Netflix Recommended TVs List Includes Just Two TV Manufacturers

• Netflix’s list of TVs recommended for the service for 2018 includes just two TV manufacturers.
• The first on the list is the entirety of LG’s 2018 UHD TVs that come with WebOS 4.0.
• For Sony, The W800F and WF800 series Android TVs have been included on the recommended list.

Netflix released its list of recommended TVs for enjoying the service recently, and it includes only two TV manufacturers. The TVs on the list include the entirety of LG’s 2018 UHD TVs that come with WebOS 4.0 and Sony’s W800F and WF800 series Android TVs that came out earlier this year.

Netflix may have announced the list a bit too early in the year with just a few TVs mentioned only. The streaming giant announced a much bigger list last year which also included high-end models from other manufacturers. A representative confirmed that there would be more TVs added to the list over the coming months.

The streaming giant has been releasing such lists since 2015 through rigorous testing to find out which TVs meet the criteria for the best content viewing experience. Needless to say, TVs that make the cut are not only good for Netflix but also for other popular streaming services too like Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube Live and more.

Image Courtesy of LG

There are seven major criteria that TVs need to fulfill to be eligible for making the list. They are all software features that focus on the app's integration, meaning low-end TVs can also be recommended by Netflix. Some of the features considered by Netflix include fast app launches, high-res Netflix UI, the latest version of Netflix and more to make viewing content on the platform as easy as possible.

Most of the requirements are not only Netflix-focused but are also good features to have on any TV for the best content viewing experience. Older Smart TVs are notorious for their slow software and high boot times. TVs are expected to be snappy and launch apps fast enough for users to make the list.

The list should have more TVs added soon to match the size of the brand’s list of recommended TVs for 2017. Just because a TV is not on the list doesn’t mean it’s not good or vice versa, the inclusion mostly has to do with ease-of-use and the streaming app's integration more than how good or bad a TV actually is hardware wise.