Skip to main content

The best TVs of CES 2020: Samsung, Philips, LG, and more

Recommended Videos
This story is part of our continuing coverage of CES 2020, including tech and gadgets from the showroom floor.

CES, the tech extravaganza that takes place in Las Vegas every year, has gadgets galore. The event has always placed the TV on a very high pedestal and CES 2020 was no exception. While there were no revolutionary developments this year like 8K, HDR, or 3D, as we’ve seen at previous CES events, manufacturers came to town with new models that improve on virtually all aspects of the TV-watching experience. From hands-free voice commands to mini-LED backlights, here are the best TVs from CES 2020.

The products in this article were selected by our editors as standouts in the TVs category at CES 2020. Check out our Top Tech of CES Awards, which award our favorite products in over ten categories, to see all the hottest gear.
best tech ces 2020 digital trends editors pick
CES 2020

Samsung Q950TS 8K TV

Samsung Q950TS 8K TV
Samsung’s Q950TS 8K TV is 99% image, 1% border. Samsung

Samsung didn’t bring anything groundbreaking in the way of TV tech this year, but it still managed to wow us with this gorgeous, bezel-less 8K TV. OLED-based TVs have always had an edge when it comes to tiny edges because they don’t require a backlight. QLED TVs are a different story, which is what makes Samsung’s engineering achievement on the Q950TS’s so-called Infinity Screen all the more amazing. It isn’t an OLED TV, but it sure looks like one.

Of course, looks aren’t the whole story here. The Q950TS also boasts some impressive technology on the inside. It has a unique A.I. picture engine that teaches itself how to upscale non-8K content to 8K resolution over time. This means the more you watch it — in theory — the better your content will look. There’s also a new backlighting design that should improve brightness while avoiding the halo and bloom effects that are often associated with non-OLED displays. The cherry on top is a clever sound feature called Active Voice Amplifier, which automatically compensates for loud sounds in your environment by boosting the dialog volume.

TCL 6-Series Mini-LED

TCL 6-Series mini-LED TV
Image used with permission by copyright holder

TCL didn’t talk much about its new TVs at CES 2020, deciding to focus instead on its new Vidrian Mini-LED backlight technology. That meant that one of the most notable TVs of the show kind of slipped under the radar. We’re talking about the updated TCL 6-Series. In 2019, the 6-Series was already an incredible value — with a bright QLED display, the superb Roku OS, support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and prices that made it a no-brainer for most buyers, we recommended it. But TCL’s latest version of the 6-Series could be a game-changer.

New for 2020, TCL is giving the 6-Series its mini-LED backlight technology, which drastically increases the number of individual LEDs and local-dimming zones compared to traditionally backlit QLED TVs. This change could give these highly affordable TVs the kind of black-level performance typically only seen on OLED TVs that cost twice as much or more on a size-by-size basis. We’ll keep our expectations in check until we get one in for testing, but the new 6-Series could redefine the picture quality we can expect from 4K TV in the sub-$1,000 range.

Philips 804 Series OLED TV with Ambilight

Philips Funai 804 Series OLED TV with Ambilight
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Technically, the Philips  804 Series OLED TV was not a CES 2020 launch — it’s been available in the EU for a few months already. But CES 2020 brought the news that this would be the first Philips OLED TV that has ever been sold in the U.S., which is pretty big news.

Not only does the 804 Series offer an excellent OLED picture, on par with what we’ve seen from LG, but it also has some unique features like Ambilight, which illuminates the wall behind the TV for a dazzling, color-synced light display. It has hands-free voice commands via its Google Assistant-equipped Android TV OS, and it supports all of the major HDR formats like HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision.

But we’re particularly intrigued by the 804 Series’ price. It hasn’t been announced yet, but Funai (the company that licenses the Philips brand in the U.S.) says it will be very affordable. Here’s hoping!

Vizio 4K OLED TV

Vizio OLED TV
Meet the Vizio OLED TV. Image used with permission by copyright holder

Vizio is another company that is bringing its first OLED TV to the U.S. in 2020. Precious little is known about this model other than its size — it will be available in 55 and 65inches. We’re including it in this list simply because Vizio has consistently delivered TVs that boast exceptional value for the money. If the company has decided to sell an OLED TV, you can bet it will set a new bar for affordability., Price is something that had kept the stunning picture quality of OLED displays out of the homes of average consumers for far too long.

Given that all OLED panels come from the same source — LG Display in South Korea — what makes one OLED TV different from another is design, price, and image processing. We doubt that Vizio will match the image processing Sony has achieved with its superb A9G OLED TVs, but there’s every reason to think Vizio’s pricing will make that consideration fade into the background.

Vizio P-Series Quantum X

Meet the Vizio P-Series Quantum X (2020). Image used with permission by copyright holder

For 2020, Vizio is refreshing its flagship P-Series Quantum X TVs with some welcome upgrades. They get the latest and greatest version of Vizio’s image engine, the IQ Ultra CPU, which features machine-learning capabilities. Combined that with its new 3D color engine and image quality is significantly enhanced, especially when upscaling content to 4K resolution.

This year, the Quantum X becomes a master of HDR, supporting all of the major flavors, including HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+, the dynamic Samsung-backed competitor to Dolby Vision. You’ll be able to buy the Quantum X in an enormous 85-inch size in addition to smaller models, and all sizes will benefit from both VRR and AMD FreeSync technologie, which make gaming on a big screen a far better experience.

LG’s roll-down OLED

LG roll-down OLED TV
Image used with permission by copyright holder

What’s better than an OLED TV that rolls out of the top of a floor-mounted cabinet? Why, an OLED TV that rolls down from the ceiling, of course! It may seem a bit (ahem) over-the-top, but LG is simply demonstrating the incredible flexibility of its OLED technology. No other kind of TV display can be flexed and rolled like OLED, and it’s great to see LG exploring the limits of these properties in the name of products that have the ability to totally disappear when not in use.

LG GX Gallery Series

LG OLED GX Gallery 4K TV
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Speaking of disappearing when not in use, LG has taken a page out of Samsung’s The Frame TV playbook with its new GX Gallery 4K OLED TVs. These TVs offer all of the benefits of OLED technology, but they’ve been built to double as high-resolution art displays when you’re not watching video. At less than an inch thick, these TVs are thinner than most framed artwork, and a special wall mount lets you hang them flush to the wall, which completes the art gallery effect.

However, its art-friendly design is really just the icing on the cake — the GX Gallery Series is also packed with LG’s latest OLED improvements. It’s an Nvidia G-sync and AMD FreeSync-compatible display, which means gamers can now use a 55-, 65-, or 75-inch TV without experiencing the tearing and frame-stutter common on TVs that don’t have this variable refresh rate (VRR) technology.

It has hands-free voice commands, Disney+ and Apple TV apps, Dolby Vision IQ for picture settings that automatically adjust to room lighting, and a 3rd-gen image-processing engine that makes all content look spectacular. We’re also thrilled that LG has added Filmmaker Mode to all of its new 2020 TVs, letting you banish the dreaded soap opera effect with just one button on the remote.

Follow our live blog for more CES news and announcements.

Simon Cohen
Simon Cohen is a contributing editor to Digital Trends' Audio/Video section, where he obsesses over the latest wireless…
Best 85-inch TV deals: Save on Samsung, Sony, TCL, and more
TCL 85s435 XL Collection 85-inch LED TV

Whether you’re putting together a full-on home theater or need a TV to fill out a large viewing area, an 85-inch TV is a good way to go big with your favorite content. And while they can get expensive, there are some 85-inch TV deals among the day’s best TV deals that are worth taking a look at. We’ve rounded up all of the best 85-inch TV deals below, where you’ll find all of the details you need to save big. And if an 85-inch TV is too much for your space you can still find plenty of savings by shopping today’s 75-inch TV deals, 70-inch TV deals, and 65-inch TV deals.
TCL 85-inch S4 4K Google TV — $680 $850 20% off

Value is front and center with the TCL 85-inch Class S4 4K smart TV, as it’s a nice balance of affordability and features. It delivers 4K picture quality with four times the resolution of Full HD, as well as endless entertainment with easy access to your favorite streaming services. Google Chromecast is built right into the TV, allowing you to easily stream movies, shows and photos from your Android or iOS device. It also has 3 HDMI inputs, which makes it great for gamers who need to connect several consoles, or for room to connect things like surround sound systems.

Read more
Best TCL TV deals: 4K TVs as low as $270
TCL's 5-Series 4K QLED Google TV.

TCL is one of the best TV brands to shop if you’re in the market for some value. TCL TVs offer impressive picture quality at affordable prices, and there’s even more affordability on the table if you shop TCL TV deals. There are a lot of TCL TV deals going on right now, with a range of sizes available that include 65-inch TV deals, 70-inch TV deals, 75-inch TV deals, and 85-inch TV deals. With so many TCL TV deals out there to shop we thought we’d round up the best of them. You’ll find all of those details below, and if you’d prefer to consider some other TV brands don’t miss all of the Sony TV deals, LG TV deals, Samsung TV deals, and Vizio TV deals going on right now.
Today’s best TCL TV deals

-- $270 $460 40% off
-- $450 $600 25% off
-- $680 $850 20% off
-- $500 $800 37% off
-- $1,000 $1,200 17% off
-- $800 $1,500 47% off
-- $900 $1,200 25% off
-- $1,800 $2,000 10% off

Read more
The best TVs under $500: small budget, big picture
2024 TCL Q6 4K QLED TV.

If you’re of the mindset that you simply can’t score a solid TV for less than $1,000 these days, let alone $500, we're here to play devil’s advocate. While the absolute best TVs of the year can cost thousands of dollars, there are still some fantastic budget-friendly sets to consider, and a handful of these TVs do cost less than half a grand. Mind you, we’re not talking about 85-inch OLED monoliths here, so pump the brakes. These are usually entry-level sets with a couple of midrange models to consider when there’s a sale or two around.

Maybe you’re looking for a less-than-perfect 55-inch LED you can put in the guest bedroom. Perhaps you want to surprise your kid with a TCL or Hisense TV this Christmas but can’t fathom dropping more than $250. There are TV models to consider at just about every price point, and today, we’re going to take a look at the best TVs under $500. 

Read more