Remember the days before smart TVs andstreaming devicescould connect us to apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+? Those were the dark ages, but thanks to companies like Google, Sony, Hisense, and TCL, we no longer have to live without a web-connected trove of entertainment. You’ve probably heard of platforms like Android TV, Tizen, and LG’s webOS; today, we’re teaching you about one of the best streaming hubs of the bunch:Google TV.
Introduced a few years back as an evolution of the Android TV OS, Google TV is your one-stop-shop for apps, games, AirPlay, Chromecast, screen mirroring, and voice assistant controls. You’ll find it on a range of TVs, and we’ve gone ahead and rounded up all our favorite Google TVs for 2024. You’ll likely recognize a few brand names, too.
Sony 65-inch Bravia 8 Series OLED
Sony 65-inch A95L QD-OLED
Hisense 65-inch U8N
TCL 65-inch QM8 Series
Hisense 43-inch A6 Series
Sony 32-inch W830K TV
TCL 75-inch Q7 Series
Sony 65-inch XR X90L
The best Google TVs put on a show
This year’s flagship Sony OLED ditches the quantum dots
Instead of giving the world another QD-OLED so soon, Sony decided to go with a traditional WOLED screen for its 2024 OLED flagship, the Bravia 8 Series. It’s one of the best TVs of the year, especially if you’re the type who loves watching and playing 4K HDR movies and video games. While the price may deter some, we can’t think of another detractor for this Bravia crown jewel.
The Sony Bravia 8 Series OLED is Sony’s flagship OLED TV for 2024. Unlike the Sony A95L (our premium pick), this isn’t a QD-OLED set; instead, we’re dealing with a traditional WOLED panel, but when combined with Sony’s picture processing tech and 4K upscaling, the results are simply astounding. Whether you’re watching basic cable or your 4K HDR movie collection, you’ll be blown away by this TV’s rich colors and inky black levels.
The Bravia 8 is no straggler when it comes to gaming, either. Thanks to HDMI 2.1 connectivity (on two of the TV’s four inputs), your PlayStation, Xbox, or PC gameplay should be smoother than ever. The TV also comes with VRR support and can deliver up to 4K/120Hz, which all but ensures you’ll have no issues with lag or motion clarity. And when you activate the Bravia 8’s built-in Game Mode, none of the TV’s picture settings are affected.
Of course, the main reason we’ve all gathered here is for Google TV. The version of the OS running on the Bravia 8 is as good as it gets. From Netflix streaming and screen mirroring to smart home controls, Google TV has got you covered. One of the best things about the platform is once you’ve been streaming on it for a little while, Google TV will start recommending movies and shows based on your viewing habits.
A no-nonsense OLED you won’t soon forget
The Sony 65-inch A95L is quite the TV. The brand’s Cognitive Processor XR and Triluminos Max ensure that every frame of your go-to movies and shows looks just as good as the last.
When it comes to flagship TVs, it’s hard to beat the next-level performance of models like the Sony A95L OLED.
The A95L, available in 55, 65, and 77-inch sizes, boasts Sony’s much-lauded Cognitive Processor XR for picture processing. Each frame of your favorite movies and shows is fine-tuned and upscaled, ensuring you’re getting the absolute best picture possible. And with Sony’s Triluminos Max bringing unmatched color detail and impressive brightness levels to the screen, no one’s going to want to leave the living room for quite some time.
This is a QD-OLED model to boot, which combines quantum dots with self-emissive pixels. The result is brightness, color, and contrast accuracy you’ll have to see to believe. Oh, and how dare we wait to mention the TV’s exceptional HDR performance and built-in Google TV OS for all your streaming needs.
The best Hisense ULED TV for 2024
While the “ULED” moniker is really just Hisense making up its own name for the ubiquitous QLED technology found on many 2024 TVs, the Hisense U8N is a testament to just how far this brand has come over the last few years. Expect amazing brightness levels, terrific colors and contrast, along with a handful of gaming optimizations.
The Hisense U8N is a rare bird of a QLED TV. Not only is this one of the best Hisense sets of 2024, but it’s priced in a way that also makes it affordable for a lot of households. Based on the kind of picture the Hisense U8N delivers, plus the lower-than-average cost for a larger screen, it would feel wrong not to give the U8N our best value laurel.
One of the biggest strengths of this Google TV-powered set is its brightness capabilities. Hisense has produced some of the brightest QLED TVs on the market, and the U8N pushes the envelope further. Whether you’re watching regular SDR content or indulging in 4K HDR films, the U8N can achieve astounding illumination, with specular highlights all but leaping off the screen. The U8N is also an excellent TV for 4K upscaling and motion clarity.
As for Google TV, the version running on the U8N is fast, responsive, and packed with apps and plenty of other web-connected features. We’re also big fans of the 2.1.2 audio system that Hisense managed to build into this set. While it does make the TV less thin than other flagship models, the built-in subwoofer makes it all worth it.
TCL hits hard
TCL is a mighty force to be reckoned with in the world of TVs, and when it comes to Google-powered sets, the 65-inch QM8 is the best option for most households.
The TCL 65-inch QM8 Series is the kind of TV that confounds us, purely because this thing should costwaymore money. But if you watch a lot of TV and take full advantage of all the streaming services out there, the QM8’s ultra-bright mini-LED lighting delivers a maximum of 2,000 nits. Let’s just say that as far as brightness goes, you’ll be in good hands here. There’s so much more to love, though.
The QM8 boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, supports many leading HDR codecs, and includes TCL’s Game Mode Pro for our PS5 and Xbox fans. Not to mention the incredible Google TV OS working front and center and behind the scenes to give an amazing assortment of apps, games, and other useful features to enjoy.
A Google TV for your bedroom or dorm
Hisense and Google TV go together like PB&J, and when it comes to mid-sized sets, the A6 Series is an easy go-to. With its awesome picture, solid HDR support, and integrated Google Assistant, you’ll have a hard time taking your eyes off the screen.
When your TV size is below 50 inches, it’s fairly common to see some features turn to dust, with motion performance and resolution being the two main culprits. And while this iskind ofthe case with the Hisense 43-inch A6 Series, this awesome mid-sized Google TV rocks some pretty impressive picture quality and HDR support, even though you’re only working with a 60Hz refresh rate.
Hisense TVs are also pretty great for gaming, and the A6 Series includes the brand’s Game Mode Plus mode, which ensures every single-player campaign or multiplayer mashup is lag-free. Of course, a slightly better 120Hz refresh rate would be better all around.
Sony rules at every size
X-Reality Pro picture processing and HDR support make the Sony 32-inch W830K the kind of small TV that similarly-sized models from other brands should be learning from.
While 32-inch TVs tend to be used as bedroom sets, that doesn’t mean your small screen should skimp on features and performance. And if you’re trying to get the best tiny Google TV you can find, Sony’s W830K Series should be a leading consideration.
Now, let’s not beat around the bush: what you won’t find here is 4K resolution. That’s not unusual with smaller sets, though, and the way this Sony handles colors, contrast, and peak brightness levels, you’ll probably forget you’re looking at a 1080p picture (at best).
Google Assistant is here, too, and you can use Google’s digital pal to search for your favorite movies and shows and to call up live footage from any Nest cameras you have hanging around your property.
TCL strikes again
For a 75-inch screen that gives you the kind of picture you’d want on a set this size, the TCL 75-inch Q7 Series has got what it takes to be the TV you own and use daily for the next several years.
TCL makes TVs of all sizes, but when you’re looking for the biggest Google TV you can find for a solid price, we highly recommend the TCL 75-inch Q7 Series. This beast of a TV is equipped with a powerful full-array LED backlight that pushes up to 1,000 nits. For those unaware, that’s some pretty dang good peak brightness! And the Q7 backs up that luminance with a native refresh rate of 120Hz across all HDMI inputs.
Gamers will also enjoy TCL’s Game Accelerator 240, which uses VRR technology to reduce lag. While it’s a stone’s throw away from the flagship QM8, if saving a few bucks is important, the TCL 75-inch Q7 Series should be high on your list.
Built for motion and clarity
The Sony 65-inch XR X90L may not be the most expensive Google TV on our list, but that’s only because there are slightly newer models available now. If you want to save a few bucks, the X90L still delivers a vivid and lifelike picture at any time of day, and the additional gaming features make this Sony one to write home about.
Gaming TVs need to go above and beyond for their main users: those who love playing video games. As far as Google TVs go, the Sony 65-inch XR X90L delivers plenty of amazing next-gen console must-haves, including HDMI 2.1 across all inputs. This wiring standard supports 4K/120Hz, VRR, and ALLM, essential for reducing input lag and dialing down on the best frame rate possible for all your online multiplayer needs.
The XR X90L also features Sony’s Cognitive Processor XR for incredibly detailed picture processing and upscaling. And while this TV may not feature mini-LED lighting, the full-array LED backlight delivers precise brightness to the parts of your screen that need it most,whenthey need it most.
Experience entertainment like never before with Google TV
As you can see, there are a ton of great Google TVs on the market, but we think most folks are going to love our best overall pick, the impressive Sony Bravia 8 Series OLED.
Available in 55-, 65-, and 77-inch sizes, this WOLED-equipped set delivers rich colors, a near-infinite contrast ratio, and exceptional SDR brightness levels for an OLED TV. It’s also an excellent TV for console and PC gaming, and its Google TV UI is as smooth and responsive as a TV-based smart hub gets.
That said, if you’re looking for the best picture you may get from Sony, our premium pick, the Sony A95L, may be more up your alley. This 2023 QD-OLED is still one of the best TVs out there, with Sony’s picture processing and 4K upscaling bringing some of the best brightness levels, colors, contrast, and motion performance to the table. We’re also fans of the enhanced color brightness and gamut that the built-in quantum dots provide.
But we get it, not everyone can afford a $3,000+ TV, which is why we’ve included the Hisense U8N as our best value pick. Hisense never skimps on the wow factor, and the U8N ups the ante by delivering one of the brightest pictures we’ve seen this year from a QLED TV. While you may encounter some light blooming trouble in darker scenes, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a flagship QLED for less than $1,000 from most other TV brands.
The Sony Bravia 8 Series OLED is our go-to Google TV for 2024. Packed with amazing features, incredible picture tech, and smooth-running Google TV capabilities (like Google Assistant), this is easily one of the best Google-powered OLED sets on the market.
