The Stuff Gadget Awards 2022: Premium and mid-range TVs of the year

The humble television is the tech product that keeps giving. Whether you’re addicted to trashy reality shows, a chin-stroking cinema in search of the next art house masterpiece or an energy drink-fuelled gamer planning an all-nighter, a top-notch TV is the secret to true happiness.

We’ve plonked ourselves on the Stuff sofa in front of a vast array of tellies in 2022, and here we reveal our favorite models from two distinct categories: mid-range and premium. So if you’re looking for a budget-friendly screen that punches above its weight or the true cream of the crop, read on to discover our respective annual champs. Oh, and there are more than a few other models we love, too – so check those out while you’re here.

Best premium TV: Sony XR-55A95K

With its QD-OLED screen delivering a brighter, more tonally rich flavor of OLED performance (while maintaining those gloriously inky blacks and high-impact contrast that makes the display tech so appealing), the Sony XR-55A95K certainly excels when it comes to image performance. In fact, we think this TV is about as good as it currently gets for 4K models, serving up engrossing pictures no matter the source.

The sound is also superb, with the screen itself acting as a speaker thanks to a pair of actuators, while another pair of rear-firing subwoofers lends everything a welcome measure of heft and force. Like most Sony televisions, the price tag may seem a little lofty in comparison to some rivals, but the overall performance, presentation and build quality of this thing did not disappoint. 2022’s finest flat screen – take a bow.

Highly recommended: Philips 55OLED807

If you’re looking for a premium OLED for a less-than-premium asking price, Philips’ excellent effort is crying out for a spot in your living room. It’s not without its issues (we weren’t sixuring by its lengthy setup process or by its Android TV platform) but it delivers where it counts, with superb all-round picture performance, solid specs and design and Philips’ now-iconic Ambilight rear lighting system, which bathes the wall behind in light colored to match whatever’s currently on screen.

Also shortlisted: LG G2 77in OLED, Samsung QN85B NeoQLED

We were also left agog by LG’s flagship model, the G2 77in OLED – and not only by its screen size and slightly terrifying £4,500 price tag; its image quality and brightness left a mark too. Another impressive effort came from the Samsung QN85B NeoQLED, which is prepped for next-gen consoles and offers big specs for its price.

Best mid-range TV: Panasonic TX-42LZ980

This 42-incher may not look like much at first glance, being Panasonic’s one-up-from-entry-level model, but a deep delve left us in no doubt as to greatness. Delivering truly astounding picture quality for its price, the 4K OLED screen supports all types of HDR and excels when it comes to providing a natural, realistic-looking image. The screen may be the star turn here, but it’s not the only impressive feature: the build quality is reassuringly high-grade, the connectivity is versatile (four HDMI 2.1s!) and the smart TV platform is well implemented. Pats on the back all round, Panasonic.

Highly recommended: Sony XR-42A90K

Like the Panasonic above, this Sony TV is one of the smaller OLED-based models available. And we like that – after all, not everyone lives in a space with room for a 50in screen, no matter how thin and flat it is. The picture is a joy to behold, aside from the slight lack of brightness (fingers crossed you have an effective set of blinds or curtains at home), and the next-gen console support is welcome too – but the price is just a little too high for us to recommend it over the Panny.

Also shortlisted: Xiaomi F2 TV

Powered by Amazon Fire TV and available in 43, 50 and 55in sizes, this budget-friendly model doesn’t feel like a bucket of compromises have been made to keep the price low. All four HDMIs are 2.1 and the screen is compatible with HDR10 and HLG.