Buying a new TV is, for most people, a pretty big deal.

Chances are that this box of moving pictures will remain a part of your lounge (or bedroom) for quite a few years to come.

With that in mind, you want to make sure you’re picking the best one.

But, unlike phones or games consoles, TVs rarely follow a simple update schedule and the different models can be given mind-bogglingly complex names.

Generally speaking, there are a few things you want to consider before taking the plunge on a TV.

For starters, sizing is crucial. Do you want a cinema-like slab to hang off the wall or a smaller option to nestle into an alcove in the corner of the room? Next: what kind of display can you get for your budget? All the experts say OLED screens are best – but they’re pricey.

You may want to sacrifice a bit of screen size for a better display, or the other way around.

Finally, are you planning to hook up any games consoles or streaming devices to the TV? You’ll need to pay close attention to the amount of connections you get.

Whatever your buying conditions are, we’ve listed a few of the best options at a range of prices and styles below.

If at all possible, we’d recommend getting out to a physical shop and going eyeballs-on with these sets IRL. That way, you’ll have a better idea of what’ll work best for your situation.

Samsung QE85QN85B 85″ Neo QLED 4K Smart TV

We might as well start with the outrageous, money-no-object option that at least 0.03561% of you out there can afford and will actively consider.

This mammoth 85-inch set from Samsung is like the Starship Enterprise of tellies. At a touch under £5k (£4,699 to be precise) you can have ‘Quantum Matrix Technology’ in your own living room.

Joking aside, this whopper uses Samsung’s own Mini LED tech (which it says is better than OLED) for the sharpest 4K display around. There’s an impossibly thin bezel around the edge and it boasts one of the best user interfaces around.

Naturally, it’s got support for Dolby Atmos and will pull the best results from any games console or soundbar you choose to plug into it.

Available for £4,599 from John Lewis.

LG G1 77″ OLED Evo 4K Smart TV-OLED77G1PUA

If Samsung has an arch-rival in the home tech sphere, it’s could be fellow South Korean brand LG. And TVs like this are the reason why.

Coming in hot with a high efficiency ‘Evo’ panel design and a recognised boost in brightness, the G1 maximises the effect of its 4K display.

At 77-inches across, you’re going to want to hang this one on a wall. And likely employ one of the four HDMI ports for a games console. Thanks to LG’s AI Picture Pro video processing, you’ll get support for 120Hz graphics on the latest-gen gaming systems as well as Dolby Vision High Dynamic Range.

This is no longer LG’s top dog, having been overtaken by the LG G2 range – but it means you’ll be able to get it at a slightly reduced price and score a bargain on a still-brilliant TV.

Available from £1,466.79 from VisionSpecs.

Samsung 55″ Class S95B OLED 4K Smart TV

While the two examples above are larger sets, most people will likely be looking for a TV that’s a bit more accomodating.

Samsung’s brilliant 55-inch S95B has great contrast, brilliant colours and a good deal of brightness that’ll mean you can enjoy it in the middle of the day, in a well-lit room in peak summer.

If there’s any nitpicking to be done, it could be that Samsung’s Tizen-based smart TV platform may not be as intuative as some of the others on this list.

Available from £1,799 from John Lewis.

Sony X90J

Sony has a well-deserved reputation for screen quality and the X90J shows why. It’s not an OLED screen, but you’d probably be hard pressed to tell the difference.

Using the latest Google TV platform, this telly is easy to navigate and comes in a choice of different screen sizes. You can opt for either a 50, 55, 65 or 75-inch model and both Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos are supported.

The LCD display supports a native 120Hz refresh rate, meaning video games can be exploited for all they’re worth and because it’s running Google TV you’ve got all the best apps available to download right onto to the set.

Available from Amazon from £699.

Hisense Roku R50A7200UK 50″ Smart 4K Ultra HD LED TV

If value is what you prize most for a new TV then look no further than the Chinese brand Hisense.

Partnering with the Roku platform means the interface and remote are both about as simple as it’s possible to get for a smart TV. Like the Sony, it may be an LED panel but it’s still got excellent colour reproduction and support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision.

The drawback is the Hisense R8F only has a native 60Hz panel which can’t compete with the 120Hz refresh rate of the others on this list. But it does score very well in the brightness stakes. And there’s even a 3.5mm jack if you’ve got headphones with a really long cord and fancy a bit of private viewing.

Available from £223.99 from Amazon.

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