There are certainly more than two types of people in the world, but for this brief exercise, let’s say there are: people who watch TV and movies casually, and those who take it very seriously. For the later group, the quality of the TV they use to watch their favorite shows and films is of the utmost importance, but that doesn’t mean that finding the perfect TV is easy.
Last year, Netflix aimed to make this process easier for its users with the introduction of its Netflix Recommended TVs. Today the company announced that not only is the recommended TV list returning, but the company is taking it global, and it’s even tougher than it was last year to get the service’s seal of approval.
For this year, Netflix has developed a set of seven criteria it uses to judge TVs, and manufacturers need to meet at least five of these criteria to quality, Variety reports. So far, only two manufacturers have met sufficient criteria to satisfy Netflix’s requirements: LG and Sony, and even then, only a select few models from each company pass muster.
These criteria include Instant On — the ability for a TV to quickly be ready for use — and the ability to easily pick up where the user left off the last time they used the TV. The abilities to quickly launch and resume apps are also key. The final three criteria are Netflix-specific: offering the latest version of the Netflix app, a “prominent” Netflix icon on the TV, and a dedicated button for the streaming service on the TV’s remote.
While it isn’t listed officially as part of the criteria, the only recommended TVs are all 4K models. For LG, the following 4K UHD webOS 3.0 TVs made the cut: the UH6300 series, UH6500 series, UH7500 series, UH8500 series, UH9500 series, and G6 series. For Sony, these 4K Android TVs made Netflix’s list: The S85D series, X85D series, X93D series, X94D series, XD93 series, XD94 series, SD85 series, and XD85 series.
Netflix says the reason that its requirements are so steep is to push TV manufacturers into making better products. “There was a problem that felt like it needed solving in the smart TV space,” Netflix’s director of platform product management, Brady Gunderson, said during a press briefing last week.
Of course, it’s early in the year and Netflix hasn’t said publicly what TVs it has considered so far, so it’s possible, and even likely, that this list will expand as the year goes on. Last year’s recommended TV list included manufacturers like Hisense, Panasonic, Philips, Sharp, and Vizio, in addition to LG and Sony. That said, if you’re looking for a TV to buy today that will offer the best Netflix experience, a TV from those listed above should be your best bet.
