The 55-inch TV is a real crowd-pleaser. Easier to accommodate than a 65-inch TV, which many may consider too big, but much more cinematically impactful than a 50-inch TV, this is the size to go for when you want a happy medium.
At this size, the very best performance and features become available. OLED TVs smaller than 55 inches are available, but they don't go as bright as their larger siblings. LCD sets, too, tend to lose a bit of tech when they get smaller than 55 inches.
In short, if you go for a 55-inch TV, you've got far more options at your disposal. The problem with having so much choice is that it can be incredibly hard to find the right TV for you.
That's where we come in: our team of expert TV reviewers has decades of experience and has tested hundreds of 55-inch TVs. All of our reviews are conducted in our bespoke test rooms and involve side-by-side comparisons with best-in-class rivals. You can read more about our TV testing process at the bottom of the page.
Alternatively, simply scroll down to discover the very best 55-inch TVs that our expert team has tested.
I'm What Hi-Fi?'s TV and AV Editor, and I've been testing TVs and home cinema products (as well as hi-fi kit and headphones) for over 16 years. I'm obsessed with picture quality and love 55-inch TVs as it's the size at which manufacturers offer their very best panel tech and picture processing. But I'm equally obsessed with value and believe a great home movie experience should be available to all. Thankfully, there are now budget and mid-range models that might not dazzle like a flagship but will give you a hugely enjoyable and cinematically authentic performance. As well as a great picture, I'm also looking for slick gaming specs, an app-packed operating system and solid sound – but I do always recommend adding a dedicated sound system if you can.
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
Best overall
Sony's A80L OLED was the surprise package of 2023 and the TV we most readily recommend thanks to its awesome performance-per-pound credentials.
Best for gaming
Best for gaming
It isn't a massive step on from its predecessor and is facing greater competition than ever, however, the LG C3 remains the best gaming TV.
Best budget (UK)
Best budget (UK)
The TCL C845K sets a new benchmark for affordable TVs, offering an impressive specification sheet and superb performance, too.
Best budget (US)
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
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 2023
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi?
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 overall
These days, all of premium TV talk is focused on MLA and QD-OLEDs. These two competing technologies are really designed to do the same thing – take OLED technology to new, brighter highs – and flagship models from most TV brands feature one or the other. This Sony A80L, on the other hand, features neither.
So focused were we all on MLA and QD-OLED, that the A80L rather snuck up on us. A 'standard' OLED (or 'WOLED') that looked on paper to be very similar to the A80K it replaced, we were simply expecting a perfectly capable but somewhat predictable performance. Well, it's a good job we don't judge books by their covers and instead test every TV thoroughly and comparatively, because the Sony A80L is an absolute stunner.
The key to the A80L's success is the way it combines the spectacular with the cinematically subtle. It feels as though Sony has squeezed every last drop of performance out of the standard OLED panel, producing a picture that (while not as measurably bright as that of the LG G4 MLA OLED or Samsung S95C QD-OLED) has brilliant punch and pop. But the brand's knack for cinematic authenticity hasn't been diminished, and you still get a very accurate rendition of what the director intended, as well as balanced, nuanced colours.
Added to the set's superb contrast and colours are excellent sharpness and detail. Combined, these qualities create an image that's wonderfully solid and three-dimensional.
In fact, other than a slight loss of shadow detail with SDR content (HDR is spot-on), we have no complaints about the picture quality.
Sound is very good, too, with the unique actuator-based audio system (which involves the whole screen vibrating imperceptibly to create sound) producing the expected directness alongside unexpected spaciousness. A bit more weight and depth to bass would be nice, but still, no other TV at this sort of price sounds as good as this. Even so, a good soundbar will be a big upgrade, and we recommend you budget for one (or, even better, an AVR and surround speakers) if you're able.
The operating system is Google TV which, while not the slickest TV operating system around, does grant access to every major streaming service. Gamers should be aware, though, that the A80L has just two HDMI 2.1 sockets, one of which also handles eARC duties so might be required for a soundbar or AVR. Also, while those HDMI 2.1 sockets can handle 4K/120Hz, VRR and ALLM, Dolby Vision gaming isn't supported at all.
Read the full Sony A80L review
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Picture | A brilliant performance that combines the spectacular with the natural | ★★★★★ |
Sound | Really good sound for a TV but deeper bass would be nice | ★★★★☆ |
Features | Generally good, but only having two HDMI 2.1 ports is disappointing | ★★★★☆ |
Best for gaming
LG's 65-inch C3 earned a four-star review, mostly because it didn't represent a huge upgrade over the previous C2 model. This allowed rivals such as the Sony A80L to catch up, however, if it's gaming we're talking about, LG's effort is the better bet.
That's partly because it has four HDMI 2.1 ports, meaning you can plug in multiple sources or gaming consoles at once while still using one socket for a soundbar via eARC. It also supports every gaming feature you could wish for, too, including 4K/120Hz (even with Dolby Vision), VRR and ALLM, and it has a superbly well-implemented HGiG mode that makes it easy to get excellent, accurate HDR picture quality from many modern games.
The high launch price of the C3 also contributed to it missing out on a fifth star, but it has now dropped significantly and can usually be picked up for a fair bit less than the A80L above.
The C3 keeps the same overall look as the C2 while adding a new processor for even better picture quality and more advanced audio upmixing. Picture quality is refined, subtle, and detailed, and that applies to games as well as movies and TV shows. Some highlights are a little brighter than with the predecessor and there's a good amount of shadow detail throughout.
We also find the webOS 23 operating system is simpler than last year's version too, and easier to navigate, and it brings a more sophisticated Game Optimiser menu complete with a dedicated sound sub-menu.
If you like the look of the C3, LG announced its upcoming C4 model at CES 2024. This appears to be another incremental update but the C4 is said to be a bit brighter than the C3, despite it having the same 'standard' OLED panel technology (i.e. not MLA). The C4 will also support 144Hz gaming and more advanced sound processing.
Read the full LG C3 review
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Picture | Balanced and always enjoyable, but not as sharp or punchy as the Sony A80L | ★★★★☆ |
Sound | Fairly clear but also dull, even by the standards of TV sound | ★★★☆☆ |
Features | Flawless gaming specs and a great operating system | ★★★★★ |
Best budget (UK)
TCL is dead set on shaking up the TV industry by offering flagship specs at prices far below those of the traditional big brands – and by committing to Mini LED over the more popular OLED. The C845K perfectly encapsulates the company's ambitions and is comfortably its best set yet.
Here we have a Quantum Dot TV with a Mini LED backlight that has hundreds of dimming zones and a claimed peak brightness figure of 2000 nits. Those are big numbers by TVs at any price, let alone one at the C845K's level.
A TV should never be judged on its spec sheet, but during testing we found this TCL to be an extremely impressive performer for the money. Those big numbers are backed up by a big performance with excellent punch, richness and vibrancy, but TCL has also been careful to tune the C845K to deliver subtlety to shading and colours when required.
Sharpness and detail are also very good, and while motion processing isn't quite up there with that of the best TVs around, it is capable of reducing judder in pans without introducing the dreaded soap opera effect.
Inevitably, the C845K isn't perfect, and scenes that contain a particularly stark mix of very bright and very dark picture elements can appear a bit cloudy. This issue is rare and slight enough to not be a huge problem, though, and the TV's black performance is otherwise good, with a pleasing combination of depth and detail.
The C845K's bright, vibrant and sharp qualities help to make it a really strong gaming TV, and it also supports next-gen gaming specs including 4K/120Hz, VRR and ALLM over two of its four HDMI sockets – though you might need one of these to handle eARC duties.
Wrapping things up is a sound performance that, while not quite as exceptional as its pictures, is very solid, particularly at this price. Dialogue is clear and focused but there's also good width and spaciousness to the delivery, and there's ample bass and volume. A little bit of fuzz creeps into the bottom end from time to time and busy soundtrack moments can become a bit cluttered, but this is still a better-sounding TV than many that cost significantly more.
Read the full TCL C845L review
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Picture | Incredibly bright and vibrant, but also subtle when required | ★★★★★ |
Sound | The C845K sounds excellent by the standards of TVs at its price | ★★★★★ |
Features | QLED, Mini LED, great gaming specs and the Google TV platform | ★★★★★ |
Best budget (US)
If you're in the US, where the TCL C845K isn't available (or you're a UK buyer looking to spend even less), 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.
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. 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
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Picture | You don't get OLEDs deep blacks, but great for the price | ★★★★☆ |
Sound | A soundbar is recommended, but it's fine for TV | ★★★★☆ |
Features | Great connectivity and an app rich operating system | ★★★★☆ |
Best premium
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 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 G4 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
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Picture | Stunning brightness and vibrancy but with excellent subtlety and authenticity | ★★★★★ |
Sound | Crisp, clear and direct, but with impressive spaciousness, too | ★★★★★ |
Features | Good overall but let down slightly by having just two HDMI 2.1 sockets and no UK catch-up apps | ★★★★☆ |
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.
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.
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.
Useful links
- Looking for a bargain? Here are the best cheap TVs
- Hardcore gamer? These are the very best gaming TVs
- Need a certain size? We've rounded-up the best 55-inch TVs
- Need something bigger? What about the best 65-inch TVs
- Want a future-proof TV? Here are the best 8K TVs