Optical digital audio remains a standard connection on most mainstream televisions, alongside HDMI eARC. In our audit of 30 selected 2025 US models, we documented optical outputs on 26, found two without them and left two unresolved.
That pattern agrees with RTINGS’ hands-on assessment, which identifies Samsung’s U8000F and Q7F as unusual among mainstream 2025 televisions for omitting optical output.
| Brand | Models checked | Optical documented | Absent | Unresolved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| LG | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Sony | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| TCL | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Hisense | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
Optical has not simply disappeared as eARC has arrived: all 26 optical-equipped models also document eARC. The two Samsungs lacking optical retain eARC too. For someone connecting an older amplifier or soundbar, checking the exact model remains useful.
We joined manufacturer specifications and connection diagrams with original hands-on reviews. TCL’s QM7K specification sheet lists the optical output directly. Hisense’s U65QF and QD7QF guides show both connections; PCMag’s U8QG test describes them in its rear-port inventory.
The sample fixes the market to the US and screen size to the 65-inch class. Hisense’s 65U75QG and 65QD6QF remain unresolved because we did not recover adequate model-specific US evidence. They remain in the denominator. A blank specification field alone does not establish that a port is absent.
These are selected models rather than a sales-weighted market sample. The evidence supports the continued prevalence of optical connections, without treating 26/30 as a precise share of all televisions or a test of audio-format compatibility.
Model-by-model evidence · Brand totals · Methods
Research data and calculation scripts, version 3.0 (ZIP, 5 MB). Updated 16 September 2026.