Best OLED TV

Picture quality is the most heavily weighted criterion because it is the primary reason buyers choose OLED technology over LED alternatives. All four TVs in this comparison deliver exceptional picture quality, but meaningful differences exist.

The Samsung S95C scores 10/10 due to its second-generation QD-OLED panel, which produces the widest colour volume and highest brightness of any OLED TV. Colours are exceptionally vivid and saturated, with reds and greens that are visibly more intense than WOLED panels. The panel also achieves approximately 1200 nits of peak brightness, reducing the traditional gap between OLED and high-end LED TVs.

The LG OLED65C3 scores 9/10 with its WOLED panel. Black levels are marginally purer than the Samsung's QD-OLED, producing the deepest blacks in this comparison. Colour accuracy is excellent at over 98% DCI-P3 coverage, though it falls slightly short of the Samsung's wider gamut. The C3's image is more neutral and natural than the Samsung's more vivid presentation, which some viewers prefer.

The Sony A95K scores 9/10 with its first-generation QD-OLED panel and Sony's XR Cognitive Processor, which produces the most refined and natural-looking image. Motion handling, upscaling and skin tone accuracy are all class-leading. The LG G3 scores 9/10, matching the C3's picture quality with significantly higher brightness via its MLA panel.

HDR performance determines how well the TV renders high dynamic range content from streaming services, Blu-ray discs and games. It encompasses peak brightness, tone mapping quality and supported HDR formats.

The LG OLED65C3 and Samsung S95C both score 9/10 for HDR but for different reasons. The LG supports Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG. Dolby Vision content on Netflix, Disney+ and Apple TV+ is rendered with dynamic metadata that adjusts the picture scene by scene, producing superior shadow detail and highlight precision. The Samsung does not support Dolby Vision but offers HDR10+ instead, which is a less widely adopted dynamic format.

The LG G3 scores 9/10 with the same HDR format support as the C3 but approximately 60% higher brightness, making HDR highlights significantly more impactful. The Sony A95K scores 8/10 with Dolby Vision support and excellent tone mapping, but its peak brightness sits between the C3 and S95C.

Colour accuracy matters for viewers who want faithful reproduction of the creator's intended palette. It is particularly important for cinema content, nature documentaries and any colour-critical viewing.

The Samsung S95C scores 10/10 for colour accuracy due to QD-OLED's quantum dot layer, which produces approximately 99.5% DCI-P3 coverage and the highest colour volume of any TV. Saturated colours maintain their intensity at all brightness levels, which is a notable advantage over WOLED.

The Sony A95K scores 9/10 with excellent QD-OLED colour reproduction enhanced by Sony's superior colour management algorithms. The LG C3 and G3 both score 8/10 with over 98% DCI-P3 coverage. Their WOLED panels produce accurate and natural colours but cannot match the raw gamut width of QD-OLED technology.

Value for money assesses how each TV's performance justifies its asking price. This criterion provides a meaningful differentiator because the price range across these four OLEDs spans from approximately £1299 to £1999.

The LG OLED65C3 scores 9/10 at approximately £1299. It delivers picture quality within 5 to 10% of TVs costing £300 to £700 more, making it the clear value leader. The Samsung S95C scores 7/10 at approximately £1599. Its QD-OLED technology justifies a premium but the £300 gap over the C3 is only partially reflected in picture quality gains.

The Sony A95K scores 6/10 at approximately £1899. Its picture processing is the most refined, but the price premium is difficult to justify unless cinematic accuracy is your absolute top priority. The LG G3 scores 6/10 at approximately £1999. Its MLA brightness improvement is impressive but the £700 premium over the C3 is steep for a brightness gain that primarily benefits bright-room viewing.