When you're trying to choose the best TV, you want the right size. A 55-inch TV works great for medium-sized areas such as bedrooms, apartment living rooms or a gaming room. A 55-inch television is often the smallest to include features like full-array local dimming, 120Hz refresh rate, 4K UHD resolution, high dynamic range and a bunch of HDMI ports. They come loaded with smart TV features, which let you stream your favorite shows and films on Netflix, Hulu and more. At CNET. I review TVs side-by-side in a state-of-the-art lab, taking measurements with specialized equipment. Those tests help determine not just the best 55-inch TV overall but also the best 55-inch TV in your price range.
Our Picks
If you're looking for the best TV in a 55-inch size, the Hisense U8QG should be your go-to. I compared the Hisense side-by-side against its rival, the TCL QM8K, and it beats the TCL in two key areas: it's a whole lot brighter, and it's a tiny bit faster in games. The Hisense offers excellent image quality and affordable prices thanks to mini-LED backlights and full-array local dimming, as the Google TV operating system.
Pros
- Super bright
- Great gaming features
- Excellent color and contrast
Cons
- Slightly less cinematic image than competing TCL
- Slight loss of high-brightness detail in some HDR content
The C4 represents better picture quality than any non-OLED TV on this list at a higher price but is still not outrageously expensive. Its perfect black levels, unbeatable contrast and superb off-angle viewing kept it a notch above the mini-LED models in my comparison tests, and while its overall brightness isn't quite as impressive, it's still an incredible performer in all kinds of room lighting.
Pros
- Excellent overall image quality
- Preserves contrast well in bright rooms
- Superior contrast and off-angle viewing
- Wide variety of size offerings
Cons
- Expensive
- No major improvements over the C3
The Samsung S95F's matte finish does more than reduce reflections; it nearly eliminates them, improving image quality in bright rooms more than any OLED TV we've tested. That matte finish really works, reducing window glare and other reflections to dimmer blobs instead of super-bright, mirror-like distractions. The S95F also has an external box, allowing for a cleaner look with the option to store HDMI connections and the power cord out of sight.
Pros
- Best picture quality I've ever tested
- Reduces reflections better than other OLED TVs
Cons
- It's expensive
- Not as bright as the LG G5 in some cases
Whether you're a gamer or just want a TV that will fit in the bedroom, the Hisense QD7QF is a really good choice. It has a very punchy picture for the money and plenty of streaming options. The Hisense QD7QF delivers a fantastic picture for an affordable price. The black levels and shadow detail are a cut above anything else at the price, thanks to its mini-LED backlight. The TV has onboard streaming, and the sound quality isn't too bad either.
Pros
- The best picture quality I've ever seen under $500
- This TV boasts excellent black levels and shadow detail
- Best response times in its class for gaming
Cons
- Fire TV interface is less user-friendly than a Roku TV
When it comes to the best TVs for the money, it's TVs priced under a grand typically include the features you want without paying too much. The TCL QM6K started at a grand and is now even cheaper (around $550) and it has those tick boxes already checked -- excellent picture quality, streaming and gaming. It's an attractive TV with its "bezel-less" design and is simple to put together and set up.
Pros
- Excellent picture quality
- Deep black levels
- Affordable
Cons
- Brightness and color saturation could be better
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What is the best 55-inch TV right now?
The Hisense U8QG is the best 55-inch TV as it offers superb picture quality and an affordable price, plus excellent gaming features like 4K/120Hz input and variable refresh rate for consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X. While the TCL QM8K is a slightly better TV than the Hisense U8QG, it is not available in a 55-inch size. Meanwhile, at the budget end of the spectrum, Hisense has also got you covered with its excellent QD7QF, which topped my best budget TVs roundup.
If you're looking to spend a bit more money than that, then there are plenty of excellent choices, so let's take a look.
Best 55-inch TVs in 2026
Best 55-inch TV overall
Hisense U8QG
Pros
- Super bright
- Great gaming features
- Excellent color and contrast
Cons
- Slightly less cinematic image than competing TCL
- Slight loss of high-brightness detail in some HDR content
If you're looking for the best TV in a 55-inch size, the Hisense U8QG should be your go-to. I compared the Hisense side-by-side against its rival, the TCL QM8K, and it beats the TCL in two key areas: it's a whole lot brighter, and it's a tiny bit faster in games. The Hisense offers excellent image quality and affordable prices thanks to mini-LED backlights and full-array local dimming, as the Google TV operating system.
Note that while I tested the 65-inch size in the U8QG series, the prices shown here are for the 55-inch size.
Best high-end 55-inch TV
LG OLED C4
Pros
- Excellent overall image quality
- Preserves contrast well in bright rooms
- Superior contrast and off-angle viewing
- Wide variety of size offerings
Cons
- Expensive
- No major improvements over the C3
The C4 represents better picture quality than any non-OLED TV on this list at a higher price but is still not outrageously expensive. Its perfect black levels, unbeatable contrast and superb off-angle viewing kept it a notch above the mini-LED models in my comparison tests, and while its overall brightness isn't quite as impressive, it's still an incredible performer in all kinds of room lighting.
You can read our C4 review here, and while we previously recommended the earlier C3, the two TVs cost the same right now. Not much changed between the C3 and C4, however, so just get whichever model is cheaper.
Pros
- Best picture quality I've ever tested
- Reduces reflections better than other OLED TVs
Cons
- It's expensive
- Not as bright as the LG G5 in some cases
The Samsung S95F's matte finish does more than reduce reflections; it nearly eliminates them, improving image quality in bright rooms more than any OLED TV we've tested. That matte finish really works, reducing window glare and other reflections to dimmer blobs instead of super-bright, mirror-like distractions. The S95F also has an external box, allowing for a cleaner look with the option to store HDMI connections and the power cord out of sight.
Between its versatile matte screen and awesome picture overall, the Samsung S95F delivers the best image quality of any TV we've tested, beating both the G5 and last year's winner, the S95D, as well as any other non-OLED TV. It also costs a lot more, and most people -- even those with bright rooms -- will be perfectly happy with a less expensive TV.
The price shown below is for the 55-inch TV.
Best budget 55-inch TV
Hisense QD7QF
Pros
- The best picture quality I've ever seen under $500
- This TV boasts excellent black levels and shadow detail
- Best response times in its class for gaming
Cons
- Fire TV interface is less user-friendly than a Roku TV
Whether you're a gamer or just want a TV that will fit in the bedroom, the Hisense QD7QF is a really good choice. It has a very punchy picture for the money and plenty of streaming options. The Hisense QD7QF delivers a fantastic picture for an affordable price. The black levels and shadow detail are a cut above anything else at the price, thanks to its mini-LED backlight. The TV has onboard streaming, and the sound quality isn't too bad either.
In terms of the best bang-for-buck, the Hisense QD7QF is the most impressive TV I have tested so far. Its picture quality far surpasses that of any other unit at this price, making movies and games look amazing.
Best midrange 55-inch TV
TCL QM6K
Pros
- Excellent picture quality
- Deep black levels
- Affordable
Cons
- Brightness and color saturation could be better
When it comes to the best TVs for the money, it's TVs priced under a grand typically include the features you want without paying too much. The TCL QM6K started at a grand and is now even cheaper (around $550) and it has those tick boxes already checked -- excellent picture quality, streaming and gaming. It's an attractive TV with its "bezel-less" design and is simple to put together and set up.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a 55-inch TV
With all the TVs available today, and all the technical terms and jargon associated with television technology, it can be tough to figure out what's important. Here's a quick guide to help you cut through the confusion.
Price: TVs range in price from $100 to more than $2,000. Smaller screens are cheaper, well-known brands are more expensive and spending more money can also get you better image quality. Most entry-level TVs have a good enough picture for most people, but TVs last a long time, so it might be worth spending more to get a better picture. It's also best to shop for a TV in the fall when prices are lower.
Screen size: Bigger is better in our book. We recommend a size of at least 43 inches for a bedroom TV and at least 55 inches for a living room or main TV -- and 65 inches or larger is best. More than any other "feature," stepping up in TV screen size is the best use of your money. One of the most common post-TV-purchase complaints we've heard is from people who didn't go big enough. We almost never hear people complain that their TV is too large.
Capability: Among entry-level TVs, the most important feature is what kind of smart TV system the TV uses. Among midrange models, look for a feature including full-array local dimming, mini-LED and 120Hz refresh rate, which (unlike some other extras) do help improve the picture, in our experience. Among high-end TVs, OLED technology is your best bet.
For more TV buying advice check out How to Buy a TV.
How does CNET test TVs?
Our TV reviews follow a rigorous, unbiased evaluation process honed over nearly two decades of TV reviews. Our primary TV test lab has specialized equipment for measuring light and color, including a Konica Minolta CS-2000 spectroradiometer, a Murideo Sig-G 4K HDR signal generator and an AVPro Connect 8x8 4K HDR distribution matrix. We use Portrait Displays CalMan Ultimate software to evaluate each TV we review. In every CNET TV review, three or more similar TVs are compared side by side in various lighting conditions playing different media, including movies, TV shows and games, across a variety of test categories, from color to video processing to gaming to HDR. Our reviews also account for design, features, smart TV performance, HDMI input and gaming compatibility and other factors.
One important aspect of image quality we test is overall brightness. Here's how it compares in nits across select TVs listed above.
Check out How We Test TVs for more details.
Other 55-inch TVs we tested
Samsung DU7200: If CNET had a best bang-for-buck award one of the first winners would be the Samsung DU7200, a TV which delivers a really good picture for an affordable price. The black levels and shadow detail are excellent for the money, and while our test unit looked a little desaturated out of the box that's easily fixed by adjusting the Color control. It has onboard streaming and the sound quality isn't too bad either. If you're looking for a bedroom unit or a gaming TV then the Samsung DU7200 is the model we would choose.
LG OLED C3: When we reviewed the C3 in 2023 it was one of our favorite TVs, and this impression continued into the following year. It's still a great TV, but with the pricing on this and the C4 being identical right now it makes sense to go for the newer TV.
Roku Select Series: The Roku Select showed some of the best color of the group with natural skin tones as well as good color saturation. Yet, the reason to buy the Roku Select Series is the same as buying (almost) anything with the Roku name on it: the excellent user interface. That said, the Roku Select I tested had the worst image quality, especially when watching movies. Its black levels were washed-out, its shadows tinged with green and it also had the most distracting reflections when I watched in a lighted room.
