Almost all TVs on the market in 2018 have a number of built-in smart features. It is almost impossible to find a TV that does not. Unlike phones or computers, every TV manufacturer has its own smart interface, and there can be a significant difference between the two. Not all smart platforms are made equal and they each have their own challenges.
In 2018 there will be five major smart operating systems: Android TV, webOS, Tizen, Roku TV and SmartCast used by Sony, LG, Samsung, TCL and Vizio respectively. In the UK, you will find that Philips also uses Android, while Panasonic uses its own MyHomeScreen system.
The vast majority of TVs use the operating systems mentioned above – but not all TVs. At lower prices, you are unlikely to find any of the above systems, as most TV manufacturers instead offer limited in-house service. These will vary between manufacturers, but generally they are not as good as the ones mentioned above, if only for the reason that they are not updated as often.
A list of the best smart TV 2018:
Samsung 65-inch Q9FN QLED TV
Samsung pulls out all the stops for its best 4K smart TV, the 65-inch Q9FN QLED TV. The QLED display combines a bright LCD screen with quantum dot technology, advanced filtering and precision dimming for the best black levels you see on an LCD screen and vibrant brightness that OLED can hardly match. This flawless display is coupled with excellent audio and offers 4.2-channel sound that delivers clear sound and solid bass. The sleek display also benefits from Samsung’s One Connect box, which places all the ports and even the TV’s power connection in a separate box and combines them all into the barely visible Invisible Connection, a single semi-transparent cable that delivers power, image and sound for all your home cinema devices. And there are plenty of smart features in abundance, with Samsung’s SmartThings platform, the interactive Bixby voice assistant and a minimalist remote that’s among the best of its kind. You can also use the TV as a dashboard to control all your connected devices, from thermostats to smart plugs and camera doorbells. Wrap it all up in a design that looks as good from the back as from the front, and it’s easy to see why the Samsung 65-inch Q9FN QLED TV is the best 4K smart TV we’ve seen all year round. Key Specs – Screen Size: 65 inches; Screen Type: QLED (Quantum Dot LCD); Refresh Rate: 120Hz; HDMI ports: 4; Size: 57.1 x 32.7 x 32.7 x 1.5 inches; Weight: 58.9 pounds
LG B8: Excellent 4k OLED TV with great smart features
If you want the best smart TV, watch the LG B8 4k OLED TV. This OLED TV delivers excellent picture quality, with excellent performance in the darkroom and wide viewing angles. Streaming videos look incredible, thanks to the almost instantaneous response time. It is also a great choice for gamers, thanks to its incredibly low input delay.
Unfortunately, OLED TVs such as the B8 can experience temporary image retention and even permanent burn-in when exposed to static images. If you are viewing sufficiently varied content, we don’t expect most people to experience it. It can’t get very bright either, so it’s not a good choice if you have a really bright room.
Sony X900F: A Great LED LCD Television
If you want a great Smart TV without the risk of burning, you should check out the Sony X900F. The X900F is a great LED/LCD 4k TV that delivers excellent picture quality. Motion looks incredible thanks to its excellent response time and has a very good low input delay for gaming.
It has great intelligent features. It runs Android TV OS 7.0, which is not the latest version, but still looks good and is easy to use. The interface isn’t as fast as some people would like it to be, which could bother some people. It has a large selection of standard apps, and there are thousands more in the Google Play Store.
Samsung NU8000: A great TV with impressive gaming features
If you like the Sony X900F, but prefer something with faster intelligent features and more advanced gaming features, take a look at the Samsung NU8000. The NU8000 delivers good picture quality, with excellent motion handling and extremely low input delay. It also has very good intelligent features, with an intelligent interface that is both faster and easier to use than the Sony X900F.
PC and Xbox gamers will love the Samsung NU8000’s new gaming features. It supports AMD’s FreeSync Variable Refresh Rate technology for a consistently tear-free gaming experience. It also ensures that you always get the best gaming experience by automatically activating the low latency play mode when it detects that you are playing a game.
LG C8 OLED Series (2018)
At the top of our list for 2018 is the LG C8 OLED – available in 55 and 65 inch iterations. It’s here because it combines an impressive picture, extensive features, an attractive design and its unrivalled intelligent platform to deliver one of the best televisions we’ve seen so far. It’s not as bright as an LCD TV, but these deep blacks make a big difference in the dynamic range of the picture. It’s also capable of producing vibrant and beautiful colors, not to mention an amazing amount of detail with native 4K content.
Sony Bravia A9F OLED OLED
Sony’s second-generation OLED flagship, the A9F, comes at a good time – just as Samsung and LG have intensified their games with the Samsung Q9FN QLED and the LG E8 OLED, Sony has shot back with its own phenomenal OLED.
Even better than the A1E before it, the A9F is undoubtedly Sony’s best OLED offering to date and probably a strong competitor for the high-end screen of the year.
Philips 803 OLED OLED
With the second generation of OLED televisions and a new P5 Perfect Processing Engine, Philips has succeeded in further improving the vivid image and color contrast of last year’s Philips 9002 OLED.
The Philips 803 is a truly powerful 4K TV, and all the better an offer to be the cheaper sibling of the Philips flagship 903 – so you won’t get Bowers & Wilkins speakers, but the reduced price brings the 803 much closer.
There’s never been a better time to buy a new TV. Manufacturers are constantly trying to outdo each other by incorporating and developing their advanced technologies to make the consumer experience unsurpassed.
