> At a Glance
> – Samsung’s S95F OLED delivers the best picture quality CNET has tested in 2025
> – 30% brightness boost over last year’s model, plus class-leading glare control
> – TCL QM9K sets a brightness record at 4,520 nits-500 nits ahead of rivals
> – Why it matters: Whether you want cinema-grade contrast or daylight-friendly brightness, these lab winners show exactly where to spend your money
CNET’s dedicated TV lab just wrapped months of side-by-side testing and crowned the Samsung S95F OLED the top performer of 2025, while the TCL QM9K claimed the title of brightest TV ever measured.
Best Overall: Samsung S95F OLED
The S95F takes everything that worked on last year’s S95D-vivid OLED colors, ultra-low gaming lag-and adds a 30% brightness bump plus even better anti-glare coating. Reflections virtually disappear, making it the first choice for bright living rooms.
- Infinite blacks and superb shadow detail
- External One Connect box keeps inputs off the ultra-thin panel
- Price premium: most expensive set in the 2025 lineup
- Missing feature: still no Dolby Vision support
Brightness Champion: TCL QM9K
If sheer light output tops your list, the QM9K hit a record 4,520 nits in CNET’s lab-outpunching the next-best Hisense U8Q by roughly 500 nits. Mini-LED tech keeps blooming in check, and gamers get sub-10 ms input lag.
| TV | Peak HDR Brightness | Accurate HDR |
|---|---|---|
| TCL QM9K | 4,520 nits | 2,520 nits |
| Hisense U8Q | 4,080 nits | 4,070 nits |
| Samsung S95F | 2,150 nits | 2,150 nits |
Budget Standout: Hisense QD7QF
Full-array local dimming-usually reserved for pricier sets-lands in the QD7QF, pushing contrast well beyond typical budget fare. At $309 for the 50-inch model (prices fluctuate), it outputs more than twice the brightness of rival cheap TVs.
Key Takeaways
- Best picture: Samsung S95F OLED-best contrast plus new brightness
- Brightest screen ever tested: TCL QM9K at 4,520 nits
- Best value under $1,000: TCL QM6K now selling around $550
- Budget pick: Hisense QD7QF with local dimming for $309
Choose the S95F for dark-room cinema, the QM9K for sunlit spaces, and the QD7QF when every dollar counts-CNET’s measurements show each leads its class in 2025.
