Best TV for Netflix

Picture quality is the most heavily weighted criterion because it directly determines how immersive and enjoyable Netflix content appears on screen.

The LG OLED65C3 scores 10/10. Its WOLED panel produces self-emissive light from each of its 8.3 million pixels, creating perfect blacks and infinite contrast. When watching dark Netflix originals, shadows contain genuine detail rather than the grey haze common on backlit panels. The C3's colour accuracy out of the box is excellent, covering 98.5% of the DCI-P3 colour space that Netflix masters its Dolby Vision content in.

The Samsung S90C scores 9/10. QD-OLED technology adds a quantum dot colour conversion layer that produces a wider colour gamut than standard WOLED. Reds and greens are more saturated and vibrant. However, Samsung's colour tuning tends toward a more vivid, punchy look rather than the neutral accuracy that LG achieves. For cinematic content, the LG's more faithful reproduction is preferable.

The Sony A80L scores 8/10. It uses the same WOLED panel technology as the LG but benefits from Sony's XR Cognitive Processor, which analyses content in zones the way the human eye perceives it. This produces exceptionally natural skin tones and the best upscaling of lower-resolution content. However, peak brightness is slightly lower than the C3.

The TCL C845 scores 6/10. Its Mini-LED backlight with local dimming zones produces good HDR performance for a non-OLED panel, but contrast cannot match self-emissive technology. Dark scenes exhibit some blooming around bright objects and black uniformity is less consistent.

HDR performance is rated critical because Netflix streams the vast majority of its original content in either Dolby Vision or HDR10. The quality of a TV's HDR processing directly affects how this content is displayed.

The LG OLED65C3 and Samsung S90C both score 9/10 for HDR but for different reasons. The LG excels in Dolby Vision processing with scene-by-scene dynamic metadata that adjusts tone mapping continuously. The Samsung excels in raw brightness, pushing HDR highlights to approximately 1300 nits compared to the LG's 800 nits. For most Netflix content viewed in a controlled environment, the LG's superior contrast and Dolby Vision support produce a more consistently impactful HDR picture.

The Sony A80L scores 8/10. Its Dolby Vision implementation is solid and its tone mapping is smooth, but lower peak brightness means HDR specular highlights are less punchy than the LG or Samsung.

The TCL C845 scores 7/10. It supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10+, which is impressive at this price point. However, its Mini-LED local dimming introduces visible blooming around bright HDR highlights in dark scenes, reducing the impact.

The LG OLED65C3 scores 9/10 for its webOS platform. Netflix launches in approximately 2 seconds, navigation is smooth and the interface receives regular updates. The dedicated Netflix Calibrated Mode is a unique feature developed with Netflix. webOS also supports AirPlay 2 and Chromecast for additional streaming flexibility.

The Samsung S90C scores 8/10 with Tizen. The platform is fast and modern but Samsung integrates advertising within the home screen interface, which degrades the premium experience. Netflix loads quickly and performs well.

The Sony A80L scores 8/10 with Google TV. The content discovery and recommendation features are the strongest of any platform, surfacing relevant Netflix content alongside other streaming services. However, the interface can occasionally feel slower than webOS or Tizen.

The TCL C845 scores 7/10, also running Google TV. Performance is adequate but noticeably slower than the premium TVs, with longer app launch times and occasional interface lag.

The Sony A80L leads the field at 9/10 thanks to Acoustic Surface Audio, which vibrates the OLED panel itself to produce sound that appears to come from the screen rather than below it. Dialogue clarity is excellent and the spatial effect is impressive for built-in TV audio.

The Samsung S90C scores 8/10 with a 60W 2.1-channel system that includes a dedicated woofer. Bass response is the strongest of the four TVs. The LG OLED65C3 scores 7/10 with a 40W 2.2-channel system that is adequate for casual viewing but lacks the impact and clarity needed for serious film watching. The TCL C845 scores 5/10 with a basic 30W system that most users will want to supplement with a soundbar.

At approximately £1299, the LG OLED65C3 scores 7/10 for value. It is the most expensive option but delivers the strongest picture quality for Netflix streaming. The Samsung S90C at approximately £1199 scores 8/10, offering QD-OLED picture quality at a lower price point. The Sony A80L at approximately £1249 scores 7/10, positioned between the LG and Samsung with the added benefit of superior built-in sound. The TCL C845 at approximately £699 scores 9/10 for value, delivering 120Hz, Dolby Vision and decent picture quality at roughly half the price of the OLED options.