Today, the trend for TV screen size goes towards 65 inches and larger. But for few households such a size is necessary at all. Smaller apartments and rooms in single-family homes can also manage with smaller units, for example a 55 inch TV.
On this page we present three TVs that differ in price and strengths and weaknesses, but are all 55 inches in size. If you have already decided on the right TV size, but don’t know which features are important to you, you’ll find all the information you need here. If you need more advice, try our TVfindr.
These are the Best 55 inch TVs in 2020
- Deep blacks
- High contrast ratio
- Good Smart features
- Affordable price
- No Local Dimming
- HDR Performance
- Viewing angle
- Full Array Local Dimming
- Very deep blacks
- High contrast
- Very clear display of fast movements
- Viewing angle
- Perfect blacks
- Contrast ratio of ∞:1
- Clear movements
- HDMI 2.1
- Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos
- Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL)
The Best budget 55 inch TV
RU7100
The strong 2019 lineup of the South Koreans from Samsung offers a lot in terms of 4K and 8K. However, not everyone needs the most sophisticated and latest features – some people just need a decent picture quality for a reasonable price. If you’re one of those people, the Samsung RU7100 might be just the thing for you.
The RU7100 has a VA panel, which means good blacks and decent contrast. The disadvantage of VA panels, however, is a limited viewing angle and this is also the case with the 55 inch model. Alone or with two or three people, this won’t be a problem as long as all viewers don’t look at the device from too large an angle. Otherwise a grey veil will cover the screen and the colors will lose their luminosity. To prevent this, you should be sitting directly in front of the TV.
Unfortunately, the peak brightness of the Samsung RU7100 is not particularly high, making it difficult to display demanding HDR content. It also has no local dimming. The RU7100 supports the HDR formats HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG but unfortunately this doesn’t change the average color space coverage. But SDR content looks great. In its price range the RU7100 offers a lot. Regarding its price, it is one of the best 55 inch TV deals.
The Best mid-range 55 inch TV
XG95
The Sony X950G is one of the best 55 inch TVs on the market. It is a high value all-rounder and is suitable for both bright and dark rooms. The VA panel with full array local dimming provides deep blacks and a high contrast ratio, but the viewing angle suffers because of this. Viewed from an angle, the colors wash out and black tones become brighter towards dark grey. What’s more pleasing is the maximum brightness is 1200 Nits, making the TV bright enough even in rooms with many windows.
The X950G’s predecessor, the X900F, is a good TV for occasional gaming, but its features left a lot to be desired. With the new generation of the Sony TV, the gaming features have been given a decent improvement. The input lag is only 20 ms at 4K @ 60 Hz and 11 ms 1080p @ 120 Hz. These are very good values – which are only rarely surpassed by some competing TVs. When it comes to gaming, the Samsung Q70R might be the better choice it will have other disadvantages though.
The smart TV features are very satisfying. The most popular apps are already pre-installed: Netflix, Google Play and Amazon Prime Video are already available after unpacking and installing. Voice control is possible via Google Assistant. In addition, Apple AirPlay 2 will be updated in the course of 2019.
The Best high-end 55 inch TV
LG C9
In this selection, the LG C9 differs from the rest of the televisions in one essential aspect: screen technology. The C9 uses an OLED panel instead of an LCD panel. This results in perfect blacks, excellent contrast and a very wide viewing angle. A minor disadvantage of OLED TVs in bright rooms is the limited brightness, which isn’t on the level of the highest end LCD TVs yet still better than most. In bright rooms, the difference to the Sony X950G’s peak and sustained brightness can be noticeable. The Automatic Brightness Limiter further reduces the brightness of some content, which could disturb some users. On the other hand, the C9 looks excellent in dark rooms.
Its compatibility with HDMI 2.1 allows data transfers at up to 48 Gbps which for example allows 4K with 120 fps. This is especially interesting for next-gen gaming with Playstation 5, Xbox Scarlett and Google Stadia. It also supports VRR via HDMI Forum for gaming without tearing and Auto Low Latency Mode.
Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa are available for voice control of the device. The latter can also be integrated into your existing Smart Home appliances. Streaming and mirroring from a smartphone or tablet will work with Apple AirPlay 2. If the LG C9 is interesting, but too expensive for you, the LG B8 is a good alternative without HDMI 2.1.
The Best 55 inch TVs compared
| | | |
RU7100 | XG95 | LG C9 | |
| Gaming Good features for gaming include low input lag, low motion blur and sufficient frame rate. | |||
| Viewing angle The viewing angle is the angle at which the screen can be viewed without the colors being washed out and the brightness diminishing. | |||
| Bright environment A classic bright environment would be a well lit living room with many windows. Good televisions should be able to deliver good picture in a bright room. | |||
| Dark environment In dark rooms, televisions should be able to display content correctly. This requires good black levels so that black content does not appear dark grey in complete darkness. | |||
| Home cinema To bring the cinema experience to you, a good television should be able to reproduce images and sound equivalent to modern cinemas. | |||
| HDR Anyone who likes to watch high-resolution content such as Blu-rays or 4K streaming needs a TV with wide gamut and good peak brightness. This is the only way to display films and series with a high contrast range. | |||
| Smart TV Every Smart TV has a number of Smart features that are designed to make operation easier. In addition to apps such as Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, these include voice control via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant as well as Apple AirPlay 2. | |||
| Features The number of connections to ensure flexibility for the technical periphery needed for additional equipment. | |||
| Specialties Not all TVs have the same technical specialities. Here it's best to choose by your individual needs. | Affordable | Full Array Local Dimming | OLED, HDMI 2.1 |
| | | |
RU7100 | XG95 | LG C9 | |
| Available sizes The compared 55 inch TV are available in following screen sizes | 43 Inch See price 50 Inch See price 55 Inch See price 58 Inch See price 65 Inch See price 75 Inch See price All prices | Inch See price 55 Inch See price 65 Inch See price 75 Inch See price 85 Inch See price All prices | 55 Inch See price 65 Inch See price 77 Inch See price All prices |
What makes the best 55 inch TV?
The selection of 55 inch TVs is extremely vast – and rightly so, as the size is suitable for almost every room. They also cut a good figure as a second TV in the bedroom, because even when lying down you have a good seat distance and can watch comfortably.
The Samsung RU7100 is a very good value TV that is perfect as a second set. The picture is very good and the missing technical equipment can be forgiven when used as a second device. That pays off in the price.
However, if the TV is to be used as the main unit, Sony X950G and LG C9 are a good choice. Here you should decide what the lighting conditions in the room are like. Thanks to its peak brightness, the X950G is better suited for a very bright living room, which has a lot of light at any time of day. Its performance in dark rooms and the contrast ratio aren’t as good as with the C9 – it’s still a lot of fun in the evening and at night.
The LG C9 is the better choice if you want to put the TV in your man cave or home cinema. With less ambient light, OLED technology really comes into its own because it offers perfect blacks and the highest possible contrast. Especially with HDR contents this is worth your while. But it also fits into living rooms with fewer windows and light.
