What to look for in a 55-inch TV in 2021
While choosing the right 55-inch TV for your home, there are several things to consider to ensure you get the right set. The first is the size of the screen, since it is
important to take into account the space You are putting the set. 55-inch TVs are one of the most common sizes for living rooms, so all of our picks below will deliver what you need. Next, you have to decide if you want to opt for an
OLED TV or a
LED-Backlit LCD TV (also known as an LED TV). These are the two dominant display panel technologies available in modern televisions, and both have their advantages and disadvantages. While OLED TVs can offer perfect black levels and a nearly infinite contrast ratio, they're generally better suited for dark rooms due to their relatively lower brightness. On the other hand, LED TVs have a high brightness, which allows them to overpower the look even in a bright room. However, LED TVs cannot produce perfect blacks and have to rely on other technologies such as
Full Array Localization (FALD) to compensate. And, even with FALD, LED TVs can't match the contrast ratio or black levels of an OLED TV. Second, you need to consider what you're primarily going to be doing on your new TV. For example, if you plan to use it for gaming, you might want next-gen gaming features like
HDMI 2.1 Ports, support for 4k @ 120fps, and
Variable refresh rate (RRV). On the other hand, if you want to watch a lot of movies, a TV with good picture quality, HDR support, and better image processing will suit your needs better. You may also have an affinity to a particular smart TV platform. But even if your TV selection has a different smart TV OS,
casting device With your favorite platform you can help. This is just the tip of the TV buying iceberg, though. We recommend going through our
Complete guide on buying a new television. For more help. Now, let's get into our 55-inch television recommendations.
RELATED: How to buy a TV:what you need to know Best 55-inch TV overall:LG C1
LG produces some of the most amazing.
TV GOLD on the market, and the C1 is among the absolute best. It has almost everything you need for a fantastic viewing experience. Thanks to the OLED panel, the LG C1 provides almost infinite infinity.
contrast ratio and deep black levels. This helps make colors pop and feel vibrant on screen. Although the OLED panels aren't the brightest, the LG C1 steps down bright enough to justify HDR content. And as the company has added support for
Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG , you'll be able to enjoy HDR content from a wide variety of sources. The C1 also looks fantastic whether you hang it on a wall or put it in an entertainment center. Build quality is excellent, and the TV feels sturdy. LG is one of the few TV manufacturers to go pave
HDMI 2.1 . Like most of the company's new premium TVs, all four HDMI ports on the C1 are HDMI 2.1. This, coupled with the panel's 120Hz refresh rate, gives you access to 4K Gaming at 120FPS, one of the highlights of the latest gaming consoles from Microsoft and Sony. You also get support for Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Latency Mode (ALLM) in other gaming features. Also, LG TV has great response time and very low input lag. Unfortunately, the LG C1 is not perfect. While the TV is great for dark room viewing, its relatively lower brightness can hamper the viewing experience in bright, sunny rooms. Also, its OLED panel is susceptible to
burn-in , which requires
appropriate care to ensure the set lasts.
Best budget 55-inch TV:Hisense 55U7G
Hisense has emerged as a significant player in the budget TV segment by producing some of the best value
-per-money and
4K TVs . the U7g, which is part of the company.
ulled Lineup, it's our pick for the best budget 55-inch TV to buy right now. Whether you like to watch movies, sports, or play games, the U7G excels at it all, despite costing around $700. It's a 4K LED TV and it packs a punch.
Quantum DOT technology To provide realistic colors and a wide color gamut. It also uses a
Vertical Alignment (VA) Display Panel So the TV's native contrast ratio is excellent, but it suffers from poor viewing angles. There is a Full Array Local Dimming (FALD) present as well which improves contrast and black levels. Among other features, the television includes support for HDR10, HDR10 +, Dolby Vision and HLG, so you will be able to enjoy almost all HDR content. As for the Smart TV platform, Hisense is using
Android TV in the U7G. It offers access to numerous streaming services, games, and other apps. It is also quite easy to use. The U7G also packs two HDMI 2.1 ports and next-gen gaming features like 4K@120FPS Gaming, Allm, and
Amd freesync vrr . Also, the smart TV provides good response time and low input lag for a fantastic gaming experience. If you find the U7G in your budget and are looking for an even cheaper option, you can consider the Hisense Model 55U6G. It's a step down from the U7G, but it's still a great TV. However, the U6G doesn't include any HDMI 2.1 ports, has fewer local dimming zones, and lower overall brightness.
The best 55-inch gaming TV:LG G1
While our Best Overall TV Pick -The LG C1 -It's an excellent gaming TV. If you want the absolute best gaming experience, the G1 is a better option, mainly due to its new OLED EVO panel. It's said to be 20% brighter than regular OLED panels, including the one found in C1. Higher brightness improves
HDR Experience So whether you're watching HDR movies or playing HDR games, the G1 offers a slightly better viewing experience than the C1. The G1 also relies on the new gallery design which makes the set look great on a wall. It's super slim and sits flush to the wall when you hang it. Unfortunately, if you plan on placing it in a media center, you'll have to purchase a separate tabletop stand. In terms of gaming features, everything you'd expect from a modern 4K TV is present in the G1. You get support for VRR, including AMD FREESYNC,
NVIDIA G-SYNC and HDMI Forum VRR, ALLM and 4K GAMING AT 120FPS. The television also provides a fantastic low input lag.
response time . In addition, LG has packed a game optimizer feature that allows you to quickly adjust different game-related settings and toggle VRR options. As well as being a great gaming TV, the LG G1 is a great TV overall. Thanks to the OLED EVO panel, the TV can offer a near infinite contrast ratio, perfect blacks and wide viewing angles. Furthermore, the TV can also display a wide color gamut and has support for Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG. The TV runs on WebOS which includes apps for all the popular streaming services and also allows you to control LG's Thinq branded smart devices via the home control panel on the TV. Unfortunately, like all OLED TVs,
burned out It is a concern for LG G1. But to spur these concerns, LG provides a 5-year limited warranty on the G1's OLED panel.
The best 55-inch TV for movies:Sony A90J
If you are a Cinephile and looking for a TV to watch movies, the Sony A90J is your best bet for your cinema at home. Part of Sony's master series, the A90J is a 4K OLED TV. And like other
TV GOLD Provides perfect blacks and infinite close contrast ratio. So movies and TV shows look fantastic. The Sony TV also supports support for Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG, allowing you to experience a variety of HDR content in all its glory. Even when you're not watching native HDR content, Sony TV uses HDR Remastering to make content look vibrant and lifelike. The TV is also excellent at high resolution high resolution content. On the design front, the A90J looks beautiful with its edge-to-edge design. Its build quality is also excellent, and the included tabletop stand can be configured in two ways, either nearly flush with the tabletop, or flips up to create space for a soundbar. You will get the
Google TV platform on the Sony A90J, which is quite easy to use and provides access to all the popular streaming services and other apps. Unfortunately, like all OLED TVs, burn-in is a concern for the A90J as well. Buyers will need to make sure to
Take care of the OLED set So tough.
The best 55-inch Roku TV:TCL 6-Series 55R635
Although there are various smart TV smart platforms on the market, Roku OS has managed to carve a niche for itself by be super easy to use. So it's no wonder a lot of people want ROKU OS on their TVs. If you're one of those people, the TCL 6-Series R635 is the best Roku TV you can buy in the 55-inch size. The 6-series is a 4K LED TV using
Mini-LED Highlighting and full-array local dimming to provide excellent contrast ratio, deep black levels and high brightness. Unfortunately, while local dimming successfully improves contrast, it leads to blooming and black crushing on TV. TCL has added a
quantum dot Layer to produce vibrant colors and a wide color gamut, among other features. So HDR content looks fantastic on TV, and support for
Dolby Vision , HDR10, and HLG will give you access to tons of HDR content. The R635 also upscales lower resolution content very well, so whether you're catching up on your favorite shows on cable TV or rewatching your DVD collection, everything will look great. Unfortunately, if you're into gaming, the R635 lacks any next-gen gaming features. Even though the display panel is 120Hz, you won't be able to play 4k games at 120FPS. That said, the TV has a great response time and relatively low input lag, meaning it'll be fine for an occasional casual gaming session.
Best 55-inch LED TV:Samsung QN90A
The Samsung QN90A is part of the company's NEO QLED lineup and the best LED TV you can buy in 55 inches. Samsung Neo Qled TVs are basically
Mini-LED TVs With DOT Quantum technology. The QN90A has a lot going for it. It has a premium design that looks fantastic, and the TV is well built. Plus, DOT Quantum technology can produce vibrant, true-to-life colors, and MINI's LED backlighting helps it achieve high brightness levels. As a result, the Samsung TV can be bright enough to counteract glare in bright, sunny rooms. Although the television uses a
VA Panel , it can provide decent viewing angles due to Samsung's 'Ultra Viewing Angle' technology. This technology affects the native contrast of the display panel, but the full array onboard local dimming is able to compensate. So the QN90A has an excellent contrast ratio. The Samsung TV is also good at high-resolution high-resolution content, so even when you're watching 720p or 1080p content, it looks good on the TV. Dolby Vision is missing, but there is HDR10,
HDR10 + and hlg support. The TV also packs next-gen gaming features, but unfortunately, there's only one HDMI 2.1 port. Finally, Samsung's Tizen OS ties it all together, and it's one of the best smart TV platforms around. It has apps for almost every popular streaming service and supports Alexa, Bixby, and Google Assistant.
