The best smart TVs to buy for streaming

Black Friday may have started out as a quintessentially American exercise in rampant consumerism, but every year the scale of the South African event grows, and with it, the chance to snag a genuine bargain. If you’re looking to improve your streaming video experience, these are some of the TVs that should be on your Black Friday watchlist.

All of the major smart TV operating systems (Tizen, webOS and Android) support apps for the major streaming services: Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Netflix, and Showmax, but if there’s a particular service you use more than the rest, it doesn’t hurt to check on the manufacturer’s website (or in-store) that it’s supported.

A pro tip before you get shopping

Find a couple of TVs that tick all the boxes on your features wish list, and that match your budget. Make a note of them and their pre-Black Friday prices, and you’ll then be better equipped to evaluate how much of a deal you’re actually getting, and you’ll be ready to pounce if it’s a good one.

Also, the two main decisions you need to make before buying are what resolution to go for, and which screen size.

In terms of the first question, you should absolutely go for 4K rather than Full-HD (1080p) if you can afford to. First, 4K is the new standard. Second, ever more streaming services and gaming consoles now support it, and third, a TV isn’t something you want to replace more than once a decade, so buy the best you can.

Samsung

One of the most recognisable names in the TV sector, Samsung’s forged its own path at the very top end of things by opting for its own, proprietary, QLED technology instead of the OLED panels favoured by LG and others.

Is QLED as good as OLED? It is, so focus instead on how big a display fits the space you have in mind, and how much you’re willing to spend. If QLED is too dear for your purse, try Samsung’s Smart TVs instead.

Good models to consider include:

QLED

Q80R or Q70R (65in), Q60R (55in)

Smart TV

RU7100, RU7400 or NU 8500 (65in), and Series 8 or Series 7 models

LG

Like Samsung, LG offers premium displays with the latest in screen technology alongside cheaper panels that still offer 4K resolution and smart features. LG’s top-end displays have OLED in the name (and the panel), while its more affordable variants are labelled NanoCell or UHD. These are the ones to watch out for:

OLED

B8, B9, C8, OLED Silver or OLED Infinite Contrast (all available in 55in or 65in)

NanoCell/UHD

NanoCell Smart Digital TV or Super UHD Digital TV (all available in 55in or 65in)

Hisense

Not to be left out of the unique terminology fold, Hisense calls its premium 4K TV technology ULED, and its more wallet-friendly options UHD.

Rather than using Samsung’s Tizen operating system or LG’s webOS, Hisense uses AndroidTV, a variant of the Android operating system found on pretty much every non-Apple smartphone.

Hisense is also known for offering more bang-for-buck than its rivals, so combine that lower starting point with Black Friday discounts and you could be in line for some serious cost savings.

Units to aim for include:

ULED

Q8600, U9A or U8A (65in), Q8600 (55in)

ULED Smart

U7A or M7030 (65in), U7A or B8000 (55in)

UHD Smart

A6500 or A6100 (65in), A6500 or A6100 (55in)

Where to buy?

As with all high-end electronics, you’re best off buying from a reputable retailer so that returns or repairs won’t be a problem, should you need them.

Our favourites include Dion Wired, Hi-Fi Corporation, Incredible Connection, Takealot and Hirsch’s. Our advice? Check each for their Black Friday deals ahead of time, as most retailers get punting before Friday actually rolls around.