Your new TV will take up prime position in your living room and provide countless enjoyable hours of binge watching, sports streaming and moving marathoning. It’s important to pick one that looks and sounds great.

TVs are one of the most popular discounted items come end of financial year sale time. And you’ll likely find plenty of offers outside of regular sales periods too, as retailers try to offload unsold stock to make way for new models.

But our experts urge caution if you’re in the market for a new TV. Retailers don’t just discount the good ones – they’re eager to offload plenty of duds as well.

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 dozens of models in our lab each year.

We evaluate the 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, along with smaller 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.

����Vlog TV experts explain how to turn a regular TV into a smart TV to breathe new life into your older model. This can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

The worst large TVs in our test

In our most recent lab tests, our experts found some terrific big-screen TVs alongside some very underwhelming models. Here’s the models that underwhelmed in our reviews.

Remember, too, that a large TV like this might not be suitable for your space: the larger the TV, the further away you’ll need to sit for the best viewing experience. 

Our experts recommend a viewing distance of around 2.48 metres from a 65-inch screen, so if your lounge room isn’t particularly large, you’ll be better off with a smaller TV anyway – which means you might be able to get a better view for around the same or less money.

Our guide to measuring and choosing the right TV size will help you find the right size for your viewing pleasure.

ChiQ U65M10F

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 66%
• Size: 65-inch
• Price: $699

Yes, this 65-inch TV seems like an absolute steal at $699, but there’s a reason it’s priced so low.

It might look impressive at first glance, but it underperforms on some of the most important things you want a TV to do: make whatever you’re watching look good and sound good.

Picture quality is ordinary in both standard and high definition and our experts say the sound is dull and lacks presence (it doesn’t feel like the audio is filling the room). Even the 4K picture was a bit flat and pale.

Read the full ChiQ U65M10F review.

Hisense 65Q6QAU

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 67%
• Size: 65-inch
• Price: $1099

A $400 step up in price doesn’t translate to a step up in quality. This Hisense might be more expensive than the ChiQ, but it’s barely any better.

The high- and standard-definition picture quality is similarly disappointing and the remote isn’t exactly a joy to use, with our experts rating it as only OK.

It does deliver better sound quality, but it’s still a bit boomy. Sometimes, this makes the rest of the audio pretty hard to hear, including dialogue.

A number of 65-inch TVs we’ve reviewed that cost around the same performed far better, so we suggest looking elsewhere.

Read the full Hisense 65Q6QAU review. 

Blaupunkt BP650USG60

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 69%
• Size: 64-inch
• Price: $947

We’ve seen a lot of new TVs that look great in 4K but pretty average in all other respects. This TV falls into this exact trap – 4K looks good to very good (depending on the settings), but SD and HD are only OK.

While 4K is readily available on streaming services and discs, the majority of movies and shows are still only available in SD and HD.

So, although it seems quite cheap at less than $1000, you’re really getting a TV that’s only good at one thing, and you won’t be able to use that thing most of the time.

Sound quality isn’t a saving grace either. It’s pretty average, with noticeable echo and some harshness, as well as an overall absence of punch and impact. In other words, it doesn’t sound all that cinematic.

Read the full Blaupunkt BP650USG60 review.

Samsung QA65Q7FAAWXXY

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 69%
• Size: 65-inch
• Price: $2069

There’s not much to say about this Samsung TV, except it’s yet another 65-inch screen that only looks good in 4K. SD and HD quality are only OK and the speakers lack impact.

The price point is a very hard sell as well, even when it’s on sale. It’s not hard to find TVs that match, or outperform this screen with year-round price tags that are the same as Samsung’s sale price.

Read the full Samsung QA65Q7FAAWXXY review.

Toshiba 65C350RP

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 69%
• Size: 65-inch
• Price: $1095

Some picture quality concessions need to be made when you’re shopping on a budget. You’re not going to get the best screen in the world and that’s fine – but you can do much better than this budget TV from Toshiba.

Everything falls apart in our HD video assessment. Its borderline HD score of 54% puts it among the worst performers in this part of our test, with SD picture quality only faring slightly better at the lower end of OK (61%).

There are also issues with build quality and performance. Our experts noticed some light bleed, which is when white blotches appear around the edge of the screen. There are also signs of artefacting, an issue that makes the picture break up and turn blocky, mainly during fast-moving scenes.

Read the full Toshiba 65C350RP review.

The worst small TVs in our test

Small screens aren’t really designed to compete with the big dogs but they can still look quite good. These ones, however, do not.

Ffalcon FF32S55

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 64%
• Size: 32-inch
• Price: $199

Ffalcon has the esteemed honour of being the cheapest currently available TV in our test. It has also achieved the notable dishonour of being the lowest scoring model.

Compromises in picture and sound quality are normal when you’re shopping on a budget, but try to save a bit more money to avoid this disappointing display. Picture quality is just barely OK, and the built-in speaker is completely absent of bass while sounding harsh and lacking in detail.

The remote control isn’t half bad; it’s actually among the better ones we’ve seen, which includes expensive TVs from major brands. So, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the off button.

Read the full Ffalcon FF32S55 review.

TCL 32S5K

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 66%
• Size: 32-inch
• Price: $399

TCL’s small TV costs $200 more than the Ffalcon above. Is it worth the extra dough? Not really.

Standard-definition picture quality is good and may sound fine if you tend to watch older movies and shows that haven’t been released in high-definition (HD). But high-def quality is very average and sound quality is poor with no bass, limited detail and an overall harsh feel – just like the Ffalcon.

You’re just paying more money for a better standard-def picture. That’s not worth it, not in 2026 when the vast majority of content is available in HD. Skip the TCL and buy a TV that’s built for the modern age.

Read the full TCL 32S5K review.

Philips 32PHT6529/79

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 67%
• Size: 32-inch
• Price: $299

In life, not everyone will shoot for the moon. Lots of folks are fine being an average sort of person and that’s OK. Philips has applied the same philosophy to this small TV – a far less acceptable approach when it comes to home entertainment.

Standard-definition picture and sound quality are both firmly OK – the kind of OK where you can’t really fix things by adjusting the settings. High-def, meanwhile, really falls apart as it skirts the line between OK and poor quality (57%).

However, its user interface is very good, almost excellent in fact. This is great news for people who love browsing menus.

Read the full Philips 32PHT6529/79 review.

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The post TVs to avoid in the sales appeared first on ����Vlog.

If you love your music, these are the wireless speakers to avoid buying. We’ve picked the worst performing models in various price categories so you can avoid the cheap and nasties as well as the high-priced duds.

How much do wireless speakers cost?

Depending on what you’re after, you can opt for: 

• a battery-powered portable speaker with a Bluetooth connection linked directly to your smart device so it’s 100% portable.
• a home speaker that has a wireless Wi-Fi connection so you can stream music over your home network. These are usually quite bulky and need to be plugged into a power outlet, so they aren’t really portable.
• a party speaker that’s large, loud and flashy. They’re designed for entertaining and can be transported in a vehicle or carried short distances.
• a smart screen with voice assistance and a display, which is perfect in your kitchen for viewing recipes or cooking videos, or in the bedroom for the morning news or a podcast (note these are no longer part of our test).

The cheapest models in our test cost around $50, while the high-end models can run as much as $3000. Portable speakers are available at cheap, mid-range and high price points, while home models usually start at mid-range and can get very expensive.

Party speakers are mostly in the mid-range, though there are a few models that cost over $1000. Smart screens hover around the $250 mark.

Sound quality tends to match the asking price when it comes to speakers and though there are plenty of exceptions (especially poor performers at the very expensive end), you can expect to pay around $500–$1000 for a good quality wireless speaker.

Of course, sound quality is subjective and cheaper models that didn’t earn the tick of approval from our experts aren’t necessarily terrible. It’s always best to have a listen to the speakers before you buy if you can, as you may find some that suit your needs, and your ears, at a much more affordable price point.

Wireless speakers are also steeply discounted during sales periods, particularly at big-name retailers like JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman. If you find a model you like but it’s outside your price range, hold out for a sale as it could drop by a very decent margin.

How we test wireless speakers

To make sure you get the best bass for your buck, our panel of experts listens to a range of music and audio. This includes classical, jazz, pop and speech with male and female vocals (i.e. a podcast). Technical measurements of frequency response and harmonic distortion are taken as well.

We also conduct a general ease of use assessment which covers setup, day-to-day use, the effectiveness of digital assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant (where available) and more. Lastly, battery life and power consumption are measured and scored.

We record battery life for portable speakers and annual energy consumption for home models, in kilowatt-hours (kWh).

Lowest scoring speakers in our test

Here are the worst performing speakers across a range of price brackets, arranged in order from cheapest to most expensive.

Worst under $100: House of Marley Jammin

• Cost (RRP): $59
• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 24%
• Sound quality score: 14%
• Ease of use score: 47%
• Power score: 63%
• Battery life (hh:mm): 9:32

In a testament to the enduring power of Bob Marley’s name and music, this speaker will make you want to get up, stand up – for a refund.

Not only is it the lowest scoring model in our test overall, it has the worst sound quality out of any currently available model we’ve tested. A moment for our expert’s ears, please.

Now granted, this cheap, rectangular cube isn’t designed to compete with a mid- to high-range model.

But even so, there are other speakers in this price category that sound so much better than the very poor sounds that soured our audio lab from this speaker.

Other test found it to be borderline at best and it’s not all that easy to use. Battery life and water resistance (light rain, splashes and mist) are decent, but your friends will send you home if you dare to bring a Jammin wireless speaker to the next outdoor event.

Read the full House of Marley Jammin review.

Worst between $101–200: JBL Grip

• Cost (RRP): $130
• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 37%
• Sound quality score: 32%
• Ease of use score: 72%
• Power score: 39%
• Battery life (hh:mm): 6:38

The JBL Grip isn’t much bigger than a soft drink can. It doesn’t amplify the sound of your mobile phone much better, either.

Most of the marketing for this product seems to be geared towards outdoor entertaining – pool parties, picnics and twilight patio hangs.

So, does it bring the summertime vibes? No, if anything the Grip will make your friends want to move inside, away from the noise.

Small speakers aren’t going to have the best sound quality in the world but even so, 32% is pretty poor.

Where average audio can just fade into the background during a get-together, the JBL Grip sounds so bad, it’s distracting.

Read the full JBL Grip review.

Worst between $201–300: Audio Pro P5

• Cost (RRP): $249
• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 38%
• Sound quality score: 37%
• Ease of use score: 59%
• Power score: 30%
• Battery life (hh:mm): 5:19

Audio Pro in name but barely Audio Pro in nature, maybe it would be best to rename this speaker the Audio Poor P5. Sound quality for classical, jazz and pop just isn’t very good at all, while battery life is among the worst in our test.

While you can’t expect amazing sound quality from a speaker of this size, it’s certainly big enough to deliver results better than those our experts heard.

Plus, you’re probably going to have trouble setting up and using the Pro P5 as the ease of use results are just OK. Sorry Mr Pro, but it’s time to go.

Read the full Audio Pro P5 review.

Worst between $301–400: Bose SoundLink Home

• Cost (RRP): $350
• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 49%
• Sound quality score: 45%
• Ease of use score: 70%
• Power score: 53%
• Battery life (hh:mm): 7:29

The SoundLink range from Bose has been around for some time, though it’s never really risen above mediocrity. Sound quality has always been pretty middling across the selection of entry-level and mid-range speakers.

In keeping with tradition, the new SoundLink Home speaker is equally average, being all style and no substance. It’s the only Bose model to earn poor results in our audio test (45%), with flat, muddy sound that lacks impact.

While it looks quite nice with an overall modern design and some light retro touches, there’s no dust or moisture protection whatsoever. This makes the SoundLink Home a strictly indoor affair, basically limiting its portability to various spots around the room/home.

Read the full Bose SoundLink Home review.

Worst between $401–500: Bang & Olufsen Explore

• Cost (RRP): $460
• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 38%
• Sound quality score: 33%
• Ease of use score: 53%
• Power score: 52%
• Battery life (hh:mm): 10:48

Bang & Olufsen, the iconic electronics brand, celebrated its 100th anniversary in November 2025, but the Explore portable speaker is nothing to celebrate.

These skilful Danes have built some legendary high-end audio products over the years but this wireless speaker is a classic example of paying extra for the branding alone.

There’s nothing here to suggest that the Explore meets the same lofty standards as the name suggests. So don’t be fooled by that B&O stamp.

The sound quality, ease of use and power results are similar to, or worse than, cheaper speakers in this article – not to mention many others in our test.

Features are almost identical too, so really, you can get the same performance for half the price of this model.

Read the full Bang & Olufsen Explore review.

Worst over $500: Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen

• Cost (RRP): $640
• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 48%
• Sound quality score: 42%
• Ease of use score: 60%
• Power score: 69%
• Battery life (hh:mm): 11:44

The 2nd Gen version of this speaker was among the lowest performers for speakers at its price point – until now. Not content to rest on its laurels, B&O has worked hard to lower the bar even further with the 3rd Gen version, which sounds considerably worse.

This seems to be another case of B&O trading on its legacy alone, which is a shame. But it’s hard to excuse an updated speaker that drags audio quality down from sounding borderline (2nd Gen) to poor, while keeping the $640 price point.

How this happened is anyone’s guess, because the 3rd Gen is almost exactly the same size and weight as the previous iteration. In other words, there’s nothing to suggest that the core design has changed to the point that we can blame it for this significant drop in audio quality.

Battery life has improved, though. Maybe B&O moved the speaker out of the way to shove a bigger battery in? Don’t waste your money, in any case.

Read the full Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen review.

Worst high-end speaker: Bang & Olufsen Beosound Emerge

• Cost (RRP): $1850
• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 53%
• Sound quality score: 58%
• Ease of use score: 51%
• Power score: 29%
• Annual energy use (kWh): 50.55

We included this speaker to show you that price doesn’t always equal quality – and what a price to drive that point home! Bang & Olufsen has taken out a third spot in our list of duds and these results are particularly painful for $1850.

To be fair, the sleek, elegant, modern design does fit nicely into spaces like a study, reading nook and so on.

This speaker could easily blend in to deliver the effect of music emanating from nowhere and that alone does warrant a higher price.

But you want at least some substance to match that style and the borderline audio quality doesn’t come close to justifying the price. Looks, unfortunately, can so often deceive.

Read the full Bang & Olufsen Beosound Emerge review.

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There are plenty of budget big and small screens around from major brands including LG, Samsung and Sony, and a few lesser-known brands you may want to avoid. Ever heard of a Konka TV? Exactly.

At the end of the day, even the best quality budget models aren’t going to match the quality of a more expensive TV. 

Here, we help you identify the things to look for in a cheaper model, issues to avoid, and how to get a great deal on something a little more upmarket.

And, exclusively for ����Vlog members, we reveal our picks for the best quality budget TVs from our tests. But rather than only listing the top scoring TVs in each price bracket, we’ve included a range of screen sizes where possible. Though 65-inch models tend to score higher, not everyone wants a big-screen TV.

If you’re already a member and you just want to see the best budget TVs, you can jump straight to the results now.

• How much should you spend on a budget TV?
• Budget vs expensive TVs – what’s the difference?
• What makes a good budget TV?
• What’s the best budget OLED TV?
• How to save money on an expensive TV
• ����Vlog picks for best budget TV

How much should you spend on a budget TV?

TVs can get expensive – like, really expensive. We’ve tested models that cost as much as $7000, and even those don’t come close to the most expensive models on the market. Some manufacturers sell TVs that cost over $10,000.

The budget range is a little more financially forgiving. TVs in this category cost anywhere from around $200 to around $1500. 

You can find some really solid 55–65-inch 4K TVs in the $1000–1500 price range. Most (but not all) models below $1000 have smaller screens of 32–55 inches.

Budget vs expensive TVs – what’s the difference?

Picture and sound are the key points of difference when looking at TVs on the opposite ends of the pricing scale. 

Budget TVs can still look quite good, but picture quality tends to lack the “wow” factor that you get from high-end models. They’re a bit more functional, and you won’t get the cinematic, impactful and highly-detailed pictures you can expect from a high-end machine.

A good-quality, expensive TV should also be able to get the most out of standard and high definition (SD and HD) content by upscaling the video. 

Sound quality on a cheaper TV, on the other hand, usually ranges from OK to downright unlistenable. Sure, you’re probably not expecting an audiophile experience if you’re on a budget, but some low-cost TV speakers sound no better than a smartphone. That’s not an exaggeration.

There are five key areas where you’ll notice a difference between expensive and budget televisions:

1. Picture quality
2. Sound quality
3. Upscaling capabilities
4. Screen size
5. General performance

1. Picture quality

The first thing to look for is colour quality. At lower price points, it really comes down to what you feel comfortable watching rather than the colours being strictly accurate, but there are some persistent issues that you may find distracting.

Colours may not look quite right, and some scenes may be too bright or too dark, creating an unbalanced, blotchy and perhaps even fluorescent look.

And high dynamic range doesn’t always process correctly, which can cause other colour issues. Some particularly egregious examples from our tests have turned yellows into greens, for example.

It’s always best to trial a TV in store before buying. Keep an eye on the overall picture quality and look for these specific issues:

Washed-out colours: The picture can look faded, bland and lifeless, especially in brighter scenes. Dark scenes can look flat and dull.

Oversaturated colours: Colours look too vibrant and over the top, almost cartoonish.

Though this is eye-catching at first, an oversaturated picture obscures detail, can be exhausting to watch and looks unrealistic.

Smearing: TVs eliminate grain (aka noise) on their default settings. This can create a smeared appearance if the noise reduction software is sub-par.

You can really notice it during rapid motion such as action scenes, car chases and sports.

Excessive contrast: This is a lazy way to try to make the picture “pop” that actually eliminates detail in blacks and shadows, over-saturates colours and looks fake.

Grey-looking blacks: Cheaper screens (aka panels) don’t display blacks very well and often end up looking like various shades of grey.

This can negatively impact immersion and picture quality when watching scenes shot in dark environments or at night.

Artifacting (aka fragmenting): The image temporarily breaks up and looks blocky in certain fast-moving portions of the scene.

For example, if a character is spinning a sword, the character will look fine, but the sword can break up and appear fragmented.

Banding: Budget TVs often struggle to blend colour shades as parts of the scene get brighter or darker – e.g. from a dark blue to light blue sky.

Instead, they display distinct lines, shades and blocks, which can be very distracting.

You can sort out some of these issues by selecting different picture modes. Filmmaker mode, for example, turns off most of the post-processing software that may be the source of picture problems.

2. Sound quality

After years of TV testing, we’ve found that budget models tend to skimp on sound quality, especially in the smaller units (under 55 inches). 

It’s not uncommon for budget TVs with reasonable picture quality to earn poor or very poor scores in our sound quality tests.

Audio can be harsh, tinny and lacking bass. Dialogue is often difficult to understand and some of the worst examples have occasional to persistent distortion sounds, such as crackling, hiss or a general fuzziness.

3. Upscaling SD and HD to 4K

Instead of just stretching lower resolution content to fit a high-res display (which looks awful), upscaling essentially generates extra pixels on the fly. This helps fill the gaps between SD, HD and 4K, so that SD and HD look as good as possible on an ultra-high-definition screen.

Budget TVs aren’t always very good at this. On a medium- to high-end 55-inch TV, SD video can look good, and HD often looks very good to excellent. But cheaper TVs deliver HD footage that’s only passable to OK, and SD often falls below that benchmark.

Keep this in mind if you like to watch older movies or shows that haven’t had the 4K treatment. Also note that a number of Australian TV stations, such as 7flix, 9GO! and 10 Peach Comedy, only broadcast in standard definition.

4. Screen size

Budget big screens rarely look good, as the size only serves to emphasise shortcomings in picture quality. 

Regardless of your budget, it’s important to try to match the TV size to your room. Not only will this improve the viewing experience, but it will limit the impact of issues like eye and neck strain.

At the smaller end of the scale, you may be tempted by a good deal on a 32-inch TV, but it’s going to cause all sorts of issues if the couch is more than a couple of metres back from the TV.

5. General performance

There are two display issues that, while present in some expensive TVs, are much more common in cheaper models.

Light bleed: the TV’s backlight excessively illuminates areas around the edge of the screen, which causes blooming effects (inconsistent blotches of white light). It can be very distracting especially when you’re watching widescreen movies with black bars at the top and bottom.

Narrow viewing angle: picture quality starts to degrade as you sit further to the left or right of the screen. Really cheap screens start to look bad if you’re more than a metre or so to the left or right of centre.

Another common issue relates to the hardware on the TV itself.

Limited HDMI ports: small TVs often fall into the budget category and they often lack the room for more than two HDMI ports. This may be a problem if you have lots of peripherals – such as a games console, Blu-ray player and media streamer – to plug in at once.

Cheaper TVs can also feel a bit slower, or less responsive, overall. Apps can take longer to load, streaming quality may look a little rough or juddery (when slow pans don’t look smooth), and there can be a noticeable lag between pressing a button on the remote and the action occurring on screen, such as when scrolling through a list of apps.

An easy, low-cost way to avoid these issues is a streaming device. These plug into an HDMI port and tend to deliver much better streaming performance than budget TVs.

What makes a good budget TV?

Our advice when shopping for a budget TV is to prioritise a balanced picture over everything else. You don’t want something that’s too bright at times and too dark at others, with colours that don’t look quite right. 

Even if the picture doesn’t “pop” as much as an expensive TV, a balanced picture still makes for a nice viewing experience.

Try to avoid TVs that look washed out and too bright or oversaturated. Dark or night scenes can be really hard to watch on TVs like these as blacks turn grey and just look ugly.

A budget TV ($1500 or less for a 55–65-inch 4K model) could be a suitable purchase if you can live with OK sound quality and some general performance issues such as input lag. It’s also possible to fix these problems with a decent soundbar and streaming device, with budget options available for those as well.

What’s the best budget OLED TV?

If you’re in the market for an OLED TV, start saving or wait for a sale. Most of these TVs don’t fall within the budget category in Australia.

Budget models tend to have LCD screens. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but there are some differences to be aware of.

LCD screens are typically brighter than OLED, which makes them a better option for rooms with lots of natural light. But colours tend to be not quite as rich or vibrant, and dark scenes can look a little grey.

This is because LCD screens can’t display true blacks. Instead, they try to get as close as possible by using very dark, dim greys.

How to save money on an expensive TV

Just because you’re shopping on a budget doesn’t mean you have to miss out on your dream TV. Plenty of mid-range and high-end models have steep discounts applied during sales periods such as end of financial year and Black Friday – sometimes as much as 50%.

Apart from these major sales periods, there’s another opportunity around March each year to pick up a bargain, specifically on the previous year’s stock. 

Major manufacturers such as LG, Samsung and Sony announce their new TVs at the beginning of the year, followed by local prices closer to the launch, generally from around March onwards.

Local retailers then start shifting their remaining old stock at a price that’s usually lower than the standard sales periods.

Granted, the TVs will be a year old at this point, but that shouldn’t be a deal breaker. While TV tech used to change a lot from year to year, improvements have become much more incremental. Unless you absolutely need the latest tech, last year’s model will tick all the boxes.

The catch? TVs sold during this period are in short supply and unlikely to be restocked. Your dream TV may have already been discontinued – or sold out – by the time these clearance sales roll around.

So if there’s a model you really have your heart set on, you might be better off picking it up during the major sales, like Black Friday, rather than waiting till the following March or April for the bargain-basement runout sales.

����Vlog picks for best budget TV

We’ve tested plenty of TVs that cost less than $1500 across a range of screen sizes. Budget models that range from 32 to 65 inches have come through our labs, including 23 models that are currently available in retailers.

Most of these didn’t score highly enough to be recommended, and some really cheap models are among our lowest performers. But some models may still be worth considering if you’re working with a limited budget.

Of all the TVs in our test, one in particular rose to the top to be the cream of the low-cost crop. 

Only ����Vlog members can access our detailed testing data. If you’re not yet a member, join ����Vlog to get instant access to all our expert, independent reviews, from coffee machines and grinders, to kettles and cots, toasters and TVs, and more.

Or log in to unlock this article and find out our experts’ top pick for a budget TV, along with our list of the best TVs under $1000 or $500.

The post The best budget TVs from our test appeared first on ����Vlog.

But how do you tell the A-list models from the B-grade pretenders? After all, retailers tinker with the settings and pick particular content to make TVs look as eye-catching as possible on the show floor. The things you see in store barely match the look of movies and shows at home – unless you’re really into stock footage of nature.

A movie lover’s guide to buying a TV – what to look for

A good TV is all about immersion. You want a screen that evenly delivers visual impact (aka pop) and accurate, balanced colour. A super-saturated or high-contrast screen may catch your eye at first but it doesn’t suit cinematic movies and shows, and that can break the immersion.

Deep, rich blacks are also a big tick, rather than soft, murky greys. These can really suck the life out of darker scenes, particularly night time sequences.

Also look for a TV that doesn’t aggressively remove film grain. While newer movies shot digitally can look squeaky clean, older ones that used film will have some grain (aka noise).

TVs can remove it to varying degrees, but the picture can look soft, smeared and lacking in detail if the noise reduction goes too far. We look for a clean image that still retains detail and doesn’t apply aggressive noise-reduction during our tests.

Image processing and Filmmaker mode

TVs will, by default, process video to try to make it look as good as possible for different viewing situations – this is what the different picture settings like vivid, sports and movie mode are. But they don’t always hit the mark, which is why most TVs include an industry standard setting called Filmmaker mode.

It turns off all the image processing to get the picture quality as close to the cinematic intentions of the people behind the lens. We included it in our 4K UHD test to determine whether performance improves with image processing turned off. The difference is stark in some cases.

Upscaling standard and high-definition to 4K

Almost all modern TVs use a 4K screen, but the majority of movies and shows are only available in SD (standard definition) and HD (high definition). This is where upscaling comes into play.

Instead of just stretching lower resolution content to fit a high-res display (which looks awful), upscaling essentially generates extra pixels on the fly. This helps fill the gaps between SD, HD and 4K, so that SD and HD look as good as possible on an ultra-high definition screen.

With so many movies and shows yet to make the jump to 4K, it’s important to find a TV with good upscaling software. This is included in our SD and HD movie scores.

Issues to look out for

TVs with cheaper components can’t process video very well, which can snap you out of a particularly engaging movie moment. It’s a classic case of ‘you had one job’. Look for TVs with these issues and avoid them like a late-career Michael Bay movie.

• Artifacting (aka fragmenting): the image temporarily breaks up and looks blocky in certain fast-moving portions of the scene.
• Banding: the TV struggles to blend colour shades as parts of the screen get brighter or darker, leaving distinct lines, shades and blocks that look like bands.
• Light bleed: The TV’s backlight excessively illuminates areas around the edge of the screen, which causes blooming effects (inconsistent blotches of white light).
• Narrow viewing angle: The picture quality starts to degrade as you sit further to the left or right of the screen. Not the best experience when your mates come over for movie night.

OLED vs LCD TVs for movies and shows

According to our experts, an OLED (organic light emitting diode) display is definitely the showstopper here, but LCD (liquid-crystal display) has its advantages.

LCD TVs (which cover a bunch of sub categories such as QLED and mini-LED) require a light source behind their screen panel, meaning they can go very dark grey but never fully black. By comparison, OLED (organic light emitting diode) screens have lights integrated within each diode and they can simply turn off when required, giving you true blacks.

OLED TVs tend to deliver more accurate, vivid and richer colours but they can’t get quite as bright. LCD, meanwhile, is usually brighter than OLED, so it could be a preferred option if you watch TV a lot during the day or in a well-lit room.

Price is also a factor. OLED TVs are almost always more expensive than their LCD counterparts, though they can be heavily discounted during sales periods – by as much as 40% on occasion.

Do you need a big screen TV?

Huge TVs aren’t exactly necessary, but the bigger the screen, the closer you’ll get to bringing the cinema experience home. Aim for a 55-inch model at the very least but ideally, look for a 65- or 75/77-inch display.

The right TV size does depend on the size of the room. There are optimal viewing distances for HD and 4K content and you’re not going to get the best experience if you sit too close or too far from TVs of a certain size.

Using a 65-inch TV as an example, the best distance for HD content is 240cm, while for 4K it’s 125–215cm. Yes, you read that correctly, it’s best to sit a bit closer to see all the detail in 4K.

Field of view (FOV) is important as well. It’s best to position the TV, or your couch, at a point where your FOV sits at the edges of the screen, which is about 30 degrees.

This is suitable for all types of content – movies, shows, sport etc – but hardcore film buffs can sit a little closer in the 40-degree range. This position feels more like a cinema, but may not work for shows, sports and gaming.

Is a soundbar worth buying?

Short answer, yes. Audio is a vital part of the cinema experience and even the best TV speakers are usually pretty average. They certainly can’t fill a room with the kind of sound that really gets the blood pumping during exciting or emotional movie moments.

As a starting point, look for a soundbar that can simulate basic surround sound, which is usually referred to as 5.1. Then you can investigate higher end options that will enhance the experience.

Some let you connect additional speakers to place at the back of the room to deliver genuine surround sound. Others can simulate a feature called object-based audio, aka Dolby Atmos and DTS-X. This adds height channels (speakers) to the mix so you can hear sounds above your ears as well as around them.

Some TV and soundbar manufacturers offer bonus features if you buy certain models within the same brand, such as a Samsung soundbar and TV. We’ve written a guide to this you may find useful.

It’s showtime! The best TVs for movies and series revealed

To test TVs, our expert panellists watch a range of movie scenes in standard definition (DVD), high definition (Blu-ray) and ultra-high definition (4K).

The same scenes are viewed on every TV so they can directly compare picture quality and performance using films you’re likely to watch at home. All tested models are 65 inches unless otherwise stated.

Usually our scores for movies feed into our overall ����Vlog Expert Rating for each TV, but we’ve pulled them out individually below so you can see how each model performs specifically for this metric. 

Only ����Vlog members can access our detailed testing data. If you’re not yet a member, join ����Vlog to get instant access to all our expert, independent reviews, from coffee machines and grinders, to kettles and cots, toasters and TVs, and more.

If you’re a Disney+ die-hard or you love chilling with Netflix, read on to discover our top tested picks for flicks and streaming shows.

The post The best TVs for watching movies and streaming shows appeared first on ����Vlog.

Mid-year sales are upon us and the remaining 2025 TVs from LG, Samsung, Sony and more are being shown the door to make way for new releases.

Our experts have thoroughly assessed last year’s television models that are now available for a great price.

TV technology and features don’t tend to change as much as they used to from year to year, so you’re unlikely to miss out on much by buying a slightly older model at a discount. But you still need to know what to look for so you don’t end up paying full price for a TV that’s a year or two old.

Understanding TV model numbers and codes will help you walk into the store with confidence that you’ll know what to buy, especially if you’re looking to negotiate a better price.

On this page:

• When are new TVs available to buy?
• How to get the best deal on new a TV
• How to use the product code to save money on a TV
• How to use ����Vlog reviews to score a cheap TV
• Other tips for buying a new TV

When are new TVs available to buy?

The 2026 TV rollout is ongoing. There are plenty of new models on shelves with a few more to come over the next month or so.

Most of the latest Samsung and LG TVs were released in April and early May, with Hisense following not long after, launching RGB MiniLED TVs in late April. At the time of writing, Sony had announced a couple of new TVs coming in early July. More are likely to be announced but not till later in the year.

TCL has a number of LED, mini-LED and QLED models in stores as well. There’s a good selection available if you’re looking for more affordable options now, with more to arrive in July and August.

The number of TV types, sizes and models available will vary, with LG and Samsung offering the widest range. You can find also plenty of low-cost alternatives from brands like ChiQ, Blaupunkt and Ffalcon, but they don’t appear to follow a set release schedule.

We still get asked about which Panasonic TV to buy and our answer is – none of them! The only place you should be seeing a Panasonic TV for sale is on Gumtree, as the company stopped selling TVs in Australia just before COVID broke out in early 2020.

How to get the best deal on new a TV

The trick is to know which TVs are 2026 releases and which are from 2025 or earlier. Make sure the salesperson knows that the TV they’re selling you may be the greatest, but it’s not the latest.

TVs from 2025 and earlier will offer the best bargains, but most 2026 TVs will have decent discounts applied as well. You may also find some very good deals on newer TVs that haven’t been selling too well.

Keep an eye out for 8K resolution models from 2025 as they often drop to “bargain”, prices as consumers remain unmoved by 8K. Apparently the industry has finally gotten the message, as there are no new 8K models slated for release in 2026 by any brand.

Some retailers are more transparent than others, letting you filter TVs by year of release on their websites. They may also specify the year alongside some models.

Others may not be entirely forthcoming with this information, but it’s out there. You just need to know where to look.

The secret is in the TV product codes. Each brand uses specific numbers and letters to identify various aspects of their TVs, including the year of release. It’s the kind of thing “retailers don’t want you to know” (if we’re going to get all clickbait journalism about it).

How to use the product code to save money on a TV

A TV’s product code doesn’t just tell you the size and specifications. It also contains information on the year of release.

But this information is complicated, which is why we’ve broken down the codes for the four major brands below. Click each brand name to pick up a wealth of information that might surprise pushy salespeople.

Brand-by-brand guide to TV product codes

How to use ����Vlog reviews to score a cheaper TV

In addition to new releases, our TV reviews also feature older models that are listed as discontinued. Models from 2025 will probably reappear in the sales at a drastically reduced price, and disappear just as quickly.

We keep discontinued models in our test for this very reason. You can see the results for older models by ticking the discontinued checkbox in the “related products” tab (left side of the screen for computers, or under ‘filter and sort’ for mobile).

When shopping for a TV online, make sure your searches include the exact model name that’s in our review as well as the size so you can determine the online retailer with the best price. If you find the model in a size above or below the ����Vlog tested TV in the same series, rest assured that you will get similar performance, especially for the ease of use and picture quality.

Also, avoid simply clicking on a retailer on the first page of the search results, as stores that appear in the first few results often pay for the privilege of being at the top. 

Other tips for buying a new TV

Getting a good deal is one thing. But there are a few other points to consider so you can find a TV that doesn’t just suit your entertainment needs, but also your living space.

Is your lounge room big enough for your big TV?

Buying the biggest TV then showing it off to your mates is a rite of passage. But you may wind up with a TV that’s uncomfortably oversized depending on the size of the room.

The ideal viewing distance for a 65-inch 4K TV – the most popular size in Australia – is 1.25 to 2.5 metres. If your room size forces you to sit closer, or if you really want a larger TV, then a 4K TV may be a good option to avoid that pixelation. 

High-definition allows a bit more flexibility. You can sit up to 2.4 metres away if you’re watching HD video, even on a 4K TV.  Although remember, you’ll need to be watching 4K video for the best quality picture.

Also of note is the logistical issue of getting your TV home if you bought it instore. A 65-inch TV in the box seems to be the limit for all cars that aren’t actually delivery vehicles. 

So make sure you negotiate delivery and installation if you can’t get them to lower the price on that 75-inch or 86-inch monster TV.

TVs are getting brighter

There’s a push to get the nit levels (screen brightness) up on TVs. Some argue that the less than ideal TV-watching environment in many homes means more brightness is required to see all the content on a TV screen in a brightly lit room. 

There’s a degree of truth to this, but the TV needs to be correctly optimised for very bright content, otherwise you’ll end up losing details in very bright scenes.

If you have a good TV-watching environment where you can control the ambient light, then you want the best TV, not the brightest.

Look at the picture and decide whether you can see all the detail in the bright and dark areas of the scene, as that’s the main aspect to consider – not what the salesperson tells you is best.

Saving money on a soundbar

TVs aren’t the only home entertainment products on sale. This is also a great time to pick up a soundbar on the cheap, especially if it’s from the same manufacturer as your TV.

Bundling soundbars and TVs together into a single sale is a great way to haggle a bit more money off the overall cost and it’s worth the work. Because even the best sounding TV speakers are no match for a good-quality soundbar, especially when it’s time to watch movies at home.

Read our latest soundbars review to find the best models.

The post How to buy a bargain TV in the sales appeared first on ����Vlog.

Researching which new TV to buy is a big job, and it’s made more difficult by all the terminology and new features available in modern TVs: LCD or OLED? HDR10+ or Dolby Vision? And what about the size?

Once you’ve decided on these factors, you’ll be faced with the next big question: which brand?

If you’re looking for a new TV, chances are that Samsung and LG are on your radar. And for good reason: they’re the two biggest names in the TV world, and their products frequently top our TV reviews. (Although not all of them top the charts, so check our expert TV reviews before you buy so you don’t end up with a dud.)

“Several years ago, the Australian TV market had a healthy level of competition, with Sony, Panasonic, LG, Samsung and Sharp fighting it out in Australian lounge rooms,” says ����Vlog TV expert Denis Gallagher.

“Today it’s basically a battle between Samsung and LG, with Hisense, Sony and TLC fighting for the minor placings, particularly for mid-priced TVs.”

Samsung and LG compared

Everyone has different priorities when it comes to choosing a TV, whether it’s certain features you’re after, a specific size you want to suit your living space, great sound quality, or a budget you need to stick to.

It’s also important to consider the brand itself, including things such as:

• how reliable their products are
• their track record in customer service and customer satisfaction
• the type of warranty they offer
• whether technical support or repair is available if something goes wrong.

About the companies

Both LG and Samsung are reputable, large-scale companies who’ve been on the scene for quite some time. 

They produce a wide range of products including whitegoods, vacuums, air conditioners and home appliances.

They’re both South Korean manufacturers, although hardly any of their TVs for the Australian market are made in Korea any more. LG TVs are predominantly made in Indonesia; Samsung TVs are generally manufactured in Vietnam.

About our test – screen sizes

Our test mainly covers 65-inch TVs, as this is the most popular screen size in Australia. But our testing and research has shown that different-sized screens across the same model of TV are generally identical in most aspects.

If you like the look of a 65-inch TV in this article but want to go bigger or smaller, you can expect the same picture quality in the equivalent 55- or 75-inch model from the same brand and product line. That’s why in our full review you will see 55-inch and 75-inch models listed too.

Audio is the only exception. We found that sound quality has too many variables between TV sizes to deliver an accurate calculation. If a TV hasn’t been tested in our labs, its sound quality results are listed as “not tested” in our full test results.

This article only refers to TVs assessed by our experts, but you can browse the full selection of tested and reported models in our TVs review.

Operating systems

LG uses the Web OS operating system, while Samsung uses Tizen. Both operating systems cater heavily to a smart TV environment, with a strong focus on streaming apps, connectivity with other devices in your home and the use of a voice assistant. 

“Updates to the operating systems will provide additional functionality and features such as extra streaming channels or improved smart home control,” says Denis.

“However, sometimes a feature you like will be removed, which can be frustrating. After a few years, updates on features will be less likely as many improvements require the latest processing chip.”

If your TV reaches the stage of no further OS updates, it doesn’t mean it will be useless.

“Don’t worry – you’ll be left with a TV that performs just as well as before, but not as well as the latest and greatest model.”

Read more about what changes to your operating system can mean.

Price

The lab-tested LG TVs in our review range in recommended retail price from $289 for a 32-inch LCD TV through to $3499 for a 65-inch OLED TV. Samsung TVs in our review range in price from $499 for a 32-inch LCD TV through to $3799 for a 65-inch OLED TV. Prices are expected to go up as we continue our TV testing in 2026.

However, LG and Samsung update their range every 12 months. There are big savings to be had during April to June, when they clear out last year’s stock to make room for new models.

“While smart TVs made dramatic improvements in connectivity and ease of use several years ago, this rate of improvement has become incremental over the last year or two,” says Denis. 

“So don’t be afraid to purchase a TV that was released in 2025 if you can find it for a good price – you’ll get similar features and performance for less money.”

Some older TVs in this article display the clearance cost across major retailers, whereas newer models will have a more recent recommended retail price. This is why there may be a disparity between similar TVs from each brand.

Remotes

The remote control is crucial to the TV’s operation and makes up a significant part of the ����Vlog Expert Rating for a TV.

 “LG used to have a much more intuitive remote with clearly defined buttons, but this changed in 2025,” says Denis. “The new design is almost identical to Samsung’s – it’s attractive, but harder to use.”

“Both remotes require more button presses to get the job done. But if you’re comfortable with the use of voice assistants such as Google, Siri or Alexa and don’t mind drilling through menus rather than buttons on your remote, then this shouldn’t cause you concern.”

If you have trouble seeing the buttons on your remote and prefer to have clearly defined buttons to perform specific tasks (such as changing channels, launching Netflix, or changing the input), and you like colour-coding to find your Freeview TV channels, look for an older LG TV from 2024 or earlier.

Screen types

LG is typically known for its OLED TVs, which it’s been producing for more than a decade.

OLEDs have steadily improved in terms of screen quality and brightness to the point where OLED models routinely receive some of our highest overall scores, known as ����Vlog Expert Ratings.

Samsung offers an alternative premium TV option with its Neo QLED TVs, but it’s since entered the OLED game as well. Even so, the Neo QLED range is still Samsung’s bread and butter. (Not sure what OLED and QLED mean? We cover this below.)

Warranty

Both brands offer a one-year standard warranty. Some of the more expensive models offer warranties up to five years. (Don’t forget that you’re still covered by the Australian Consumer Law, regardless of the manufacturer warranty.) 

Overall brand vs individual model

While both LG and Samsung have solid reputations that are well-founded, buying based on brand alone can sometimes leave you disappointed. The performance, features and usability of specific product models can vary significantly – so don’t assume that all products from a reputable brand will give you what you want.

The best thing to do is to focus on individual models by checking ����Vlog reviews to find the best TVs before you buy, but there are some feature and function differences between LG and Samsung that may appeal to your particular needs.

����Vlog best TV brand

We use our TV test results along with feedback from our members on satisfaction and reliability to come up with a best TV brand each year. 

LG is undoubtedly ahead on our ����Vlog Best Brand TV scores: it’s taken out the gong every year since 2016.

Not only that, but LG ranks higher on just about every metric that contributes to a Best Brand score: reliability, customer satisfaction, average test score, and more. 

Samsung’s scores certainly aren’t to be sniffed at, though: it’s not far behind for many of the scores. Sony is also a strong contender.

Here’s how they stack up:

����Vlog Best Brand TV scores 2025: LG vs Samsung

LCD vs OLED screens – which is better?

Here are the basics of what you need to know about LCD vs OLED:

• LCD TVs are typically brighter than OLED. In rooms where lighting is inconsistent, they may perform better than OLEDs. However, colours don’t tend to be as rich or vibrant and dark scenes can look a little grey.
• OLED screens are usually more expensive than LCDs and can provide superior contrast and viewing angles, as well as being slimmer. But OLED technology can’t get as bright as LCD, so you’ll need a darker room for optimal viewing.

An LCD screen type that is also attracting attention is QLED (quantum light emitting diode). Samsung TVs have typically come with QLED screens, but they’ve made a foray into OLEDs in recent years. QLED replicates the contrast and vibrant look of an OLED while delivering a brighter picture.

“If the TV is well made, whether it’s LCD or OLED will make very little difference to the quality of the image. A good image is a good image. We’ve seen great performance from both screen types,” says Denis.

“There are differences but for the most part they’re a good deal less important than the quality of the manufacturer.”

How can you tell which screen type is right for you? Denis breaks it down.

• If you can control the lighting in your TV room (making it dark by closing the curtains, for instance), then an OLED TV presents a good option for a cinematic experience at home. 
• If you’re in a room with challenging lighting conditions (shadows and streams of sunlight that hit the TV screen, and rooms that have lots of natural light), then you may want to consider a QLED or an LCD with stronger backlighting.

Default picture setting

Most people watch their TVs on the default picture setting – after all, who wants to waste time fiddling around with settings when you’ve got a brand-new TV you’re itching to watch?

For the most part, what you’ll get straight out of the box is going to give you great picture quality. Our experts actually test TVs on their default settings as we know that that’s how most people use them. 

But what the default setting looks like can vary from brand to brand, and that’s especially true of LG TVs compared to Samsung – they deliver quite different out-of-the-box experiences in terms of colour. 

“LG TVs tend to have a cooler look on the default picture setting,” says Denis. 

“On the other hand, Samsung has decided to deliver a much more vivid colour gamut for its out-of-the-box mode.”

While that vividness might be eye-catching, you might not like it as much when you’re watching at home over time. This is where changing the settings can really enhance your TV-watching experience. 

“Playing around with the settings will give you a much better watching experience, and it’s well worth spending the time to tweak it to your liking,” Denis says. 

“Try changing the brightness and contrasting colour settings to see what you prefer, but also make sure you know how to get the picture setting back to default as you could end up making it worse.”

Filmmaker Mode

If you want to take things to the next level, you need to know about Filmmaker Mode. It’s a preset picture mode in your TV that’s designed to make your screen look more cinematic, so what you’re seeing is as close to what the director intended it to be as possible. 

It was developed in collaboration with a number of prominent directors such as Martin Scorsese and Christopher Nolan. Many other directors have endorsed it.

Filmmaker Mode has only been around for a few years and it’s not supported by every brand or older TVs. All recently released Samsung and LG TVs have Filmmaker Mode, however, so it’s worth giving it a try on your new TV. 

“We’ve found that Samsung TVs tend to look much better on Filmmaker Mode than on the default settings, so if you buy a Samsung, try switching to Filmmaker Mode when you watch movies to see if you prefer it,” says Denis.

Read more about the finer details of this setting in our article, Filmmaker Mode explained. 

Samsung vs LG: Comparing the TVs

Outstanding OLED TVs

• LG OLED55B6PSA 55-inch – $2499
• Samsung QA65S85HAEXXY 65-inch – $3299

If you want to go big on screen size and budget, these OLEDs are likely on your shortlist. They’re quite similar TVs in many aspects – same screen size and almost identical features and functions. The only major difference is that Samsung TVs use HDR10+ while LG has opted for Dolby Vision (another version of HDR).

The 65-inch models are also the same price (we have only tested the 55-inch LG B6, hence the price difference). Keep an eye out though, as Samsung and LG TVs can have significant discounts during sales periods that may bring them into your budget.

Samsung entered the OLED market quite a bit later than LG. But even though Samsung has been making these screens for a few years, we’re yet to test one that has matched, or outperformed, an LG equivalent in our picture quality assessment. So, If you’re considering an OLED, you’re better off buying an LG.

They’ve both been tested in our ����Vlog labs to our exacting standards, which reveal a clear winner. Full TV reviews, including the best models, are available exclusively to ����Vlog members.

Lovely LCD screens

• LG 65QNED80BSA – $1699
• Samsung QA65QN70FAWXXY – $1999

If an expensive OLED screen doesn’t quite fit your budget, the more affordable LCD TVs are a great alternative with good picture quality. While you’re not going to get the same rich colours, deep inky blacks and images that pop off the screen, you’re spending up to $3000 less for a TV that’s just as big.

LCDs are typically brighter than their OLED cousins. So these screens may be a better choice if you’re watching TV in a well-lit room or during the day in a space with lots of natural light. 

Picture performance results are comparable, though LG has the edge if you’re watching 4K content. Samsung’s TV speaker, however, is considerably better, so you may not need to invest in a soundbar. But you definitely need one if you’re considering an LG LCD.

Speaking of soundbars, these TVs (and a few other models) unlock additional audio features and functions when paired with compatible models from the same brand. These are called LG WOW Orchestra and Samsung Q-Symphony.

Factor this in when shopping around, as they can deliver impressive results. You may even be able to negotiate a bundle deal if you buy a TV and soundbar at the same time.

Cheaper LCD alternatives

• LG 65QNED81ASA – $1395
• Samsung QA65QN85FAWXXY – $1999

While they may not compare to the top performers, we’ve tested plenty of quality LCD TVs with a more reasonable price tag. Once again, these two have virtually the same set of features and earned similar scores in some areas of our picture quality assessments.

But in this case LG delivers better HD and 4K picture quality while Samsung’s TV speaker is much, much nicer to listen to. If you have some extra cash to splash on an affordable soundbar, then the LG may be the way to go.

Both TVs have been reduced to clear in recent weeks, so you probably won’t be able to shave much off the asking prices by haggling or shopping around. Grab one while you can.

Artistically inclined TVs

• LG OLED65C5PSA – $2799
• Samsung QA65LS03FWWXXY (aka The Frame Pro) – $3499

While most TVs display a dull, black void in standby mode, art TVs are designed to replicate the look of a painting, drawing or photograph. Instead of the glossy finish that most consumer displays use, art TVs use a matte, LCD display that feels more like a canvas or print.

The Frame from Samsung is the most popular art TV range. They can display a single image or a rotating selection of digital images from famous artists like Van Gough as well as a selection of smaller, independent artists. The Frame Pro, listed here, does a pretty convincing job of blending into the room when a static artwork is on screen.

LG doesn’t sell an art TV like The Frame. Instead, there’s a gallery mode built into most of its TVs, including the popular OLED range. However, the glossy finish and OLED display don’t look anything like a canvas or print.

The best option for you comes down to your main priority – interior design or home entertainment. The Frame is the best option for displaying digital art with a convincing canvas look, but it’s a little lacklustre for movies, shows and sports. LG’s OLED range performed very well in our home entertainment tests, but the art features feel like a bit of an afterthought.

����Vlog members can access the full TV reviews. If you’re not yet a member, you can join ����Vlog to see all our reviews.

Can I connect a Samsung device to an LG TV, and vice versa?

If you have a Samsung device but you’re looking at an LG TV, don’t worry – they’ll still talk to one another. And the reverse is true, too: LG products will connect to Samsung TVs.

So if you have an LG phone, tablet, soundbar, DVD or BluRay player, laptop or Bluetooth speaker, you’ll still be able to cast, mirror, screen share or otherwise connect them to a Samsung TV – and vice versa.

However, some products do unlock additional features if you match up the brands. For example, a few LG and Samsung TVs can deliver enhanced audio if you connect them to compatible soundbars. Read more about LG’s  and Samsung’s .

The process is pretty much the same as connecting any device to a TV, regardless of the brand. Find out more and read the how-tos from our experts:

• How to cast smartphone content to a TV
• How to connect your soundbar to your TV

How we test TVs

Our expert testers have 35 years’ experience testing TVs between them – they’re some of the most experienced TV testers in the country. It’s safe to say that they know their stuff. 

Here’s how we put TVs through their paces to find out which are the best:

• We use a colour-calibrated reference TV to compare each model to make sure our scoring is consistent. 
• Tests take around three weeks from start to finish as they’re so detailed. The results then go through our rigorous verification process, so you can have confidence in our results. 
• To score picture quality, we assess how well the TV can handle a number of different source materials (such as movies, sports, 4K and more). This includes both a technical and subjective viewing panel. 
• We obscure brand and model names during the test so there’s no chance of bias.
• A panel of three experts assesses SD, HD and 4K HDR content on each TV. 
• We assess technical footage to check for things such as, jaggies (diagonal lines that appear as jagged or broken lines), judder and blur.
• Since the remote control is such an important part of using your TV, we assess how easy the remotes are to use. 
• We assess the on-screen user interface, smart functionality and sound quality. 
• Our expert panel also tests the quality of each TV’s speakers.

Learn more about how we test TVs at ����Vlog. 

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The post Samsung vs LG: Which TV brand is best? appeared first on ����Vlog.

When it comes to how well TVs perform in particular for watching sport, ����Vlog experts have found there are some star players you can rely on, as well as others you probably want to leave on the bench.

Our lab experts test models specifically for sport as part of their comprehensive TV reviews. We asked them to reveal the models that belong in the sin bin.

Plus, ����Vlog members get exclusive access to the list of budget, mid-range and premium TVs that earned the best results in our sports viewing panels. Not a member? Join ����Vlog to unlock these results and more to help you find the best TV for your home.

On this page:

• What’s the best TV size for watching sport?
• How to test a TV for sports instore
• How to buy a good TV for watching sports
• Should you use ‘sports’ picture mode?
• How we test TVs in sports mode (and more)
• The TVs sports lovers should avoid
• The best TVs for watching sport

What’s the best TV size for watching sport?

Bigger is always better, right? Not always with TVs – it depends on your room size and how close you like to be to the TV when you watch. If you sit too close to a massive screen, you may be able to see the pixels – and that’s not pretty.

There are three key factors to consider for the best viewing experience.

1. Your TV’s screen resolution (HD or 4K)
2. The size of your room
3. How far you sit from the screen

Best screen size for high-definition (HD) TVs

Best screen size for ultra high-definition (UHD/4K) TVs

There are a few other factors that can help you fine tune the optimal place for your TV. Positioning the TV at the correct height and adjusting your seating for the best field of view are aspects that people tend to overlook, but they’re no less important.

How to test a TV for sports instore

Retailers usually play content that makes the TVs look as good as possible. Sports broadcasts are a completely different ball game (pun intended), so switch to a match or race for a more real-world representation. If that’s not possible, you could take in your own sports footage on a thumb drive or disc.

Evaluate key specs such as picture clarity (are the numbers on jerseys sharp?), motion, and colour balance (do skin tones look right?). Cycle through picture modes and note nasties such as judder (lack of smooth panning), motion blur (trailing elements behind fast-moving objects) artifacting and odd saturation.

Store TVs often have the volume muted too, so turn it up if you can and study the sound. Is it rich or tinny? How do commentators’ voices sound? If it’s ordinary, you might need to buy an accompanying soundbar.

How to buy a good TV for watching sports

Know your source

Before buying a new TV, you need to know the broadcast quality of your favourite sports. Are they shown in SD (720 x 576 pixels), HD (1920 x 1080) or ultra high definition (UHD), aka 4K (3860 x 2160)?

The answer will vary depending on the sport and whether it’s being broadcast on free-to-air, Pay TV or on an online streaming service.

If you’re watching an SD broadcast on an HD TV, it needs to upscale the video to display at the higher resolution. How well it bridges this gap depends heavily on the quality of the unit and its internal processors.

This can vary notably between models and definitions, which is why we score separately for SD and HD sources during testing.

OLED or LCD – which is better?

According to our experts, OLED is the MVP (i.e. the best choice), particularly if you can control the ambient light in your TV room. But these are usually more expensive, so you’ll have to factor that in if you’re shopping on a budget.

What’s the difference? LCD (liquid-crystal display) TVs require a light source behind their screen panel, meaning they can go very dark grey but never full black. By comparison, OLED (organic light emitting diode) screens have lights integrated within each diode and they can simply turn off when required, giving you true blacks.

The trade-off is that OLED TVs aren’t quite as bright as LCDs. The difference used to be significant, but OLEDs have improved a lot in recent years with much brighter screens.

Now these TVs are much easier to watch during the day, but LCDs still have the edge in bright rooms. If you plan to use your TV in a room with lots of natural light, or undercover outdoors, it may be worth looking into an LCD model.

Suss the screen angle

Got friends coming round regularly for the footy? Then you’ll want to test the screen angle and ensure they’ll all be able to see well.

As you move sideways from the centre of the screen, most TVs will lose some colour and contrast. But the change is minimal on a good quality screen while a bad one can look like an entirely different TV.

To test viewing angle before you buy, stand in the middle of the screen at your normal viewing distance and then take a few steps sideways. If the picture degrades too much, keep looking until you find a screen that does a better job. Your friends will thank you.

Should you use ‘sports’ picture mode?

Most TVs include a ‘sports’ mode in the picture settings. This increases brightness and saturation so the visuals have more impact, but colours may not be entirely accurate. It can also activate motion smoothing depending on the brand and model.

Though film buffs rightfully recoil at the idea of motion smoothing, sports action like fast moving players or a ball flying across a field can be easier to view with this setting turned on. Just remember to turn it off when you flick over to movies or TV shows, because these look awful in sports mode.

This setting isn’t essential and whether it provides a better viewing experience will really depend on your personal preference. Give it a go and if it’s not to your liking, switch over to another picture mode.

Note, we test all TVs in the default picture settings. This is usually ‘standard’ mode, not sports.

How we test TVs in sports mode (and more)

In our extensive TV lab testing, our team of experts scores every model for sports in both standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) as part of our picture quality assessment. We watch footage from an AFL game recorded from a live TV broadcast on consumer TVs and our reference monitor.

This is from the same game broadcast on SD and HD channels. We particularly look for things like ball movement and whether the crowd looks like blobs or individual people.

Our test mainly covers 65-inch TVs, as this is the most popular screen size in Australia. But we still test one to two batches of small-screen TVs (26–47 inches) per year and some larger models.

The TVs sports lovers should avoid

Listen up sports fans, these TVs will have your family and friends screaming obscenities from the stands. Avoid them if you actually want to enjoy an afternoon watching sports.

Worst budget TV for sports

Chiq U65M10F

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 66%
• SD viewing score for sport: 50%
• HD viewing score for sport: 65%
• Price: $699
• Screen size: 65-inch

Even though this Chiq TV costs less than $700, it’s not worth the asking price. Picture quality is pretty average for sports, movies and shows, so you’re better off saving up a little more for a 65-inch TV in the $1000 price range if you can.

Its just-OK sound quality sucks the life out of the room, while audio is detailed but gets hampered by an overall dullness that lacks presence. You’ll hear barely a whimper from the crowd when your team scores a try.

This TV’s only saving grace is good 4K picture quality. But the majority of matches still aren’t broadcast or streamed at this resolution, and when it is available, it costs a premium to access.

There doesn’t seem to be much point in purchasing a budget TV that only performs well with an expensive, limited format like 4K.

Read the full Chiq U65M10F review.

Worst mid-range TV for sports

TCL 65C8K

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 72%
• SD viewing score for sport: 55%
• HD viewing score for sport: 75%
• Price: $2299
• Screen size: 65-inch

Like a baseball player asleep at the plate, this TV is a swing and a miss. HD sports broadcasts look good, but that’s about it.

SD quality for sports, movies and shows is at the bottom end of OK. Other HD footage looks better, but still not what we’d call good. 4K looks very good, but to be fair, it’s hard to find a UHD TV that doesn’t look good at this resolution. It’s not worth buying for 4K alone.

It’s hard to find a compelling reason to suggest this TV when our experts have tested plenty of better models that cost the same, or less. Even on sale, this model is unlikely to ever reach the point of being a decent deal based on its performance.

Read the full TCL 65C8K review.

The best TVs for watching sport

Whether you’re sitting in the nosebleed section or you have cash to splash for field-side seats, these are the best TVs for sports fanatics. But grab them while you can, because most of these TVs are being cleared out at a steep discount to make way for new models.

The following is only available to ����Vlog members. Consider becoming a member to access all our detailed product reviews, with helpful information on everything from home appliances to insurance polices.

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Poor-quality headphones can make even Led Zeppelin sound more like your kid brother’s garage band. 

Whether you’re enjoying your carefully curated playlists, catching up on podcasts or watching YouTube videos on the go, a decent pair of headphones can be a lifesaver. 

But a poor pair of headphones can render your favourite playlist unlistenable. And if the noise cancellation’s no good, you might not be able to hear which song is playing anyway.

This is why it’s worth doing your research, especially given how expensive some brands can be. 

Fortunately, ����Vlog has done the hard work of testing them so you don’t have to. Our audio experts have reviewed the most popular products on the market from Apple, Sennheiser, Skullcandy, Sony, Beats, Bang & Olufsen, JBL, Jabra and more.

“Our sound tests always reveal some surprising results,” says ����Vlog audio expert Peter Zaluzny. 

“We’ve listened to $500 headphones that rate worse than pairs half their price – sometimes from the very same brand. Paying more doesn’t guarantee a better quality product, so it pays to shop carefully.”

We’ve recently remastered our headphone testing, so our review covers all headphone types, from petite in-ear models through to noise-cancelling over-ear cans with all the features. 

You can filter by type (in-ear, over-ear), price, brand, noise cancellation options and more to find the perfect pair for you. Whichever type you’re looking for, 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 ����Vlog member to see the best performers.

Are noise cancelling headphones better?

This is a matter of personal preference, according to Peter.

“A good pair of noise-cancelling headphones can provide a great listening experience while you’re on the go, as they’re designed to filter out environmental sounds,” he says.

“But just because some headphones have this feature doesn’t necessarily mean they sound good. In fact, poorly implemented noise-cancelling technology can make your music sound worse, which is why we test audio quality with it turned on and off.

On-ear and over-ear headphones: What’s the difference?

On-ear headphones don’t look especially different to the over-ear variety, but they don’t completely surround your ears. Instead they sit on the outside of your ears, allowing more airflow around them. 

This generally makes them smaller and therefore easier to store and transport, but they don’t block as much ambient noise. They also press on your ears, so poorly made models can get uncomfortable pretty quickly. 

What are open-ear headphones?

These are a relatively new offshoot of wireless and truly wireless earbuds. The key difference is in how they fit into your ear.

Traditional earbuds nestle in your ear canal to stay in place and reduce or eliminate environmental noise as you go about your day. Open-ear buds sit adjacent to the canal and only slightly protrude in. This allows you to hear more of the world around you.

Clip-on earbuds have become the most common type of open-ear headphones. They loop around the back of your ear, keeping the bud in place next to the canal rather than inside it.

These may be worth looking into if you find typical earbuds uncomfortable or you don’t like the amount of environmental noise that they cut out. They’re similarly priced to truly wireless earbuds.

Earbuds/in-ear headphones to avoid

In-ear headphones tend to trade optimal sound quality for compact convenience, but that doesn’t mean they have to sound bad. These buds fall well short of the competition with some of the worst audio quality results in our test.

1. Soundcore C40i

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 37%
• Sound quality score: 26%
• Price: $110
• Type: Open-ear (true wireless)
• Active noise-cancellation: No

Headphones have one job – to play audio. The brief is simple and yet somehow, Soundcore manages to get it very wrong.

The C40i earbuds have the dual honour of being not just the worst sounding headphones in our test but also the lowest scoring pair overall. Cheap and nasty almost seems too kind.

Nothing really rises above mediocrity here. Comfort, battery life, ease of use and microphone quality (for phone calls and so on) are all very average.

The one area where these buds do themselves proud is durability, which our experts scored as excellent. So at least you can safely throw them across the room after hearing the awful audio quality.

See the full Soundcore C40i review.

2. JBL Wave Flex 2

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 45%
• Sound quality score: 32%
• Price: $100
• Type: In-ear (true wireless)
• Active noise-cancellation: No

Hundred-dollar headphones sound pretty appealing if you’re after an affordable way to enjoy music or podcasts throughout the day. There’s nothing wrong with going basic, but headphones that sound this bad are never worth it – even for $100.

Not only do they sound plain awful, they’re uncomfortable as well. Performance in those areas is almost unforgivable and a bit of a waste when they’re actually not half bad otherwise.

Battery life? Pretty good. Durability? Very good. Normally both positive points but in this case, potential drawbacks. After all, you’ll probably want these buds to break as soon as possible so you can buy a better pair.

There’s no real reason to consider the Wave Flex 2 earbuds over headphones from other brands. Even the original (albeit now discontinued) Wave Flex buds from JBL are cheaper and better overall.

See the full JBL Wave Flex 2 review.

3. JLab Epic Open Sport

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 52%
• Sound quality score: 48%
• Price: $200
• Type: Open-ear (true wireless)
• Active noise-cancellation: No

Sports headphones like these put a big emphasis on comfort, fit and durability. Unlike most earbuds that can get dislodged during vigorous movement like running, these try to hold firm with additional protection from sweat, light rain and so on.

In this regard, The Epic Open Sport earbuds are OK. Comfort and ease of use aren’t bad and the IP55 weather sealing protects them from light water pressure (e.g. from a hose jet) and other fluids, as well as dust and dirt.

But they fail to deliver where it counts. Sound quality is barely better than poor and battery life is bad by current standards at just over four hours. While this is probably suitable for most workouts, that’s nowhere near enough charge for a whole day.

If only JLab had put a bit more effort into honing the sound quality and extending the battery life, these buds wouldn’t be on this list.

See the full JLab Epic Open Sport review.

On-ear/over-ear headphones to avoid

Old school over-ear headphones can be pretty cumbersome compared to earbuds, but they have the space for larger speakers and bigger batteries. This means better sound quality and longer battery life – in theory.

But the biggest issue with these headphones to avoid is durability. All those extra moving parts are susceptible to wear and tear and many of these models just aren’t built to last.

1. Shokz OpenMove

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 48%
• Sound quality score: 34%
• Price: $129
• Type: Bone conduction
• Active noise-cancellation: No

Bone conduction you say? Well that sounds funky and futuristic! Well, kind of, but all the cool tech in the world can’t save an audio device that doesn’t sound good.

We say ‘audio device’ because these aren’t headphones in the traditional sense. Instead, they basically sit adjacent to your ears and transmit audio by stimulating the bones in your ear canal.

Does it work? Yes, but at the expense of sound quality in this case. They earned poor results in our audio quality test and ease of use is not much better.

According to Shokz, these bone conduction headphones are designed for sports and everyday use. This kind of makes sense as the wrap-around design isn’t at risk of falling out of your ears. But at the end of the day, you still want your headphones to sound decent and these simply don’t deliver.

See the full Shokz OpenMove review.

2. Audeze MM-100

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 53%
• Sound quality score: 79%
• Price: $679
• Type: Over-ear
• Active noise-cancellation: No

Expensive headphones like these veer away from the consumer market towards audiophile territory. Rightly so, because not only do these studio grade cans sound good, they don’t offer wireless connectivity at all.

As far as sound quality goes, the MM-100 cans are aiming for the higher-end of the market. Everything runs through an old-school cable, removing the risk of audio compression that can come with Bluetooth. This also reduces latency (lag) when watching videos or playing games.

All sounds pretty good, right? Unfortunately, these headphones are about as durable as a wet paper bag, earning poor results (28%) in this part of the test. You’d think $680 would get you something at least a little more robust.

Meanwhile, the included carry case is just a fabric bag which isn’t enough to protect these fragile headphones against anything more than a scratch. It’s probably best to just keep these headphones at home – in fact that might be the intention.

But if that’s the case, then don’t expect to spend hour after hour kicking back with some tunes on the couch. The MM-100s are not very comfortable to wear with a borderline score of 53%.

Credit where credit is due, Audeze did a good job with the sound quality. It’s just a pity that the MM-100s fall short in all other respects.

See the full Audeze MM-100 review.

3. JBL Live 670NC

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 53%
• Sound quality score: 67%
• Price: $200
• Type: On-ear
• Active noise-cancellation: Yes

These on-ear headphones from JBL have pretty decent audio quality and they’re among the most affordable cans with good (70%) noise-cancellation around. So what’s the problem? Durability.

JBL’s headphones earned a measly 22% in this part of the test. In other words, they can feel wobbly, they’re easily damaged and seem poorly made overall. Your brand-new headphones may just break before you know it.

For $200, you could forgive a few cut corners here and there, maybe some missing features and even slightly lower sound quality. But the very poor build quality goes well beyond what’s acceptable for budget headphones. Despite the name, they’re unlikely to be alive for very long.

See the full JBL Live 670NC review.

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If you own an older TV that lacks smart features and streaming services, you might be considering replacing it. But before you do, ask yourself: is it really worth spending thousands on a new model when your existing one still works fine in many ways?

The good news is that you may not need to rush out and buy the latest and greatest smart TV just so you’re up to date. There are some simple, cheap tricks you can use to smarten up your existing TV.

On this page:

• How to convert your regular TV into a smart TV
• How to connect a streaming device to your TV
• How to use your smartphone to stream on your TV
• How to use your laptop to stream on your TV
• How to stream live TV
• Why have my apps disappeared?

How to convert your regular TV into a smart TV

Can you use a streaming service like Netflix or Disney+ on an older TV or computer monitor that can’t connect to the internet? Absolutely! You just need to borrow the smarts of another device that can connect to your screen. 

There are a few ways you can do it:

1. Connect a media streaming device, set top box or game console that supports your favourite streaming apps.
2. Plug your laptop into a spare HDMI port to use as a streaming device.
3. Use your smartphone to mirror, AirPlay or cast to your TV (if it supports this feature).

These are also easy ways to spruce up an older smart TV that may not play nice with newer services such as AppleTV+, HBO Max and Kayo Sports.

How to connect a streaming device to your TV

Streaming devices are small dongles or boxes with internet access that support streaming services and other entertainment apps. They’re a simple, affordable way to bring modern smart functions to an older TV.

Some well-known streaming devices you may have heard of include Google TV Streamer, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick and the NVIDIA Shield.

Many of these are small, low-cost dongles, which are the easiest and cheapest way to access streaming services on an aging screen.

They connect via HDMI so make sure your TV has at least one free HDMI port. You’re pretty much out of luck if your TV predates HDMI, in which case, it may be time for a new one. Though you can buy converters for other inputs, they’re not always reliable and tend to reduce picture and sound quality.

Once you’ve located it, check our TV streaming device reviews to see which products our experts recommend. You can filter by price, 4K capability, available streaming services and brand to find the right device for your needs and budget.

Look at the dimensions in particular. Some dongles may not fit into your TV if the HDMI ports are recessed. Check this before you buy.

“If you have home broadband and a spare HDMI connection on your TV, then you could buy something like an Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max or Hubbl Hub for around $100,” says ����Vlog TV expert Denis Gallagher. 

“If your TV can’t display 4K video, then the non-4K Fire TV Stick and Google TV models are cheaper. There’s also an Apple TV option starting from $250 and another from Google that’s about $160.

“The Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google TV Streamer and Apple TV products come with a remote control which is easy to use and will also allow you to control the volume of the TV.”

You can also use a game console like a PlayStation or Xbox or a set-top box like a Fetch TV box instead of a streaming device. All these devices should be connected to your TV via the HDMI port as it delivers both the audio and video over a single cable.

How to use your smartphone to stream on your TV

If your TV can connect to a smartphone, odds are it supports streaming apps as well. However, mirroring or casting can make it easier to view content from your phone on the big screen.

There are three ways to do this: you can either mirror, cast or AirPlay content. The terms are often used together but they actually work very differently.

Mirroring

Mirroring is when you’re simply showing whatever is on your smartphone on your TV. This can be both audio and video and is usually delivered over a direct Wi-Fi connection. 

Many older TVs that don’t have casting or AirPlay do support mirroring. This can be a handy feature to show family and friends photos and movies stored on your phone. You can also show streaming movies but the experience can be a bit clunky.

Casting

Casting for Android is a bit more sophisticated. Instead of just mirroring your Android smartphone or tablet, casting forms a link between your devices.

It either turns the phone/tablet into a remote so you can control an app – such as Spotify – on your TV with the touch screen, or it mirrors and optimises content so videos, photos and so on look as good as possible on your TV.

This delivers an experience similar to what you’d expect from a streaming device such as a Google TV Streamer or Amazon Firestick.

For casting to work most effectively, both the smartphone (or other smart device such as a tablet) and the TV should be connected to the internet via the same Wi-Fi network. Apps with casting support need to be installed on both devices as well, in most cases.

AirPlay

AirPlay is Apple’s version of casting. Though it’s built into a small number of smart TVs, AirPlay is typically limited to first-party devices such as the iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. Like casting, both devices need to be connected to the same network.

Check out the article below for a step-by-step guide on how to link your devices.

How to use your laptop to stream on TV

An easy way to smarten up a TV is to simply plug your laptop into it. This basically turns any TV with an HDMI connection into a big computer screen.

Almost all laptops can quickly connect to a TV via a direct HDMI cable connection (you’ll just need to buy an HDMI cable, which should cost around $20). Many laptops, especially those released in the last few years, may not have a full-sized HDMI port. 

The most common solution for a new model is a USB-C to HDMI cable (around $20). This should recognise the connection and show the screen directly on the TV as well as transmitting audio. However, you may need to adjust the laptop’s display settings for things to work correctly.

My computer doesn’t have HDMI or USB-C

In this case, your computer should have a Mini DisplayPort (or miniDP for short), which will work with a miniDP to HDMI cable. The Thunderbolt port on older MacBooks is compatible with miniDP cables.

How to stream live TV

If you live in an area with poor TV reception but still like to watch traditional broadcasts, a streaming dongle could be your saving grace.

Free-to-air catch-up services like SBS On Demand, 9Now and 7plus simultaneously stream live TV in their apps. It’s more or less the same as watching broadcasts, as long as you have a decent internet connection.

A few streaming devices, such as Hubbl and Fetch, can preview content from all of your streaming services on their home screen. This is handy as you won’t need to open and close various apps just to see what’s on TV.

Hubble takes it one step further by replicating the electronic program guide (EPG) included with most TVs. The only difference is you’re browsing a list of live streams as opposed to a list of shows currently airing, but the content is exactly the same. It’s a pretty unique approach.

Why have my apps disappeared?

Old-school TVs had just a few main tasks: pick up signals for free-to-air TV and connect to DVD players or game consoles. You could buy one knowing it would likely last you 10–15 years. 

But modern TVs have modern problems. While they may still function for the same length of time as their predecessors as far as video quality is concerned, you’re likely to encounter different issues such as apps becoming obsolete and platforms cutting off support for your operating system. 

Sometimes this is because streaming services won’t update apps designed for older TVs, due to decreasing demand. New apps, meanwhile, don’t always work on older models for the same reason. For example:

• in 2019, Netflix stopped working on some early 2010s Samsung and Panasonic smart TVs
• SBS On Demand was removed from some Sony TVs that weren’t using Google’s TV software
• Disney+ launched in Australia in 2019, but some Hisense TVs couldn’t support the Disney+ service until late 2021.

This is where a media streaming device, game console or laptop can come in handy. They generally support almost all (if not all) the main streaming services that may not be available on your TV.

Quick troubleshooting tips for your older smart TV

Here are a few simple steps to start sprucing up your TV.

• If an app is playing up or won’t open, delete it and install it again. 
• Perform a manual software update for your smart TV via the settings menu. 
• Restore your TV to the factory default settings, clearing out all the setting changes you may have made over the years.
• If performance is still average or poor, or you still can’t find the streaming apps you want, look into buying a streaming device.
• If picture quality is poor or the video keeps buffering, try using a Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi.
• If you can’t find an HDMI connection on your old TV and you want to use streaming services, it’s probably time to go shopping for a new TV.
• You may need to upgrade to an internet plan with greater download speed/more bandwidth if you want to stream 4K video, or if multiple people are streaming video at the same time. This can fix quality and buffering issues.

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There’s a lot that goes into finding the best pair of headphones for traveling. Plus, you probably want to make sure the pair you choose is also great for daily use on the bus, at work or around the house. Sound quality is important, but there are many more factors to consider.

What makes a good pair of travel headphones

Before you even start thinking about sound quality, you need to consider battery life and active noise-cancellation (ANC) performance. Battery life is particularly important as you don’t want your headphones to die partway through a long travel leg.

That doesn’t mean you should dismiss sound quality, of course. But a slightly lower score in this area may be a worthwhile compromise for particularly good battery life and ANC.

Comfort is also very important, but it can be subjective. As such, these results in our test are best used as a general guide. Durability is a big factor too, as your headphones are going to get banged around when you’re living out of a backpack or suitcase.

Consider which accessories come with the headphones as well. Look for a sturdy travel case, a detachable cable (to switch between wired and wireless connectivity) and a plane adaptor to access in-flight entertainment. Some of these accessories are sold separately.

Bigger, better battery life

We measure battery life with ANC turned on, but you can stretch it even further by turning this feature off. Most headphones give you the option to toggle it on and off using touch controls or via an official smartphone app. This is covered in the instructions included with the headphones.

Are earbuds or cans better for traveling?

Though this is largely a question of what you prefer, over/on-ear headphones (aka cans) are usually the better option. If they’re well-made, they’ll have considerably longer battery life with better sound and ANC quality, compared to buds.

However, they’re not exactly compact. They take up more space in your bag, they can’t fit discreetly in your pocket and may even weigh a lot more. In these respects, earbuds are a step ahead.

Comfort is a tricky one, simply because everyone’s ears are different. For example, earbuds might feel lighter and more comfortable in the short term, but would you want them sitting in your ear canals for an eight-hour flight?

Ideally, you want a pair of headphones that strikes the right balance across these categories. Aim for products that earn good results or higher in our comfort tests.

Should I insure my headphones before travelling?

It’s worth paying for coverage if you’re traveling with headphones that cost more than $150–200. Most standard travel insurance policies include electronics up to a certain amount but you may need to provide the brand and model info so the insurer can determine the payout in the event of a claim.

This is because claims often factor in the age of the electronics to pay out a depreciated value. In other words, your insurer is unlikely to replace four-year-old headphones with the latest model (or equivalent value).

Most insurers offer additional levels of electronics coverage for a fee. This could be worth it if you’re traveling with lots of tech (laptop, headphones, smartphone) that’s no more than three or so years old. Remember to read the terms before paying for extended coverage.

The best headphones for travel

Our detailed headphone testing data is available exclusively for ����Vlog members.

If you’re not yet a member, join ����Vlog to get instant access to our expert, independent reviews of headphones, plus hundreds of other products, from fridges and freezers, toasters and TVs, kettles and cots, and more.

Or log in to unlock this article and find out which cheap headphones are rated the best by our experts.

Below are the best earbuds and on-ear/over ear headphones for traveling.

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