Need to know
- Our lab experts tested more than 45 popular TVs from LG, Sony, Samsung, TCL, Hisense and many more
- We rate key factors including picture quality, remote, user interface, sound and energy use
- Become a CHOICE member to see the full reviews and best performers
It's going to take up prime position in your living room and provide countless enjoyable hours of Netflix bingeing, sports watching or movie marathoning, so the choice of which TV to buy is an important one.
TVs are one of the most popular discounted items come sale time, and you'll also likely find lots of offers at non-traditional sale times, too, as retailers try to offload unsold stock to make way for new models.
All under control: CHOICE TV expert Scott O'Keefe in our labs.
But our experts urge caution if you're in the market for a new TV: retailers might discount some good-quality TVs, but they also discount plenty of mediocre models, too.
And no-one wants to be stuck with poor picture quality and sub-par sound for years to come.
To help you sort the star performers from the B-grade extras, our TV experts test about 45 models in our lab each year.
We evaluate key factors you want to know about, including picture quality, sound, remote, energy use, user interface and more.
Covering more than 90% of the market, we review popular brands such as LG, Sony, Samsung, TCL and Hisense, as well as lesser known ones such as Chiq, Ffalcon and Aldi's house brand, Bauhn.
Do you even need a new TV?
Before you get swept up in the sales hype, stop and think about whether you actually need that new TV at all. (We're not trying to be killjoys, we promise!)
If you're happy with the picture quality of your existing TV but feel like it's just not smart enough, you don't necessarily need to buy a new one – you can simply smarten up the TV you already own.
CHOICE TV expert Denis Gallagher explains how to turn a regular TV into a smart TV to breathe new life into your older model and save yourself hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars.
Five TVs to avoid buying in the sales
In our most recent lab tests, our experts found some terrific TVs alongside some more mediocre models.
We don't want you to end up with a dud buy, so here are the products that scored lowest in our lab tests. Consider becoming a CHOICE member to see the best performers.
Aldi's 40-inch TV: not worth queuing for.
Bauhn (Aldi, with WebOS) ATV40UHDW-0124
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 61%
- Size: 40 inches
- Price: $329
This Aldi TV uses the operating software of an LG and even uses the LG content store for app updates.
It may look like an LG and talk like an LG… but it definitely doesn't perform like an LG.
Even at this price, it's just not worth queuing for
With TVs, it's all about the picture and sound quality and this TV isn't great on either front.
Picture quality across standard definition, HDR and 4K was rated as 'Borderline' at best, and our experts said its sound quality had "almost no power at all; can only just hear details; sounds like a distant mobile phone".
Even at this price, it's just not worth queuing for.
Read the full Bauhn ATV40UHDW-0124 review.
Big screen, low price, middling performance: the TCL 65P745.
TCL 65P745
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 67%
- Size: 65 inches
- Price: $795
This is one of the cheapest 65-inch TVs we've tested, so if you're looking to go big, it's understandable that you'd be tempted by its low price.
But don't pull out your credit card just yet. This model is far from good value for money, unless you're a fan of ordinary picture quality and so-so sound.
This is one of the cheapest 65-inch TVs we've tested, but it's far from good value for money
It's not all bad news: it has excellent smart TV functions and very good energy use and user interface. But these aren't really compelling selling points when picture and audio performance are both so average.
If you're looking for a big screen on a budget, our TV experts found a number of models that perform better for around the same price or just a little more.
Read the full TCL 65P745 review.
Spend just a little more and you can pick up a much better TV than this Ffalcon.
Ffalcon 55UF2
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 68%
- Size: 55 inches
- Price: $469
It's the cheapest TV of its size in our test, but if you can stretch your budget by even $100 more, you can pick up a TV with far superior sound and picture quality.
You might not even have to spend that much if you find a good price in the sales.
If you have $500 to spend on a small TV, don't make it this one
But if you have $500 to spend on a small TV, don't make it this one unless you're a fan of poor sound and underwhelming picture quality.
Read the full Ffalcon 55UF2 review.
You'll get what you pay for with this Kogan 65-inch TV.
Kogan KAQLED65XQ98JSTA
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 69%
- Size: 65 inches
- Price: $829
It may be a bargain even at full price, but you'll pretty much get what you pay for with this Kogan 65-inch TV.
Our expert testers were disappointed with its standard and HDR picture quality and found the 4K picture pale.
It may be a bargain even at full price, but you'll pretty much get what you pay for
On a positive note, it has excellent smart TV functions and a very good user interface, so even if the picture is average at least it's easy to use.
Regardless, it's not one to add to your cart, even if you find it at a great price in the sales.
Read the full Kogan KAQLED65XQ98JSTA review.
For the same price as this 54-inch Sony, you could pick up a far better TV.
Sony KD55X77L
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 69%
- Size: 54 inches
- Price: $1195
The most expensive of this bunch of poor performers, it's also one of the smallest.
Unfortunately it isn't a case of "small but beautiful" with this Sony: it delivers underwhelming picture quality for both high and standard definition, and the 4K picture is overly bright.
You could find a far better TV for this kind of money
It does have excellent smart TV functions and a very good user interface, but these good features are undermined by its ordinary sound quality and remote.
It's also lacking HbbTV and Freeview Plus support and, probably more annoyingly, a DVR, which means you can't pause live TV or record a show.
You could find a far better TV for this kind of money, so check our reviews to find the best TVs for your budget.
Read the full Sony KD55X77L review.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
