Best 55-inch 4K TVs 2020: the best flagship screens for any budget
Source: TechRadar
After the best 55-inch 4K TVs? We can't blame you. There's something perfect about 55-inch TVs – they're not too big to completely take over your bedroom, and they're not so small that they look silly in your living room.
That's part of the reason why the 55-inch size is usually the starting point for any flagship TV series – manufacturers know that it's a happy medium between scale, price and practicality.
- If a 55-inch TV set sounds a little too big for your needs, then check out our pick of the best small TVs for your living room
If you're worried that 55-inch TVs might be lacking in the features or performance departments, let us allay your fears: The majority of 55-inch TVs that you can buy now will support HDR, 4K resolution and will have built-in smart TV services as well. You'll find both QLED and OLED TVs in this size range, so you're not being locked out of any display technology, and most times you'll find a pretty good processor inside that can make even old HD images look brand-new.
That said, with size, manufacturer, LCD or OLED there may be a lot to consider – but we're here to point you towards some of the best 55-inch 4K TVs available to buy. All the sets we’ve listed below have been tried-and-tested by our expert reviewers, and you can click through to read the full reviews for more about the pros and cons of each model.
The best 55-inch 4K TVs at a glance
- LG OLED55C9
- TCL 6-Series Roku TV
- Sony A9G/AG9 OLED
- Samsung Q90 QLED TV
- Philips OLED 803 4K
- LG B9 OLED
- Samsung RU8000
Image Credit: LG
That's right: LG's C Series OLED tops this list for the second year running, with the new LG C9 model showing off the very best of LG's strengths.
With the well-organized webOS smart platform giving you easy access to the smart TV's many apps and services, and the OLED panel and upgraded a9 Gen 2 processor to make those images really pop, there's very little to criticize in this excellent 2019 LG TV.
The C9 isn't the most advanced LG TV out there, with the E9 and W9 models offering bolder design and bigger audio output – even if the picture quality is the same across all three models. But for the performance you get at the price, the C9 really can't be beat, and deserves pride of place at the flagship 55-inch TV size.
The sloped TV stand used in the C9 also works to funnel sound from its downward-firing speakers toward the viewer; not quite a replacement for the E9's 4.2 channel speakers, but a sign of the C9's persistence to offer the best experience it can with the parts provided.
Read the full review: LG C9 OLED (OLED55C9, OLED65C9, OLED77C9)
While we could easily fill this list with TVs that cost thousands, we try to measure screens by how well they perform for their price - and, by that metric, there are few TVs better than the TCL 6-Series QLED (55R625).
Thanks to the addition of Quantum Dots, the 6-Series is more colorful than ever before and the new AIPQ engine makes upscaled content look even better than last year, too. It may not be able to output the same peak brightness as QLED TVs from Samsung and Vizio, but it costs less than half of the competition.
We can't recommend it highly enough.
Read the full review: TCL 6-Series (R625)
Why buy the A9G OLED? The 2019 model excels when it comes to upscaling, with SD and HD images looking as polished and detailed as you could hope for on the A9G’s 4K display – while the OLED panel manages to draw out incredible color and contrast performance.
Sound is also a key feature, with Sony’s premium Acoustic Surface+ Audio technology emitting audio out of the panel itself, rather than jutting out of rear-firing speakers.
There are some specific flaws worth noting, including the lack of Freeview Play – the on demand service for British broadcasters. While you get premium Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos formats, there’s also no HDR10+, which may be an issue depending on which streaming services and HDR sources you use. The A9G is, however, IMAX Enhanced certified for those keen on the cinematic aspect ratio and DTS-mixed audio that affords.
If you can afford the eye-watering price, this is one of the best 55-inch TVs out there.
Read the full review: Sony A9G Master Series OLED
Image Credit: Samsung
Samsung was the first brand to introduce an HDR-compatible screen way back in 2015, but it's not been sitting back and taking it easy since.
Samsung has been pushing the brightness possible on its quantum dot LEDs (known as QLEDs), making for vibrant displays that really make those high dynamic range colors shine.
Nowhere is that clearer than the Q90 QLED, with 1,600 nits peak brightness, way above the 1,000 nits needed for UHD Premium certification. The Q90 isn't just bright, it's one of the brightest sets ever made.
Outside of an impressive-sounding number, this brightness has a real impact on the set's image quality. Detail is preserved in even the brightest areas of the image, and colors are exceptionally vivid and bright – even if Samsung's QLEDs can have some slight bloom around bright objects (the price of such an illuminated display).
Samsung's new Ultra Viewing Angle technology also maintains the depth of color off-axis, making for an exceptional LCD TV.
Read the full review: Samsung Q90 QLED TV
Image Credit: TechRadar
Philips has significantly upgraded the picture processing power of its 2018 OLED TVs, and the benefits of this new-found brawn can be seen writ large, with enhanced contrast and spectacular colors.
The brand’s second generation P5 Perfect Processing Engine offers twice the picture processing power of the original, and that was a pretty impressive chip in its own right.
But the main draw may be what Philip's Ambilight lighting system brings to the viewing experience, throwing colors over the wall in a full-on feast for the eyes. Why limit the picture to just the television, after all?
Buyers should weigh the visual benefits against the minor irritations, like poor catch-up TV provision, just two full-spec UHD HDMI inputs, and the lack of Dolby Vision.
But the jazzy colors of the Philips Hue-compatible Ambilight room lighting system, and the eventual rollout of the Android Oreo smart system – as of June 2019 – could just manage to balance the books.
Read the full review: Philips OLED 803 4K HDR TV
Want a top-notch OLED panel, without the associated cost? You may want the LG B9 in your living room.
The B9 was a bit late to the party, only landing in the second half of 2019, but its low price point compared to the C Series or E Series makes it a tempting proposition. Of course, that affordability comes with a catch, as the B9 uses the a7 Gen 2 processor, instead of the more advanced a9 Gen 2 chip.
This means you’re not getting the best picture processing available – but aside from some mild video noise in dark scenes, and the occasional drop in frame rate, you’re still getting a high-quality picture at a (comparatively) cheap price.
You'll still be getting the expected 4K resolution, HDR support, and brilliant webOS smart platform of the best LG TVs too.
Read the full review: LG B9 OLED
While there’s no doubt that Samsung’s ‘QLED’ Quantum Dot technology delivers a premium experience, it also comes with a premium price tag attached.
Cue the Samsung RU8000 series that offers up plenty of bang for your buck thanks to its impressively comprehensive smart system and user-friendly interface - including Bixby voice control. Forgoing QLED technology does cost the RU8000 a fair chunk of brightness and color range, but if you're after a budget set that looks great in a second bedroom or smaller living room, this is the one to go for.
Read the full review: Samsung RU8000 Series
- After something larger? Here are the best 65-inch 4K TVs
After the best 55-inch 4K TVs? We can't blame you. There's something perfect about 55-inch TVs – they're not too big to completely take over your bedroom, and they're not so small that they look silly in your living room.
That's part of the reason why the 55-inch size is usually the starting point for any flagship TV series – manufacturers know that it's a happy medium between scale, price and practicality.
- If a 55-inch TV set sounds a little too big for your needs, then check out our pick of the best small TVs for your living room
If you're worried that 55-inch TVs might be lacking in the features or performance departments, let us allay your fears: The majority of 55-inch TVs that you can buy now will support HDR, 4K resolution and will have built-in smart TV services as well. You'll find both QLED and OLED TVs in this size range, so you're not being locked out of any display technology, and most times you'll find a pretty good processor inside that can make even old HD images look brand-new.
That said, with size, manufacturer, LCD or OLED there may be a lot to consider – but we're here to point you towards some of the best 55-inch 4K TVs available to buy. All the sets we’ve listed below have been tried-and-tested by our expert reviewers, and you can click through to read the full reviews for more about the pros and cons of each model.
The best 55-inch 4K TVs at a glance
- LG OLED55C9
- TCL 6-Series Roku TV
- Sony A9G/AG9 OLED
- Samsung Q90 QLED TV
- Philips OLED 803 4K
- LG B9 OLED
- Samsung RU8000
Image Credit: LG
That's right: LG's C Series OLED tops this list for the second year running, with the new LG C9 model showing off the very best of LG's strengths.
With the well-organized webOS smart platform giving you easy access to the smart TV's many apps and services, and the OLED panel and upgraded a9 Gen 2 processor to make those images really pop, there's very little to criticize in this excellent 2019 LG TV.
The C9 isn't the most advanced LG TV out there, with the E9 and W9 models offering bolder design and bigger audio output – even if the picture quality is the same across all three models. But for the performance you get at the price, the C9 really can't be beat, and deserves pride of place at the flagship 55-inch TV size.
The sloped TV stand used in the C9 also works to funnel sound from its downward-firing speakers toward the viewer; not quite a replacement for the E9's 4.2 channel speakers, but a sign of the C9's persistence to offer the best experience it can with the parts provided.
Read the full review: LG C9 OLED (OLED55C9, OLED65C9, OLED77C9)
While we could easily fill this list with TVs that cost thousands, we try to measure screens by how well they perform for their price - and, by that metric, there are few TVs better than the TCL 6-Series QLED (55R625).
Thanks to the addition of Quantum Dots, the 6-Series is more colorful than ever before and the new AIPQ engine makes upscaled content look even better than last year, too. It may not be able to output the same peak brightness as QLED TVs from Samsung and Vizio, but it costs less than half of the competition.
We can't recommend it highly enough.
Read the full review: TCL 6-Series (R625)
Why buy the A9G OLED? The 2019 model excels when it comes to upscaling, with SD and HD images looking as polished and detailed as you could hope for on the A9G’s 4K display – while the OLED panel manages to draw out incredible color and contrast performance.
Sound is also a key feature, with Sony’s premium Acoustic Surface+ Audio technology emitting audio out of the panel itself, rather than jutting out of rear-firing speakers.
There are some specific flaws worth noting, including the lack of Freeview Play – the on demand service for British broadcasters. While you get premium Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos formats, there’s also no HDR10+, which may be an issue depending on which streaming services and HDR sources you use. The A9G is, however, IMAX Enhanced certified for those keen on the cinematic aspect ratio and DTS-mixed audio that affords.
If you can afford the eye-watering price, this is one of the best 55-inch TVs out there.
Read the full review: Sony A9G Master Series OLED
Image Credit: Samsung
Samsung was the first brand to introduce an HDR-compatible screen way back in 2015, but it's not been sitting back and taking it easy since.
Samsung has been pushing the brightness possible on its quantum dot LEDs (known as QLEDs), making for vibrant displays that really make those high dynamic range colors shine.
Nowhere is that clearer than the Q90 QLED, with 1,600 nits peak brightness, way above the 1,000 nits needed for UHD Premium certification. The Q90 isn't just bright, it's one of the brightest sets ever made.
Outside of an impressive-sounding number, this brightness has a real impact on the set's image quality. Detail is preserved in even the brightest areas of the image, and colors are exceptionally vivid and bright – even if Samsung's QLEDs can have some slight bloom around bright objects (the price of such an illuminated display).
Samsung's new Ultra Viewing Angle technology also maintains the depth of color off-axis, making for an exceptional LCD TV.
Read the full review: Samsung Q90 QLED TV
Image Credit: TechRadar
Philips has significantly upgraded the picture processing power of its 2018 OLED TVs, and the benefits of this new-found brawn can be seen writ large, with enhanced contrast and spectacular colors.
The brand’s second generation P5 Perfect Processing Engine offers twice the picture processing power of the original, and that was a pretty impressive chip in its own right.
But the main draw may be what Philip's Ambilight lighting system brings to the viewing experience, throwing colors over the wall in a full-on feast for the eyes. Why limit the picture to just the television, after all?
Buyers should weigh the visual benefits against the minor irritations, like poor catch-up TV provision, just two full-spec UHD HDMI inputs, and the lack of Dolby Vision.
But the jazzy colors of the Philips Hue-compatible Ambilight room lighting system, and the eventual rollout of the Android Oreo smart system – as of June 2019 – could just manage to balance the books.
Read the full review: Philips OLED 803 4K HDR TV
Want a top-notch OLED panel, without the associated cost? You may want the LG B9 in your living room.
The B9 was a bit late to the party, only landing in the second half of 2019, but its low price point compared to the C Series or E Series makes it a tempting proposition. Of course, that affordability comes with a catch, as the B9 uses the a7 Gen 2 processor, instead of the more advanced a9 Gen 2 chip.
This means you’re not getting the best picture processing available – but aside from some mild video noise in dark scenes, and the occasional drop in frame rate, you’re still getting a high-quality picture at a (comparatively) cheap price.
You'll still be getting the expected 4K resolution, HDR support, and brilliant webOS smart platform of the best LG TVs too.
Read the full review: LG B9 OLED
While there’s no doubt that Samsung’s ‘QLED’ Quantum Dot technology delivers a premium experience, it also comes with a premium price tag attached.
Cue the Samsung RU8000 series that offers up plenty of bang for your buck thanks to its impressively comprehensive smart system and user-friendly interface - including Bixby voice control. Forgoing QLED technology does cost the RU8000 a fair chunk of brightness and color range, but if you're after a budget set that looks great in a second bedroom or smaller living room, this is the one to go for.
Read the full review: Samsung RU8000 Series
- After something larger? Here are the best 65-inch 4K TVs
Read more at TechRadar
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