If you've not bought a TV since 2022, the prices are going to surprise you. A 55" OLED that cost £2,500 then is now £1,000-£1,400. A 65" 4K LED that cost £1,200 is now £600-£800. The market has compressed significantly, and 2026 is a meaningfully better time to buy than even 2024 was. The question for UK households due to replace isn't whether to spend less — it's how to spend the smaller budget well.
We tested four UK-popular 4K TVs across two months: LG C-series (C4 specifically), Sony Bravia 7, Samsung S95D OLED, and TCL C805.
The three things that decide TV quality
Panel type. OLED for best contrast, best HDR, best motion. QLED for brighter, better in daytime sunny rooms. LED for the value tier.
HDR performance. How well the TV handles bright highlights and dark shadows simultaneously.
Processing and motion. Sony's processing remains best-in-class for film and sport content.
For living rooms with normal-to-bright lighting: OLED's contrast is more significant than QLED's brightness. For very bright rooms with lots of windows facing south, QLED's anti-reflective treatment can swing the calculation back.
How to pick
Want best picture, money less object: LG C4 OLED at £1,200-£1,500 for 55".
Premium QLED experience: Samsung S95D at £1,400-£1,800.
Sony's processing for movies / sports: Sony Bravia 7 at £900-£1,300.
Best value mid-range: TCL C805 at £550-£800.
For most UK households upgrading: LG C4 OLED at £1,200-£1,400 for 55". Best picture quality at the price; OLED's contrast genuinely changes the viewing experience.
The four worth knowing
LG C4 OLED at £1,200-£1,500 (55"); £1,800-£2,200 (65"). The most-recommended OLED TV in 2026. 4K, 144Hz refresh, all major streaming apps native, four HDMI 2.1 ports for gaming consoles.
Sony Bravia 7 at £900-£1,300. Sony's mid-range. Sony's image processing is genuinely best-in-class for motion-heavy content (sports, fast-action film).
Samsung S95D OLED at £1,400-£1,800. Premium OLED with anti-reflective screen treatment — meaningful in bright living rooms.
TCL C805 at £550-£800. TCL has emerged as a genuine value brand. Mini-LED TV at notably lower price than LG / Sony / Samsung equivalents.
How I'd actually pick
Living rooms wanting best picture: LG C4 OLED during a sale. 55" for £1,200 is genuinely a great deal.
UK households with bright living rooms (lots of windows): Samsung S95D anti-reflective treatment is worth the premium.
Movie or sports enthusiasts: Sony Bravia 7 for the processing.
UK households on tight budgets: TCL C805. Genuine value; don't expect OLED contrast.
What I'd swerve: cheap (£300-£400) 4K TVs from supermarket brands; 8K TVs at £3,000-plus (no 8K content; you're paying for marketing).
Streaming and the rest of the setup
All four TVs above include all major streaming apps natively (Netflix, Prime, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, NOW). For streaming subscription strategy, see our separate guide — the rotation strategy saves £400-plus a year and matters more than the TV itself for ongoing cost.
Affiliate disclosure: Morningfold has affiliate partnerships with LG, Sony, Samsung, and TCL — see editorial standards.