There are a few major categories of screens for you to stare at. Stuff‘s annual Gadget Awards covers all of them, with the winners of our 2025 television category being a major contributor to your avoidance behaviour. If you’d like to avoid better, whether that’s on a budget or with no cost limits, this set of category winners should be on your radar.
There will be new TVs landing in South Africa in the months and weeks to come, but our winners here (first seen in Stuff‘s Gadget Awards print issue) are just waiting for you to stick them in your car. Or, more likely, have them delivered. A 65in screen doesn’t fit very easily into the back of a hatchback. Trust us, we’ve tried. Sometimes you have to remove the seats. It’s messy.
PREMIUM TV OF THE YEAR
SAMSUNG 65S90F
It’s always been a two-horse race between Samsung and LG for this position, and this year the Galaxy maker has pulled ahead. Its OLED tech has jumped forward, putting it on even or better footing with… everyone else.
Highlights sparkle with intensity while colours remain pure and accurate, creating depth that makes rivals look flat. Shadow detail and gradation remain exceptional even during fast motion, thanks to Samsung’s NQ4 AI Gen3 processor, which also facilitates 4K AI upscaling for your boring 1080p content.
Gamers benefit from a 144Hz refresh rate, four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports and incredibly low input lag. Whether watching 4K Blu-rays, streaming Dolby Vision content or gaming on an Xbox Series X, every frame renders with stunning dynamism. The speakers are weak, and the interface prioritises ads and AI over usability, but neither diminishes what is simply the best picture quality currently available.
From R43 000 | samsung.com/za
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Skyworth 65SXC9800 ● LG OLED65G5
SHORTLISTED
Hisense U8Q ● TCL 65C8K ● LG OLED42C5
MIDRANGE TV OF THE YEAR
LG OLED55C5
LG’s OLED screen tech has always been excellent right through its line of devices, meaning that you can grab some truly impressive visuals in the mid-range without laying out more than twice the price of admission. LG’s Alpha 9 AI processor Gen9 ramps up the South Korean company’s 4K upscaling skills, but there’s one more secret weapon – improved brightness.
OLED is notorious for not being bright enough, but the C5 has taken a page from LG’s premium range and ramped up the lighting, helped in no small part by that new-generation Alpha 9 processor. AI-powered voice recognition is on board and, if you really must, LG has installed an AI-powered chatbot to talk you through setting up your shiny new C5 OLED.
from R24 000 | lg.com/za
HIGHLY COMMENDED
LG QNED86 ● Samsung The Frame
SHORTLISTED
Hisense S7N ● TCL P8K ● LG Nano86PVA
AFFORDABLE TV OF THE YEAR
TCL 55C6K
It’s become incredibly easy to recommend TCL’s budget lineup in recent months, with the 55C6K being the perfect combination of affordability and tech for those with limited cash flow. The company’s panel tech has leapt ahead since we first saw these in SA. The direct-lit QLED panel delivers rich, natural colours with impressive dark performance, while Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support bring depth and detail punching well above the price tag. TCL’s software is a pleasure to use, and the Google TV-based interface provides effortless access to all the main streaming apps. The slim design adds a quality feel, too.
A better feature set, more flexibility and superior picture performance over its rivals make this the cheap TV to buy. Maybe TCL’s competition should be taking notes from the folks who are pulling ahead.
R10 000 | tcl.com
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Samsung 55U8000F
SHORTLISTED
JVC NQ7145 ● Toshiba M450RP ● Volkano 50in 4K Smart LED TV
SOUNDBAR OF THE YEAR
SAMSUNG Q990F
Half a decade ago, Samsung set the standard for a mainstream Dolby Atmos soundbar with the Q900. This year’s Q990F proves the formula still works: it’s home cinema heaven.
The 11.1.4 system deploys 23 speakers across a main bar, a subwoofer and twin compact rear surrounds – with no audio cables required. The redesigned cubic sub delivers bass that seems to just ‘exist’ throughout your room rather than coming from a single point. The seamless interplay between components creates top-tier clarity, separation, and imaging, while upward-firing drivers make the most of Atmos mixes.
This is ideal for anyone whose inner interior designer won’t permit a full separates system, delivering the realism of spatial audio without the need to sacrifice room space.
from R16 000 | samsung.com/za
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Sonos Arc Ultra ● Marshall Heston 120
SHORTLISTED
Hisense AX5100Q ● TCL S522W ● Sony HT-A3000
