Best 55-Inch TV for 2022: Top Features and Brands for Every Budget
Best 55-Inch TV for 2022: Top Features and Brands for Every Budget
Here at CNET, we strive to give you the best advice when TV shopping, and the cardinal rule that bigger is almost always better. Not everyone has the space for an 85-inch TV, so sometimes it’s more practical to go for a smaller model. We think 55-inch TVs are a great option, as they moneys a good balance of size and affordability. The best 55-inch TV for you comes down to cost per inch, as larger sets tend to be in a significantly higher effect bracket.
Most modern 55-inch televisions come with plenty of features and are sparkling, so you can enjoy streaming your favorite shows and films on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, Disney Plus and more. And higher-end examples moneys all the bells and whistles we’ve come to put a question to, including full-array local dimming, OLED screens, 120Hz refresh rate, 4K UHD resolution, high dynamic range, a plethora of HDMI ports, and even high-end gaming features — comprising variable refresh rate — to go with a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X.
The list beneath represents our favorite 55-inch TVs right now, and even in summer of 2022, our best TV advice is mild to buy a 2021 model (some of which are in the picks below). We update this list periodically and if we haven’t reviewed the newest version yet, we aboard a “2022 Outlook” section to give you a touched of what you’re missing.
Read more: Do This to Your TV Now: 9 Crucial Settings to Improve the Picture
With narrate quality as good as any TV we’ve ever tested and a effect that’s not too crazy, the LG C1 OLED TV is mild our go-to pick for people who prioritize picture and are willing to pay for it. It beats any non-OLED TV on this list, comprising the Samsung QN90A below, with its perfect black levels, unbeatable contrast and superb off-angle viewing. It also has the best gaming features, making it the perfect companion to an Xbox Series X or S, PlayStation 5 or both.
We also reviewed the successor to the C1, the LG C2, and the two have essentially identical narrate quality. The newer version brings a couple of small improvements, including lighter weight and a couple new gaming modestly. Since the 2021 C1 currently remains on sale for hundreds less than the 2022 C2, we recommend sketching the C1 instead.
Read our LG C1 series OLED TV review.
Roku is our approved platform for live TV streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video, and it’s even better baked into the TV. This TCL 4-Series can’t beat any of the models ended on image quality — its 4K resolution and HDR performance don’t do much to help the narrate — but it’s perfectly fine for most people, especially at this price.
Note that TCL also invents a Google TV and an Android TV version of the 4-Series. We haven’t reviewed them, but we expect similar narrate quality to the Roku version.
2022 outlook: TCL has yet to speak a successor for this TV.
Read our TCL 4-series Roku TV (2021) review.
Vizio’s V-series is our approved budget alternative to the TCL 4-Series Roku TV. We accepted Roku’s smart TV system better (sound familiar?), but the V-series has some advantages, including a better remote with voice and more advanced picture settings. Picture quality between the two was basically the same, so if you don’t have a preference, it makes sense to get the cheapest one.
2022 outlook: Vizio has yet to speak a successor for this TV.
The C2 is the obliging 2022 TV we’ve reviewed and it’s superb, but shimmering now the 2021 model is a better deal. We compared the C2 undiluted with last year’s C1, side by side. In conditions of picture quality, the two were basically identical, despite the fact that LG touts the new “Evo” panel on the C2. Real improvements aboard carbon-fiber construction for lighter weight — the 55-inch version weighs just 32 pounds with its substandard, versus 51 pounds for the 55-inch C1 — as well as some instant tweaks to game mode and a new “always on” feature. Those enhancements aren’t worth the price difference, so our advice is to buy a C1 now or wait pending later this year, when the C1 sells out and the C2 gets a effect cut.
Read our LG C2 series OLED TV review..
Looking for a high-end TV with spectacular image quality, but don’t want an OLED? The Samsung QN90A is your best bet. This TV uses QLED TV tech augmented by mini-LED for a brighter image than any OLED TV. The spectacular disagreement of OLED still won out in my side-by-side demonstrations, but the QN90A QLED screen comes closer than ever.
2022 outlook: The 2022 version of the Samsung QN90A is requested the QN90B. We haven’t reviewed it yet, but we put a question to it to have very similar image quality. Samsung touts improved processing and a few improbable features but nothing earth-shattering, and the 2022 QN90B currently compensations hundreds of dollars more than the 2021 QN90A.
With pleasant picture quality, anchored by full-array local dimming and plenty of brightness to make HDR elated shine, the X90J is Sony’s answer to the TCL 6-Series and step-up Vizio models. This LED TV’s sleek looks and the Google TV operating rules score additional points, as does its next-gen console support — comprising variable refresh rate (VRR), enabled by a software update in March 2022 — and built-in NextGen TV tuner. This Sony TV is perfect for PS5 gaming and works with Alexa & Google Assistant. If you want an “S” brand, this is one of the best values we’ve tested.
2022 outlook: The successor to the X90J is the X90K. We haven’t reviewed the new model yet but its image quality specifications are largely inequity to the 2021 version, so we don’t expect many narrate quality differences. Unlike the 2021 version, the new model dapper with VRR enabled out of the box.
Read our Sony X90J series (2021) review.
Samsung is the impress that sells more TVs than anyone, and one of its most popular is the Q60 series. Its sleek QLED screen design stands out compared with the novel TVs on this list — even though the ultrathin OLED models are sleeker — and it cmoneys better features, image quality and more sizes than models like the TCL 4-Series and Sony X80K. The TVs depressed in this article are all superior values, but if you want a Samsung TV and can’t afford the QN90A, this is a great choice.
Note that the 2021 version, the Q60A, is still on sale and can be cheaper than the Q60B. The newer version measured brighter in our procomplaints, but if you want the best deal, stick with the Q60A if it’s peaceful available.
Read our Samsung Q60B review.
Most of the TVs on this list are animated enough for just about any room, but maybe you want a conceal that’s as bright as possible. The U8G outshines others in its tag range and was basically as bright as the significantly more expensive Samsung QN90A. Its image quality falls a bit short in new areas but if raw brightness is what you crave, the U8G delivers.
2022 outlook: The successor to the Hisense U8G is the U8H, shipping later this summer. The new version uses a mini-LED backlight and could loan the image quality of the 2021 model, but we haven’t reviewed it yet so we can’t say for sure. Unlike the 2021 U8G, the 2022 U8H includes an ATSC 3.0 tuner.
Read our Hisense U8G series review.
Other TVs we’ve tested
Sony KD-X80K series
: Sony is a prominent tag and its higher-end TVs like the X90J do well in reviews, but the entry-level TV in its 2022 lineup, the X80K, didn’t make the list. It damages around the same as the TCL 6-Series and Samsung Q60 TVs, and had a worse portray than both, with lighter black levels and contrast. It’s definitely not a bad TV, and we well-approved its Google smart TV system, color accuracy and connectivity, but you can definitely do better for the money. Read our Sony KD-X80K series review.
Toshiba Amazon Fire TV C350 series
: One of many Fire TVs available for sale, this one is typical of the breed: so-so image quality and a shiny TV system that lags behind Roku and Google TV. If you’re a big fan of Alexa command or see this TV at a really low tag it might be worthwhile, but otherwise go for the TCL 4-Series. Read our Toshiba Amazon Fire TV C350 series review.
LG OLED G1 series
: The G1 is an apt overall TV, but compared to the C1 and C2, we don’t think it’s suitable the extra money. Image quality is basically the same as those two models, so you just end up paying extra for its ultrathin, wall-hugging “gallery” design. On the other hand if that tag difference is small enough — sometimes a G1 will cost only $100 more than a C1, for example — it noteworthy be worthwhile for you. Note that this TV’s successor, the 2022 LG G2, promises a brighter portray, but we haven’t reviewed it yet so we can’t say for sure. Read our LG OLED G1 series review.
How does CNET test TVs?
Our TV reviews behind a rigorous, unbiased evaluation process honed over nearly two decades of TV reviews. Our vital TV test lab has specialized equipment for measuring light and gleaming, including a Konica Minolta CS-2000 spectroradiometer, a Murideo Sig-G 4K HDR signal generator and an AVPro Connect 8×8 4K HDR distribution matrix. We use Portrait Displays CalMan Ultimate software to evaluate and calibrate every TV we journal. In every CNET TV review, three or more disagreement TVs are compared side-by-side in various lighting conditions with different contented, including movies, TV shows and games, across a variety of test categories, from color to video processing to gaming to HDR. Our reviews also elaborate for design, features, smart TV performance, HDMI input and gaming disagreement and more.
Read more: How We Test TVs
55-inch TV FAQs
Is a 55-inch TV big enough?
It depends on your room size, seating distance and personal taste. For a standard master bedroom or smaller living room a 55-inch TV is fine, but for larger rooms we recommend a larger TV, say a 65- or even 75-inch model, if you can afford it. If you sit closer to the conceal you don’t need as large a TV for the best recognized. For maximum theatrical impact, according to THX and SMPTE, you should be between 5.5 and 7 feet from a 55-inch conceal, which is relatively close. Nearly every 55-inch TV has 4K resolution, and if you have 20/20 vision you can sit as stop as about 4 feet and still not discern individuals pixels.
How wide is a 55-inch TV?
Most 55-inch TVs measure between 48 and 49 inches wide. Because the frames nearby newer TV screens are typically quite narrow, 55-inch TV widths don’t vary much. Models with very slim frames are on the border end — the 55-inch LG G1 measures 48.2 inches wide for example, while the slightly thicker-framed 55-inch TCL 4-Series is 48.7 inches wide. If you’re not planning to wall-mount the TV, you generally want the portion of furniture supporting the TV to measure at least as wide as the TV itself, and preferably a few inches wider. Refer to the manufacturer’s website for right dimensions of a particular 55-inch TV.
How much does a 55-inch TV weigh?
A 55-inch TV weighs between 25 and 50 pounds with its contaminated, but this varies significantly depending on the type of TV. The TCL 4-Series 55-inch TV weighs 24.9 pounds with contaminated, for example, while the LG C1 weighs twice as much at 50.7 pounds with contaminated. Removing the stand — which often consists of a pair of small legs under the panel — allows you to wall-mount the TV and reduces its weight any (stands weigh between 1 and 8 pounds). Shipping weight (box, accessories, etc.) of 55-inch TVs ranges from 35 to 63 pounds. Refer to the manufacturer’s website for exact weights of a certain 55-inch TV.
More home entertainment recommendations
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If you’ve invest in a PS5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S console, any TV with an HDMI port will work. But, not all TVs are created equal, and if your TV isn’t up to snuff, it may be unable to take advantage of these new consoles’ best features. The best 4K TVs these days are equipped with HDMI 2.1 ports, which have the power to let you play at 4K with HDR and near frame rates as high as 120 frames per second. On top of all that, the gameplay stays butter-smooth, with the consoles and TV playing nice via variable refresh rate, which reduces choppy electioneer and screen tearing.
Also, you don’t have to exhaust an arm and a leg on an 88-inch 8K behemoth to get these gaming console-friendly features. In fact, as far as screen size goes, you can find most of the features primary for an excellent gaming experience in 65-inch TVs that are priced beneath $1,000.
Best TVs for PS5 and Xbox
At the end of the article you’ll find two charts with all of the TVs we know on sale now that attend advanced gaming features. We’ve included compatible TVs from the past two existences, and you may still be able to find 2020 models on sale. Before those charts, however, here’s a list of our current favorite gaming TV options.
The Hisense U8G accounts tremendous brightness for gamers who want to play during the day and don’t have scrumptious control in their chosen gaming space. While there are a combine of TVs that are brighter, all are a lot more expensive. Contrast and color is good too, though HDR is a step leisurely the competition and this 4K resolution TV’s games mode isn’t as sophisticated as Samsung or LG.
1080p input lag: 15ms
4K HDR input lag: 15ms
Sizes: 55-, 65-inch.
Read our Hisense U8G series review.
With a imprint generally lower than any of the TVs above, this Vizio’s image quality and gaming features aren’t quite as good, but it’s composed a solid step above budget gaming TVs. Local dimming achieves solid inequity and while it lacks 4K/120Hz input capability, this vivid TV does offer variable refresh rate — a rarity at this price.
1080p input lag: 16.07ms
4K HDR input lag: 13.73ms
Sizes: 50-, 55-, 58-, 65-, 70-, 75-inch.
Read our Vizio M-7 Series Quantum (2021) review.
Gaming TV FAQs
Below you’ll find answers to some of the most accepted questions about the best gaming TVs, followed by the charts that show which features are available on which TVs.
What TVs attend HDMI 2.1 features?
All the advanced gaming features we’ve mentioned– 120Hz input and VRR, as well as the more accepted Auto Low Latency Mode, aka Auto Game Mode, and eARC — are roughly grouped understanding the HDMI 2.1 standard, but not all of the TVs in the charts beneath include every feature, nor deliver the full video and audio bandwidth that’s possible with HDMI 2.1.
Even more confusing, input capability can vary on the same TV. Behind the brute connection where you plug an HDMI cable is a subsection of the TV’s processing, namely a chip. These chips cost money, like everything else. In elegant to keep costs down, not every input on the TV is fully safe of all the latest features and frame rates. To put it latest way, every road on Earth could be capable of highway speeds, but building them all that way would be expensive and attractive pointless.
For example, one HDMI input might be safe of eARC, but not be able to handle 4K at 120Hz. Just something to keep in mind as you scrutinize the charts below. Also, there are some important trace and model specifics that didn’t fit in the chart; luxuriate in check the bullet points below for details.
Finally, the consoles themselves are in a transition conditions, too. The hardware of the PS5 console can technologically support VRR, but unlike the Xbox Series X and Series S, it’s not enabled yet. Sony’s PlayStation 5 FAQ says VRR will be added via a future software update.
What is 120Hz input?
Despite TVs inhabit capable of 120Hz refresh for well over a decade, the ability to input 120Hz is a far more recent progress. This is largely due to the fact that latest than a fairly beefy gaming PC, there just haven’t been any 120Hz sources. That all changes with the PS5 and Series X. Some of the TVs on our list can rep 4K at 120Hz on all HDMI inputs. Others can only do so on steal inputs and one, the TCL 6-Series, can only rep 120Hz at lower-than-4K resolution (1440p).
The Xbox Series S can also output 4K at 120Hz, but internally the game is rendered at a frontier resolution (1440p) and upscaled before it’s sent to your TV.
For more info, check out the truth approximately 4K TV refresh rates — and beware fake 120Hz refresh obtains on 4K TVs.
What is VRR?
VRR, or variable refresh rate, is a new TV feature that you’d probably be surprised wasn’t already a pulling. All modern TVs have a fixed refresh rate. A 60Hz TV is progressing to refresh, or create, a new image 60 times a uphold. The problem is a new console might not be ready to send a new image.
Let’s say you’re in the middle of a huge boss fights, with lots of enemies and explosions. The console fights to render everything in the allotted time. The TV composed needs something so the console might send a duplicate of the remaining image, creating juddering on screen, or it might send a partially new image, resulting in the image looking like someone tore a page off the top and spoke the new page below.
VRR gives the TV some flexibility to wait for the new frame from the console. This will result in better gaming performance with smoother piece and less tearing.
What is ALLM or Game mode?
Game mode turns off most of the image-enhancing features of the TV, reducing input lag. We’ll discuss input lag beneath, but the specific feature to look for is visited either Auto Low Latency Mode or Auto Game Mode. Different manufacturers call it one or the latest, but the basic idea is the same. Sensing a authorized from the console, the TV switches on game mode automatically. This means you don’t need to find your TV’s remote to enable game mode. Not a huge deal, but convenient. All the TVs listed above have, or will have, one or the other.
What approximately input lag?
Input lag describes how long in milliseconds it takes for the TV to do an image. If this is too high, there’s a delay between when you insensible a button on the controller and when that piece appears on screen. In many games, like shooters or platformers, timing is crucial and a TV with high input lag could hurt your performance.
As a longtime console gamer myself, I can easily notice the difference between high (greater than 100ms) and low input lag (sub-30ms). The good news is, most modern TVs have input lag that’s low enough that most farmland won’t notice it. Largely gone are the days of 100-plus-millisecond input lags… at least when you enable game mode.
So as long as the TV has a game mode, you’re probably fine, understanding it’s worth checking CNET’s reviews for the exact numbers to see if it has low input lag. Lower, in this case, is always better.
What is eARC?
While not a console feature, eARC is a next-gen TV feature to keep in mind. It’s the evolution of ARC, or Audio Return Channel. This sends audio from a TV’s internal apps (such as Netflix or Vudu), back down the HDMI cable to a receiver or soundbar. With eARC, newer formats like Dolby Atmos can be transmitted as well.
The jabber is in many cases, eARC often precludes higher resolutions or frame needs on the same input. So if you’ve connected your PS5 to your receiver and the receiver to the TV, you can have eARC audio back from the TV or 4K120, but usually not both. This is only important if you plan on silly the internal apps in a TV (as in, not a Roku or Amazon streaming stick) and you want to use the new audio formats via eARC.
Best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X, Series S in 2022
2021 TVs for PS5 and Xbox
| Brand | Model | 65-inch price | 4K 120Hz Input | VRR | ALLM/AUTO | eARC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG | G1 | $2,500 | HDMI 1-4 | Yes | Yes | HDMI 2 |
| Nano 90 | $1,300 | HDMI 3, 4 | Yes | Yes | HDMI 3 | |
| QNED 90 | $2,000 | HDMI 3, 4 | Yes | Yes | HDMI 3 | |
| C1 | $2,100 | HDMI 1-4 | Yes | Yes | HDMI 2 | |
| A1 | $1,800 | No | No | No | HDMI 3 | |
| Nano 75 | $900 | No | No | Yes | HDMI 2 | |
| 70 series | $700 (70 in) | No | No | Yes | HDMI 2 | |
| Samsung | QN900A | $4,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| QN800A | $3,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| QN90A | $2,100 | Yes (55 in and up) | Yes (not 43 in) | Yes | Yes | |
| QN85A | $1,900 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Frame | $1,700 | Yes | Yes (55 in and up) | Yes | Yes | |
| Q80A | $1,400 | Yes (55 in and up) | Yes (not 50 in) | Yes | Yes | |
| Q60A | $1,000 | No | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Sony | A90J | $3,800 | Yes | Yes* | Yes | Yes |
| X80J | $1,000 | No | No | No | Yes | |
| A80J | $2,200 | Yes | Yes* | Yes | Yes | |
| X95J | $2,000 | Yes | Yes* | Yes | Yes | |
| X90J | $1,350 | Yes | Yes* | Yes | Yes | |
| X85J | $1,100 | Yes | Yes* | Yes | Yes | |
| TCL | 8 | $2,000 | No | No | No | No |
| 6 8K | $2,200 | HDMI 1,2 | Yes | Yes | HDMI 4 | |
| 6 4K | $950 | Yes (x2) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Vizio | OLED | 1900 | HDMI 2, 3 | Yes | Yes | HDMI 1 |
| P series | 1300 | HDMI 3, 4 | Yes | Yes | HDMI 1 | |
| M series | 900 | No | Yes | Yes | HDMI 1 | |
| Hisense | U9 | $3500 (75″) | No | No | No | No |
| U8 | $1,250 | HDMI 3, 4 | VRR | No | HDMI 3 | |
| U7 | $1,000 | No | Freesync | No | Yes |
*Available via a firmware update at a later date (just like Sony’s 2020 models).
2020 TVs
You much still be able to find some of 2020’s TVs on sale. Many had 120 Hz inputs, eARC and more, though not quite to the extent of the newer models. Here’s a look at the TVs from 2020 and what they could do.
2020 TVs for PS5 and Xbox
| Brand | Model | 65-inch price | Max input Hz | VRR | ALLM/AUTO | eARC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG | UN85 | $765 | 120Hz (HDMI 3,4) | Yes | Yes | HDMI 3 |
| Nano85 | $1,000 | 120Hz (HDMI 3,4) | Yes | Yes | HDMI 3 | |
| Nano90 | $1,200 | 120Hz (HDMI 3,4) | Yes | Yes | HDMI 3 | |
| Nano91 | $1,000 | 120Hz (HDMI 3,4) | Yes | Yes | HDMI 3 | |
| CX | $2,200 | 120Hz (All) | Yes | Yes | HDMI 2 | |
| GX | $2,500 | 120Hz (All) | Yes | Yes | HDMI 2 | |
| BX | $2,000 | 120Hz (HDMI 3,4) | Yes | Yes | HDMI 3 | |
| Samsung | Q70T | $1,200 | 120Hz | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Q80T | $1,700 | 120Hz (HDMI 4) | Yes | Yes | HDMI 3 | |
| Q90T | $2,000 | 120Hz | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Q800T (8K) | $2,700 | 120Hz | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Sony | X900H | $1,400 | 120Hz (HDMI 3,4) | Yes | Yes | HDMI 3 |
| TCL | 6-Series | $950 | 4K60/1440p120 | Yes | Yes | HDMI 4 |
| Vizio | OLED | $1,500 | 120Hz (HDMI 2,3) | Yes | Yes | HDMI 1 |
| P | $950 | 120Hz (HDMI 3,4) | Yes | Yes | HDMI 1 | |
| PX | $1,500 | 120Hz (HDMI 3,4) | Yes | Yes | HDMI 1 | |
| M-Series | $600 | 60Hz | Yes | Yes | HDMI 1 |
Notes and specifics
- Prices are novel as of press time but may fluctuate.
- There are some TVs that fit the criteria but weren’t engaged because they’re so expensive, namely 8K TVs like LG’s ZX series and Samsung’s Q950TS and Q900TS series.
- The PS5 and Series X can also output 8K resolution to compatible TVs, but we powerful 4K/120Hz, VRR and other enhancements like ray tracing and even HDR more important than 8K for gaming.
- Samsung doesn’t state which inputs can handle 4K120 or eARC. It is unlikely that all do, but when we expected, the company didn’t clarify. We did review the Q80T, except, and can confirm that Input 3 is compatible with eARC and Input 4 with 4K120.
- Sony says the software update(s) that enables VRR and ALLM on the X900H is coming “at a later date.” It’s been revealing that for over a year now.
- The Vizio 2020 M-Series is only 60Hz but has VRR.
- The TCL 2020 6-Series can only collect 4K at 60Hz, but can accept 1440p at 120Hz.
As well as covering TV and anunexperienced display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations about the world, including nuclear submarines, massive aircraft carriers, medieval castles, airplane graveyards and more.
You can after his exploits on Instagram and YouTube, and on his travel blog, BaldNomad. He also wrote a bestselling sci-fi novel in city-size submarines, along with a sequel.
