Choosing the best TV for bright rooms boils down to one essential capability: overcoming light, be it direct or indirect. This becomes particularly crucial in settings where controlling lighting is a challenge, such as rooms with TVs placed next to windows or under skylights. In these scenarios, the glare from direct sunlight or the brightness from ambient indoor lighting demands a great TV that excels in both HDR and SDR performance, coupled with superior reflection handling.
*Prices listed below are for 65-inch models as of the publication date.
Samsung QN95B Neo QLED TV
The Samsung QN95B Neo QLED TV excels in bright rooms with class-leading HDR brightness of 2318 nits and SDR brightness of 1934 nits. Its QLED panel offers vibrant colors, and the 120 Hz refresh rate ensures smooth motion, ideal for sports and action content. While it has a complex interface and default oversaturation, its brightness and performance make it a top choice for bright environments.
Samsung QN900B Neo QLED TV
The Samsung QN900B Neo QLED TV boasts an impressive contrast ratio of 191400:1, delivering deep blacks and vibrant colors. With HDR brightness of 2058 nits and advanced 8K resolution, it offers rich visuals and unparalleled detail. Though it has slightly lower brightness compared to the QN95B, its superior contrast, slight edge in input lag (9.5 ms), and response time (7.2 ms) make it ideal for gaming and fast-paced content. Despite its premium price, it’s a versatile choice for bright rooms and home theater enthusiasts.
Samsung QN90C Neo QLED TV
The Samsung QN90C is perfect for bright rooms and home theaters, with a best-in-class EOTF of 0.0046 and excellent reflections handling. Its 120 Hz refresh rate enhances motion clarity, though it lacks Dolby Vision, supporting only HDR10+. It has lower SDR and HDR brightness compared to the QN95B but excels in EOTF, making it more suitable for accurate home theater content. Its high brightness and reflection handling also make it a viable option for indoor/outdoor spaces with proper weatherproofing.
Samsung Terrace Full Sun Outdoor TV
The Terrace outdoor TV is weatherproof, ideal for outdoor settings with vibrant QLED colors. It has the lowest contrast and brightness among the reviewed TVs, with SDR at 962 nits and HDR at 1494 nits. Despite having the best input lag of 6.4ms, its high response time and lack of Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) make it less suitable for serious gaming. It excels in covered outdoor areas, offering durability at a premium price, perfect for outdoor entertainment.
TCL QM8/QM850G QLED TV
The TCL QM8 is an excellent budget TV for bright rooms, available in sizes from 65″ to 98″. With SDR brightness of 2076 nits, HDR brightness of 2005 nits, and low reflectivity of 1.8%, it excels in well-lit environments. It supports Dolby Vision, HDMI 2.1, VRR, and FreeSync Premium Pro, making it ideal for high-definition content and gaming. While it has decent response time and handles sports well, its limited viewing angles make it best for direct viewing.
Hisense U8K
The Hisense U8K offers exceptional value with a top True Score per dollar ratio and the widest color gamut (97.44% DCI P3 xy) on the list. It features a 144 Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision HDR, and Google TV integration. While the TCL QM8 has higher brightness levels, the U8K excels in color depth, contrast, and reflection handling (1.8% light reflected), making it ideal for bright rooms and general home theater use.
