Top Smart TVs for Effortless Viewing at Home: How to Find the Best Value

Buying a modern television is really about buying a superb streaming experience. The picture quality is undoubtedly brilliant, but the real test of a ‘Smart TV’ is how seamlessly it fits into your day-to-day life. A poor Smart interface, slow app loading, or clunky navigation can quickly turn an exciting purchase into a frustrating one.

This guide curates a list of the best Smart TVs from our range that truly deliver on ease of use, app support, effortless connectivity, and crucially, value for money.

What Makes a Smart TV Truly Smart?

Before diving into our selections, it’s important to know the key features that make a Smart TV a genuinely helpful addition to your home. We look for three main things when assessing a model: speed, simplicity, and integration.

Quick and Clear Navigation

The speed and clarity of the on-screen menu are essential. A good Smart TV should respond instantly and make it simple to switch between your favourite services. Operating systems like LG’s webOS offer smooth multitasking with a minimalist tiles user interface (UI).

LG OLED65G56LS

Comprehensive App Support

The best Smart platforms offer all major services: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV, and Freeview Play. Platforms like Android TV/Google TV offer raw speed and unmatched app diversity, while Tizen (Samsung) and webOS (LG) provide stable apps finely tuned to their hardware.

The Operating System Showdown

The Smart platform is the heart of the television. Most manufacturers use their own bespoke systems, which offer different strengths. 

A few examples:

• • LG (webOS): Known for its clean look, fast, and intuitive performance. It’s a great pick for easily navigable platforms and strong voice recognition. It’s also the most popular Smart OS among the TV brands we stock, used by other manufacturers as the No.1 third-party platform.
  • Samsung (Tizen): As the global market leader, Tizen offers the widest app support and is excellent for Smart home control using SmartThings.
  • Sony/TCL (Google TV/Android TV): This comprehensive platform provides the largest selection of niche apps due to the Android ecosystem. It is powerful, with features like Chromecast built in.
  • Hisense: Hisense uses its own operating system: VIDAA. It’s built for speed and simplicity. It’s quick to load the essential streaming apps you need, so you won’t be overwhelmed by endless menus. Other high-end brands, like Loewe, also trust the VIDAA platform.

Voice Control and Integration

Voice control, through platforms like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, is widely available. This is not just a gimmick; it is about convenience. A top Smart TV allows you to change the volume, switch inputs, or perform searches simply by talking to the remote or the television itself. Samsung SmartThings, for example, allows your TV to act as the centre of your connected home.

Our Experts’ Picks: Seamless Smart TVs that Offer the Best Value for Money

Shopping for a Smart TV can feel overwhelming. We’ve listed some of the key features to be aware of, but how do you know which product best suits your needs? 

At Richer Sounds, we find that customers have a few different priorities when researching their next TV purchase. Features and functionality are high on the list, while size is another major consideration (check out our guide to finding the right TV size for your room). 

Our experts have curated a list of top Smart TVs that excel at delivering an effortless user experience, categorised by the key overarching factor: value.

Best Low-Cost Smart TV (Focus: 32 Inch & 43 Inch)

When size is constrained (such as in a bedroom or kitchen), the focus is on maximising Smart features at a low-cost entry point.

A model like the Samsung 32″ QLED Smart TV Plus delivers Full HD resolution, Samsung’s quick Tizen OS, and HDR support even at this size. It’s a feature-packed, best low-cost Smart TV. Stepping up slightly, the Samsung 43″ QLED 4K Ultra HD HDR Smart TV marks the ideal transition to 4K. It’s often regarded as the sweet spot for the best budget Smart TV, balancing 4K detail and Smart integration without the premium price tag.

Samsung QE43Q7FA

Expert Recommended: Best 55 Inch Smart TV for the Money

There’s incredible value to be had across our collection of 55” to 58” TVs. For example, you can get top-quality products such as the Sharp 55FJ2K for less than £300. 
However, it’s the LG OLED Evo 4K Ultra HD (available in 55-inch and up) that is consistently highlighted as the absolute pinnacle of performance and price in this bracket. It is widely recommended as the definitive Smart TV for the money, delivering phenomenal picture quality and powerful AI sound.
This range is where you start benefiting from high-end processing power for seamless navigation.  You can be confident your purchase is future-proofed, thanks to webOS 25, for which LG guarantees free major operating system upgrades for five years, excluding upgrades that require revised hardware.

The Premium Centrepiece (Focus: Fastest Processors & Integration)

For a true home cinema experience (65-inch and up), performance depends on two independent components: the Processor delivers the stunning picture and sound, while the Smart TV OS handles the look and versatility of your apps. A great large-screen TV needs both components working perfectly, but it’s important to note how they each have a different job.
The Panasonic Z95B is an elite choice for enthusiasts, pairing outstanding HDR brightness with an integrated, powerful 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos speaker system (you can buy the 65” version here). 
Other flagship choices include the LG G5 OLED and the Samsung S95F QD-OLED, all featuring top-tier processors and the fastest operating speeds for unmatched integration and performance.

Essential Accessories for the Smart Experience

When investing in a TV of this calibre, consider the accessories that enhance the full experience. To guarantee peak performance for 4K/120Hz gaming and high-bitrate HDR streaming, ensure you use certified High-Speed HDMI 2.1 cables (check out our guide to finding the best gaming TVs). While built-in sound is impressive, a dedicated AV system or one of our premium soundbars truly matches the breathtaking visual scale.

Experience the Difference: Find Your Perfect Smart TV

Choosing the right Smart television is about finding the perfect balance between picture quality and user experience. We believe you should not have to compromise on speed and ease of use.

We’ve only scratched the surface with these Smart TV picks. At Richer Sounds, the breadth of choice available to you is huge. 

The best way to feel the difference is to see the Smart interfaces yourself in action. Head over to your local Richer Sounds store and try our curated selection in one of our demo rooms.