Electronics and technology / Home Entertainment / TVs and projectors

TV reviews

Best TVs to buy in Australia

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TVs to avoid

Don’t waste your money on a dud. See the models that rated lowest in our lab tests.

TVs to avoid buying

We give each TV a score made up of:

HD picture quality (25%)

We give TVs a technical and subjective assessment of how well each model can handle a number of different source materials. Because both free-to-air and streaming providers stream most shows in HD, HD makes up 25% of the overall TV score.

SD picture quality (15%)

We assess how well each TV can handle a number of different source materials. We’ve found that high resolution TVs often struggle to upscale SD streaming or free-to-air broadcast, which can mean the overall picture quality suffers. Our test aims to find models that handle both types well.

Filmmaker Mode picture score (10%)

Filmmaker Mode disables most of the post-processing on your TV (such as colour adjustments and image smoothing) to deliver a more cinematic picture that’s as close to the director’s original intentions as possible. If Filmmaker Mode isn’t available, we test in the manufacturer’s Movie/Cinema mode.

Remote control (10%)

Our tester checks the size and spacing of the buttons, dials or touch pads to make sure they’re easy to reach, logically grouped and not too close together. The remote’s overall size and shape is assessed for how well it fits in the hand and how easy it is to use with one hand.

Smart TV (10%)

We’ve increased our testing in this area as smart TVs have become an intrinsic part of the modern smart home.

User interface (10%)

We test to find TVs with an interface that’s consistently easy to read and follow. We also look for models that tell the user what’s happening and clearly show which button to press, or what to do next.

4K/UHD picture quality (5%)

Online streaming now delivers 4K quality video, so we look at 4K content to see which TVs deliver the best overall picture.

Energy use (5%)

Standby and in-use energy is measured to calculate the annual cost of running the TV. This test uses an average of four hours of TV a day and leaves the TV in standby mode when it’s not in use.

Sound quality (5%)

Our tester plays a number of high quality voice and music recordings on a DVD player connected to the TV and compares it to a reference system. We test at a volume that would be comfortable in a normal-sized room and also at a volume that flexes the model’s prowess.

Electronic program guide(5%)

The EPG score accounts for 5% of the CHOICE Expert Rating.

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CHOICE keeps the marketplace honest. Without them, manufacturers will be able to do whatever they want.
Aaron – CHOICE member

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Allison – CHOICE member

CHOICE member Aaron

CHOICE keeps the marketplace honest. Without them, manufacturers will be able to do whatever they want.
James – CHOICE member

Which brands does CHOICE review?

Our experts test dozens of TV models from Bauhn (Aldi), Blaupunkt, ChiQ, Ffalcon, Hisense, LG, Philips, Samsung, Sony, TCL, Toshiba and have test results for many more discontinued models.

How does CHOICE pick which TVs to test?

Our priority is testing the models you’ll see in stores and major online retailers. To do this, we check current market data to see what’s most popular. We’ll also test models that a lot of members have requested.

How are TVs tested in the lab?

We have our own on-site TV lab that’s equipped with precisely calibrated measurement tools and reference machines to test and compare products. Every model is tested in a standardised way to align with Australian and international standards. Our experts assess key test criteria including picture quality, ease of use, energy efficiency, sound quality and much more.

How does CHOICE get the TVs it reviews?

Unlike other product review sites, we don’t accept free test models from manufacturers. This allows us to be independent and review without interference. Instead, we buy products anonymously from a variety of retailers, then bring them into our labs. This means we get what you’d get, and can be sure the model hasn’t been potentially ‘tweaked’ for better performance.

Who does the testing?

Our expert testers James Thompson and Elias Plastiras have many years of combined experience testing and reviewing home entertainment products.

How often are new models tested?

Because new TVs are released throughout the year with new models arriving from April through to October, we test our TVs in batches. We do this around 10 times each year.

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