LG OLED55C8PL A £1999

For the very best OLED experience, it makes sense to go to the source

LG’s 2018 OLEDS in some ways aren’t the huge step forward we were hoping for, but a series of individually small improvements collectively equate to a significant gain and make the C8 a fairly unflappable all-rounder – and let’s not forget that LG was already ahead of other OLEDS.

Having said that, the LG isn’t so much better than its rivals here to justify a significantly higher price tag, which is perhaps why the company is being so aggressive with its discounting. The C8 was £3000 when we tested it in May, and it has already shed £1000 off that price – leaving little room for rivals to perform a cheeky undercut.

And yet the Panasonic has managed to undercut it. At the time of writing, the TX-55FZ802, which offers the most Lg-like performance of the non-lg sets here, was available for £200 less than the LG. That’s not quite enough to give it the overall win, but it’s a useful saving all the same – leaving you with enough change in your pocket for you to add a budget soundbar or soundbase, or even an Apple TV.

But if you’re happy to use your new telly’s built-in speakers, you may want to promote the Sony A1 to the top of your list. Innovative technology makes it one of the best-sounding TVS available – a feat made neater by the fact that the speakers are almost invisible. It’s testament to Sony’s software engineering that the A1 can still hold its own in this company where picture is concerned, despite featuring an older panel.

Finally, we come to the Philips 55OLED803. In some regards, the picture is the finest here, despite its delivery of skin tones being a touch inconsistent. More problematic, though, are its software bugs. Even without them, it wouldn’t have won this test, but it would have received a five-star rating. Once fixed, we will take another look to see if it’s worthy of re-evaluation, but we’d recommend holding off buying one for now, despite its enticing combination of OLED and Ambilight.