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Best 55-inch TVs: Six great Mini-LED, OLED and 4K models
In This Article
The best 55-inch TV screens offer that sweet spot of size, performance and value. We’ve created this list of the best models we’ve tested, from budget to premium performers, to help make it easier to find a 55-inch screen for your living room.
When we review TVs, we base our assessments on using measurable, quantifiable data alongside real-world content and impressions. We compare against price rivals where possible, with a focus picture, sound and features to determine their value and performance.
If, however, the choices here don’t float your boat, we have other best buys that cater to different tastes and interests include ourbest cheap TVs,best 4K HDR sets;best 8K TVs andbest OLED TVs.
We’ll always be on the lookout for new TVs, so be sure to check back if you’re still searching for a brand new 55-inch TV.
Best 55-inch TVs at a glance
How we test
Every TV we review is put through the same set of tests to gauge its picture performance, usability, and smart features.Tests are carried out over several days and are done by eye but supported with technical measurements. Testing by eye involves an expert watching a wide range of material to understand and determine a TV’s performance in fields such as brightness, contrast, motion processing, colour handling and screen uniformity.We’ll consider the design of the TV in terms of build quality, study the spec sheets and see if the TV’s connections are up to spec, as well as playing video and audio content to ensure that the set handles playback as it claims. We also take note whether a product’s compatible formats and features are in line with industry trends or not to gauge whether it’s relevant for you.Comparison to other related and similarly priced products is also important, to see if it’s missing any vital features and whether it impresses as a whole. After all this, we’ll come to a judgement on how the TV performs as a whole.If you want to learn more, please visit our detailed page abouthow we test televisions.
Panasonic TX-55MZ2000
Pros
Cons
The best 55-inch TV is thePanasonic MZ2000, with a picture and sound performance better than the other TVs we tested in 2023.
My Home Screen remains an easily accessible and customisable interface, withFreeview Playadding UK catch-up apps alongside big hitters inNetflix,Disney+,Apple TV+. It doesn’t have as many apps as the likes of LG and Samsung, but if you’re a home cinema enthusiast you’ll be solidly served by the options it stocks.
Game mode has been updated with two modes to choose from in Game and True Game, the latter offers accurate colour performance in the same manner asFilmmaker modedoes for film and TV.
We measured input lag at 14.5ms, not as good as competitor OLEDs but fast enough for competitive gaming. WithHDMI 2.1technologies such asVRR,ALLM, 4K/120Hz, you can get a higher quality performance, but they’re only available on two HDMI inputs.
In terms of picture, MZ2000 would make a good choice for bright rooms as it has the brightness headroom to reduce reflections and ambien. The swivel design of the plinth can also help with this issue and in positioning the TV. The MLA panel from LG Display registers 1500 nits on a 5% window, and a mighty 1877 nits on a 10% patch in Dynamic mode.
Highlights burn with intensity, contrast is excellent, and skin tones are naturally conveyed while reds and blues have a rich, deep look. With all the HDR formats covered in HDR10, HLG,Dolby Vision IQandHDR10+ Adaptive, whatever mode you’re watching in, you should be getting an excellent picture.
Sound quality was equally top notch with the TV’s side- and upfiring speakers producing a large presence. We found bass is light on this TV, but that nevertheless, this is one of the best-sounding TVs available.
Reviewer:Steve MayFull Review:Panasonic MZ2000
Sony XR-55A95L
Pros
Cons
The Sony A95Lis a premiumQD-OLEDTV, and while the asking price is steep compared to most other 55-inch screes on this best list, it boasts stellar picture and sound quality.
The Sony A95L offers fantastically fine shading of colours that look impressively pure, along with excellent levels of sharpness and detail. It’s not the brightest QD-OLED, as it’s beaten by theSamsung S95D, but in its favour is that the Sony is capable of a more cinematic-looking image.
Sony’s Acoustic Surface Audio system delivers an audio performance that’s big and accurate in terms of where effects and dialogue are placed, pushing sound into a room, the woofers add some punch to the low frequencies too.
The A95L’s smarts are delivered byGoogle TV, and unlike thePhilips OLED908, it is covered for the UK’s catch up services which are available as separate apps.
Connectivity covers twoHDMI 2.1inputs with support foreARC,VRR,ALLM, and 4K/120Hz. For PS5 gamers there is the Auto Tone Mapping feature that optimises theHDRperformance but with no support forAMD FreeSyncorNvidia G-Sync. Input lag is faster than theA95Kat 16.7ms. The addition of Dolby Vision Game mode helps extract more contrast and brightness from supported games.
Reviewer:John ArcherFull Review:Sony XR-55A95L
TCL 55RC630K Roku TV
Pros
Cons
TheTCL 55RC630K Roku TVis one of the best cheap TVs we’ve reviewed in recent months and deserving of win in our 2023 awards. If you’re after a colourful and affordable 55-inch QLED TV, this is the model we’d spotlight above others.
It’s a very easy TV to live with, from its quick assembly easy to the Roku smart interface that puts the emphasis on simplicity and accessibility. The interface is fast to scroll through and easy to navigate, but even better is Roku mobile app is even better, and also features a few more advanced picture settings too, plus the TV supportsAirPlay 2casting andApple HomeKit, for folding the TV into a smart home set-up.
And you won’t be left wanting for app options with this TV as all the big and small apps are available in the likesDisney+, Apple TV+, andNetflix, and UK catch-up apps throughFreeview Play.
The TCL 55RC630K supportsALLMfor putting the TV into its game mode mode, and with a latency of 11.5ms, that’s a speedy performance for any telly.
Its QLED screen puts iin a decent HDR performance (withHDR10+andDolby Visionsupport). It’s nowhere near the brghtest TV for HDR content, with a peak brightness of 386 nits on a 10% window, but we found theQLED screenpresents good-looking colours and well-done skin-tones with HDR content.
Upscaling is an improvement over the discontinued55RP620Kwith more colour and vibrancy to images, as well as a higher levels of sharpness and clarity.
The audio system is surprisingly good for a cheap model, with punchy bass and fine levels of detail and clarity. There’s also a Dialogue Enhancer to help boost what people are saying, and we found it worked effectively.
Reviewer:Kob MonneyFull Review:TCL 55RC630K Roku TV
Panasonic TX-55MX950
Pros
Cons
Mini-LEDis currently on the rise in the TV market, and one of the best exponents of the technology we’ve reviewed in recent times is thePanasonic MX950.
It’s quick to assemble though a bit bulky in size considering that it is a Mini-LED, which makes it less fashionable in the design stakes. Viewing angles are decent, though we can’t escape the feeling that they could be a little stronger.
This model still carries Pansonic’s My Home Screen interface, which means it’s not stocked with as many apps as LG webOS orSamsung Tizen, but for home cinema fans there’s enough apps to be indulging with. The True Game mode looks to offer the most accurate picture performance for games, though we noted that it adds a little more processing to the image, qith input dropping from 15.4ms to 15.8ms. It’s not much, but the Sony and TCL TVs offer slightly quicker input lag.
HDMI support includes ALLM,VRR, and HFR, so you can get a high quality performance out of this TV.
Picture performance is very good, though not as bright as you might have expected considering that the MX950 can hit well over 1000 nits. Both theSony X85LandSamsung Q80Dlook brighter, though the advantage the Panasonic has is that it offers better detail in dark scenes, with more shadow detail and better black levels. There is some blooming in a 4K Blu-ray of Zero Dark Thirty, but it is kept to a minium. Upscaling is most natural, the MX950 not adding more noise that’s already there in the image.
Sound quality is one of the better attempts we’ve noted, with a good bass output, expansive soundstage, and solid dialogue clarity. A soundbar can improve upon it, but we wouldn’t necessarily be rushing out to get one for this TV.
Reviewer:Kob MonneyFull Review:Panasonic TX-55MX950
Philips 55OLED+908
Pros
Cons
TheOLED+908is Philips’ current flagship TV, and it’s one that ticks a lot of boxes though it does come with a few flaws.
The OLED+908 model is only available in the UK and Europe, the 55-inch screen you can find for less than £2000.
What that gets you is an impressive picture performance, with typically rich OLED black levels, rich colours, and a high level of peak brightness thanks to its use of LG Display’sMLA brightness tech. Contrast looks excellent, detail in the darkest parts of the image is an upgrade over previous Philips’ OLEDs, and upscaling of lower quality sources is on par with rivals from Panasonic, LG and Sony.
However, the image can look green from time to time, there’s micro stutter in terms of its motion performance, and there are a few banding issues with HDR content. The OLED+908 offers an impressive picture presentation, but the likes of theSony A95Lpresent more nuance and subtlety.
The sound features 80W of power in a 3.1 channel sound system, and it provides good presence to the low end, excellent clarity with dialogue, along with a big, wide soundstage.
The interface isGoogle TV, which supports the majority of apps but doesn’t yet carry the UK catch-up and on-demand apps, so you will need a streaming stick if you want access to iPlayer, ITVX, and others.
Reviewer:Kob MonneyFull Review:Philips 55OLED+908
Sony KD-55X85L
Pros
Cons
Granted, we don’t get to test Full-Array-Local Dimming (FALD) TVs too often, but of the ones we have in the past year, we would rate theSony X85Lvery highly.
It’s accomodating with its design, with the ability to adapt the stand two ways: one to the sides to allow for a soundbar, and another placement within the middle if you want to place it on a small surface. The TV apparently has an anti-glare/matte coating, and while it doesn’t completely remove reflections, we did feel over the course of testing that it did diminish them somewhat.
There’sGoogle TVthat delivers all the streaming apps you might ever need, and there is now the ability to swap between profiles if you don’t want your recommendations spoiled by another person in your house. We find the interface to be quick, responsive, and informative, a step over Android TV, though we wish some features were better placed within the interface, such as ‘My List’.
For gaming the TV supportsALLM, VRR, and HFR, though this features are supported through an PS5 specific-lens, though these features should also work with other game consoles. Input lag is 14.5ms, which is fast, but not the fastest response on this list.
We found picture quality to be impressive, with a wide range of colours described; although this TV takes a conservate approach to brightness, hitting only 738 nits in its Standard mode. ThePanasonic MX950is brighter and sharper than this screen, and the Sony has a tendency to introduce clipping (loss of detail), with highlights.
Upscaling is good with SD and HD content, and although there is noise visible in the image, the Sony appears to keep it under control for the most part. With HD content it looks nice and clear, though again the MX950 produces a sharper, crisper image. Its motion processing is very good, at times we didn’t even notice that it was.
Sound quality is ok for a Sony TV. It has a crisp tone with voices though it lacks bass. This is a TV that we’d consider to to get a soundbar to go with.
Reviewer:Kob MonneyFull Review:Sony KD-55X85L
We also considered…
The Q80D may lack a few of the bells and whistles of Samsung’s high-end TVs, but it’s still a brilliant mid-range option
A solid, if unspectacular Roku TV from Sharp
Sky’s first TV aims to transform the home viewing experience
We’ve reviewed
3,198
TV
FAQs
Out of the models we’ve tested, the TCL Roku would be our choice with its Dolby Vision support, colourful SD performance and fast input lag for gaming.
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Kob began his career at What Hi-Fi?, starting in the dusty stockroom before rising up the ranks to join the editorial and production team as the Buyer’s Guide editor. Experienced in both magazine and …
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Why trust our journalism?
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
