Matte Isn't Always Better: What Our New Reflections Tests Really Show

31 Views

Thanks! Share it with your friends!

You disliked this video. Thanks for the feedback!

Published May 29, 2025

Glare is annoying, no doubt about it. And display manufacturers know this. For a long while matte screen finishes were limited to monitors or a handful of controversial TVs (looking at you Samsung the Frame), but their ability to reduce lighting artifacts is enticing if your TV is in a well-lit room. But, there are trade-offs to be made. With our enhanced reflections testing, you’ll be able to see the trade-offs and know what you’re getting yourself into before you commit to a screen finish. From one box to four, you’ll have (almost) all the information you’ll need to buy the best TV for you.

Come chat with us directly in our new Discord server! https://discord.gg/GFv6FyUcm7

New Reflections Test Article: https://www.rtings.com/tv/learn/research/screen-finish-reflection-handling
Full Changelog: https://www.rtings.com/tv/tests/changelogs/2-0

Vote for our next TV review: https://www.rtings.com/review-pipeline/tv
Follow our R&D process: @RTINGScomRD

Support Us: https://www.rtings.com/insider
Careers: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/rtingscom?gh_src=43b195807us
Don't miss a beat - join our newsletters: https://www.rtings.com/newsletters

Follow Us: 
https://www.facebook.com/rtingscom 
https://twitter.com/rtingsdotcom 
https://www.instagram.com/rtingsdotcom/

---
00:00 Intro
00:51 Our Old reflections test
01:36 What gave...
03:47 How Did We Fix It?
04:47 The New Tests
05:35 Total Reflections Level
05:52 Ambient Black Level Raise
08:34 Ambient Color saturation
09:54 Conclusion
---

We make money directly from you via insider access on our website (which gives you access to extra features: https://www.rtings.com/insider) and when you buy a product after clicking a link to a retailer. Learn more about how we work: https://www.rtings.com/company/about-us.