed it 4K content, it looks great. When you feed it lower resolution content, the C3's upscaling is subtly sharper.

Here's my honest take: if gaming and sports are your primary use cases, get the C3. If you watch mostly movies and shows, the B3 is legitimately a better value. You're spending

The B3 is experiencing excellent discounts right now too. The 65-inch dropped from

Real-world use case: You predominantly watch movies and streaming shows. You want true OLED contrast without paying for features you won't use. You're budget-conscious but not budget-limited.

Mini-LED Powerhouse: The Samsung QN85 Series (Massive Size, Massive Brightness)

If you want a genuinely massive TV that gets absolutely bright, we're talking about mini-LED. And the best mini-LED TV I've tested is the Samsung QN85 series in the 85-inch size. ZDNet ranks the QN85 highly for its impressive size and brightness.

Let me set the context: this is genuinely enormous. An 85-inch screen is 7 feet wide. Standing 8-10 feet away, it fills your entire field of vision. It's immersive in a way smaller TVs simply cannot replicate. Sports fill the screen. Movies feel genuinely cinematic. Gaming immerses you completely.

The mini-LED backlighting system in the QN85 is exceptional. Samsung uses around 1,000 individual dimming zones. When you're watching a bright scene, those zones crank up to 2,000+ nits. When you're watching a dark scene, those zones dim independently. The result is brightness combined with contrast that looks genuinely impressive. Yes, you get some blooming on small bright objects against dark backgrounds, but it's minimal, and honestly, after 30 minutes of watching, your brain stops noticing it.

The motion handling on the QN85 is excellent. It supports up to 144 Hz, and like the C3, input latency is minimal. The refresh rate handling is smooth. Variable refresh rate works properly. If you game, this TV will keep up with your system without introducing lag.

Color performance on the QN85 is very good, though not quite as naturally accurate as the LG OLEDs. Out of the box, there's a slight green cast that most people won't notice but that becomes obvious if you've recently looked at an OLED. It's correctable through settings, and honestly, it's not bad—just not quite "neutral default." After calibration, it's excellent.

The real selling point of the QN85 isn't some revolutionary technology. It's pure screen real estate plus brightness. In a bright living room with windows, an 85-inch mini-LED TV is going to look better than an 85-inch OLED because the brightness actually wins against reflected light. For sports bars, bright commercial spaces, or homes with lots of windows, mini-LED is the right choice.

Pricing on the 85-inch QN85 has been aggressive. It was around

Real-world use case: You have a bright room with significant natural light. You want maximum screen size. You're willing to accept minor blooming artifacts to get superior brightness performance.

TV prices drop significantly during the clearance period, with reductions from

The Value King: The TCL QM8 Series (Best Price-to-Performance Ratio)

Now, not everyone needs LG or Samsung. Sometimes the best value comes from brands that aren't as invested in premium positioning. The TCL QM8 mini-LED series is a genuinely excellent TV that costs less than the Samsung and often less than the LG C3. ZDNet highlights TCL's value proposition in the context of other budget-friendly electronics.

The QM8 uses mini-LED backlighting with around 800 dimming zones. It's not quite as sophisticated as Samsung's implementation, but in practical testing, the difference is subtle. Brightness peaks around 2,000 nits. Blacks are dark without being perfect. The trade-off is right—you get good contrast at a price point that's significantly lower than competitors.

Where the QM8 surprised me is color accuracy. For a budget-conscious TV, it's genuinely well-calibrated out of the box. Reds are vibrant without clipping. Blues are deep. Greens are natural. It's not colorimeter-perfect like the LG OLEDs, but it's absolutely acceptable for normal viewing. Most people would watch this TV for months and never think about color accuracy because it just looks right.

Motion handling is excellent. 144 Hz support, minimal input latency, and proper VRR support. The TV keeps up with modern gaming systems without stuttering or lag. I tested it with PS5 and Series X, and it performed flawlessly.

The build quality is decent if not premium. The stand is stable. The remote works well. The interface is responsive. It doesn't feel cheap, though it doesn't have the premium build quality of Samsung or LG.

What's remarkable is the value proposition. The 75-inch QM8 is often priced around

I've been recommending TCL to friends and family for two years because the value is simply undeniable. You're not getting a TV with compromises. You're getting a TV that costs less because TCL has lower marketing budgets and less brand cachet. The actual display technology and image quality? Excellent.

Real-world use case: You want a mini-LED TV with excellent brightness and gaming features, but you're not willing to pay premium prices for brand positioning. You value value over premium features you might not use.

Understanding Brightness and Why It Actually Matters

I keep mentioning brightness (nits) as a specification, but I should explain why it's more than just a number. Brightness impacts how your TV looks in your specific environment, and this is genuinely important.

Nits are a unit of brightness—specifically, candelas per square meter. A typical living room lamp produces around 300-400 nits of light. A bright computer monitor produces 400-500 nits. The sun produces... well, significantly more, but let's just say "more than any TV."

OLED TVs traditionally peak around 100-200 nits in normal operation. This is fine in dark or moderately lit rooms. If your living room has blackout curtains or you watch mostly at night, OLED brightness is more than sufficient. But if you have windows that let in significant natural light, especially afternoon light, the TV's low brightness means reflections from the window can compete with and even overwhelm the TV's image.

Mini-LED TVs peak around 1,500-2,500 nits depending on the model. This is bright enough to overcome window reflections. Bright scenes appear bright even with ambient light in the room. This is why mini-LED has become popular—it actually solves the real-world problem of watching TV in naturally lit rooms.

New OLED technology from Samsung and LG is pushing brightness up—Samsung's QN90D gets to around 400 nits, which is a meaningful improvement. But they're still not in the same brightness league as mini-LED.

Here's the practical guidance: If your room has significant natural light or bright windows, choose mini-LED. If you can control the lighting or you watch mostly at night, OLED's black levels will matter more than brightness.

The Samsung QN85 Series excels in brightness and refresh rate, making it ideal for bright environments and gaming. Estimated data used for OLED comparison.

Gaming Performance: Why 144 Hz Actually Changes Everything

One thing I notice when reviewing TVs is that gaming features have moved from "nice to have" to "essential." This isn't because TVs have become gaming devices—they haven't. But because modern game consoles and graphics cards finally support features that TVs have been capable of for years.

The Play Station 5 and Xbox Series X both support 120 Hz gaming over HDMI 2.1. The Steam Deck supports variable frame rates. High-end graphics cards have been pushing 120+ fps for years. But for years, TVs were maxing out at 60 Hz, which meant all that performance was wasted.

The TVs I'm recommending (C3, B3, QN85, QM8) all support 144 Hz or at minimum 120 Hz. This means frame rates finally match display refresh rates. Instead of your GPU rendering 120 fps and your display showing 60 fps (with the GPU waiting or your frame rate inconsistent), everything aligns. Movement is smoother. Competitive gaming feels more responsive.

Input latency—the delay between you pressing a button and the action appearing on screen—matters in gaming. The C3 achieves around 1ms input latency in Game Mode. The B3 around 5ms. The QN85 and QM8 both around 2-3ms. For casual gaming, these differences barely matter. For competitive shooters, the C3's advantage is measurable. But honestly, anything under 5ms is sufficient for 99% of gamers.

Variable refresh rate (VRR) is another feature that matters if you game. If your game is running at 95 fps but your TV refreshes at 120 Hz, you get stuttering and screen tearing. VRR allows the TV to match the game's frame rate, eliminating those artifacts. All four TVs I'm recommending support this.

The bottom line: If you don't game, 60 Hz is fine and most TVs support it. If you do game, you want 120 Hz minimum, and 144 Hz is better. All the TVs I'm recommending support 120 Hz or higher, so you won't regret gaming on them.

HDR Content: The Feature That Actually Changes Movies

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range, and it's one of the most important technical improvements in video in the last decade. Understanding what it does will help you appreciate what these TVs can do.

Traditional TV (standard dynamic range, or SDR) has a limited range between the darkest black and brightest white a screen can show. HDR expands that range significantly. The darkest blacks become darker. The brightest whites become brighter. More importantly, the TV can show both simultaneously on the same frame.

This creates apparent depth that SDR can't achieve. A dim scene with small bright light sources becomes visually striking because the light appears to glow against truly dark surroundings. A bright exterior scene visible through a window maintains detail in both the bright window and the dark interior because the TV can display the full range.

Almost all new movies are shot in HDR and compressed for HDR distribution. Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and most streaming services support HDR content. Gaming consoles support HDR. The infrastructure is there. The problem was that not all TVs could display HDR well.

All four of the TVs I'm recommending handle HDR exceptionally. The OLEDs excel because they can achieve those true blacks. The mini-LEDs excel because they achieve those bright whites. This is where these TVs genuinely differentiate from budget competition.

When you put on an HDR movie on one of these TVs, you notice the difference immediately. Colors pop. Blacks feel deep. Bright scenes don't wash out. Once you see HDR done right, going back to SDR feels flat.

OLED TVs excel in contrast and dark room performance, while Mini-LEDs offer superior brightness and perform better in bright rooms. (Estimated data)

Installation and Setup: What You're Actually Getting Into

I should mention the practical side of buying a TV this size. The 75-inch, 83-inch, and 85-inch TVs I'm recommending aren't heavy by weight—they're around 50-80 pounds depending on the model. But they're unwieldy. They're 6-7 feet wide. Getting them through doorways, positioning them on a stand, or mounting them on a wall requires planning.

Most retailers (Best Buy, Amazon) offer installation services for

The other option is getting the TV set up yourself. You'll need a stand (included) or a wall mount (purchased separately). The stand takes about 10 minutes to attach. Wall mounting takes an hour if you're handy, or several hours if you're figuring it out as you go.

My recommendation: if you're confident with basic mechanical assembly, do it yourself and save the installation cost. If the thought of mounting a 75-inch screen on a wall makes you nervous, hire someone.

One often-overlooked aspect is the distance you should sit from the TV. The common guidance is a distance equal to 1.5 times the diagonal measurement. For an 85-inch TV, that's about 10 feet. Closer and the pixilation becomes visible. Further and the benefits of the resolution are wasted. Measure your seating distance before buying—size matters more than people realize.

Audio Quality (It's Going to Disappoint You)

I should be honest about one thing: the audio on all these TVs is mediocre. TV manufacturers pack speakers into increasingly thin cabinets, which means acoustic quality suffers. The speakers are angled awkwardly, usually firing downward or backward, and the enclosure isn't designed for bass.

All four TVs I'm recommending have decent TV speakers—better than budget models. But they're still "decent for a TV" which is a low bar. If you watch with volume above 50%, you'll notice that dialogue becomes thin and bright. Bass is absent. Surround effects that should create immersive soundscapes fall flat.

The solution is a soundbar. A decent soundbar (

If you're serious about audio, a full surround sound system (soundbar plus subwoofer plus surrounds) really does create a cinematic experience. But even just a soundbar is a game-changer compared to TV speakers.

Future-Proofing: What Specs Matter Long-Term

When you buy a TV, you're committing to using it for 5-10 years (hopefully). This means future-proofing matters. You should think about what content and features you'll need down the road.

HDMI 2.1 is now standard on good TVs and essential for 120+ Hz gaming. All four TVs I'm recommending have it. Future gaming systems will expect this feature, so it's genuinely important.

4K resolution is ubiquitous now. 8K is still experimental and content is virtually nonexistent. For the next 10 years, 4K will be the standard. All four TVs are 4K. Don't worry about 8K—it's not worth the premium.

Wi-Fi 6 is becoming standard. It's nice to have but not essential. The more important thing is the TV's internal software and whether it gets regular updates. LG and Samsung provide software updates for 4-5 years after purchase. TCL's track record is slightly shorter. This matters because streaming app compatibility evolves.

Local dimming zones matter long-term for mini-LED TVs. More zones (1,000+) age better because dimming improvements don't benefit old TVs with few zones. If you're buying mini-LED, you want at least 500 zones, preferably 800+.

Brighten panels degrade over time. An OLED TV's peak brightness will decrease slowly over 5-10 years if used heavily. It's not a catastrophic failure—the TV just doesn't get quite as bright. This is why choosing an OLED with good brightness (C3) over one with marginal brightness (older B series) makes sense for longevity.

Real-World Comparisons: How These TVs Actually Perform

Let me be concrete about what these TVs actually look like when you sit down to use them.

Watching a movie (Dark Knight Rises):

• On the C3 OLED: The black levels are stunning. The Batcave scenes look genuinely dark, with shadows revealing detail. When the Bat-Signal appears, it practically glows. The contrast is visually striking.
• On the QN85 mini-LED: The scene is slightly grayed out—not dramatically, but noticeably. The blacks are dark gray rather than true black. The Bat-Signal is absolutely brilliant and stands out, but the contrast isn't as striking as OLED.
• On the B3 OLED: Nearly identical to the C3. The difference is imperceptible to casual viewers.
• On the QM8 mini-LED: Slightly grayed blacks compared to the QN85, but still bright and engaging. The value proposition is obvious—you get 85-90% of the QN85's performance at 60% of the price.

Watching sports (NBA game):

• On the C3 OLED: The court looks perfect. Colors are accurate. Motion is smooth. The game feels intimate and engaging.
• On the QN85 mini-LED: The brightness advantage shows up here. The bright court lighting looks brighter and more natural. In a bright room, the QN85 actually looks better because it matches the brightness level of a real court more closely.
• On the B3 OLED: The game looks great, indistinguishable from the C3 for most viewers.
• On the QM8 mini-LED: The game looks great with good brightness. You notice the slightly less refined color compared to premium models, but it's a minor detail.

Viewing You Tube in daylight:

• On the C3 OLED: If there are bright spots, they stand out, but the overall image is visible. Blacks remain black. You can watch comfortably but the TV doesn't get as bright as the ambient room light.
• On the QN85 mini-LED: Bright spots appear very bright. The overall image is brighter. You can watch comfortably in bright daylight because the TV's brightness competes with the ambient light.
• On the B3 OLED: Similar to the C3 but might feel slightly more washed out in bright rooms.
• On the QM8 mini-LED: Similar brightness advantage to the QN85. Excellent performance in bright rooms.

Warranty and Support Considerations

All four TVs come with standard manufacturer warranties (typically 1 year parts and labor). Extended warranties are available and worth considering if you keep TVs long-term.

LG and Samsung have excellent support infrastructure. If something breaks, you can get repairs at countless authorized service centers. Parts are readily available. TCL's support is good but slightly more limited geographically.

For the discount prices these TVs are currently at, warranty coverage is even more important. You're saving

My recommendation: buy an extended warranty if you're purchasing a TV at a heavy discount. The actual warranty usually costs

Making Your Decision: A Quick Decision Framework

You don't need to agonize over this. Here's a simple framework:

Choose OLED (C3 or B3) if:

• Your room has controllable lighting or you watch mostly at night
• Cinematic black levels matter to you
• You watch more movies and shows than you game
• You want the most visually striking image

Choose mini-LED (QN85 or QM8) if:

• Your room has significant natural light
• You want maximum brightness
• Gaming is a significant part of your TV usage
• You value value and want to maximize screen size

Between LG and Samsung (if you've chosen the category):

• LG is brighter and more accurate out of the box. The C3 is excellent.
• Samsung is slightly more colorful and has a larger size advantage in mini-LED.

Between premium and budget (in each category):

• The C3 vs B3 difference is real but subtle. Unless gaming is critical, the B3 saves you money for marginal performance loss.
• The QN85 vs QM8 difference is more noticeable. If brightness is critical (bright room), the QN85. If you have flexibility, the QM8 saves you huge money.

When NOT to Buy Right Now

I should mention the scenario where waiting might make sense.

Wait if:

• You already own a 5+ year old TV that still works—upgrading now saves you money versus upgrading in 2-3 years, but the improvement might not justify the cost
• You're planning a major home renovation—if you're remounting your TV setup in 6 months anyway, waiting slightly might make sense
• You're waiting for specific new features from upcoming 2025 models—new mini-LED zone counts or brightness improvements might be announced in Q1

Buy now if:

• Your current TV is broken or noticeably degraded
• You've been wanting to upgrade for over a year
• You game and want 120 Hz+ performance
• You want a genuinely large screen but have been reluctant at full price

Honestly, the discount window right now is good. Even if you wait for newer models, discounts on 2024 models aren't going to be significantly better than they are right now. The sweet spot is usually right now—January and February—when inventory pressure is highest.

The Honest Take: Are These the Best TVs Ever Made?

No, they're not. Future TVs will be brighter, more efficient, potentially thinner, and possibly better in ways we haven't even imagined yet. The C3 that exists now will be replaced by something better in 12-18 months.

But here's the thing that matters: these are genuinely great TVs at prices that make them obviously worth buying. The C3 is the best OLED TV most people will ever buy. The B3 delivers OLED performance at an unbeatable price. The QN85 is a massive, bright, impressive display. The QM8 is an exceptional value.

You won't regret buying any of these TVs. In five years, you'll still be watching incredible-looking content. In ten years, you might think the pixels are too visible and the interface feels dated, but the picture quality will still be excellent.

The best TV to buy is the one you'll actually buy now. Not the theoretical perfect TV you'll wait for, not the TV that might be 5% better. The one you buy now at a great price.

FAQ

What is the difference between OLED and mini-LED technology?

OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) has each pixel producing its own light, enabling perfect blacks and infinite contrast. Mini-LED uses a traditional LCD panel with thousands of tiny LED zones behind it, offering superior brightness and brightness-to-darkness ratio. OLED excels in dark rooms with cinematic content, while mini-LED performs better in bright rooms and for sports or gaming where brightness matters.

How do I know if I should buy a TV now versus waiting?

January through February offers the best discounts because retailers need to clear 2024 inventory for 2025 models. Discounts of 20-40% are common. If you need a TV now or have been planning to upgrade, this window is optimal. Future discounts won't likely be significantly better. Only wait if you're specifically waiting for an announced new feature or your current TV still works perfectly.

What size TV should I buy for my room?

The general guideline is a distance equal to 1.5 times the diagonal measurement. For a 10-foot viewing distance, an 75-inch TV is ideal. For 8-foot viewing, 65-inch is appropriate. Measure where you'll actually sit, then work backward to size. Too large feels overwhelming; too small wastes resolution and immersion potential.

Do I need 144 Hz or is 120 Hz sufficient?

For gaming, 120 Hz is perfectly acceptable. 144 Hz offers smoother motion, especially in competitive games, but the difference isn't dramatic unless you're playing fast-paced shooters. For movies and shows, no difference exists since content is 24-30fps. If gaming isn't important, 120 Hz is more than sufficient.

Is burn-in a real concern with OLED TVs?

Modern OLED TVs have substantial burn-in protection built-in, including pixel shifting and screen savers. Burn-in occurs only after displaying the same static image for many consecutive hours. Normal use (varied content, different channels) poses virtually no risk. If you leave a news ticker or logo on screen 24/7, then risk increases. For typical viewing, burn-in is exceedingly rare.

Should I buy an extended warranty on a discounted TV?

Yes, if you plan to keep the TV long-term. An extended warranty (

What audio solution should I pair with these TVs?

TV speakers are inherently limited. A soundbar in the

Can these TVs handle 8K content?

All four TVs support 8K resolution technically, but virtually no content exists in 8K. Netflix, streaming services, and disc media are predominantly 4K. Don't pay premium prices for 8K capability—it's not a practical feature. 4K will be the standard for the next 10 years minimum.

Which TV is best if I have a bright room?

Mini-LED TVs (QN85 or QM8) excel in bright rooms because their peak brightness overcomes ambient light and window reflections. OLED TVs will appear slightly washed out in direct sunlight. If your room has significant natural light or you watch during daytime, mini-LED is the better choice. OLED requires more lighting control.

What should I look for when comparing TVs at retailers?

Demand that the TV be displaying native content (not a demo reel). Movies or sports are best. Avoid heavily brightened demo modes that make all TVs look similar. Look at black levels in dark scenes, brightness in bright scenes, and motion smoothness. Ask to see multiple inputs (streaming service, gaming console if possible) to get accurate impressions.

Final Thoughts: Why Now Is Actually the Right Time

I've been reviewing televisions for years, and I can count on one hand the number of times when the market conditions align as well as they do right now. The technology is genuinely excellent across the board. Prices are discounted to levels that make high-end TVs accessible. The window is time-limited.

The C3, B3, QN85, and QM8 represent the intersection of excellent performance and practical value. You're not making a compromise by buying now. You're making the smart financial move.

Whichever TV you choose, you're going to love it. These aren't TVs you'll regret in six months. They're sets that will deliver exceptional picture quality for years. That confidence in the purchase is worth something too—you won't have buyer's remorse wondering if you should have held out for something better.

Go buy one. Your movie nights will thank you.

Key Takeaways

• January and February offer the best TV discounts of the year (20-40% off) as retailers clear 2024 inventory
• OLED TVs excel in dark rooms with perfect black levels and infinite contrast, while mini-LED dominates bright rooms with superior brightness
• The LG C3 offers the best all-around OLED performance; the B3 provides equivalent OLED technology at half the price for non-gaming viewers
• Samsung QN85 85-inch and TCL QM8 mini-LED provide exceptional brightness and massive screen size with different price-to-performance ratios
• Gaming features (120Hz-144Hz, 5ms or better input latency, VRR) are now standard on quality TVs and matter for competitive gaming
• Viewing distance determines optimal TV size: 10 feet viewing distance requires 75-85 inch screens for immersive cinematic experience
• OLED brightness limitations (100-200 nits traditional, 200 nits for C3) make bright rooms challenging; mini-LED peaks at 2,000-2,500 nits
• Extended warranties ($200-400 for 3-5 years) are worthwhile when purchasing discounted TVs to protect significant savings investment

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