Buying guide
Which TV should you buy?
Choose by room first, then by TV, with the reason to skip every pick before you spend.
Most TV advice starts with panel acronyms. Start with the room instead: how far you sit, how bright it gets and what plugs in. Those three answers rule out most of the wall at the shop.
Most Australian homes should start with a 65-inch 4K Mini LED TV.
65 inches is the most popular size in Australia, and Mini LED gets bright enough for a sunny lounge while its local dimming keeps night-time films from looking grey. Move away from it only for a reason.
- Choose OLED when you mostly watch films and series in the evening and can keep glare off the screen.
- Choose a bright Mini LED with an anti-reflective screen when the TV faces a window or you watch daytime sport.
- Choose 4K 120Hz on at least as many HDMI 2.1 ports as you have consoles when a PS5, PS5 Pro or Xbox Series X plugs in.
- Choose 75 inches or more when you sit further back than about 2.5 metres, the outer end of CHOICE's range for a 65-inch.
- Skip 8K: no maker released a new 8K model in 2026, and CHOICE calls 8K not actually that useful in an Australian home.
| Your room | Start here | Main compromise |
|---|---|---|
| Most living rooms | 65", 4K Mini LED | Some glow around bright objects |
| Films in a dark room | 55–65" OLED | Less punch in daylight, glossy screen |
| Bright room, daytime sport | 65" bright Mini LED, anti-reflective | Blacks less deep than OLED |
| PS5 / Xbox Series X | 65", 4K 120Hz on every HDMI port | No Dolby Vision on Samsung |
| Big screen | 75–77" Mini LED or OLED | Wall space and seat distance |
Five questions before any model number
1. How far away do you sit?
65 inches is the most popular TV size in Australia, and CHOICE puts the best seat for it at 1.25 to 2.5 metres, depending on resolution. Measure from the couch to the wall before you shop. Much closer than that, a 55-inch may be enough; further back, look at 75 inches and up.
At normal couch distances 4K is plenty. RTINGS' size-to-distance chart shows the distance at which each resolution stops making a visible difference.
2. How bright is the room?
OLED lights each pixel itself, so blacks are truly black and a night-time film looks its best. Mini LED TVs light the picture from behind with many small LEDs in hundreds or thousands of dimming zones, and they get much brighter, which matters when the TV faces a window. RTINGS' Mini LED vs OLED comparison explains the trade-off.
Reflections matter as much as brightness. A glossy screen opposite a window can wash out even a very bright TV, so for a sunny room look for a matte or anti-reflective screen. Several picks below have one.
3. Does refresh rate matter?
RTINGS' refresh-rate explainer says 120Hz mainly helps films shot at 24 frames a second (less judder), motion smoothing and 120fps games, and that ghosting depends more on how fast the pixels respond. Every pick here reaches 120Hz or more for games.
Australian specifications can read oddly: Samsung's pages list 100Hz native with 144Hz or 165Hz for games. Read the figure for games if you play, and the native figure if you do not.
4. Will a console plug in?
A PS5, PS5 Pro or Xbox Series X needs an HDMI 2.1 port for 4K at 120Hz. Count the ports: many TVs have four HDMI inputs but only two at full HDMI 2.1 speed, and a soundbar's eARC connection may use one of them. Several picks below take the full signal on every port.
Once it is connected, PlayStation's video output guide lists the console settings to check.
5. What will you watch most?
Catch-up apps such as ABC iview and 7plus come through Freeview Plus, which needs the TV connected to the internet, as CHOICE's TV buying guide explains. Some Australian channels, such as 7flix, 9GO! and 10 Peach Comedy, still broadcast only in standard definition, so how well a TV upscales matters if you watch them a lot.
Thin TVs have small speakers. Listen in the shop before adding a soundbar; CHOICE says a soundbar can help but is not essential.
Five rooms · three picks each
The recommendations
There is no single best TV. Each room gets a value pick, our balanced pick and an upgrade that buys a real improvement.
Some purchase links are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, ClearanceX earns from qualifying purchases.
Situation 1 of 5
Most living rooms: the all-rounder
Start with a 65-inch Mini LED. It copes with daylight, evening films and the odd game without making you choose between them.
The three picks move from an anti-glare Hisense to a TCL listing 2,040 dimming zones, then to Sony's new RGB backlight.
Value pick
1 / 3Hisense U7S 65-inch
65-inch · 4K · ULED Mini LED · 165Hz · model 65U7SAU
The easy all-rounder: a bright Mini LED with an anti-glare screen, HDMI 2.1 on all four ports and a three-year Hisense warranty.
Best for
A family lounge with daytime light, mixed viewing and a console, where one TV has to do everything well.
The reason to skip it
RTINGS measured a narrow viewing angle and slow pixel response on the US version, so side seats and fast games look softer.
Our pick
2 / 3TCL C8L 65-inch
65-inch · 4K · SQD-Mini LED · 144Hz · model 65C8L
More of what makes Mini LED work. TCL lists 2,040 dimming zones on the 65-inch, and What Hi-Fi's review found an outstandingly bright, colourful picture with all four HDMI ports at full HDMI 2.1 speed.
Best for
A lounge that wants strong HDR and plays games, where reflections are easy to manage.
The reason to skip it
What Hi-Fi found the sound hit and miss and some blooming from off to the side, and RTINGS rated reflection handling only mediocre on the US version.
Upgrade pick
3 / 3Sony BRAVIA 7 II 65-inch
65-inch · 4K · True RGB LED · 120Hz · model K-65XR70M2
Sony's True RGB backlight drives separate red, green and blue LEDs for richer colour. RTINGS tested this exact model and rated it excellent for films and for daytime viewing.
Best for
A lounge used like a home cinema that still gets daylight, where colour and picture quality matter more than gaming features.
The reason to skip it
Only two of its four HDMI ports are HDMI 2.1, and both TechRadar and RTINGS found the screen reflective.
Situation 2 of 5
Films in a dark room: OLED
Buy OLED when most viewing happens in the evening with the lights down. Nothing else gets blacks this deep.
LG's 2026 range is a clean ladder: the B6 gets you OLED, the C6 adds brightness and four more years of panel parts cover, and the G6 is the brightest of the three.
Value pick
1 / 3LG B6 OLED 65-inch
65-inch · 4K · OLED · 120Hz (144Hz VRR) · model OLED65B6PSA
The way into OLED's perfect blacks, with all four HDMI ports taking 4K 120Hz, so it doubles as a very good console TV.
Best for
Evening films and series in a room you can darken, where peak brightness matters less.
The reason to skip it
TechRadar measured it well below the C6's brightness and saw more green tint than last year's B5, and LG lists one year of warranty with no extra panel cover.
Our pick
2 / 3LG C6 OLED 65-inch
65-inch · 4K · OLED evo · 120Hz (165Hz VRR) · model OLED65C6PSA
The OLED most people should choose. TechRadar measured far more peak brightness than the B6, RTINGS names it its upper mid-range pick for films, and LG adds four years of panel parts cover to the first year's warranty.
Best for
A lounge used mostly at night for films, series and games, with some daytime watching.
The reason to skip it
The glossy screen reflects lamps and windows, and TechRadar notes it supports neither HDR10+ nor DTS.
Upgrade pick
3 / 3LG G6 OLED 65-inch
65-inch · 4K · OLED evo · 120Hz (165Hz VRR) · model OLED65G6PSB
The brightest of LG's three and RTINGS' top TV for films, and the LG that copes best with a lit room.
Best for
A dedicated film room, or a lounge where you want OLED without giving up daytime brightness.
The reason to skip it
In a dark room the C6 comes close, and the G6 has no HDR10+ either.
Situation 3 of 5
Bright rooms and daytime sport: brightness first
If the TV faces a window, buy brightness first and an anti-reflective screen if you can. OLED's deep blacks count for less in daylight.
The picks go from a very bright TCL to Hisense's RGB Mini LED with an anti-reflective screen, then to the TV RTINGS rates best of all for bright rooms.
Value pick
1 / 3TCL C7L 65-inch
65-inch · 4K · SQD-Mini LED · 144Hz · model 65C7L
Very bright. RTINGS rated the US version excellent in a bright room, and TCL lists 1,152 dimming zones on the 65-inch.
Best for
A sunny lounge where daylight brightness matters more than reflections or fast motion.
The reason to skip it
RTINGS found reflections handled only decently and fast motion blurred by slow pixels, and choose.tv lists only two full HDMI 2.1 ports.
Our pick
2 / 3Hisense UR8S 65-inch
65-inch · 4K · RGB Mini LED · 180Hz · model 65UR8SAU
GadgetGuy's Australian review called its anti-reflective screen excellent with the curtains open, and Hisense lists HDMI 2.1 on all four ports.
Best for
A bright family room where sport is on in the afternoon and the screen faces a window.
The reason to skip it
GadgetGuy found the local dimming aggressive, its main weakness: subtitles and small details on dark backgrounds can fade.
Upgrade pick
3 / 3Sony BRAVIA 9 II 65-inch
65-inch · 4K · True RGB LED · 120Hz · model K-65XR90M2
RTINGS' top TV for bright rooms. It tested this exact model and found its matte anti-reflective screen all but removes direct reflections.
Best for
A glass-walled or north-facing lounge where other TVs wash out at midday.
The reason to skip it
Only two HDMI 2.1 ports and no high-refresh mode for PC games.
Situation 4 of 5
PS5, PS5 Pro and Xbox Series X: 4K 120Hz on every port
Consoles need 4K 120Hz over HDMI 2.1, VRR and low input lag. All three picks take 4K at 144Hz or more on all four HDMI ports.
Samsung's 2026 range is the simplest gaming answer, because every HDMI port takes the full signal. The picks move from Mini LED to OLED to Samsung's brighter S95H OLED.
Value pick
1 / 3Samsung QN80H Neo QLED 65-inch
65-inch · 4K · Mini LED · 100Hz native, 144Hz VRR · model QA65QN80HAWXXY
Low input lag and 4K 144Hz on all four HDMI ports, with Mini LED brightness for daytime play. RTINGS rated the US version good for most uses.
Best for
A console in the family lounge, where the same TV has to be bright for daytime viewing.
The reason to skip it
No Dolby Vision, and RTINGS found fast motion blurry when gaming.
Our pick
2 / 3Samsung S90H OLED 65-inch
65-inch · 4K · OLED · 100Hz native, 165Hz VRR · model QA65S90HAWXXY
OLED's instant response with 4K 165Hz on all four HDMI ports. RTINGS called the US version an amazing gaming TV, and Samsung lists an anti-reflection screen.
Best for
A gaming-first lounge with a PS5 or Xbox, and films at night.
The reason to skip it
No Dolby Vision, and Samsung does not say which OLED panel the Australian model uses; RTINGS found a WOLED panel in the US one.
Upgrade pick
3 / 3Samsung S95H OLED 65-inch
65-inch · 4K · OLED · 100Hz native, 165Hz VRR · model QA65S95HAWXXY
RTINGS' top TV for PS5, for gaming and for sport. TechRadar measured very high HDR brightness and effective anti-reflection on the 65-inch.
Best for
Serious console or PC gaming in a room that also gets daylight.
The reason to skip it
Still no Dolby Vision, RTINGS saw blacks lift in bright light, and TechRadar found the design divisive.
Situation 5 of 5
Big screen: 75 inches and up
Go to 75 inches or more when you sit further back than about 2.5 metres. Check the wall and the TV unit before the picture.
Two TCL Mini LEDs cover the step up from the 65-inch sets above, and a 77-inch OLED suits a room you can darken.
Value pick
1 / 3TCL C6L 75-inch
75-inch · 4K · QD-Mini LED · 144Hz · model 75C6L
A 75-inch Mini LED with a 144Hz panel, VRR for games and TCL's three-year warranty. CHOICE has reviewed this exact model.
Best for
A bigger lounge where screen size matters more than peak brightness.
The reason to skip it
TechRadar's review of the earlier C6K found only two full HDMI 2.1 ports, and RTINGS found TCL's US QM6K dim in HDR. TCL lists four HDMI 2.1 ports on the C6L, but no independent test has confirmed that yet.
Our pick
2 / 3TCL C8L 75-inch
75-inch · 4K · SQD-Mini LED · 144Hz · model 75C8L
The C8L at 75 inches. TCL lists 2,584 dimming zones on this size and four HDMI 2.1 ports at 4K 144Hz.
Best for
A big, bright lounge where films, sport and games all share the screen.
The reason to skip it
What Hi-Fi tested only the 65-inch, where it found hit-and-miss sound and blooming from off to the side.
Upgrade pick
3 / 3LG C6 OLED 77-inch
77-inch · 4K · OLED evo · 120Hz (165Hz VRR) · model OLED77C6PSA
OLED blacks on a screen big enough for a home cinema. TechRadar notes that the 77-inch C6 uses the upgraded panel from LG's G6, and RTINGS found it brighter than the smaller C6.
Best for
A large room you can darken, used mostly for films and sport at night.
The reason to skip it
RTINGS' test of the US 77-inch, sold there as the C6H, found mediocre reflection handling, so glare can still distract. At 77 inches you also need to sit well back.
Common TV buying questions
What size TV should I buy?
Measure from your seat to the wall. 65 inches is the most popular size in Australia, and CHOICE suggests sitting 1.25 to 2.5 metres from a 65-inch TV. Sit further back than that and 75 inches or more starts to make sense.
Is OLED or Mini LED better?
OLED is better in a dark room, with perfect blacks and no glow around bright objects. Mini LED is better in a bright room because it gets much brighter. If the TV faces a window, an anti-reflective screen matters as much as either.
When is the best time to buy a TV in Australia?
CHOICE names Black Friday and the end-of-financial-year sales, and April and May, when most major retailers clear the previous year's stock.
How many HDMI 2.1 ports do I need for a PS5 or Xbox?
One for each console you want at 4K 120Hz. Many TVs have four HDMI inputs but only two at full HDMI 2.1 speed, so check the specification port by port, and remember a soundbar's eARC connection may use one of them.
Do I need a soundbar?
Not always. Thin TVs have small speakers, so listen first. CHOICE says a soundbar can help but is not essential.
Do I need an extended warranty?
Usually not. Under the Australian Consumer Law, a TV that fails through no fault of your own, within the time a TV should reasonably last, still entitles you to a remedy after the maker's warranty ends, and CHOICE notes this holds even if you did not buy an extended warranty.
Do I need an 8K TV?
No. CHOICE calls 8K not actually that useful for an Australian home, and makers released no new 8K models in 2026.
Check the price after choosing the TV
Prices change, so the store's own page has the final price.
Hisense U7S 65-inch
TCL C8L 65-inch
LG B6 OLED 65-inch
LG C6 OLED 65-inch
LG G6 OLED 65-inch
TCL C7L 65-inch
Hisense UR8S 65-inch
Samsung QN80H Neo QLED 65-inch
Samsung S90H OLED 65-inch
Samsung S95H OLED 65-inch
TCL C6L 75-inch
TCL C8L 75-inch
LG C6 OLED 77-inch