10 Best 55-inch TVs

Wally Nowinski
editor

Selecting the best 55-inch TV requires careful consideration of picture quality, ensuring an immersive and rich visual experience. Important criteria include exceptional color accuracy, deep blacks, and clarity that stands out. TVs with support for High Dynamic Range (HDR) are preferable, offering a broader color palette and improved contrast levels. When evaluating panel technologies, OLED stands out for its unparalleled black levels and contrast, whereas QLED offers luminosity and vibrant color reproduction, making each suitable for different viewing preferences. Additionally, with the compact yet impactful size of a 55-inch display, the ability of a TV to upscale lower-resolution content effectively becomes crucial, ensuring that all content looks sharp and detailed. By focusing on these key factors, you can choose a 55-inch TV that not only complements your space but also provides a captivating viewing experience for all types of media.

Our experts used the PerfectRec decision engine to comb through our TV database and find the Best 55-inch TVs available in 2024. Here are the top 10 picks.

Our criteria for Best 55-inch TVs:

  • Size Many manufacturers produce slightly different sized TVs. We focused on TVs that are between 50 and 59-inches.
  • Picture Quality We prioritized TVs with great picture quality
To consider others factors, try the PerfectRec decision engine to get your personalized TV recommendation
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10 Best 55-inch TVs

1
BEST RATING
Gaming:
5.0
Picture Quality: Excellent
Movies & TV: A, Gaming: A+, Sports: A-
Bright Room: Very Good




Expert Summary
The Samsung S90C OLED TV is a high-end model with excellent overall picture quality, making it great for movies and series, with strong performance in bright rooms and an outstanding viewing experience in dark rooms. If gaming is a priority, this TV offers the best gaming experience with a 144Hz OLED screen and low input lag. Sports enthusiasts will appreciate the very good handling of fast-moving scenes. Although the sound quality is fair, this might not be a concern if you already have or plan to get a separate sound system. This TV comes at a premium price, but its features like a wide color gamut, high contrast, excellent HDR performance, including support for HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG, could justify the investment if top-tier picture quality and future-proofing are important to you. Keep in mind that it may not be the best choice if you plan to use it as a PC monitor or if you heavily prioritize audio quality from the TV speakers themselves.
Pros
  • Excellent overall picture quality
  • Best for gaming experiences
  • Excellent in dark rooms
  • Very good in bright rooms
  • Wide viewing angles
Cons
  • Fair sound quality
  • No built-in great speakers
  • Not as bright as some TVs
  • No Dolby Vision support
2
BEST RATING
Movies & TV shows:
5.0
Picture Quality: Best in Class
Movies & TV: A+, Gaming: A+, Sports: A+
Bright Room: Excellent




Expert Summary
The Sony A95L OLED TV is a premium model with superb overall picture quality, making it an excellent choice for movies, sports, and gaming, especially in dark rooms where its contrast and black uniformity stand out. This TV offers an OLED display with high brightness and low reflection, which also makes it a good option for bright rooms, though there are other TVs that might outshine it in this aspect. For those interested in gaming, it has features like low response time and input lag. Sound quality is very good, and the TV can accommodate a soundbar with its adjustable stand. It supports several HDR formats including Dolby Vision but not HDR10+. Keep in mind, this TV comes at a high-end price, reflecting its premium features and performance.
Pros
  • Overall picture quality is top-notch
  • Excellent gaming, sports, and movie performance
  • Superb dark room viewing experience
  • Great sound quality with powerful speakers
  • Wide viewing angles for group watching
Cons
  • Not the brightest in sunny rooms
  • Gray uniformity could be better
  • Does not support HDR10+ format
3
BEST RATING
Movies & TV shows:
4.9
Picture Quality: Excellent
Movies & TV: A, Gaming: A-, Sports: A-
Bright Room: Excellent




Expert Summary
The LG G3 OLED TV is a premium option known for its exceptional picture quality, making it ideal for movie enthusiasts and in dark rooms. It also excels in bright environments and has a wide viewing angle, ensuring a great picture from almost any seat in the house. For gamers, the performance is very good with fast response times and low input lag. It supports HDR content beautifully, which is great for the latest movies and gaming. Sports fans will appreciate the very good motion handling. The sound quality is considered very good and it has voice command capabilities, but it doesn't come with a traditional stand, instead including a sleek flush wall mount, which might be a consideration if you're not looking to mount it on a wall.
Pros
  • Outstanding overall picture quality
  • Excellent performance in dark rooms
  • Wide viewing angles, great for group watching
  • Supports Dolby Vision and HLG formats
  • Low input lag, suitable for gaming
Cons
  • No regular stand, wall mount only
  • Motion processing could be better
  • Less bright compared to non-OLED TVs
  • Limited HDR10+ support
4
BEST RATING
Movies & TV shows:
4.8
Picture Quality: Excellent
Movies & TV: A, Gaming: A, Sports: A-
Bright Room: Very Good




Expert Summary
The LG C3 OLED offers excellent picture quality, especially in dark rooms, making it ideal for movie enthusiasts and nighttime viewing. It has a superb contrast ratio and handles reflections well, so it's also a good fit for rooms with some light control. For gamers, its response time and low input lag provide a strong gaming experience, though it may not be as bright as some LED or QLED TVs. Sports fans will enjoy very good performance, but keep in mind that in brightly lit rooms or during daytime viewing, an OLED's brightness might be less impactful than other screen types. It supports advanced audio formats like Dolby Atmos, which enhances the viewing experience with immersive sound if you have a compatible sound system. The TV comes at a premium price, reflecting its high-end features and performance.
Pros
  • Exceptional overall picture quality
  • Outstanding for gaming
  • Excellent in dark rooms
  • Great for movies and series
  • Wide viewing angles
Cons
  • Lower brightness in bright rooms
  • Potential risk of burn-in
  • Average sound quality
  • Reflection handling could be better
5
BEST RATING
Movies & TV shows:
4.9
Picture Quality: Excellent
Movies & TV: A, Gaming: A, Sports: A-
Bright Room: Very Good




Expert Summary
The Samsung S95B OLED offers excellent overall picture quality, with top marks in gaming and movies, making it a strong option for both enthusiasts and casual viewers. It's particularly impressive in dark rooms due to its perfect contrast and black uniformity. For bright room usage, it's rated as very good, although it may not be the absolute best choice for environments with a lot of ambient light. This TV also has very good sound quality and includes a One Connect Box for a clean installation with minimal visible cables. However, it's at a premium price point, which means you're paying more for the high-end features and performance. If budget is a concern, there might be more cost-effective options, but for those seeking a high-quality viewing experience for a variety of content, and able to afford it, the Samsung S95B OLED would be a satisfying choice.
Pros
  • Excellent overall picture quality
  • Great for gaming
  • Strong performance in dark rooms
  • Wide viewing angle
  • Low input lag for gaming
Cons
  • Brightness may be insufficient in very bright rooms
  • Motion processing could be better
  • Sound quality is very good but not the best
  • Included One Connect Box may complicate setup
6
BEST RATING
Gaming:
5.0
Picture Quality: Best in Class
Movies & TV: A, Gaming: A+, Sports: A-
Bright Room: Excellent




Expert Summary
The Samsung S95C OLED TV, a high-end model released in early 2023, excels in picture quality, making it an excellent choice for movies and dark room viewing. It also offers top-tier gaming performance with features like a 144Hz refresh rate, 4k resolution at 144Hz, and low input lag. For sports fans, its performance is very good, though it shines brightest with other content types. It handles bright rooms well due to its excellent reflection handling and viewing angles. The TV includes a One Connect Box for cable management, which means fewer cables will be visible, helping to maintain a clean setup.
Pros
  • Excellent overall picture quality
  • Top-notch for gaming
  • Great for movies and series
  • Outstanding dark room performance
  • Handles bright rooms well
Cons
  • No HDR10+ support
  • Sound may lack bass
  • Upscaling can be improved
  • Some motion processing issues
7
BEST RATING
Bright Room:
4.9
Picture Quality: Very Good
Movies & TV: A-, Gaming: A-, Sports: B
Bright Room: Best in Class




Expert Summary
The Hisense U8K LCD TV offers a very good overall picture quality, making it well-suited for watching movies and series. It has excellent performance in dark rooms, with high contrast and good local dimming abilities. The screen shines particularly well in bright rooms and sports content is handled decently. If you're into gaming, this TV also provides a very good experience due to its high response time and low input lag. However, when watching sports, you may notice it's not the best performer. Color reproduction is excellent and the speakers are great, but keep in mind that the viewing angle is limited, which could be a downside if you often watch TV from wide angles. With support for HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG, it can display a wide range of HDR content effectively. It's also equipped with 4 HDMI ports and can be used as a monitor. Overall, the TV is positioned at a midrange price and offers a slew of features that could make it a good fit for various uses, especially in bright rooms and for viewers who appreciate high-quality image and audio for movies and gaming.
Pros
  • Excellent dark room performance
  • Very good overall picture quality
  • Low input lag for gaming
  • Strong reflection handling
  • Powerful built-in speakers
Cons
  • Limited viewing angle
  • Fair performance in bright rooms
  • Gray uniformity could be better
  • Only fair sports content quality
8
BEST RATING
Movies & TV shows:
4.9
Picture Quality: Excellent
Movies & TV: A+, Gaming: A-, Sports: A+
Bright Room: Very Good




Expert Summary
The Sony A95K is a premium OLED TV with exceptional picture quality, making it a fantastic choice for movie enthusiasts. Its OLED display provides deep blacks and vibrant colors, and the inclusion of Quantum Dot technology enhances the color spectrum even further. It's also equipped with features that cater to gamers, such as high refresh rates and 4k resolution with full color at high speeds. For sports fans, fast motion is handled very well. However, this TV is priced at the higher end of the market, so it may not be suitable for those with a tight budget. The sound system is good, supporting up to DTS Digital Surround, and the TV design allows for different pedestal positions to accommodate a soundbar.
Pros
  • Excellent overall picture quality
  • Very good for gaming
  • Best-in-class sports content viewing
  • Excellent dark room performance
  • Very good in bright rooms
Cons
  • No HDR10+ support
  • Limited availability of HDMI ports
  • Stand design may not suit all
9
BEST RATING
Movies & TV shows:
4.8
Picture Quality: Very Good
Movies & TV: A, Gaming: A-, Sports: A-
Bright Room: Good




Expert Summary
The LG B3 OLED TV is an upper midrange model with strong overall picture quality, excellent for movies and series, very good for gaming, and sports content. In a dark room, it performs excellently because of its perfect black levels. However, its performance in a bright room is merely good, so it may not be the best choice for very well-lit areas. It has a fantastic response time and low input lag, which is ideal for fast-paced content and gaming. This model has OLED technology, which means it offers wide viewing angles, making it great for larger groups. The sound quality is good, but if you are an audiophile or crave a more immersive audio experience, external speakers or a sound system may be necessary. It supports HDR formats including Dolby Vision and HLG, enhancing content with better contrast and color. Keep in mind that while the price point is upper midrange, you are paying for the cutting-edge OLED technology and impressive picture quality.
Pros
  • Excellent in dark rooms
  • Very good overall picture quality
  • Very good for gaming
  • Wide viewing angle
  • Low input lag for gaming
Cons
  • Good, not excellent in bright rooms
  • Average sound quality
  • Good but not best HDR brightness
  • No HDR10+ support
10
BEST RATING
Movies & TV shows:
4.8
Picture Quality: Very Good
Movies & TV: A, Gaming: A-, Sports: A
Bright Room: Good




Expert Summary
The Sony A80K OLED TV is at a premium price and is known for its very good to excellent scores across various content types, making it a versatile choice. It shines in dark rooms due to its perfect black uniformity and has an excellent contrast. However, for bright rooms, its performance is good, not the best, which means it may not be the most suitable for well-lit environments. It supports gaming at 4K with very good input lag performance and excellent motion processing, ideal for gamers. The sound quality is also very good with great speakers and options including Dolby Atmos. Its color accuracy out of the box is very good, so it should display vibrant colors from the get-go. This TV comes with features such as Dolby Vision and HLG support but does not support HDR10+. The Sony A80K also offers flexibility with stand positioning to accommodate different spaces and the inclusion of a soundbar if needed.
Pros
  • Excellent dark room performance
  • Very good for sports content
  • Good sound quality with great speakers
  • Multiple stand positions including soundbar accommodation
  • Wide viewing angles, suitable for group watching
Cons
  • Fair HDR brightness may affect HDR performance
  • Not best for very bright rooms
  • Local dimming feature lacking
  • Gray uniformity could be better