Summary
The best televisions with a 55-inch .. A television with a screen size of 55 inches is one of my favorites, and I’ve been evaluating televisions for ten years now. 55-inch televisions often give a performance that is comparable to, if not equivalent to, that of 65-inch televisions, despite the fact that some people may prefer the greater screen size that 65-inch televisions provide.
There are a few excellent choices available at the moment that are 55 inches in length. The Hisense U8K is a very reasonable television that cost less than one thousand dollars and readily competes with televisions that cost twice as much as it does. I suggest it for most budgets. The Samsung QN90C is yet another QLED that is worth taking into consideration since it provides superior color accuracy right out of the box. Despite being a step down from the LG G3 OLED, the LG C3 OLED continues to be a very good competitor for the best OLED TV and comes at a price that is more fair. If you are interested in OLED, you should certainly check it out.
The best televisions with a 55-inch
Whether you are looking for a premium smart 55-inch TV with incredible picture quality or a budget set that will save you a bundle, we have advice that is backed up by hundreds of hours of in-house lab testing and in-depth evaluation. There are a lot of options to choose from, and many new 2024 models, such as the LG C4 OLED and Hisense U8N, will be arriving here soon. However, regardless of whether you are looking for a set that will save you a bundle or a budget set that will save you a bundle, we have your back.
Note from the Editor: If you want to view a visual breakdown between all of the top sets, be sure to scroll down to our “Test Data” and “How we test” sections.
THE COMPLETE LIST: A DETAIL REVIEW OF THE BEST 55-INCH TVS
1. Hisense U8K ULED TV
There are a lot of options available for televisions that are 55 inches in size, but the Hisense U8K is the greatest of them all. Not because it outperforms every other television in terms of specifications and performance, but rather because it provides comparable performance at a price that is fifty percent lower. After being put through rigorous testing for a period of many months, the U8K offers colors that are deep and rich, a high degree of contrast, and a high peak brightness. The Mini-LED backlight allows you to sit relatively far off-axis without the color desaturation that would otherwise occur. It is able to live in a room that is either completely dark or in a living room that has ambient light without any problems.
How can we be sure that it is of high quality? During our laboratory testing, we were able to detect its color saturation levels at an astounding 80% of the Rec2020 Color Space. This was made possible by the quantum dot filter and Mini-LED panel that it had. Seventy percent of the competition is considered to be fortunate.
The only significant drawbacks of this product are its average input latency (13.2 milliseconds) and its limited color fidelity straight out of the box. Due to the fact that the latter is around 4.46 (as determined by a Delta E value), it is necessary to make certain adjustments in order to achieve the desired color balance.
For me, none of these was a deal-breaker; however, if you are looking for a television that has quicker reaction times or more accurate colors (and you are willing to spend more for it), then the Samsung QN90C and LG C3 OLED that are located lower on our list are products that you should consider purchasing instead.
SPECIFICATIONS
REASONS TO BUY
- Extremely bright
- Incredibly colorful
- Great sound quality
- Built-in ATSC 3.0 tuner
REASONS TO AVOID
- Color accuracy can be an issue
- Not the lowest lag
- Colors desaturate off-axis
THE TV WITH THE BEST VALUE
2. LG C3 OLED
Continuing with the topic of amazing televisions that are available at a reasonable price, the LG C3 OLED is an excellent choice for a 55-inch television. At a price that won’t make your eyes water, it comes with all of the features and performance of its bigger brothers and sisters, including the ability to perform better.
When I have friends who are interested in purchasing an OLED but do not necessary need the one that costs $3,000, I like to offer it to them. Despite the fact that you are not paying an excessive amount for some features that you may not use, you are still able to enjoy the inky blacks and killer contrast. Under the hood, it is powered by LG’s latest a9 AI chipset Gen6 chipset, which enhances the visual quality of upscaled material and makes motion seem more refined (after TruMotion is off, of course).
It is somewhat less bright than the Hisense U8K that you will see above, so you should not get it if you want to place it next to a window or in a room that is very brilliantly illuminated. However, you will discover that it provides the greatest image when you are watching a movie in a room that is completely dark. That is all that is required of you; provide the popcorn.
SPECIFICATIONS
REASONS TO BUY
- Superb picture quality
- Improved smart interface
- Top-notch gaming features, performance
REASONS TO AVOID
- Not LG’s brightest OLED T
- No ATSC 3.0 tune
- Average-at-best sound
THE VERY BEST TV FOR YOUR BUDGET
3. Roku Plus Series
When I think of a television that costs $500, I anticipate seeing a brand name like Insignia or Onn on the screen. The Roku Plus Series 4K QLED TV, on the other hand, is a significant improvement over those TV manufacturers that have a poor track record. Despite the fact that image quality and sound are often the first things to be sacrificed in budget sets, it manages to provide a surprisingly high level of both.
While you will have to make certain concessions in this situation (a complete set of HDMI 2.1 connections is just not feasible, and you will only be able to use a panel with a refresh rate of 60Hz), you will not have to make a great deal of additional concessions. In our testing, we were blown away by its high-quality HDR color and sound that was extraordinarily excellent, as well as its Roku TV smart platform, which was known for its speed and efficiency.
If you are adamant about not spending more than $500 on a new 55-inch television (and we don’t blame you for that), the Roku Plus Series 4K QLED TV is an incredible deal that won’t let you down in any way.
SPECIFICATIONS
REASONS TO BUY
- Excellent value
- First-rate HDR color
- Good sound
- Solid Roku TV smart interface
REASONS TO AVOID
- So-so brightnes
- Only 60Hz refresh rate
- No HDMI 2.1 ports
THE VERY BEST QLED Television
4. Samsung QN90C Neo QLED TV
If brightness is the most important factor for you, then you should give serious consideration to purchasing this 55-inch QLED television from Samsung. Excellent high dynamic range (HDR) brightness is provided by the Samsung QN90C Neo QLED TV, which places it comfortably among the top five brightest televisions that we have evaluated over the course of the last year. The high-octane Mini-LED panel that Samsung uses to power the QN90C guarantees that it will provide outstanding performance across all of the most popular genres.
When it comes to brightness, what makes it superior to the similar products on the market? Mini-LED backlighting, in its most basic form, involves the consolidation of thousands of LEDs into smaller clusters. These clusters are capable of delivering high levels of brightness while preserving realistic color and gradations of radiant intensity. Because of the improved control, there will be less light bleeding and haloing as well.
It is true that there are more excellent Samsung televisions available, such as the Samsung QN900C 8K QLED TV; but, the QN90C is our choice because of the cheap price tag it comes with.
SPECIFICATIONS
REASONS TO BUY
- 4 HDMI 2.1 ports
- Excellent off-angle viewin
- Spectacularly bright
- Less blooming than previous model
REASONS TO AVOID
- No Dolby Vision suppor
- Included stand isn’t very sturdy.
THE VERY BEST OLED Television
5. Sony Bravia A95L
The Sony Bravia A95L OLED is going to completely blow your mind if you have a bank account that is completely filled and you are looking for the greatest 55-inch television that is available without having to worry about the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. Because of its screen, it is both brighter than other OLED televisions and more colorful than other OLED televisions. It is one of Sony’s earliest QD-OLED televisions (the A95K from 2023 was officially the first).
Due to the fact that it is constructed using OLED technology, the A95L has flawless blacks, an endless contrast, and vivid colors. Additionally, its post-image processing technology is unparalleled. The A95L’s motion processing is the greatest in the business, and it leverages its Cognitive Processor XR to intelligently and precisely upscale the picture. If you watch a lot of simple definition or high dynamic range video, the A95L is something you should consider.
It also includes some credits to Sony’s BRAVIA CORE streaming service, which can stream material at speeds of up to 80 Mbps, and the controversial Sony Bravia Cam, which can be used for video conferencing at home. However, the Bravia Cam is not included in the package.
There’s a good reason why it’s considered the reference standard in Hollywood.
SPECIFICATIONS
REASONS TO BUY
- Remarkable picture quality
- Unparalleled HDR color gamut coverage
- Superb sound
- Google TV interface
- Equipped with ATSC 3.0 tuner
REASONS TO AVOID
- Only two HDMI 2.1 port
- Relatively high input lag
A TV that is ideal for gaming
6. Samsung S90C OLED
Are you looking for a gift for the gamer in person? You won’t find a more suitable option for a game television than the Samsung S90C OLED, which is 55 inches in size. This screen is formally referred to as a QD-OLED screen, which simply means that it combines a quantum dot filter, which improves color saturation, with an OLED panel, which improves contrast. This relationship has been investigated by the majority of manufacturers; however, only a select few have gone as far as Samsung has, and even Samsung has never made a case for it that is as compelling as it has with the S90C.
It is essential for gamers to have features such as a minimal input latency (9.2 milliseconds), HDMI 2.1 that supports VRR and ALLM, and frame rates that can go up to 144 hertz. The fact that you can really stream games to the television by using a variety of game streaming providers is the cherry on top of the cake.
When we were reviewing it, we couldn’t help but test out Starfield on it. However, it is also an excellent TV for streaming movies from online services like Netflix and Max. In each of the aforementioned instances, the S90C displayed exceptional color reproduction, a broad color gamut coverage, and brightness that was above average. Players are going to enjoy it even more than the rest of us, despite the fact that it is fantastic in every capacity.
SPECIFICATIONS
REASONS TO BUY
- Gorgeous picture quality
- Excellent gaming features
- Decent audio for a TV
REASONS TO AVOID
- No Dolby Vision support
- Tizen is somewhat clunky
COMPLETELY TESTED..
We put a lot of televisions through our tests here at tkgap, but not all of them end up in our recommendations. The reason they are not included is because we do not believe they are superior to the top options, and you should only take them into consideration after you have read about the picks that are listed above. Nevertheless, we want to make sure that you are aware that we have evaluated a greater number of televisions than the ones that are now being shown here, and we want to make those assessments accessible to you in the event that you are interested in seeing them. Listed below are some of the other 55-inch televisions that we have evaluated but did not make the list:
Based on our evaluation, the LG UR9000 received a score of just 2.5 out of 5, indicating that it does not achieve the same level of performance as the other models that we have included in our list. There are certain unique situations in which it is acceptable, but the models that you see above are the ones that we suggest more.
Samsung Q70C QLED: Samsung’s mid-range Q70C strives to be the master of all crafts, but it ends up being unable of doing any of them very well. Not only does it miss many of the premium features that are available on the Hisense, but it also costs $849, which makes it a little too expensive to be considered a budget selection.
The LG B3 OLED is a strong lower mid-tier OLED television that delivers a lot of the same features that make the LG C3 OLED such a terrific television at a price that is more affordable. However, due to the fact that it is still around $1,300 for a 65-inch model, it is disappointingly not inexpensive enough to be included on our list. It is still the C3 that is the superior television because, despite the fact that it is more costly, we believe that the performance improvement is worth the additional money.
Hisense U7K: The Hisense U7K is quite similar to the U8K that was mentioned before and comes very near to unseating its family member that is somewhat more expensive. After undergoing our testing, we discovered that the U7K was not capable of reaching the HDR peak brightness of more than one thousand nits that the U8K is capable of. Furthermore, the U7K scored pretty poorly when it comes to color accuracy straight out of the box. It is a fantastic option for those on a budget, but it is not among the greatest 55-inch televisions that money can buy.
Where can you get the greatest televisions with a 55-inch screen?
As a television is an investment, our guide to buying a television breaks down the most important considerations that should be taken into account when acquiring a new set. Because it is a piece of technology that you will most likely keep for a number of years, you should make sure that you get the 55-inch television that is the most suitable for your needs.
The first thing you need to do is determine whether or not you are guaranteed a 55-inch set. It is not always the case that the item is suitable for the space just because it is the largest size that can be displayed on your wall or TV stand. Think about if a television with a 65-inch screen would be more suitable for your room.
You should budget around $500 for a high-quality 55-inch 4K television. The Insignia 55-inch 4K Fire TV Edition, which is seen above, is the most affordable option that we would suggest based on our extensive collection of TV reviews. However, if you are on a more limited budget, you may want to look into our top TV offers for some other options. Nevertheless, it is important to keep in mind that performance will suffer at lower price levels.
If you want the most colors, you should choose one of the HDR sets that is compatible with Dolby Vision, which can be seen above. This technology has the capability of delivering a greater number of colors, a higher degree of contrast, and an increase in brightness. It is possible that it will make a set a little bit more expensive, but because the Dolby Vision format seems to be increasing popularity, it ensures that you will still be delighted with the television.
There is also the matter of port offers to take into consideration. There are three HDMI ports on some of the sets listed above, while others have four. All things considered, having a greater number of ports is preferable, particularly if you have a collection of input devices such as gaming consoles or soundbars.
Check out our recommendations for the best televisions in each category if you have narrowed down your search for a television by manufacturer, price range, or screen size.
In the course of our testing, what are we searching for?
Peak Brightness is the greatest level of brightness (measured in nits) that a television set can provide in a 10% window while still maintaining its ability to do so.
The Delta E is a measurement that determines how accurate the colors are when they are used in the Calibrated or ISF Modes of the camera. Generally speaking, the colors are more true when the number is smaller.
This statistic, known as DCI-P3 Color Volume, is used to determine the overall covering area of a television show’s color output. A greater proportion indicates a more effective display of color. At the same time, we evaluate the color output of a television in comparison to the Rec2020 color space.
Input lag is a statistic that indicates the entire amount of time it takes for a signal to display on the screen after it has been sent over the HDMI connection. This is an essential part of the gaming experience.
What criteria do we use to evaluate the top 55-inch televisions?
The process of evaluating the finest televisions with a 55-inch screen is exhaustive. Our bespoke lab test is performed on each and every television set, evaluating color gamut, color accuracy, and brightness in order to determine, in an objective manner, which sets are the most effective with regard to these important indications. In addition, we conduct tests to determine the amount of lag time, which is the amount of time it takes for material to appear on the screen after it has been sent from its original source. In order to establish comparisons based on numbers about the quality of the display and the color, we utilize these findings.
In order to do this, we put each of these televisions through a battery of technical tests that are intended to establish the degree of performance that they exhibit on a quantitative one. We are able to carry out these tasks with the assistance of an X-Rite i1 Pro spectrophotometer, a SpectraCal VideoForge Pro pattern generator, and the Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays, which measures and tracks the performances of the televisions.
In addition, we devote a considerable amount of time to each set in order to determine how the findings of our laboratory tests transfer into anecdotal performance. In addition, we compare rival sets by using a variety of material from a number of different sources. Now that we have this information, we are able to tell you which televisions have the finest visuals, the best sound, and the best watching experience.
Naturally, we also take into account the smart TV functionalities and applications that are available for each television. We examine everything from the design of the remote control to the voice interaction capabilities.
