The most productive 55-inch TVs deliver the perfect picture quality while still being large enough to show the benefits of 4K resolution. They are ideal for other people who need a medium-sized screen. Basic models can be had for less than $300, and many brands sell 55-inch versions of their high-end TVs with all the features you’d get with a giant size.
To find the right style for your needs, our experts have carefully chosen the five most productive 55-inch TVs you can buy. Our top tip is the Samsung S90D, which offers high contrast and deep black levels thanks to its OLED display. But if you need to spend less than $500, we present the Roku Plus series. It produces a wide range of colors and provides solid brightness for its price.
Below are our five picks for the most productive 55-inch TVs, adding a premium option for home theater enthusiasts and reasonable basic styling that’s ideal for casual buyers.
Best Overall: Samsung S90D OLED 4K TV – View on Amazon
Best $500: Roku Plus Series 4K QLED TV – See on Amazon
Best Choice: Sony A95L OLED 4K TV – View on Amazon
Best anti-glare screen: Samsung S95D OLED 4K TV – See on Amazon
Best entry-level model: TCL S5 LED 4K TV – See at Amazon
Competition is steep for the best 55-inch TV, with several worthy options available, but the Samsung S90D offers the most impressive value of any display we’ve tested.
The S90D uses a QD-OLED panel, allowing it to produce an infinite contrast ratio with deep black degrees that disappear in a dark room. High contrast is one of the maximum elements for the quality of smart symbols and the contrast cannot be higher than this. Additionally, the TV features quantum dot color technology. This is something LG’s competing OLEDs lack, and allows for a wider, brighter color gamut when watching Higher Dynamic Diversity (HDR) videos.
The TV’s peak brightness is also impressive for a midrange OLED. In our testing, we measured a max of around 1,240 nits, which is a decent improvement over the 1,000 nits that Samsung’s previous S90C model could output. When watching 4K HDR content, the S90D delivers beautiful picture performance with vivid detail that’s nearly on par with high-end sets that cost $1,000 more. Even lower-quality sources like cable TV and HD YouTube streams look good, though the set’s image processing and upscaling aren’t quite as refined as you’d get with competitors from Sony or LG.
The S90D’s viewing angles are also excellent, so the picture doesn’t noticeably fade or distort when you sit off to the side of the TV. The display is also a great pick for gamers, thanks to its low input lag and fast 120Hz refresh with a PS5 or Xbox Series X when paired with an ultra-high-speed HDMI cable. It can support an even faster 144Hz refresh rate with a compatible PC. And Samsung remains the only smart TV brand that includes the Xbox app, which lets Game Pass members stream games without a console.
On the downside, like all Samsung TVs, the S90D is missing support for Dolby Vision. This HDR format can provide the most accurate image from streaming services like Disney Plus and Netflix. We don’t think Dolby Vision is a must-have, but it is a nice perk. Check out our HDR TV guide for more details on the differences between HDR formats.
We also found some issues with the S90D’s Smart TV interface. It offers tons of streaming apps and handy Alexa voice search, but navigation can be a little slow and isn’t as responsive as the most productive streaming devices we’ve reviewed. The TV also tended to show too many notifications similar to updates to Samsung’s policy agreements, even though we turned off notifications in the settings menu. These are all minor flaws that will likely persist through firmware, but they’re worth pointing out anyway.
As far as it’s concerned, the 55-inch S90D is a surely amazing TV. People who need a medium-sized TV that doesn’t skimp on picture quality and features deserve this style in the first place.
The Roku Plus series is a QLED display powered through our favorite Smart TV interface. Roku’s operating system (OS) is undeniably convenient, and the TV offers excellent picture quality for its class. It is undoubtedly one of the most productive 55-inch televisions. You can buy it for less than $500.
The display uses a QLED panel, allowing it to offer a wide range of colors. It also features local dimming to brighten and darken express spaces on its screen. This feature is uncommon in less expensive 55-inch TVs and provides a huge improvement in black dot and brightness functionality compared to less expensive displays, such as TCL’s S5.
That said, the Plus series’ black grades don’t match the pixel-level accuracy of an OLED, such as the Samsung S90D. And unlike the more expensive QLEDs, the Plus series uses full-size LEDs in its backlight instead of Mini LEDs. This leads to less contrast on the panel. During our review, we found that the TV’s dimming was a little clunky, with slightly delayed brightness settings.
The display also has poor viewing angles, which means colors and contrast fade when you sit to the side. And the panel is limited to 60Hz, so you can’t get 4K/120Hz support on consoles or gaming PCs. There’s no motion-smoothing feature, either. Though we typically prefer to keep settings like that off, motion smoothing can benefit certain sports broadcasts.
But the TV helps make up for those shortcomings with its intuitive Roku OS, which provides easy and snappy access to every popular streaming app. It also has some usability perks that you won’t find on many other smart TV systems, like the ability to pause live TV from a digital antenna when you have a USB stick plugged in. The remote is also great, with hands-free voice search, a rechargeable battery, and an audio chime you can activate if you misplace it.
Buyers looking for the best 55-inch TV on a budget should also purchase the Hisense U6N and TCL QM7. Technically, all of those models retail for over $500, but they rarely go on sale for less. All 3 sets use Mini LED backlighting, resulting in greater dimming functionality and higher overall image quality. However, they use Google TV’s operating formula rather than Roku’s more simplified operating formula.
Read our Roku Plus Series 4K TV review.
Read our guides on TVs under $500 and budget TVs.
The Sony A95L is the best 55-inch TV for high-end performance. Premium displays from LG and Samsung get close, but the A95L has a slight edge if you’re willing to spend top dollar.
The TV uses a QD-OLED panel to deliver pixel-level contrast and industry-leading color performance. The A95L is also one of the brightest OLEDs tested. We measured a peak of around 1500 nits at a 5% brightness check pattern, which is 500 nits more than its predecessor, the A95K. The A95L can only achieve this figure by displaying small soft elements on the screen, but it is still an impressive feat for an OLED.
This maximum brightness allows the A95L to deliver exceptional HDR images. Degrees of black disappear in a dark room, while specular reflections (like explosions) shine with millimeter precision and without efflorescence. If you’re watching TV in a home theater environment, the A95L simply dazzles.
The Samsung S95D and 55-inch LG G4 may get even brighter, but Sony’s proprietary symbol processing delivers symbol accuracy that surpasses that of rival brands. This processing also offers an impressive improvement that minimizes defects from lower-quality sources, such as HD streams from streaming services, cable, and indoor TV antennas. The viewing angles are also top-notch, so you don’t have to worry about color distortion when you’re off-center.
The A95L’s Google TV operating formula also works well. The included Google Assistant voice remote control provides a premium feel and a convenient backlight that turns on when you pick it up. A webcam is also included, supporting video calling and gesture controls. The TV stand can even be set to high or low mode depending on whether you need to place a sound bar in front of it.
The only notable feature missing is 144Hz support, which other brands offer on some of their higher-end TVs when paired with a gaming PC. But if you’re using a console, like a PS5 or Xbox Series X, you can rest easy knowing you’ll still get full 120Hz support.
Given its price, the A95L is geared toward big home theater enthusiasts willing to pay a premium for top performance. Most buyers will be satisfied with any of the less expensive 55-inch TVs we recommend, but if money is no object, the A95L is the display to get.
Samsung’s high-end S95D OLED has a unique matte screen that sets it apart from nearly every other 55-inch TV you can buy. Most competing displays use a glossy or semi-glossy panel, but the S95D’s matte display enables it to reduce glare and reflections significantly.
In fact, the S95D is the most productive anti-glare TV we’ve tested. If you have a room where reflections are a big problem, this set can be a game-changer. However, there is one notable drawback. While the S95D’s matte screen combats glare, it increases the degrees of black in bright rooms. This can give dark scenes a blurry, flat quality when watching TV with the lights on. So there is a clear trade-off, and whether you prioritize reducing glare or maintaining black levels comes down to personal preference.
Fortunately, in a dark room, the S95D’s black ratings are as impressive as any OLED. The TV offers exceptional symbol functionality that has nothing to envy of the major competition from Sony and LG. It’s also the brightest OLED we’ve measured, maxing out at 1,700 nits. Sony’s A95L still has an edge in overall image quality and accuracy, but the S95D is easily one of the most productive high-end TVs out there.
The TV’s design is also premium, with a uniformly narrow profile and a One Connect Box to space out its inputs or integrate them into the panel. Gamers get some big perks, like a 144Hz mode when paired with a PC and having access to the Xbox Game Pass app for streaming games.
Samsung’s less expensive Frame TV uses a similar matte screen, but that style doesn’t match the S95D’s picture quality. Although it is expensive, the S95D is the most productive 55-inch TV you can buy if you need the most effective anti-glare screen on the market.
Read our Samsung S95D 4K TV review and our Samsung TV Advisor.
See our between S95D and S95C.
For a typical retail value of less than $300, the TCL S5 is the go-to 55-inch TV for buyers who prioritize affordability over complex picture quality features.
This model uses a standard LED panel without quantum dots or local dimming. As a result, its brightness and black-level capabilities are a noticeable step down from QLED TVs like the Roku Plus and pricier OLED models.
Though the S5 can produce a wide range of colors, its limited contrast prevents the set from displaying HDR content the way it’s meant to look, and it causes dark scenes to look more washed out if you watch TV with the lights off. Colors and contrast also distort if you sit to the side of the screen, and the TV’s refresh rate is limited to 60Hz, so it can’t support high-frame-rate gaming. To be clear, these drawbacks are common for any TV this inexpensive, but they’re important to keep in mind.
We recommend you pay more for the Roku Plus Series if you want a budget-friendly TV with HDR in mind. However, the S5 is a solid option if you just want basic 4K playback for casual viewing. Integrated support for the Fire TV platform and an Alexa voice remote round out the package, offering reliable playback from all the best streaming services. An edition with the Google TV OS is also available for those who prefer Google’s platform.
For the most productive 55-inch TVs, our team of experts draws on a combination of practical tests and studies based on more than 10 years of experience comparing home entertainment products.
When we review TVs, we focus on the 65-inch units, as this length is considered the industry’s flagship offering. However, the overall functionality of a style of TV remains comparable for lengths of 55 inches or longer. For example, a 65-inch Sony A95L OLED and a 55-inch A95L have the same specifications and capabilities. The only notable difference is the length of the screen.
However, local dimming on some TVs, such as the Roku Plus series, uses less real estate on smaller screens than on larger screens. This may lead to differences in contrast functionality when comparing a 55-inch style to another size, but not enough to supersede our overall impressions of this style. Sometimes there are larger differences between sizes and we take note of those main points where appropriate.
On 55-inch TVs, we look at picture clarity, contrast, peak brightness, color performance, viewing angles, gaming capabilities, smart TV navigation, and overall value. We measured HDR brightness with an X-Rite iDisplay Plus colorimeter and used patterns on Spears’ Benchmark 4K UHD HDR Blu-ray Disc
But test patterns can only reveal so much, so we watch plenty of actual movies and shows to see how a TV performs with real-world content on a day-to-day basis in both dark and bright rooms. We revisit various scenes on each TV we test that we’ve specifically chosen to examine black levels, shadow details, HDR highlights, and upscaling. Our demo content includes 4K, 1080p high definition (HD), and standard definition (SD) material from various sources like Blu-ray discs, streaming services, and cable TV.
You can learn more about our review process in our breakdown of how we test tech products.
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