For many people, 55 inches is the Goldilocks of TV sizes. It's big enough to look properly cinematic, but not so oversized that it takes up a wall of your room. It's also where manufacturers start letting you in on the good stuff, like higher gaming specs and better panel technology.
But because it's such a popular size, there's more choice than ever. Which can make finding the best TV for you like trying to navigate a house of mirrors.
That's where we come in. Our team of expert reviewers has decades of combined experience in TV testing, and all of our reviews are conducted in dedicated testing facilities, using rival models at the same size and price as reference. You can read more about our TV testing process at the bottom of the page.
If you'd rather get straight to the recommendations, just scroll down.
Note: We haven't reviewed all of these TVs at the 55-inch size, but given that they usually perform very similarly to their 65-inch variants, we have extrapolated our findings from our reviews of the larger-sized models. We'll make clear where this is the case.
The quick list
The table below offers a quick look at all of the 55-inch TVs we recommend in this article. Every TV in it has been thoroughly and comparatively tested against its rivals by our team of experts in one of What Hi-Fi?'s bespoke test rooms.
Best overall
The Bravia 8 follows the Award-winning A80L, and also picked up an Award for its compelling performance-per-pound credentials. The best 55-inch TV for most people.
Best for gaming
A full suite of HDMI 2.1 ports makes the C4 the 55-inch to beat when it comes to gaming. Of course, it's also excellent in other areas, too.
Best budget (UK)
The TCL P755K is insanely cheap for a 55-inch TV – just £300-odd. Considering its performance, that's an absolute bargain.
Best budget (US)
If you're on a strict budget but still want a large, fully featured and competent TV, Amazon's Omni QLED is the way to go.
Best premium
Sony's second-gen QD-OLED is a marvel in terms of picture and sound quality, making it the best premium TV you can buy.
The best 55-inch TVs of 2024
Still need some convincing or more information? Scroll down and you'll see a detailed breakdown of why we recommend each TV in this list based on our direct experience using it in our dedicated test rooms.
Best 55-inch TV overall
The Bravia 8's predecessor, the A80L, won Product of the Year at the 2023 What Hi-Fi? Awards, so this model has big shoes to fill. While the Bravia 8 might be only a slight upgrade – on paper, at least – any improvements on such a stunning TV are enough to keep Sony ahead of the pack and earn the Bravia 8 an accolade in this year's Awards. Put simply, the Bravia 8 is the best 55-inch TV for most people.
We haven't reviewed the 55-inch model, but the 65-incher bowled us over. From a design point of view, it's very similar to the A80L, but its feet have flat tops to accommodate a soundbar lying across them like it's reclining on a sun lounger. The feet can still be situated wide or narrow, and they can raise up too (again, to help fit in a soundbar). The remote feels a bit cheaper than the A80L's, but the set itself is noticeably slimmer, with a flatter back, so is better suited to wall-mounting.
There are some improvements in terms of performance, too. The WOLED panel is 10 per cent brighter than the A80L's, and its Bravia XR processor improves the picture processing using AI. There's a new Prime Video Calibrated mode too, to optimise the settings for Amazon's streaming service (it already has similar modes for Netflix and Sony Pictures Core). Otherwise, it's largely the same TV as the A80L, with a 50W Acoustic Surface Audio+ sound system, the Google TV operating system, and the same HDR formats.
It's well specced for gamers too, though only has two HDMI 2.1 ports.
So, minor upgrades in the grand scheme of things, but specs rarely tell the full story. Once you've fiddled with the Bravia 8's settings, it presents a fantastic picture, with colours true to life, particularly skin tones. "The Bravia 8's picture is wonderfully natural, with characters' skin tones offering more reds than the A80L, which shifts more to the blue end of the spectrum," we wrote in our review.
But it's not just the colours. Motion handling is sublime, while there's plenty of dark detail to see. The picture is sharp too, and well defined, with a great sense of depth.
It's also one of the better-sounding OLED TVs we've tested. While it might be a little light on the bass, it stays within its limits without distorting the sound. The control and spaciousness it offers are more than worth the tradeoff of a bit less low-end heft. Though as ever, we recommend investing in a soundbar for an audio experience on a par with the visuals.
Read the full Sony Bravia 8 review
Best 55-inch TV for gaming
The C3 was a little underwhelming, but the C4 puts LG back near the top of the step-down OLEDs. While the specs might look near identical to the C3, the C4 is a real step on in terms of performance. And for gamers after a 55-incher to sate their needs, it's the best model by far.
That's chiefly down to its four HDMI 2.1 ports – a longtime mainstay of LG's C-series. But there are some upgrades in this area too, namely support for 4K/144Hz signals and full Nvidia G-Sync VRR certification. Admittedly these will only be useful to the more hardcore gamers, but they do still bolster the TV's gaming skills. Add to that support for 4K/120Hz (and 144Hz), VRR and ALLM across all four of its HDMI 2.1 sockets, Dolby Vision gaming, HGiG for more accurate HDR game performance and the Game Optimiser menu for quick access to gaming features, and you've got the best TV for gamers.
(Again, we have only reviewed the 65-inch model, but almost everything from our review applies to the 55-incher too.)
The C4 is much more than just a gaming monitor that can also show movies. It's exceptionally slim (though its design doesn't leave room for a soundbar), with a beefed up Alpha 9 processor, virtual 11.1.2 sound upmixing and enhanced voice remastering.
It's a delight to watch. The picture is noticeably sharper and more vibrant the C3's, and the skin tones look especially natural. This applies across the entire picture – "[The] colours are still balanced and natural, and there’s superb subtlety and blending to shades, but more impressive still is the consistency with which colours are delivered from the brightest to darkest parts of the picture," we wrote in our review.
Motion handling is top class too, and while it might lack a bit of dark detail, it's still superb for a mid-range OLED. The sound is a big improvement on last year's model as well, being much less harsh. And that's despite having a sound system with the same specs. Looks like LG has been busy tweaking...
Read the full LG C4 review
Best budget 55-inch TV (UK)
TCL is something of a giant-slayer in the TV world. It offers big screens on a budget, with its latest, the P755K combining Android TV, decent gaming specs and full HDR support for just £300-odd. Crazy.
As you can imagine, at this price, certain corners have been cut. The design is more Argos than Harrods, with a plasticky bezel and feet. But in terms of specs, it ticks plenty of boxes: you get full HDR support, dedicated gaming modes and eARC support. You also get the Freeview Play app, which means full support for all the UK's terrestrial catch-up services like BBC iPlayer and All4 (which can be missing from some implementations of Android TV).
The picture isn't as stunning as others featured on this list, but for the price it's pretty special. What struck us most was the colours: "Despite not using Quantum Dots, tones across the board look surprisingly vibrant – yet not to a degree that looks unnatural or gaudy," we wrote in our review.
"Maybe even more surprisingly for such a cheap TV, the engaging vibrancy doesn’t come at the expense of subtle shading, blending and tonal control. So colours tend to look balanced and natural, and they contribute to a good sense of solidity and depth."
The picture remains sharp and detailed, if not as bright as pricier rivals. It does signpost a change in brightness by adjusting that setting before the next scene starts when watching a Dolby Vision source over HDMI, but it's thankfully free of any such bugs when using streaming apps.
The sound is a bit bass-light because of the lack of a built-in subwoofer, and doesn't go particularly loud. But it's fine in normal use, and has some precision when placing sounds using Dolby Atmos. For this price, you really can't ask for more.
Read the full TCL P755K review
Best budget 55-inch TV (US)
If you're in the US, where the TCL P755K isn't available, the Amazon Omni QLED is the cheap TV to buy. This is a TV that doesn't aim to knock your socks off but instead delivers a very balanced and consistent performance for a very low price. We reviewed the 65-inch model, and were impressed.
Of course, one of the Omni QLED's main selling points is that it has Fire OS built in. Why buy a TV and a separate Fire TV stick when you can get both in one? The additional appeal here is that this isn't a super-basic TV, but one with some more advanced specs that you usually only find in the class above.
So, as the name suggests, this is a Quantum Dot TV with a backlight that doesn't feature Mini LEDs but does benefit from local dimming, which allows the set to better control the light to different parts of the picture, generally resulting in better contrast.
This isn't a super-bright performer, though (that's true of the 65-inch model we've reviewed, but also very likely the 55-incher). Amazon has clearly decided that rather than have the TV attempt feats of which it's simply not capable (a common mistake made by cheap TVs), it's going to carefully balance dynamics and subtlety. Colours are pretty vibrant when required, but also subtle and fairly nuanced when that is what's called for. Skin tones are perhaps slightly richer than is totally realistic, but not to an obvious degree.
The Omni QLED doesn't exaggerate contrast, detail or sharpness, either. It instead treads a perfectly satisfying middle ground that doesn't dazzle but does nail the basics and delivers a good approximation of what the director intended. The lack of aggressive, over-enthusiastic picture processing also means that you're never distracted by what the TV is up to, which means you can fully focus on the movie or TV show you're watching.
The only real negatives, other than the picture not being as good as that of TVs costing a lot more money, are that motion is a bit smeary at times and that dark detail is a bit lacking.
Back to the positives, the sound system, while basic, is direct and clear, so perfectly adequate for everyday TV. And while 4K/120Hz gaming is obviously off the menu, the Omni QLED does support VRR and ALLM. The Fire OS operating system, meanwhile, is very user-friendly and packed to the gills with streaming apps.
All told, if you want a cheap TV that does everything and does it all in a balanced, grown-up way, the Omni QLED is a strong option.
Read our full Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED review
Best premium 55-inch TV
The arrival of a new flagship OLED TV from Sony is always cause for excitement, but the A95L was an even bigger deal than usual. Thanks to its second-generation QD-OLED panel, this was predicted to be one of the brightest OLED TVs ever made, and the combination of that with Sony's peerless picture processing and unique, screen-vibrating sound system sounded like a recipe for something spectacular.
Having put the 65-inch Sony A95L up against pretty much every other TV you might be considering, we can safely say that it is, with very little doubt, the very best money-no-object TV you can currently buy.
Second-gen QD-OLED promises similar brightness to first-gen MLA OLED tech, such as that of the LG G3 and Panasonic MZ2000, but the Quantum Dots that contribute the 'QD' to its name also add the potential for greater colour vibrancy. In the case of the Samsung S95C, which is also a second-gen QD-OLED TV, that occasionally results in an over-saturated appearance, but the Sony A95L has simply superb colour reproduction. From the brightest highlights to the deepest hues, colours are always consistent, and when required, the TV delivers vibrancy that non-QD-OLED models can't match.
The extra brightness combined with the perfect blacks for which OLED is renowned means there's even greater contrast than you get from standard OLED models, and this helps to reinforce edges and details, giving everything a more solid and three-dimensional appearance. Sony's awesome motion processing plays a part here, too, reducing judder and increasing sharpness without adding artificiality. It really is a sumptuous overall delivery.
While a picture performance this special really deserves a proper surround sound system or at least a soundbar to go with it, the A95L's 2.2-channel actuator-based sound system is at least very good by the standards of TV audio. The fact that the screen itself makes the sound means voices are much more focused and direct than they are from most TVs, but the A95L also manages to extend the sonic presentation far to the sides and above the set, creating an impressive pseudo-Atmos effect. There's impressive clarity and detail to the sonic delivery, too, and while the bass could be a bit weightier and deeper, this is still very good sound by TV standards.
There is really just one flaw to the A95L as an overall package (other than its high price), and that will only be an issue for hardcore gamers: there are only two HDMI 2.1 sockets, one of which doubles as the eARC port so may be required for a soundbar or AVR.
The other issues that we identified during testing – a lack of support for Dolby Vision gaming and missing UK terrestrial channel catch-up apps – have been fixed with software updates so are no longer things to consider.
Read the full Sony A95L review
Also consider
Samsung S95D
Samsung's third-gen QD-OLED TV is here, and it's a doozy that combines exceptional brightness and vibrancy with a degree of subtlety that last year's S95C lacked. It's currently too expensive for this list, but could well make it in once the price drops.
LG G4
LG's second-generation MLA technology is designed to go toe-to-toe with Samsung's third-gen QD-OLED tech, so it's little surprise that the new LG G4 and the Samsung S95D above are very evenly matched. Like the S95D, the G4 is also currently too expensive for a place on our main list, but it's a great premium option all the same.
Samsung QN95D
If you want a premium 4K TV but don't want an OLED, the Samsung QN95D is well worth considering. It has some slight flaws, particularly in the way it handles very high-contrast images, but it's also incredibly bright, punchy and detailed – and it's great for gaming.
LG B3
For many people, the relatively small price difference will make the C3 a better buy than this slightly stripped-back B3. For others, the B3 will be all the TV they ever need. If you don't need a TV that's super-bright or more than two HDMI 2.1 sockets, it's very much worth considering.
TCL C745K
If your budget won't stretch to the C845K, the C745K is well worth a look. It doesn't go as bright as its more premium sibling but it punches well above its price tag in terms of picture and sound performance, and it has impressive gaming features, too.
How we choose
When choosing a new TV, picture technology is almost always the most important factor.
Without a doubt, OLED has become the premium TV technology of choice, thanks to its perfect blacks, extraordinary contrast and exceptional viewing angles. QLED, which combines LED (or Mini LED) backlighting with ultra-vibrant Quantum Dots, is a strong alternative, though, largely thanks to being capable of greater brightness and punchier colours. Standard LCD TVs (often, confusingly, sold as 'LED' TVs on account of their LED backlights) are more variable in overall quality but, if you shop carefully, can offer excellent bang for your buck.
Sound is massively important, too. Are you planning to combine your new TV with a dedicated sound system? You probably should, because most TVs sound passable at best, even at the high-end. But if you are determined to keep things neat and rely on the in-built speakers of your new TV, check our reviews to make sure that they're at least good – there's no point in a great picture if the accompanying sound is rubbish.
If you're a gamer, it's also worth considering the next-gen gaming features of your prospective new TV. Xbox Series X and PS5 gamers can gain a competitive advantage on certain games if their TV supports 4K 120Hz, while VRR support can result in a smoother gameplay experience. ALLM, meanwhile, simply ensures that you automatically get the best visual experience from both games and movies / TV shows. If you're a more casual gamer or not a gamer at all, you can pretty much disregard these features, and it's likely that doing so will save you a lot of cash.
55-inch TV FAQ
Should you buy a 4K or Full HD TV?
This question is pretty much moot now, as the vast majority of TVs are now 4K. It's actually rather hard to find Full HD (1080p) models, even at relatively small sizes.
If you're buying a TV below 32 inches and can save a lot of money on a Full HD model, by all means go for it (4K won't be a huge benefit at that sort of size anyway), but otherwise 4K is both worthwhile and, in all likelihood, your only option.
Should you buy an HDR TV?
High Dynamic Range is without a doubt a much bigger deal than 8K, and certainly something you should consider before buying your next TV.
Essentially, the higher the dynamic range (brightness and colours), the more lifelike the picture. HDR offers greater subtlety and depth of gradations of colours, plus stronger contrast.
There are various types of HDR out there, and with different TV brands backing different variants, it can be a minefield trying to find the best option. Allow us to explain.
First up is HDR10, which is essentially the core HDR format that every HDR TV should support.
HDR10 is a static HDR format that applies the HDR values on a scene-by-scene basis (i.e. whenever the camera cuts to a new scene). Dolby Vision, on the other hand, applies this image information (called metadata) on a frame-by-frame basis. This dynamic form of HDR, when implemented properly, has the potential to improve upon the standard HDR10 presentation.
HDR10+ is a rival format to Dolby Vision. Created by Samsung, it also uses dynamic metadata but, whereas Dolby Vision is licensed, HDR10+ is a free, open format that any company can deploy as it sees fit.
Of these two 'dynamic' HDR formats, Dolby Vision is by far the most prevalent, both in terms of TVs and content, and if you have to choose between one and the other, that's the one we'd recommend. That said, you can now buy TVs from the likes of Philips and Panasonic that support both Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
Finally in our rundown of HDR formats is HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma), which was developed specifically for broadcasting by the BBC and Japan's NHK. It's used to deliver all of the HDR content offered by the BBC and Sky, so can be considered very important. Luckily, it's now almost as common as standard HDR10 in TV spec lists, so you should have little problem finding a model that supports it.
What inputs and outputs does your TV need?
These days, it's all about HDMI, which is used to connect everything from set-top boxes to video streamers, Blu-ray players to games consoles. Thanks to ARC/eARC (Audio Return Channel / Enhanced Audio Return Channel), a single HDMI connection can even be used to output sound to an AV receiver or soundbar at the same time as it receives a video signal.
Currently, three HDMI connections is standard on budget and mid-range TVs, while four is the norm for premium models.
The specification of the HDMI connections tends to differ depending on the price of the TV, too, with premium models now commonly getting at least one or two HDMI 2.1 sockets. These have greater bandwidth than their HDMI 2.0 counterparts and can support advanced formats such as 4K@120Hz and 8K@60Hz. Fancy gaming features such as Auto Low Latency Mode and Variable Refresh Rate are often supported via HDMI 2.1 sockets, too, though not always. It's sensible to check the specs thoroughly if there are particular features you're after.
After HDMIs, USB ports are the most abundant on modern TVs. You can use these to keep devices charged (often particularly useful for stick- or dongle-style streamers), and some TVs allow the connection of flash drives and hard drives for the recording of live TV content.
On the subject of live TV, you can expect practically every TV to have an aerial socket via which it can receive Freeview broadcasts, but many also have a satellite connection. Be warned, though; the presence of a satellite connection doesn't guarantee that there's a Freesat tuner on board. Without one, you'll receive only a patchy and disorganised selection of satellite TV channels.
Other useful connections include optical and stereo outputs, which can be used in lieu of HDMI ARC to connect legacy audio equipment. Headphone outputs are still fairly common, too, though Bluetooth is also supported by most TVs now and Samsung TVs in fact now feature the latter but not the former.
Lastly, while some TVs feature composite inputs (often via an adapter), most – even at the budget end – have phased out legacy connections such as SCART. So those clinging on to old video cassette recorders, for example, should be aware of that.
What is the best 55-inch TV for gaming?
As you can see above, the LG C4 is currently the best 55-inch TV for gaming. This is due to its combination of excellent gaming features (four HDMI 2.1 sockets, 4K/120Hz, VRR, Dolby Vision gaming and HGiG), brilliant gaming performance and great price.
If you like everything about that but also want a brighter and punchier TV, the LG G4 is also well worth considering. And if you don't need four HDMI 2.1 sockets (because you game on just one console or PC, for example), the LG B3 and Sony Bravia 8 will both be well-suited to your needs.
Which TV smart features and streaming apps do you need?
As with 4K, it's now hard to buy a TV that doesn't have a smart platform packed with streaming apps. Almost every TV will have Netflix and Amazon Prime Video on board, and Disney+ is fast approaching a similar level of ubiquity. Apple TV (which is great for pay-as-you-go movies as well as the Apple TV+ subscription service) is becoming increasingly common, too.
You'd have thought that BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, All 4 and My5 would be present on every TV available in the UK, but there always seems to be one brand that's lacking (it was LG in 2020 and Sony in 2021) so do check before you buy if any of those are important to you.
Other apps that are less common but potentially worth looking out for include BT Sport, Now, Britbox, and music apps such as Spotify and Tidal.
Should you buy an OLED, QLED or LCD TV?
LCD TVs, which require a backlight usually made up of white LEDs to show a picture on the LCD panel, are available in a wide variety of screen sizes and, thanks in part to the technology's low cost of production, at affordable prices.
OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) is a panel technology that uses self-emissive particles – so there's no need for a backlight. This allows OLED TVs to be unbelievably slim, while also offering convincing pitch-dark blacks, strong contrast and superb viewing angles. LG, Sony, Panasonic and Philips are the big brands with OLED TVs in their line-ups and, broadly speaking, they're excellent.
QLED (Quantum-dot Light-Emitting Diode), meanwhile, is Samsung’s response to OLED. A QLED TV is an LCD TV but with a quantum dot coating over the backlight. However, the quantum dots (tiny semiconductor particles) in current QLEDs do not emit their own light. So QLED TVs, like conventional LCDs, rely on a backlight. The advantages of a QLED TV? You tend to get brilliantly vibrant colours, plus bright, sharp and crisply detailed images. Samsung's QLEDs have got better and better over the years, existing as a fine alternative to OLEDs TVs. Interestingly, though, Samsung has now launched its own range of OLED (QD-OLED) TVs.
Can a 55-inch TV be wall mounted?
Of course! As with almost all commercially available TVs, 55-inch models have VESA mounting ports on the back that make them compatible with almost any standard third-party wall mount. Check that the mount you are looking at is compatible with 55-inch TVs and you should be fine, though you must also consider wall materials and fixings before attempting to wall-mount a TV yourself. If in any doubt, consult a professional.
How we test
Testing a TV is a long and complex process because a modern TV simply does so much. Not only does it need to handle a variety of content resolutions – standard-def, 1080p, 4K and sometimes 8K – and both standard dynamic range and high dynamic range (the latter in a number of formats), all of which need to be specifically tested, it also has a sound system with various advanced settings and a full smart platform. A TV is an all-in-one device in the best sense, but that also makes it a challenging review proposition.
As part of our testing process we manually check that every major app – from Netflix to All 4, Prime Video to Spotify – is not only present, but also outputting in the video and sound formats that it should. Just because there's a Disney+ app doesn't necessarily mean it's working in Dolby Vision and/or Dolby Atmos. In fact, in many recent cases it hasn't been.
We also connect both a PS5 and Xbox Series X in order to establish which advanced gaming features are and aren't supported, and on which of the TV's HDMI ports. Is 4K 120Hz supported? How about VRR? Is there a Dolby Vision game mode? Is there an HGiG preset for more accurate HDR tone mapping? We check all of these things, and measure input lag using a Leo Bodnar device.
We then test the TV's picture quality using a huge variety of content, from old DVDs to the latest 4K Blu-rays and plenty of streamed movies and TV shows in between. Every TV is tested against the best model at its price and size – we have a stockroom packed full of Award-winners for this very purpose.
We don't accept the out-of-the-box settings that a TV comes in either. While we intentionally don't go down the route of professional calibration (you shouldn't have to have your TV professionally calibrated in order to get the best out of it), we do spend hours adjusting settings using a mixture of test patterns and real-world content until we are sure we're getting the best out of a TV so that it has the best chance to shine.
While we almost always advise that a new TV is combined with a dedicated sound system such as a soundbar or AV amplifier, many people still prefer to stick with their flatscreen's built-in speakers, so we thoroughly test these too, using a wide variety of movie and music content and with great attention spent to the TV's many processing modes and individual settings.
We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in Bath and Reading, where our team of expert reviewers do all of our testing. This gives us complete control over the testing process, ensuring consistency. What's more, all review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole rather than an individual reviewer, again helping to ensure consistency and avoid any personal preference.
The What Hi-Fi? team has more than 100 years experience of reviewing, testing and writing about consumer electronics.
From all of our reviews, we choose the best products to feature in our Best Buys. That's why if you take the plunge and buy one of the products recommended below, or on any other Best Buy page, you can be assured you are getting a What Hi-Fi? approved product.
Recent updates
5th November 2024
Replaced Sony A80L with Bravia 8 and LG C3 with C4. Removed the C4 as the 'Best 2024' model. Rewrote introduction to clarify which models we have tested at 65 inches.
9th July 2024
LG C4 added as 'Best 2024' model, LG LG G4 and Samsung QN95D added as 'Also Consider' options
2nd April 2024
'Also Consider' and 'Recent Updates' sections added, plus new FAQs added
2nd February 2024
Added new author information and combined US and UK recommendations
31st October 2024
Replaced the Panasonic LZ980, Sony A95K, TCL RP620K and Samsung QE55QN94A with the LG C3, Sony A95L, TCL C845K and Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED.
Useful links
- Looking for a bargain? Here are the best cheap TVs
- Hardcore gamer? These are the very best gaming TVs
- Need something bigger? What about the best 65-inch TVs
- Want a future-proof TV? Here are the best 8K TVs
