The 6 Best 55 Inch TVs in 2024

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Evan Shephard

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True Score Methodology

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725,275

Reviews Analyzed + 24 TV Experts

Updated Feb 24, 2024 11:58 AM
best 55 inch tv guide that shows the top best tv model

While the best 55-inch TVs may not be the most popular size anymore, they strike an excellent balance between an immersive viewing experience and fitting well in smaller rooms. We’ve covered a wide price range to ensure you find a top-rated TV model that fits your budget, from budget-friendly options to premium models, all supported by thorough test data.

Whether you’re on a tight budget or in search of advanced features, you’ll find a 55-inch TV that gives you both quality and value.

How Did We Rank the Best 55 Inch TVs?

To assess how high or low quality a TV actually is 55 Inch TVs, one must evaluate specific testing criteria against reference industry standards. Using our thorough TV Testing Methodology, we determined there are 1 minimum specs and 6 criteria below (3 required, 3 nice to have) that ensure your 4K content looks as good as the creator intended it.

🛠️ Minimum Specifications

  • Screen Size: 55 inches, delivering an immersive viewing experience.

🧪 Test Criteria

  • SDR Brightness: Greater than or equal to 300 nits, ensuring clarity in standard dynamic range content.
  • HDR Brightness: 700 nits or higher, revealing intricate details in high dynamic range scenes.
  • Color Accuracy: Achieving a minimum of 90% DCI P3 coverage for accurate and vibrant colors.

👍 “Nice To Haves”

  • Contrast Ratio: Exceeding 10,000:1, providing striking differentiation between light and dark.
  • EOTF Accuracy: Maintaining a delta of 0.018 or less for precise brightness levels in HDR content.
  • Fast Response Time:Less than or equal to 10ms, ensuring smooth transitions for fast-paced action sequences.ur.

We’ve redefined TV buying guides, setting us apart from any other site on the planet. Our unique approach combines in-house verification with a comprehensive dataset from over 200+ trusted sites, focusing on key testing metrics to rank the top rated TVs. Testing data and specs include brightness (300 nits and 700 nits), Minimum 90% DCI P3 color gamut, and a set that is 55″. In this case, it’s for 55-inch TVs, delivering exceptional performance in various lighting conditions and providing an immersive viewing experience without compromising on space. Discover our data-driven methodology for precise, reliable TV recommendations.

Latest Updates

  • 03/06/2024: Completely and thoroughly overhauled the guide to include the best and latest TVs.
  • 11/30/2023: Republished the list to include TVs based on our True Score system.

Our commitment to unbiased reviews is powered by our ‘True Score’ system, targeting low quality and fake reviews. Commissions fund this mission. No bias. No BS.

Top Best 55 Inch TVs For 2024

Prices accurate at the time of publishing

See how we test the testers

To make our list, a 55-inch TV must be 55 inches and have great picture quality with a minimum brightness of 300 nits for SDR and 700 nits for HDR. If it falls short, it’s out!

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Samsung S90C TV

    • Best For Gaming

    The ultimate 55-inch TV choice for those who prioritize exceptional performance and value, delivering nearly infinite contrast, superior viewing angles, and top-notch color accuracy.

    Samsung S90C TV Review →

    True Score

    91
    93
    8

    Experts

    91
    4k

    Customers

    SAVE $202
    $1,499.99
    $1,297.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Samsung S95C OLED TV

    • Best For Sports

    A premium option with unmatched color accuracy and brightness, ideal for varied lighting conditions and demanding gamers, offering flexibility and high-end performance at a premium.

    Samsung S95C OLED TV Review →

    True Score

    90
    92
    15

    Experts

    91
    737

    Customers

    $1,599.00
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    LG B3 OLED TV

    The budget-friendly OLED option that defies its price with exceptional contrast, wide viewing angles, and vibrant visuals, making it a smart pick for those seeking OLED quality without the premium cost.

    LG B3 OLED TV Review →

    True Score

    90
    88
    4

    Experts

    93
    1k

    Customers

    SAVE $603
    $1,699.99
    $1,096.99

    DID YOU KNOW 87% OF TV REVIEWERS ARE UNTRUSTWORTHY?

    Our research found 28 of 210 TV reviewers can be trusted, and shockingly 1 out of 3 on Google Page 1 were fake reviews showing no proof of test claims. See our Expose and Trust List. This is why Gadget Review is committed calculating the most accurate product scores on the web.

    To do this, we give every TV review site a Trust Score, which measures how trustworthy the site and their testing claims are. We then leverage AI & a machine learning model to combine and calculate the Trust Score with data from experts and consumers to deliver the True Score, the web’s most accurate product quality rating.

    725,275

    TV Reviews Analyzed

    156

    Total Products Analyzed

    Read the TV Testing Methodology

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    LG C3 OLED TV

    • Best For Home Theater

    A step up from the B3, the C3 offers enhanced performance across the board, ideal for those looking for a mix of high-end OLED features and responsiveness at a slightly more accessible price point.

    LG C3 OLED TV Review →

    True Score

    90
    87
    9

    Experts

    94
    14k

    Customers

    SAVE $503
    $1,799.99
    $1,296.99

    DON’T SEE WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR?

    If you’re looking for the best smart TV or wondering, “What is a smart TV?” be sure to check out our guides to learn about the many advantages of investing in one and the connectivity options. For versatile options, check out the best TV monitors, which can help you find a model that fits both work and play.


    For a more future-proof option, explore our guide to the top 8K TVs and learn the differences between 4K vs 8K. Also, don’t forget to check out our recommendations for the leading TV brands.

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Hisense U7K

    The best value champion, combining respectable color accuracy, adequate brightness, and responsive gaming in a budget-friendly package, making quality viewing accessible to a wider audience.

    Hisense U7K Review →

    True Score

    84
    84
    9

    Experts

    85
    2k

    Customers

    SAVE $250
    $799.99
    $549.99

    Category Snapshot

    TVs

    • Total Brands/Products Tested

      17 Brands, 156 Products

    • Top 2 Brands

      LG, Hisense

    • Price Range (Budget-Premium)

      $400-$2000

    • Average True Score

      76.65

    • Important Test Criteria

      Brightness (cd/m2)
      Contrast Ratio (1000:1)

    • Most Trusted Testers

    • Recommended Retailer

    • Typical Warranty

      1 year

    • Covered by Insurance

      Yes – AKKO

    • Test Methodology

      TV Testing Methodology

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Hisense U8K TV

    • Best For Bright Room

    Offering exceptional brightness at a value price, the U8K is perfect for bright rooms and varied content, balancing performance and cost for those seeking dynamic visuals.

    Hisense U8K TV Review →

    True Score

    83
    81
    6

    Experts

    86
    2k

    Customers

    SAVE $352
    $1,099.99
    $748.00

Our Approach to Testing 55-inch TVs

Evan Shepard/Gadget Review

We’ve redefined TV buying guides, setting us apart from any other site on the planet. Our unique approach combines in-house verification with a comprehensive dataset from trusted sites, focusing on key testing metrics like brightness (SDR and HDR), EOTF, response time, contrast ratio and color gamut.

We aggregate and analyze this data, ensuring our recommendations meet the specific needs. Specifically, when it comes to 55 Inch TVs, this involves selecting models that deliver optimal image quality for content, including the ability to upscale lower-resolution content effectively. Discover our data-driven methodology for precise, reliable TV recommendations.

You may notice some of our graphs contain “Source: RTings”. This is to indicate that the data we’re showing off in a graph has come from a single source – because it’s the only source that actually tested the criteria and had data for it! Normally, our data is an average out of all of the various publications that test and provide data to give you a good idea of how a product is going to perform on average.

Which Criteria Matters for Testing 55 Inch TV’s?

By focusing on these criteria (3 required, 3 nice to have), anyone can quickly and easily compare these TVs and how they’ll perform. This helps you make an informed decision and purchase a TV that will fit into space.

CRITERIARANGEREQUIREDDEFINITION
SDR Brightness300+ nitsYesAssess the luminance of your display when operating in Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) mode.
HDR Brightness700+ nitsYesDetermine the luminance of your display in High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode.
Color Gamut (DCI P3 xy)>= 90%YesEvaluate the extent to which a TV can reproduce a specified spectrum of colors.
EOTF0.018No (nice to have)Standard that governs how a display interprets and renders brightness and color.
Response Time<=10msNo (nice to have)Time required for a pixel to transition from one color to another and then return to its original color.
Contrast Ratio>= 10,000No (nice to have)The ratio between the brightest white and darkest black that the screen can display.

Our Trusted Data Sources

(Publication category Score is 80%+)

We looked at 210+ TV reviewers and while 24 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Score), we only use data from the testers that are “very trusted” which means a Trust Score above 70%. The three we have listed below are our most trusted for TVs, along with our own in-house TV expert.

  1. Evan Shepard – Gadget Review
  2. Matthew Lopes – RTings, MuckRack
  3. Will Greenwald – PCMag, MuckRack, Twitter
  4. David Katzmaier – CNET, MuckRack, Twitter

Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every TV review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Scores from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.

Best 55 Inch TVs Test Data & Results

1. SDR & HDR Brightness TV Test Results

In well-lit rooms, the brightness level of your 4K TV, quantified in nits, is key to a great viewing experience. A TV that doesn’t meet the brightness requirement will struggle against natural and artificial light, resulting in a dim, lackluster image. Essentially, nits measure how well your TV can stand up to light interference, with higher values ensuring a sharper, more vivid display.

For standard viewing on the best 4K TV, you should look for at least 300 nits to strike the right balance between clarity and color quality in standard dynamic range (SDR) content. For high dynamic range (HDR) content, which offers richer colors and greater contrast, a minimum of 700 nits is ideal to truly appreciate the enhanced visuals. These brightness levels are recommended to ensure your TV performs well in bright settings, allowing you to enjoy your shows and movies without any loss in detail or quality. Aim for these minimums: SDR Brightness >= 300 nits; HDR Brightness >= 700 nits for the optimal experience.

Discover the top 4K TVs, ranked from brightest to least.

SDR Brightness (in nits, higher is better)

HDR Brightness (in nits, higher is better)

2. Color Gamut (DCI P3 xy) TV Test Results

Color gamut defines the range of colors of a 55 Inch TV can reproduce, directly affecting how vibrant and true-to-life the images look. A wide color gamut in a TV brings out richer, more vivid colors – from the lush greens of a garden to the bright colors of animated characters, enhancing your viewing experience to closely mimic real life.

This concept is technically measured against standards like the DCI P3 xy, a benchmark for high-quality visuals. A 55 Inch TV covering a higher percentage of this color space can display colors more accurately and vividly.

For those who prioritize vibrant and immersive visuals, aiming for a 55 Inch TV with a color gamut of 90% or higher on the DCI P3 xy scale is ideal. This ensures that the content you watch is as vibrant and lifelike as possible.

Below are the top 55 Inch TVs, ordered by color gamut, all exceeding our testing criteria.

DCI P3 XY Color Gamut (as a %; high is better)

3. EOTF Test Results

The Electro-Optical Transfer Function (EOTF) plays a critical role in ensuring the content on your TV looks exactly as the creator intended. This technical feature adjusts your screen’s brightness levels, ensuring every scene, from the darkest shadows to the brightest highlights, is displayed with true-to-life accuracy.

In rooms flooded with light, a TV that nails EOTF calibration shines by preserving the intended contrast and detail in the picture despite the challenging conditions. It balances the brightness so that images remain vibrant and full of detail, unaffected by the glare of ambient light.

A TV that excels in managing EOTF offers an immersive and authentic viewing experience. It brings creators’ visions to life, accurately rendering every scene with the proper light and dark levels, no matter the lighting in your room. This means you get a consistent, realistic picture that captures the full spectrum of colors and contrasts, from the subtlest hues to the most intense explosions.

Below are all the 55 Inch TVs on our list, ordered by EOTF.

EOTF (source: rtings.com – 0 = no data exists; lower is better)

4. Response Time TV Test Results

A slow response time on a 55 Inch TV during fast-paced scenes is like trying to watch a thrilling movie with a foggy lens. Imagine settling in for an action-packed sequence, only to have the swift movements turn into a blur, robbing you of the crisp, clear detail you crave. This isn’t just a minor annoyance; it’s a major detriment to your viewing experience, leaving you with a picture marred by motion blur and visual artifacts.

So, what exactly is response time? It measures how quickly a pixel on your TV can change from one color to another. In the context of watching fast-moving content or enjoying dynamic scenes on a 55 Inch TV, a low response time is crucial. A response time of 15 ms or lower is good, but if you plan on gaming on this set, aim for a response time of 10 ms or lower. At these levels, your 55 Inch TV ensures smooth transitions and sharp visuals, making every scene come to life without any distracting blurs or delays.

Below are the top 55 Inch TVs, ordered by response time.

Response Time (in milliseconds; lower is better)

5. Contrast Ratio Test Results

For 55 Inch TV enthusiasts, a solid contrast ratio is crucial for enjoying your favorite TV shows or movies, especially in darker settings. This feature directly impacts how lifelike and dynamic the picture appears on your screen, ensuring that dark scenes are displayed with clear, crisp blacks instead of murky grays and bright scenes retain their detail without appearing washed out.

Put simply, the contrast ratio is all about the range of luminance a TV can produce, from the deepest blacks to the brightest whites. It’s what brings depth to the image, enhancing the realism of every scene. Watching a movie in the dark, for example, the difference between a TV with a poor contrast ratio and one with a high ratio is stark: the former struggles, blending shadows into a flat gray, while the latter delivers true black, making night scenes more immersive and detailed.

Ideally, a contrast ratio of 10,000:1 is what you should aim for in a 55 Inch TV. This level of luminance variance ensures that you’re getting a picture quality that can handle the nuances of lighting in any scene, providing a viewing experience that’s both rich and engaging. Note: OLED TVs have infinite contrast ratio, indicated by “0.”

Below are the top 55 Inch TVs, ordered by contrast ratio, all exceeding our testing criteria.

Contrast Ratio (higher is better)

55 Inch TVs: Mistakes To Avoid

  1. Ignoring Viewing Distance: Failing to consider the optimal viewing distance for a 55-inch TV can result in discomfort or diminished picture quality. If your living space allows for more distance between the couch and TV, consider upgrading to a larger screen such the top 65-inch TV to enhance your viewing experience.

  2. Overlooking Display Technology: Not researching or understanding the differences between various display technologies (e.g., OLED, QLED, LED) can lead to dissatisfaction with picture quality. For instance, the best OLED TVs are known for their superior contrast ratios and perfect blacks, which can significantly enhance your viewing experience with more vivid and lifelike images.

  3. Ignoring Connectivity Needs: Not assessing the number and types of ports needed for devices like gaming consoles, sound systems, or streaming devices can limit usability. When selecting the best gaming TVs, ensuring adequate HDMI 2.1 ports is crucial for the latest consoles to take full advantage of their capabilities, including higher frame rates and resolutions. Additionally, if you plan to connect a soundbar to your TV, you need to ensure that you have enough HDMI ports for it and any other components you want to connect.

  4. Neglecting Picture Quality Specifications: Overlooking important specifications such as resolution, HDR support, refresh rate, and color accuracy can result in a subpar viewing experience. To ensure you can enjoy your favorite teams with the best picture quality, check out the top TVs for sports.

The Best 55 Inch TVs Tests Compared

Product
True Score
SDR Brightness
HDR Barightness
Color Gamut
EOTF
Response Time
Contrast Ratio

Samsung S90C TV

  • Best for Gaming

91
  • 373 nits

  • 1,058 nits

  • 99.98%

  • 0.0031

  • 1.4 ms

  • 0

$1,297.99
$1,500
$202

Samsung S95C OLED TV

  • Best for Sports

90
  • 704 nits

  • 1,383 nits

  • 99.81%

  • 0.0029

  • 5.5 ms

  • 0

$1,599.00

LG B3 OLED TV

  • Best for 55-inch

90
  • 390 nits

  • 617 nits

  • 98.35%

  • 0.0067

  • 3.1 ms

  • 0

$1,096.99
$1,700
$603

LG C3 OLED TV

  • Best for Home Theater

90
  • 383 nits

  • 795 nits

  • 98.98%

  • 0.0056

  • 2.3 ms

  • 0

$1,296.99
$1,800
$503

Hisense U7K

  • Best for 4K

84
  • 603 nits

  • 786.5 nits

  • 96.31%

  • 0.0211

  • 11.3 ms

  • 45,000:1

$549.99
$800
$250

Hisense U8K TV

  • Best for Bright Room

83
  • 1,549 nits

  • 1,792 nits

  • 97.44%

  • 0.0105

  • 13.3 ms

  • 165,360:1

$748.00
$1,100
$352

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