Stiftung Warentest presents the best televisions in four different size classes. A manufacturer occupies almost every podium alone, but the price-performance winners usually come from a competitor.
If you want to buy a new television, you are spoiled for choice between many different devices. It is often difficult for laypeople to find out which of these is the best or which best suits their own needs. In order to make the decision easier, Stiftung Warentest lists its current front runners and their advantages in four different size classes in the current issue of the magazine “test”. As for the overall winners, it’s a pretty one-sided affair, as every number 1 comes from LG – and most often the second and third place finishes too. There is a little more variety in the price-performance winners and the most economical devices.
When it comes to small televisions with screen diagonals of 42 or 43 inches, the selection isn’t all that great. Warentest only scraped together seven good devices in this category. First place goes to the LG OLED42C27LA with an overall rating of 1.8. The television not only offers an excellent picture, but also delivers good sound. In addition, it is very versatile and easy to use. However, the device is very expensive with an average online price of 1240 euros.
The runner-up Sony XR-42A90K (2.0) is not an alternative either, because you even have to shell out 1550 euros for it. The following Panasonic TX-43LXW944 (2.2) is also not really cheap at a price of 950 euros. The devices are expensive mainly because of their OLED screens, which produce perfect black and particularly strong contrasts.
While LCD TVs can’t quite keep up, they aren’t that much dimmer either and can usually shine brighter. They also include the price-performance winner for the little ones, the LG 43UP77009LB. It only costs 425 euros, but with a quality rating of 2.4 it is in fourth place on the list of the best. Picture, sound and versatility are good, but the device consumes a bit much power, which led to the downgrade.
The most economical small TV is the Sony KD-43X80J for 630 euros, which also received an overall rating of 2.4. It also delivers a good picture and is versatile, however its audio is only satisfactory.
The selection of good televisions in the 50-inch class is far greater. In front of two other LG devices, the 1340 euro expensive LG OLED48C27LA secured the test victory with the quality rating of 1.7. The testers rated the picture and versatility as very good, sound and handling as good. As with almost all competitors, its power consumption is only satisfactory.
The only 50-incher that received a plus for its economy is the Samsung GQ50QN94AAT, which is one of two third-place finishers with an overall score of 1.9. However, it is also particularly expensive at an average of 1550 euros.
The price-performance winner in this size class is the Panasonic TX-49JXW944, which is available for around 770 euros and achieved the quality rating of 2.2. Although its LCD does not have the same viewing angle stability as the displays of the OLED competitors, its image was still rated as good. Its versatility is very good, its tone only satisfactory.
LG is also at the forefront when it comes to large televisions with a 55-inch diagonal. The particularly economical LG OLED55C27LA (1530 euros) and the LG OLED55G19LA (1400 euros) share first place with an overall rating of 1.6. The cheaper of the two devices delivers the best picture together with the Samsung GQ55S95BAT (1720 euros), which in turn shares third place with the LG OLED55C17LB (1300 euros) with a quality rating of 1.7.
As expected, an LCD television was once again the winner in terms of value for money. The Panasonic TX-55JXW944, which is cheap for 855 euros, achieved the quality rating of 2.1. In addition to a good picture, good handling and good sound, it owes this above all to its lavish equipment.
The 65-inch giants are similarly tight. The LG OLED65G19LA (2100 euros) won the test with the best picture and the best sound. However, it has to share first place and the overall rating of 1.6 with the LG OLED65C27LA (2000 euros), whose display is only slightly weaker.
The Samsung GQ65S95BAT (2300 euros) offers an image that is just as good as the LG OLED65G19LA with even better viewing angles. With a quality rating of 1.7, it was also otherwise on par with the test winners. This also applies to the Samsung GQ65QN95AAT (2450 euros), which achieved the same overall rating. Although its LCD is only good, it scores with the lowest power consumption in the premier class.
The Panasonic TX-65JXW944 is priced at 1100 euros. With a quality rating of 2.0, it did really well at Stiftung Warentest, which is why the examiners voted it a price tip. They rated the picture, sound and handling as good, and the versatility as very good.
