The Best 55-Inch TVs of 2026

• Screen sizes: 55", 65"
• HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
• Smart platform: Google TV

The A95K, Sony's first quantum dot-enhanced OLED TV, is absolutely mindblowing. For pure picture quality, it's one of the best TVs we've ever seen (topped only by its successor, the Sony A95L).

The A95K delivers the perfect black levels and the wide viewing angles of any OLED, while correcting OLED tech’s biggest problem—brightness. It’s bright enough to watch day or night, unless it’s sitting directly in a sunbeam.

Sony's quantum dot technology helps A9K cover an impressive 100% of the HDR color gamut (DCI-P3). Its bold, bright colors pop noticeably, no matter what you’re watching or playing. Most impressively, it can render skin tones and subtle color gradations without color banding, even when it’s upscaling standard-definition content thanks to Sony’s excellent picture processing.

The A95K isn’t quite as robust for gaming as some of its competitors, but it does alright. Two of its HDMI 2.1 inputs support 4K gaming at 120Hz, though one of them is also the eARC-enabled soundbar port. It also features Variable Refresh Rate, Auto Low Latency Mode, and G-Sync compatibility.

Finally, the A95K has a fast, easy-to-use Google-based smart platform that works well for streaming.

The price tag is astronomical and the gaming support could be stronger, but if you're looking for one of the best pictures money can buy, the A95K is a great candidate. It’s also a savvy way to save a little bit of money if its successor, the A95L, is a bit too pricey for you.

See our full Sony A95K review.

• Screen sizes: 55”, 65”, 77”
• HDR support: HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
• Smart platform: Samsung Tizen OS

The second generation of Samsung’s quantum dot-enhanced OLED display technology is even more stunning than the first. With class-leading brightness, incredibly vibrant color, and a bevy of gaming features, the Samsung S95C picks up right where its predecessor (the S95B) left off. An S95B on sale is still the better financial option, unless you’re after a 77-inch model or want the flexibility of Samsung’s One Connect box which puts all connections in a conveniently detached box, both only offered with the S95C.

The S95C is the brightest OLED we’ve tested to date, with HDR specular highlights reaching as high as 1,400 nits. Colors on the S95C look spectacular no matter what you happen to be watching, but HDR movies, shows, and video games look especially vibrant. The S95C covers 99% of the HDR color gamut, and the sheer luminosity of its quantum dot-enhanced palette truly makes a difference.

The S95C is a gaming powerhouse and its low input lag and 144Hz native refresh rate are just the tip of the iceberg. All four of its HDMI 2.1 inputs support 4K/120Hz gaming, along with Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and AMD FreeSync Premium. Like last year’s model, the S95C also offers Samsung Gaming Hub (a cloud gaming platform) and Game Bar, a settings menu that puts the TV’s various gaming enhancements right at your fingertips.

As is the case with all Samsung TVs, you won’t be getting Dolby Vision support with the S95C. Instead, the TV offers HDR10+ support in its place, an HDR format that harnesses frame-by-frame metadata similarly. In addition, while the S95C’s software has seen subtle improvements year over year, we find the user interface to be somewhat confusing and certain processes to be slow, which might disappoint those looking for a simple, easy smart platform experience.

See our full Samsung S95C review.

• Screen sizes: 55", 65", 77” (with MLA), 83” (without MLA)
• HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
• Smart platform: LG webOS 23

The G3 OLED is one of the best TVs LG has ever made, thanks in part to its unique Micro Lens Array (MLA) panel technology. This special hardware allows the G3 to produce peak white highlights at brightness levels on par with QD-OLED TVs. When you put those highlights alongside perfect black levels, magic things happen to the picture. (Note: The 83-inch G3 does not feature MLA technology.)

Like its predecessors, the G3 is designed to hang on the wall like a portrait. This means if you want to set up the G3 on a media console, you'll have to fork over an extra $150 for a compatible, first-party stand. If you wall-mount the G3, however, you'll be treated to a work of art. There is no gap between the panel and the wall, and its metallic border calls to mind a fancy frame.

Gaming enthusiasts will be thrilled to see a full suite of HDMI 2.1 inputs that support 4K gaming at 120Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium, G-Sync, and Auto Low Latency Mode. Like all LG OLEDs, the G3 also offers Game Optimizer mode—a convenient set of enhancements to improve the experience from one game to the next.

The G3 is not perfect, though. Those chasing the brightest, boldest colors an OLED has to offer might want to explore alternatives. While its colors are spectacular to behold (and accurate right out of the box), the G3 lags behind QD-OLED when it comes to color volume. In addition, the G3's stand is wobbly, and the configuration causes the panel to lean back slightly, which might bother some.

That said, it's among the best OLEDs money can buy, which puts it near the top of the list of the best TVs, period. It's an especially good pick for those looking to wall-mount their next TV.

See our full LG G3 review.

• Screen sizes: 55”, 65”, and 77” (QD-OLED), 83” (WOLED)
• HDR support: HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
• Smart platform: Samsung Tizen OS

The 55-inch Samsung S90C is Samsung’s most affordable OLED TV. While it’s not quite as impressive as the step-up S95C, it shares many of the same benefits and features. As such, it’s a great way to save some money on a high-end Samsung TV.

The inclusion of quantum dots helps to explain why the S90C is brighter and slightly more colorful than many OLED TVs in its price range (like the LG C3 and the Sony A80K). When paired with the perfect black levels OLED TVs are known for, the S90C’s added brightness makes for a fantastically cinematic experience, particularly in HDR. Small, concentrated areas of brightness really pop.

Picture purists will appreciate the S90C’s razor-sharp Filmmaker mode, which produces an incredibly accurate picture right out of the box. Gamers, on the other hand, will love the S90C’s full-hearted support for current-generation consoles, as the S90C supports 4K gaming at up to 144Hz across all four of its HDMI 2.1 inputs. It also supports ALLM, VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium, and Samsung’s Gaming Hub streaming software suite.

There are a couple of downsides to report, unfortunately. Being a Samsung TV, the S90C does not support Dolby Vision, opting instead for the open-source alternative, HDR10+. A/V enthusiasts might miss having the option to watch Dolby Vision-enhanced content in its native format. In addition, the S90C’s software (especially its built-in smart platform) often feels like it gets in its own way.

It’s also worth noting just how much pricier the 65-inch model is when compared to the 55-inch version. The 55-inch S90C is the most competitively priced model, and there’s a significant price jump when moving up to the 65-inch version—more so than with most TVs in its class.

Nevertheless, if you’re interested in landing a Samsung-branded OLED TV, the S90C is the most affordable route.

See our full Samsung S90C review.

• Screen sizes: 42”, 48”, 55”, 65”, 77”, 83”
• HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
• Smart platform: LG webOS 22

The LG C2 was originally released in 2022, but you can still find great deals on this award-winning OLED TV.

In HDR, the TV can produce specular highlights in the 700- to 800-nit range, and it covers about 97% of the HDR color space (DCI-P3). SDR content (like most cable broadcasts) also looks spectacular, though not as bright. HDR support includes Dolby Vision, a big draw for cinephiles.

The C2 is also our favorite TV for gamers. All four inputs are full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1, supporting 4K gaming at 120 hertz (Hz). It comes with features for optimizing frame rate and reducing input lag, including Auto Low Latency (ALLM) Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync. LG’s Game Optimizer menu lets you toggle VRR and picture options, and keeps frame rate information handy while you play.

It’s not perfect. It doesn’t support DTS audio, diminishing the experience of some Blu-Rays. We’re also not a fan of LG’s webOS smart platform, which is slow and full of sponsored content. Still, that’s nothing an affordable streaming device can’t fix.

The LG C2 is a successful addition to a long line of winning LG OLED TVs. It’s still pricier than most 55-inch TVs, but its world-class performance and wide array of features justify the price tag.

See our full LG C2 review.

• Screen sizes: 55”, 65”
• HDR: HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
• Smart platform: Samsung Tizen OS

The Samsung S95B combines the perfect black levels of an OLED display with the color- and brightness-boosting qualities of quantum dots.

The S95B’s added brightness has an incredibly powerful impact on HDR content. Perhaps the most significant improvement brought to the table by quantum dots is their effect on the S95B’s color reproduction—reds and greens, in particular, look stunning.

It's built for gaming, too. All four of the S95B’s HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K gaming at 120Hz, ALLM, andVRR. Combined with Samsung’s Game Bar, a dedicated settings menu for game optimization, avid gamers will be covered for years to come.

See our full Samsung S95B review.

• Screen sizes: 55", 65", 77"
• HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
• Smart platform: Google TV

The Sony A80K, a terrific option for OLED bargain hunters, sports perfect black levels and incredible contrast, especially when viewed in a dark room. It also boasts ultra-wide viewing angles, maintaining excellent contrast and color saturation wherever you’re sitting in the room. Its color gamut coverage is remarkable, covering 99% of the HDR color gamut (DCI-P3).

The A80K loses some luster when you compare it to other OLED TVs in its price bracket. It isn’t as bright as the competition, and it struggles in bright rooms. It’s also not quite as gaming-friendly as competitively-priced OLED TVs. It features HDMI 2.1 and all of its benefits (ALLM, VRR, and 4K gaming at 120Hz), but only on two of its four inputs—one of which is also the dedicated eARC port.

See our full Sony A80K review.

• Screen sizes: 43”, 50”, 55”, 65”, 75”, 85”, 98”
• HDR support: HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
• Smart platform: Tizen OS

The latest Neo QLED from Samsung is the QN90D. Like its predecessors, the QN90D blends the brightness- and color-boosting properties of quantum-dot technology with some of the most impressive mini-LED backlighting the industry has to offer. It’s a fantastic all-around pick for folks searching for an impressive, high-end TV, but it’s an especially good choice for people with brighter-than-average homes.

The QN90D pairs sensationally bright highlights with deep, rich black levels. Thanks to an array of mini-LED zones and excellent local dimming control, the darker areas of the picture stay mostly free of light bloom. HDR movies, games, and shows look fantastic on the QN90D, as the display is capable of breaking 2,000 nits when showcasing small, scintillating highlights, and its colors are stunning, too.

Rounding out this QN90D’s impressive resumé is one of the most robust selection of gaming features you’ll find in a TV this year. There’s a full slate of HDMI 2.1 inputs to support 4K console gaming at 120Hz (or 144Hz for PC gamers), as well as ALLM, VRR, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. The QN90D is also a gateway to console-free cloud gaming, as it comes with Samsung’s Gaming Hub platform built right into the software. With a compatible Bluetooth controller, users can enjoy cloud-based gaming from services like Xbox and GeForce Now.

Our only complaints have to do with the TV’s lack of Dolby Vision support, Samsung’s confusing, difficult-to-navigate smart platform, Smart Hub, as well as the QN90D’s SDR performance when the Local Dimming setting is maxed out. For most people, these shortcomings shouldn’t be deal-breakers. The QN90D is a fantastic TV for just about everything and everyone.

See our full Samsung QN90D review.

• Screen sizes: 55”, 65”, 75”, 85”
• HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
• Smart platform: Google TV

The U7K is right in the middle of Hisense’s mini-LED lineup, sandwiched between the entry-level U6K and the top-shelf U8K. It’s a great fit for those who are looking for a better-than-average 55-inch TV but don’t want to cross into a higher price range. It’s an especially great pick for gamers on a budget.

Although it doesn’t showcase small, specular highlights as impressively as its higher-end counterpart, the U7K is nevertheless bright enough for most living spaces on account of its relatively high average picture brightness. Its HDR performance in particular won’t exactly wow dedicated A/V enthusiasts, but most people will be perfectly pleased with the U7K’s picture–especially those upgrading from an older TV.

The U7K’s set of gaming features is terrific. It supports 4K gaming at 120Hz (or 144Hz for PC gaming), ALLM, VRR, and FreeSync Premium Pro. Unfortunately, only two of its HDMI inputs are optimized for gaming, and one of them also functions as the TV’s eARC port. If you own two consoles and a soundbar, they’ll be fighting over one of the HDMI 2.1 inputs.

The U7K is a respectable, affordable TV that ought to entice casual viewers and gamers alike.

See our full Hisense U7K review.

• Screen sizes: 55", 65", 75", 85”
• HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
• Smart platform: Google TV

If you’re looking for a taste of high-end performance without the high-end price tag, consider the 55-inch X90K, Sony’s best mid-range TV. For less than the price of most flagship TVs, it delivers a bright, colorful picture, a user-friendly smart platform, and a handful of useful gaming features.

With an average picture brightness of around 600 to 700 nits in both SDR and HDR, the X90K is a great choice for viewers who watch cable TV or stream their favorite shows in the daytime. Small highlights (like the shimmer of light on a samurai sword) get even brighter, and with both HDR10 and Dolby Vision support in tow, the 55-inch X90K is one of the best ways to showcase HDR content without spending an exorbitant amount of money. Thanks to Sony's Triluminos quantum dot technology it covers about 92% of the HDR color gamut (DCI-P3). With Sony’s excellent picture processing conducting the proceedings behind the scenes, everything from upscaled content to native 4K content looks clean and accurately expressed.

Unfortunately, you’ll likely contend with some light bloom whenever bright picture elements are overlaid on a dark background. The effect is especially pronounced during off-axis viewing. This is because the 55-inch X90K isn’t equipped with very many dimming zones—something you don’t have to worry about as much if you invest in a higher-end mini-LED TV. Its gaming support is also more limited as only two of the X90K’s four HDMI inputs support 4K gaming at 120Hz, with ALLM and VRR. Non-gamers won't be affected by this limitation, though.

The Sony X90K is a great compromise for folks who want a handful of cutting-edge features and a great 55-inch picture, but who don’t feel comfortable jumping up to the high-end, heavy-hitting options that often cost twice as much. It's an especially sensible pick for people who do most of their viewing during the day.

See our full Sony X90K review.

• Screen sizes: 55", 65”, 75”, 85”
• HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
• Smart platform: Google TV

If you're in the market for a decent-looking TV that offers a full spectrum of streaming options and won't break the bank, the TCL Q6 is a great candidate. It's available in several size options, all of which are among the most affordable options you'll find from a major, reputable TV brand.

The Q6 isn't equipped with high-end display hardware, but it makes the most of what it's got: a direct LED backlight with quantum dots. The Q6 may not be bright enough for sunny rooms, but it's fine for average lighting conditions, and its color production is quite impressive for the price.

Unfortunately, due to the Q6's relative lack of brightness, its HDR performance isn't as impactful as some of its competitors (like the Hisense U6K). Still, folks looking for a decent, affordable TV with full access to streaming options should take a closer look at the Q6. With Google's smart platform baked right into the TV's software, you're getting a fast, flexible set of streaming options right out of the box.

See our full TCL Q6 review.