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Samsung’s next Unpacked event is just days away on July 26. That means we might see a new foldable phone — or two — from the company. Rumors indicate Samsung’s next foldable, expected to be called the Galaxy Z Fold 5, will be a minor update to the Galaxy Z Fold 4. The potential announcement comes on the heels of Google introducing its first foldable phone, the Pixel Fold, in June. The Pixel Fold’s form-factor and price position it as Samsung’s largest rival to the Galaxy Z Fold 4.
Among the biggest changes expected to the Galaxy Fold 5 is a redesigned hinge that should reduce the device’s thickness. But, of course, we won’t know for certain until Samsung makes an announcement. Rumors also point to routine changes like a thinner build suggest Samsung is still fine-tuning the Galaxy Z Fold’s design.
Each year, Samsung has implemented modest but useful changes to the Z Fold’s physique that make it more palatable. With the Galaxy Z Fold 4, for example, Samsung increased the cover display’s width, a small change that makes it feel a bit more like a regular phone when closed. But the Z Fold 4 is still notably girthy when folded compared to a standard phone, showing there’s still work to be done.

Read more: Preorder/reserve new Galaxy phones now

Here’s what we know about the Galaxy Z Fold 5 so far based on rumors and historical Samsung product launches.

Galaxy Z Fold 5 release date

Samsung’s next Unpacked event will be held on July 26, which means we can expect new products to arrive shortly thereafter. Samsung typically releases new foldable phones in the August time frame, while it typically announces new Galaxy S phones around February.

The Galaxy Z Fold 4, for example, was announced on Aug. 10 and went on sale Aug. 26. Before that, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 hit store shelves on Aug. 27 in 2021. With that in mind, it seems likely that the July event will focus on the Z Fold and Z Flip.

Reportedly leaked Samsung marketing images that surfaced on Twitter and were first published by well-known leaker Evan Blass also suggested that foldables will be announced at the event. However, that leak didn’t show the Z Fold 5 specifically.

Galaxy Z Fold 5 price

Samsung’s tablet-style foldable doesn’t come cheap. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 starts at $1,800 without a trade-in. That’s certainly cheaper than Samsung’s original Galaxy Fold, but it’s still considerably more expensive than your average phone. It’s also the same price as Google’s recently announced Pixel Fold.

We haven’t heard much about the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s price when it comes to leaks and rumors. But TM Roh, president and head of Samsung’s mobile experience division, acknowledged when speaking with CNET last August that pricing is a challenge.

“It’s definitely a challenge that we are tackling, and we will need to tackle,” he said.

Galaxy Z Fold 5 design

If the rumors turn out to be true, Samsung may make some design refinements to the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Korean news outlets The Elec and ET News, as well as prolific leaker Ice Universe, have reported that Samsung will implement a new water drop-shaped hinge for the Galaxy Z Fold 5. This could result in a less noticeable crease and a slimmer profile when closed, similar to the Oppo Find N, which has this hinge style. The biggest benefit would be that the phone folds completely shut with no gaps, making it feel more sleek when being used as a normal phone.

That would be a much-appreciated improvement, considering one of the Galaxy Z Fold 4’s biggest drawbacks is that it still feels chunky when folded. Competitors like Oppo and Huawei have also done a better job at hiding the crease, as my colleagues Sareena Dayaram and Eli Blumenthal have written, so this new hinge could help Samsung catch up.

Galaxy Z Fold 5 S Pen

Samsung’s book-style foldable has supported the S Pen since the Galaxy Z Fold 3, so it seems likely that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will as well. The question, however, is whether you’ll be able to store it within the device as you can with the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

ET News reported that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will not include a storage slot for the S Pen. There’s less room for S Pen storage since the hinge structure has changed, the report said citing a person close to the issue.

However, a previous report from The Elec said Samsung cited adding a designated slot for the S Pen as a challenge that it believes needs to be overcome to further popularize foldable phones. This suggested that Samsung was indeed considering adding an S Pen holster to its next foldable.

Embedding the S Pen in the Galaxy Z Fold 5 could make it more useful as a productivity device, further defining who that product is truly for. But doing so while reducing the device’s thickness is certainly a challenge. One solution could be to create a magnetic mechanism for attaching the pen to the Z Fold 5, similar to the way the Apple Pencil attaches to the iPad.

Galaxy Z Fold 5 storage and other specs

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 will likely have some specifications in common with the Galaxy S23 lineup. The phone may be available in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage options, just like the Galaxy S23 Ultra, according to Sam Mobile.

It’ll also likely run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, according to The Elec, just like the Galaxy S23 family. Samsung optimized the version of the chip that’s inside its latest flagship phones, so it’s possible it will do the same for its next foldables.

We haven’t heard many rumors about the camera yet, but The Elec reports it could have a 12-megapixel selfie camera and a triple-lens rear camera with a 50-megapixel main camera. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 also has a 50-megapixel main camera, so it sounds like we won’t be seeing too much of an upgrade there. But if it does have the new Samsung-optimized edition of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, we may see some of the behind-the-scenes improvements to image processing that arrived on the Galaxy S23.

The 12-megapixel front camera would also represent an upgrade from the 10-megapixel selfie camera on Galaxy Z Fold 4’s cover screen, provided that The Elec’s information is correct.

Overall, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 seems like it could be a modest improvement over the Galaxy Z Fold 4. But if the rumors turn out to be true, it’ll represent another step toward addressing some of the aesthetic compromises that come with foldable phones, like screen creases and thick designs when shut.

Looking for more Samsung discounts? CNET has the current best Samsung coupons and promo code offers, updated and verified daily.

The range of Bluetooth speakers out there is wide and diverse — and that’s not only in terms of sound but also in the varieties of shapes and sizes. Which speaker style is best for you all depends on your needs and listening habits. For a speaker that’s travel friendly with a portable design, you’re going to want to invest in one of the top mini Bluetooth speakers, while those looking for a big sound from a speaker that packs a punch may find that a larger Bluetooth boom box or party speaker is the way to go.

The speakers on this list all have rechargeable batteries and are considered portable speakers, though you may get a workout lugging some of these around. They weigh a minimum of 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms), and some weigh a lot more than that. All feature a built-in strap or handle that makes them easier to lug around. And they all have excellent battery life if you keep the volume at moderate levels, but if you really crank things up, you’re looking at much-reduced battery life numbers.

Most are ready to go for whatever event you have in mind. From camping trips to beach parties, they’re all fairly rugged. Most offer a good degree of water resistance and a few are fully waterproof and dust proof. I’ve personally listened to all of these (or, in the case of the Soundcore Trance Go, I’ve listened to its nearly identical sibling speaker). So to find the best Bluetooth boombox for your get-togethers, read on.

Read more: Best Bluetooth Wireless Speaker for 2023

More audio recommendations

• Best Smart Speakers
• Best Sonos Speakers Starting at $100

• Best Wi-Fi Speakers and Music Systems
• Best Soundbars for 2023
• Best Turntables Under $300 for 2023: Audio Technica, Pro-ject, Fluance and More

• Best Headphones for 2023

• Best-Sounding Wireless Earbuds: Sony, Sennheiser and More Compared

• Best Bluetooth Wireless Speakers for 2023

July is another big month for PlayStation Plus subscribers. A little bit of everything is coming this month, including two retro games that are the inspiration for a new TV series.

Twisted Metal is the vehicular combat franchise that originated on the original PlayStation and is now a TV series coming to Peacock on Thursday. Just in time for the show’s debut, Twisted Metal and Twisted Metal 2 are now available on PS Plus on the Premium tier. Award-winning co-op game It Takes Two and indie RPG darling Undertale are also available on the service this month.

Read more: Best Game Subscription Services

Here are some notable PlayStation Plus inclusions so far:

• Horizon: Forbidden West
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

• Resident Evil 7
• Dishonored 2
• Watch Dogs: Legion
• Tekken 7
• Stray

• Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX

• Deathloop

• Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and FFVII Intergrade

• Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut
• Untitled Goose Game
• Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
• Death Stranding: Director’s Cut
• Returnal

• Inscryption
• Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla (and now Black Flag and several others)
• Spider-Man: Miles Morales
• God of War (2018)
• Far Cry 6

There are some notable games on that list, but it also lacks the blockbuster Day 1 vibe of Xbox Game Pass, which has big debuts like Halo Infinite and the upcoming Starfield. Extra costs $15 a month, $40 for three months or $100 for a year. (In the UK it’s 11, 32 or 84, respectively, and in Australia it’s AU$19, AU$55 or AU$135.)

The more expensive Premium tier ($18 or 13.49 a month) also includes download and streaming access to about 500 older games, mostly from pre-PS4 consoles, most of which will run at 60 frames per second. It also includes access to game demos. You can try games like Horizon: Forbidden West, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands and Hot Wheels Unleashed. (Note: In Australia the Premium tier is called Deluxe and costs AU$22 a month.)

One of the better aspects of the new PS Plus is there are plenty of cult and indie favorites in the Extra/Premium tier.

Here are some older or lesser-known picks so far:

• Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories
• XCOM 2
• Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
• Pathfinder: Kingmaker
• Pillars of Eternity II
• South Park: The Stick of Truth
• Tetris Effect
• Outer Wilds

I’ll update this list as more games are added, and as my colleagues remind me of top-tier classics I’ve missed.

Read more: PlayStation Plus vs. PlayStation Now

There are plenty of great wireless headphones out there, which can make the process of shopping for a new pair a little overwhelming, especially if you don’t know where to start. With such a wide variety of different brands and models to choose from, trying to find the best wireless headphones or earbuds can feel like you’re hunting a needle in a haystack.

In all honesty, there’s no single best pair out of headphones out there, because a lot of that is subjective, based on your individual needs. But that doesn’t mean some headphones aren’t better than others. To help you narrow the field and find the best wireless headphones for your needs, I’ve rounded up some of the top of the crop right now. Whether you’re looking for premium over-the-ear noise-canceling headphones or some rugged true-wireless earbuds, I’ve got you covered with some solid options for just about any budget.

I’ve tested all the models on this list and have fully reviewed several of them. If you’re looking for more-refined headphones and earbuds best lists, you can also check out our roundups of best wireless earbuds, best noise-canceling headphones, best workout earbuds and headphones and best open wireless earbuds, among many others. I’ll update this list as new top wireless headphones hit the market.

Best wireless headphones of 2023

More headphone recommendations

• Best Cheap Wireless Earbuds for 2023: Great Budget Picks
• Best Open Wireless Earbuds
• Best Wireless Earbuds and Headphones for Making Calls

• Best Wireless Headphones for Working at Home in 2023

• Best Noise-Canceling True Wireless Earbuds for 2023

• Best Headphones for Running
• Best Cheap Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones Under $100
• Best On-Ear Headphones for 2023
• Best Noise-Canceling Headphones of 2023
• Best Wireless Earbuds for 2023: Top Picks for Every Listener
• Best Workout Headphones for 2023
• Best Over-Ear Headphones for 2023

• Best Cheap Earbuds and Headphones

• Protect Your AirPods: 5 Cases Under $20

• Best AirPods Max Accessories for 2023

With the cost of airfare on the rise, it’s never been more important to save money any way you can. And there’s an easier way to score cheap tickets than spending hours scouring the web and comparing prices. A Dollar Flight Club subscription can save you tons of time, money and effort by granting you access to special travel deals and low-cost fares for business, premium economy and economy airline tickets. And right now you can score a lifetime Premium Plus membership for just $100 at StackSocial, which saves you hundreds compared to the usual $14-per-month cost. And if you want a more affordable option, you can get a lifetime Premium membership for just $50, but you’ll be restricted to economy seating. There’s no set expiration for this deal, so we’d recommend signing up soon if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

It’s hard to catch a break these days. Between many of us staying busy and living on a budget, saving both time and money is important. Instead of having to hunt down the best fares yourself, Dollar Flight Club will do it for you, making it much easier to book your dream vacation, prepare for a visit to see loved ones or find an excuse to take off for a last-minute weekend getaway.

As mentioned above, the Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus plan gives you access to savings on flights in business, premium economy and economy seating, and includes both domestic and international deals. (Premium only offers deals for economy seating.) Once you sign up and add your home airports, you’ll get instant alerts via email and can book whenever and wherever using the web or the app, which is available on both iOS and Android devices.

Plus, you can get perks and discounts of up to 50% off from various partners, including Babbel, Acanela Expeditions and Huckberry, as well as access to a variety of travel tips from DFC experts to help you plan your next adventure.

If high flight prices have been stopping you from booking the vacation of your dreams, now’s a great time to invest in a service that can help you find the best discounts, curated and delivered directly to you. There’s no set expiration for this offer, so we’d recommend getting your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

Read more: Best Luggage Deals

When Sony’s WF-1000XM4 earbuds came out in 2021, we awarded them a CNET Editors’ Choice. And while they’re excellent, we had some quibbles — they’re on the large side and aren’t a good match for certain ears. Clearly, Sony took those gripes to heart when it set out design its next-generation WF-1000XM5 flagship noise-canceling earbuds. Not only are the XM5s smaller but they also offer improved performance pretty much across the board, with better noise cancelling, sound and voice calling. Are the Mark 5s perfect? Not quite. And at $300 — $20 more than their predecessor — they’re costly, too. But overall they’re really impressive — easily among the very top earbuds on the market.

Read more: Best wireless earbuds of 2023

Sony WF-1000XM5 design

Available in black or silver, the XM5s are 25% smaller and 20% lighter than the XM4s, according to Sony, with each bud weighing 6 grams (the XM4s weigh 7.3 grams each). By comparison, Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 weigh 5.3 grams each. The XM5s’ charging case is smaller than the XM4s’, too — about 15% smaller — and it has wireless charging capabilities.

As I said, the XM4s are a little big. While they fit my ears nicely, they didn’t necessarily fit people with small ears well and one of the focuses of this redesign is for the buds to fit a wider range of ears better. As I expected, the new XM5s are a good fit for my ears, but I did want to have someone with smaller ears try both the XM4s and XM5s and let me know what she thought. You can watch my companion video review to see my co-worker Tara try the buds — and smaller XM5s clearly offered an improved fit for her.

The XM4s have a matte finish that I like. In contrast, these mix in a glossy finish that I was a little apprehensive about at first, but the outer part of the buds where the touch controls live has a matte finish, so it doesn’t pick up fingerprints and even the glossy part on the black version of the buds avoids smudging pretty well. I also appreciate that the buds don’t stick out of your ears as much as the predecessors did.

The XM5s include a fourth set of eartips (extra small), up from just three for the XM4s. And while they should fit most ears just fine, they retain a shortfall of the earlier model: they just don’t quite give me the tight seal that you really need for optimal sound quality and noise canceling performance.

The tips are made out of a high-tech polyurethane foam material that’s designed to conform to your ear canal and offer some added grip so the earbuds stay in your ears securely. But their shape isn’t quite right for my ears — I need tips that are a little wider and rounder — and I had to swap in a set of my preferred silicone tips that allowed me to get a better seal. It’d be nice if Sony included a wider variety of tips, but, as I said, the majority of you shouldn’t have a problem with the ones you get and many of you should be able to get a secure enough fit to run with these. Like the XM4s, the XM5s are IPX4 splashproof and sweat-resistant.

Sony WF-1000XM5 features

Sony’s flagship headphones and earbuds have always been loaded with features and these XM5 buds add some new upgrades to go along with existing favorites like Speak-to-Chat, a mode you can enable that automatically pauses your music and activates the headphone’s ambient mode when you start talking to someone. Ambient mode is similar to Apple’s transparency mode but with the Sonys you can adjust the level of ambient sound you want to let in. (Apple’s version of this feature is coming to the AirPods Pro 2 with iOS 17.)

I’m not going to go through all the earbuds’ features here but I’ll highlight the ones that stand out for me. First, you get multipoint Bluetooth pairing so you can pair the buds with two devices simultaneously and easily switch audio back and forth between them. There are also plenty of EQ settings to help tweak the sound and some adaptive sound modes, plus support for hands-free Alexa and Google Assistant (with my early review sample I could only get Alexa working but Sony says hands-free Google Assistant is supported). That feature allows you to tap into Amazon’s voice assistant without pressing anything on the buds. Also, there’s a new beta setting called “find your equalizer” that lets you choose between a series of EQ setting tweaks to find the sound you like best to create a custom EQ setting. I thought that was a good addition.

Like the XM4s, these buds have ear-detection sensors that pause your music when you take an earbud out — yes, you can use a single earbud if you want — and resume playback when you put it back in. But what’s new is spatial audio with head-tracking. Currently, it’s only available for Android users, according to Sony, and it’s unclear if Apple users will ever get it. But in my tests, it seemed to work a lot like Apple’s spatial audio for video watching.

One new feature that I almost missed is a new gesture control for answering and ending phone calls. You can choose to activate it or not, but it allows you to nodded your head to answer or end calls. There’s nothing yet that would allow you to skip music tracks forward back by shaking your head left or right, but it would seem possible to add that gesture control.

According to Sony, these are also compatible with the new LE Audio standard, so in the future, you should get access to features like Auraucast broadcast audio that would allow you, for example, to tap into an audio stream being broadcast from a certain TV at the gym while you’re on a treadmill.

Finally, the XM5s support Sony’s LDAC audio codec for devices that support it. Using LDAC can get you slightly better sound quality if you’re streaming high-res audio tracks from streaming services like Qobuz, Tidal and Amazon Music. iPhone users get the AAC audio codec, but a lot of Android phones support LDAC, though you sometimes have to activate that support via the developer mode in the settings.

If there’s a feature that’s missing it’s some sort of Find My Buds feature built into the Sony Headphones app. The AIrPods Pro 2 have a Precision Find My feature that really does come in handy at times.

Sony WF-1000XM5 noise-canceling performance

As far as performance goes, these feel like a bump up from the XM4s, though it’s not a quantum leap. They have new 8.2mm speaker driver units and 3 microphones in each bud and they’re powered by two new proprietary Sony chipsets with more processing power — the V2 Integrated processor and QN2e Noise-Canceling Processor.

Sony’s been in a nip-and-tuck battle with Bose for the best noise canceling and Sony says these buds have the best noise canceling based on its tests. It’s not a huge upgrade over the noise canceling that the XM4s offered but it is a little more effective and is quite impressive overall.

Like Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds 2, these buds are supposed to do a better job muffling a broader range of frequencies. From my anecdotal testing, they’re right there with the Bose buds for noise canceling, but it’s hard to declare an outright winner — the Bose also has great noise canceling. So do Apple’s AirPods Pro 2.

All three of these earbuds have adaptive noise canceling, though you can adjust the amount of noise canceling with the Bose using various mode settings. And all have use increasingly more powerful processors and software algorithms to interpret the sound around you to cancel it out. Why I say it’s hard to declare a winner is that sometimes one set of buds’ noise canceling works a touch better under certain conditions than another and vice versa. And maybe the AirPods Pro 2’s tips fit get you a tighter seal than the Sony’s. Or the Bose buds fit you get you a better seal. Alas, when it comes to noise-canceling supremacy, it’s not so cut and dry, even if a company declares its noise canceling is the best. And software algorithms do get updated and tweaked.

Sony WF-1000X5 sound quality

Thanks to the new drivers and upgraded processors, there are also improvements to sound quality, although it’s not a major bump up from from the XM4s, which already sounded excellent. That said, I thought the XM5s just sound a little cleaner — the treble sounds slightly more refined, the mids (where vocals live) comes across with a bit more clarity and the bass has slightly better definition. Everything’s been tightened up a bit so the earbud sound more accurate, which is what you’re aiming for from an audiophile perspective. I’m not sure the soundstage has expanded at all but the earbuds deliver big, voluminous sound that has nice depth and nuance to it (you can distinctly hear separate instruments in more complicated tracks).

Some of my test tracks include Spoon’s Knock Knock Knock, Athletes of God’s Don’t Wanna Be Normal, The Doors Touch Me – Take 3, Orbital’s Dirty Rat, Taylor Swift’s Vigilante Shit, Jvke’s Golden Hour and Drake’s Passionfruit. I used Qobuz both on my iPhone 14 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro.

Tonally, they’re a little warmer sounding than the AirPods Pro 2, which also sound excellent for their size, but the Sony XM5s arguably have a slight edge in overall tonal balance. They’re just a very pleasant set of earbuds to listen to and some of the best-sounding earbuds out there.

With Spoon’s Knock Knock Knock track, the AirPods Pro 2 have a touch more bite or sizzle to them — I had to lower the volume a bit using the AirPods Pro 2 when switching back and forth between the two buds with my iPhone 14 Pro streaming music from Qobuz. The vocals in particular came across sounding slightly more natural with the Sonys and the XM5s just sound slightly more refined overall. However, sound quality is subjective, and some people could very well prefer the AirPods Pro 2’s sound.

Sony WF-1000X5 voice calling performance

As for voice calling, Sony says you’re getting its “best ever call quality.” The earbuds have bone conduction sensors that Sony says “pick up the vibration of your voice directly from your skull bones, helping to isolate your speech from ambient sounds and background noise for clear calls even in loud environments.

I was generally quite impressed with the call quality and the noise reduction in particular — it seems like a pretty significant improvement over the XM4s (the new processors certainly are a factor in those improvements). Under harsher conditions a few callers did say my voice warbled a bit, but we test under some pretty harsh conditions in the noisy streets of New York (in my companion video, I show a test call that gives you a sense of the call quality).

Sony WF-1000XM5 battery life

Battery life on the WF-1000XM5 is the same as what you get with the XM4s: Around 8 hours on a single charge with noise canceling on at moderate volume levels and up to 12 hours with it off. The case holds two extra charges. That’s a couple of hours better than what you get with the AirPods Pro 2, so very good battery life overall.

Sony WF-1000XM5 final thoughts

As I said in my intro, these really are impressive earbuds. No, they’re not perfect and I’m sure Sony will issue some firmware updates to fix some bugs (the Sony Headphones iOS beta app I was using for this review did crash a couple of times on me) and perhaps improve performance a bit. But the key takeaway here is that Sony has managed to make its flagship earbuds significantly smaller while actually improving upon performance, with incremental upgrades to noise canceling and sound quality and a slightly bigger upgrade to voice calling. And for Android users anyway, there’s spatial audio with head tracking.

Apple users may find some advantages with the AirPods Pro 2, whether it’s from a fit or features perspective. As I’ve said before, the AIrPods Pro 2 are hard to beat for Apple users — they sound great for their size and also offer excellent noise canceling — and they are being discounted to around $200 or $100 less than these.

I also like the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 and the new Beats Studio Buds Plus, the latter of which cost significantly less. But the WF-1000X Mark 5s really are the complete package, particularly for Android users. Yeah, you could quibble about them not including a wider variety of ear tips and maybe missing a feature or two and costing so much. But they do largely live up to their hype.

Most TVs are now smart TVs, which allow you to easily watch the best streaming services, like Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney Plus and Netflix. These systems all offer access to the biggest streaming apps, but there are differences among them. Some offer robust search, a clean interface and a plethora of smaller apps to choose from, while others can be cluttered, slow and difficult to navigate.

At CNET, as part of our rigorous side-by-side TV testing regimen, we’ve reviewed all the major smart TV systems. We prefer Roku’s system for its simplicity, effective search features and its vast catalog of supported apps and services. Though it isn’t the only good OS — Google TV also has impressive features — we generally find that Roku is the easiest to use.

What’s the best Roku TV overall?

The best Roku TV tested and reviewed by CNET is the TCL 6-Series Roku TV. Year after year, it’s been our top pick because it just keeps getting better. It offers excellent image quality for the money, extras for gaming, a stand that accommodates a soundbar and, of course, the Roku TV OS. However, there are plenty of other TVs with the Roku platform built in.

Roku itself makes TVs now, but it also continues to sell sets made by partner manufacturers, like TCL, Hisense, Onn, Pioneer and Sharp. These televisions generally tend to sit at the low end of the price and picture quality spectrum. And you won’t find a Roku-branded top-of-the-line OLED TV yet, despite Roku offering manufacturers a blueprint on how to make one. For now, TCL’s mini-LED 6-Series TV is the most advanced Roku TV available.

Of course, you can turn any TV into a Roku by adding a Roku streaming device, which typically costs less than $50. You’ll be sacrificing an HDMI port (and possibly a USB port, too). But in return, you can consider other TVs with higher-end options such as full-array local dimming, OLED screens, a 120Hz refresh rate, 4K UHD resolution, high dynamic range, a plethora of HDMI ports, and even gaming-centric features — including variable refresh rate — to go with a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X.

But if you’re convinced you want an all-in-one Roku TV, here are the best you can get.

How does CNET test TVs?

Our TV reviews follow a rigorous, unbiased evaluation process honed over nearly two decades of TV reviews. Our primary TV test lab has specialized equipment for measuring light and color, including a Konica Minolta CS-2000 spectroradiometer, a Murideo Sig-G 4K HDR signal generator and an AVPro Connect 8×8 4K HDR distribution matrix. We use Portrait Displays CalMan Ultimate software to evaluate every TV we review. In every CNET TV review, three or more similar TVs are compared side-by-side in various lighting conditions playing different media, including movies, TV shows and games, across a variety of test categories, from color to video processing to gaming to HDR. Our reviews also account for design, features, smart TV performance, HDMI input and gaming compatibility, and other factors.

One important aspect of image quality we test is overall brightness. Here’s how it compares in nits across select TVs listed above.

Light Output in Nits

TV	Brightest mode (HDR)	Accurate mode (HDR)	Brightest mode (SDR)	Accurate mode (SDR)
Samsung QN65Q90B	3,316	1,981	2,625	974
Hisense U8H	1,867	1,867	1,605	1,605
TCL 65R655	1,387	1,194	1,292	624
Vizio M65QXM-K03	939	742	958	608
LG OLED65C2	812	759	413	389
Roku TV Plus (65-inch)	514	455	579	404

Check out How We Test TVs for more details.

How to choose a TV

With all of the TVs available today, and all of the technical terms and jargon associated with television technology, it can be tough to figure out what’s important. Here’s a quick guide to help cut through the confusion.

Price: TVs range in price from $100 to more than $2,000. Smaller screens are cheaper, well-known brands are more expensive and spending more money can also get you better image quality. Most entry-level TVs have a good enough picture for most people, but TVs last a long time, so it might be worth spending more to get a better picture. It’s also best to shop for a TV in the fall, when prices are lower.

Screen size: Bigger is better in our book. We recommend a size of at least 43 inches for a bedroom TV and at least 55 inches for a living room or main TV — and 65 inches or larger is best. More than any other “feature,” stepping up in TV screen size is the best use of your money. One of the most common post-TV-purchase complaints we’ve heard is from people who didn’t go big enough. And we almost never hear people complain that their TV is too large.

Capability: Among entry-level TVs the most important feature is what kind of smart TV system the TV uses. Among midrange models, look for a feature including full-array local dimming, mini-LED and 120Hz refresh rate, which (unlike some other extras) do help improve the picture in our experience. And among high-end TVs, OLED technology is your best bet.

For more TV buying advice check out How to Buy a TV.

Roku TV FAQs

While it’s true that most of us tend to shop most heavily during the holiday season, there are plenty of times when you may want to buy someone the perfect gift — and you that’s true even when there’s no particular “reason” to surprise your friends and loved ones with something special.

From a “thinking of you” token to something a bit more meaningful, there are a lot of great times to buy somebody a present. Figuring out the best gift to give can be difficult, depending on the recipient, but we’ve gathered a bunch of our favorite options here to make things easier for you when it comes to birthdays, graduations, anniversaries and any other big celebrations. From top tech to classic gift ideas and made-to-order gifts with a personal touch, you can find our picks for the best gifts 2023 has to offer for any occasion down below.

Best gift ideas under $25

More great gift ideas under $25

• Nomad Camper Hat: $25
• Aromatherapy shower steamers (6-pack): $15
• Bonsai tree starter kit: $25
• Fly by Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp: $17
• Beard grooming kit: $20
• Popco microwave popcorn maker: $20
• Amazon Basics 4-piece pliers set: $21
• BlueEar Bluetooth beanie hat: $21

Best gift ideas under $50

More great gift ideas under $50:

• Engraved decanter set with glasses: From $35
• Apple AirTag tracker: $29
• West Coast IPA brewing kit: $50
• Razer Kishi mobile game controller: $45
• Anker 65W USB-C Charger: $46
• Flannel cookie blanket: $33
• Yeti Rambler 14-ounce mug with lid: $30
• Locca premium boba tea kit: $42
• 32-ounce Hydro flask with straw lid: $50

Best gift ideas under $100

More great gift ideas under $100:

• Barrington dartboard cabinet set: $78
• Crosley Voyager turntable: $70
• Ember Mug (6-ounce): $100
• Keurig K-Mini coffee maker: $100
• Instant Accu Slim sous vide precision cooker: $98
• Nomad leather card wallet: $70 (Update: Currently unavailable)
• Meater Plus with Bluetooth repeater: $100

Best gift ideas over $100

More great gifts over $100:

• Nomad Base One Max Charger: $150
• T-Mobile travel suitcase: $325 (Update: Currently unavailable)

Best personalized gift ideas

More great personalized gift ideas:

• Engraved leather wallet: From $37
• Luna Bean Keepsake hands casting kit: $40
• Engraved picture wallet insert: From $15
• State of Love personalized canvas: $70
• Engraved screwdrivers: From $18
• Custom face socks: From $16

Best electronics gift ideas

More great electronics gift ideas:

• Roku Streambar: $100
• Nomad iPhone cases: From $40
• Anker Powerline II 3-in-1 charging cable: $22
• Kodak Step wireless photo printer: $85
• AfterShokz Aeropex Mini headphones: $180
• Neato D8 robot vacuum cleaner: $400
• Earfun Air Pro 2 headphones: $70
• Nomad Base Station Mini wireless charger: $70 (Update: Currently unavailable)
• MyQ Smart garage door opener: $29

Best subscription service gift ideas

More great subscription service gift ideas:

• FabFitFun seasonal boxes: $50 per box
• HelloFresh: Get 65% off and free shipping on first box
• Dollar Shave Club: $9 a month
• IPSY beauty box: $13 a month
• Billie Smooth Operator starter kit: $30
• Indie States of America: $120 every 3 months
• Hot Sauce of the Month: $28 a month
• Firstleaf curated wine box: From $40 a month

One thing about me is that I’m notorious for dropping my phone, sometimes to the point that it looks like I’m purposely dropping it. I’ve also always been one to choose a phone case for the aesthetic over the protection. Not a great combination. However, with Casetify’s latest Bounce Extreme collection, I no longer have to choose.

Though I’ve always enjoyed Casetify’s past phone cases, the Bounce Extreme takes iPhone protection up another level. The MagSafe compatible Bounce Extreme Phone Case features EcoShock material, bumper corners, snow- and waterproof material and is built to withstand drops of almost 10 feet. Meant for adrenaline junkies and repeat phone shatterers such as myself, the new cases are thick enough to provide solid protection while still being able to fit in your pocket.

At first I wasn’t a fan of the bumper corners, but after dropping my phone several times while using the case, I’m so glad they’re there. Currently the case is available only in clear for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, but if you have an older model phone, you can shop the previous Bounce collection, which includes features that are similar to those you’ll find in the Bounce Extreme collection. If you’re going purely for aesthetics, then I’d recommend just shopping the original Bounce collection, as there are more case options available and the bumpers on the sides don’t take up as much space.

In addition to the new phone cases, Casetify also released the Bounce Extreme cross-body strap and the Bounce Extreme float strap.

A stunning screen is just one part of a complete home entertainment setup. For a truly immersive watch experience, you’ll want to pair it with a soundbar for powerful, room-filling sound. And right now you can pick up one of our overall favorite models of 2023 at a discount. Amazon is currently offering $99 off the Klipsch Cinema 400 — a top-rated midrange model and a great option for most people — which drops the price down to just $230. There’s no set expiraition for this deal, so we’d recommend getting your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

The Klipsch Cinema 400 earned top marks in our review thanks to its excellent audio, stunning design and premium build. It’s a two-piece setup that boasts 400W of power for a movie theater experience right in your own living room. It includes a 2.1-channel soundbar, as well as a wireless 8-inch subwoofer for rich, booming bass. It’s a simple plug-and-play system that connects to your TV via an HDMI-ARC port and is controlled with its own remote. Only having a single HDMI port is a bit of a drawback, but it also supports Bluetooth connectivity for convenient wireless streaming. Plus it has a preset dialogue enhancement mode so it’s not a struggle to hear what characters are saying over the music or sound effects.

And if you’re looking for a different setup, you can check out our full roundup of all the best soundbar deals for even more bargains.