Best Android TVs 2021 | Android Central

You’re shopping for the best Android TVs the market currently has to offer. But “best” can be subjective. For example, is 4K enough, or do you want specific perks like HDMI 2.1, Dolby Vision/Atmos, or local dimming zones? Do you want an LCD or an OLED? Are you OK with the old Android TV OS, or do you want an upgrade to Google TV? Most importantly, what’s your budget? We’ve gathered our top picks to appeal to as wide an audience as possible, so you’ll find the choice that’s right for you.

What are the best Android TVs?

Overall, the Hisense H9G Quantum Series is the best Android TV you can buy in 2021. The television has an excellent 4K ULED display, HDR and Dolby Vision support, and a modern design with plenty of HDMI ports. Even better, you get all of this for an outstanding price.

Budget shoppers who see 4K as more than enough should consider the TCL 4-Series for their next Android TV. It’s one of the more affordable picks on this list, but still looks pretty stellar for its low price.

Or, on the flip side, the Sony A80J could easily be considered the “best” Android TV for its impressive specs and color performance, but you’ll have to spend a lot more to get one.

Bottom line: Hisense knocked it out of the park with the U8G. This TV looks amazing, has ample features, and comes in at a reasonable price.

There are many Android TVs to choose from, but the Hisense U8G Quantum Series shines as the best overall pick among everything out there. It’s not the most technically impressive television you can find, but it has the best mix of everything when looking at its features, specs, and value. It may sound a bit counter-intuitive, but the H8G series actually acts as an upgrade for the Hisense H9G Series that launched in 2020, but we’re here for newer versions despite odd naming monikers.

First thing’s first, the U8G has a sleek and modern design. Between the metal feet for the base and slimmer bezels, it’s a nice overall package that feels more sophisticated and refined. It comes in two sizes (55 and 65 inches), offers four HDMI ports, and supports a glorious 4K picture with HDR and Dolby Vision. If you plan on getting a PS5 or Xbox Series X, the native 120Hz screen means you’ll be able to game at 120fps with supported titles.

One of the best aspects of the H9G is that its brightness automatically adjusts based on the room. When it’s really dark, the screen automatically dims down. When it’s bright and sunny, the brightness is cranked up. In day-to-day use, it makes using the H9G so much more convenient. We also really like the hands-free Google Assistant feature, which allows you to say “Hey Google” at any time and have the U8G respond — even when the screen is off!

Bottom line: Not entirely sold on what the U8G has to offer? Sony’s X80J is another great option. But, again, there are different size options to choose from, it’s more energy-efficient, and the picture is gorgeous.

If you don’t think the Hisense U8G Quantum will be a good fit for you, another solid alternative for the best Android TV is the Sony X80J. This is a slightly less premium television, and while that does mean a lower price, the added value could be worth it for some buyers. Plus, it’s updated with Google TV, which even our top pick doesn’t have just yet.

The Sony X800H is a 4K LED television with HDR and Dolby Vision. It features Sony’s Triluminos Display technology for broader and more vibrant colors, along with the X-Reality PRO engine that helps upscale HD content to 4K. Powering all of this is the Sony X1 processor, which delivers one of the best 4K images you’ll find in this price range.

Sony also focuses on the audio side of things with the X80J, delivering Dolby Atmos and its custom X-balanced speakers that provide rich sound in a compact form. Other highlights include four HDMI ports for all models and relatively low power consumption across the board.

As a budget TV, the Sony X80J won’t have the more powerful specs of a Sony Bravia XR TV (see our later Sony picks). But we’d argue it still holds up as a reliable purchase that won’t break the bank.

Bottom line: There’s a good chance you’ve overlooked the TCL -Series, but truth be told, it has a lot to offer. The TV touts a 4K resolution, HDR support, and three HDMI ports. No matter which size you get, the -Series is incredibly affordable.

If you’re not familiar with TCL and its line of TVs, you may want to start here, especially if you’re budget-conscious and looking for real value. Since bringing its panels over to the U.S., the quality continues to grow, and a quality Android TV that won’t break the bank probably won’t disappoint you once you cast your gaze at it.

The 5-Series comes in four sizes (50, 55, 65, and 75 inches). All four models support 4K playback with HDR10, ensuring you get a crisp image with vibrant colors. We’re also happy to see three HDMI ports with one eARC port, which is good for this price range.

As expected, the TCL 5-Series ships with Google TV, but that’s not the only trick up its sleeve. This is one of the best 4K TVs for the Xbox Series X and the PS5 as it offers support for VRR and an Auto Game Mode to provide the lowest latency possible without sacrificing picture quality.

Bottom line: The Sony X90J gives you a serious upgrade on our favorites if you’re willing to spend twice as much. From HDMI 2.1 ports for next-gen gaming to superb visual quality, this LED TV gives you a quality experience without costing as much as an OLED. Plus, it has the latest Google TV interface.

On the opposite end of the price spectrum, we’re met with the Sony X90J. While not as premium or pricey as other 2021 Sony TVs like the X95J LCD or A90J OLED, this is the best upgrade Android TV that most of our readers can reasonably afford, with specs that’ll justify the price.

Compared to our previous fave, the Sony X950H, the X90J brings back full array dimming, great color performance, and AI upscaling to 4K. But it also adds a new Cognitive Processor XR that improves 4K content automatically with better contrast and depth of field, plus 4K/120Hz mode for next-gen gaming on your PS5 or Series X.

By default, it also adds Google TV with the same apps as Android TV but with easier-to-navigate menus and better recommendations. You get passthrough for your Dolby Atmos soundbar, but the TV itself has two side tweeters that direct sound to match the action. So the X90J is the complete package.

Bottom line: Want next-gen gaming perks like 4K@120Hz, Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) without paying a couple grand? The “G” in Hisense U7G might as well stand for Gamer because this was designed for frugal gamers that want a beautiful, high-performing screen while saving some money.

Last year, you had to spend a couple grand to get a TV with an HDMI 2.1 port. Now, thanks to Hisense, you can snag a 55-inch model for under a grand with two next-gen ports for amazing gaming performance, plus useful Game Mode Pro tools and the usual Android TV perks like built-in Chromecast and Google Assistant.

Like any LED TV, the Hisense U7G is best viewed dead-on rather than from the side. But beyond that shortcoming, it has some great color performance and an incredibly bright panel that produces vivid colors and great contrast thanks to its ULED dimming zones. Your gaming consoles will feel especially cutting-edge viewed on a U7G, and your movies will look and sound great with Dolby Vision and Atmos.

If you want to stretch your budget a bit more, the U8G gives you an extra 500 nits of brightness and almost twice the number of dimming zones. But the U7G will hit the spot for most gamers, especially if you subscribe to Stadia Pro, as the 2021 Hisense TVs have Stadia built-in without needing a Chromecast with Google TV.

Bottom line: OLED still beats every other TV type for deep blacks, contrast, and viewing angles, which is why it costs so much more than the competition. Compared to last year’s excellent Sony A8H, the A80J adds Google TV support, a more powerful upscaling processor, and HDMI 2.1 ports. We recommend either, but the pricier A80J is a more future-proofed purchase.

Just about every Android TV on this list uses an LED display. LED displays are the most common technology for just about any TV. Still, if you have a lot of cash burning a hole in your pocket and want access to the best picture possible, you want an OLED television — specifically, the Sony A80J.

Sony did everything it could to give the A80J a heart-stopping picture, and it certainly succeeded. The OLED panel allows the TV to have incredibly rich and deep blacks, in addition to extremely vibrant colors. Otherwise, it has similar perks to the 2021 X90J listed above: a super-fast processor that automatically upscales and optimizes the video, removes blur for fast-moving content, converts soundtracks to 3D audio. Play next-gen consoles connected to HDMI 2.1 ports or stream movies with Dolby Vision/ Atmos or HDR10.

This slot belonged to the Sony A8H, the 2020 predecessor with similar brightness and color performance at a lower price, plus a recent patch to Google TV. It’s less available than it used to be, but if you don’t need HDMI 2.1 or the new XR processor, you can save a few hundred bucks. Or, if you’re truly loaded, you can upgrade to the gorgeous A90J for an extra grand or so.

Bottom line: There’s a good chance you’ve overlooked the TCL 4-Series, but truth be told, it has a lot to offer. The TV touts a 4K resolution, HDR support, and three HDMI ports. No matter which size you get, the 4-Series is incredibly affordable.

If you’re not familiar with TCL and its line of TVs, you may want to start here, especially if you’re budget-conscious and looking for real value. Since bringing its panels over to the U.S., the quality continues to grow, and a quality Android TV that won’t break the bank probably won’t disappoint you once you cast your gaze at it.

The 4-Series comes in four sizes (43, 50, 55, and 75 inches). All four models support 4K playback with HDR10, ensuring you get a crisp image with vibrant colors. We’re also happy to see three HDMI ports with one eARC port, which is good for this price range.

Not having Dolby Vision or Dolby Atmos is a downer, but given just how cheap the TCL series is, that’s to be expected. A bigger downer is that this 2021 TV was upgraded to Android 11 but may not get Google…