When trying to choose the best TV, you want the right size. A 55-inch TV is ideal for medium-sized spaces such as bedrooms, apartment living rooms, or a game room. A 55-inch TV is often the smallest to include features like full local dimming, a 120Hz refresh rate, 4K UHD resolution, high dynamic range, and plenty of HDMI ports. They come with smart TV features that let you stream your favorite shows and movies from Netflix, Hulu and more. At CNET, we examine TVs side-by-side in a state-of-the-art lab, taking measurements with specialized equipment. These tests help determine not only the best 55-inch TV overall, but also the best 55-inch TV in your price range.
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What is the best 55 inch TV right now?
The Hisense U8 series appears on our list of best TVs for several reasons. It offers superb picture quality and an affordable price, along with gaming features like 4K/120Hz input and a variable refresh rate that help get the most out of consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X. When friends ask me which 55-inch TV to buy and money is always an issue, I tell them to get the Hisense U8N.
There are plenty of other great choices out there, so while the Hisense U8N is my current favorite for most people, it might not suit your preferences or budget.
Best 55-inch TVs in 2025
Benefits
- Relatively affordable
- Excellent overall image quality
- Compatible Google TV system
- Offers a screen size of 55 inches
Disadvantages
- Not as bright or dynamic as some competitors
- Shadow detail performance lags behind TCL
If you’re looking for the best TV for your money and the 65-inch TCL QM8 is just too big, the Hisense U8N should be your choice. We compared the two TVs side by side, and while we liked the QM8 a little better, the U8N has one mid-size advantage: a 55-inch screen option. If 65 inches is too big for your room, your budget, or your tastes, the choice between the two is simple: get the 55-inch Hisense U8N.
Both offer excellent picture quality and affordable prices thanks to mini-LED backlighting and full local dimming, as well as similar gaming features and the Google TV operating system. Both cost hundreds less than you would have to pay to get similar image quality from a more well-known brand.
Note that although we tested the 65-inch size of the U8K series, the prices listed here are for the 55-inch size.
Benefits
- Excellent overall image quality
- Preserves contrast well in bright rooms
- Superior contrast and off-angle viewing
- Wide variety of size offerings
Disadvantages
- Dear
- No major improvement over the C3
The C4 offers better picture quality than any non-OLED TV on this list at a higher price, but it’s still not prohibitively expensive. Its perfect black levels, unbeatable contrast, and superb off-angle viewing keep it a cut above the mini-LED models in my comparison tests, and while its overall brightness isn’t as impressive, it still performs incredibly well in all types of room lighting.
You can read our review of the C4 here, and although we previously recommended the previous C3, both TVs currently cost the same. However, it hasn’t changed much between the C3 and C4, so just buy the cheaper model.
Benefits
- Superb overall image quality
- Preserves black levels well in bright rooms
- Superior contrast and off-angle viewing
- Wide variety of size offerings
Disadvantages
- Dear
- Glossy screen captures reflections in bright rooms
In 2023, we awarded the G3 the title of best TV for picture quality, and this year’s version, the G4, is even better. In our side-by-side comparisons, it beat its predecessor in terms of brightness and overall picture quality with the kind of breathtaking images you can only get from a top-notch OLED TV.
In a bright room, the G4 didn’t match the performance of its direct competitor, the Samsung S95D, which is the best TV in terms of picture quality we’ve seen this year. The Samsung uses an all-new matte screen finish, which in our testing combatted glare better than the LG’s more typical glossy screen. The S95D’s matte finish has its downside, namely reduced contrast, but overall we preferred its bright room image quality to that of the G4.
The main downside is that both TVs work well (and pretty much the same) in a dark room. So unless you regularly have a bright viewing environment, the G4 performs just as well as the S95D. The G4 also comes in many more sizes than the S95D, making it a more versatile option.
Glare-free or not, this is where we mention that most viewers will be perfectly happy with something less expensive but still excellent, like the step-down LG C4 or a mini-LED model. The G4 is a great choice for anyone looking for a capable TV and willing to pay for it.
Benefits
- Best overall image quality we’ve tested
- Better glare reduction in a bright room
- Superior contrast and off-angle viewing
- Ultra-thin panel with external input box
Disadvantages
- Dear
- Slightly reduced contrast in bright rooms
The Samsung S95D’s matte finish does more than reduce glare, it nearly eliminates it, improving picture quality in bright rooms than any OLED TV we’ve tested. Some non-OLED models have matte screens, but this is the first time they’ve been available on an OLED TV, a display technology that has consistently provided the best picture available. This matte finish really works, reducing windows and other reflections to soften spots instead of super bright mirror-like distractions. The S95D also features an external enclosure, allowing for a cleaner look with the ability to store HDMI connections and power cord out of sight.
Between its versatile matte screen and impressive overall picture, the Samsung S95D offers the best picture quality of any TV we’ve tested, beating out both the G4 and last year’s winner, the G3, as well as any other non-OLED TV. It also costs a ton, and most people – even those with bright rooms – will be perfectly happy with a cheaper TV.
The price shown below is for the 55-inch TV.
Benefits
- Affordable
- Excellent smart TV system
Disadvantages
- Picture quality and features lag behind some entry-level TVs
The TCL 4 Series Roku TV’s picture quality was a notch behind that of the Vizio V Series in our 2022 budget TV test, but the differences between the two were slight enough that you really had to set them up side by side to notice anything. The Roku 4 series lacks Dolby Vision, Bluetooth connectivity, and AMD FreeSync with a variable refresh rate, all of which the Vizio offers.
The advantage the Series 4 has over the Vizio is that it comes with the excellent Roku Smart TV system built-in. This makes it a great choice for those looking for a one-stop smart TV solution, without having to add an external streaming device.
Note that TCL has been selling the 4 Series for a few years with little to no change in picture quality, although it has recently added larger screen sizes, including an 85-inch option, as well as Google TV in the 2024 version.
Benefits
- Affordable
- Good picture quality thanks to local dimming
- Excellent smart TV system
Disadvantages
- Lack of 120Hz refresh rate and other gaming extras
- Not as bright as some similarly priced TVs
Competition between TVs in the mid-price bracket is intensifying and the Plus series is the latest entrant, released in 2023. It adds a few extras, including QLED and full local dimming, which help deliver a better picture than the TCL 4 series, for example. It’s not as impressive as the Vizio MQX, as it lacks 120Hz for gaming and has worse picture quality overall. If you value these extras, the Vizio is worth saving for, but otherwise the Roku Plus series is very good value.
This is the first TV that Roku is producing under its own brand, instead of partnering with a brand like TCL, Sharp, Pioneer, or Hisense. The company also released a version with fewer features and no local dimming, called the Roku Select Series.
With all the televisions available today and all the technical terms and jargon associated with television technology, it can be difficult to understand what’s important. Here’s a quick guide to help clear up the confusion.
Price: TVs range in price from $100 to over $2,000. Smaller screens are cheaper, well-known brands are more expensive, and spending more money can also get you better picture quality. Most entry-level TVs offer a good enough picture for most people, but TVs last a long time, so it may be worth spending more to get a better picture. It’s also better to buy 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 master TV – and 65 inches or larger is best. More than any other “feature,” increasing the TV screen size is the best use of your money. One of the complainants he most common post-TV purchase questions we’ve heard are from people who didn’t try hard enough. We almost never hear people complain that their TV is too big.
Ability: Among entry-level TVs, the most important feature is the type of smart TV system the TV uses. Among mid-range models, look for a feature including full local dimming, mini-LED, and a 120Hz refresh rate, which (unlike some other extras) help improve the picture, in our experience. Among high-end TVs, OLED technology is your best option.
For more tips on buying a TV, see How to Buy a TV.
Our TV reviews follow a rigorous and unbiased evaluation process, perfected over nearly two decades of TV reviews. Our main TV test laboratory has specialist equipment for measuring light and color, including a Konica Minolta CS-2000 spectroradiometer, Murideo Sig-G 4K HDR signal generator and AVPro Connect 8×8 4K HDR distribution matrix. We use Portrait Displays CalMan Ultimate software to rate every TV we review. In each CNET TV review, three or more similar TVs are compared side-by-side in various lighting conditions and streaming different media, including movies, TV shows and games, crossing a variety of test categories, from color and video processing to gaming and HDR. Our reviews also consider smart TV design, features, performance, HDMI input and game compatibility, and other factors.
An important aspect of image quality that we test is overall brightness. Here’s how it compares in nits on some TVs listed above.
See How We Test TVs for more details.
Samsung DU7200: If CNET had awarded the best value for money award, one of the first winners would be the Samsung DU7200, a TV offering a very good picture at an affordable price. Black levels and shadow detail are excellent for the price, and although our test unit seemed a little desaturated right out of the box, this can be easily corrected by adjusting the color control. It has streaming built in and the sound quality isn’t too bad either. If you’re looking for a bedroom unit or gaming TV, the Samsung DU7200 is the model we’d choose.
LG OLED C3: When we reviewed the C3 in 2023, it was one of our favorite TVs, and that impression continued into the following year. It’s still a great TV, but with the price of this and the C4 being the same right now, it makes sense to go for the newer TV.
HisenseU8K: The cost-effective U8K offers excellent picture quality thanks to its mini-LED backlight and full local dimming. It also incorporates unique gaming features and runs on the user-friendly Google TV system. Additionally, the U8K is significantly less expensive than other 55-inch TVs of comparable quality from more established brands, making it a strong contender for those looking for a good deal on a 55-inch TV.
Roku Select Series: The Roku Select showed some of the best colors of the bunch with natural skin tones as well as good color saturation. Still, the reason to buy the Roku Select series is the same as buying (almost) anything with the Roku name: the excellent user interface. That said, the Roku Select I tested had the worst picture quality, especially when watching movies. Its black levels were washed out, its shadows tinged green, and it also had the most distracting reflections when I viewed it in a lit room.
Samsung QN90B: If you’re looking for a premium 55-inch TV but would rather not go with OLED, the Samsung QN90B is a great choice. This TV features QLED TV technology with mini-LEDs for a brighter picture than any OLED TV. Although OLED TVs still won the contrast battle in our side-by-side tests, the QN90B QLED display is closer than ever to matching it.
Is a 55 inch TV big enough?
It depends on the size of your room, the distance between seats and your personal taste. For a standard master bedroom or smaller living room, a 55-inch TV is suitable, but for larger rooms we recommend a larger TV, such as a 65 or even 75-inch model, if you can afford it. If you sit closer to the screen, you don’t need as big a TV to get the best experience. For maximum theatrical impact, according to THX and SMPTE, you need to be between 5.5 and 7 feet from a 55-inch screen, which is relatively close. Almost all 55-inch TVs have 4K resolution, and if you have 20/20 vision, you can sit about 4 feet away and still not discern individual pixels.
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How wide is a 55 inch TV?
Most 55-inch TVs are between 48 and 49 inches wide. Since the bezels around newer TV screens are generally narrow, the widths of 55-inch TVs don’t vary much. Models with thin bezels are at the lower end: the 55-inch LG C2 measures 48.1 inches wide, for example, while the 55-inch TCL 4-Series with slightly thicker bezels measures 48.7 inches wide. If you don’t plan to mount the TV on the wall, you generally want the cabinet supporting the TV to be at least as wide as the TV itself, and preferably a few inches wider. Refer to the manufacturer’s website for the exact dimensions of a particular 55-inch TV.
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How much does a 55 inch TV weigh?
A 55-inch TV weighs between 25 and 50 pounds with its stand, but this varies greatly depending on the type of TV. Removing the stand — which often consists of a pair of small feet under the panel — allows you to mount the TV to the wall and reduces its weight slightly (stands weigh between 1 and 8 pounds). Shipping weight (box, accessories, etc.) for 55-inch TVs ranges from 35 to 63 pounds. Refer to the manufacturer’s website for the exact weight of a particular 55-inch TV.
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