It seems like only a few years ago, we were all upgrading our ancient, CRT-based, low-resolution televisions and computer monitors to large, flat-screen, high-definition displays. Our new HDTVs were so sharp, some worried we might see too much detail: every wrinkle, gray hair, and flaw.
Those concerns weren't entirely unfounded, but it didn't quench the thirst for bigger, sharper displays. Now we're in the age of the 4K ultra high definition (UHD) televisions with four times the resolution of HDTVs, and the need is more powerful than ever.
Our computer monitors similarly benefit from ever-increasing resolution and size. Many of us use an additional display (or two) with our desktop or laptop computer, although some opt for a single huge, hi-res display or ultra wide-screen monitor.
Now we're in the heart of the holiday shopping season, and are inundated with ads for incredible deals on TVs and monitors. Many of the advertised brands are ones we all know. Occasionally, however, an offer that seems too good to be true has all the right specs but a no-name brand. Should you take a chance? Armed with the right research, you'll be able to make a good decision. That's where PCMag comes in.
Throughout the year, PCMag's expert analysts perform exhaustive tests on dozens of televisions and monitors, evaluating performance, design, and usability to help you decide which products will best suit your needs. In addition, each year we reach out to our readers to learn find out how satisfied you are with your HDTVs and monitors. Our survey results help you understand which brands hold up over the long run and which do not.
As usual, the PCMag Readers' Choice survey asks about overall satisfaction, as well as satisfaction with setup and reliability, and your likelihood of recommending the brand of TV or monitor that you use. In addition, we solicited your feedback about satisfaction with picture and sound quality and other criteria. We then award our Readers' Choice Award to the brand or brands that our survey respondents rate the best.
The PCMag Readers' Choice survey for HDTVs and Computer Monitors was in the field from October 31, 2016 through November 20, 2016. For more information on how the survey is conducted, read the survey methodology. Each person who completed the survey was entered into a drawing to win an Amazon.com gift card valued at $350.
You can win! Sign up for the Readers' Choice Survey mailing list to receive invitations for future sweepstakes.
Need an expert opinion? See our picks for Best TVs and Computer Monitors.
HDTVs
If you're overwhelmed by all the HDTV choices in an electronics store, don't be. According to our readers, you can't go wrong with most of the name brands available to you. There was tremendous parity in our survey results, with seven of the nine brands rating between 8.5 and 8.7 in overall satisfaction on a scale from zero (extremely dissatisfied) to 10 (extremely satisfied). However, to paraphrase George Orwell, some HDTVs are more equal than others. This year, two companies top our survey results and earn our PCMag Readers' Choice Award for HDTVs: Samsung and Sony.
Samsung wins the Readers' Choice Award for the second year in a row and the seventh time in the last eight years. Last year, Sony's satisfaction ratings were only slightly behind Samsung's and, in fact, the company had the highest overall satisfaction rating for televisions less than a year old. We noted that boded well for the company, and it looks like we were right.
Samsung and Sony had overall satisfaction ratings of 8.7, as did LG and Vizio. However, Samsung and Sony set themselves apart by earning the highest ratings for likelihood to recommend (8.9 and 8.8, respectively), which is a key measure in gauging satisfaction and loyalty. LG and Vizio, on the other hand, had (still respectable) likelihood to recommend ratings of 8.6.
Sharp (8.6), Toshiba (8.5), and Panasonic (8.5) also rated highly in overall satisfaction. Sharp and Toshiba's likelihood to recommend ratings were in line with the other top companies, but Panasonic's was only 8.0, the second lowest rating in our survey. This is probably because most of the Panasonic TVs rated were older plasma units that Panasonic has discontinued. Only Hisense scored worse (7.9) in likelihood to recommend; it also had the lowest overall satisfaction rating (8.1).
Samsung and LG rated highest in satisfaction with picture quality (9.1) but Sony was right behind (9.0). Sony and Toshiba rated highest in satisfaction with sound quality (8.1). The sound quality question was only asked of respondents who said they used their TV's built-in speakers. About 40 percent of respondents told us they get sound through a home theater system instead.
Approximately one in six respondents reported using their TV to watch 3D content. Vizio was rated highest in satisfaction with 3D content (8.4). Another 18 percent of respondents have moved up to 4K (or ultra HD) televisions. Vizio and Sony rated highest for satisfaction with viewing 4K content (9.2). In addition, Vizio's 4K TVs also received the highest rating for overall satisfaction (9.2), earning the company an extra Readers' Choice Award for 4K televisions.
More than half of respondents reported using their TV's built-in smart TV capabilities for accessing online content such as Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube. LG rated best in smart TV satisfaction (8.3), but the other top companies were close behind. If you plan to stream a lot of content, you should consider a dedicated streaming media hub such as Roku or Apple TV, or a TiVo DVR with built-in streaming. TiVo, Roku, and Apple shared our Readers' Choice Award for streaming media players in last month's survey.
Only 2 percent of respondents said they had an HDTV with the latest new selling point: a curved screen. Samsung's curved HDTVs rated an excellent 9.2 for satisfaction with that curved display.
Among TVs less than a year old, Samsung, Sony, and LG had identical overall satisfaction ratings (8.9) while Vizio was close behind (8.6). Among these newer TVs, LG rated best for satisfaction with picture quality (9.4) while Sony was tops in satisfaction with 4K resolution (9.3).
See all of our survey results for HDTVs.
WINNERS: HDTVS
Samsung
Samsung is a perennial favorite among our readers. The company earns its seventh Readers' Choice Award for HDTVs in eight years. No brand is more likely to be recommended by its users than Samsung.
Sony
Sony was nipping at Samsung's heels last year and has finally joined the company at the top of the satisfaction ratings. It's a favorite of PCMag readers.
Vizio (for 4K TVs)
Vizio has made 4K televisions very accessible pricewise and no brand of 4K-capable HDTVs rated higher in overall satisfaction than Vizio.
Computer Monitors
Sometimes it pays to specialize. While most computer monitors are made by companies that build a variety of electronics products—computers, phones, cameras, printers, refrigerators, and more—our 2016 PCMag Readers' Choice Award winner for computer monitors is a company that specializes in displays only: ViewSonic. This is the second time in the last three years that ViewSonic has won the award, having previously earned it in 2014.
ViewSonic received the highest ratings in every satisfaction measure in which it received a rating. It had a rating of 9.1 for overall satisfaction; no one else received a rating of 9.0 or higher. Likelihood to recommend also rated 9.1. Satisfaction with reliability rated 9.3, while satisfaction with picture quality and ease of use both rated 9.2.
As impressive as ViewSonic's ratings are, the competition is not far behind. Seven other companies received enough responses to be included in our survey results and all earned overall satisfaction ratings between 8.7 and 8.9. It's good to know that it's hard to go wrong with a monitor these days.
Last year, Samsung and Asus shared the Readers' Choice Award for monitors. The companies had identical overall satisfaction ratings of 9.1 in 2015, but this year Samsung dropped to 8.9 and Asus to 8.8. On the other hand, Samsung's rating for likelihood to recommend was 9.1, the same as last year and the same as ViewSonic received this year. That's a beloved brand.
Every monitor maker except HP received a satisfaction with picture quality rating of 9.0 or higher. HP was right behind at 8.9. Similarly, every company received a satisfaction with reliability rating of 9.0 or higher. Monitors tend to be very reliable; only 1 percent of respondents said their monitor needed to be repaired in the last 12 months.
Dell (9.2) received the highest overall satisfaction rating among monitors less than a year old. (ViewSonic did not have enough responses for its newer monitors.) LG (9.4) was the company most likely to be recommended among users with new monitors. We hope that these high ratings portend well for both brands in next year's survey.
See all of our survey results for Computer Monitors.
WINNERS: COMPUTER MONITORS
ViewSonic
To say our readers are thrilled with their ViewSonic monitors would be an understatement. Not only did the company receive the highest satisfaction ratings on every question measured, but every rating was above 9.0 on our 0 to 10 scale.