Finding quality talent can be difficult. A staggering 99% of 300 US hiring managers say sourcing qualified talent is a challenge, according to a recent Indeed-commissioned survey with Harris Poll.1 Over half of those surveyed have seen reductions in their recruiting personnel, while they say only 36% of passive candidates are responsive, wasting the time and effort of an already-limited team.
Now, imagine using a sourcing tool that automatically delivers a list of quality candidates matching the requirements of a job description you wrote — that's the experience with Indeed's new AI-powered Smart Sourcing.
Building on the Indeed Resume product, which allows recruiters to search the 295 million resumes on Indeed,Smart Sourcing adds the efficiency of AI to your talent sourcing. Rather than manually filtering through talent, Smart Sourcing's algorithms match active candidates to your open roles. Custom-generated messaging and collaboration tools can further streamline your workflow while maintaining an individualized approach to candidate communication.
In fact, 92% of users agree that Smart Sourcing is the preferred product for sourcing quality talent.2
"AI has been at the heart of Indeed's products for years," said Donal McMahon, vice president of engineering and data science at Indeed. "The growth of generative AI brings with it the potential for a greater understanding of job seeker and employer needs so that we can create better, quicker matches than ever before."
Here's how the tool can address your talent-sourcing pain points.
Get quality and engaged matched candidates, fast
While Indeed Resume's search is effective, providing 69,000 successful connections between employers and job seekers each day, the Indeed-commissioned Harris Poll survey found that 74% of hiring managers would prefer to match with qualified talent based on skills and relevant experiences instead of manually searching for them. Smart Sourcing's matched candidates do exactly that — simply toggle between your jobs on Indeed via a drop-down menu to instantly view recommended candidates, then invite them to apply.
As you accept or reject candidates, the Smart Sourcing AI will learn what you prefer over time. This lets you curate your matched candidates' results like a Spotify playlist, tailored to your unique preferences.
You can still manually search and filter resumes or use automated recommendations to expedite the process. Matches are based on the keyword relevancy of your job post and job seeker resumes, job seekers' search activity on Indeed, and how recently job seekers have been on the site. This helps Indeed's matching algorithms present you with the most relevant candidates who are demonstrating interest in new opportunities.
Universal Health Services (UHS), a leading hospital and healthcare provider with 400 facilities across the US, Puerto Rico, and the UK, has reported its candidate-response rate improving 30% since using Smart Sourcing.
"Smart Sourcing serves up appropriate candidates that tend to be more eager to respond and are active on Indeed. So we get both quality candidates that are a fit and a higher response rate than with another similar tool," said one director of recruiting at UHS.
In the survey, 70% of 1,107 US workers agree that companies who have contacted them in the past could have done a better job of reviewing their skills and experience beforehand. This lack of preparation, personalization, and attention to detail in recruiting can reflect poorly on your company.
That's why matched candidates include candidate highlights, a generative AI capability that analyzes and summarizes each resume to suggest why the candidate could be a great fit for your role or to point out potential gaps in their experience. This accelerated evaluation enables you to make better-informed hiring decisions to preserve both your employer brand and the candidate experience.
Matched candidates you invite to apply are 23 times more likely to apply to your job than job seekers who only see it when searching on Indeed, and employers who use this feature when sponsoring their jobs hire 20% faster.3,4
Connect to talent with AI-powered messaging
Employers contacting candidates through Indeed's resume search receive a positive response from a job seeker in just 10 hours on average,5 but 95% of hiring managers believe that their productivity would be even better if administrative tasks like candidate outreach could be assisted by AI. Indeed's customizable AI-powered messages reduce the time and effort it takes to manually write, personalize, and proofread candidate communications.
This allows you to generate a customized message based on the content of the candidate's resume and your job posting. You can generate message variations by the desired tone and refine the information before sending it.
"The AI-powered messages are very effective because they're personalized for each individual candidate. It's amazing how the AI pulls in the right pieces of a job description to describe the highlights of the job and uses information from a candidate's resume to say why it's a great fit," the UHS recruiting director said.
With a professional subscription, you can also automate post-outreach follow-up with custom reminder messages. Message analytics track how your templates perform and provide actionable insights on candidate engagement, helping you maximize ROI.
Optimize recruiting workflows and team productivity
Recruiting and hiring can be complex, with work distributed across multiple people and platforms. Smart Sourcing Professional Subscriptions simplify the process, allowing you to invite collaborators to sourcing projects and accelerate the candidate feedback process with collaborative task-management tools.
For example, say you've used Smart Sourcing to curate a short list of suitable, responsive candidates. You can easily invite the hiring manager to provide feedback, even if they don't have a subscription. Once they've chosen which candidates will move on to the following hiring stages and left notes about their decisions, you can then bulk-send invitations about the next steps with AI-customized messages.
You can also take your sourcing with you on the go with the Indeed Connect for Employers app. Once you've reached out to potential candidates, notifications alert you when they respond to an application invite or a message, allowing you to reply in real-time and keep the hiring process moving forward.
Getting started with Smart Sourcing
Smart Sourcing subscriptions are available starting today, and existing Indeed Resume subscriptions have transitioned to Smart Sourcing. Available in both Standard and Professional options, subscriptions include access to candidate search and filters, matching quality candidates to your job, and offering faster candidate connections.
"AI is a powerful efficiency tool, but it still needs human decision-making — especially when it comes to someone's livelihood," McMahon said. "As an HR professional, let the machine do the busywork so you can invest more into the unique, human value you bring to your role."
Survey methodology:This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Indeed from February 12–20, 2024, among 1,107 employed adults, ages 18 and older, and 300 hiring managers (those with sole or primary decision making in the recruiting and hiring process) with 2,000+ employees. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the employee sample data is accurate to within +/– 2.6 percentage points and the hiring manager sample data is accurate to within +/— 5.6% using a 95% confidence level.
Sources
1Harris Poll survey of US hiring managers with 2,000+ employees (n=300) and employed adults, ages 18 and older (n=1107), conducted on behalf of Indeed, February 2024
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The best 65-inch TVs include top models from Samsung and Sony.
Steven Cohen/Business Insider
Size is one of the most important factors when deciding on a new TV. Many brands use 65 inches as the flagship size to showcase their top models, and this option is perfect for buyers who want a big screen that still fits in most living rooms. The best 65-inch TV for your needs will vary depending on your budget and viewing habits, but there are several great options.
Through hands-on testing informed by more than a decade covering the home entertainment industry, we selected the best 65-inch TVs you can buy. Our top recommendation is the Samsung S90C 4K TV. Thanks to its OLED panel and quantum dot technology, it delivers stunning contrast and color. But if that's too expensive, the Hisense U6K is the best 65-inch TV you can snag on a budget. Despite its low price, it boasts advanced image quality features like a Mini LED backlight.
Below are all seven of our picks for the best 65-inch TVs. Our recommendations cover every display type and budget, so you're sure to find something here to suit your needs.
Best designer display: Samsung Frame – See at Amazon
Best overall
When it comes to balancing price and performance, Samsung's S90C is the best 65-inch TV — and our pick for the best TV period — that you can buy. For the money, there simply isn't a better display out there.
Unlike OLED TVs from LG, the S90C uses quantum dots to enable brighter colors. Coupled with the TV's infinite contrast ratio, the S90C's quantum dot filter leads to gorgeous high dynamic range (HDR) images with an impressive peak brightness of around 1,000 nits. You'd have to pay at least $600 more to get a 65-inch OLED that delivers better picture performance than this.
The Samsung S90C has better color performance than other 65-inch OLEDs in its price range.
Ryan Waniata/Business Insider
And though it's disappointing that Samsung doesn't support Dolby Vision, which can provide a more finely-tuned HDR image, the S90C's HDR10 and HDR10+ capabilities are so strong that we don't think most people will notice a difference. You can learn more about how different HDR formats compare in our HDR TV guide. The S90C also upscales lower-resolution content well, though it can't match the picture processing on a high-end Sony display.
Whether you're watching 4K movies at night or just flipping through cable channels in an average living room during the day, the S90C looks fantastic. The smart TV interface is also solid, though we prefer other platforms like Roku OS. On the plus side, Samsung's operating system is the only smart TV platform supporting Xbox Game Pass, which lets members stream high-end games without a console. The TV even supports a high 144Hz refresh rate when paired with a gaming PC.
Samsung does sell an updated version of this TV for 2024, called the S90D. But while the new model is a bit brighter, it's also much more expensive. When looking at the overall value for your dollar, we think the S90C remains the best 65-inch TV you can buy.
Hisense's U6K proves you can still snag a great 65-inch TV on a budget. Despite some performance tradeoffs compared to our more expensive picks, the U6K delivers incredible value at this size.
This budget-friendly TV uses a QLED display with local dimming and quantum dots. And while you might find some similarly priced options from competitors with those features, the U6K is the only TV in its price range that also uses Mini LED technology. Mini LEDs enable more precise control of a TV's dimming zones to produce better contrast and less blooming (halos around bright objects).
Hisense's U6K is the most affordable 65-inch Mini LED TV you can buy.
Ryan Waniata/Insider
The U6K's dimming performance is great for its class, but its black levels aren't as deep as you'd see on more expensive QLED sets. The U6K also has limited brightness compared to high-end QLEDs, so it's not as good for rooms that let in a lot of light.
But at a peak of around 600 nits, the TV can still deliver highlights with just enough pop to show off the benefits of high dynamic range content. And thanks to its quantum dot filter, it offers an expanded range of colors when watching HDR programs. You'll just want to watch those programs from a centered view since colors and contrast dramatically fade when sitting off to the side.
However, this level of off-axis performance is the norm for TVs in this price range. And like most sets in this class, the U6K is limited to a 60Hz panel rather than 120Hz, so you can't enable high frame rate support on a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S. But for a typical sale price of around $500-$550, there simply isn't another budget-friendly 65-inch TV that balances cost and performance like the U6K.
Hisense does have a 2024 version of this display, called the U6N, but it's more expensive without offering a major upgrade. For now, the U6K is still the best 65-inch TV you can get for such a low price.
Those who want a design-focused 65-inch TV that doesn't skimp on top-notch home theater performance should check out the LG G3.
Like Samsung's popular Frame TV, the G3 has a thin profile and a flush wall mount that lets you hang it on your wall with virtually no gap. But unlike the Frame, the G3 uses an OLED panel for superior picture quality with much better contrast, black levels, and viewing angles. You miss out on the Frame's matte screen, separate connection box, and interchangeable bezels, but the jump in image performance is substantial.
The G3 is designed for hanging on your wall and looks best when mounted that way, but you can buy a traditional stand separately.
Steven Cohen/Business Insider
And despite not using quantum dots like high-end OLEDs from Sony and Samsung, the G3 is one of the brightest OLEDs on the market. This high brightness also distinguishes the G3 from its otherwise similar predecessor, the G2 OLED TV. During our tests, we measured a peak of around 1,470 nits on the G3, while the G2 topped out at around 1,000.
But while the G3 looks gorgeous on a wall, it's not a top pick if you plan to put it on an entertainment console. It doesn't even come with a stand, so you'd have to buy one separately, which adds to the cost, and we don't like how the panel tilts back slightly when it's attached to its stand.
That said, LG does sell a new 2024 edition of this display, called the G4, which now includes a stand if you buy the 65-inch size. And the new stand no longer tilts the panel. However, based on our hands-on testing with the G4, it only offers minor improvements in image quality, so we think the cheaper G3 is still the better buy for wall mounting.
Best for home theaters
Sony's A95L OLED is built for home theater enthusiasts. It's expensive, but the display edges out the picture performance of every other 4K TV on the market.
Compared to its already impressive predecessor, the A95K, the A95L offers a big upgrade in one key area: peak brightness. We measured a peak of around 1,500 nits with the TV set in its most accurate picture mode. That's a 50% increase over the previous model and one of the highest brightness levels we've ever seen on an OLED. This lets the TV display specular highlights with more realistic intensity when watching HDR content graded beyond 1,000 nits.
Sony's A95L has the best picture quality of any 65-inch TV on the market.
Steven Cohen/Insider
But while the A95L was the OLED brightness champ last year, Samsung's brand-new S95D has now surpassed it with a peak of 1,700 nits. However, the A95L still distinguishes itself from competitors thanks to Sony's proprietary picture processing powered by its "Cognitive Processor XR." Though that sounds like marketing jargon, this tech makes a difference when optimizing the TV's images. Its HDR tone mapping is also more accurate than Samsung's, and it supports Dolby Vision, so you'll get slightly better high-dynamic-range performance when watching Dolby Vision content.
The display complements its high-end picture with a premium design and a unique stand that can be attached in a low- or high-profile configuration. Low allows the TV to sit flush with your entertainment console, while high gives you enough room to put a soundbar in front.
The A95L also boasts reliable Google TV streaming and comes with a webcam that can be used for video calls and gesture controls, which is a cool extra perk. From image quality to design, the A95L fully earns its premium status. We wish it had more HDMI 2.1 ports and a 144Hz mode for PC gaming, but those omissions are minor compared to everything the A95L does right. Though most people will be satisfied with a less expensive TV, the A95L is ideal for videophiles willing to pay a premium to get the best movie-watching experience.
Best smart TV interface
There are many different smart TV interfaces out there, but Roku's OS (operating system) is our favorite for its ease of use. The brand's OS is available on some entry-level TVs from TCL and Hisense, but none of those options perform as well as the company's own Roku Pro Series TV.
The Roku Pro Series features a QLED panel with a Mini LED backlight and local dimming. This gives it great control over its light output, with better black level and contrast performance than cheaper QLED TVs, like the Hisense U6K. It can also get much brighter than that model with over 1,000 nits of peak luminance.
That said, the Pro Series can't quite match the brightness levels or video processing quality of other QLEDs in this class, like the TCL QM8 or Hisense U8 series. It also suffers from poor viewing angles and reflections in bright rooms, but those are common drawbacks for most QLED TVs.
Roku's smart TV interface is straightforward and reliable.
Ryan Waniata/Business Insider
Thankfully, the Roku Pro Series makes up for these cons with snappy smart TV navigation and key design perks. The Roku homepage is simple to use and puts all your favorite apps upfront as large tiles that you can organize as you wish. We prefer this over the more content-heavy focus of other platforms, like the Fire TV OS, which can come across as a bit cluttered and overwhelming. Moving through services is speedy and we didn't encounter any major hiccups in our tests.
We also love the TV's compact remote, which charges via USB, so you don't need batteries. It has backlit keys, too, for easy use in a dark room. You can access voice search by speaking a wake word or by pressing a button on the remote. And if you ever lose the remote, it has a built-in speaker that will chime when you press a button on the TV.
This focus on user-friendly conveniences extends to the TV's stand as well. The left and right feet don't require tools to attach and instead use a knob system that you can turn with your hands. The stand can also be positioned in a high or low setting to make room for a soundbar.
There are other QLEDs with better image quality in this price range, but the Roku Pro Series is the best 65-inch TV for buyers who want an upper midrange display that emphasizes general ease of use.
If you want a bright display, the TCL QM8 is easily one of the best 65-inch TVs you can buy. The QM8's QLED panel can deliver a peak of around 2,000 nits, which makes it one of the brightest TVs on the market. This impressive brightness makes HDR images pop while enabling better SDR performance in rooms with a lot of ambient light.
Of course, it's not enough for a TV to just get bright. A display must also have excellent control over its light output to maintain great image quality. And thankfully, the QM8 does just that. With its Mini LED backlight and local dimming capabilities, the TV can precisely adjust its contrast to produce deep black levels and vibrant specular highlights, and we didn't encounter any notable blooming around bright objects during our review. You also get extensive gaming features, with 144Hz support when paired with a PC.
The TCL QM8 can reach a whopping 2,000 nits of peak brightness.
Ryan Waniata/Insider
On the downside, like most QLED TVs, the QM8's viewing angles are mediocre, which causes colors to fade and contrast to distort if you sit to the side of the display. And though the TV looks fantastic in bright rooms thanks to its high light output, we noticed that its anti-reflective coating can cause a rainbow-streak effect when it reflects certain overhead lights. If you want a similarly bright 65-inch QLED without these issues, we recommend the Samsung QN90C, but you'll have to pay at least $600 more.
The QM8 uses the Google TV operating system with access to all of the best streaming services, and it includes a Google Assistant voice remote. Navigation is snappy, and performance is a bit smoother than what we encountered on the Hisense U8K, which is the QM8's direct competitor. However, we did run into an odd WiFi issue with our internet setup that caused false "WiFi Not Connected" messages to pop up. This appears to be an isolated problem, though, and not one that other customers have experienced.
Despite minor quirks, the TCL QM8 is a true standout for the money, with a bright QLED panel that offers high-end image quality for a midrange price. A more expensive 2024 version of this display is now available with an even brighter image. We think the cheaper 2023 QM8 remains a better value for now, but that could change once the 2024 model comes down in price.
The Samsung Frame TV is perfect for buyers who want a 65-inch display that can blend seamlessly into their living room decor. Built with an emphasis on design, the TV features interchangeable bezels and a matte screen that can make it look like a piece of art hanging on your wall.
The bezels come in different styles that magnetically attach to the TV. The Frame also has a Slim-Fit Wall Mount that lets you hang it flush against your wall. And unlike most TVs, the Frame uses a separate One Connect Box to house all its ports, so you just need one cable running from the display. If you need to connect an AV receiver, streaming device, or gaming console, you simply hook those up to the TV's external box, which removes all those unsightly wires on your wall.
The Frame TV's matte screen gives it a more canvas-like appearance than a typical glossy TV.
Steven Cohen/Business Insider
The screen features a matte finish rather than the glossy look of most modern TVs. This helps reduce reflections and gives the Frame a canvas-like appearance. The Frame also has an "Art Mode," which lets it display paintings, photos, or other images when not used as a TV. Built-in motion sensors can be activated so the Art Mode turns on when the TV senses someone in the room. You can use your own images or have the Frame cycle through art from Samsung's Art Store (subscription required).
But while the Frame has a high-end design, its picture quality is a mixed bag. The QLED panel offers wide color support, but brightness is limited compared to Samsung's top QLEDs. It also lacks local dimming, which results in the worst contrast and black-level performance of any 65-inch TV in this guide.
The Frame isn't geared toward wowing you with high dynamic range imagery. Instead, it's meant to appeal to buyers who want a 65-inch display that can serve as both a design piece for the living room and a capable smart TV for casual viewing. And in that sense, it excels.
The new 2024 Frame TV offers some color improvements over the older model but otherwise delivers similar performance. However, the 2024 model often sells for the same price as its predecessor. Unless you find the older model on sale for less, you should snag the 2024 edition.
How we test 65-inch TVs
We evaluate key factors like smart TV navigation and picture quality on every 65-inch display we test.
Steven Cohen/Insider
To pick the best 65-inch TVs for our guide, we used a combination of hands-on testing and research bolstered by more than a decade's worth of expertise covering the home entertainment product industry. When we test displays, we evaluate them for general picture clarity, contrast performance, HDR peak brightness, color, off-axis viewing, smart TV interface, and value for the money.
Brightness is measured using an X-Rite iDisplay Plus colorimeter. Other objective display capabilities are evaluated using test patterns found on the Spears & UHD HDR Benchmark 4K Blu-ray disc.
To get a sense of real-world performance, we also watch scenes from movies and TV shows with clips specifically selected to emphasize a display's black levels, highlights, color capabilities, and upscaling. Our demo material includes a mix of 4K, 1080p high definition (HD), and standard definition (SD) content from streaming devices, cable TV, and Blu-ray discs. We also watch content in different lighting conditions to evaluate bright-room and dark-room performance.
The best 65-inch TVs will also have excellent smart TV features, so we test overall navigation speed and app stability, voice search, digital assistant integration, and extra perks like game streaming support.
65-inch TV FAQs
We think 65 inches is the ideal size for buyers who want a big-screen display that can still fit in most living rooms.
Ryan Waniata/Insider
Is it worth buying a 65-inch TV?
If you have the space for it, we think 65 inches is the ideal size to consider when shopping for a new TV, especially a 4K model. Many brands use 65 inches as their flagship size to show off their best 4K TVs, and this size is great for delivering big-screen immersion without taking up too much room.
However, you can still find excellent TV models in smaller sizes if you need something more compact. Likewise, top displays are available in larger sizes if you want an even more immersive screen.
Check out our other size-specific guides for more display recommendations:
Exactly how much you should spend on a 65-inch TV depends on your viewing needs. The best 65-inch TVs range in price from around $500 to over $3,000. You can also find cheaper entry-level 65-inch TVs for under $400, but we generally recommend paying more for one of our abovementioned picks.
Buyers shopping for a midrange 65-inch TV should expect to spend $500-$1,000. You can find 65-inch QLED TVs in this price range that offer advanced picture quality features, like local dimming, and good brightness performance that can reach 600-1,000 nits.
Buyers who want an upper-midrange or high-end 65-inch TV should be looking to spend $1,000-$3,000. You can find advanced 65-inch QLED TVs that deliver up to 2,000 nits of brightness in the $1,000-$2,000 range, while the best OLED TVs with infinite contrast ratios tend to sell for $1,600-$3,000.
How far should you sit from a 65-inch 4K TV?
The benefits of a 4K screen become most noticeable when you sit at a distance of around one to 1.5 times the size of your TV. At that distance, you'll be able to see the extra detail that 4K resolution offers compared to a 1080p high-definition screen. The ideal viewing distance for a 65-inch 4K TV should be between 5.4 and 8.1 feet from your TV.
You can sit farther away and still enjoy a 65-inch 4K TV, but that range will yield the best visible detail. Otherwise, you'll want a bigger screen to get the full benefits of 4K.
Should you purchase a 65-inch 8K TV?
Though some brands do sell 65-inch 8K TVs, we don't recommend buying one in this screen size. When viewing it at a reasonable distance, 65 inches just isn't big enough to show off the benefits of an 8K resolution screen.
A 75-inch or larger 8K TV is better suited for highlighting the additional detail you get with 8K resolution, but even then, the benefits are subtle. We recommend saving money and going with a 4K model if you want a 65-inch TV.
Do 65-inch TVs have good sound quality?
Though some 65-inch TV models have better built-in speaker systems than smaller displays, performance is still limited compared to a separate soundbar or surround sound setup. Speakers integrated into most TVs use small audio drivers that can lead to weak bass and muddy dialogue.
To get better audio performance, we recommend buying a soundbar. For the most immersive experience, you should look for models that support Dolby Atmos, a spatial audio format that can spread sound effects around your room.
The best 65-inch TVs all feature integrated digital tuners that allow you to hook up an antenna (sold separately) to receive free over-the-air (OTA) broadcasts. So long as you have good reception in your area, you can watch local channels like ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox without a cable subscription.
The Samsung S90C has better color performance than other 65-inch OLEDs in its price range.
Ryan Waniata/Business Insider
When it comes to balancing performance and price, Samsung's S90C is the best 65-inch TV — and our pick for the best TV period — that you can buy. For the money, there simply isn't a better display out there.
Unlike OLED TVs from LG, the S90C uses quantum dots to enable brighter colors. Coupled with the TV's infinite contrast ratio, the S90C's quantum dot filter leads to gorgeous high dynamic range (HDR) images. We measured an impressive peak brightness of around 1,000 nits during our testing. You'd have to pay $700 more to get a 65-inch OLED that delivers better picture performance than this.
And though it's disappointing that Samsung doesn't support Dolby Vision, which can provide a more finely-tuned HDR image, the S90C's HDR10 and HDR10+ capabilities are so strong that we don't think most people will notice a difference. The TV also upscales lower-resolution content well, though it can't quite match the picture processing you'd get on a high-end Sony display.
Whether you're watching 4K movies in a dark room or just flipping through cable channels in a bright living room, the S90C looks fantastic. The smart TV interface is solid as well, though we still prefer other platforms like Roku OS. On the plus side, Samsung's operating system is the only smart TV platform supporting Xbox Game Pass so that you can stream high-end games without a console. The TV can even support a high 144Hz refresh rate when paired with a gaming PC.
Hisense's U6K is the most affordable 65-inch Mini LED TV you can buy.
Ryan Waniata/Insider
Hisense's U6K is proof that you can still snag a great 65-inch TV on a budget. Though there are some performance tradeoffs compared to our more expensive picks, the U6K delivers incredible value at this size.
This budget-friendly TV uses a QLED display with local dimming and quantum dots. And while you might find some similarly priced options from competitors with those features, the U6K is the only TV in its price range that also uses Mini LED technology. Mini LEDs can enable more precise control of a TV's dimming zones to produce better contrast and less blooming.
The U6K's dimming performance is great for its class, but its black levels aren't as deep as you'd see on more expensive sets. The U6K also has limited brightness compared to high-end QLEDs, so it's not as good for rooms that let in a lot of light.
But at a peak of around 600 nits, we found that the TV can still deliver highlights with just enough pop to show off the benefits of high dynamic range content. And thanks to its quantum dot filter, it delivers an expanded range of colors when watching HDR programs. You'll just want to be watching those programs from a centered view since colors and contrast faded when we sat off to the side in our testing. However, this level of off-axis performance is the norm for TVs in this price range.
For a common sale price of around $500-$550, there simply isn't another 65-inch TV that balances price and performance quite like the U6K.
The Hisense U7K delivers bright HDR performance and a high refresh rate for a great price.
Ryan Waniata/Business Insider
You can find plenty of 65-inch TVs in the $800 price range, but few deliver all the picture quality perks that you get with Hisense's U7K. Like the U6K, the U7K uses quantum dots for wide color support and a Mini LED backlight, but this model steps things up with more dimming zones and a brighter picture.
With a peak brightness of around 1,000 nits, the U7K gets plenty bright and delivers great HDR performance. It supports all major formats, including HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. Contrast is also great for a QLED thanks to the TV's Mini LEDs and local dimming, which enables it to adjust brightness across precise zones.
Black levels are also excellent for a TV of this type, but while reviewing the set, we found local dimming fluctuations to be a bit more noticeable than on pricier QLEDs. The U7K's Google TV interface can lag a little, too, and the display has mediocre viewing angles, so this isn't the best 65-inch TV for viewers who plan to sit off-center from their display. We recommend going with an OLED TV or one of Samsung's high-end QLEDs, like the QN90C, to get better off-axis quality.
But considering its low price, it's hard to find much fault with the U7K's picture performance. It even manages to pack in a 120Hz panel that can go up to 144Hz with a PC for high-frame-rate gaming. If you just want a great all-around 65-inch QLED for under $1,000, the U7K should be at the top of your list.
Sony's A95L has the best picture quality of any 65-inch TV on the market.
Steven Cohen/Insider
Sony's A95L OLED is built for home theater enthusiasts. It's expensive, but the TV beats the Samsung S90C's picture performance in every way. In fact, it edges out the picture performance of every other 4K TV on the market.
Compared to its already impressive predecessor, the A95K, the A95L offers a big upgrade in one key area: peak brightness. We measured a peak of around 1,500 nits with the TV set in its most accurate picture mode. That's a 50% increase over the previous model and the highest brightness performance we've ever seen on an OLED. This lets the TV display specular highlights with more realistic intensity when watching HDR content that's graded beyond 1,000 nits.
The A95L also sets itself apart from competitors thanks to Sony's proprietary picture processing powered by the company's "Cognitive Processor XR." Though that sounds like marketing jargon, this tech does actually make a difference when it comes to optimizing the TV's images. Its HDR tone mapping is also more accurate than Samsung's, and it supports Dolby Vision, so you'll get superior high dynamic range performance.
The display complements its high-end picture with a premium design with a unique stand that can be attached in a low- or high-profile configuration. Low allows the TV to sit flush with your entertainment console, while high gives you enough room to put a soundbar in front.
The A95L also boasts reliable Google TV streaming and comes with a webcam that can be used for video calls and gesture controls, which is a cool extra perk. From image quality to design, the A95L fully earns its premium status. We do wish it had more HDMI 2.1 ports and a 144Hz mode for PC gaming, but those omissions are minor compared to everything the A95L does right. Though most people will be satisfied with a less expensive TV, the A95L is ideal for shoppers willing to pay a premium to get the best movie-watching experience.
Best for high brightness: TCL QM8
The TCL QM8 can reach a whopping 2,000 nits of peak brightness.
Ryan Waniata/Insider
If you want a bright display, the TCL QM8 is easily one of the best 65-inch TVs you can buy. The QM8's QLED panel can deliver a peak of around 2,000 nits, which makes it among the brightest TVs on the market. This impressive brightness makes HDR images pop while enabling better SDR performance in rooms that let in a lot of ambient light.
Of course, it's not enough for a TV to just get really bright. A display must also have excellent control over its light output to maintain great image quality. And thankfully, the QM8 does just that. With its Mini LED backlight and local dimming capabilities, the TV is able to precisely adjust its contrast to produce deep black levels and vibrant specular highlights, and we didn't encounter any notable blooming around bright objects during our review. You also get extensive gaming features, with 144Hz support when paired with a PC.
On the downside, like most QLED TVs, the QM8's viewing angles are mediocre, which causes colors to fade and contrast to distort if you sit to the side of the display. And though the TV looks fantastic in bright rooms thanks to its high light output, we noticed that its anti-reflective coating can cause a rainbow-streak effect when it reflects certain overhead lights. If you want a similarly bright 65-inch QLED without these issues, we recommend the Samsung QN90C, but you'll have to pay at least $500 more.
The QM8 uses the Google TV operating system with access to popular streaming apps, and it includes a Google Assistant voice remote. Navigation is snappy, and performance is a bit smoother than what we encountered on the Hisense U8K, which is the QM8's direct competitor. However, we did run into an odd WiFi issue with our internet setup that caused false "WiFi Not Connected" messages to pop up. This appears to be an isolated problem, though, and not one that other customers have experienced.
Despite minor quirks, the TCL QM8 is a true standout for the money, with a bright QLED panel that offers high-end image quality for a midrange price.
Samsung's Frame TV looks like a piece of art on your wall.
Amazon
The Samsung Frame TV is perfect for buyers who want a 65-inch display that can blend seamlessly into their living room decor. Built with an emphasis on design, the TV features interchangeable bezels and a matte screen that can make it look like a piece of art hanging on your wall.
The bezels come in different styles that magnetically attach to the display. The Frame also comes with a Slim-Fit Wall Mount that lets you hang it flush against your wall. And unlike most TVs, the Frame uses a separate One Connect Box to house all of its ports, so you just need one cable running from the display. If you need to connect a cable receiver, streaming device, or gaming console, you simply hook those up to the TV's external box, which gets rid of all those unsightly wires on your wall.
The screen features a matte finish rather than the glossy look of most modern TVs. This helps reduce reflections and gives the Frame a canvas-like appearance. The Frame also has an "Art Mode," which lets it display paintings, photos, or other images when not in use as a TV. Built-in motion sensors can be activated so the Art Mode turns on when the TV senses someone in the room. You can use your own images or have the Frame cycle through art from Samsung's Art Store (subscription required).
But while the Frame's design is high-end, its picture quality is a mixed bag. The QLED panel offers wide color support, but brightness is limited compared to Samsung's top QLEDs. It also lacks local dimming, which results in the worst contrast and black-level performance of any 65-inch TV in this guide.
The Frame isn't geared toward wowing you with high dynamic range imagery. Instead, it's meant to appeal to buyers who want a 65-inch display that can serve as both a design piece for their living room and a capable smart TV for casual viewing. And in that sense, it excels.
Best OLED for wall mounting: LG G3
The G3 OLED can be wall mounted with virtually no gap.
Best Buy
Those who want a design-focused 65-inch TV that also manages to deliver top-notch home theater performance should check out the LG G3.
Like the Samsung Frame, it has a thin profile and a flush wall mount so that you can hang it on your wall with virtually no gap. But unlike the Frame, the G3 uses an OLED panel for superior picture quality with much better contrast, black levels, and viewing angles. You do miss out on the Frame's matte screen, separate connection box, and interchangeable bezels, but the jump in image performance is substantial.
And despite not using quantum dots like high-end OLEDs from Sony and Samsung, the G3 is one of the brightest OLEDs on the market, coming second only to Sony's more expensive A95L. This high brightness is also what sets it apart from its fantastic predecessor, the G2 OLED TV. During our tests, we measured a peak of around 1,470 nits on the G3, while the G2 topped out at around 1,000.
But while the G3 looks gorgeous on a wall, it's not a top pick if you plan to put it on an entertainment console. It doesn't even come with a stand, so you'd have to buy one separately, which adds to the cost, and we don't like how the panel tilts back slightly when it's attached to its stand. The G3 is still a great value for its performance, but you're better off sacrificing brightness and going with the less expensive S90C if you want a 65-inch OLED that comes with a stand.
How we test 65-inch TVs
We evaluate key factors like smart TV navigation and picture quality on every 65-inch display we test.
Steven Cohen/Insider
To pick the best 65-inch TVs for our guide, we used a combination of hands-on testing and research bolstered by more than a decade's worth of expertise covering the home entertainment product industry. When we test displays, we evaluate them for general picture clarity, contrast performance, HDR peak brightness, color, off-axis viewing, smart TV interface, and value for the money.
Brightness is measured using an X-Rite iDisplay Plus colorimeter. Other objective display capabilities are evaluated using test patterns found on the Spears & UHD HDR Benchmark 4K Blu-ray disc.
To get a sense of real-world performance, we also watch scenes from movies and TV shows with clips specifically selected to emphasize a display's black levels, highlights, color capabilities, and upscaling. Our demo material includes a mix of 4K, 1080p high definition (HD), and standard definition (SD) content from streaming devices, cable TV, and Blu-ray discs.
The best 65-inch TVs will also have excellent smart TV features, so we test overall navigation speed and app stability, as well as voice search, digital assistant integration, and extra perks like game streaming support.
65-inch TV FAQs
We think 65 inches is the ideal size for buyers who want a big-screen display that can still fit in most living rooms.
Ryan Waniata/Insider
Is it worth buying a 65-inch TV?
If you have the space for it, we think 65 inches is the ideal size to consider when shopping for a new TV, especially a 4K model. Many brands use 65 inches as their flagship size to show off their best 4K TVs, and this size is great for delivering big-screen immersion without taking up too much room.
However, you can still find excellent TV models in smaller sizes if you need something more compact. Check out our guide to the best 55-inch TVs for our top picks at that size.
How much should you spend on a 65-inch TV?
Exactly how much you should spend on a 65-inch TV depends on your viewing needs. The best 65-inch TVs range in price from around $500 to more than $3,000. You can also find cheaper entry-level 65-inch TVs for under $400, but we generally recommend paying a bit more to get one of the options we highlight above.
Buyers shopping for a midrange 65-inch TV should expect to spend $500-$1,000. You can find 65-inch QLED TVs in this price range that offer advanced picture quality features, like local dimming, and good brightness performance that can reach 600-1,000 nits.
Buyers who want an upper-midrange or high-end 65-inch TV should be looking to spend $1,000-$3,000. You can find advanced 65-inch QLED TVs that deliver up to 2,000 nits of brightness in the $1,000-$2,000 range, while the best OLED TVs with infinite contrast ratios tend to sell for $1,600-$3,000.
How far should you sit from a 65-inch 4K TV?
The benefits of a 4K screen become most noticeable when you sit at a distance of around one to 1.5 times the size of your TV. At that distance, you'll be able to see the extra detail that 4K resolution offers compared to a 1080p high-definition screen. The ideal viewing distance for a 65-inch 4K TV should be between 5.4 and 8.1 feet from your TV.
You can sit further away and still enjoy a 65-inch 4K TV, but that range will yield the best level of visible detail. Otherwise, you'll want a bigger screen to get the full benefits of 4K.
Should you purchase a 65-inch 8K TV?
Though some brands do sell 65-inch 8K TVs, we don't recommend buying one in this screen size. 65 inches just isn't big enough to really show off the benefits of an 8K resolution screen when viewing it at a reasonable distance.
A 75-inch or larger 8K TV is much better suited for highlighting the additional detail you get with 8K resolution, but even then, the benefits are subtle. We recommend saving money and going with a 4K model if you want a 65-inch TV.
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The best phones offer stellar performance, cameras, and battery life at affordable prices.
Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider
It's hard to go wrong with most phones available in the US these days, and it's almost impossible to find a bad premium phone in 2024. Considering that, the "best phone" depends on your budget and priorities. Still, we can make a general assessment of the best phone overall.
Among the best phones available, Apple's iPhone 15 is our top option for most people due to its balance of performance, camera quality, camera reliability, battery life, and ecosystem for the price. Samsung's Galaxy S24 is the ideal pick for Android users for the same reasons as the iPhone 15.
On the more affordable end of the spectrum, Apple's iPhone 13 and Google's Pixel 8a are superb devices that offer incredible value. These aren't exactly "cheap," but we think they're well worth the price considering their long-lasting performance, camera quality, and other premium features.
These days, most smartphone users fall into either Team iPhone or Team Android. If you're platform agnostic and want a phone that requires the fewest compromises, we recommend the iPhone 15. (For those who prefer Apple, our best iPhone guide shows what else we recommend.)
While Android phones seem to go through identity changes more often than Ethan Hunt, iPhones have stayed relatively consistent year over year. Apple is largely sticking to a successful playbook for the iPhone 15: A phone that delivers a great user experience that revolves around a stable operating system, best-in-class camera system, popular apps, and the latest tech.
It may look like a typical iPhone, but the iPhone 15 has several improvements and new features over its predecessor.
Les Shu/Business Insider
The iPhone 15 isn't a big departure from the iPhone 14, but there are noteworthy upgrades. It runs on the A16 processor and incorporates the Dynamic Island notification display, both introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro. Performance has increased over the iPhone 14 and 13, which used the A15. The 6.1-inch display is also much brighter, with a slightly higher resolution.
The big new feature is the iPhone's switch to USB-C from Lightning, which, depending on the user, could be a celebration or an annoyance. There is satisfaction in using the same cable to charge all your devices. But it's inconvenient if you own just Lightning cables and accessories, which would require purchasing new chargers and adapters.
Most people, however, probably already have USB-C accessories, particularly those who own the newest MacBooks, iPads, PCs, and even Android phones, which have been using USB-C for some time now. Our disappointment with the iPhone 15's USB-C implementation is that it doesn't offer an improvement over Lightning regarding fast charging and data transfer.
The iPhone 15's main camera sensor has been bumped up to 48 megapixels from 12, and the optical zoom is now 2x instead of 1x. While iPhone cameras have always been solid, the iPhone 15 delivers improved low-light performance and picture quality, particularly when cropping into a photo.
While the newest Android phones aren't anything to sneeze at, we still recommend the iPhone for most people due to the polished hardware and software, ease of use, and Apple's lauded support.
For older iPhone owners who held back due to the lack of upgrades in the iPhone 14, the iPhone 15 is a more attractive recommendation. However, those who could use Apple's latest high-end features should consider the iPhone 15 Pro models, as they exclusively offer faster USB 3 charging, a customizable Action button, and dedicated zoom lenses.
With its triple-lens camera, class-leading performance, AI features, and excellent battery life, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is the complete package. No other phone offers as much as the Galaxy S24 for an $800 base price, even among iPhones.
Indeed, the Galaxy S24's three cameras set it apart from other Android phones in its 6.1-inch size range and $800 price range. By including a 3x zoom lens, the Galaxy S24 offers a more versatile camera experience, allowing you to take better-quality photos of subjects further away.
Samsung's Galaxy S24 is easily the top Android phone for most people, as it makes the fewest compromises for a solid price.
Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider
Ironically, the Galaxy S24's cameras are among our few complaints. To be sure, they're very good cameras, but they're generally less consistent than premium phones from Google and Apple, as irregular lighting can produce flat, shallow photos with reduced character.
That said, overall, the Galaxy S24 is our top pick among the best Android phones, as it's likely to satisfy most people with its stellar performance and high-end features at a reasonable price point.
If you're looking for the best iPhone experience for the lowest price, go for the iPhone 13 rather than the iPhone SE (2022). Yes, the iPhone 13 has a $599 starting price compared to the iPhone SE's $429, which stretches the definition of "budget." However, we feel the iPhone 13's extras are well worth it.
The iPhone 13 runs on Apple's A15 Bionic processor (the same as the iPhone SE, coincidentally). Although two generations old, it can easily handle any app or game in the App Store.
The iPhone 13 is expensive for a "budget" iPhone, but it's a significantly better phone than the true budget iPhone SE (2022).
Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider
The iPhone 13 also features Apple's modern design rather than the iPhone SE's antiquated look with its top and bottom bezels. It also includes Face ID, a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, a dual-lens camera, and support for Apple's MagSafe wireless charging and accessories. To top it all off, the iPhone 13 has significantly better battery life than the iPhone SE.
With all this in mind, we think you'll better enjoy the experience with the iPhone 13 for the years you'll use it. Based on Apple's support cycle, we'd estimate Apple will support the iPhone 13 for another three years.
However, if budget matters more than features and design, you'll still be happy with the iPhone SE (2022), as it remains another top option among the best cheap phones available. But be aware that the iPhone SE uses an outdated design with a small screen and Touch ID.
Best budget phone for Android users
Starting at $499, Google's Pixel 8a pushes the boundaries of "budget." However, it easily offers the best bang for your buck for Android users. And while discounts are rare at the time of writing, soon after its release, the Pixel 8a will surely become available for periodical deals eventually, just like the Pixel 7a over the course of its first year.
No doubt, you can easily find Android phones with price tags as low as $200, but if you're at all discerning with the budget to spend up to $500, you won't regret going for the Pixel 8a.
Most importantly, you won't feel the need to buy another phone for a long time thanks to the Pixel 8a's fast and smooth performance, coupled with its seven-year support window for Android upgrades and security updates. The Pixel 8a runs on the Google Tensor G3 processor, which means performance is on par with the premium flagship Pixel 8 models that run the same processor.
Combine the Pixel 8a's performance with its smooth 120Hz display and 1080p resolution, and the experience is nothing short of premium. It's an OLED panel with superior colors, brightness, and contrast than any LCD display, and it includes a high-end always-on display feature.
You won't regret paying $500 for the Pixel 8a if it fits in your budget.
Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider
The Pixel 8a's cameras also compete with phones that cost twice as much. To be sure, even sub-par cameras on less expensive Android phones serve their purpose of capturing memories, but the Pixel 8a's premium-quality cameras simply do it better. This is especially true for reliability and versatility, where the Pixel 8a doesn't need ideal conditions and perfectly steady hands to take good, clear, focused photos.
For $500, the Pixel 8a is also just a good-looking phone with its frosted matte-texture plastic back and eye-catching color options.
Our only complaint with the Pixel 8a is its relatively slow 18W charging, but it does feature 7.5W wireless charging. That's also slow, but it's still a nice option for all-day desk charging, and it's not one you'll usually find on budget-friendly Android phones. We would also have liked to see an option with a larger display, but that would surely mean a higher price.
As excellent as the Pixel 8a is, your carrier might have deals for free premium phones, like the Pixel 8 or Galaxy S24 (or an iPhone). You'd need to be comfortable with the carrier deal's condition, which usually entails sticking with the carrier for two years and signing up for a specific type of plan. If that's the case, you might as well go for the premium phone from your carrier. If not, you can't go wrong with the Pixel 8a, the best budget Android phone on the market.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro has three cameras: a 48MP ultrawide camera, a 50MP main camera, and a 48MP 5x zoom camera. It takes excellent photos and imparted the most confidence during our testing, over both Samsung and Apple phones, that it would reliably do so repeatedly.
The Pixel's signature photo look is gleefully present, with rich and natural colors, and lighting is properly balanced without trying to enhance darker and brighter details with extra brightness. Pixel photos have plenty of contrast, too, which gives them gorgeous depth.
The Pixel 8 Pro gives us the most confidence that photos and videos will turn out great.
Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider
Our top camera pick among the best Google Pixel phones, the Pixel 8 Pro's three lenses offer plenty of versatility, and we love its 5x zoom compared to the 3x zoom cameras that are more common.
If you want to stick to Apple's ecosystem, the iPhone 15 Pro Max offers the best camera system among iPhones, and it's the only option that matches the Pixel 8 Pro's 5x zoom lens.
The iPhone 15 Plus is our recommendation if you're looking for a phone that can last over a day on a single charge. Every user's mileage will vary, but we achieved, on average, 66% of battery life remaining after rounds of testing. A close runner-up is the Samsung S24 Ultra, which yielded similar test results but is a more expensive phone.
In terms of performance and features, the iPhone 15 Plus shares the same pros and cons as the iPhone 15. But the iPhone 15 Plus is a larger device that can accommodate a bigger battery. It also has a 6.7-inch display versus 6.1, which gives you more viewable real estate. The problem is that you can't get longer battery life without getting a large phone, so it's something to consider and worth trying at a store. That said, we haven't experienced issues when holding it in our hand or stashing it in a pocket.
The iPhone 15 Plus' larger size allows for a bigger battery. Most people can expect over a day's worth of battery life before recharging
Les Shu/Business Insider
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, with its 6.8-inch display, is a good example of how larger phones tend to offer longer battery life. However, it scored notably higher than other phones with large screens, like the Galaxy S24 Plus and Google Pixel 8 Pro.
That's all to say that the Galaxy S24 Ultra, specs-wise the best Samsung phone, offers the best battery life for Android users, but they have to pay a higher price than iPhone users.
We prefer book-style foldable phones that unfold into compact tablets for their superior functionality and performance relative to clamshell foldables, which fold into compact squares.
Among the three phone-tablet hybrid foldables available in the US, the OnePlus Open is our favorite option, topping the Google Pixel Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5.
The OnePlus Open sets itself apart with its build quality, larger displays, and a traditional shape and size for the cover display that's familiar and comfortable to use.
Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider
All phone-tablet hybrid foldables essentially offer the same level of performance, top-of-the-line displays with premium specs, like 120HZ refresh rates and OLED panels, excellent camera quality, and superlative battery life.
What sets the OnePlus Open apart is its superior, rock-solid build quality, its cover display that's sized and shaped like a traditional phone, and its slightly larger cover and tablet displays compared to other available foldables.
The only gripe we have with the OnePlus Open is the omission of wireless charging, which should be expected on a phone with a $1,700 price tag. It does support super-fast 67W charging speeds, but only with the included proprietary OnePlus charger.
Overall, Apple's iPhone 15 is the phone we'd recommend to most people, at least those who live in the US. Android phones these days are fantastic, but they still lack certain key features, like advanced biometric authentication that's on par with Apple's Face ID. Even minor features, like Apple's Dynamic Island, make us lean toward the iPhone 15.
48MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP 2x zoom (uses main camera sensor)
48MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 64MP 3x zoom
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB
128GB, 256GB
128GB, 256GB, 512GB
128GB, 256GB
128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
128GB, 256GB, 512GB
512GB
How we test phones
We test and use phones extensively to arrive at the top options for our guides.
Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider
We test iPhones and Android phones as if they were our daily drivers for at least a week, often longer, to get a feel for their performance, battery life, cameras, and new features. We have extensive experience testing various phone models from different companies at various price points, which lets us quickly identify any issues.
In addition to real-world usage, we conduct standardized tests on all phones reviewed and included in our guides.
For performance, we put phones through a series of benchmarking apps to check for discrepancies between devices. We use Geekbench 6 for general performance and the 3DMark Wild Life Stress Test to gauge extended heavy gaming performance. These tests help us estimate how long a phone could maintain its performance relative to comparable phones.
For camera testing, we photograph a consistent set of scenes with every phone and compare the results with their direct competitors. We take photos and videos with each lens on each phone and evaluate the differences. We even compare budget camera phones to premium options to assess the image and video quality discrepancies.
For battery life, we run phones through a stress test that simulates a range of typical daily workloads, like streaming video and music, and high-intensity activities, like playing demanding games. This test includes five runs of the Geekbench 6 app, two runs of the 3DMark Wildlife Stress Test, two hours of video streaming at a set average brightness, and one hour of music streaming with a Bluetooth speaker connected. At the end of the test, we note the phone's remaining battery percentage.
FAQs
How much storage should a phone have?
These days, 128GB is the standard minimum storage option on most phones. Anything lower than that, like 64GB, can be quite limiting in terms of how many apps you can install, and you can basically forget about storing a significant number of photos, videos, and music.
128GB of storage can be enough, especially if you use cloud storage for photos and often stream. Depending on how many apps you use, you can also get by downloading videos for flights.
You should opt for more than 128GB of storage if you tend to download your music rather than stream it or store lots of photos and videos on your phone. More storage can be helpful if you have many apps and games.
How long should a phone's battery life last?
A phone's battery should last you through a typical day, even for heavy users with extensive screen time. Thankfully, most phones tend to have good enough battery life to do so.
Larger phones tend to have longer battery lives than smaller ones, so users with lots of screen-on time would benefit from a larger phone if not for the larger display.
Your best options for a phone that can last longer than a day routinely are Apple's iPhone 15 Plus and Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra. These large-screen devices scored the highest among all phones in our intensive battery test.
What is a good camera for a phone?
More than anything, a good phone camera should give you confidence that you'll get a high-quality photo or video without making you feel like you need to check and retake your content.
In this regard, we tend to trust Google's Pixel phones and Apple's iPhones the most. Correspondingly, our top overall picks for phone camera systems are Google's Pixel 8 Pro and Apple's iPhone 15 Pro Max, which both offer a dedicated 5x zoom lens.
Best phone overall: iPhone 14
Apple's excellent iPhone 14 offers exceptional value at its new starting price.
Antonio Villas-Boas/Insider
Pros: Enhanced value after recent $100 price drop, stellar performance, excellent camera quality, excellent battery life, valuable safety features
Cons: 60Hz display feels outdated, no dedicated zoom lens
Apple has released the iPhone 15 generation, and once we've reviewed those phones, one of those models will likely replace the iPhone 14 as the best phone overall. For now, however, the iPhone 14 is still technically our pick for the best iPhone and best phone overall, and that's especially the case now that its starting price has dropped by $100 down to $699.
The iPhone 14 offers a hard-to-beat balance of features, battery life, camera quality, and performance for its price, which all combine to make it our top recommendation for most people.
Some might point out that Samsung's Galaxy S23 devices, which are among our best Android picks, don't make the same compromises as the iPhone 14 does, like a 60Hz display, or a camera system with "only" two lenses. These are valid points, but looking at the overall picture, the iPhone 14 is still the phone we can most widely recommend.
Apple's ecosystem is still a major hook for the iPhone, and while Samsung is building out its own ecosystem, it's not there yet. Popular Apple devices, like the Apple Watch, Macs, AirPods, iPads, and iPhones work seamlessly with each other to offer access to popular services like iMessage, FaceTime, AirDrop, taking and making phone calls, and instant mobile hotspot connectivity.
The safety features Apple introduced with the iPhone 14 series, including Emergency SOS via satellite and Crash Detection, especially, are valuable to have on hand, even if you hope to never use either. Both have proven to save lives, or at least been useful, in emergency situations.
There's also something to be said about Apple's physical presence with Apple Stores — if iPhone users need help or repairs, the Apple Store is an easy, clearly defined place to go. To be fair, official repairs by Apple are often pricey. Still, at least it's a convenient option to get help, if imperfect, compared to the murkier options available for Android phone users.
Cons: Occasional shutter lag, some unwanted bloatware
Chances are that if you're looking for a particular feature, or all the best phone features you can get in 2023, Samsung's Galaxy S23 Plus has what you need at a starting price of $1,000.
The Galaxy S23 Plus, our best Android phone overall, is a delight to use thanks to its smooth 120Hz display and incredibly snappy performance from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor that's specially optimized for Samsung's Galaxy S23 phones.
To be sure, the Galaxy S23 Plus with its 6.6-inch display is for those who like larger displays. But despite its screen size, the Galaxy S23 Plus maintains a comfortable 6.91-ounce weight, which is positively featherweight for a phone of this size.
Battery life is excellent and support for fast 45W charging speeds is a cherry on top. Wireless charging is included and rated for up to 15W on the Qi common standard. You can even charge other devices off the back of the Galaxy S23 Plus, albeit at a slow 4.5W that's best suited for smaller accessories, like wireless earbuds.
The Galaxy S23 Plus' versatile triple-lens camera offers nearly everything you would want in a premium phone, with sharp, clear, high-quality photos and video.
Apple’s iPhone SE offers entry to the Apple experience and ecosystem for the lowest price.
Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider
Pros: Excellent performance-to-price ratio, impressive single camera, lightweight, 4.7-inch display is comfortable to use one-handed
Cons: Antiquated design, lacks multiple cameras, 60Hz LCD display, short battery life compared to larger phones
The least expensive way to get the Apple experience, as well as access to its ecosystem of apps, accessories, and services, is the third-generation iPhone SE. Starting at $429, it's also less expensive than even our budget Android pick.
The iPhone SE runs on Apple's A15 Bionic processor, which also powers the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. That means it's a powerful processor that opens and runs apps quickly now and for the next few years.
For its relatively low price, the iPhone SE is missing some high-end features. It has a 4.7-inch LCD display, which not only is small, but isn't as high-quality as the OLED displays on other more expensive iPhones. Having a small display and overall size doesn't have to be a negative, as some may actively want a smaller screen for the most comfortable one-handed reachability. Plus, at 5.09 ounces, the iPhone SE is the lightest iPhone currently available.
The biggest caveat with small phones like the iPhone SE is a smaller battery, which leads to shorter battery life than bigger iPhones — it might need a charging top-up once or twice during the day, depending on your usage.
The iPhone SE also has an antiquated design. Many liken it to the iPhone 8, but the design with large bezels above and below the display can be traced back to the iPhone 6 generation from 2014.
Still, having such large bezels affords the iPhone SE an old favorite — Touch ID. While not as seamless as the more modern Face ID, Touch ID is still incredibly reliable, and some prefer to use their fingerprints rather than their faces to unlock their iPhones.
Then there's the question of cameras, or a single camera, to be precise. The iPhone SE lacks the ultrawide and zoom lenses of more expensive iPhones, but its main camera can still hold its own with high-quality photos. Again, they're not as high-quality as those on more expensive iPhones, but anyone would be more than happy with the iPhone SE's photos for its sub-$500 price.
Best budget phone for Android users: Google Pixel 7a
Google's Pixel 7a is available at a new low price that further cements its position as the top budget Android phone.
Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider
Pros: Flagship performance on a budget phone, stunning dual-camera system, 90Hz display, wireless charging
Cons: mmWave 5G model is more expensive and a Verizon exclusive, thicker and heavier than premium phones its size
Budget Android phones often try to appear more premium than they are, mostly with smooth high refresh-rate displays and bunk "macro" cameras that few people will use. Most fall flat when it comes to performance or camera quality. Google's Pixel 7a, however, is the exception.
Marked down from its typical MSRP of $499, the Pixel 7a is an especially great deal at its current starting price of $374, which easily makes it the best budget Android phone you can buy.
The Pixel 7a has a smooth 90Hz display, but that's par for the course on budget Android phones. What's impressive is that it runs on the same Tensor G2 processor as Google's flagship Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, meaning it has high-end performance at an excellent value.
The Pixel 7a's cameras also beat any other phone in its price range. In fact, the Pixel 7a's camera system comfortably competes with phones that cost twice as much. You don't get a dedicated zoom lens with the Pixel 7a, but it's not expected on a budget phone.
Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra is simply the best phone for taking photos thanks to its versatile four-lens camera and S Pen that offers more precision for on-device editing.
Antonio Villas-Boas/Insider
Pros: Exceptional quad-lens camera system, 10x optical zoom ability, stellar optical image stabilization, large screen and S Pen make on-device editing easier
Cons: Surprisingly lackluster battery life for its size, may be too large for some people, occasional shutter lag
Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra has the most camera tech out of any other phone we've tested. It's the most versatile phone for taking photos thanks to its four lenses, including a main camera, an ultrawide, a 3x zoom, and a 10x zoom.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra's 200MP camera takes 12MP photos by default, but you can set it to take photos at 50MP or the full 200MP for stunning clarity and detail. The caveat is that a 200MP photo can take up to 200 megabytes, so storage inside and out of the phone should be a consideration.
Another perk of the massive 200MP sensor is better low-light performance, as more megapixels can combine to capture more light in a process called "binning." Indeed, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is also the best phone for taking high-quality photos in low-light situations.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra's 10x zoom lens is one of those things you never knew you needed until you tried it. I often wish I had 10x zoom when I'm using a different phone, as no other phone can capture far-away subjects as sharply and clearly as the Galaxy S23 Ultra. To take sharp photos at such a high zoom, the Galaxy S23 Ultra has impressive optical image stabilization, too, which also makes for incredibly stable video recording.
Then, there's the S Pen — a built-in stylus that offers more precision and functionality than any finger could for editing photos right on the device, which is only made easier by the Galaxy S23 Ultra's larger-than-usual 6.8-inch display. There's no better phone if content capture is your top priority.
Once we've finished testing and reviewing it, the new iPhone 15 Plus could replace the iPhone 14 Plus as the phone with the longest battery life. For now, though, the iPhone 14 Plus still reigns in that department.
Apart from offering the big-screen iPhone experience for less than a Pro Max model, the iPhone 14 Plus also has the best battery life out of any phone we've tested to date. It ended our intensive battery test with 73% remaining, which is astounding. Out of the dozens of phones I've tested with our latest battery test, only one other phone obtained a result in the 70th percentile — the OnePlus 11 with a 71%.
Otherwise, the iPhone 14 Plus is essentially a bigger version of our pick for the best phone overall, the iPhone 14. It runs on the same processor, has the same cameras, the same 60Hz screen, and the same features.
Following the announcement of the iPhone 15 generation, Apple reduced the iPhone 14 Plus' price by $100 down to $799. That's a stunning deal for an iPhone with a 6.7-inch display, but you may find the iPhone 15 Plus warrants the $100 premium.
Google's Pixel Fold is the best foldable we've reviewed thanks to the familiar, traditional shape of its exterior display.
Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider
Pros: Smooth flagship performance, excellent five-camera system, familiar-shaped exterior display, 120Hz displays inside and out, stellar battery life, thin and light as a tablet
Cons: Thick and heavy as a phone, prohibitive pricing
Between clamshell-style foldables like the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Motorola Razr Plus, and tablet hybrids like the Pixel Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 5, we've decided the hybrid design is the best form factor for foldable phones. That's primarily because clamshell phones sorely lack the battery life and cameras of traditional flat phones, while the best hybrid foldables are more comparable to high-end flat phones in those respects.
Out of the tablet-hybrid foldables we've tried and reviewed, Google's Pixel Fold tops our list thanks in large part to the exterior display's familiar, traditional phone shape. The tall, narrow displays on the Galaxy Z Fold series phones are more awkward to use and take more getting used to than the Pixel Fold's exterior display. (The new OnePlus Open foldable has a cover screen that strikes a welcome middle ground between the narrowness of the Z Fold phones and the width of the Pixel Fold, and it could take the Pixel Fold's spot here once we've finished testing and reviewing it.)
The Pixel Fold runs on the same Tensor G2 processor as the Pixel 7 flagship lineup, so performance is stellar. It also comes with a total of five cameras, and when talking about Google's excellent Pixel cameras, more can only mean better — there are three cameras on the rear, a front-facing camera, and an interior camera for tablet mode. Not to mention, you can unfold the Pixel Fold and use its superior main rear camera to take selfies while using the exterior display as a viewfinder, which is a common perk in foldable phones.
Both the Pixel Fold's OLED displays run at a smooth 120Hz for a seamless experience, inside and out.
As with any tablet-hybrid foldable, the Pixel Fold is rather heavy and chunky as a traditional phone, even more so with its smaller 5.8-inch exterior display. Still, its small display means it's comfortable to use one-handed and offers superior reachability with your thumbs relative to large displays. To boot, the Pixel Fold is also thin and light as a 7.6-inch tablet.
Battery life is also excellent on the Pixel Fold, as it ended our intensive battery test with a 69% result while in folded phone mode — that's a result we'd expect for phones with larger, 6.7-inch displays. In tablet mode, the Pixel Fold scored 65%, which may not seem impressive for a 7.6-inch tablet, but it still means you can use the Pixel Fold exclusively in tablet mode all day, like you would your traditional phone, without worrying about battery life, though that'll depend on how intensively you use it.
While we rigorously test the iPhone 15 series, Apple's iPhone 14 offers the best overall combination of performance, camera quality, battery life, and value with its new starting price of $699. If you want to buy into the Apple ecosystem at a more affordable price point, we recommend the third-generation iPhone SE starting at $429 as the best budget iPhone currently available.
The new Google Pixel 8 phones have the best explicit support window of any phones on the market with their guaranteed seven years of Android operating system and security updates, and they'll likely take at least one spot on this list once we've finished testing and reviewing them.
While Apple doesn't explicitly state how long it will support its devices, the company's recent history has shown that it will support iPhones for at least six years of software updates. That means the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, and third-generation iPhone SE included above should see iOS and security updates at least through 2028.
Among the Android phones on our list, Samsung's flagship devices have the best current support window for software and security updates, as the company said its Galaxy S23 phones will get four years of Android software updates and five years of security updates from their February 2023 release.
The Google phones included above, on the other hand, have a comparatively short support window. Google said that the Pixel Fold will see Android software updates until June 26, 2026 and security updates until June 25, 2028, while the Pixel 7a will see software updates until May 8, 2026 and security updates until May 7, 2028.
Investors searching for passive income could do very well with high-yield ASX shares. In fact, one of the advantages of buying companies for dividends is that there is a second source of investment return other than capital gains â income.
And in a world of high inflation, high interest rates, and geopolitical instability â cash remains king in my view.
Here are two standout options to consider in the dividend debate: Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC). Let’s take a look.
Why Bank of Queensland is a high-yield ASX share
BOQ serves around 1.4 million customers and holds a 2.73% share of the Australian residential mortgage market.
Bank of Queensland is currently trading at $5.93 per share, boasting a trailing dividend yield of 6.41% from dividends of 38 cents per share in the last 12 months.
This yield is among the highest in the ASX banking sector, making it an attractive option for income-focused investors, in my opinion.
Despite varying economic environments over the years, BOQ has maintained stable, robust dividend payouts. A $10,000 investment in BOQ stock today would yield approximately $660 annually based on its trailing dividend rate (no franking credits considered). If the dividend yield drops however â so too would this yield.
For comparison, the iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ) â an ETF tracking the Australian benchmark index â currently pays dividends at a trailing yield of 3.59%.
Westpac â another top high-yield ASX share
Westpac is another high-yield ASX share worth noting. At the time of publication, its trailing dividend yield is 5.5%.
Westpac, one of Australia’s “big four” banks, has a strong track record of paying solid, fully-franked dividends, making it a reliable choice for dividend-seeking investors, in my view.
The bank has also demonstrated resilience in a number of economic cycles, maintaining strong net interest margins along with the broad sector, according to my colleague Bernd. This performance, coupled with ongoing share buybacks, is a vote of confidence in my estimation.
If Westpac continues to pay dividends at the same yield of around 5.5%, a $10,000 investment would return around $560 in passive income annually (not considering any franking credits).
Conclusion
Both Bank of Queensland and Westpac offer attractive high yields for ASX investors. BOQ’s 6.41% trailing yield and Westpac’s 5.5% trailing yield could make them compelling options for those seeking strong, consistent dividends, in my view.
As a precaution â even though the banks are tipped to continue paying strong dividends moving forward, past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Should you invest $1,000 in Bank Of Queensland right now?
Before you buy Bank Of Queensland shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Bank Of Queensland wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service heâs run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
On Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had an underwhelming session and dropped into the red. The benchmark index fell 0.3% to 7,737.1 points.
Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:
ASX 200 expected to edge lower
It looks set to be another subdued day for the Australian share market on Wednesday despite a reasonably positive session in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 11 points or 0.15% lower. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones climbed 0.35%, the S&P 500 rose 0.15% higher, and the Nasdaq pushed 0.2% higher.
Oil prices drop again
ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have another tough session after oil prices dropped again overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 1.2% to US$73.30 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 1% to US$77.56 a barrel. Oil prices have been under pressure this week after OPEC+ announced an end to voluntary production cuts.
Treasury Wine update
The Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) share price will be on watch today. That’s because the wine giant released an update after the market close on Tuesday. As well as talking up its sizeable opportunity in North America, the Penfolds owner reaffirmed its guidance for FY 2024. Treasury Wine continues to expect mid-high single digit EBITS growth for the year. This excludes the EBITS contribution from DAOU in the second half, which is expected to be US$24 million. This is in line with management’s expectations.
Gold price tumbles
ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a difficult day after the gold price tumbled overnight. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is down 1% to US$2,346.6 an ounce. A stronger US dollar put pressure on the precious metal.
Xero’s notes offering
Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) shares will be in focus today after the cloud accounting platform provider launched a new convertible notes offering. Xero is raising US$850 million (A$1.28 billion) through fixed coupon guaranteed senior unsecured convertible notes due in 2031. Management advised that the net proceeds will be used to repurchase its existing notes, for potential acquisitions and strategic investments, and for general corporate purposes.
Should you invest $1,000 in Beach Energy Limited right now?
Before you buy Beach Energy Limited shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Beach Energy Limited wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service heâs run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Treasury Wine Estates, Woodside Energy Group, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
The Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) share price has been sluggish over the past year, falling by 20%. This leading telco stock has underperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which is up 7% during the same period. At the time of writing, the Telstra share price is trading at $3.48.
Telstra offers a dividend yield of 5.03%, surpassing the Reserve Bank of Australia’s official cash rate of 4.35%. Can this be a good investment opportunity for dividend-focused investors?
Telstra’s valuation has become cheaper
The declining share price has made Telstra cheaper in terms of the price-to-earnings ratio. According to S&P Cap IQ, the Telstra share price is now valued at 19x FY24’s estimated earnings, down from 24x a year ago and near the midpoint of its historical trading range of 10x to 28x.
Telstra generates a robust operating cash flow of approximately $7 billion annually, supporting its substantial cash dividend payments. As mentioned above, Telstra offers a fully-franked dividend yield at the current price.
How about Telstra’s business outlook?
The telecommunications industry necessitates continuous investment in capital assets to ensure a high quality of service. Telstra spends nearly $4 billion annually on capital expenditures (capex), leaving approximately $3 billion of free cash flow, which is the cash left after accounting for cash outflows to support operations and capex.
While Telstra’s free cash flow of $3 billion is sufficient to cover its current annual dividend payments of $2.3 billion, future earnings growth is crucial for raising its dividend payments.
Unfortunately, Telstra faces growing competition from more affordable alternatives, driven by consumer efforts to manage living costs. Additionally, as the largest player in the Australian market, Telstra has limited domestic growth opportunities.
The Telstra share price has been disappointing this year. However, the company’s valuation has become more attractive, trading at 19 times, and it offers a dividend yield of 5%.
With limited revenue growth opportunities, Telstra’s focus on cost optimisation is a promising strategy for enhancing net profits and sustaining future dividend payments.
The execution of Telstra’s cost optimisation and growth strategies will be critical going forward.
Should you invest $1,000 in Telstra Corporation Limited right now?
Before you buy Telstra Corporation Limited shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Telstra Corporation Limited wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service heâs run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
Motley Fool contributor Kate Lee has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
If you’re looking for new additions to your investment portfolio in June, then it could be worth considering QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) shares.
That’s because analysts at Goldman Sachs believe that big returns could await investors that buy the insurance giant’s shares at current levels.
Why are QBE shares a buy?
Goldman has named a few reasons why it thinks that investors should be buying the company’s shares today.
The first reason is that “QBE has the strongest exposure to the commercial rate cycle.” Given the momentum that is being seen in the commercial premium rate cycle, Goldman expects QBE to benefit greatly.
Another reason that the broker is bullish on the insurer is that “QBE’s achieved rate increases continue to be strong & ahead of loss cost inflation.”
And a third reason is that its “valuation [is] not demanding.” Goldman estimates that its shares are changing hands for just 9.8x estimated FY 2024 earnings of US$1.22 per share (A$1.84 per share).
Big returns expected
Goldman has a buy rating and $20.90 price target on QBE’s shares. This implies potential upside of 16% for investors over the next 12 months.
In addition, the broker is forecasting a 62 US cents per share (93.3 Australian cents per share) dividend in FY 2024. This represents a 5.2% dividend yield based on its current share price and boosts the total potential return beyond 20%. A slightly larger 63 US cents per share dividend is then expected in FY 2025.
Is anyone else bullish?
Goldman isn’t alone with its view that QBE’s shares are good value at current levels.
UBS currently has a buy rating and $21.00 price target on its shares. Whereas the team at Citi has a buy rating and $20.00 price target on its shares and Morgans has an add rating with a $20.00 price target. These all imply double-digit upside from where its shares trade today.
Commenting on its add recommendation, Morgans said:
With strong rate increases still flowing through QBE’s insurance book, and further cost-out benefits to come, we expect QBE’s earnings profile to improve strongly over the next few years. The stock also has a robust balance sheet and remains relatively inexpensive overall trading on 8x FY24F PE.
Overall, the broker community appears to believe that the insurance giant could be a quality option for investors. Especially those looking for a source of income from the share market given its 5%+ dividend yields.
Should you invest $1,000 in Qbe Insurance right now?
Before you buy Qbe Insurance shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Qbe Insurance wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service heâs run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
Looking to supersize your stage three tax cuts by investing in S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares?
With history as our guide, that could prove to be a great road towards building your wealth.
As you’re likely aware, the stage three tax cuts take effect this financial year. Meaning from 1 July 2024, everyone earning more than $18,200 a year should expect to pay less of their hard-earned paycheques back to the ATO.
But what you choose to do with the extra cash in hand could make a tremendous difference to your financial well-being.
Why invest your tax cuts in ASX 200 shares?
The pending stage three tax cuts will see most Aussies significantly better off than they were before.
Especially if they opt to invest that extra cash in ASX 200 shares.
“While this will provide much-needed cost of living for many, others will be intending to splurge the extra cash, or stash it away in savings, which could easily be invested instead,” Brendan Doggett, Sharesies AU country manager, told the Motley Fool.
According to Doggett:
For example, if you earn the average national salary of $90,000 a year, you’ll get $160 back in tax cuts each month from 1 July. This could be turned into $11,396 in five years’ time if invested every month to buy ASX stocks, thanks to compound interest.
That figure assumes there are no changes to future tax rates and is based on the 6.8% average return posted by the ASX 200 over five years.
As you’d expect, for higher income earners the benefits of investing those stage three tax cut returns will be greater.
“For those who earn even higher, say $150,000, this would look more like $310 extra each month, and could result in a healthy $22,079 in stocks by 2029,” Doggett said. “Building this extra cash into your monthly investment routine is a simple way to add to your portfolio without much of a lift.”
And the longer your investment horizon, the better your returns from ASX 200 shares are likely to be.
According to Doggett:
For investors with a long-term gaze, $160 invested every month could turn into $31,493 in 10 years. When added to your super balance and any existing investments you may have, that’s a more-than-healthy contribution to a retirement fund that can be easily set aside monthly and forgotten about.
The figures here are based on the average ASX 200 rate of return of 9.3% over 10 years.
Which is not to say investors can’t reap some benefits with a shorter-term horizon.
“As for younger investors whose sights are more set on milestone ‘firsts’ such as getting on the property ladder or starting a family, fantastic returns can still be made in the short-term,” Doggett said.
“If you invest your extra income every month, you’d have $6,046 in three years’ time. Not bad for what could otherwise be splashed on a monthly grocery shop or trip to the pub!”
This figure is based on the average ASX 200 rate of return of 3.3% over three years.
The benefits of dollar-cost averaging
Now if you’re set to receive a sizeable tax refund from the stage three cuts, you might be tempted to invest it all in ASX 200 stocks in one go.
While that may not be a bad idea, Doggett told us that dollar-cost averaging can help investors form a lifetime wealth-building habit.
“In addition to seeing more in their pockets each month, many Australians are also preparing to receive a large tax refund, which could also be invested,” he said.
Doggett added:
While investing this as one lump sum might give you a higher return, quicker, it won’t turn investing into a habit, which is really what’s needed to make long-term gains.
Even though investing little and often every month (via dollar-cost averaging) might feel slower, this ‘set and forget’ mindset will help you maintain momentum and grow your money in the long-run.
Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?
When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…
Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
Car owners might have a number of misconceptions about their vehicles and the buying process.
AP Photo/David Zalubowski
Whether you're a long-time car owner, or a first-time driver, there is plenty you need to know.
Many drivers have misconceptions about maintenance for their car, or other aspects of ownership.
Here are 9 things you're probably wrong about when it comes to your car.
Whether you're a long-time car owner or first-time driver, there is plenty you need to know about your vehicle.
There is a complex buying or leasing process, chock-full of complicated financing talk, interest rates, and other terms to navigate. There are a lot of brands, models, types of vehicles, moving parts, and changing technologies to stay on top of. There are maintenance and service needs that are important to know.
Thought: You'll get a good deal buying a car at the end of the month.
Toyota dealership.
Toyota
A lot of car buyers think that if they walk into a dealership at the end of the month, they're likely to get a better deal than they might have gotten a week or two earlier. They assume a dealer will want to get rid of as much inventory as possible to cap off that month's sales.
What is probably more fruitful to watch as an indicator of a good deal, instead, is automaker and dealer inventory. The more cars sitting on dealership lots, the more likely they may be willing to work with you.
Thought: You'll get an even better deal buying at the end of the year.
Kekyalyaynen / Shutterstock.com
For similar reasons, many car shoppers think the very best car-buying deals come at the end of the calendar year. But again, with how car buying has changed so much since the pandemic, that's not necessarily the case.
Consumer behavior over the past few years taught automakers and their dealers that customers are actually willing to wait longer and pay more for the vehicles they really want. That's shifting a bit as macroeconomic uncertainties weigh on consumers, but for the most part, there isn't much incentivizing the industry to reintroduce those major holiday sales.
Thought: Pricing is likely to get better as economic concerns continue.
Used car pricing is especially volatile right now.
PeopleImages/Getty Images
The answer is somewhat simple: Not necessarily.
New and used vehicle prices have dropped significantly from their pandemic-driven highs in 2021 and 2022.
According to Kelley Blue Book, since peaking in December 2022, the average transaction price (ATP) for a new car has dropped 5.4% to $47,218 in March 2024.
In addition, incentive spending on the park of automakers increased dramatically over the past year. The average incentive spend from carmakers totaled $3,121 in March, up 102% over the same time in 2023.
As incentives increase and average transaction prices fall, you may find a cheaper car, but that doesn't mean you'll get an affordable car. According to KBB, of the 275 new car models on sale in the US this March, only eight frequently sell for less than $25,000, down from more than 20 models just three years ago.
Thought: Electric vehicles are going to be worse to maintain than gas-powered cars.
Tesla vehicles plugged in and charging at a Supercharger fast charging station.
This includes no oil changes and other common gas-drivetrain maintenance. But it might include something like more frequent tire replacements, and there's always the battery to think about.
The cost, and potentially even wait times, associated with servicing and repairing an EV could be greater than that with an internal combustion engine vehicle. The repairing aspect is especially key.
One Kelley Blue Book analysis estimates EVs have maintenance costs of $4,246 over 5 years of ownership, lower than the $4,583 estimate for gas-powered cars. At the same time, EVs have $1,712 in repair costs over that period, higher than drivers looking at $1,695 in repair costs for gas-powered vehicles.
So it depends how you look at it: Overall, less maintenance — but if you do get in a fender-bender, it's likely going to cost you.
Thought: Premium gas is better for my vehicle, and will make it go faster.
Drivers should fuel their vehicles up with the gas their cars call for.
(Photo by Allison Dinner/Getty Images)
Drivers might assume that filling their gas-powered vehicle up with premium could boost their car's acceleration or fuel economy. That's really not the case, according to Cars.com.
Experts suggest that, if you fill up a car that calls for regular gasoline with premium, the opposite impact might occur.
Certain vehicles call for higher-octane fuel because, when used in the appropriate engine, it results in more power and better overall performance.
But a vehicle that calls for lower-octane fuel operates as it should when fed that fuel.
Thought: I don't actually need to rotate my tires.
It's important to properly maintain your tires for best results.
REUTERS/Regis Duvignau
Skipping your annual tire rotation is not a good idea.
Rotating your tires is important for optimal wear performance and overall maintenance, according to tire supplier Bridgestone.
With optimal vehicle alignment, tires still need to be rotated to counteract uneven wear patterns and maintain an even tread wear. This can help improve traction and fuel efficiency and save gas mileage, and ultimately aids the lifespan of your tires, according to Firestone.
It depends on the type of vehicle and tires, but ideally, a replacement is done roughly every 5,000 to 7,500 miles, and many drivers do it at the time of their oil change. It also depends on whether you have front, rear, all, or four-wheel drive for which pattern of rotation you should do, whether front to back or side to side. The Tire and Rim Association offers specific guidelines on these patterns.
It's also a safety factor: Rotating your tires reduces the risk of failures or blowouts.
Thought: I don't really need winter tires.
Winter tires bring specific benefits.
Jared C. Tilton/NASCAR via Getty Images
Drivers might not want to spend money on what they perceive as an added expense by having two sets of tires — an all-season set and a winter set — but having a winter set of tires, if you live in certain environments, could have a lot of benefits.
Winter tires are specifically designed to have tread patterns that can more easily navigate and have better traction on ice and in snow. But they're also not just for inclement winter weather; Road & Track suggests that winter tires are advantageous in cold environments even without wet or icy roads because of the way the rubber interacts within lower temperature ranges. Drivers specifically do not want to drive on winter tires throughout the year because their tread could wear more in warmer weather, reducing their lifespan.
An all-season tire can compromise a bit and handle both worlds. But where an all-season tire might not provide enough of the right grip to drive in the cold, but they could be more optimal for dry, warm temperatures.
Having two sets of tires doesn't necessarily mean a second investment, it just means each wears half as fast.
Thought: You need an SUV or pickup.
SUVs and pickups dominate US roads, and they're getting bigger.
Ford
It's a controversial one, but perhaps not everyone needs to drive a pickup or an SUV.
There are plenty of people across the country who do drive pickup trucks and use them for hauling, towing, and more. Those vehicles have a distinct purpose for certain lifestyles, careers, and needs. The same can be said for SUVs — whether a driver has a big family, needs to haul a lot on the weekends, or even finds that vehicle to be more accessible, those personal vehicle requirements are valid, and it's important to have affordable options that accommodate everyone and all uses.
Others might be able to assess whether they do need that large vehicle. Sedans have largely gone by the wayside, and now cars are just getting bigger (and arguably less safe). Many Americans tend to buy their vehicles for a once-a-year situation — that one road trip or that one move — rather than for their needs a majority of the time, but there may be smaller, and more efficient, options.
Thought: Better fuel economy must mean lower emissions.
Hyundai SUVs at a car dealership.
AP Photo/David Zalubowski
It's no surprise that internal combustion engine vehicles account for a lot of CO2 emissions — about 10% of them globally in 2022, according to the International Energy Agency. The agency notes fuel economy has increased from engine, powertrain, and vehicle tech improvements, but more efforts are necessary to meet broader decarbonization targets worldwide.
Part of that has to do with the above — big vehicles are getting bigger and more popular. Heavier, less efficient SUV sales have skyrocketed across the globe while EVs only account for a small percent of the total fleet. A long-term trend on increasing power has also slowed progress, per the IEA. Just because you're buying a more efficient vehicle, doesn't necessarily mean it contributes to broader progress.
