The best big-screen TVs for the Super Bowl—no matter the budget
Buying a new TV right now actually makes a ton of sense
Products are chosen independently by our editors. Purchases made through our links may earn us a commission.
Nothing gathers people around a TV quite like the Super Bowl, and a big crowd calls for a big screen. Don’t think of it as buying a new TV just for the Super Bowl—think of the Super Bowl as an excuse for buying a new TV. It’s one of the best times of the year to land a TV deal, since most of the newest models are months away from hitting shelves. All the more reason to set yourself up ahead of what we in the biz once call The Big Game.
You’d be surprised at how many people upgrade their living rooms ahead of the Super Bowl. In fact, in my role as “TV guy,” I’ve already helped a couple friends and family members narrow down their choices in recent weeks. Here’s a short list of big-sized TVs on every budget—the same list I’ve shared with the people in my life.
Hisense U6K (75 inches)
Thanks to mini-LED display technology, the Hisense U6K delivers excellent performance for a budget TV.
Also available in: 85”
The Hisense U6K is one of our favorite budget-friendly TVs for a simple reason: It offers dependable performance and a reasonable set of features at a ridiculously low price. It’s the most affordable TV on the market right now with mini-LEDs, and while the backlight control is understandably not as impressively engineered as the other mini-LED TVs on this list, it’s a wonderful hardware spec to have in a TV of this caliber. It’s what sets the U6K apart from its similarly priced competitors.
The U6K also features quantum-dot color and a well-implemented smart platform in Google TV. While bright enough for most spaces, the U6K isn’t nearly as punchy as the rest of the LED TVs I’ll be mentioning, nor is its motion handling as adept. If you’re looking for a brighter, more colorful way to watch the game, or if you intend to watch a lot of sports beyond the big game, consider spending up on something that’ll serve your needs better. If all you’re looking for is a slam-dunk deal on a huge TV, though, it’s tough to beat the 75-inch U6K for less than $700.
The Hisense U6K is one of the most affordable ways to lock down a big TV before the Super Bowl.
Hisense U7K (75 inches)
The Hisense U7K offers better performance than its little sibling, the U6K.
Also available in: 85”
The U7K is the next step up in Hisense’s ULED TV lineup, and it’s exactly the sort of TV you should be considering if you love the U6K’s value but you still want a punchier presentation with slightly better picture processing.
With more mini-LEDs at its disposal, the U7K’s contrast is considerably better than its little sibling. It also gets almost twice as bright as the U6K. There are still some motion-related issues to contend with, but its higher native refresh rate—120Hz to the U6K’s 60Hz—and tighter processing make for a better sports-watching experience.
You’ll spend more on the 75-inch U7K, but still significantly less than you would on the next TV up the ladder.
The Hisense U7K offers a ton of upside for its price.
TCL QM8 (75 inches)
The QM8 is sensationally bright, and its local dimming does an excellent job limiting light bloom.
Also available in: 85”, 98”
The TCL QM8 is right smack dab in the Goldilocks zone between performance and value. It’s pricier than both of the aforementioned Hisense TVs, but it’s one of the best LED TVs on the market and still comes in at a price that most would consider reasonable.
The QM8’s backlight control is among the best I’ve ever seen from a mini-LED TV. In fact, it might just be the best. There’s almost no light bloom when bright objects are surrounded by darkness, and while that’s not something that happens during a brightly lit football game, you’ll appreciate the finesse come movie night. It’s also wildly bright and richly colorful (thanks in part to its quantum dots), so if your living space is sunny—or if you just want to dazzle your party guests—consider spending a little more on the 75-inch QM8. The added cost will pay out for many football seasons to come.
This 75-inch TV boasts fantastic color and brightness at a fantastic price point.
Samsung QN90C (75 inches)
The impressively bright picture and excellent picture processing make the Samsung QN90C a worthwhile investment.
Also available in: 85”
If you’re nodding your head every time I mention brightness and color, consider the 75-inch Samsung QN90C. It’s our pick for the best TV for bright rooms, and pound for pound, it’s the most well-rounded, high-end mini-LED TV on the market.
I want to emphasize the term “well rounded.” For the QN90C to be the proper fit, you’d ideally appreciate its sensational suite of gaming features, including full HDMI 2.1 support across all four of its inputs. You’d be getting a phenomenal TV for the Super Bowl (one whose brightness and color volume I’d describe as “psychedelic”), but you’d also be getting an incredible TV for everything else, too. Its backlight control is stellar and its motion handling is superb, so everything from fast-paced action movies to moody period pieces will look terrific.
The QN90C is a great pick for folks who want to splash out on something big, bold, and bright.
The Samsung QN90C is one of the best mini-LED TVs you can buy.
LG C3 (77 inches)
The LG C3 is one of the best TVs money can buy.
Also available in: 83”
If big, bold, and bright isn't quite your speed, consider big, bold, and refined. The LG C3 doesn’t get nearly as bright as the QN90C, but it doesn’t need to thanks to one neat trick: perfect black levels.
While TVs like the QN90C feature hundreds or thousands of backlight zones, OLED TVs like the C3 feature millions—and they’re all the size of a pixel. Infinite contrast means the C3 doesn’t have to get as bright as a mini-LED TV in order for it to have a similar impact on the eye, and pixel-level dimming means light bloom is nonexistent.
Another OLED benefit sure to pique the interest of those with Super Bowl hosting duties this year is its inherently ultra-wide viewing angle—the most accommodating viewing angle money can buy. A 77-inch OLED TV will look better from the other side of the room than any LED TV on the market.
The C3 is our current pick for the best TV because, while pricey, it offers the best blend of performance and features at a step down from the highest price tier. Like the aforementioned Samsung, the C3 is worth the splurge if you intend on taking advantage of its exhaustive list of gaming features, and if you value high-end performance during the offseason.
The 77-inch LG C3 is an incredible TV for the Super Bowl and beyond.
Hisense U76N (100 inches)
The gargantuan 100-inch Hisense U76N is on sale for a ridiculously low price.
I’ve saved the biggest TV for last.
Hisense released the 100-inch, room-dominating U76N mere days ago, so we’ve not yet had a chance to take it for a test drive in our lab. Though, to be fair, there’s no guarantee it would even fit through our door.
The U76N doesn’t come equipped with mini-LEDs, leveraging standard LED backlights instead. Nevertheless, it’s stuffed with all sorts of hardware- and software-related features that we associate with higher-end TVs, including quantum dots and a 144Hz native refresh rate. At this size, a lack of mini-LEDs might spell serious off-axis light bloom, but until I get a look at it myself, I can’t say for certain.
Other than its size, the most bonkers thing about the U76N is its price. Hisense launched the TV at a 40% discount, or around $3,000. That’s a wild enough deal as it is, but according to Best Buy’s website, the U76N is currently listed at $1,999.99. Unreal.
According to Hisense, the U76N’s availability is regional. At the time of publishing, I don’t see the U76N in stock at any of my nearby Best Buy locations. The 40% discount should last a few more weeks, however, so be sure to keep checking if you’ve got your heart set on an ultra-affordable, 100-inch behemoth.
The gigantic Hisense U76N is selling out fast.