The 5 Best 55 Inch 4k TVs - Winter 2022 Reviews

The best 55 inch TV we've tested is the LG OLED55C1PUB. It's a versatile TV that delivers stunning picture quality, especially in dark rooms. Its OLED panel can turn off individual pixels, resulting in perfect black levels without any blooming around bright objects. This makes it a remarkable choice for watching movies in dark rooms.

Individual pixels on OLEDs emit light in all directions, resulting in wide viewing angles. It's great if you want to watch shows or sports with a large group of people because the image remains accurate no matter where you sit. Motion handling is also fantastic thanks to the near-instantaneous response time, so fast-moving content like in sports looks smooth. Gamers should also appreciate its HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, low input lag, and variable refresh rate (VRR) support for a responsive and tear-free gaming experience at high frame rates.

Sadly, like any other TV, there are a few downsides. OLEDs are known for their risk of permanent burn-in, which could be problematic if you constantly watch the same content with static elements, like if you're using it as a PC monitor all day. However, we don't expect that to be an issue for most people. Also, while HDR content looks excellent thanks to the high contrast and wide color gamut, it doesn't get bright in HDR, and there's some banding in gradients. If that isn't a problem for you, it's one of the best 55 inch TVs we've tested.

The Samsung QN55QN90AAFXZA is the best 55 inch TV we've tested with an LED panel. Choosing an LED over an OLED is advantageous if you worry about the risk of permanent burn-in because they're immune to it, which is great for watching the news or using it as a PC monitor. It uses Mini LED backlighting that gets much brighter than any OLED, and combined with its fantastic reflection handling, visibility won't be an issue even in the brightest of rooms.

It's packed with gaming features like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, VRR support in the form of native FreeSync and G-SYNC compatibility to reduce screen tearing. Motion also looks smooth thanks to the quick response time, and it has low input lag for a responsive gaming experience. In terms of picture quality, its VA panel has a high native contrast ratio for deep blacks, and the local dimming feature helps it further deepen any blacks. It also has fairly wide viewing angles, thanks to Samsung's 'Ultra Viewing Angle' technology.

It's an excellent TV for watching HDR movies, but sadly it doesn't support Dolby Vision, which is disappointing as some streaming content will be limited to HDR10, and you can't take full advantage of the TV's capabilities. Also, while its local dimming is great, it performs worse in Game Mode because it raises the black levels more. If these small issues don't bother you, then it's the best 55 inch smart TV with an LED panel that we've tested.

The Hisense 55U6G is the best 55 inch TV you can buy if you're on a budget. It's great and has features for people looking for a TV for different uses, from gaming to watching TV shows, and it performs well both in dark and bright environments. Its VA panel has a high native contrast ratio for deep blacks, and it also has a decent local dimming feature. Although we tested the 65 inch version, our results are also valid for the 55 inch model.

It gets bright enough to fight glare even in well-lit rooms, and its reflection handling is decent. Although it's limited to a 60Hz panel with HDMI 2.0 bandwidth and lacks VRR support, gamers should still appreciate its low input lag and quick response time for a smooth and responsive gaming experience. If you're the type of person to just sit back and watch your favorite TV shows, it doesn't have issues upscaling lower-resolution content, and the Android TV offers a ton of streaming apps you can download through the Google Play Store.

Unfortunately, it's not the best choice for wide seating arrangements because it has narrow viewing angles and the image appears washed out from the sides. Also, its HDR performance is a bit limited because its HDR peak brightness is just okay, and some highlights don't stand out. If this doesn't bother you, it's one of the best 55 inch TVs you can get.