TL;DR – Quick Picks

• Home cinema (dark room): OLED (LG G/C series, Sony A series).
• Bright lounge / daytime sports: Mini-LED flagships (Samsung Neo QLED; TCL/Hisense upper lines).
• Best all-round value 55–65″: Upper-mid Mini-LED or value OLED depending on price.
• Gaming: HDMI 2.1 with 4K@120/144Hz + VRR + ALLM; check how many 2.1 ports.
• Apps (UK): Freeview Play + your platform of choice (webOS / Google TV / Tizen / Fire TV / Roku).

Display Tech in 2025: OLED, QLED and Mini-LED

OLED (WOLED / QD-OLED)

Per-pixel dimming gives perfect blacks and outstanding contrast. Great for films and gaming in darker rooms. Modern panels add higher peak brightness and burn-in protections.

QLED (Quantum-dot LCD)

LCD with quantum dots for brighter highlights and strong colour volume. Black levels depend on local-dimming quality. Good match for bright spaces and sports.

Mini-LED

Thousands of smaller LEDs enable tighter dimming zones and big HDR punch. Often the best choice for bright living rooms while keeping strong contrast.

Rule of thumb: Dark room → OLED. Bright room → Mini-LED/QLED. If you need both, short-list premium Mini-LED or QD-OLED.

HDR, Motion & Colour

• HDR formats: HDR10 is baseline; many UK apps also use Dolby Vision and/or HDR10+ (model-dependent).
• Brightness vs contrast: Mini-LED tends to win for peak nits; OLED wins for absolute blacks and shadow detail.
• Motion: For sports, look for 120/144Hz panels and decent motion controls.

Gaming Essentials (PS5 / Xbox Series X / PC)

• HDMI 2.1 with 4K@120/144Hz.
• VRR (HDMI VRR/FreeSync; some models support G-SYNC Compatible).
• ALLM for low latency; many 2025 sets are <10ms in Game Mode.
• Ports matter: Count how many HDMI 2.1 ports you need (consoles + eARC).

Smart Platforms & UK Apps

The UK relies on Freeview Play catch-up apps (BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, My5) plus global streamers. Check the platform you prefer and confirm app support on the official pages below.

• LG webOS (UK): LG UK TVs
• Sony Google TV: Sony BRAVIA UK
• Samsung Tizen (UK): Samsung UK TVs
• TCL (UK): TCL UK TVs
• Hisense (UK): Hisense UK TVs
• Freeview Play: Get Freeview Play • Freeview UK
• Google TV hub: Google TV (Official)
• Roku TV (UK hub): Roku TV
• Amazon Fire TV (UK): Fire TV

Pick the Right Size

• 43–50″: Bedrooms/offices; prioritise apps and simple operation.
• 55–65″ (sweet spot): Broadest choice; value OLEDs and bright Mini-LEDs live here.
• 75–85″: Cinema scale; check stand width or wall mount pattern (VESA).

Value Shortlist (Model Families)

Exact model codes vary by size/retailer. Always confirm UK specs on the manufacturer’s product page.

Sound & Connectivity

• eARC for Dolby Atmos to a soundbar/AVR.
• Wi-Fi 6/6E helps with heavy 4K streaming; Ethernet is most stable.
• Bluetooth headphones support varies—check codec notes if needed.

Energy & Longevity

UK models show A–G energy labels. OLEDs draw less in dark scenes; Mini-LEDs spike in bright HDR highlights. Enable eco modes for SDR broadcast, and use logo protection/pixel shift on OLEDs for long-term health.

Pre-Purchase Checklist (UK)

1. Confirm Freeview Play support and the UK catch-up apps you actually use.
2. Count your HDMI 2.1 needs (PS5, Series X, eARC, PC).
3. Room brightness: prioritise Mini-LED/QLED for very bright rooms.
4. Cinema nights: prioritise OLED and Dolby Vision support (model-dependent).
5. Measure furniture/stand width; many 65–77″ sets use wide feet.

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