OLED provides superior colors and contrast, but at a steep price.

Mini-LED tends to occupy a sweet spot, delivering some of the advantages of OLED without the price barrier.

QLED LCD can look great while saving cash, but won't impress when it comes to contrast.

In 2025, TV shopping is simultaneously easier than ever and incredibly complicated. It's easy in that it's difficult to go too far wrong -- most TVs over $500 are going to look great, and come preloaded with Roku OS , Google TV , or Fire TV. Even many TVs under that price level are worth checking out, especially if you're just looking to put something in your kitchen or home gym.

It's once you've got particular demands that things become tough. Not every TV can handle Dolby Vision, for instance, and some are better for gaming than others -- you'll want something with minimal response times and VRR (variable refresh rate) support. It's also important to choose software that aligns with your smart home ecosystem, if you've got one.

The leading question for many people is what display tech they should pick. While most sets are based on traditional LCD, higher-quality models sport OLED, mini-LED, or QLED LCD. Is it worth spending extra on those formats? Which one is superior? And even if something is superior, does it actually matter in practice?