The Battle for the Living Room: The 2026 TV OS Market Report
The year 2026 has officially marked the “Death of the Console.” For the first time, more people are playing high-end video games through their Smart TV’s native OS than through a physical PlayStation or Xbox. In this brave new world, your TV is no longer just a screen; it’s a high-performance computer.
1. The “Big Four” and the Rise of VIDAA
The market is no longer just a Samsung vs. LG game. The landscape is now dominated by four distinct philosophies:
- VIDAA (The Speed Demon): Now the second most-used OS globally, VIDAA (found on Hisense and Toshiba TVs) has won over users by being the fastest. In 2026, it boasts sub-one-second input switching. It doesn’t try to be a “smartphone for your wall”—it focuses on being a lean, mean, streaming and gaming machine.
- Samsung Tizen (The Gaming Hub): Tizen remains the king of sheer volume, leaning heavily into its “Gaming Hub” which acts as a central portal for every major cloud service.
- Google TV (The AI Brain): Powered by the latest Gemini AI models, Google TV is for the user who wants deep search integration. You can ask, “Find me that game that looks like Cyberpunk but is a puzzle,” and it will find it.
- LG webOS (The Intuitive Pointer): Still the only OS with the “Magic Remote,” making it the preferred choice for people who actually use their TV’s web browser.
2. Gaming: From “Casual” to “AAA Cloud”
In 2026, gaming on a TV OS has split into two very successful lanes:
Native “Remote-Friendly” Games
VIDAA and Roku have mastered this. These are games designed to be played with a standard TV remote—think Crossy Road, Trivia Crack, or Solitaire. VIDAA’s 2026 update introduced “Instant Play,” where you can jump into a casual game while a commercial is playing on live TV, with no loading screen.
The Cloud Gaming Revolution
This is where Tizen and VIDAA are fighting the hardest.
- VIDAA’s 2026 Xbox Partnership: A massive shift occurred this year as VIDAA integrated Xbox Cloud Gaming natively. You no longer need an Xbox; you just pair a controller to your Hisense TV, and you’re playing Halo in 4K.
- Latency-Free Zones: All major OSs now support “Auto Low Latency Mode” (ALLM) at the software level. By 2026, the lag between your controller and the cloud is virtually imperceptible, making the TV OS a legitimate threat to physical gaming hardware.
3. The Browser: No Longer a “Last Resort”
For years, TV web browsers were clunky and unusable. In 2026, they have finally become essential tools.
Why Browsing on TV Finally Works
- Smartphone Mirroring: VIDAA and Samsung now allow you to use your phone as a trackpad for the TV’s browser. You swipe on your phone, and the cursor moves on the 65-inch screen.
- Web3 and Crypto Integration: Browsers like Brave for TV and the VIDAA Browser now feature native wallets, allowing users to interact with decentralized apps (dApps) or view NFT galleries directly on their walls.
- The “Work from Couch” Trend: With the rise of the Puffin TV Browser, many users are actually opening Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 on their TVs for quick document reviews, using a Bluetooth keyboard.
Top Browsers of 2026:
- Samsung Internet: Best for syncing with your phone’s history.
- VIDAA Browser: The fastest for video-heavy websites (sports streaming sites).
- Puffin TV: Uses cloud-rendering to make heavy websites load instantly on cheap TV hardware.
4. The Verdict: Which OS Wins in 2026?
- If you are a Gamer: Go with Samsung Tizen or VIDAA. The native Xbox and NVIDIA GeForce Now integrations are flawless.
- If you use the Browser: LG webOS remains king because the Magic Remote is the only way to “point and click” comfortably without extra hardware.
- If you want Speed: VIDAA is the undisputed champion. It’s the “cleanest” OS with the least amount of “bloatware” slowing down your experience.
In 2026, the rivalry between Hisense (VIDAA) and Samsung (Tizen) has shifted. While Samsung still leads in premium brand recognition, Hisense is now widely considered the “gaming value king.”
Here is a side-by-side comparison of their best mid-range/budget-friendly gaming models for this year.
The Heavyweight Matchup (Mid-Range)
| Feature | Hisense U75QG (2026) | Samsung QN80F (2026) |
| Price Point | ~$700 – $850 (Aggressive Value) | ~$1,000 – $1,300 (Premium Mid-Range) |
| OS | VIDAA (Global) / Google TV (US) | Tizen OS |
| Max Refresh Rate | 165Hz (Industry-leading for budget) | 144Hz |
| Panel Tech | Mini-LED (Deep blacks, high zones) | QLED (Punchy colors, less dimming) |
| HDMI 2.1 Ports | 4 Full-Speed Ports | 4 Full-Speed Ports |
| Gaming Hub | Xbox Cloud, NVIDIA, Native VIDAA Games | Samsung Gaming Hub (Best UI) |
1. Hisense U75QG: The Spec Monster
If you want the most “bang for your buck,” Hisense wins. In 2026, the U75QG has become the gold standard for budget gaming.
- The VIDAA Advantage: On this model, VIDAA is praised for its “Game Bar”—a pop-up menu that lets you check your FPS, adjust HDR, and toggle VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) without leaving your game.
- The 165Hz Leap: While consoles cap at 120Hz, this TV is ready for high-end PC gaming, making it a “future-proof” choice for the next few years.
- The Catch: Some users report that VIDAA’s app library, while fast, still lacks some niche local apps compared to Tizen.
2. Samsung QN80F: The Polished Experience
Samsung’s 2026 QN80F is for the gamer who wants zero friction. You aren’t just buying a screen; you’re buying an ecosystem.
- The Tizen Advantage: The Samsung Gaming Hub is the most mature platform in 2026. It integrates your controller directly with the TV so you can switch from playing a native app game to an Xbox Cloud game seamlessly.
- AI Upscaling: Samsung’s 2026 processor is better at taking older games (like Nintendo Switch titles) and making them look like native 4K.
- The Catch: No Dolby Vision support. Samsung still refuses to support this HDR format, which is a downside for some Xbox Series X players.
Which should you choose?
- Choose the Hisense U75QG if: You are a performance-first gamer. You want the highest refresh rate (165Hz) and the superior contrast of Mini-LED without spending over $1,000. It is the best “pro-level” gaming TV for a budget.
- Choose the Samsung QN80F if: You want the best software. If you don’t own a console and plan to rely heavily on Cloud Gaming (Xbox/NVIDIA), Samsung’s Gaming Hub is more stable and has a better interface than VIDAA.