At the end of this week, on 3 July, one of the biggest sci-fi shows of modern times will return. Yes, Silo season 3 is set to air on Apple TV.

The anticipation is high, too, given the second season's jubilant reception – it still maintains a 92% score on the aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.

The latest trailer – which is embedded below – has already confirmed some pretty big plot twists, too, so the show's trajectory already looks to be a riot.

But Apple TV has made some great decisions in the show's airing schedule to which other platforms, from Netflix to Disney+, ought to pay greater attention.

Same-day global streaming

The first episode of Silo season 3 airs on Friday 3 July. Not Thursday in the USA and Friday at ungodly hours in the UK. It's a same-day release – so less chance of leaks and spoilers. That's a big positive for a global audience.

Unlike many shows' season premieres, Silo season 3 won't release multiple episodes at once. You won't get two episodes back to back to kick off the season – and I think that's a good thing for scheduling.

Indeed, as I've written before: Apple's bold message with Silo is foresight that Netflix should learn from. The show is already shot beyond this season, through to season 4, meaning ongoing consistency will continue to follow.

No mid-season breaks

Silo season 3 will air consistently, with each week's episode running to a similar length – none of the aberrated runtimes that the final season of Netflix's Stranger Things exhibited.

That, too, is an important factor for consistency, story flow and audience focus. Add that there are no mid-season breaks – FX's Higher Potential on Disney+ could learn that – and that can aid the storytelling aspect of this series.

There's going to be a lot of time jumps in this series, based on the trailer, which ought to lend the writers to cue up plenty of cliffhangers and unknowns. Classic TV storytelling momentum that so many modern 'boxset shows' otherwise lack.

Weekly schedule

But! No physical release...

As one of Apple TV's major Apple Original shows, however, the streamer keenly wants to hold the show on its platform.

That means no physical release – any Blu-rays you see are knockoff bootlegs, not official – and the 4K streaming output, as I've written about before, is sometimes questionable (especially for such a low-light show).

I, for one, would pay extra for an Apple TV Ultra, if it promised higher bitrates. The unofficial workaround, however, is to buy a physical Apple TV 4K box, which services its users with better quality than app sources elsewhere.

That's one hurdle I'm not sure can be fully overcome at this time. Given that Silo S3 has all the badges on its official page – 4K, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos – it's clear it could look even better than its streaming bubble enables. But it's a darn good reason to buy a 4K box nonetheless...

When the Project Hail Mary 4K Blu-ray was finally listed for pre-order I let out a little whinny of excitement. Or maybe that was just in my head. Nonetheless, I rapidly paid my order for the physical release, as it had been on my wish-list for some time.

Amazon MGM Studios had a major opportunity here to fix my biggest problem with physical media releases – namely, the release date being set in stone. Sadly, however, this is yet another 4K Blu-ray release where things are just, well, unclear.

- As a 4K Blu-ray fan, these are 7 discs I'd buy in Amazon's sale

Two weeks ago the Project Hail Mary pre-order went live on Amazon in the US. It attracted a mass of interest, then the listing seemingly evaporated – as if the pre-order volume was so considerable that all stock was allocated. Fortunately, the UK didn't suffer the same fate – you can still pre-order on Amazon.

Not in tandem with streaming

At the time the 4K Blu-ray pre-order went live, however, there wasn't even a hint of official release date. Even now, weeks on, there's no official word from Amazon MGM Studios about when the disc version will actually arrive to customers.

That's a frustration. After all, those who want to watch can do so via pay-to-view streaming using MGM+ – as has been the case since 18 June.

• Subscribe to MGM+ for £2.99/month (offer ends 2 July 2026)
• USA-based? Subscribe for $7.99/month

Sure, I get that Amazon wants to promote that platform's sign-ups and revenue, but why not get the 4K Blu-ray out first? Surely that would increase the demand and make even more money overall?

No precise release date

There are also agreements that restrict a release schedule based on a theatrical run – and as Project Hail Mary's life in the cinema extended initial expectations, that put in a bit of a delay.

That's the price of success but, again, why not relay with clarity as soon as possible when the disc would drop? It only adds additional time for teams to be working on the release, rather than squeezing schedules.

As it stands most UK sites have just latched '31 December 2026' into this field, as a catch-all way of saying 'this year', I suppose.

The 4K Blu-ray won't be released that late, though, as suggestion is 11 August will be the official date. Sources are loose on this one, however, so that can only be seen as a suggestion rather than definitive date at this time.

Limited 'Extras' detail

A massive reason for wanting a 4K Blu-ray of any release is for the best-of-best picture quality at a bitrate that no streaming service can ever match, plus an uncompressed sound mix that will make the best home theatres shine all the brighter.

In addition, however, collectors and fans love the Extras on discs. Behind-the-scenes. Storyboards. Deleted scenes. Alternate endings. Director's Cut versions. The list goes on. Yet there is no list – as the 4K Blu-ray of Project Hail Mary hasn't listed any of its contents at this stage.

That's not stopped me from buying the disc on first sighting, of course, I just wish these points would be addressed to make for a smoother purchase experience. At £24.99 / $37.99 for a copy, such buyers are awarding a high rate of return to the studios after all.

We're a day away from Grand Theft Auto VI hitting stores – to pre-order, at least. The game is due on 19 November 2026 for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, but you can order your copy from tomorrow, 25 June.

It's exciting – after all, this is undoubtedly the biggest game release of the decade so far and while we have a few more months before we can actually play it, I'm already thinking about my gaming setup. I want to ensure that I'll make the most of GTA 6 from the first moment to the last.

Indeed, rumours suggest that the console version will have a 60 frames-per-second performance mode, and you are likely to get some in-game ray tracing support (on PS5 / PS5 Pro and Xbox Series X, anyway). So is your TV up to the task of showing it at its best?

If not, Amazon's Prime Day sale is here to help. There are some great TV deals this week in both the UK and US, which could give you the ideal platform to benefit from Rockstar's first new Grand Theft Auto in 13 years.

I've chosen some of my own picks to help you out.

Each of these deals is great for different reasons, although there are also additional TV deals available on Amazon in your area.

• Amazon UK Prime Day TV deals
• Amazon US Prime Day TV deals

As for Grand Theft Auto VI itself, that will be available to pre-order from tomorrow, Thursday 25 June at midnight in your region.

The game will be available to pre-order digitally on the PlayStation and Xbox stores, or in physical form across multiple retailers. It'll be priced at $79.99 (with UK pricing TBC). A Grand Theft Auto VI: Ultimate Edition with additional in-game items will be $99.99.

Do note though, if you do pick up a physical copy the box will contain a download code – there is no disc version.

There's been no shortage of news from Apple recently, from showcasing what Siri AI will do, through to the changes that will come with iOS 27. One of those changes will have an impact on Apple TV too.

It's a minor thing, but it's really important, because iOS 27 will allow Apple TV to be updated from the Home app on your iPhone. That means that if there's a critical tvOS update, you can make that happen from your iPhone.

Previously, you'd have to turn on the Apple TV and run the update from there, which is an extra step that some might find inconvenient.

Of course, Apple TV also offers automatic updates (if you turn the option on), but often if you want the new software immediately, it's better to find the option to install it manually.

So why are updates important? The biggest thing that most will probably point to is the latest features, but that's not at the top of my list. Instead, this is important for security.

It's critical for device security to be running the latest software, even if you're not currently using the device – especially if it's online. If there's a vulnerability that needs to be patched, then hackers could use that to hijack devices.

I'd see that as the more important thing here – and via the Home app you will be able to just check and push the software to your devices, just as you can with HomePod.

The new functionality was shared by Aaron on X (via 9to5Mac) which shows the update screen for Apple TV in the home app.

What else is new in iOS 27?

There's a lot coming with iOS 27, which is expected to be pushed to devices back to iPhone 11 in September around the time of the iPhone 18 Pro launch.

We've spent some time with iOS 27, highlighting Siri AI (for iPhone 15 Pro and newer), the new photo editing tools, context-aware suggestions, password fixing and more Liquid Glass customisations as features to look out for.

Then there are child features, faster AirDrop and new Apple Intelligence features, but I suspect that most will be bowled over by Siri AI's app and the range of features that will offer.

Thankfully, beyond the headlines, things like easier updates for Apple TV adds convenience and protection.

Amazon has confirmed that the new Fire TV experience is now available on all current Fire TV Stick models and all Amazon Ember televisions. The new interface promises faster navigation and a new layout.

The new Fire TV OS was first shown off on the Amazon Ember Artline, Amazon's take on the lifestyle TV genre, designed to show art when not being used as a TV, with a matte display and changeable frames.

Core to the new software are the 20-30% speed gains that Amazon is promising, making for faster navigation around the user interface on your existing television. That's because there's new code powering Fire TV. I've used it on a couple of TVs now, and it's definitely faster.

The redesign shifts around some of the rows that made up the user interface previously, moving major areas to the shortcuts at the top – movies, live TV and more – while there's more space for apps – up from the six that it previously showed.

The rows below the app shortcuts are mixed and don't offer a lot of customisation, with "continue watching" some way down the page. That leaves a lot of the user interface as rows of recommendations, which may or may not be useful to you.

There's no change to the adverts either, which are now a feature of just about every TV OS.

There's a new menu too, accessed via the icon top left, which is where you'll find things like inputs. As I pointed out when I first tested this user interface, you're a couple of clicks away from inputs which isn't useful for those with connected devices.

There also isn't that much you can do to customise the layout, so while it looks cleaner, there's more that could be done to make it more personal.

Amazon hasn't listed the devices that it is available on, but has said that it's now rolling out to current Fire TV Sticks and Ember televisions. If you have a recent device that hasn't had a hardware replacement, you're probably in luck, but those with older sticks might consider buying one in the Prime Day sales if they want the new interface.

For Amazon's televisions it's also complicated: if you have one of the models that is currently on sale and has gone through the name change to be called Ember, then it will update.

I have the Mini-LED model that's now called the Ember Mini-LED and it's happily running the new interface. But I also have the older QLED model, which isn't, because it's been replaced by the Ember QLED recently.

If in doubt, head into your settings to check if there are updates, but for most people this will install in the background without you having to do anything.

Amazon has also confirmed that it's coming to Hisense Fire TV models, with plans to bring it to more brands later in this year.

World Cup fever has gripped the globe – and as we build up to England's first game, you might've watched the first match and thought "hmm, that doesn't look great".

Much as I could recommend buying a brand new TV, few of us have got the serious cash required to drop everything and bag a big new screen right now. So don't do that – just ensure the settings of your current screen are adjusting accordingly!

Looking for a World Cup TV deal? The 3 best models to buy

Here's a quick rundown of how to get your current TV into World Cup form ahead of the most important matches over the coming weeks. It's free, it's simple, and it'll improve your World Cup and, indeed, sports viewing no end.

Sport Mode

This isn't to sound patronising, but if your TV has a Sports mode then use it. It's designed to bring motion benefits and, in some cases, sound enhancements for commentary, that gets everything looking and sounding its very best for the game.

All TVs differ, of course, so where you find this on your particular brand will likely differ from another. A good place to start is the TV's remote control and the Settings icon – typically a 'cog', sometimes a series of horizontal bands (perhaps with a cog within that).

From here, look for 'Picture' or 'Picture Styles' – anything to that effect. If you've never adjusted this then, chances are it'll be on the default setting. Cycle between the Dynamic, Custom, Movie, Filmmaker Mode and so forth, seeking out Sports.

No Sport Mode? No Problem! Motion Adjustment

However! Not all TVs have a Sport mode. Indeed, the very example I'm illustrating this article with doesn't – and the Game mode, much as it sounds like a good match, is designed for videogames (with low-latency being its biggest goal).

In these cases, not all is lost, you'll just need to menu dig a little deeper. Because, ultimately, Sport mode is all about motion – and helping to smooth out what's on screen. It'll provide more fluid playback, but, be warned, it'll look terrible for movies and series.

Within your Picture Settings look for submenus that have a Motion adjustment. Then get ready to crank these up – as TV processors can 'add' frames to smooth out the action, or reduce blur by applying other processing tactics. The latter is good to prevent the ball appearing to 'stutter' across the screen when moving at pace.

Brightness Is Best

Another option: if you can't find all these settings but have a Dynamic mode or similar, then select this. This will elevate brightness, contrast and saturation – all of which help to bring football stadiums even more to life.

Otherwise, again, dig into your settings. Some TVs will have ambient light sensors to auto-adjust levels depending on daylight. Toggle that off and push the brightness levels to the upper levels instead – ensuring you'll be demanding the most output from your TV's backlight.

Again, full brightness can look terrible for movies and series that have nuanced – and post-produced – deep layers of dark levels. For the big game? You want everything as punchy and live-action as possible, so go all out.

Best Source

This might sound counter-intuitive, but don't use an internet-streamed source – especially BBC iPlayer 4K (when it's available). Why? Because the delay is a lot greater – and, unless you live on a farm in the middle of nowhere, you'll probably hear people cheering/booing some 40-seconds before you catch up on the action.

We can't all afford snazzy Sky or EE TV setups either, of course, but in the UK between the BBC and ITV you'll be able to get live broadcasts in Full HD (1080p). Those are upscaled to 4K resolution for any Ultra-HD TV anyway, so you'll gain some benefit of resolution anyway.

The obvious benefit to iPlayer 4K, however, is that it's also broadcast in HDR (high dynamic range) for the punchiest of quality. Much as I'd love everyone to experience that – the delay might not be worth it. Save that for the highlights shows instead!

Or spoil yourself...

If, however, you do have a wedge of cash and you've elected to not spend it on a flight to North America and do fancy buying a new TV then, fill yer boots. Below is a top-tier and a cheaper-but-also-excellent option – one from Samsung, the other TCL.

A new feature has started to arrive on select Google TV models that would have made my life so much simpler over the years.

You can now use voice control to direct Gemini to adjust a TV's picture settings, and even fix picture or sound issues. And as it uses advanced AI, you can use conversational language to do so – you don't even have to know what settings to change.

As the former deputy editor of Home Cinema Choice, I've tested my fair share of TVs over the years and one of the biggest time sucks was switching between picture modes and tweaking them. It also means I'm a stickler for getting the picture just right at home too – across the multiple models in my house.

That includes individual tweaks for different types of content, even specific movies, TV shows or games. And on most TVs, that means multiple clicks on the remote just to get to the right settings.

However, this new Gemini feature will allow you to change settings like brightness, contrast and picture mode, plus sound options through simply chatting with your TV. Just press the mic button on your remote and say, "Set picture mode to Movie," for example. Or, "Improve the dialogue."

You can also troubleshoot issues by telling your Google TV that the picture is too dark, etc.

And Gemini can be used to tweak and calibrate images, such as making the picture more cinematic just by asking it to do so. You won't need to go into specifics if you don't want to.

There's just one catch to all this – it's only available on a handful of TCL TVs at present, and exclusively in the US. It'll be rolled out to additional Google TV models worldwide over time, but for now it's just for the TCL QM9K, X11L, QM9L, QM8L, and RM9L.

If you have one of those sets, you need to head to system updates in your settings to check if the latest software is available (if it hasn't automatically installed).

The rest of us will have to wait a bit longer, which is fine – I've been waiting a couple of decades for something like this, what's a few months more?

Although it was barely mentioned in passing during Apple's WWDC keynote address this week, the Apple TV 4K box is getting several new tricks in the coming months. The release of tvOS 27 is expected around September time, and it'll add new features to existing set-top-boxes.

One of them will be of particular interest to audiophiles and lovers of Hi-Res Audio, as the Apple TV is set for higher quality music streams.

Hidden in a press release sent by Apple after the keynote was reference to Hi-Res Lossless Audio, which is coming with the next major build of tvOS. The Apple TV 4K box currently supports Apple Music Lossless Audio streams, running at up to 24-bit / 48 kHz when connected to a suitable system.

However, the addition of Hi-Res Lossless Audio could offer much higher bitrates and frequencies – possibly up to 24-bit / 96 or even 192 kHz. Apple hasn't revealed specifications as yet.

You'll need to connect your Apple TV to a compatible amp, receiver or hi-fi system, but the fact that it will be capable will come as great news to audio purists.

Also coming to Apple TV boxes will be AutoMix, which intelligently transitions Apple Music tracks from one to another. And there will be Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features too, although it's currently thought that they might be exclusive to a new Apple TV 4K model, also tipped for release later this year.

Certainly, if there are further performance boosts that will be available on the new device, it could be worth considering an upgrade anyway. A new model is expected to run on a much more powerful processor, so will be a lot faster to operate for starters.

That being said, the existing Apple TV 4K is still arguably the best streaming device out there, a staggering four years after its debut.

It's a largely open secret that a new Apple TV 4K box will arrive later this year – most likely in September – but existing models are getting updates, too. The only issue is, which ones.

Although Apple mostly swerved from mentioning the Apple TV 4K and tvOS 27 during its WWDC keynote on Monday, it did release the first beta for developers. And there are a few new features coming in later builds.

However, it also turns out that there's some less than welcome news for owners of older Apple TV streaming devices – your boxes will not be supported.

Indeed, it looks like pretty much all of the existing models will be exempt from some of the best new features, such as Siri AI and the new Apple Intelligence add-ons. That's because even the 2022 Apple TV 4K runs on a chip – the A15 Bionic – that is unlikely to be compatible.

But it will still get a range of additional new tricks coming with tvOS 27, such as smart downloads, a redesigned podcasts app, faster AirPlay connections, the ability to change the text size, and a more responsive Control Centre.

That's more than its predecessors, which won't be getting the latest software at all.

According to MacRumors' analyst Aaron Perris (via 9to5Mac), tvOS 27 will not be coming to the Apple TV HD or Apple TV 4K (1st gen).

The HD model was released in 2015, while the first Apple TV 4K followed in 2017. We've had two additional 4K boxes since then, which will be supported, it seems, but nothing since 2022.

That's why a new model is expected – it'll be the first compatible with Apple Intelligence and the new Siri AI.

We'll find out more in the coming months, and we'll keep you informed whenever there are additional details to share.

Leica has announced a new compact projector that brings some serious home cinema credentials without the eye-watering price tag usually associated with the iconic camera brand.

The new Leica Cine Compact 1 is a portable 4K laser projector capable of producing an image up to 220 inches in size. While Leica is no stranger to premium products, the £1,450 asking price is relatively reasonable considering the tech on offer here. A contender for best projector then.

Designed for varied use around the home, the projector features a built-in 360-degree rotation system that allows you to project onto walls, ceilings and other surfaces without needing a fixed screen. An ideal portable projector option.

Leica says automatic autofocus, keystone correction and screen alignment handle setup for you, meaning you can get watching in seconds. Much easier than many of the best home cinema projectors in that way then.

Streaming apps including Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video come built in thanks to the integrated VIDAA operating system. Also, Apple AirPlay, Apple HomeKit, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support should make it easy to slot into existing setups.

Inside, Leica has packed in a Summicron zoom lens, a 4K DLP imaging chip and Triple RGB laser technology. That means brightness tops out at 1,700 lumens, which should make it good for everything from movie nights indoors to outdoor viewing in the garden once the sun goes down.

Dolby Vision support is included, alongside Leica's own image processing technology, which should maintain image quality regardless of projection size. Audio gets a boost too, with support for Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS Virtual:X.

The design is perfectly Leica. A solid aluminium housing and glass front panel give it a premium look, while the company says the construction also helps maintain optical alignment and cooling performance.

Leica points out that its history with projectors actually dates back to 1926, making this launch a fitting way to mark a century of large-screen expertise.

The Leica Cine Compact 1 goes on sale from 18 June for £1,450. That's still a significant investment for a projector, but in Leica terms it actually feels pretty reasonable.

Bugatti has unveiled its latest lifestyle collaboration, and this time it's a TV.

Created with Austrian display specialist C Seed, the new Bugatti N1 combines a giant 4K Micro LED display with the engineering and design skills usually reserved for hypercars. Available in 110-inch and 137-inch sizes, it's aimed at the ultra-luxury market.

The biggest party trick is that it doesn't look like a TV at all when switched off. Instead, the N1 sits in the room as a sculptural sideboard inspired by the design of the Bugatti Tourbillon. Press a button and, over 45 seconds, the cabinet unfolds to reveal a huge Micro LED screen.

Bugatti says the design takes inspiration from the brand's iconic C-line profile. The result is a display that looks more like a piece of furniture than a home cinema setup.

While the design will grab most of the attention, the technology sounds impressive too.

The N1 uses next-generation Micro LED technology with HDR10+ support, a special anti-glare coating and C Seed's own Adaptive Gap Calibration system, which aims to make the joins between display panels effectively disappear. The company also claims improved efficiency and lower heat output compared to previous designs.

The screen can rotate 180 degrees and integrates a hidden sound system developed with Wisdom Audio. The speakers extend from the body when needed before disappearing back inside when you're finished watching.

Materials are just as extravagant as you'd expect. Carbon fibre features throughout, while buyers can choose finishes inspired by the Bugatti Tourbillon alongside bespoke colour options.

Neither company has revealed what the Bugatti N1 will cost. Given C Seed's previous luxury displays have comfortably reached six-figure sums, this is unlikely to be an impulse buy.

Then again, if you're shopping for a TV inspired by a Bugatti hypercar, you're probably not too worried about budget.

It feels like we've been writing about new Apple TV and HomePod mini models for years – after all, the last Apple TV 4K hit stores in 2022. However, we might finally be in the last stretch, as there's a strong indication they could arrive around the same time as new iPhone models.

After numerous delays, it looks like Apple's positive progress with the new, AI-powered Siri will result in new devices this year – with Apple TV and HomePod finally on the cards for upgrades.

According to Apple expert Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Apple has been holding off from refreshing each product line until the new version of Apple Intelligence was ready. And now that it is on the immediate horizon, so too are the new models.

"These refreshes have been held back for many, many months because they were designed to launch in tandem with the new Siri and Apple Intelligence updates," wrote Gurman in his latest PowerOn newsletter.

"That software is now scheduled for this fall, following numerous delays."

That suggests the new Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini will also arrive in the fall (autumn).

The only issue is that Gurman doesn't think the Apple TV upgrade will be that extensive: "In terms of new features, don’t expect much from the Apple TV box other than an updated chip," he added.

While that's a shame, it's understandable. The current Apple TV 4K is still one of the best streaming devices on the market – if not THE best. And although the hardware hasn't been renewed in the last four years, Apple has released regular software improvements.

It's likely the chip inside the new model will be upgraded purely to copy better with the new Apple Intelligence features. However, we might also find that the new capabilities won't run on the existing box – it runs on the A15 Bionic chipset and that's not compatible with current Apple Intelligence features, let alone new ones.

So it could be argued that the new model will be a fairly significant upgrade anyway. Also, Gurman claims the included Siri remote could be fully refreshed, albeit inside rather than its overall design.

As for the new HomePod mini, we shouldn't expect much to change in terms of design, but the S5 chip inside will similarly be swapped for one that's compatible with the all-new AI features.

Hopefully, all will become clear next week when Apple's annual developer conference kicks off. The main WWDC 26 keynote will take place on Monday 8 June and we'll be covering it all live, both from a UK perspective and from Cupertino in the States, too.

A projector can look good with what it offers on screen, but also - as the Anker Soundcore Nebula P1i shows - it can look good in and of itself too.

This new portable projector features two very distinctive and, let's be honest, very cute "ears". These, as you may have guessed are actually speakers. So why place them like that? This allows you to not only fold away the speakers for potability, but also to angle them for ideal sound output.

This is going under the Soundcore name, which is an audio sub-brand of Anker so that focus on audio is no surprise. As such this is all about that sound, with the dual flippable 10W drivers-toting speakers that offer Dolby Audio.

The idea here is that the projector can face the wall as needed but the audio can still be pointed at you, wherever you're sitting.

This features a soft handle top that allows for easy transport and at just 2.27kg it's lightweight too. The projector itself offers a TÜV-certified 380 ANSI lumens of brightness to back up the 1080p resolution output. All that makes it fine for dark-room use but little beyond that – which is expected at this price range.

Usefully, thanks to IEA 3.0 onboard, you just plonk this down and it'll automatically take care of autofocus, keystone correction, obstacle avoidance and screen fit.

Everything is run using Google TV so the software offers easy access to all the apps you could want including the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and so on.

There's a wired power setup here so you will need to factor mains power access into where you place this. That could mean an extension cord or a powerbank is part of the purchase price – something to keep in mind.

What's the price and release date for the Anker Soundcore Nebula P1i?

The Anker Soundcore Nebula P1i is available now to buy via Amazon where it is priced around the £300 mark at time of publishing.

After what's felt like endless teasing, Sony has finally revealed its new flagship TVs for 2026 – led by the Bravia 9 II, which is the brand's first 'True RGB' television. The name was revealed in early April this year, but I've had to wait this long to see final product.

True RGB is the marketing term that Sony is opting to use when describing its RGB Mini-LED technology, which is similar to that of TCL and Hisense. I've now seen each brand's backlight panels, however, and can confirm that they are not one and the same.

That's particularly interesting, given that Sony and TCL signed what they called a "Memorandum of Understanding for Strategic Partnership" at the beginning of this year. Many thought that spelled the end for the brand's home cinema lines – but that's not the case.

Sony TVs 2026: Bravia 9 II or 7 II?

If you're familiar with the Sony TV range (here's the 2025 breakdown, top to bottom) then you'll be aware of the original Bravia 9 Mini-LED panel, which, until now, sat atop the brand's range. Its Bravia 9 II successor steps things up with RGB Mini-LED technology. That means more brightness, more colour volume and greater control for this new generation model.

There is another new model for the 2026 range, though, the Bravia 7 II. It's not as bright, features fewer dimming zones, does away with the anti-reflective panel coating, and utilises a plastic rather than a metal bezel. But it's also more affordable, embodies the same core True RGB technology, and comes in smaller size options – marking it out as one of the only premium small-scale TVs in recent years.

Having seen both Bravia 7 II and Bravia 9 II side-by-side at Sony's headquarters in the UK, the differences, while certainly present, might make the 'lower-spec' model the one with larger appeal for more prospective buyers. Especially at the 50- or 55-inch size. I've included UK pricing for each model size below:

What's True RGB tech all about?

But when RGB Mini-LED already exists in the market, just what is different about Sony's True RGB version? The Japanese tech giant says it's about stringent engineering, a team that has decades-long experience in the TV space, and all-new algorithms to stabilise colour accuracy at all brightness levels.

Whereas Mini-LED utilises, as the name suggests, miniature LEDs for its backlight system, RGB Mini-LED utilises a trio of individual red, green and blue ones – for enhanced colour control. Sony has shunned the two-diode method used by some makers – TCL's Q9M set, for example – for a tri-diode solution with true independent red, green and blue output adjustment.

That doesn't only mean greater colour saturation, but also greater colour volume – which, as I saw in a side-by-side demonstration against the previous Bravia 9 and new Bravia 9 II, makes for far smoother colour gradation and minimal banding. It's a huge step up, based on what I saw – and this could even see it challenge the best OLED sets.

Sony's engineers have designed "RGB feedback loop monitoring" that's designed to limit cross-talk of colours – an potential hazard of the RGB backlight technology – relative to brightness output, for greater consistency in its results. Sony's goal is the maintain the highest cinema-like results and realism, rather than just turning everything up to 11.

While the entirety of my pictures in this feature are of a generic screensaver – and therefore not especially pertinent in showing off Sony's achievements – in my preview sessions I saw other real-world content comparisons that highlighted the differences in panel types, both from Sony and other makers.

The death of OLED?

It's interesting to see that Sony hasn't given up on OLED, however, with the Bravia 8 II remaining its second-in-command set among the brand's TV product line-up. I think that set will remain hugely relevant for many cinema-lovers for some time to come yet. But why might you wish to forego that for a Bravia 9 II instead?

Well, it's all about scale. While QD-OLED panels are made in 55-, 65- and 77-inch sizes, and classic OLED (or WOLED) can offer 83- and 97-inch in less technologically adept formats – the latter costs an insurmountable sum to purchase. With the market moving towards larger scale options, that's what RGB Mini-LED and, indeed, True RGB can offer.

Indeed, the Sony Bravia 9 II can be purchased in a 115-inch panel size. Sure, it's still markedly pricey – as shown in the table up page – but it's cheaper than smaller OLED panels of its size. It's also far brighter, while its dimming and colour control is advanced enough that cinema lovers will find fair compromise in such a solution.

All of which puts Sony in an interesting position. The brand already makes some of the best OLED models, thanks to its refined processing, and while Mini-LED competitors are making great headway – TCL, in particular – there's visual point of difference in Sony's True RGB results that'll impress high-end buyers.

Because, let's face it, Bravia isn't ever about being the cheapest. It's about being the best. And Sony's patience in finally getting True RGB to market will please those cinema fans who will pay the premium. The Bravia 9 II and Bravia 7 II clearly emboy that thinking – and I think already look like premier competitors in a market where shortcuts and oversized panels are becoming more commonplace.

There's a new Sony flagship in town. And, no, it's not one of the best OLED TVs – as Sony's TV range had elected for Mini-LED to be its champion since 2024, when the Bravia 9 was introduced.

That's soon to no longer be the case, though, as Sony's long-anticipated RGB Mini-LED tech – which the brand is calling True RGB – will sit at the top of the stack, with the all-new Bravia 9 II model taking pride of place for 2026.

There's also a Bravia 7 II model, which brings the same flavour as the 9 II, albeit with less brightness, fewer dimming zones, no anti-reflective coating, and a design that doesn't use quite as premium materials – a plastic bezel rather than a metal one, for example.

However, the Bravia 7 II does have one trick that I think many people will be allured by: it's available from a 50-inch size, bringing a rare premium set into this smaller scale. The Bravia 9 II, by comparison, begins with a 65-inch panel size.

Both models, however, are able to offer super-size solutions for those who seek them. The Bravia 9 II can be purchased in 75-, 85- or 115-inch forms (the largest of which loses the anti-reflection finish), while the Bravia 7 II offers 55-, 65-, 75-, 85- and 98-inch scales to choose from.

And while I jest that you can "forget OLED", as Sony hasn't introduced a new model in this category, it's certainly not the end of the brand's commitment – the Bravia 8 II continues on, which is positioned between the Bravia 9 II and Bravia 7 II.

That puts a bit of a bizarre spin on things, with Sony considering True RGB as its flagship in the 9 II, followed by QD-OLED in the 8 II, but then re-visiting True RGB again in a slightly lesser specified format in the 7 II. Below that you'll find the Bravia 5 Mini-LED set, while the entry Bravia 3 II is set to launch in the UK later in the year.

At least everything is now a numbered Bravia model, eh? It gives structure in a clear "bigger number is better" arrangement.

The big part of the story is, of course, that Sony's RGB Mini-LED technology is now finally ready to see the light of day. The Japanese giant isn't the first to market with this technology type, with TCL and Hisense already on the market, but it has applied its own stringent engineering to its product.

Given the announcement that Sony's Bravia production would go under the wing of Chinese TV-maker TCL, there had been a lot of talk about the latest Bravia models "just being TCL TVs". I can confirm that's not the case, though, having seen a breakdown of the backlight in person next to TCL's equivalent – and they're vastly different.

That's not to say that TCL might not be manufacturing the Sony set (note: this hasn't been confirmed), simply that the technology is different. Sony's RGB feedback loop monitoring is designed to limit cross-talk of colours relative to brightness output, for higher accuracy.

So it's clearly far from the end of Sony's TV aspirations. The Sony Bravia 9 II looks to be a strong reveal in the company's vision to "unleash the magic of movies at home". A fitting reveal some 18 years after the brand's first altogether different RGB efforts, in 2008's XR1 model. How times change.

Beyond new TV reveals, Sony has also doubled down on high-end TV audio, with the all-new Bravia Theatre Trio offering an immensely wide soundstage for larger TVs. I listened to it with two (also new) Sub 9 and Rear 9 speakers and was blown away by its additional 24 'phantom' channels of output for amazing Dolby Atmos.

There's no word on specific release schedule at the time of writing – only that "late spring" is expected (so any time before 21 June this year). Price-wise, the Theatre Trio will set you back £2,000 – with the Sub 9 an additional £900 and the Rear 9 speakers also an additional £900.

Roku has started to roll out a fresh homescreen design to its streaming devices, TVs and projectors – including those made by third parties.

The update adds a new configuration and several features, making content even easier to find and enjoy. However, it's only being pushed to devices in the US for now, with other countries "to follow".

The new homescreen comes with a new banner at the top. Top Picks will give you recommendations based on your viewing habits, including shows and movies that are trending across Roku.

There's also a new For You section to find more personalised picks you might fancy watching next. This sits at the front of the Top Picks zone.

Quick Access is new, too. It's a rail that highlights the apps you use most often, so you don't have to go hunting for them in their dedicated section.

It's dynamic too, so the system adapts to your use of the Roku device and switches around the apps to always present the ones you opened most in recent times. Shortcuts will also be surfaced in this way.

Roku has added Destinations as well, with curated content categories to jump into, and there's a new area for updates and news on upcoming entertainment. Your Daily Scoop not only gives you the lowdown on the latest, it will offer content suggestions to match.

And the homescreen menu can now be "tucked away" and hidden when you don't need it.

There are a couple more new features that have been added, which you can read about on Roku's own website.

What are UK Roku users getting?

As I've said, this update is US only for now. I'll update you when it is also rolling out elsewhere. However, UK Roku device and TV owners have also recently received an update with a new feature.

Roku has added a new Football Zone to the experience across all Roku streaming devices in the country, including the new Roku TV Smart Projectors announced recently.

Released to coincide with the FIFA World Cup in June and July, the new area gives you direct access to all of the live matches that will be shown during the tournament. That means you can click on the match and it will stream, no matter whether it is being screened live by the BBC (BBC iPlayer) or ITV (ITVX).

There will also be match highlights, plus a collection of football movies, documentaries, and other TV series.

You should find the Football Zone is available on your device now (or you may need to force an update).

If you thought Toshiba's skillset stopped at TVs and other tech goods, think again. Today, the brand has unveiled a limited edition football shirt, designed to celebrate the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

The Retro Replay Shirt has been crafted in collaboration with streetwear designer, Killa Villa. The design is made to evoke one of the most legendary moments in English footballing history – Geoff Hurst's hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup final.

It comes as the brand published new research suggesting that almost two thirds of Brits would prefer to watch the action at home, rather than in the pub. That makes it more important than ever to ensure you've got a top notch TV in your living room – after all, it just might be the one you watch a World Cup win on.

Right now, one of my top picks is this 65-inch 4k OLED model. It's a Fire TV, with Freely built in for absolutely seamless usability and a real plug and play approach. It's also got Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos built in, which should ensure cinematic scenes feel every bit as epic as they deserve to be.

If you're on a tighter budget and can sacrifice the OLED panel and Dolby Vision capabilities, this model at AO.com is also a great alternative. Plus, at just £379, it's hard to question in terms of value.

For this summer, when you're not donning your favourite England shirt, the Retro Replay Shirt should definitely be in rotation. It's a classic design which will definitely become a core part of my wardrobe over the coming months.

If you'd like to snag one too, you can take part in a competition on the brand's Instagram page, where the shirt – signed by England international, Marc Guehi – will be available alongside a Toshiba TV.

I'm in the process of reviewing the Amazon Ember Artline, the new "art TV" from Amazon that's designed for flush wall mounting and offers interchangeable frames. It rivals Samsung's The Frame, putting art on your walls while doing everything else you expect from a TV.

Part and parcel of that TV is a new Fire TV interface. Having just spent a couple of weeks with the Ember QLED (on the old interface), the contrast between these two menu systems is striking.

Amazon first announced that a new interface was coming in January 2026 and it's been slowly appearing in the US, where it's been met with mixed reception.

Fortunately, the art features of the new Ember Artline are powered by the new interface, so while no other Fire TV that I've seen in the UK has it (I also have the Ember Mini-LED), the Artline has been my first foray into this new interface.

It's definitely faster

At launch Amazon claimed the new Fire TV interface was 20-30% faster. That's always going to land well with users, especially as Fire TV has been a little sluggish in the past.

My experience is that it's definitely faster and I think it looks more modern too. It looks more like Google TV now, with major content types in the new shortcuts at the top of the screen, with apps shortcuts expanded.

More app shortcuts, more menu

On the old Fire TV interface there was a limit of six app shortcuts, but now you have many more. I have 16 on my home screen now and while it's not as clean as Roku's interface, I'm glad I don't have to open the menus to access those apps - I use more than six on a regular basis and I expect that's quite common.

But it's irritating that Amazon shoehorns in its own apps: Amazon Kids, Internet, Luna, Amazon Photos, all sit on this row taking up space. Some you can uninstall, some you can't.

Other apps that don't fit on the home screen are now accessed via the menu, so that's a couple of clicks away.

Key to app access is managing that row of shortcuts - press and hold the ok button when the app is highlighted to remove it (if you don't want it), or more importantly, move the apps you want to the front of the list.

I put my frequent apps to the start, and moved Amazon's bloatware to the end, off the screen.

Inputs gets buried

For anyone with multiple devices, switching inputs is an essential function on your TV. Once upon a time every remote had an input button but that's now rare. Fire TV used to have this on its main shortcuts bar right in the middle of the home screen, but it's now buried in the menu.

By buried, I mean you have to press the menu button on the remote to open the side menu, then select inputs, then the input you want. It's now three clicks away.

Why this isn't in the selection of top icons, I don't know. Up there you have search, home, movies, series, live TV and sports - and in some regions other options.

The thing that really strikes me is that there's very little flexibility here. I want inputs on that top row, but I can't customise it.

I've also mentioned that customising the apps shortcuts is limited to a few functions, and equally, I can't customise the rows that Fire TV shows.

That puts "Next up for You" at the top, which is content that's unrelated to anything that I've watched. Then we have the useful app shortcuts, then the annoying Sponsored row, then Live TV, which is useful.

Then we have two more rows - Netflix Recommends, Prime Games - before get back to something useful - Continue Watching.

Recommendations haven't got better

While the new interface is faster to use and I welcome the expanded range of shortcuts, pretty much everything else feels like it's space for rent. Sponsored rows, adverts at the top, rows of recommendations from other services.

That fact that Continue Watching is off the page makes it almost an afterthought - it's faster just to go straight to the app you want instead. That's likely what users are suggesting when talking about moving to Roku instead.

Of course there are shortcuts on the remote (which I use extensively because they're faster than navigation), as well as Alexa. In this case I've been using Alexa+, the new AI-enhanced version of Amazon's assistant.

For all the fun responses that Alexa+ will supply, it refused to return "Spider-Noir". "Old" Alexa on my oldest Fire TV, found Spider-Noir first time, serving up the trailer, so the jury is still out on whether Alexa+ is acutally helping here.

There's no reason to think that the new Fire TV will remain static: hopefully Amazon will introduce some customisation to make it more useful than it currently is, because it feels like user experience isn't at the heart of the new OS.

Nothing lasts forever and for the original Google Chromecast, it seems its time is done. There are reports that the teenager is finally set for the scrap heap as users claim their devices are failing.

First released in 2013, the Chromecast was different to other streaming devices of the time – there was no front-end or user experience, for starters, and it relied on your phone rather than a remote control.

Innovatively though, unlike Apple's AirPlay, casting video (or music) to the Chromecast enabled it to stream the content from its source, not your mobile device. That meant you could continue to use your phone, tablet or PC as normal.

The concept lasted for several generations of dongles before being replacement by the Chromecast with Google TV, where Google opted to follow its rivals in offering a full UI. And while casting content is still a thing today, across many third-party products too, the original Chromecast was consigned to the past.

Or so we thought. I turns out it's been operable for the last 13 years – until now, that is.

There are reports (via 9to5Google) that the original Chromecast is failing to stream for some and stopping working completely for others.

A Reddit thread is full of comments by users that have experienced issues with their older devices. It seems the game is up.

"I have two Gen 1s that no longer cast anything," writes Dude_Man79.

Chantastic adds that YouTube no longer streams from the Android app or a Chrome browser. Nor do HBO Max, Paramount+ and Pluto TV.

And SparkysAdventure has had trouble streaming Prime Video via their Chromecast: "Prime Video stopped working a couple days ago and Disney+ never worked for me."

Sadly, as these issues are said to have occurred very recently, it could be your own Chromecast dongle is on its way out.

The good news though is that this doesn't seem to have affected the second-gen models and beyond, so you could have a few years left for those. Still, it's probably worth considering an update. And if you don't fancy the Google TV Streamer set-top device, there are other options that support casting – including the Thomson Go Cast 152, which is keeping the Chromecast form factor alive.

Apple's annual developer conference, WWDC, is a couple of weeks away and we're therefore close to finding out all the new features and capabilities coming to our devices.

That includes iPhone, Mac and iPad, of course, but also the likes of the Vision Pro and Apple TV 4K. Indeed, Apple isn't even waiting until WWDC 26 to reveal one new feature it'll be adding to its streaming box later this year – it's announced details already.

In lieu of a new Apple TV 4K model, which may or may not debut in the coming months, at least existing versions will be getting a neat new trick.

Coming as part of tvOS 27 – likely this September – will be a new larger text feature. This will give you the ability to increase the onscreen text size to make it easier to read. It will affect all aspects of the Apple TV 4K experience – at least when it comes to Apple's own apps and services.

Some third-party apps may adopt it too.

As someone whose sight is gradually getting worse as I get older, this is a godsend. And I'm far from alone.

You will be able to increase and decrease the onscreen text size to your own preferences, thanks to a new slider bar in the settings. This will be particularly helpful for those who have smaller TVs and/or failing eyesight, and you can adjust the setting further as needed over time.

The new feature will be part of additional accessibility options being added across Apple devices. These include new measures to help reduce motion sickness when wearing Vision Pro in a vehicle, touch accommodations in iOS and iPadOS, and better compatibility with hearing aids.

There will be plenty of other new features too, some of which we should find out about during the WWDC 26 keynote address on Monday 8 June – Tim Cook's last as CEO.

We'll bring you all the news as it happens.

The TV landscape is ever-changing, so while I still think the best OLED TVs retain a very strong position in 2026, the incoming larger-scale panel trend with RGB Mini-LED technology is adding pressure to this established market.

Doubtless that's part of the reason LG has gone all-out with its latest flagship, the OLED G6 on review here, in delivering its brightest-ever OLED. It features the same Primary RGB Tandem multi-layer panel as in the previous OLED G5, but a new processor means greater thermal efficiency and that brightness uptick.

Early viewings of the OLED G6 impressed – as with my first-look and my colleague's Samsung and Sony side-by-side feature – although the presence of off-axis colour cast was a prevailing issue and ultimately a side effect of amping up saturation and brightness. However, software changes have since dialled back on this early issue.

Irrelevant of any brightness or colour volume claims, however, I've switched from Samsung S99H (S95H in the USA) to LG OLED G6 and, in a heartbeat, there's just something more cinematic and magical about the traditional LG OLED's pictures.

That OLED is ever more fleeting – there's no top-tier Panasonic model for 2026, for example, while Sony isn't expected to deliver a newer OLED model this year either – somehow makes the G6 feel all the more special. Paired with the LG Sound Suite that's even more true (and more expensive), meaning this LG could well have the most magical TV release of the year.

Price & Availability

The core LG OLED G6 model is available in 55-, 65-, 77- and 83-inch panels that feature the Primary RGB Tandem multi-layered OLED panel type.

There's also a smaller 48-inch model in the UK, although its brightness ceiling won't be as high. A 97-inch behemoth will be available at a later date, albeit as a special order – and lacking the multi-layer panel type entirely.

Price-wise, the OLED G6 is certainly costly – but, considered year on year, it's actually a little cheaper than its G5 predecessor in some regions, such as the UK. It's got to remain competitive in this evolving market, after all.

On review is the 55-inch model, much as I was hoping for the 65-inch. It's the stand-mount variant (the 'S' of 'G66LS' in the product code representing that – and differing from the 'G64LW' of the wall-mount option).

LG OLED G5 vs G6: What's New?

Visually speaking, the LG OLED G6 continues with the same design language of its G5 predecessor. There's not anything to note that's different about the exterior – but that's no bad thing when you've got a well-made and understated set with central stand mount.

The biggest change is what's inside, with the latest Alpha 11 AI Gen 3 Processor being the key reason for a step up in picture quality potential. It's able to handle a lot more colour volume, thanks to a 12-bit colour channel, adding greater nuance to gradation too.

This seemingly small upgrade will bring key differences for home-cinema enthusiasts who want the most cinema-like high-end results at home. But the G6 is also well equipped in other departments, offering HDMI 2.1 on all four of its ports, with up to 165Hz supported all round – so it's superb for gamers too.

The G6 also introduces a new anti-reflection layer, which might get said home-cinema enthusiasts a little nervous. But, fret not, the implementation of this is less Samsung S99H/S95H-like in implementation, retaining a glossy-like finish that curtails reflections from being so mirror-like in appearance.

Design & Setup

Assembling the OLED G6 is pretty straightforward: four screws secure the central stand-mount into position, which you can affix in either a lower or higher position, the latter best for those wanting to position a large soundbar beneath.

The stand doesn't swivel, so parking your sources into the four HDMI slots around the back means you'll need to maintain access. It's a slender set overall, with the outer edge's silver finish being millimetre present from the front-facing position (this is no showy Samsung S99H by any means!).

While the G5 went fairly big on its artificial intelligence (AI) features, the G6 thankfully doesn't double down on trying to over-enhance these too much. Staples are retained, such as Picture Wizard, which allows you to create a picture preference by selecting from visual prompts. Personally, I'd stick to the pre-set options instead – which are all well judged.

In terms of software, LG's webOS platform – which dedicates far too much of its top area to adverts – has moved away from any underlying Freeview Play/Freesat HD platform in the UK. It does, however, offer the staple catch-up apps, including iPlayer, with easy direct access. And LG's ad-supported 'LG 1' channels offer lots of web-sourced live access straight from the home screen.

Controlling everything is actioned via the wand-like remote – quite literally, as you point it at the screen for a live cursor, which can be fiddly to use – which I do wish had a simplified Sources button present. Instead there's a voice-recognition AI button positioned centrally, which, if you like to use your voice, you'll find potentially better.

LG has long been creating its own processor boards, which gives it a leg up in the TV market compared to many (as MediaTek's top hardware is the only alternative at present in handling four HDMI 2.1 sources). Here, that means 4K Dolby Vision support at up to 144Hz from any of those ports (165Hz is supported for non-DV via VRR). It's very strong in terms of spec here.

Picture Quality

When there's so much talk of next-gen TV technology, a classic such as OLED might sound as though it's reaching its limits. But the LG OLED G6 proves that's anything but true – especially for cinematic picture quality, which I've found to be breathtaking.

Recently, I've been running a 4K Blu-ray 'Cinema Club', denouncing the best streaming services in favour of disc sources for the utmost viewing quality. It's an essential for testing a TV of this calibre, of course – but as I test for weeks, using a TV as if it's my own, in my living room at home, I'm able to get a real feel for a set's output

And the LG OLED G6 has been so impeccable from the offset that it's made me amp up my 4K Blu-ray watching sessions. There's just something magical about the myriad features OLED brings to the table for cinema that makes it a preferable choice.

Yes, the G6 is brighter than any LG TV before it. That's a fact: a circa 2,500 nit peak brightness, with full-screen brightness at circa 450 nits, representing a 20%-or-greater increase over the G5. But this isn't the tell-all of its picture quality.

Watching Oppenheimer for the umpteenth time, the black-and-white scenes were presented with a depth that's almost hard to describe. Such is the perfection of OLED's high-contrast ability, with no blooming or haloing to worry about.

Skipping over to watching Bugonia for the first time, and while the 3:2 aspect ratio filled the screen unusually, the movie's filmic visuals were presented skilfully. No over-processing hiding the film grain, no jarring judder in motion, no banding in the various fire-lit close-up or dark basement scenes.

Sharpness is biting, too, with wonderful clarity that doesn't appear overstretched. I've even attended side-by-side comparisons with a larger 65-inch G6 next to 2025's Samsung S95F and another Sony model – and the LG was the more natural and sharp-looking of the lot.

However, the quest for greater brightness and colour can see a colour cast show up. In isolation you'll not notice. It's just worth pointing out that it can exist – but you could also call this LG's "flavour" in its tuning. No doubt you'll have read about it already – we've even written about the overt green saturation previously, in early tests – but do note it's now certainly been toned down.

Feed the G6 generally more dour colour palettes – I've recently acquired Jason Statham's Shelter on 4K Blu-ray, for example – and the G6 will honour those brown and grey tones faithfully. The not-so-sunny Scottish Isles' scenery is presented with realism, without trying to overly jazz up the palette. That said, if you ask it to by selecting from Standard or Vivid, or pumping up various settings of your choosing, the G6 can also go all-out if you'd prefer.

That's a tool not to be overlooked. Much as I prefer Cinema Mode to Filmmaker Mode on the G6 – it's a little brighter, without overcooking things, delivering great Dolby Vision quality (there's no HDR10+ here, as a point of note) – for gaming, animations or even sports, those modes earn their place. And that's when the G6's brightness feature can be turned up a notch to unlock eye-searing and colour-saturated entertainment.

The anti-reflection coating of the G6 is great, too. Off-axis reflections are dialled down rather than completely muted, would-be daylight sources presented as softened pinkish non-distractions during daytime viewing. It's the sort of balance that cinema-lovers will appreciate in the home – more delicately handled than LG's competition.

And even with that coating in play, the G6 continues with LG's delivery of OLED picture quality as an art form. Ultimately clarity, brightness, contrast, depth-of-field and realism combine to magic effect – minor colour cast visible or not. Even writing about it makes me want to stop and go chuck another 4K movie on – as the G6 is just that good.

Sound Quality

Flagship TVs might deliver out-of-this-world picture quality, as the G6 offers. Sound quality, however, is a different hurdle to clear – because a slender frame doesn't have the sheer physical volume to deliver cinema-like audio.

I called the previous G5's sound "a little washy", and while I wouldn't say the G6 offers giant dynamics by any means, it is a more capable and AI-enhanced system that many will consider ample.

Watching Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, for example, and the dialogue is clear, the soundtrack thrums along – with modest rather than the deepest of bass – and placement is convincing. It's a cohesive mix, nothing too strained.

I've been spoiled with LG's Sound Suite – the H7 soundbar, W7 subwoofer and four M7 surround speakers – for much of this review period, detaching those outputs for a number of days to explore the G6's solo output. The TV can't rival the best soundbars for LG TVs, of course, but it does a fair job nonetheless.

LG OLED G6 review: Verdict

Anyone thinking that OLED's days are increasingly numbered will be forced to eat humble pie when sat in front of an LG OLED G6. This flagship panel delivers bright, colourful, yet faithfully realistic images that capture the magic of cinema – but at home.

The G6 is no one-tricky pony, though, able to really lean on that enhanced brightness output for vivid gaming – it's especially good here, thanks to four HDMI 2.1 ports – sports or entertainment, too. Colour can be its weakness in the context of QD-OLED and Mini-LED competitors, mind, with sometime minor colour cast present.

On paper, and indeed in person, the OLED G6 looks mighty similar to its G5 predecessor. Its internal processor upgrade might sound like a small deal, but for those seeking the best at-home experience, it delivers big-time for what home-cinema enthusiasts will be seeking. Others might prefer a cheaper, last-gen offer, of course.

So forget about RGB Mini-LED, for OLED's strength has been bottled and condensed by the LG OLED G6. Pair it with a suitable soundbar or surround option and, while you might be close to bankrupt, at least you'll be in pure cinema heaven. Straight out of the box and this has no doubt been one of the best TVs I've tested in 2026.

Also consider

While the Samsung S99H is probably too glitzy a design prospect for many, the brand's pure OLED alternative, the S90H, is a less high-end but nonetheless accomplished alternative – that'll cost you much less.

Otherwise, find an LG G5 or C5 deal for a lot less money and you'll be close to the G6's level in classic OLED terms. Or side-step to Sony, with the Bravia 8 II being an impressive Samsung alternative that many cite as delivering greater realism, much like the LG.

Apple will soon detail a whole host of new features and capabilities coming to all of its devices, including iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV, but before WWDC 26 kicks off and iOS 27 is revealed, there's been time for another big software update across the board.

Along with the public release of the likes of iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5, Apple TV boxes have been delivered tvOS 26.5 – the latest iteration of the system software. And it does bring with it a few tweaks here and there. You can't help but feel the best is still to come, however.

There are persistent rumours that a new Apple TV 4K box is coming, for starters. And even if not, tvOS 27 is likely to add a suite of Siri-powered AI improvements to existing devices. We'll certainly be keeping a beady eye on the WWDC keynote on 8 June 2026 to find out more.

In the meantime, the latest build has delivered "performance and stability improvements", according to Apple's release notes. There's little else for now, with some bigger new features having arrived at the end of March.

What new features did Apple TV get recently?

Apple's tvOS 26.4 update added Genius Browse, which introduced a new rail to the Apple TV app. This presents content recommendations around different categories, such as "binge-worthy shows" and "a rush of adrenaline", and has proved rather handy if you don't know what to watch next.

We also got the "continuous audio connection" feature in the settings, which is particularly useful for Sonos speaker owners who run their third-party audio setup through an AV receiver or amp.

And there were new options for subtitles users, too.

However, these will hopefully be greatly overshadowed by the announcements coming soon. Fingers crossed we'll get a new Apple TV box at last – after all, the current model is four years old now. But failing that, the new AI centric abilities should take the platform in a new direction.

When I sit down to watch a movie on an empty evening, and I cast my eye over my home entertainment system, there's one addition I've made in 2026 that makes the biggest difference. While I might be a tech reviewer, my home setup isn't wildly ostentatious, either.

My TV is a 55-inch LG C2 OLED, so it's nothing brand-new or flagship-level, and while my Sonos surround sound system is lovely, it's based around a Beam Gen 2 rather than something like the Arc Ultra, so I'd say it's attainable rather than ultra high-end.

Still, I can't pretend to be a true everyman while using the device that has made the biggest difference since I added it at the start of the year – the Panasonic DP-UB820, a 4K Blu-ray player that puts so many others on the market to shame.

For a good few years before getting my hands on the DP-UB820, I'd been doing what millions of others might when I wanted to watch a Blu-ray or 4K disc: using my PS5. After all, given the cost of a console like the PS5, it's one of the most cost-effective players out if you get a version with a disc drive.

The PS5 had some big downsides for me, though. Firstly, it doesn't support Dolby Vision, which can be a pain given how good compatible discs can look. Secondly, it meant I had to move my console around my flat unhelpfully frequently, which got boring quickly.

Now, with the DP-UB820 on board, I can leave that in the living room where it belongs, and keep my PS5 in my office to make my gaming sessions less disruptive for my partner. That's a win-win, but it doesn't cover the technical side of things.

The DP820 is the player that tops by far the most lists of the best 4K Blu-ray players, including our own, and there's good reason for that. It's the best marriage of value and features, in short, with superb picture and sound quality that doesn't break the bank. In fact, the fact that it's still this widely recommended years after Panasonic released it underlines that quality.

I've found that it is indeed a better device for 4K viewing compared to the PS5, if only thanks to its far-expanded controls and settings menus, along with its quiet disc drive to make for one less distraction while watching. I can't pretend that everyone needs a DP-UB820 in their setup, but if you're getting more interested in 4K Blu-rays then it's the best recommendation I can give you from my own setup right now.

LG has taken to the annual SID Display Week 2026 to show its its latest OLED technology that represents an exciting jump forward for the technology.

The display manufacturer showed off what it calls third-gen Tandem OLED as a new evolution in the already impressive OLED tech. This, it says, could mean OLED screens that offer 18% more power efficiency, making them ideal for smartphones and laptops.

They could also last double the lifetime, making them perfect for higher price investments like TVs. The panels can last up to 15,000 hours of normal running – that's a whole lot of streaming binging right there.

All that and this new tech means these will be the brightest OLED displays yet, with an output of as much as 4,500 nits.

This Tandem OLED tech was first launched back in 2019, with the second generation arriving in 2023. Now this third iteration has landed and should start appearing in OLED panels soon.

The tech works by stacking multiple organic light-emitting layers to enhance brightness, efficiency, and durability.

LG showed off a few specific use cases for the latest Tandem OLED tech. One was a laptop that features a 16-inch display, which is so much more efficient that it can offer up to 2.3 hours of longer life on a charge.

Another display, a 27-inch OLED panel, achieves 5K resolution at 220 PPI and thanks to a new RGB stripe structure, improves colour clarity, precision and better aperture ratio with far less bleeding and fringing.

There was also a gaming monitor that won Display of the Year at SID. This was a 27-inch OLED panel with a 720Hz refresh rate.

LG also showed off a world first with a 39-inch 5K2K ultra-high-resolution curved OLED panel that was displayed at the event.

When can I get this LG Tandem OLED?

LG has said that this technology is already well developed and it plans to begin mass producing it later this year.

That should mean that next January, when a lot of manufacturers show off their latest tech at the CES event, we may see the third generation Tandem OLED TVs arriving as the flagship models for LG in 2027.

Thought the era of killer Kickstarter bargains was over? Not so fast, as XGIMI has a crowdfunded deal to launch its next projector, the XGIMI Titan Noir, with up to 50 per cent off standard pricing.

This isn’t a single projector but a family of three, the Titan Noir, Titan Noir Pro and Titan Noir Max, and all are up for grabs with a launch date of June 2026.

The banner deal here is the XGIMI Titan Noir Max, which at $2999 — or around £2207 — is selling at half price. Or you can get 46%, $2300, off the XGIMI Titan Noir Pro at $2699 (£1986), while the base Titan Noir discount snips $1500 off the usual price. It’s selling for $2499, or around £1839.

At the time of writing, the crowdfunder has already racked up more than £8.5 million, with upwards of 3700 backers.

The obvious question: what’s the difference between the three projectors? It’s all about the light source. These are laser projects, so none require regular lamp replacements, but as you head up from Noir to Noir Pro and then to Noir Max, you gain lumens.

XGIMI rates the standard projector at 4500 ISO lumens, it’s 6000 for the Pro and 7000 for the Max. This also affects their rated native contrast, which runs from 7000:1 in the XGIMI Titan Noir, to 8000:1 in the Pro and 10,000:1 in the Max.

And we already know these are solid performers, because not only are reviews already out there, but these are the follow-up models to the already highly regarded XGIMI Titan from 2025.

This is not a crowdfunded campaign of old, where you’re not sure if the product will ever actually exist.

UK buyers get free shipping, and there will be no surprise customs fees, but you do have to pay an additional 20 per cent sales tax. Them’s the rules.

Features shared across all three models include a 15-element lens system with optical zoom, 4K resolution image, dynamic iris, claimed 1ms input lag and integrated Harman Kardon speakers. But as with any projector speakers, don’t expect too much from these.

The XGIMI Titan Noir is around 38 cm long and weighs 8.1kg. It’s no tiny projector, but it is not going to dominate a room either, and it includes a carry case with a handle.

Some packages on offer in the crowdfunder also include an XGIMI Ascend, a motorised 100-inch screen with 170W speaker system baked into its base. It’s valued at $1999, but is on offer for $1299, around £956, during the campaign. The Ascend will be available slightly later in the year, in September.

These “launch special” XGIMI Titan Noir deals will be available until 9 June. You can "pledge" an order over at Kickstarter.

Google will soon start to roll out a whole bunch of new features to its Google TV platform, which will improve many smart TVs and streaming devices.

That will include the Google TV Streamer, of course, but also TVs from the likes of Philips (older models), TCL, Sony and Hisense. There are other devices that run on Google TV too, including the Thompson Go Cast 152 in the UK and the Onn 4K available through Walmart in the US.

The new Google TV update will include new content on the homepage in the form of vertical videos. Starting with YouTube Shorts, US Google TV users will be able to browse and play videos straight from the menu screen.

A new rail will give you a personalised feed of vertical clips, which could also incorporate additional services over time – such as Instagram and TikTok. Both Disney+ and Netflix will also be introducing vertical videos to their respective platforms soon.

In addition, the new update will add a wide selection of AI tools for photo editing and creation, as well as the ability to make your own video clips using Veo – Google's AI-powered video maker.

Nano Banana will drive photo creation, with Personal Intelligent tech also tapping into your Google Photos library to help you make custom images featuring family members and pets.

The same is true with Veo, you'll be able to make video clips starring your own family, for example. All you have to do is describe the action and who you want in it, then Veo will hunt through your Photos library to find the person's likeness.

What else is coming to Google TV soon?

Other new features that are coming soon include the ability to search for specific photos in your library using your voice. And once found, you can then use Google Photos Remix to turn them into different art styles.

All of these new creations and the original photos will be available to view in a new dynamic slideshow, or you can easily set them to be your screensaver.

The update will roll out to US Google TV devices first – sometime this summer – with other regions to follow after. It also depends on your manufacturer on how many of the new features will be adopted and when.

The latest evolution of LG’s best OLED TV series, the C6 is the benchmark model other big brand screens will likely be compared against in 2026.

Cosmetically it doesn’t look that different from what’s gone before, but behind the glass is significantly more processing power, courtesy of a shiny new Alpha 11 Gen 3 processor, which ushers in a commensurate increase in peak high dynamic range (HDR) brightness.

When it comes to hierarchy, the C6, as always, sits neatly between its extravagant G6 sibling, and the more accessible B6. If history is any guide then, of the three, this is the model most people will actually buy. So does it represent money well spent?

Price & Availability

As you might expect, the C6 comes in a variety of screen sizes: there are 42-, 48-, 55-, 65-, 77- and 83-inch versions, priced from £1,299 through to £4,799. This puts it in the upper mid-range of premium TVs. On review is the 65-inch, priced at £2,499.

Stateside, you’ll pay from $1,399 for the 42-inch through to $5,300 for the 83-inch. In Australia, meanwhile, you can expect that to equate to A$1,399 through to A$5,299 for comparable models.

However, there’s some additional devil in the details. The two largest models (distinguished by their 'C6H' suffix) use high-brightness Tandem OLED panels, the same panel used in the earlier flagship OLED G5 series, complete with Hyper Radiant Color Technology and Brightness Booster Pro. The remainder, including the 65-incher tested here, use an updated classic OLED 'EX' panel, with regular Brightness Booster technology.

Features & What's New?

While there’s some disparity in panel execution, the C6 line shares the same, generous feature count. Whatever you need your telly to do, a C6 will almost certainly do it.

Central to the user experience is webOS 2026, which is still one of the most comprehensive smart TV platforms available. All the major services are here – including Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, YouTube and others – alongside LG Channels, the brand’s own FAST (Free Advertising Streaming TV) smorgasbord. This now offers around 270 ‘channels’ in the UK, and the likelihood is you’ll find at least a few worth watching.

Perhaps disappointingly, LG has chosen not to support the Freely TV-over-IP service (read all about Freely here). LG tells me that’s because it sees its own ecosystem as the set’s de facto content hub, and views Freely as competition. We do get all the main UK catch-up apps – BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, Channel 5 – but to my mind this is not really comparable to having live streaming channels to browse.

The webOS interface itself remains familiar: a rail-based layout with personalised recommendations, live TV listings and curated content hubs. You can also customise the home screen with widgets, such as a calendar, weather, or news, and even integrate fitness devices for guided workouts.

Voice control is built in, as are Google Cast and AirPlay. Accessibility is thoughtfully handled too, including simultaneous audio output to TV speakers and Bluetooth hearing aids. This will be a godsend for households where the audience has a mix of hearing requirements.

For gamers, the C6 is enviably well-equipped: the set boasts a 165Hz refresh rate for PC gamers, with Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium (that's the VRR and ALLM boxes ticked). Console owners get their pick of the ports, with all four HDMI 2.1 inputs 4K 120Hz capable.

As a gaming screen it’s up to par. I measured input lag 13ms (1080/60), which is the same as last year’s C5 model.

Brain power also gets a boost. The set runs LG’s latest Alpha 11 Gen 3 AI processor, the same silicon found in its range-topping G6, as well as the latest Wallpaper TV and Micro RGB Evo MRGB 95.

LG claims substantial gains in processing power for the new chip, which translates to better upscaling and clear improvements in brightness and contrast.

Picture Quality

So has LG finally fumbled the ball when it comes to image quality? Has it ‘eck as like!

The C6 delivers punchy, hyper-sharp imagery with succulent colours and excellent control over light and shade – once you’ve disabled the default out-of-the-box power-saving mode, as clever as that might be.

Black levels are, as to be expected from an OLED panel, convincingly deep and inky, while near-black detail and shadow texture is clearly resolved, without smudging into greyness.

Picture modes include Cinema Home, Game Optimizer, Filmmaker Mode, Personalized, Vivid, Standard, plus a couple of ISF Expert presets for bright and dark room viewing.

There's also the option of selecting a self-adjusting AI Pro picture mode, selectable during setup, if you don't want to bother managing picture presets.

Ultimately, everything is a matter of taste, but watching The Mandalorian in 4K Dolby Vision (via Disney+), I found Cinema Home mode offered the best overall balance. Starfields retained their density and sparkle, with outstanding contrast and HDR snap.

The Standard picture mode ups brightness and overall impact, and generally looks fine with less cinematic fare, so that’s a solid option too.

Motion handling is well judged. Of the options offered, TruMotion’s Cinematic Movement is the least intrusive, at least in terms of movie material, removing judder without introducing that telltale soap-opera sheen.

Perhaps suprisingly, peak HDR brightness turns out to be the big story here. The C6 delivers a tangible uplift over its predecessor.

In Vivid mode, the set blasts past 2000 nits, as seen in very small highlights. Not that I’d advocate watching in Vivid for any great length of time. Cinema Home delivers a still impressive 1576 nits with a 5% window, dropping to 1123 nits on 10%.

Specular highlights – fireworks, reflections, metallic glints – display a convincing intensity, giving images more dimensionality.

This brightness bump comes largely from processing rather than brute-force panel changes. The Alpha 11’s expanded bit-depth handling (12-bit processing with a 13-bit output) enhances gradation and brightness precision.

Everyday TV, animation, and sports all look fabulous. You won’t want to turn it off.

Sound Quality

When it comes to audio, the C6 is more prosaic. It’s good enough, but is bass light. I measured very little happening below 100Hz. Playing back the Dolby Atmos ‘Amaze’ test clip, there's no thunderclap at all. Similarly, Dune Part Two unspools without any of its signature seismic bass moments.

This despite a dedicated 20W woofer buried in the set's case. The TV's official specification lists a 40W total in a 2.2 channel configuration. There is an AI Pro sound model, which offers a more upfront presentation, but I found it a rather thin, fatiguing listen.

There are ways to improve matters though. The C6 can be partnered with LG’s new wireless Sound Suite loudspeakers; the TV instigates a direct connection with the speakers, using them as rears in a spatial configuration. Or, of course, match it with one of the best soundbars for LG TVs.

Design & Usability

Cosmetically, the C6 is almost unchanged from its predecessor, and build quality remains excellent.

The wafer-thin panel has a slate-like rear finish, and sits on a central pedestal stand. This makes it easy to park on AV furniture, although the lack of any swivel is rather inconvenient.

Connectivity can be considered comprehensive. In addition to the quartet of HDMIs, there are a couple of USB ports, an optical digital audio output, Ethernet LAN, and both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.3. The set is Auracast compatible and can also accommodate terrestrial and satellite aerial feeds.

The OLED C6 comes with the latest, thinnest Magic Remote control. I’ve never fully warmed to its on-screen cursor, but the customisable buttons and voice control are welcome. There’s no backlight here though.

The panel itself is conventionally glossy. It doesn’t have an anti-glare filter to repel ambient light sources, worth considering when placing the TV. Some will find this a benefit, though, as some home-cinema enthusiasts are staunchly against the anti-reflective panel for how it can affect black levels.

LG OLED C6 review: Verdict

The LG OLED C6 is a thoroughly impressive all-round OLED TV that wrings even more performance from a tried and tested recipe. LG’s boffins have managed to elevate picture performance, with higher peak brightness, extremely good shadow definition, and more intelligent processing.

If you want near-flagship picture quality without paying quite such a high-end price, then the C6 is exactly where you should be looking. It’s not flawless – audio could be further improved and the Freely snub is ill-judged – but the core C-series viewing experience remains a deeply satisfying, 5-star watch.

Also Consider

If OLED is your bag, compare and contrast the LG C6 with Panasonic’s Z90B, and the Samsung S90H. The former, in 65-inch guise, uses a Master OLED Pro OLED EX panel, and is capable of stunning image quality. Conversely, the Samsung S90H, boasts Glare‑Free anti‑reflection coating, helpful if ambient light is likey to be an issue where you watch.

Samsung TV owners have famously long lived without a few features found on televisions from rival brands – Dolby Vision, for one. Another that comes as more of a surprise is Google Cast.

Samsung's smart TVs have not had native support for Google Cast, with the manufacturer favouring its proprietary Smart View feature instead. Built around Miracast, it has basically offered a similar experience, allowing you to mirror your phone's screen, but it's not quite the same.

However, that's all changing. As well as finally supporting Google Cast on its new, 2026 smart TV models, Samsung has started to roll it out as an upgrade to older sets too. That includes TVs made from 2023 on.

According to XDA Developers, the One UI Tizen v2115 update is now available across multiple Samsung smart TVs released in the last few years. And it includes Cast support.

There is a caveat – your TV needs to have been made and sold from 2023 and run on Tizan OS. But if compatible, you'll find a much better streaming option waiting.

That's because Google Cast is universal – it works across pretty much every Android phone and tablet you can think of, iPhone and iPad too. You just have to tap the Cast icon when you're in a streaming app (if supported), select your TV and away you go.

Perhaps the biggest benefit over Samsung's own Smart View is that Google Cast doesn't technically mirror your device's display. Once Cast, the content is streamed by the TV from the internet directly, leaving your phone to perform other tasks with no slow down or interruption.

You can use your mobile device as a remote, but the video is streamed independently.

This is a big deal for Samsung smart TV owners, many of which have bemoaned its absence over the years. It also allows you to stream from apps that might not be otherwise available on your TV.

Many other brands have offered the service for years – especially those that run Google TV or Android TV – which Samsung owners and others have had to add a Chromecast device for the same functionality. You won't need that any longer.

If your Samsung TV doesn't currently run Tizen v2115.3 or later, check your settings to see if an update is available. It might take a bit longer to reach all the supported models, depending on your region.

As a consumer tech journalist, I'm currently in the throes of what can only be called 'TV season', when all the best new TVs get lined up for the test bench just ahead of their on-sale dates.

It's a great insight to test out the latest sets, gauging how different one model is from the last and what improvements we can expect on a year-on-year basis.

In Samsung's flagship model, the difference is paramount – delivering what I described in my S99H review as the best HDR gaming I've ever seen on any TV to date.

But there's a problem. Samsung has made some divisive decisions about this model for this year. Well, sort of. As it's not the same model name in every region, as I'll get to below.

Why the S95HF is the one we all want

See that giant silver bezel border and 'floating' bezel-free panel in the image above? That's Samsung's "FloatLayer" design language for the S99H, as reviewed in the UK.

In the USA, the exact same model is called the S95H. We don't get that one in the UK, though. But both have opted for an 'art' design, which has caused some to scratch their heads as to why.

Well, any prospective UK customers who dislike that big ol' border can instead opt for the S95HF model, which won't be available Stateside. Not to be confused with last year's S95F flagship, as the HF is the 2026 version – without the silver bezel.

Samsung has done very well with its The Frame TVs – the anti-reflective "TVs as canvas" prospect – and clearly thought to incorporate elements into its flagship to promote its monthly pay-for Art Store subscription. It's clear that 2026 is the year of the art TV trend, as I wrote about back in January.

All the 2026 QD-OLED models feature an anti-reflection screen – called 'Glare Free' in Samsung's marketing – and, while I love how it diffuses bothersome ambient light, some home-cinema diehards dislike the effect and are calling for a model without such a feature.

Yet Samsung's QD-OLED picture rules

Divisive or not, however, what I have come to learn from the S99H (or, by virtue, the S95H or S95HF too?) is that its picture quality is outstanding. As QD-OLED goes, this is the flagship to rival all flagships – with an incredible Standard Mode preset that, unusually, I've left on by default. Because it's just that good.

Samsung has been really inspirational with some other design/feature choices too. The flagship doesn't use the brand's OneConnect Box by default – a separate unit to house the HDMI connections away from the panel, using wireless transmission, making it ideal for wall-mounting – but you can add one as a separate purchase.

Buying said OneConnect Box will up the HDMI count from four ports to eight in total, meaning a mass of HDMI 2.1 connections and a fix to one of my biggest bugbears with modern TV connectivity. Note, however, that latency from wireless connections is extended – and not the best for gamers, therefore.

Speaking of gamers, though, and the S99H absolutely nails that offering. While there's no Dolby Vision – as Samsung uses its own HDR10 and HDR10+ instead – the insane brightness and colour volume makes HDR titles look spectacular. Indeed, the S99H clocks a brightness output close to 4,000 nits – rivalling even high-end Mini-LED TVs.

So should I buy the S95F instead?

So make of Samsung's flagship design choices what you will. It stands out of a point of difference, which is a rarity in the TVs world these days. And if you don't like it then the S95HF model will deliver a pared-back solution instead – unless you're based in the US, where it won't be available.

The best option in that scenario? Don't forget about last year's flagship, the S95F, which is now a cut of its original price and, while not as bright as the 2026 'H' model equivalent, is still a notable TV choice.

Every year manufacturers somehow manage to make the best TVs even better – increasingly it's like there's no ceiling to what's possible. That said, Samsung's take for its 2026 flagship might seem, well, confusing on the face of it.

Why? Because the S99H on review here – the same as the S95H in the USA – takes Samsung's QD-OLED panel mastery, but leads it down a more 'arty' design route, complete with an integrated silver bezel border. Don't want the bezel? You'll want the S95HF – the all-important 'F' variant not available in the USA (and not to be confused with the last-gen S95F model either!).

Samsung has also done away with the default OneConnect Box – the separate unit to wire HDMI and other connections away from the TV itself – meaning a thicker chassis than typical art TV buyers might consider as optimum. That is better for gamers who want the lowest latency possible, though, and this TV is heavy set for those customers.

In fairness, Samsung opted out of the OneConnect Box default last generation, with the S95F (2025) not taking it on like its S95D (2024) predecessor. That said, you can buy an optional box for the S99H (or, indeed, S95H and S95HF) – upping the HDMI count to eight ports total, which finally fixes my biggest issue with TV connectivity.

So is the Samsung S99H a genius amalgamation of all the company's finest TV tech or a flagship misfire pitching the 'art TV' trend of 2026 to high-end home cinema enthusiasts? I've been living with a production sample for a couple of weeks for this review to find out...

Price & Availability

I've laid out a table of pricing, below, for the key model sizes – differentiating regional product codes. Note: there's no 55-inch S99H, while the S95H's 83-inch model I've not included, as it's not the same type of panel technology.

The absence of a 55-inch S99H means no QD-OLED panel in Samsung's 2026 range at this size for the UK, which I find perplexing. Presumably sales just haven't been successful in that size category – unless the S95HF fills that gap (and which I've queried with Samsung to see if such a model will become available).

Price-wise, the S99H model is a little more costly than the outgoing S95F series from last year. It's a consistent £100 per model for both the 65- and 77-inch versions, which is under 3% and therefore in line with annual inflationary factors.

S99H vs S95H vs S90H: What's what?

For the UK market, Samsung has tried to simplify its product ranges (despite the mayhem of regional variations, as outlined above!).

There's the S99H at the very top of the spectrum (S95H in the USA), which uses a QD-OLED panel type. That's Quantum Dot OLED, which goes extra on colour and brightness compared to classic OLED. The S95HF is the same, but ditches the silver bezel design.

Step down to the S90H and that's all classic OLED (read our review here) – and with more size options available. That's different to the previous S95F and S90F models, where the core sizes (55- and 65-inches only) were both QD-OLED – but with a lesser degree of anti-reflective coating in the lower-spec model.

Design & Features

The first time I saw an S99H (well, technically an S95H) was at the annual CES show. Samsung had gone fairly stealth on the set's presence, given it had just announced a 130-inch Micro-RGB panel that dominated the brand's exhibition space.

In that dark room, the H set's silver edging – which sits behind the main panel, as if embossing it to greater prominence, in what Samsung calls 'FloatLayer' design – wasn't especially flashy or distracting. But when my 77-inch S99H arrived for testing at home, set up in my living room as normal, I found that silver edge hard to ignore.

Time is everything, though, and the more I lived with it, the more I enjoyed its point of difference. Others may disagree, though, and you might not want the 'floating' aesthetic for a wall-mount TV either – in which case I'd strongly suggest picking the S95HF (unless you're in the USA, in which case it's hard luck, apparently).

What I did find incredibly refreshing about the S99H, however, is how simple it was to assemble. It's a screwless design, so the two feet slot over couplings – with two height options available – and that's it, job done. Compared to Samsung's complex 8K TV set up this one's a doddle.

Around the back of the S99H is where you'll find the four HDMI 2.1 ports. They're assigned a little differently than typical, with port no.3 serving the HDMI eARC – which I've been using in tandem with the HW-Q990H surround system to great effect.

That soundbar houses two further HDMI inputs for passthrough, so I've got lots of connectivity options. However, if you do want even more, the S99H can also operate with a OneConnect Box (sold separately; not tested in this setup), meaning you can either deliver wirelessly to the set, foregoing the usual HDMI ports, or double up with a total of eight available – something no other manufacturer yet offers.

Software-wise, Samsung's Tizen-based system is a little confusing at times – perhaps because it features not one but two remote controls with different quick-access buttons. Nonetheless, the homepage combines access to 'Now Playing', 'Popular Searches', a series of customisable apps, and rows of streaming picks to jump into – including from Samsung TV Plus.

Given this TV's anti-glare panel and updated design aesthetic, Samsung is clearly looking to double down on its art offering – with Samsung Art Store also easily accessible, should a membership appeal (at a monthly cost). No longer is this sort of content confined to The Frame TVs, which have been doing so well for the brand.

Samsung Vision AI is also available at the click of a button, bringing personalised voice querying to the fore. That's in addition to the AI Picture Settings, which automate the visuals – but I've found aren't to this set's greatest benefit, except really when watching sports.

Picture Quality

If you're on board with the FloatLayer design and silver bezel addition and happy with an anti-reflective display – for 2026 there's no QD-OLED option without such a panel coating – then the Samsung S99H's picture quality is astounding.

Like, so astounding that you won't even be peeking at that silver bezel for even a moment. Everything else around you will almost dissolve away, such is the impeccable nature of Samsung's image clarity. I thought the S95F previously was a stunner and, well, the S99H is that and even more – offering even greater brightness potential.

Such is the nature of QD-OLED that it delivers all that's great about classic OLED – perfect contrast and the deepest blacks – but with even more oomph. I can see why my T3 freelance contributor was somewhat disappointed the step-down S90H model wasn't to be QD-OLED for this year's range (despite being an 'excellent true OLED').

I think the S99H has one of the most captivating 'Standard' picture modes that I've ever seen. Many other brands deliver such colour pop that it's almost overwrought, but the Samsung deals a more balanced hand. I've been unusually tempted to leave this mode on more often than typical – and it's so bright that many Mini-LED sets aren't going to meddle with this.

But the real magic in the S99H comes from the more delicate picture-handling, such as in Movie mode. This is the one for the real cinema heads – yes, there's Filmmaker Mode too, of course – who might want to tweak the tiniest number of settings to get a little uplift in output. Swimming in a sea of black levels is no bad thing, though, handled with nuance and care by this panel.

An exception to that can be caused by the anti-reflective panel, though, where higher ambient light levels will lift the black floor to appear a little greyer. The panel will defy reflections, though, which will be to most viewers' benefit – and it diffuses them incredibly well, such is Samsung's strength in this field.

Oh, and it'd be remiss of me not to mention that Dolby Vision content isn't supported by Samsung (but is still well handled by the set's HDR capabilities). The brand's own HDR10 and HDR10+ formats are the go-to here – with HDR10+ Advanced incoming later – which you'll mainly find in Amazon Prime Video content.

That said, many cinephiles have been asking for Samsung to deliver an equivalent panel without the anti-reflection for dark room setups – something that, thus far, hasn't been brought to market. I can see why this would be desirable, though, especially if I had the relevant home-cinema installation space.

There's one other very particular point I must also point out: the S99H, in the pre-release review sample format that I've received, suffers from minor judder issues. This is input source and mode irrelevant, too, so even a 24p 4K Blu-ray disc can appear to drop a frame from time to time. Samsung will be working on software updates ahead of release schedule, no doubt, so based on previous S-series models I can't foresee it remaining an ongoing issue.

In contrast to the above observation, however, pop the S99H into gaming mode, and here it might be at its very best. Playing Horizon: Zero Dawn you'll not only get HDR delivered to the max – the brightness and colour are among the best I've ever seen – but the fluidity of motion is just incredible.

All the VRR, ALLM and mod cons you'd expect of a TV with four HDMI 2.1 ports are on show here. It explains, in part, why the brand has done away with the OneConnect Box as a default option, too, because of the added latency that results.

Sound Quality

While I may have criticised the S99H for being a bit thicker than some of Samsung's previous TV models, there's an obvious benefit to the added girth: more space for audio implementation.

Indeed, the sound system here is found between the floating panel and the silver bezel behind, offering a 70W system configured in 4.2.2 channels. That's four speakers handling your frontal soundstage, two (hidden) woofers on the back, and two upfiring outputs to help project sound for greater immersion.

Add in Samsung's Object Tracking Sound (OTS, as it's called for short) and the apparent source of audio relative to what's happening on screen, feels naturally associated. I've largely been using a soundbar during testing, which can sit the sound a bit too 'low', which isn't something the TV suffers from when used in isolation.

Overall, the default audio presentation here is decent. There's a limit to low-frequency bass output, of course, but compared to many tellies, it's a stronger-than-typical setup. You might even get away with foregoing one of the best soundbars, if you don't intend to watch at high volumes.

Samsung S99H review: Verdict

If the floating panel design and silver bezel are of appeal, then the Samsung S99H's QD-OLED picture quality is so bold and bright – yet still natural and convincing – that most people won't believe their eyes. Its anti-glare panel will make this set ideal for rooms with some ambient light sources, too.

If you don't like the floating aesthetic, then you'll want to buy the S95HF instead (not that you can in the USA). This axes the border bezel from the design – and it's the one I'd also opt for personally. This model still has the anti-glare panel, though, so those looking for a QD-OLED without it will have to continue petitioning Samsung for a future product release.

Aside from the S99H's minor judder issues for streaming/movie content (which ought to be fixed for the on-sale date), the picture quality when digging into Movie and Filmmaker Mode is really like bringing the cinema home. And the gaming output could well be the best I've ever seen on any TV to date. Even the sound isn't too shabby – a rare thing indeed from a TV's default output.

Having lived with the S99H for a fortnight, using it as my own, Samsung has managed to deliver across the board. And with such strong competition – the Sony Bravia 8 II and LG OLED G6 are both obvious rivals – to still be able to stand out is no mean feat. It's not the 'arty' design or Art Store that are the reason for that, though, it's the staple features done right – and a default picture that almost defies belief.

Also Consider

One as-yet-unmentioned 'problem' with the S99H is that it's pretty pricey. A way around that would be to find last year's exceptional S95F model – which has no silver bezel of concern – at a cut of the price. That's the sensible move, even if it's not as bright a panel overall.

Rivals in a similar ballpark include the Sony Bravia 8 II, which is a 5-star panel for its beautiful picture handling, or if a classic OLED panel appeals, then LG's OLED G6 or last year's OLED G5 are top-tier models to consider. Step down, and the OLED C6 or C5 are also great, yet even more affordable considerations.

There's been a rise in picture frame style TVs over the last few years. From a market that Samsung established with The Frame, we're now faced with the Ember Artline from Amazon, Canvas TV from Hisense, and Nxtvision models from TCL.

And it's TCL that's making the news today, announcing more details on the TCL A400 Pro Nxtvision TV, an evolution of this lifestyle TV category that uses a Mini-LED panel.

Remarkably, the price of TCL's model undercuts rivals, making it look like really good value for money. The 55-inch TCL A400 Pro costs £899, while the Amazon Ember Artline is £949 and uses less sophisticated panel technology.

It follows the lead started by Samsung with The Frame Pro in 2025, with TCL now offering a rival television that upgrades the visual experience beyond the QLED panels that we've seen in the past.

That shift in technology helps to address one of the pain points of this type of lifestyle TV, boosting the picture performance when you're actually watching TV, rather than using it as an art gallery.

With that in mind, the TCL A400 Pro has a QD Mini-LED panel, increasing the dimming zones over a traditional QLED panel, with up to 448 zones on the 98-inch model, while the 55-inch model has 112 zones.

That really boosts this TV's abilities, while it also offers 4K HDR performance and 144Hz, with a matte display to fend off reflections and give that canvas-like appearance when showing artwork.

There's an Onkyo sound system on this TV along with Dolby Atmos and DTS, so it should sound great too.

The prices announced for the UK are as follows:

• 43-inch - £599
• 55-inch - £899
• 65-inch - £1099
• 75-inch - £1399

That significantly undercuts the price of the Samsung's The Frame Pro, where the 55-inch model costs £1,699 for the 2026 model.

That's double the price, although Samsung's equivalent TV comes with a Wireless One Connect box, so you can mount the TV on the wall, but then all the connections are elsewhere, which is really convenient. But as I found when I reviewed the 2025 model, it can lead to increased input lag when gaming.

Samsung also supplies the wall mount, which might go some way to justify the cost, while the 55-inch model is 24.9mm thick, so much slimmer than TCL's version at 39.9mm.

It looks like these art TVs are going though a really interesting time, with TCL certainly offering a lot of TV for the money. There's no word on exactly where they will be stocked, yet.

Are art TVs the future? It's a question that seems to be on the lips, or at least the minds, of executives at all the biggest TV manufacturers this year. After a long period in which most brands seemed content to let Samsung have its little niche with The Frame, the landscape is shifting rapidly all of a sudden.

LG's bringing back the Wallpaper TV, TCL has big plans in the area, and now Amazon's done a classic Amazon and very rapidly brought out an art TV of its own – the Ember Artline. It's a 55 or 65-inch QLED TV that puts the emphasis on a large collection of free artwork that you can use to spruce up a wall of your choice, and I saw it in person at a recent Amazon event.

Spending some actual time with a new TV is always an interesting experience, and I made sure to grab the Artline's remote as soon as I could to get a proper feel for its UI and artwork, leaving me interested to see more.

Crucially, at briefings like these, you can play around with a TV but don't generally get time to sit and watch content for more than a snatched minute, so the biggest question mark that still lingers over the Ember Artline for me is how it looks with Filmmaker Mode turned on for a movie I know and love.

Concentrating on the artwork, though, I liked what I saw. The Artline has a matte finish that, along with the magnetic frame and recessed wall mount that you get with your purchase, basically marks it out from Amazon's other TVs. It works pretty well, too, dissipating light effectively, albeit not quite as invisibly as far more expensive models from the likes of Samsung manage.

The artwork on offer is great, too, divided into sections for easier browsing – so you can, for instance, choose a country to see what art Amazon has licensed from it, across a range of time periods. You can also select genres and styles, too, and there's more coming.

Amazon's reps told me that the art on offer won't be removed or cycled in and out; everything there is yours to keep, but with the promise that more will be added over time, including a generative AI option for those who don't need or want actual artistic intention on their art TV.

Curiously, though, I found the actual Fire TV UI on the Artlines I got to play with a little slower than I expected. At the same event, I got to handle the latest Fire TV Stick HD, which is an entry-level £40 piece of hardware, and it felt significantly snappier and more responsive than the baked-in software on the Artline.

That might be down to pre-release hiccups, and it's entirely possible that the full versions of the TV that are now available to order will be smoother and faster, but I found it odd given the controlled setting of an Amazon briefing. The setting also meant I couldn't test the TV's awareness feature, which turns the display off when nobody's in the room, to avoid the power drain of 24/7 operation for the art you choose.

Overall, the time I got with the Ember Artline left me wondering what direction I'd go in if I needed to buy a TV right now. I think I still lean towards accepting a TV for what it is and getting a pure OLED, since I just love how those panels perform (with my LG C2 giving me no reason to upgrade), but the art TV movement is clearly picking up pace.

Whether the Ember Artline sees the needle move further in terms of sales and popularity will be interesting to observe in the coming months, and we'll aim to get a full review for you so you can see how it stacks up in our view.

Amazon has confirmed that future Fire TV Sticks will no longer allow app sideloading or run on Android. You won't even be able to download and install approved apps either.

That's because it is switching to its own Vega OS software for all streaming devices going forward, and as that is a cloud-based operating system, you will no longer have the ability to customise them.

The software was first installed on the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select released last year and can also be found driving the all-new Fire TV Stick HD coming at the end of April.

Rather than host streaming apps on the device itself, Vega OS is entirely run on the cloud – so the likes of Netflix and Disney+ are installed on a remote server, including the front end, so you access the entire experience over an online connection, not just the content.

It's similar to the latest TiVo platform, which is found on multiple smart TVs and the Manhattan Aero Freely TV box, and the Titan OS smart TV system adopted by Philips and a few other manufacturers.

The benefit is that you don't have to download and run apps yourself, so every streaming service is updated remotely and you are always accessing the latest version. And the processing power of your TV or device is less important, as it's only required to run the video stream well.

It also enables Amazon to keep costs down for new Fire TV Stick releases, especially during the ongoing RAM chip crisis.

The downside is that you have far less freedom over what you choose to do with your device. Some sideload their third-party apps onto Fire TV Sticks, allowing them to operate services that are otherwise unsupported. You cannot do that on the Select or forthcoming HD Fire TV Sticks – or any other future models.

The confirmation was found on Amazon's developer site (via Cordbusters): "All future Fire TV Sticks will run on Vega," it says in a box-out about the operating system.

That will definitely upset some, although considering the clampdown on the illegal use of Fire TV Sticks (with content piracy being a real issue in the recent past), the switch always seemed inevitable.

Time will tell if it makes a difference to the wider consumer market, though.

A class action lawsuit has been filed against Amazon in the US which claims the company "purposefully" made older Fire TV Sticks fail to force customers into an upgrade.

The plaintiff claims the remote for his second-generation Fire TV Stick eventually became "inoperable" after Amazon ended updates for the 2016 device. Other customers have also complained that their first and second-generation streamers have also stopped working or slowed down considerably.

According to the New York Post, the suit goes on to say that Amazon wouldn't provide a refund or software updates for the failing devices. It also accuses the company of "deceptive" marketing, as it didn't inform customers of a cut-off date for software upgrades.

This is something that has been adopted more widely in recent years, especially by mobile phone manufacturers. The likes of Samsung, Google and Nothing often guarantee a period of software updates for their devices at launch. It wasn't common when the original Fire TV Sticks were launched, however.

It also begs the question of how long purchased technology is supposed to be supported. Sonos stoked the ire of its long-term customers a few years ago, when it announced it would no longer support older devices in its upgraded app. And Samsung prompted a flurry of complaints when Netflix became incompatible with its older smart TVs.

Simply put though, consumer technology is hardly ever built to last forever. A device released a decade ago is likely to have a far slower, less capable processor than a modern equivalent – RAM and storage, too.

So is it fair to expect a streaming device released in 2014 or 2016 to still perform as well today – especially one that cost around $40? That, it seems, is for the courts to decide.

When Amazon announced the Ember Artline TV, it was keen to put the focus on the new matte finish and artwork that the TV would bring to people's lounges and living rooms. That's well and good, but, in some ways, the more important announcement was that when the TV arrived, it would also mark a massive branding change for Amazon.

That's right – Fire TVs aren't Fire TVs any more; or are they? Well, as it happens, now every TV that Amazon makes itself will be an Ember TV, drawing more of a clear line between 'a TV that Amazon makes that runs on Fire TV' as compared to 'the Fire TV ecosystem and software experience', if that makes sense. No more Fire TV Fire TVs, basically.

At an Amazon briefing last week, I was interested to question Emma Gilmartin, Director of Fire TV for Europe, about the change and what it means for consumers and customers. She explained that while this is a big tweak from Amazon's perspective, it's one that should result in less "confusion" for regular folks.

"I think there's a reason why we've moved away from just calling everything Fire TV – because Fire TV is, in itself, a user experience. And it's now on partner-branded TVs, on our streaming sticks, and our own-party TVs. So it becomes confusing for customers when everything is just Fire TV."

That's a rare level of honesty from a huge corporation like Amazon, albeit at a time when it can afford to say that its past branding was odd, since it's now changing the system. When I asked whether there was any anxiety internally about the swap, I got a bullish response, too, with basically no sense that there was risk to the name swap.

For my money, Ember's a pretty clean name, and the continuity of the "fire" image does make a smooth transition pretty likely. Plus, it's not like the Fire TV brand is going anywhere – it's still the umbrella under which the Ember hardware lineup will sit. In fact, Amazon has another little hardware launch to talk about, too, in the form of a new £40 Fire TV Stick HD.

Glimartin described the stick as "super, super fast", and I can attest that in person, the 30% boost in speed it's been given is impressive, especially given it's entry-level stuff. A bunch of recent Fire TV Sticks will also be getting the OS update that Amazon's rolling out, which should give them all a roughly 30% boost, too, so it's a great time to be a stick owner.

As Gilmartin put it, "the team took the opportunity to completely rewrite the code, which allows them to iterate much faster, and allowed us to scale and do different things in the future". That might mean that future updates are more frequently deployed, making for better future-proofing in the long run.

I've always been curious about which of Amazon's sticks sells the best, since there are plenty to pick from, and while Gilmartin wouldn't be drawn on any actual figures, she confirmed that from Amazon's point of view, there's no real drive to consolidate its lineup into fewer options.

"We also have this debate about how many sticks – but for some people, a jump of £10 or £15 is a lot, so for some people the Stick HD is perfect, [while] some people want to get the best, with the best Wi-Fi and connectivity". Crucially, as she puts it, "people are buying all of the sticks", so there's no single one that's likely to get chopped any time soon.

Regardless, the big Ember branding change is probably enough upheaval for one financial quarter at least, and Amazon will doubtless have multiple eyes on its analytics the moment it makes the swap. We'll be fascinated to see how it lands, too.

When Amazon announced the Ember Artline, its first foray into the extremely on-trend world of art TVs, it fairly obviously looked like it was pushing the boat out. After all, while it's been making Fire TVs for a while now, most of them haven't had a specific USP other than generally good value to offer.

Now, though, it's brought the Ember Artline out in the UK and EU, a little while after it arrived in the US, and the TV's arrival also ushers in a bit of a new branding era. All of its actual TVs are no longer Fire TVs – they're Ember TVs, with the Fire TV OS pre-loaded on them. That should make things a little simpler for people to understand, and being able to write "Ember Artline" without worrying about the "Fire TV" bit certainly is a small relief.

The Artline makes no secret of its aim, and basically takes one of Amazon's existing top-range QLED displays and then sticks a non-reflective matte coating on the screen, as well as a thinner body and cleverly recessed mounting system to allow you to get it really flat against a wall.

That sets it up to fulfil its primary purpose – looking like a matte painting when you're not using it as a TV. Whether you pick up the 55-inch version for £950 or the 65-inch one for £1,200, you'll get two extras in the package when you order it. The first is that low-profile mounting kit, which is nice to see, and the other is your choice of magnetic "frame" for the TV.

These are super simple to install, too, since they literally just click magnetically onto each edge of the TV to make it look like it has a perfectly-fitting frame. There are a couple of wood-like finishes, then a bunch of colours to choose from, and that should make matching it to your room of choice fairly doable.

Having seen the TVs in person a couple of times now, I've been impressed by their design, especially those magnetic frames. It'll remain to be seen how they stack up to other TVs in the same price bracket, though, with the comparison to OLED sets being particularly interesting. The fact that Dolby Vision and HDR10+ are both present and correct, though, is a great sign.

The TVs are available to order from today in the UK, so you can get your hands on them immediately if you like the cut of their jib. For those simply looking for a new Fire TV stick, though, Amazon has smaller news on that front, too.

It has a new version of its entry-level Fire TV Stick HD – and for £40 you'll get a great 1080p experience that should be around 30% faster than the last-generation stick in terms of operating speeds. It's also slimmer to more easily fit behind your TV without making it hard to arrange your HDMI ports, which is always nice.

Perhaps the biggest upgrade is the addition of passthrough power through a USB cable, though, letting you get power from your TV instead of needing to plug another wall socket in.

If you're not enjoying the experience of your Google TV, you're not stuck with the interface, you can change it. Thanks to a new launcher called Arc, you can now get an interface that looks a lot more like Apple TV.

Android has always been about flexibility and that doesn't just apply to phones and tablets - there are also freedoms within other Android platforms to switch things around, including on Google TV.

Whether you're using the Google TV Streamer or a TV that runs Google TV, changing the launcher is an option.

The advantage of switching to a new launcher is that you can fully customise it to your preferences, it can be completely personalised, avoiding adverts and recommendations that come from Google.

The most popular of these is Projectivity Launcher, which can be found by searching on Google TV and then installing the app from Google Play. However, if you fancy something that looks like Apple TV, then Arc might be a better bet (via Android Authority).

This option isn't as advanced as Projectivity in that it's not an app in Google Play, so you'll need to be a little more advanced to get everything going. However, it's freely available on Github, which also points out some of the things that don't work and gives advice on button mapping to get Arc to launch.

The result is a cleaner interface that uses less RAM than the standard launcher (so it feels faster) and it looks like the frontend of Apple TV 4K.

The developer says that it was tested on Chromecast with Google TV (so install it at your own risk) and that in future it's looking at video wallpapers, channel support and more.

It isn't the full Apple TV 4K experience, of course, so while you can have the Apple TV app (which again has a cleaner design) you won't get all the features that Apple TV itself offers.

Currently, Apple's TV box is over three years old and while there haven't been many changes in the TV industry to warrant an update, it's still a little long in the tooth.

It's rumoured that there could be an Apple TV 4K update in 2026, with a faster chip and new Siri powers, although the slow roll-out of Apple's advanced AI could have put the brakes on a new box. Still, if you don't want to wait, you can make your Google device look like it instead.

It's been a long time coming, but Sony has finally revealed that its next-gen TV technology will fall under the new 'True RGB' banner.

That will define Sony's RGB-LED TVs – using individually controlled red, green and blue backlights – for the most colour volume of any Sony home TVs than ever before.

No exact products have been revealed at this stage, however, with those expected in the coming months – or "this spring", as Sony officially states.

There's a big shift in the TV industry going on – and it's all about colour. While many of the best TVs feature OLED panels, that technology could become yesterday's premium choice, as new solutions come to market.

While Sony already makes OLED TVs – such as the Bravia 8 II and A95L – a rejig of its range last year actually positioned its Mini-LED solution, the Bravia 9, as its top-of-the-stack set.

And now Sony is set to reveal its next-gen TV technology, RGB-LED, as the brand gives its solution an official marketing name: 'True RGB'. This is where individually controlled red, green and blue backlights one-up a traditional Mini-LED solution, providing even more colour.

Those who know a thing or two about TVs, however, will know that this kind of technology is already out in the wild. TCL's 2026 range also features RGB Mini-LED TVs at the top of its range, while Hisense's RGB Mini-LED offering, the UR9, is incoming in more living-room-friendly sizes.

Sony has previously teased its RGB Mini-LED solution, so it's been known to be coming for a long time. It's just been fine-tuning its True RGB solution for longer than its Chinese competition.

Speaking of which, given the incoming agreement that TCL will take over the reins of Sony's TV manufacturing (the official release called a 'Memorandum of Understanding for Strategic Partnership', it'll be interesting to see if that includes True RGB sets, too.

However, Sony's solution includes a "proprietary optical structure and precision backlight control, driven by a new Sony’s RGB backlight driver," which could see the Japanese brand's engineering avoid the colour "crosstalk" issues that have been an early issue with the RGB-LED solution.

At this stage, however, Sony hasn't revealed any True RGB TV models – something that'll happen imminently, though, with "this spring" cited by the brand. That's when we'll learn whether the new technology will sit above the Bravia 9 in the product line-up.

It's entirely likely that'll be the case, with the image – courtesy of Sony – at the top of this page displaying conventional Mini-LED next to a True RGB solution. The colour difference is obvious, but the brightness is undeniable too.

So stay tuned for more, as Sony's latest Bravia TVs are clearly just around the corner – and could be the most colour-capable sets you'll ever lay eyes on.

Samsung has previously been criticised for its decision to use a mixture of Quantum Dot OLED (QD-OLED, for short) and WRGB OLED (which we'll call 'classic OLED') panels at different screen sizes of its S90 ranges over the years.

While this approach did give QD-OLED fans a way of getting certain screen sizes – usually just the 65-inch model in the UK – for less money than they’d need for Samsung’s premium S95 series, it also never felt right that consumers couldn’t necessarily know exactly what sort of technology they might be getting.

For 2026, Samsung has finally ratified its S90H OLED range, making each screen size only available with a classic OLED panel. While the previous model – in like-for-like 65-inches, as tested – was a QD-OLED set, that makes for an interesting comparison. How well does the S90H holds up against both last year's predecessor and the best of the rest the OLED world has to offer?

Price & Availability

The S90H series is set to go on sale by the end of April, with the 65-inch model priced out of the gate at £2,699 ($TBC in the USA and other territories).

That price works out to be a substantial £800 cheaper than the launch price of the 65-inch model from Samsung’s new flagship S99H QD-OLED range.

The S90H will be available in 42-, 48-, 55-, 65-, 77- and 83-inch screen sizes – so there's something for everyone here, too, and the consistency of panel technology across the board (noting: the 42- and 48-inch models are less bright).

S90H vs S90F: What’s new?

I’ve already covered the single most important difference between 2026’s S90H and 2025’s S90F ranges: the shift to classic OLED panels rather than mixing and matching some sizes with that technology and others with QD-OLED. There are a few other differences worth highlighting, though.

For starters, the S90H’s so-called ‘HDR+’ panel specification refers to the latest version of the mid-range ‘EX’ OLED panels doing the rounds this year. These don’t feature the Primary RGB Tandem technology found in this year’s high-end G6 OLED TVs being sold by arch rival LG, but it is in line with the 65-inch model of LG’s mid-range OLED C6 series. The new EX panels claim to be slightly brighter than their predecessors.

Samsung’s latest NQ4 AI Gen 3 processor delivers a few claimed improvements via its 128 neural networks, too. These include improved contrast optimisation; better 4K upscaling with more detail, texture, edge enhancement and noise reduction; and AI-enhanced motion processing, capable of recognising not just when sport is being watched, but what type of sport is being watched, adjusting the algorithm it uses to track and even predict the sort of movement that a particular sport is likely to present.

A new AI Sound Controller Pro feature can now separate sound into three categories – Voice, Music and Effect – with you able to control the relative balance of each category. This feature has been integrated into the S90H’s Bixby voice recognition and control system, too.

Gamers will be pleased to hear that the S90H increases refresh rates to 165Hz (up from the S90F’s 144Hz), with variable refresh rates (VRR) supported across the whole new refresh rate range. The VRR support now officially includes the Nvidia G-Sync format, too, while the previous AMD FreeSync support has been enhanced to FreeSync Premium Pro (ignoring the 42- and 48-inch screen sizes).

The S90H range introduces support for the new HDR10+ Advanced format for the first time, too. This adds six new elements to the previous HDR10+ format: consistently brighter HDR10+ images, genre-based image optimisation, intelligent motion smoothing powered by flags set by content creators, better cloud gaming adaptation, more specific and detailed local tone-mapping, and enhanced content-led colour controls.

Samsung has added a new Vision AI Companion button to the S90H’s smart remote control that takes you to a new AI-specific home screen, from where you can access various AI-related features. It includes access to not one but two full AI systems from which you can select: Co-Pilot and Perplexity.

One final significant change the S90H range rings in is the Glare Free screen filters. These add a matte finish to the screen that removes practically all reflections, leaving you free to remain immersed in what you’re watching even in a bright environment. This filter system can reduce black level depths slightly during dark scenes if your room is really intensely bright, but for me the pros of the filter comfortably outweigh the cons.

Design and Connections

The S90H joins its S90F predecessor in sporting an ultra-thin screen attached to a chunkier mid-section, with an also slender and minimal amount of frame running around the image’s edge.

Build quality feels pretty solid and secure despite the extreme slimness of so much of the TV’s rear, and the two supporting feet included in the box are set quite close together, enabling the screen to be placed on even narrow cabinets or tables.

The feet look a bit plasticky in their ‘undressed’ state – which is why Samsung includes in the box a silver plate that simply clips across the top of the two feet to create the appearance of a more premium pedestal stand design.

The slimness of the screen gives the TV a really futuristic feel. You’d think, too, that it would also make the S90H an ideal wall mount option. Actually, though, the central rear section where the TV places its speakers, connections, processors and panel drivers sticks out far enough to leave a rather awkward gap between the screen and your wall at the screen’s edges.

The S90H’s connectivity is excellent. In particular it boasts four HDMI ports, all of which can handle the full array of HDMI 2.1 gaming features. Including frame rates up to 165Hz, HDR, auto low latency mode (ALLM) switching, and variable refresh rates (VRR) including, as mentioned earlier, the AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync formats.

The four HDMIs are joined by two USB ports, an optical digital audio output, and the now expected Wi-Fi (including Apple Airplay 2) and Bluetooth wireless options.

Picture Quality

Because I ultimately ended up really liking the S90H’s pictures, I want to get the bad news, such as it is, out of the way first. Which is that, at least initially, I missed the extra colour punch delivered by the QD-OLED panel inside last year’s S90F.

This subjective feeling is backed up by measurements using Portrait Displays’ Calman Ultimate software, G1 signal generator and C6 HDR5000 colourimeter, which show the S90H covering in Filmmaker Mode just under 99% of the DCI-P3 colour range typically used for current HDR grading, while the S90F covered more than 127%.

Of course, though, when it comes down to it, most content won’t use more than 100% of the DCI -P3 colour spectrum that the S90H pretty much fully covers – and when it comes to that other key metric of HDR picture performance – brightness – the S90H actually outguns even its QD-OLED predecessor, hitting peaks of 2450 nits in Standard mode (the S90F only got up to around 2000 nits).

The brightness improvement in Filmmaker Mode is much smaller, but the fact remains that the S90H delivers obvious picture progress in at least one key area, despite losing Quantum Dots.

What this all means in practice is that while the S90H’s Standard preset doesn’t look quite as vibrant or boldly saturated as that of the last year’s S95F, in most other ways the set actually performs better. Especially in the Filmmaker Mode, designed to cater for serious home cinema fans.

In this preset pictures look – after a small tweak or two, anyway – absolutely lovely for a mid-range OLED TV. Full of subtlety, beautifully balanced, detailed and sharp, without looking grainy or harsh. They're packed with authentic colours and the sort of contrast and colour tone finesse that can only come from a TV that’s combining OLED’s self-emissive panel technology with some powerful and intelligent processing.

The Filmmaker Mode is substantially less bright than the set’s light room-friendly Standard mode – but it’s not supposed to be. Filmmaker Mode is supposed to track the brightness, contrast and colour levels used in today’s mastering suites, and that’s exactly what the S90H’s Filmmaker Mode does.

In fact, the extent to which the S90H is prepared to rein in its screen’s capabilities to deliver the accuracy AV enthusiasts love is really quite bold – so it’s great that it that achieves such excellently immersive pictures devoid of distracting picture issues and inconsistencies.

The only change I felt compelled to make to the Filmmaker Mode settings was to turn a provided Shadow Detail Enhancer feature all the way up to its highest setting in order to combat an out-of-the-box tendency to lose subtle shadow details into the image’s darkest corners.

Having done the business for home cinephiles fantastically well for a mid-range TV, happily the S90H amps up the spectacle and drama of its pictures if you switch to its Standard mode.

Brightness jumps up by almost 50%, at least with peak bright HDR image areas such as street lights, sunlight reflection on metal or glass, direct shots of the sun and so on. Both native 4K and upscaled HD images look sharper and more densely detailed without that sharpness looking gritty or artificial.

Also, since the S90H’s OLED screen is able to deliver all of its extra Standard mode brightness without damaging the beautifully deep, neutral black levels that we always hope to see with an OLED TV, the Standard mode’s contrast is spectacular by mid-range OLED TV standards.

I did miss a little of the colour range available from QD-OLED technology in the S90H’s Standard mode. Some shades – especially reds, oranges and skin tones during warmly mastered dark movie scenes – can take on either a slightly salmony or overwrought tone. Something about the way the Standard mode pushes brightness can also exaggerate grain with relatively grainy HDR titles like It Chapter One and the non-IMAX sequences of the Juke Joint in the latter half of Sinners.

You should also rein in the S90H’s motion processing to help its pictures look more natural with 24p movie sources, choosing a Custom Mode for the Picture Clarity option menu and then turning off noise reduction and setting judder and blur reduction elements to their three or four levels.

The S90H’s new anti-glare screen filter also means that the image isn’t impacted at all by obvious on-screen reflections, even in bright room settings with an intense source like a wall light sitting directly opposite the screen. Not having to always darken your room or try to squint past onscreen reflections, no matter what room conditions you’re watching in, never gets old. Even though the very brightest ambient settings can slightly grey the screen’s otherwise inky black levels.

The crispness, brightness and bold contrast of the S90H’s pictures make it an excellent gaming monitor, too. Especially as its ability to support frame rates all the way up to 165Hz is joined by a fantastically low input lag measurement in its Game mode of just 9.1ms.

Sound Quality

It’s hard to imagine that any TV as slim across most of its body as the S90H could possibly produce any audio worthy of the name. Actually, though, after an uninspiring start, the S90H sounds pretty good.

The uninspiring bit occurs if you leave the screen’s audio in its default Standard setting. In this mode, while the sound is smooth and controlled, it also feels a little flat, undynamic and locked inside the TV’s bodywork. Fortunately, things kick up a number of gears if you turn on the TV’s Amplify mode.

This immediately opens up the volume and dynamic range, creating a more movie-appropriate sense of scale and power. You suddenly start to notice the effectiveness of Samsung’s object tracking sound (OTS) feature too, as it both places extra-diegetic sounds such as musical scores and some ambient effects beyond the screen’s edges, and places specific effects in the right area on the screen with often startling accuracy.

The only exception to this is that while voices sound like they’re coming from the right position on the left-to-right axis, they can sometimes seem to be coming from below the screen rather than at the right height.

Trebles are delivered without typically slipping into harshness, contributing to a nicely detailed, crisp soundstage that makes film and TV show worlds feel busy and involving.

The soundstage retains its composure well even under pressure from a dense, expanding action or horror sequence, and while there’s a marked limit to how deep the TV’s bass can go, at least what bass there is sounds punchy, well-timed and consistently present without becoming overly dominant.

The very deepest, densest bass rumbles and swells can cause the S90H’s speakers to finally succumb to some slight buzzing interference, dropouts and whooping noise. But most rival mid-range TVs tend to succumb to similar issues with such content more easily than the Samsung’s new mid-ranger does.

Samsung S90H review: Verdict

Yes, the S90H does away with the QD-OLED panel technology of its predecessor – but if you want that, look to the top-end S99H instead. Once I'd moved past that, the S90H swiftly set about proving that it can still deliver the goods with a classic OLED panel – making it an ideal anti-glare competitor to LG's OLED C6.

The S90H's contrast is gorgeous, sharpness is extreme without looking forced, brightness is intensely HDR-friendly by OLED standards, and the addition of that anti-glare filter makes disruption from reflections a thing of the past.

The Filmmaker Mode, in particular, is consistently an ultra-immersive joy, while the Standard preset ultimately rises above the occasional rogue colour tone and spot of elevated noise to deliver plenty of the spectacle that Samsung TVs are so renowned for.

Also Consider

The S90H’s closest and most direct competition will come from LG’s imminent C6 OLED series. This is especially true at the 77-inch and 83-inch screen sizes, where LG has introduced brightness and colour-enhancing Primary RGB Tandem technology to the C series for the first time.

If you don’t mind buying an OLED TV that launched last year, Philips’ OLED 910 can currently be had for a great price. Despite carrying a 'last-gen' Primary RGB Tandem screen, it still looks superb – especially in tandem with Philips’ unique Ambilight design technology.

Today, EE has launched a pair of new features, which should revolutionise the process of looking for content on your TV. That kicks off with Smart Search, which is an AI-powered search engine built into EE TV.

Described as "the next step in the evolution of TV searching," this comes to market with a lot of promise. So, how exactly does it work?

How does EE TV Smart Search work?

The video above comes direct from EE, and shows off how to use the new feature. In essence, the search function uses conversational AI to help you find content.

In the video, that shows searches as simple as 'British soaps', which pulls up Coronation Street, Eastenders and Hollyoaks. More interesting is the ability to simply describe the kind of thing you'd like to see.

For example, we see the user searching for 'good films with plot twists' and the engine is able to pull up options. I'm not enough of a film buff to tell you if they're good recommendations, but I've got no reason to assume they're not.

According to the brand, other possible search terminology includes "films with the actor from...", or quotes from a TV show or movie. For those who aren't great with remembering names, this could be a really handy addition.

EE TV Mood Matcher

Falling into the same launch is a second feature called Mood Matcher. That's also powered by AI, and is designed with a similar end result in mind – helping you to find what you want to watch without too much effort.

This one gets viewers to answer a few questions about their mood, genres and themes they're interested in, before serving them a selection of personalised recommendations. That's perfect for groups who can't decide, but also for anyone who knows the kind of thing they want to watch, but can't pick out the name.

Both of the new features are available now in the EE TV app.

To enjoy the best possible gaming experience, you not only need one of the best TVs, but a television set that can keep up with the pace of your console and show off those AAA titles in the way they were meant to be enjoyed – with no compromises on sharpness, latency, or detail.

That's why you'll want to be up to speed on HDMI 2.1 standards, variable refresh rate (VRR), and auto low-latency mode (ALLM) when considering your new TV for top PS5 or Xbox gaming.

Some TVs are significantly better for gaming than others based on their feature-sets, therefore, so we've put together this guide to point you towards the best of the best as far as gaming TVs go – and to save you a significant amount of time clicking around retail sites online.

The experts at T3 have been reviewing the latest and greatest televisions for decades, so you can be sure they know what they're talking about when it comes to gaming TVs. Read on to decide which of these three premium picks might be the right one for you.

T3's Top 3

How these gaming TVs compare

To a certain extent we're splitting hairs when it comes to comparing the LG OLED C5, the Samsung S95F, and the Philips OLED 910. All of these OLED televisions scored a full five stars in their respective reviews, so it's difficult to start weighing them up against each other and trying to find weaknesses as well as strengths.

The Philips OLED 910 does have something the other two TVs don't: immersive Ambilight, that will match your games. If this is something that appeals – alongside a top-notch OLED panel and brilliant sound engineered in partnership with Bowers & Wilkins – then this might be the best set for you. Just note that only two out of the four HDMI ports offer the full HDMI 2.1 standard that's best for high-end gaming.

When it comes to the LG OLED C5 and the Samsung S95F, it's the latter's anti-reflective coating that adds a point of distinction, meaning it's great in daylight or at night. The Samsung is a little more expensive, though, but this QD-OLED panel looks fantastic, the sound is great, and there are four HDMI 2.1 ports. It might well be our favourite TV of the moment, whether for gaming or anything else.

The LG OLED C5 is just a small step below the Samsung (and the flagship G series from LG) in terms of picture quality, but it's still outstanding to look at – and it's more affordable than the Samsung model, making it our top pick for most people. Gamers will love the four HDMI 2.1 ports, supporting all the latest gaming technologies.

What to look for

Many of the best TVs overall can be great for gaming – whether on a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or S, Nintendo Switch 2, or PC – but if you use the wrong picture preset while gaming, things start to feel off immediately. That's because the image processing that TVs rely on makes a gigantic difference when it comes to input lag (the time between when you push a button on your controller, and when you see the results on-screen).

With that in mind, look for a dedicated Game Mode on your TV: this deactivates a lot of the picture processing used when watching movies or TV, because these features tend to slow down response time. By disabling them, you can gain valuable microseconds, which in turn plays to your advantage in fast-moving games. The difference doesn't sound like much, but it is – it makes games seem sluggish, and is really a problem in things that are fast-moving, or that require precision.

You've probably already worked out the price to pay when engaging a low-latency Game Mode: turning off some picture processing means image quality suffers. Potentially, things can look less sharp, there’s more obvious noise and banding, and contrast can also take a hit. So ideally you want to look for a TV that still delivers great-looking pictures at all times, balancing low latency still with the right amount of processing.

A feature to help make sure that you're not suffering unnecessarily from lag is built into the latest consoles. It's called Auto Low-Latency Mode (ALLM), and the idea is that it's a standardised signal the console can send that TVs can receive, and know they need to switch into a gaming-friendly mode that reduces latency. The crucial part is that it's all platform agnostic – as long as your console and TV both support it, it all happens seamlessly, even if they're from different manufacturers.

The top consoles on the market can also output video in 4K at up to 120 frames per second (4K/120Hz). Higher frame rates mean you see games responding to your inputs twice as fast (because a new frame is created in half the time), and you should get extra clarity in fast-moving games too. Basically, for games that support this (which won't be all, by any means), you'll be able to react more quickly and accurately to action, and motion will look much smoother and more realistic. There's more info in our 120Hz gaming explainer.

Related is another key next-gen feature: Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). This is designed to help keep games looking smooth in balance with visual quality. The idea here is to sync how quickly your console generates a new frame with how often your TV is expecting to show a new frame – if the two aren't in lock, you can end up with what's called 'screen tearing', where you see a half-finished frame, making everything look weird. It's a big deal, and our VRR explainer digs in further.

These three technologies (ALLM, 4K/120, VRR) are all supported by HDMI 2.1, which is the latest incarnation of the venerable connection. HDMI 2.1 uses the same connection type as previous HDMI ports, so everything is backwards compatible – but its big upgrades support all these new technologies, as well as 8K. Our HDMI 2.1 explainer can tell you everything you need to know about the new standard, and it's one of the key features to look out for when choosing the best TVs.

Do you need a TV or a monitor?

When it comes to gaming, there's always a discussion to be had between choosing one of the best TVs or one of the best gaming monitors. There's actually no right or wrong answer: it depends what you're looking for, the devices you're using to do your gaming, how much you've got to spend, and personal preference.

If you're doing your gaming on a console in the living room, for example, then it makes a lot of sense to use a gaming TV. You'll get fantastic gaming performance, plus everything else that a TV offers. Televisions can certainly go to bigger sizes than monitors can, though as the size gets bigger so does the amount of money you'll have to spend.

If you're gaming on a PC in a bedroom, on the other hand, then a monitor might be better. You can generally get better specs – refresh rate, response time, resolution – for less money. And a monitor is going to be far superior in terms of clarity if you want to do other tasks, like edit spreadsheets and send emails.

Over the years, the line between these two choices has blurred, with TVs getting modes especially for gaming, and some monitors adding built-in smart features – meaning you can queue up apps like Netflix and Disney+ without any extra hardware. Nowadays, it's where you're doing your gaming and what you're gaming on that matters most when choosing between a monitor and TV.

How we test the best gaming TVs

We take our tech reviews very seriously here at T3, across all product categories, and every television that comes our way gets put through a lengthy series of tests. We treat each product as if it were our own by living with them, including the best gaming TVs on the market, and then draw our conclusions.

Our expert review team has sat in front of many TVs for many hours in the interests of bringing you the most knowledgeable and personal reviews, and as a result we definitely know what looks good and what doesn't. We've got the first-hand experience to be able to compare and contrast different products on the market, and to evaluate how particular ranges of TVs have evolved over time.

When it comes to gaming televisions, the quality of the picture is of course most important, but there's lots more to look out for – the features that come included, the quality of the built-in audio, and how well each model stacks up against the others when you're doing something that doesn't involve gaming. Price is of course a crucial consideration as well.

As with any T3 review, each TV is awarded an overall score out of five stars, which helps justify where a product sits within our rankings. For more details on our methods and our scoring, check out our How We Test page.

Reviewer panel

A quarter of the year is almost up and we've already been spoiled by a bunch of exciting OLED TVs – or previews of them, at least. From the LG OLED G6 (and design maestro W6 'Wallpaper' set), to the QD-OLED Samsung S95H.

But while that latter model above fixes one of my biggest bugbears about TVs – i.e. the lack of HDMI ports – it was my recent preview of Philips' new set, the OLED 911, that got both my eyes and ears extra excited. And not just because it offers Philips AmbiScape, which I also got to see in action.

No, it's because the Philips OLED 911 represents far more than an incremental upgrade for the OLED series. It amps up the feature set, includes Dolby Vision 2 Max (coming later via an update), ditches its Google operating system, while doubling down on the brand's known best features – from Ambilight to Bowers & Wilkins audio.

I've detailed the 5 key features in this piece, as taken from my preview experience, which make this set stand out as one of the best OLED TVs of 2026 – standing apart from its Samsung and LG competition. However, do keep in mind that it's not available in the USA.

1. Ambilight

This one is obvious, really, but if you've never seen or heard of Ambilight then you might be wondering what on earth it even is.

The idea is simple enough: LEDs around the back edges of the OLED 911 project onto surrounding walls and surfaces, like a real-time extension of what you're seeing on the screen.

At its simplest it's designed to reduce eye-strain and give a stronger presence of what you're seeing on the screen itself. But at its most fun, it's an adaptable system that you can tinker to generate more immersion and impact.

Now, Philips did introduce its next-gen Ambilight Plus on its OLED 959 set – which, frankly, I don't like the effect of as much. The OLED 911, however, is 'classic' Ambilight, across all four sides, and it looks great.

It's also compatible with Matter, using its new AmbiScape feature, if you want to expand even further into the room – with up to four smart bulbs supported in lamps and light fittings that can interact too!

2. Audio

Audio has long been a big part of the Philips OLED TV line-up, thanks to a Bowers & Wilkins partnership that elevates the out-the-box sonics by a significant margin.

The OLED 911 is the key set to embody this new feature, with a "lozenge"-shaped sound system integrated as part of Bowers & Wilkins' collaborative work.

No, it's not a soundbar, much as it may look like one. But it's equipped to a similar spec, here with a left/centre/right and integrated rear woofer to deliver a 3.1 channel output from its 10 drivers and four bass radiators total.

I've experienced this setup in a listening room (complete with additional subwoofer via optical out) and it's very impressive indeed. Able to decode Dolby Atmos for three-dimensional height and soundstage width, you just don't get audio like this from most TVs.

Not everyone is going to want this feature, granted. But Philips also makes an OLED 951, which drops the addition, ups the processing power, and is technically the brand's top-of-the-tree offering.

3. Full HDMI 2.1 suite

While I don't have any shots of the OLED 911's rear panel, I'm reliably informed that it now features four HDMI 2.1 ports. This is the first year I've seen that from Philips TVs – which have offered only two of the four at that standard in the past.

Why's this important? The 2.1 spec HDMI is able to transmit at 4K resolution to 120 frames per second, which is double that of HDMI 2.0 spec. For high frame-rates, such as from some high-end games, that's an essential. It's also a future-proof benefit.

How's this been possible? It's down to a hardware shift. This TV uses MediaTek's Pentonic 800 board and chip, which is one of the only off-the-shelf solutions to enable four HDMI 2.1 connections running in tandem.

4. Dolby Vision 2 Max

There's a segue here: that MediaTek solution is also the only current hardware that's signed off by Dolby for Dolby Vision 2 high dynamic range (HDR) certification.

I've no doubt that'll change in the future, with more to come, but that's the here and now situation. Which is why, presumably, Philips has opted to upgrade to deliver the latest HDR support.

While it'll follow via a software update later in the year, the OLED 911 will deliver Dolby Vision 2 Max visuals – being the first OLED set to do so. That's a big deal, although it's going to take a while for all content to also be encoded and on board in this latest format.

I've gone into detail about my Dolby Vision 2 Max experience, and how it'll fundamentally change the expectations of picture quality – without people really knowing it. From ambient adjustment, to fluctuation in judder control, and greater nuance to colour and brightness, it's the pinnacle of picture control.

Not to mention, of course, that the OLED 911 utilises the same second-gen version Tandem OLED created by LG. It's the best of its type that you can buy, with nothing brighter available. That, naturally, translates into the picture quality here – even when not watching Dolby Vision 2 content.

5. Google TV is no more, long live Titan OS

For quite some time the top-end models in Philips' range have used Google TV as their operating systems. Which has been fine – but more a case of promise than delivery.

That's now come to an end, with Philips instead opting for Titan OS – the same system as used in the lower-end models of its range. But that's not to say it's a lesser system.

While I've previously experienced Google TV 'clashes' with Philips' own on-board software, handing everything over to Titan gives greater control for that software engineering company to take the reins.

For the UK market in particular that means Freely integration for aerial/dish-free TV. It means catch-up apps for local markets, which may have otherwise lacked. It means constant updates and new feature drops, with a new app also due in the third quarter of this year.

So there's plenty to look forward to: new software, new Dolby Vision 2 Max enhanced visuals, new connectivity capabilities, new sound quality, and the steadfast delivery of Ambilight and key design aspects that, for me, make this Philips set a strong contender for OLED TV of the year already.

If you're a Virgin TV customer, there's a nifty upgrade coming your way. But you'll need to hurry, as it's only going to be available for a limited time.

That gives users access to the Virgin TV Ultra HD channel – found on channel numbers 228 and 999 – which allows ultra high definition picture quality. The offer is live from tomorrow (Saturday 28 March) and runs through to Sunday 12 April, bringing two weeks of crisp, sharp entertainment direct to your TV.

That's going to be music to the ears of parents, who can employ a free upgrade to keep the whole family entertained across the Easter half term. The channels are set to offer a wide variety of entertainment, meaning there should be something for everyone here.

That includes Playmobil: The Movie, which features Harry Potter leading man, Daniel Radcliffe, in what's described as a "live action/animated music adventure comedy film".

If that sounds a little too juvenile for you, try The Invisible Man, which stars Emmy Award winner, Elisabeth Moss in a twisting, turning sci-fi horror flick.

Don't fancy cowering behind the sofa? Rolling Stones: Olé Olé Olé - A Trip Across Latin America is a musical film following the legendary rock band as they travel across South America, Mexico and Cuba. The latter becomes especially pertinent, as the film documents the difficulties of being the first rock and roll band in decades to perform for free in Cuba.

If none of those tickle your fancy, there's even more to get your teeth into.

Speaking about the launch, the brand's Chief TV and Entertainment Officer, David Bouchier, said, "With the availability of our exclusive UHD channel to all our TV customers at no extra cost over the Easter fortnight, we are hoping to brighten their springtime. The long weekend and school holidays offer an opportunity for many of us to spend some extra quality time together, and we know that our customers will find something fun and informative to enjoy with our latest TV boost.”

As we come into TV season 2026 – and with the World Cup on the horizon further piquing people's interests – there's an abundance of new televisual technology on the market to consider.

It's rare to see different panel technologies side by side, but that's exactly what I got to experience at a Hisense product event, where the brand's latest UR9 RGB Mini-LED model was on display.

It wasn't standing alone, though, per my picture above, with neighbouring QD-OLED and OLED models on its shoulders, to give a direct comparison of what the competition offers from differing technologies.

While Hisense didn't reveal those specific TVs' details, a little investigation showed the QD-OLED to be Samsung's S90F (lacking the same anti-reflection panel as the step-up S95F) and the LG OLED C5 (a step down from the brand's OLED G5).

So in the battle to be the best TV of the year, can Hisense's Mini-LED beat the best OLED models right now? I was surprised by the results, but it's a split pack for a number of reasons – as I detail below.

Brightness

Let's start with the most obvious winning point of Hisense's UR9 model: its brightness. It can push to a claimed 4000 nits peak, which is far more than any OLED panel type to date (the Philips OLED 911 may claim otherwise) – and that was clearly visible in the side-by-side test.

By comparison, the Samsung S90F hits about 1500 nits in real-world testing, while the LG OLED C5 is around the 1200 mark, again in real-world tests. I've not got such measures for Hisense's set, so while I wouldn't expect it to be as high as theoretically claimed, it's still clearly got the brightness output upper hand.

However, brightness isn't everything. I viewed these three panels in their Vivid Mode or equivalent, which isn't how everyone watches all content types. Indeed, with high dynamic range (HDR) masters often capped at 1000 nits anyway, where subtleties to black levels are of key importance, it's here where I think OLED actually continues to shine.

Also to be considered is that a Mini-LED panel, by its very nature, has 'zones' of backlighting, so while the small scale of these (as named) miniature LEDs is more refined than the LED-backlit TVs of old, it's still not as precise as OLED – where each 'pixel' has its own self-emitting light source, mitigating any light 'bleed' or 'halo' effects.

Note, also, that this side-by-side test wasn't conducted viewing 'real' content; I wasn't looking at TV shows, live sport or movies here, so to gather a true impression of the benefits is skewed somewhat.

Clearly, the Hisense is the brighter model viewed front-on, which will have benefits in certain scenarios and make for punchy gaming and animation viewing, I'm sure.

Colour

Hisense's UR9 is also among its first RGB Mini-LED model types, with that acronym preface – identifying the individual 'red, green, blue' illumination – a major point of distinction.

By having this trio of backlight colours, the technology offers the scope to enhance saturation regionally, meaning a greater colour range (or gamut) is feasible. It's out-and-out visible in the Hisense UR9, which in Vivid Mode undoubtedly was the most vivid of the trio.

I'd like to see this with real-world content, however, as the likes of skin-tone nuance don't always benefit from greater colour saturation, for example. For me, the most natural visuals came from the LG classic OLED panel.

There's no doubt that the Hisense can do more, though; it'll be down to how this is applied through processing, applying the technology to best effect. For sport, it might give that extra pop, as one example, and many people do prefer more saturated visuals by default.

Interestingly, the QD-OLED competitor could look a little washed out in some broader areas of colour, especially across blues. This may be further exaggerated by the anti-reflection layer – but the Hisense UR9 also features a similar technology, without the same effect.

Viewing Angles

There is one area where the RGB Mini-LED can't keep pace with the other models, however, and that's viewing angle. As this is a VA panel – that's 'vertical alignment' – it doesn't fare so well when seen from off-centre.

This is pronounced in my pictures, too, where the brightness factor is somewhat mitigated, but the colour skew and saturation fall-off become much more extreme. Yellows become more orange-brown, for example, lacking their viewed-front-on pop.

The QD-OLED and OLED panels are better at maintaining their colour palettes and natural visuals, which is certainly a consideration if you know multiple sofa positions in a room will vary in how viewers will sit facing a panel.

Initial Impressions

With Hisense among the first out of the gate with RGB Mini-LED – TCL is in tandem with it, though, while LG is scrabbling for its position, and Sony is about to follow – it certainly delivers eye-catching results in its UR9 model.

The panel is undeniably bright, undeniably saturated, and undeniably eye-catching. How much it'll cost, however, is guesswork at this current moment – but the thinking is a top-tier OLED equivalent level.

Eye-catching is great for certain content, of course, but when it comes to nuance, viewing angles and natural visuals, I still think the classic OLED is going to suit a lot of people down to the ground – especially movie-lovers.

As a first step for viewing a new technology in a side-by-side comparison, however, the strength of RGB Mini-LED makes an even stronger case for itself when it comes to out-and-out brightness and colour potential.

Who said Sony was done with TVs yet? That was word on the street, when the Japanese brand signed a "Memorandum of Understanding for Strategic Partnership" with TCL, with the Chinese brand taking on future production.

But that's not to say Sony isn't still in the driving seat when it comes to announcing new tellies, which is precisely what's just quietly happened. The lower-spec Sony Bravia 3 II is here to replace the original, while the step down Bravia 2 II is confirmed for Europe.

Now, the original Sony Bravia 3 hardly set the world alight with praiseful reviews, so it makes sense for Sony to reveal a straight-out replacement model. It'll also come in a heap of size options: at 43-, 50-, 55-, 65-, 75-, 85- or 100-inches.

So just what's fresh about the second-gen Bravia 3? This MkII model enhances the processing available – with the XR Processor heart and XR Clear Image for upscaling now on board.

The panel itself is also a native 120Hz, which is double that of the original, with support for VRR, ALLM, and 4K/120 via HDMI 2.1 (which is across all four ports – a rarity at this level). That'll be big news for gamers who don't want to spend a fortune.

Not that the Sony Bravia 3 II is the brightest of the brand's panels by any means. This is a Direct LED TV, rather than the fancier Mini-LED models further up Sony's current range.

However, while the Bravia 3 II is confirmed for European markets, and likely in the USA too, it's not a dead cert for the UK. That's down to catch-up app certification, with the brand taking the stance that not being able to deliver the full suite would mean no worth in putting it on the shelves.

In addition to the Bravia 3 II, there's also the confirmation of the step-down Bravia 2 II coming to those European markets too, but unlikely the UK. This set, which is already available in the States, is a new entry proposition.

What will come of the overarching new Sony and TCL deal we'll see in coming months and years. But the Bravia name certainly isn't going anywhere, that much is clear.

Apple might be planning a new version of its Apple TV 4K streaming box, which we're expecting soon, but it continues to breathe new life into the current model, too – even though it's been with us for four years.

That's great for existing owners of what is, arguably, still the best streaming device you can buy. The latest update has arrived and as well as some background tweaks and fixes, it finally adds a trio of new features we've been highlighting for a while.

Arriving as part of the tvOS 26.4 consumer release, your Apple TV 4K box now has access to Genius Browse.

This is a new feature for the Apple TV app which helps you discover new shows and movies to watch across multiple streaming services. It adds a new rail that you'll find on the app's homescreen with a selection of different categories, such as "binge-worthy shows" and "a rush of adrenaline".

Inside the category placeholders, you are greated by recommendations taken from across your linked services, such as Apple TV itself, Disney+ and Prime Video. Sadly, Netflix is still not fully integrated with Apple's system as yet.

The new "continuous audio connection" option is now enabled in the TV 4K's settings. This has mainly been added to offer a fix for users operating Sonos speakers with AV receivers and amplifiers, but it's switched on by default.

I've found that, in the Sonos app, it lists all audio outputs as "Dolby Atmos" for me, but according to Apple that's normal. The audio is still delivered as intended – including Dolby Digital 5.1.

And finally, we have new customisation options for subtitles. You can change the subtitles to different styles – classic, large, text, outline text and transparent background.

Even though these have been introduced to improve accessibility, my family often watch content with the subtitles switched on anyway, to help with quieter scenes or even when learning a new language, so it's a more universal feature these days.

Apple's tvOS 26.4 is available to download and install now. Head to the system settings on your box to check to see if it's ready for you, unless it's been automatically installed already.

TP Vision unveiled its new, flagship Philips OLED TVs last week, and demonstrated a couple of tech innovations to take televisions to the next level – AmbiScape and Dolby Vision 2 Max. However, one other major change coming to its sets this year largely flew under the radar.

The manufacturer confirmed that it has decided to ditch Google TV entirely, in favour of the lesser known smart TV platform Titan OS. And that will be for all 2026 models and beyond.

That might come as a shock to some – after all, Google TV is well known and well respected – but I as a Philips OLED 809 owner with Google TV, I can see why.

I was also one of the first UK journalists to see Titan OS in operation, having visited the developer in Spain two years ago. The platform was destined for Philips' more affordable and entry-level TVs at the time, but the potential was clear.

Like the latest iteration of TiVo, which powers many rival sets and the Manhattan Aero 4K TV Streamer with Freely, Titan OS is an internet-connected platform that stores apps in the cloud rather than on your TV itself. That means you never have to download or update an app manually – it's done for you.

The apps and content are all streamed over broadband, yet feel the same as if you are interacting with them locally. This improves speed of use, as it doesn't depend on your TV's processing power, and you won't be locked out of apps that are too advanced for the set's hardware.

For example, some older Samsung Smart TVs have already lost Netflix as their internal CPU is not powerful enough to run the latest updates. That won't be the case with Titan OS. As long as your TV is connected to the internet and can stream video, it will always be able to access the latest versions of apps and services.

This is also similar to the Amazon Fire TV 4K Select.

There are some downsides in comparison with Google TV – there are some apps currently missing, such as Apple TV and Spotify, and you don't get Google Cast support. But there are some other benefits too...

Why I'm not sad Philips is ditching Google TV

Not only do I own a Philips OLED 809 with Google TV, I have an earlier Philips OLED 806 which runs Android TV. And it must be said, while a little more clunky there are a few things the older OS does better. It has BBC iPlayer, for starters.

Philips TVs with Google TV have never been able to access iPlayer, even though it's available on the Google TV Streamer and other devices that run the platform. That's not really a Philips issue, more the BBC's, but it's really annoying.

Considering iPlayer is the UK's biggest free on demand and catch-up service, it's insane that it's still not available on a flagship TV.

I have also had issues with some of the other streaming services that are present – audio inconsistencies, stuttering, frame rate issues, and general lag. It has lead to me using other devices rather than the built-in Google TV services, including an Apple TV 4K box and Sky Stream. So it makes sense to me that Philips wants to switch.

Titan OS is not perfect, but these are still early days for its development, so it'll get better the more people use it. Google, on the other hand, has had plenty of years to perfect its service and yet it still struggles at times.

I look forward to seeing the Philips OLED 911 in operation myself, therefore, to see the difference.

Although Apple announced and launched a wide variety of devices this month, there were some absences – products we expected but failed to appear.

Among them were a new Apple TV 4K and a long-awaited refresh to the HomePod mini. Both have been rumoured for months, but as we revealed a couple of weeks ago, there have been waiting on one thing – Siri.

A new, AI-enhanced Siri has been touted for a couple of years, but it's only since Apple announced a deal with Google that it's gotten close to becoming reality.

Part-powered by Gemini, it has the potential to be a huge step-up for the voice assistant and much more useful for day-to-day tasks. However, it also continues to be the reason why new Siri-enabled devices have experienced delays.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman once again highlighted the issue in the latest issue of his Apple-centric PowerOn newsletter: "Apple has had fresh versions of at least the Apple TV and HomePod mini ready since last year, but it’s held off on releasing them because the company is waiting for the new Siri and other artificial intelligence upgrades," he wrote.

However, it seems that while this is likely to be the case, current Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini stock is said to be dwindling. And with Apple not restocking, it could be a sign that both will be replaced sooner than later.

"If the new hardware is indeed coming soon, it probably means Apple just got tired of waiting," suggested Gurman.

As for the new Siri, we might still have to wait until iOS 27 is released alongside the iPhone refresh in the autumn. It is believed that we'll be getting iPhone 18 Pro models in September, with iPhone Fold following a month or two later, and the standard iPhone 18 not arriving until next spring (alongside an iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2).

Considering the seismic shift in Apple's iPhone schedule, a Gemini-powered iOS 27 could prove the perfect distraction.

Earlier this week, I was in attendance at TP Vision's "Unboxed" event in Berlin – that's the brand behind Philips TVs in the UK and across Europe (the models aren't available in the USA) – to check out what 2026 will bring.

But it wasn't only the news of Philips' incoming OLED 911 with Bowers & Wilkins sound system that impressed, but also a demonstration of Dolby Vision 2 Max – and how, later this year, the new high dynamic range (HDR) format will quietly improve new TVs for us all.

That's the thing about Dolby Vision 2: creators will need to encode their movies and TV shows to conform to the new format and gain from its benefits. But I already feel like I've seen the future, as the new Dolby Vision version addresses some key issues that I know frustrate many people today.

Hold up! What is Dolby Vision anyway?

First, though, a quick overview of what the original Dolby Vision intended to deliver. This HDR format was designed to deliver content 'as the creator intended', on compatible products (from TVs to tablets to phones), with real-time dynamic metadata that runs alongside to optimise the output, scene by scene.

Dolby Vision 2 brings four key components, tuned to a given product's capabilities: upgraded precision blacks; even more controlled tone mapping; further optimisation for sports; and an easy-to-use 'intensity control' so users can choose their favoured level of adjustment.

The step up Dolby Vision 2 Max variety includes all of the above, with an additional three elements: new authentic motion; next-gen ambient light sensing for automated picture adjustment; and a pro reference mode for high-end users to tune output for a given panel.

1. Better Motion

Just as I'd said of Samsung's equivalent technology, HDR10+ Advanced, of all those new features it's the natural motion one that I think delivers the most. It'll be almost 'unseen', I suspect, as so many things doing their job are, which is why it's a quiet but critical update.

The demonstration I witnessed, showed how Dolby Vision 2 Max encoded output would follow metadata on a scene-by-scene basis – behind the scenes it's jumping between a stepped adjustment of 0-5 – and cleverly avoids 'the soap opera effect' of hyper-smoothing, but also the inherent judder that's typical of extra-bright panels.

That's the thing about the best TVs: they keep getting brighter and brighter, which exacerbates the appearance of judder even more. And with Mini-LED being increasingly backed, that enhanced technology is only going to pull the rug out from under its own feet – which is why Dolby Vision 2 Max and HDR10+ Advanced are so critical.

Now, this isn't some kind of magic that will suddenly rain down on all content, of course. Original Dolby Vision encoded content won't have the fuller metadata to deliver Dolby Vision 2 Max's authentic motion, for example. Creators will have to revisit their work to update the metadata to be compliant with the new HDR offering.

That could mean it'll be a little slow for some TV shows and movies to uptake and offer the best at-home viewing, as creators play catch-up to deliver upon what will be available in the market. But this isn't an overnight solution anyway: we're looking at later in 2026 for initial product offerings, and you'll need to buy a Dolby Vision 2 Max certified product to gain the best visuals anyway.

Right now, it appears that certification is only likely to be achieved from higher-end chipsets, which means higher-end products. For TVs that means MediaTek's Pentonic 800 only at the time of writing (doubtless with more to follow), which isn't going to be found at the lower end of product ranges for now.

Availability will surely trickle down over time, but this does go some way in explaining Dolby's multi-tiered approach. Dolby Vision 2 is the catch-all, for TVs across a wider range of budgets, while Dolby Vision 2 Max is for higher-end sets.

2. Better Auto-Adjustments

This demonstration was also the first time I've seen the new so-called 'Light Sensing 2' technology in full effect. This is the next step beyond Dolby Vision IQ, relevant to products with built-in light sensors that can adjust the picture's output in real-time, relevant to the light that's entering a room.

This will fix one of the biggest bugbears that many have with original Dolby Vision and, indeed, any HDR format: that content can look too dark. That's not the content's 'fault', per se, it's your viewing scenario. Watch in a cinema room with little to no ambient light and things would look ideal, but few of us have that option.

The human eye is very sensitive, so what I'm pleased to see Dolby Vision Max 2 be so on the money in how delicately adjustments are made in real-time – there's no 'jumping' between light levels, nothing looks forced in the image, so you won't even notice that anything's happening. You'll just get to experience a better image at all times – none of that squinting to see the dark bits any more.

3. Better Colour

The final aspect of Dolby Vision 2 (including the Max variant) is the nuance in how this latest HDR format can squeeze that bit extra out of a picture. It'll make the most of higher-brightness sets with broader colour gamuts, which is increasingly the norm as technologies improve.

I was able to see this with my own eyes: the third Paddington movie looked resplendent in side-by-side demonstrations (of Dolby Vision original versus Dolby Vision 2), with a richer palette that avoided hyper-saturating output, yet delivered a more vivid image that remained on the correct side of 'natural'.

That, paired with greater dynamics in the peak whites and deep blacks, and coupled with real-time ambient light sensing adjustment, creates a more balanced picture. In isolation, I doubt you'd even notice – but that's the magic of Dolby Vision 2, in that it'll quietly do its job in the background, stepping HDR content to the next level without you having to do anything more than enjoy it.

Which TVs have Dolby Vision 2?

At the time of writing, there are no Dolby Vision 2 or Dolby Vision 2 Max TVs on the market – but they're imminent.

Hisense was first to announce, with the 2026 UR9 model and other sets compliant with the new HDR format. TCL is also backing the tech, so expect imminent announcements on what to expect there.

Philips is ahead of the curve in revealing the first OLED panels to offer the format in its 2026 range, but others are expected to follow that approach, too.

By the end of 2026 we'll therefore have older Dolby Vision sets, plus Dolby Vision 2 ones. Dolby Vision 2 Max will only be at the higher-end of the market, where its additional skills bring benefit to more advanced panels (with built-in light sensors).

There’s little more frustrating than finishing a great TV series and then trying to find your next binge watch. It’s a first-world problem, of course, but there is a lot to be said for having a show that you can relax to every evening when you finish work.

The problem is, there is so much choice out there across the various streaming services that finding one you can get really stuck into can be tricky.

Most streaming platforms offer an algorithm that pulls together recommendations based on what you have previously watched and might like to see more of, but it looks like Apple TV could take content discovery one step further.

What is Genius Browse and what does it do?

According to 9to5Mac, there's a new search feature called "Genius Browse" in the Apple TV app on tvOS 26.4 beta. It appears as a row on the Home tab of the app and presents you with several categories to choose from.

Examples shared by 9to5Mac include "Daring Fantasy Adventures", "Clever Capers", "Thrilling", "Sports Stories", "Good for Date Night", "Based on a Book", and "Action-Packed Sci-Fi". Selecting a category then gives you some title recommendations, while tapping on the recommendation will then give you a row of more related titles below.

It's also said that the Genius Browse feature can be personalised for user profiles on Apple TV and restricted to show only certain genres.

But the part that makes this even better is that the Apple TV app doesn’t just present Apple TV content but content from third party services too. These include HBO Max, Prime Video and Disney+, so you should see plenty of content served up within the feature.

Unfortunately, Netflix isn’t one of them still. So, if that’s the streaming service you primarily use, the Genius Browse feature won’t be that useful.

For everyone else though, it might take the pain out of what to watch next.