Our top TV picks to give
Roku Pro Series (2025)
If you’re looking to spend more on a TV gift, the Roku Pro Series is a great buy. It has excellent picture quality, thanks to full-array local dimming and the best sound we’ve ever heard on a TV. However, this TV is about to be replaced by the Pro OLED, and while that model promises even better picture quality, it comes at the expense of the 2025 version’s dedicated sound system. If you want a TV gift that’s plug-and-play, with nothing more to add, then the 2025 Roku Pro LED is a great choice.
TCL QM8K 65" Smart TV
Last year’s TCL QM8K is one of the best LED TVs we’ve seen, with great picture quality courtesy of two main things: excellent local dimming technology and the vibrant colors of Quantum Dots. This is the TV to buy if you want one of the best alternatives to OLED.
Samsung 65 Inch S90H Series OLED
In 2026, OLED is fighting back against LED TVs with a slew of affordable models coupled with actually useful features. The S90H is a case in point — it may be a step-down OLED, but it includes a premium anti-reflective coating, which makes it easier to watch in a lit room. As a result, the Samsung S90H TV is the TV to choose if you want to give your giftee a quality OLED with a great picture and with less eyestrain.
Best budget TVs to give in 2026
Hisense QD7
The secret to the Hisense QD7’s bold and punchy picture is its mini-LED backlight, which improves contrast in a way I haven’t seen on a cheap TV before. With features like an excellent Game mode and Dolby Vision support, this is the best budget TV you can buy for your loved ones.
Roku Select (2025)
Roku is the most popular smart TV platform for a good reason — it’s easy to use and offers some of the best free content on a TV. And being a Roku means that the Select has a bunch of convenience features, including a remote finder and voice search.
Amazon Fire TV 4-Series (2024)
Though it’s just been replaced by a similar, but more expensive model, the 2024 Fire TV 4-Series was second only to the Hisense QD7 in my roundup of budget TVs. With the best sound I tested and decent image quality, the outgoing 4-Series is an excellent television in its own right.
Samsung U8000
While the Fire TV 4-Series and Hisense QD7 are better televisions, the U8000 is worth considering if it’s cheaper than the others. Picture quality is decent for the money, and it has one of the more responsive gaming modes in my budget TV roundup.
Other stuff to know about giving someone a new TV
We’re sure you’d be happy with any one of the TVs above, but a new set can be a big investment, so maybe you’re looking for a bit more information. Here’s a quick and dirty list.
- Bigger is better. We’ve found your money is best spent on a larger screen size rather than a slight upgrade in image quality.
- If you don’t like the built-in smart TV system, you can always add a streaming device from Roku, Amazon, Google or Apple. They’re generally cheap and easy to use for streaming services — and they receive updates more frequently than most smart TVs. See our picks of the best streaming devices for 2026.
- The sound quality of most built-in speakers is terrible, so it’s worthwhile to pair your new set with a sound bar or other speaker system. Good ones start around $100. See our picks for the best soundbar for 2026.
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