A 55-inch television is now considered medium or even small, which can be surprising if you bought it a few years ago. Companies have offered lower and lower prices for bigger and bigger screens – we’re talking about $ 300 for a 55-inch TV with a perfectly decent budget – and only half that for sale. And at the tip of this market, almost all good TV series has a size of 55 inches and is usually the smallest in the line.
Many of these TVs come with all features, including full-array local dimming, OLED screens, 120 Hz refresh rates, 4K resolution, HDR, a multitude of HDMI doors and even state-of-the-art game resources go with one PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. Oh, and most of them are smart, which gives you access to all of your beloved streaming content without using a second device.
TL; DR: The 55-inch size offers more options than any other. As such, there are many quality options. Let me help you decide by listing my favorites.
The list below represents the best TVs I reviewed in the CNET test lab (for 2020, this is my basement), where I compare the pros and cons side by side to see which ones are more worth buying. Here are my latest recommendations for the best 55-inch TVs, updated periodically. Keep these points in mind when examining my choices:
- Looking for a different size? Check out our comparisons of 32 inch TVs, 43 inch TVs, 65 inch TVs and 75 inch TVs.
- The images below are usually from 65-inch TVs, as this is the size we reviewed on CNET. But the revision still applies to the 55-inch version.
- Can’t find what you’re looking for below? Here are all the TVs I reviewed, and more coming soon.
Sarah Tew / CNET
No TV I’ve ever tested offers so much picture quality for that money. The 2020 TCL 6-Series has even better image quality than its predecessor, thanks to well-implemented mini-LED technology and full-array local dimming that helps it circulate on almost any other TV at this price. It is also a solid choice for players with a new THX mode that combines low input delay and high contrast. As if that were not enough, the Roku TV operating system is our absolute favorite. Read our review of the TCL 6 series (2020 Roku TV).
See this:
TCL 6-Series Roku TV review: Brighter and better than …
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Sarah Tew / CNET
What did you say? Do you just want the best TV, money without a problem? Here it is. In my side-by-side tests, the 2020 LG CX is the best TV I have ever reviewed, with worldwide contrast, perfect out-of-angle vision and excellent uniformity. If you can afford it, this is the 55 inch TV. Read our review of the LG OLEDCX series.
Sarah Tew / CNET
In addition to the TCL 6-Series above, this is the runner-up for best TV for the money. TCL has a better picture and a better smart HDTV system, so it’s a superior TV in general, but it’s also a few hundred dollars more expensive. If you can’t afford the Series 6, this Vizio is a great runner-up. Read our review of the Vizio M7-Series Quantum (2020).
Sarah Tew / CNET
With overall image quality equal to that of the TCL 6-Series above and a price that is not much more expensive, the X900H’s connection set is really better than the TCL. It is the most affordable TV with full HDMI input capability of 4K / 120Hz. Read our review of the Sony XBR-X900H series.
David Katzmaier / CNET
Samsung is the TV brand that sells more TVs than any other, and our favorite Samsung of the year is the Q80T series. Its sleek design stands out compared to the other TVs on this list – although the ultra-thin LG CX OLED is even more stylish – and it also offers excellent picture quality, connectivity for next-generation games and a great smart TV system. The TVs above are of superior value, but if you want a Samsung anyway, this is a great option to play or watch TV shows, movies, YouTube TV and more. Read our review of the Samsung Q80T (2020) series.
Other things to know
I’m sure you would be happy with any of the TVs above, but a new 55-inch TV can be a big investment, so maybe you’re looking for more information. Here is a quick and dirty list.
- In my opinion, the bigger the better. Big TVs are cheaper than ever, and your money is better spent on big screens than a small upgrade in image quality or resolution.
- If you don’t like the way the integrated smart TV system interacts with your streaming apps, you can add a media streamer. After all, there are more streaming services with more amazing content than ever (have you watched The Mandalorian yet?!) Streamers are cheap and easy to use and receive updates more often than most smart TVs. See our picks of the best media streamers.
- Most built-in speakers sound awful, so it’s worth pairing your new set with a soundbar or other speaker system. The good ones start at around $ 100. See the best sound bars.
Did you understand all that? Great! Now take your remote control and get ready to watch the latest generation TV.
Looking for even more information? Here’s everything to know about buying a new TV in 2021.