The 7 Best 55 Inch 4k TVs - Spring 2020
Reviews

The LG OLED55B9 is the best 55 inch TV we've tested so far. OLED TVs have gained popularity in recent years, largely due to OLED's capacity to turn each pixel on and off individually, resulting in pure blacks and an infinite contrast ratio. This TV is no exception and it delivers outstanding picture quality. It doesn't get any better if you like to watch TV in the dark, where black is black, period.

Unfortunately, like all OLED TVs, there's the possibility of temporary image retention and permanent burn-in, though this is the result of cumulative exposure to static content and we don't expect it to occur with normal varied content. That said, it may not be as good a choice to use as a monitor or for long gaming sessions, as those usage scenarios often involve a lot of static user interface elements that are displayed for an extended period. LG has implemented some measures to prevent burn-in, such as screen savers and ABL (Auto Brightness Limiter), but some may find the latter a little too aggressive.

On the bright side, this TV performs great in a bright room thanks to its excellent reflection handling and decent peak brightness. Motion handling is also outstanding thanks to the nearly instantaneous response time, which, coupled with low input lag and support for variable refresh rate, makes it an excellent TV for gamers. Overall, this is an excellent TV for a wide variety of uses, and it should satisfy anyone looking for the best 55" TV.

The best 55 inch TV for color accuracy that we've tested so far is the Sony XBR55X950G. This is a great TV for anyone who cares about color accuracy but won't necessarily pay extra for a professional calibration. With its wide color gamut and excellent peak brightness combined, this TV delivers HDR content with vibrant and saturated colors that are faithful to the creators' intent. It also performs well in dark environments, as it has an outstanding contrast ratio and impressive black uniformity to make blacks look deep and inky.

The main downside with this TV is its poor viewing angles, though they're expected of most VA panels. Images look washed out even when you're slightly off-center, so it's not the best choice if you have a seating arrangement that requires you to view from the side. For gamers, this TV has an incredibly low input lag and it has a 120Hz refresh rate, but it lacks support for any variable refresh rate technology to reduce screen tearing.

If you get most of your content through streaming services, the good news is that you can find practically anything you need from the Google Play Store. In addition, you can control the TV using your voice, either through the integrated Google Assistant or through a Google Home smart speaker if you already have one. Overall, if color accuracy is important to you, then go with this TV.

The best budget 55 inch TV that we've tested so far is the Hisense 55H9F. Although it's significantly cheaper than our other recommendations, this TV still brings a whole lot to the table. It performs well in both bright and dark rooms, thanks to its outstanding contrast ratio and excellent peak brightness, and combined with the TV's impressive color gamut, HDR content truly stands out with vibrant colors and highlights that pop.

Unfortunately, like most VA panels, viewing angles are rather poor, which isn't ideal for wide seating arrangements or for watching a big game with friends. On the bright side, this TV runs on Android TV, which means that you have access to a very wide variety of apps, and the TV can be voice-controlled via the Google Assistant from your smart speaker.

While input lag and response time of this TV are superb, it doesn't support variable refresh rate technology and the panel is limited to 60Hz, though this is common with budget TVs. Overall, this TV is a great choice for a wide range of uses, and it far outperforms its relatively low price point. If you're looking for a great budget TV, this is one of the best TVs that we've tested and is highly recommended.