Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
The best Google TV depends on your room and how you watch. Tom’s Guide’s September 25, 2026 roundup names the Hisense U8QG its best overall, the Hisense U75QG its best budget option, and the TCL QM9K its pick for bright rooms. Those are recommendations from one publication’s testing—not a universal ranking—and each set has a different trade-off.
Google TV is software, not a television brand: companies including Hisense, Sony, and TCL make TVs that use it. Choose based on the screen, connections, and performance you need, then confirm the exact model and price in your market.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Which Google TV should you buy?
| TV | Best for | Sizes listed by Tom’s Guide | Refresh rate | HDMI 2.1 ports |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hisense U8QG | All-around features and built-in sound | 55, 65, 75, 85, and 100 inches | 165Hz | 3 |
| Hisense U75QG | Budget-conscious gaming | 55 to 116 inches | 165Hz | 4 |
| TCL QM9K | Bright rooms | 65, 75, 85, and 98 inches | 144Hz | 2; also has 2 HDMI 2.0 ports |
Specifications and size ranges in the table come from Tom’s Guide’s 2026 roundup. Refresh rate and port counts are not enough to predict the whole viewing experience; room lighting, seating position, connected devices, and sound also matter.
Best overall: Hisense U8QG
Hisense U8QG is the most balanced choice of these three if you want a feature-rich 4K Google TV and value capable built-in audio. Tom’s Guide lists sizes from 55 to 100 inches, a 165Hz refresh rate, and three HDMI 2.1 ports. Its review praises brightness, color, and the TV’s unusually capable sound.
#1 Best Overall
- HI - QLED COLOR: Vivid and authentic color brings every shade, scene, and skin tone to life exactly as it was meant to be seen. Hi-QLED technology delivers a picture so true-to-life, you'll feel like you're watching through a window, not a screen
- DOLBY VISION: Discover the Dolby difference — a premium entertainment experience that helps you feel a deeper connection to the movies, shows, music, sports, and games you love. See what you’ve been missing with an immersive experience like no other
- AI PICTURE WITH AI 4K UPSCALER: Upscale all your content to stunning 4K quality — from old favorites to new releases, advanced processing transforms everything you watch into crystal-clear 4K detail
- DTS VIRTUAL:X: Dial up the impact of your entertainment with the enhanced sound of DTS Virtual:X. It delivers crystal clarity, easy-to-hear dialogue, great detail and realistic surround sound to make what you’re watching even better
- HDR10 & HLG: With HDR10 and HLG, everything you watch looks more dynamic and detailed, with brighter highlights, deeper shadows, and clearer contrast across every scene
What to know before choosing it
- Tom’s Guide lists Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10, HDR10+, HDR10+ Adaptive, and HLG support.
- The review flags blooming and weak glare mitigation, so it may not be the best match for a room with strong reflections or a viewer especially sensitive to bright halos around highlights.
- Three HDMI ports may constrain a setup with several consoles or other devices that benefit from HDMI 2.1.
Best budget pick: Hisense U75QG
Hisense U75QG is the value-oriented option for shoppers who want a fast panel and gaming features without moving to the U8QG. Tom’s Guide lists 4K resolution, Google TV, a 165Hz refresh rate, and four HDMI 2.1 ports, with sizes ranging from 55 to 116 inches. The review highlights brightness, contrast, and gaming performance.
Its trade-offs
- Tom’s Guide measured input lag at 9.8 milliseconds in its testing; the same roundup reports 9.7ms for the U8QG and 13ms for the QM9K. These are the publication’s test results, not a guarantee for every unit or setup.
- The review describes the audio as middling, the screen as reflective, and off-axis viewing as poor. Consider seating distance and position, and whether you’ll use separate audio, before choosing it.
- The roundup says the U75QG falls below $1,000 depending on size. That is a time-sensitive price statement, not a guaranteed current price; check the listing for the size and region you want.
Best Google TV for a bright room: TCL QM9K
TCL QM9K is the bright-room pick. Tom’s Guide praises its peak brightness and contrast, and reports 6,000 local dimming zones. In that publication’s testing, it was almost twice as bright as the two Hisense models in this guide; treat that as a comparison from its tests, not a universal result across room conditions or picture settings.
What the QM9K gives up
- It has a 144Hz refresh rate and two HDMI 2.1 ports, alongside two HDMI 2.0 ports, according to Tom’s Guide.
- The review notes black-level crushing and some motion blur. Brightness is its standout, but those picture trade-offs may matter more for dark-room films or fast motion.
- The roundup and Google’s catalog showed different price contexts: Tom’s Guide describes its recommendation as less than $1,500, while Google’s product page listed a starting price of $1,799.99. Neither figure should be treated as a stable current price; check a live listing for your region and size.
How to choose among these three
Start with the room
For a bright space, prioritize how the screen handles reflections as well as how much light it can produce. The QM9K is Tom’s Guide’s brightness recommendation, while the U75QG has a reflective screen and the U8QG has weak glare mitigation in the review. If your seating is spread across a wide area, account for the U75QG’s poor off-axis viewing.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Rank #2
- 4K Ultra High Definition: More pixels on the screen produces a more clear and succinct picture making content look more realistic and true to life. Combined with Hisense's AI UHD Upscaler , non 4K content will get enhanced to near 4K quality.
- Google TV: The entertainment you love. With a little help from Google. Google TV brings together movies, shows, live TV and more from across your apps and subscriptions and organizes them just for you.
- Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10: Innovative visual technology, Dolby Vision, brings the characters to life with darker darks, brighter brights , and a remarkable color range you can't get anywhere else. HDR10 is an HDR format that delivers HDR content via compatible over the air signals.
- Game Mode Plus: A collection of technologies come together to create a dynamic gaming experience. A 60Hz panel, variable refresh rate, and auto low latency mode makes sure that the television can handle the rigors of next generation gaming consoles.
- Sports Mode: With sports mode's preset settings, the television automatically adjusts itself to optimize sports content. Motion is smoother and color is adjusted for the best sports experience the television is capable of.
Count the devices you will connect
Check how many devices need HDMI 2.1, not just how many HDMI sockets the TV has. The U75QG lists four HDMI 2.1 ports, the U8QG three, and the QM9K two HDMI 2.1 plus two HDMI 2.0 ports. Match those connections to your consoles and other equipment.
Match motion and gaming needs
Tom’s Guide lists 165Hz for both Hisense models and 144Hz for the TCL. If you play games or watch fast-moving sports, consider refresh rate together with the review’s motion observations and measured input lag; no single figure describes every aspect of motion handling.
Decide whether built-in sound is enough
The U8QG receives praise for its built-in audio, while the U75QG’s sound is described as middling. If TV audio is a priority, factor that into the comparison; otherwise, plan for a separate sound system and verify compatibility with the TV and your other equipment.
Rank #3
- HI - QLED COLOR: Vivid and authentic color brings every shade, scene, and skin tone to life exactly as it was meant to be seen. Hi-QLED technology delivers a picture so true-to-life, you'll feel like you're watching through a window, not a screen
- DOLBY VISION: Discover the Dolby difference — a premium entertainment experience that helps you feel a deeper connection to the movies, shows, music, sports, and games you love. See what you’ve been missing with an immersive experience like no other
- AI PICTURE WITH AI 4K UPSCALER: Upscale all your content to stunning 4K quality — from old favorites to new releases, advanced processing transforms everything you watch into crystal-clear 4K detail
- DTS VIRTUAL:X: Dial up the impact of your entertainment with the enhanced sound of DTS Virtual:X. It delivers crystal clarity, easy-to-hear dialogue, great detail and realistic surround sound to make what you’re watching even better
- HDR10 & HLG: With HDR10 and HLG, everything you watch looks more dynamic and detailed, with brighter highlights, deeper shadows, and clearer contrast across every scene
Confirm the exact model before paying
Size ranges, ports, and features can vary by model suffix and market. Check the manufacturer or retailer listing for the exact size, regional model, connections, features, availability, and current price. Google TV is used across brands and hardware types, so the three recommendations do not represent every Google TV’s specifications. Google’s brand information includes Hisense, Sony, TCL, and Philips, while Sony’s catalog spans LED, Mini LED, and OLED models with different refresh rates and features.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhat is Google TV?
Google TV is the software platform running on televisions made by multiple manufacturers; it does not determine the panel, brightness, refresh rate, ports, or audio by itself. Google’s list of featured TV brands includes Hisense, Sony, TCL, and Philips. Sony’s catalog, for example, includes Google TV sets across LED, Mini LED, and OLED categories, with 60Hz and 120Hz tiers and features such as 4K/120, ALLM, and VRR. A model’s listing—not the platform name—is the place to verify its specifications.
How these recommendations were evaluated
Tom’s Guide says its reviewers combine consistent lab tests and measurable performance data with viewing familiar films, television, and games. The model-specific measurements and judgments above are attributed to that publication’s 2026 roundup; they are not independent tests conducted for this article.
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.
