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The best Google TV depends on what matters most in your room: the Hisense U8QG is the strongest all-around pick, the Hisense U75QG is the budget-minded option, and the TCL QM9K is the one to consider for a bright room. Those are Tom’s Guide’s recommendations in its roundup updated September 25, 2026—not a guarantee that one model suits every buyer or is available at the same price in every market.
Which Google TV should you buy?
Google TV is the software platform, not a single television model. Manufacturers including Hisense, Sony, TCL, and Philips make TVs that use it, so picture quality, ports, sound, and gaming features vary by set. Google’s featured TV brands include Hisense, Sony, TCL, and Philips. Choose by the hardware and your room rather than by the platform name alone.
| TV | Best suited to | Sizes listed by Tom’s Guide | Refresh rate | HDMI 2.1 ports |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hisense U8QG | Best all-around feature set | 55, 65, 75, 85, and 100 inches | 165Hz | 3 |
| Hisense U75QG | Budget-conscious buyers and gaming | 55 to 116 inches | 165Hz | 4 |
| TCL QM9K | Bright rooms | 65, 75, 85, and 98 inches | 144Hz | 2; also 2 HDMI 2.0 ports |
These sizes and specifications are from Tom’s Guide’s 2026 roundup. Confirm the exact size, regional model suffix, ports, features, and current price on the listing for your market before buying.
Best all-around: Hisense U8QG
The U8QG is the pick if you want a high-feature 4K Google TV and do not have one overriding need such as the lowest price or maximum brightness. Tom’s Guide lists 55-, 65-, 75-, 85-, and 100-inch versions, a 165Hz refresh rate, and three HDMI 2.1 ports. Its listed HDR support includes Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10, HDR10+, HDR10+ Adaptive, and HLG.
#1 Best Overall
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
Tom’s Guide praises its brightness, color, and unusually capable built-in sound. Its review also notes blooming, weak glare mitigation, and the limitation of having only three HDMI ports. That combination makes the U8QG a versatile choice, but not an automatic fit for a glare-heavy room or a setup that needs more than three HDMI 2.1 connections.
Best budget pick: Hisense U75QG
The U75QG is aimed at shoppers seeking strong performance without moving to the higher-tier pick. Tom’s Guide lists 4K, Google TV, a 165Hz refresh rate, sizes from 55 to 116 inches, and four HDMI 2.1 ports. The roundup reports a measured input lag of 9.8ms, making it a notable option for gaming; that figure is Tom’s Guide’s test result, not a guarantee for every configuration or setup.
Rank #2
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
The review highlights brightness, contrast, and gaming performance, while identifying middling built-in audio, a reflective screen, and poor off-axis viewing as compromises. Tom’s Guide described the model as below $1,000 depending on size, but prices and availability change; check a current local listing rather than treating that as a standing price.
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If your TV is in a room with substantial ambient light, the QM9K is the bright-room candidate in Tom’s Guide’s roundup. It lists 65-, 75-, 85-, and 98-inch sizes, 4K resolution, Google TV, a 144Hz refresh rate, two HDMI 2.1 ports, and two HDMI 2.0 ports. Tom’s Guide reports 6,000 local dimming zones and says its testing found the QM9K almost twice as bright as the two Hisense models in this guide. Those are the publication’s reported specifications and comparative test findings, not independent measurements or a universal brightness ranking.
Rank #3
- 4K Ultra HD Resolution: Enjoy your TV in stunning resolution Ultra HD ers four times the resolution of Full HD for greater clarity and detail
- Android TV: With the Android TV operating system you will have access to the best content, download the infinity of applications available through the Google Play Store!
- Voice remote control: Just press the Google Assistant button and ask it to find, play and control content
- Chromecast Built-in: Easily cast movies, shows, and photos from your Android or iOS device to your Android TV
- Easy Setup: Access your Google account and configure the device, language and Wi-Fi network
Tom’s Guide praises the set’s peak brightness and contrast, but flags black-level crushing and some motion blur. Its price information is not consistent across the cited material: the roundup describes its recommended set as less than $1,500, while Google’s product catalog lists it from $1,799.99. Because price depends on timing and listing context, verify the live price for your size and region.
How to choose between them
Start with the room
For daytime viewing, consider both brightness and how much the screen reflects light. The QM9K is the roundup’s bright-room pick, while the U75QG’s reflective screen and the U8QG’s weaker glare mitigation are important drawbacks if windows or lamps face the TV. Brightness alone does not eliminate reflections.
Rank #4
- HD streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Compact without compromises: The sleek design of Roku Streaming Stick won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
Count the devices you will connect
Check the number and type of ports against your consoles, receiver, and other equipment. The U75QG lists four HDMI 2.1 ports, the U8QG three, and the QM9K two HDMI 2.1 plus two HDMI 2.0 ports. A higher refresh rate or a port label does not by itself establish that every feature your device needs will work through every connection; confirm the exact model’s port capabilities.
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Tom’s Guide lists 165Hz for both Hisense models and 144Hz for the TCL. Those rates may matter to some gaming or PC setups, but viewers should also weigh motion handling: the QM9K review notes some motion blur. For a wide seating arrangement, take the U75QG’s poor off-axis viewing into account.
Best Value
- No More App-Switching. Forget learning to navigate a new screen with every app. TiVo Stream 4K enables one centralized place for searching, browsing, and creating watch lists across all your apps..DC Input Range 5V/1.0A. Power Consumption : Maximum 5 W
- Recommendations Across All of Your Apps: Get rid of the walls between what you watch. TiVo recommends your next favorite shows and movies based on what you love, not where they live.
- Say it and watch it. The power of voice control makes it easy to find shows. Integrated Google Assistant allows you to launch apps, dim the lights and more.
- One place for all your favorite streaming apps. TiVo Stream 4K includes Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Peacock plus many more, so you can get to your shows fast.
- TiVo Stream 4K is one of Time Magazine’s “2020 Best Inventions, Special Mention” and PCMag hails it as “an excellent media streamer for TV lovers.” Operating Temperature 0˚C - 40˚C
Decide whether built-in sound is enough
The U8QG receives praise for its built-in audio; the U75QG’s audio is described as middling, and the QM9K review notes quirks. If sound is a priority, compare the TV’s performance with your expectations and consider whether a separate sound system fits your setup.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Google TV is available across more than these three models
These recommendations are not a complete list of Google TVs. Sony’s official television catalog includes Google TV models across LED, Mini LED, OLED, and other hardware categories, with 60Hz and 120Hz tiers and features such as 4K/120, ALLM, and VRR on applicable models. Those features are not shared by every Google TV. Check the specifications for the exact television you are considering.
Tom’s Guide says its reviewers use consistent lab tests with measurable performance data, then watch familiar films, television, and games to evaluate the overall experience. Its recommendations are editorial judgments informed by that testing; Google and Sony’s catalogs establish platform and product availability, not the specific performance findings for the Hisense and TCL sets.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
