An award-winning television can look wonderful in a test room and still disappoint at home. Daylight pouring through the window, a sofa too close to a huge screen or not enough HDMI sockets can all take the shine off a new purchase.
The same is true of sound. One household wants a discreet bar that makes dialogue easier to follow; another wants explosions and crowd noise coming from behind the sofa. Both are legitimate reasons to upgrade, but they call for different equipment.
On 13 October, What Hi-Fi? announced 111 Best Buy winners across 24 categories, selected through its own comparative testing. The overall Products of the Year will be announced on 12 November. These are What Hi-Fi?’s awards and judgements, not Tech Torque Media test results.
Which award-winning TV should you buy?
TCL, LG and Samsung have all earned Best Buy awards this year, but at very different prices. The TV results are particularly useful because they show where paying more changes the experience — and where a cheaper, larger screen might be enough.
TCL P8L: a lot of screen for the money
The 65-inch TCL P8L (65P8L-UK) won Best Budget TV in the 55–77in category. What Hi-Fi? tested it at £749, a reference price rather than a live retailer quote. It praised the value and picture quality, while finding some limits in bright highlights and shadow detail.
This is a 4K Mini LED set with Quantum Dot colour, Google TV and support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+. It also has gaming features including variable refresh rate, automatic low-latency mode and up to 4K/144Hz with compatible equipment. An Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5 can use up to 4K/120Hz; the extra refresh-rate headroom is mainly of interest to PC players.
Its 72 local-dimming zones can’t control light as precisely as OLED’s individually lit pixels. There are pricier Mini LED televisions with more elaborate backlighting, too. But if you’d rather fill a larger wall than pay OLED money for a smaller screen, the P8L is worth seeing in a shop. Supporting both major dynamic HDR formats is a welcome bonus.
LG C6: a strong match for films and consoles
LG’s C6 collected several awards. The 42-inch and 48-inch versions won their respective size categories, while the 65-inch OLED65C6 took the mid-range 55–77in and Best Gaming TV titles. It is the most straightforward all-rounder of this trio for a household that switches between streaming, sport and games.
The 65-inch C6 has four HDMI 2.1 sockets, variable refresh rate, Dolby Vision gaming and support for up to 165Hz with a suitable PC. Console owners will be more interested in 4K/120Hz, but having four capable HDMI ports makes daily life easier: an Xbox, PlayStation, Apple TV and eARC soundbar can each have a connection without constant cable-swapping.
LG supports Dolby Vision but not HDR10+. The C6 also comes in several sizes, which is handy for a smaller room, although the award for one size is not proof that every panel performs identically. Compare reviews and prices for the exact size you want.
Samsung S99H: a flagship worth comparing in person
Samsung’s 55-inch S99H took Best Premium TV in the 55–77in category. What Hi-Fi?’s reviewers highlighted the contrast, brightness and sense of depth in the picture. It adds to the attention the S99H has already attracted at other independent tests.
In our report on the HDTVTest 2026 TV Shootout, we covered the S99H’s three headline awards, including separate wins for home-cinema and living-room viewing. Those prizes came from another judging process; they shouldn’t be confused with this What Hi-Fi? result.
There is a practical reason to compare the S99H carefully with LG’s C6. Samsung backs HDR10+ but does not offer Dolby Vision. That won’t stop films looking impressive, yet it can matter if much of your viewing library is available in Dolby Vision. At flagship prices, the supported formats, number of inputs, screen size and how the picture looks in your own room all deserve attention.
Soundbars: neat and simple, or a full surround setup?
The soundbar winners make more sense once you separate the single-box designs from systems with rear speakers. A bar beneath the TV is an easy upgrade, particularly in a bedroom or uncluttered lounge. A complete package takes more planning, but can put sound behind the seating position instead of trying to imitate it from the front.
Budget choices: Hisense, Sony and Sonos
Hisense’s AX5125H won Best Soundbar System Under £250. It packages a soundbar, subwoofer and rear speakers at a price where many rivals offer only the front bar. For someone coming from TV speakers, that is an appealing route to real surround coverage without spending a fortune.
Sony’s Bravia Theatre System 6 won the £250–£500 system category, but check how it connects before choosing it. The bar is wired to the subwoofer, which sends audio wirelessly to a receiver at the back of the room; that receiver is wired to the two surrounds. You avoid a long cable across the room, not wiring altogether. The system also lacks HDMI passthrough, so a games console or streamer plugs into the TV. What Hi-Fi? praised the big, engaging sound, particularly the bass.
For smaller rooms, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) won Best Soundbar Under £500. Its Dolby Atmos height effects are created through processing rather than upward-firing drivers, and there are no separate rears in the basic package. It is compact and convenient, though you shouldn’t expect the same physical surround presentation as a multi-speaker setup.
Sonos has since introduced a newer Beam Ultra, but the 2026 What Hi-Fi? award went to the older Beam (Gen 2). That distinction is easy to miss when comparing models online.
Sonos Arc Ultra or Samsung HW-Q990H?
The Sonos Arc Ultra won the £500–£1,000 standalone soundbar category. It aims to deliver spacious film sound from one bar, without a subwoofer or surrounds taking up floor space. That’s attractive if the television sits in an ordinary family living room where equipment needs to stay discreet.
Samsung’s HW-Q990H, winner of the £500–£2,000 soundbar-system award, takes the opposite route. Its 11.1.4-channel arrangement comes with a subwoofer and dedicated rear speakers. You need places to put them and mains power nearby, but effects that travel behind the sofa have actual speakers to play through.
There’s a useful point of comparison in our long-term Samsung HW-Q930F review. We’ve used that older 9.1.4-channel model with films and Xbox Series X games, and its separate rears make a convincing difference. That is our own experience with the Q930F, not a Tech Torque Media test of the award-winning Q990H.
A one-box soundbar can be the better fit for a busy living room; a Q990H-style package is more attractive when you can position the surrounds properly. Don’t overlook discounts on older models, either. The award bands describe the judging categories, not guaranteed shop prices today.
At the high end: KEF XIO and Sony’s Theatre Trio
KEF’s XIO won the standalone soundbar category above £1,000. What Hi-Fi? was especially impressed by its musical ability as well as its cinema performance, making it an interesting option if one system needs to handle TV and serious music listening.
Sony’s Bravia Theatre Trio with Rear 9 and Sub 9 won the system award above £2,000. Its separate front speakers, rears and subwoofer make it a more elaborate proposition with a price and footprint to match. Neither premium winner is an automatic upgrade from a mid-range system that’s already doing a good job. The extra spending needs to bring a difference you’ll actually enjoy.
Could a traditional 5.1 system make more sense?
Yes, particularly if you have a dedicated room or don’t mind running speaker cable. What Hi-Fi?’s speaker-package awards include the Wharfedale DX-3 HCP, Diamond 12.1i HCP, Dali Sonik 5 5.1 and KEF R Meta 5.1.
A separates-based setup gives you more flexibility over speakers and placement, but those passive packages need an AV receiver. The price of the speakers alone is not the price of a working home cinema. And ordinary 5.1 surround does not automatically include Dolby Atmos height channels: those require compatible speakers, amplification and source material.
If a full receiver-and-speakers installation sounds more like a chore than a hobby, a well-chosen soundbar package may be the better purchase. If you enjoy building and adjusting a system, separates still have plenty to offer.
Five checks before spending your money
1. Screen size and room light. Measure the wall, the seating distance and how much sunlight reaches the screen. A larger TV or a brighter panel may be more useful than a specification upgrade you rarely notice.
2. HDR formats. TCL’s P8L supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+; LG’s C6 supports Dolby Vision, while Samsung’s S99H favours HDR10+. Check what your favourite streaming services and discs actually provide.
3. HDMI sockets and eARC. Count your consoles, streaming boxes and disc players, and remember the sound system needs a connection too. Our HDMI eARC explainer covers how to make the audio connection work without unnecessary complications.
4. Where the speakers will go. Surround speakers work best when they’re placed sensibly, and ‘wireless’ usually still means a power cable. Our guide to whether rear speakers are worth it is a useful place to start.
5. The full bill. Allow for brackets, stands, extra speakers and, with separates, an AV receiver. A slightly less expensive TV paired with better sound may give you more enjoyment than putting every pound into the screen.
A note about Apple TV 4K
What Hi-Fi? also gave an award to the established Apple TV 4K in its video-streamer categories; Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max (second generation) was another winner.
That needs a date check. Apple announced a new fourth-generation Apple TV 4K on 13 October, with upgraded processing, hands-free Siri and a four-HomePod home-cinema option. The What Hi-Fi? award recognises the established model — it is not a hands-on verdict on the newly announced replacement.
If your existing streaming box works well with your TV and soundbar, there is no need to replace it just because you’re changing the screen.
Tech Torque Verdict
The 2026 What Hi-Fi? winners provide a sensible shopping shortlist, not one answer for every room. The TCL P8L deserves attention when a large screen at a manageable price is the priority. LG’s C6 makes a particularly persuasive all-round option for film fans and console players. Samsung’s S99H is a premium contender, provided its lack of Dolby Vision isn’t a deal-breaker for you.
With sound, the room layout is just as important as the award. The Beam (Gen 2) and Arc Ultra keep things tidy; Samsung’s HW-Q990H asks for more space and offers dedicated surround speakers in return. A conventional 5.1 package might be the right longer-term investment for a dedicated cinema room.
These recommendations are based on published product information and What Hi-Fi?’s award results, not first-hand TTM testing of the winning models. Where possible, listen and look before you buy, using the films, programmes and games you’ll actually play at home.
