As streaming content gobbles up a bigger and bigger share of the market, smart TVs are becoming an attractive choice for consumers looking to merge their digital lives with their televisions. From YouTube to Twitter to Pandora, smart TVs integrate the Internet with on-demand media, streaming audio and regular old television.
The team at SpecOut, a consumer tech research site powered by Graphiq, developed a list of the top 10 smart TVs for the people whose primitive TVs are in desperate need of an upgrade, or those who just insist on having the newest and best.
To do this, we chose only the newest TVs — those released in 2015 or 2016. Furthermore, to be included, every entry required an Amazon standard identification number and, of course, had to be smart. We then ranked the list by SpecOut's Smart Rating, which factors in expert ratings — from sites like PC Magazine, CNET and Techradar — and specs, such as vertical resolution, refresh rate and response time. There are few surprises as far as brands go — Samsung and Vizio dominate the list.
#10. Samsung UN48JU6500FXZA
Smart Rating: 98.08
Compatible with an impressive 18 online applications, this Samsung is Energy Star certified and comes with built-in Wi-Fi. It is, however, pricey for a 48-inch smart TV — especially considering its uninspiring refresh rate of 120 Hz.
#9. Samsung UN60JU6400F
Smart Rating: 98.34
Not only is this 60-inch smart TV cheap for its size, but it delivers a fair per-inch value when resolution is considered. This television is also incredibly energy efficient.
#8. Samsung UN78JS9100FXZA
Smart Rating: 98.56
Although its 78-inch screen is undoubtedly huge, so is its price per inch. This Samsung is expensive, but it features a curved display, a fast 240 Hz refresh rate and compatibility with 10 applications.
#7. Samsung UN75JU6500FXZA
Smart Rating: 98.66
Even for a 75-inch smart TV with 4K Ultra HD, this Samsung is expensive — but the highly rated model is not without its benefits. It's light for its size, it's Energy Star qualified and it comes with a 12-month warranty.
#6. Samsung UN75JU7100FXZA
Smart Rating: 98.76
This TV's price tag can be hard to justify, even considering its 75-inch screen and 4K Ultra HD resolution. It does, however, include a wide array of features, including built-in Wi-Fi, DLNA compatibility, multiple language offerings and an impressive 17-app functionality.
#5. Samsung UN65JU7500F
Smart Rating: 98.92
Although this Samsung is expensive for its size, it is a good value when consumers consider its 4K Ultra HD resolution. It is Energy Star qualified, VESA compliant and is compatible with CinemaNow, Hulu, Netflix, Skype and YouTube.
#4. Vizio M55-C2
Smart Rating: 98.96
Affordable for the 55-inch class of smart TVs, the Vizio M55-C2 saves buyers even more money in the long term with its Energy Star qualification. It's compatible with a range of applications, including Hulu, iHeartRadio, Amazon on Demand, Netflix, YouTube, Pandora and Vudu.
#3. Vizio M65-C1
Smart Rating: 99.07
With deep blacks and stellar contrast, the Vizio M65-C1 is affordable for a 65-inch smart TV with 4K Ultra HD. The sound is underwhelming and the interface will soon be outdated, but the remote is innovative and its built-in WiFi can handle fast wireless speeds associated with newer modems.
#2. Vizio M60-C3
Smart Rating: 99.08
Cheaper than the average 60-inch smart TV, the Vizio M60-C3 features 4K Ultra HD and a fast refresh rate of 240 Hz. It comes with built-in Wi-Fi, multiple language capability and a volume leveler.
#1. Samsung UE65JU7000T
Smart Rating: 100
This 3D smart TV's brilliant 4K Ultra HD picture keeps pace with Samsung's highly regarded history of televisions. Among its only flaws is the picture noise that comes with standard-definition viewing — and, of course, the hefty price tag.
