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02 Sept 2024

The best 55-inch TVs: top recommendations from Which? experts

Being in the market for a 55-inch TV gives you access to a huge range of TVs and our expert reviews reveal the best picks

Martin PrattPrincipal researcher & writer

LG OLED55B36LA in black with silver wedge base, mounted on a wooden media unit.

In this article

For every high-end 55-inch OLED TV with the latest features, there's an LCD model that costs far less. Our expert buying advice will help you choose the best model.

LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony are still the leading lights of the TV world, but the likes of Hisense, TCL and Toshiba offer cheaper models, too.

In this guide, we'll show you some excellent 55-inch TVs at different price points, so there should be one to suit you.

To see our out-and-out favourite models, head to TV reviews.

Best 55-inch TVs

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Best 55-inch TVs by brand

55-inch TV reviews by price

Why you can trust our TV reviews

55-inch TVs are some of the most heavily marketed by brands, particularly high-end OLEDs and QLEDs. And, while other outlets only focus on these top-of-the-range sets, we test everything from entry-level TVs up to cutting-edge models. That means whatever you've budgeted for, we'll have a review for you.

Testing everything means we find excellent TVs for less, too, so you don't feel pressure into getting a £2,000 TV that you won't get the most out of anyway.

We don't just go the extra mile when it comes to the amount we test, either –the testing itself is incredibly in-depth. Each TV is in our lab for more than a month, where we test everything from viewing angle (horizontal and vertical) to accessibility features. Picture and sound quality are still paramount, and we use a panel of experts with decades of audiovisual expertise to watch hours of content before making our verdicts.

To give you absolute absolute confidence in our results and impartiality, we don't accept samples from manufacturers. We buy every TV we test from the same stores you shop in.

The 55-inch TV market is hotly contested. Manufacturers focus on these ranges and there's a huge array of choice, whatever your budget. It's easy to assume that spending big and getting a high-end OLED is all you need to do, but there are plenty of excellent TVs that don't cost as much, as well as some models where spending more doesn't get you the huge jump in quality you might expect.

Martin PrattWhich? TV expert

Where to buy a 55-inch TV

TVs are sold at most home and tech retailers. Below, we've picked some of the most popular retailers that sell 55-inch TVs – they also scored highly in our member survey on the best tech shops.

Amazon carries TVs from most major brands including Samsung, LG, TCL, Toshiba and more. You'll also find Amazon's own-brand Fire TVs in stock. You can pick up a 55-inch TV from around £300 and up, and you'll get free delivery on most models. If you're a Prime member, there's a range of free delivery options, too.
John Lewis stocks 55-inch TVs from brands like LG, Samsung, Sony and Panasonic. The cheapest TVs start from £340, with most models costing between £600 and £1,100. You'll get free standard delivery on most TVs, and you can add extra services like TV setup and recycling for additional costs.
Richer Sounds is the winner of our retailer of the year award. It has models from brands like LG, Philips, Panasonic and Samsung on offer. Most 55-inch TVs cost between £500 and £900. Richer Sounds offers free delivery on orders over £50, which means TVs will get delivered free of charge.
Very has TVs from brands LG, TCL, Hisense and Samsung available. The cheapest ones cost under £300, but most typically cost around £500 to £800. Delivery isn't free – standard delivery will cost £9, with quicker options costing £17 or more.

How big is a 55-inch TV?

Each TV has a different sized bezel and stand, so there will always be slight differences in the height, width and depth of a TV.

We've taken the average size of the models we've tested so you can get a good idea of how much space one will take up.

55-inch TV: 77.1 x 123.3 x 27.1cm (H,W,D)

What features do the best 55-inch TVs have?

There's no need to compromise at 55 inches and you're spoilt for choice if you're after a TV with the latest features and technology. It's not the case that all 55-inch TVs are cutting-edge, though, as there are still more basic sets available for anyone not looking to spend too much money.

If a 55-inch TV is right for you, these are some features you should look out for:

OLED and QLED displays OLED sets are the talk of the TV town, thanks to their knack for contrast and motion control; while QLEDs (made almost exclusively by Samsung) are impressively vibrant and colourful. These are the priciest TVs around and often top each brand's range – and while some are Best Buys, they aren't a must. If you want a cheaper TV that excels in all areas, then you can opt for a standard LCD display. But if your budget extends to an OLED or QLED, you should absolutely consider them.
Advanced HDR formats At smaller sizes, you tend to only see HDR10 and HLG supported, but bigger sets often get Dolby Vision and HDR10+. As with OLED and QLED displays, it's not just size that dictates what formats a TV supports, though – it's also price. Generally, pricier high-end TVs support the advanced formats, although Samsung is an exception: all its 4K TVs support HDR10+, not just the QLEDs. You can learn more about all the formats in our guide to HDR TV.
Voice control It's still far from a must-have feature, but voice control has its uses and it's becoming more common in larger TVs. You can use the microphone built into the remote to ask a range of commands: basic ones, such as changing volume or input, can be easily done with a button, but searching for shows or jumping to a specific channel is much more useful.

Three ways to save money on the best 55-inch TV

All our expert TV reviews show you which retailers have your TV in stock and for what price – so you can use this to select the best-value retailer.
You can also use our round-up of the best TV deals to pick a model that is on sale at a genuinely good price.
Consider buying a second-hand or refurbished 55-inch TV if you want to cut your costs even further. Find out more – see should you buy a second-hand TV.