Top tier television: the best 55-inch TVs of 2024

Way back at the dawn of heavy plasma screens, getting your hands on one of the best 55-inch TVs was prohibitively expensive. Now, nestled alongside the very best TVs money can buy, a 4K smart TV with a 55-inch screen sits in the middle of the size range. And thankfully, most screens now share many of the same features inside, no matter the size.

This screen size is definitely a favourite with many buyers, as they're a really practical size for most living rooms. After all, not everyone needs or can house an 85-inch TV with a price tag that'll make your eyes water. So, whether you're gaming, catching up on soaps and movies, preparing to watch the latest major sporting event, or binging on a box set - choosing the right TV to match your content is key.

You may be wondering who the best 55-inch TVs are for. Well, for anyone who has a little less wriggle room in their home, a 40-inch TV should do the trick. But, having settled on screen size there are still a lot of decisions to make. If you're a movie buff, you'll need an ultra-high resolution 4K screen with an OLED or QLED panel to get the best out of your entertainment, not to mention Dolby or DTX sound. More casual viewers might put their money into smart functions instead, and gamers need low-latency screens with fast and variable refresh rates. Sounds like a jargon headache? No problem - we have a buyer's guide and more at the end of the article.

While it's tempting to jump straight into buying a rather large 65-inch smart TV, for us, the 55-inch models hit the sweet spot. They offer plenty of connectivity options and equally stunning cinematic experiences. So, with all of those televisual delights on our collective wish lists, we’ve rounded up the best 55-inch 4K smart TVs available.

Best 55-inch TVs of 2024

Top tip: Why get smart?

If you’re a casual viewer, a smart TV will give you access to on-demand services like BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, and All 4. Therefore, you can catch up on all sitcoms, soaps, and reality TV shows. Also, if you go for a TV to connect to your Freeview aerial or even one with the Freeview Play app included, you're guaranteed to always find something to watch from terrestrial channels.

Thankfully, if by chance you're a gamer, you won't be short on choice either. As you'll discover, some of the best and most affordable gaming televisions you can find will give you an unprecedented experience. Vivid HDR colours, 120Hz variable refresh rate, the works. Silky smooth gameplay with immersive surround sound awaits.

For those who like to spend a bit more time in front of the screen, a smart TV has even more to offer. In addition to the on-demand catch-up apps and broadcast content mentioned above, there’s also access to subscription services. These will pipe the latest premium entertainment, including blockbuster films, right to your screen. Don't forget, it’s not just Netflix and Amazon Prime Video either, there are myriad other streaming apps and services available, too.

Buyer's guide: best 55-inch TVs

If there's one type of gadget that has more than its fair share of technobabble, it's TVs. Here are the most common ones you'll come across, explained:

4K and Ultra HD (UHD)

4K and UHD are two interchangeable terms that more or less refer to the same TV resolution - 3840×2160. This pixel resolution count is four times higher than standard HD screens, with 8.3 million pixels working across the screen. This means clearer, more accurate images.

High Dynamic Range (HDR)

High Dynamic Range smart TVs can reach brighter and darker colours than regular HD TVs. This means the picture on-screen appears more like a real-life image. HDR works to get as much light, crispness, and depth into your picture. Whites are brighter and blacks are darker. It offers a huge range of over one billion colours. HDR10+ is an extension of this, but the use of extra metadata creates an even more refined picture.

Dolby Vision is Dolby’s version of HDR10 and HRD10+ - once again adding a small boost to the colour range.

LED

LED stands for light-emitting diode. These LEDs react when an electrical current passes through them. LED screens use a backlight to provide the image.

OLED

With OLED TVs, the pixels produce their own light, which gives greater accuracy to the image. If you're interested in this, make sure you check out our best OLED TVs guide.

QLED

Samsung does not make OLED TVs, they make QLED TVs. QLED is a Samsung property that replaces Liquid Crystals (found in LCD) and replaces them with Quantum dots, which Samsung says offers a much more vibrant colour display and sharper images. QLED technology does tend to make a TV cheaper than its OLED competitor. Make sure you take a look at our best QLED TVs roundup.

Common screen resolutions:

HD: 1280×720

Full HD: 1920×1080

Ultra HD/4K: 3840×2160

FAQ: best 55-inch TVs

What size TV do I need?

Only you can answer this question after balancing up your budget, requirement, and available space. However, one thing we can advise you on when it comes to watching the even best 55-inch TVs is the recommended viewing distance.

Here’s a rough guide to give you an idea of the minimum distance you should have from your TV:

40-inches - 80 inches (6.7 feet)

50-inches - 100 inches (8.3 feet)

55-inches - 108 inches (9 feet)

60-inches - 120 inches (10 feet)

75-inches - 150 inches (12.5 feet)

What can a smart TV do?

A smart TV connects to the internet via a selection of on-demand catch-up apps, such as BBC iPlayer, All 4, and ITV Hub. The selection of apps pre-loaded or available to download may differ between manufacturers and models; so it’s worth double-checking the model you’re considering.

You can also access subscription services such as Amazon Prime Video or Netflix. Many smart TVs will also have apps for internet services, such as news, weather services, internet browsers, and social media. Music can be streamed too, such as Spotify. Some of the best 55-inch TVs also offer additional features, such as Bluetooth connectivity for wireless audio connections and smartphone and tablet connections.

For an upgraded smart TV experience, combine your smart TV with a router VPN, and you can access the catalogues of streaming services from around the world. You'll also be safer online and less likely to have your internet speeds bottlenecked by your internet service provider. Neat, right?

Is it worth buying a smart TV?

If you’re someone who loves to watch TV, then a smart TV is likely to be worth it. The internet connection offers up plentiful access to free and paid-for subscription content via apps whenever you want it.

What are the best apps for a smart TV?

In our opinion, the best apps are the ones that offer you the best entertainment choices, the most useful features, and reliable service. Therefore, here’s what we recommend for your 55-inch TV :

Netflix – Access thousands of titles, both existing and original exclusive productions. The app is reliable and simple to use, and there are several subscription tiers available.

Amazon Prime Video – Prime Video often has a great selection of the latest movie releases. You can also purchase or rent other titles that may not be included in your subscription. If you subscribe to this service, you’ll automatically get access to Amazon’s Prime delivery service and basic music streaming package.

BBC iPlayer – This on-demand catch-up app gives you access to the best of the BBC. Programs and films are available to watch for up to 30 days after their original broadcast, and you can restart and rewind live programs. You’ll also have access to a large back catalogue of BBC programming. You’ll need a TV license to use this service.

All 4 – All 4 is Channel 4’s answer to the BBC’s iPlayer. The content included covers Channel 4, E4, More 4 and Vice TV. The back catalogue available on the app will allow you to comfortably binge on comedies, dramas, quirky documentaries, and reality shows. This is a free service, but you’ll have to sit through the occasional advert break.

Other - YouTube, Spotify, and Disney+ are also three of our favourites.

For these features to work, you’ll need an internet connection via WiFi or Ethernet connection with a reliable broadband connection and high-to-unlimited data limits. Apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Spotify Premium will require a subscription fee and will not allow you to access content without signing up.

Can I listen to my smart TV with wireless headphones?

If you’ve got wireless Bluetooth headphones and your smart TV has Bluetooth, then the answer is yes. Just be aware that the range on the connection may be limited to a radius of a few meters, so depending on your setup, you might have to sit closer to your TV. Due to the idiosyncratic nature of some Bluetooth headphones and TVs, if you’re in doubt that your planned set-up will work, check with the manufacturers.

If you plan on regularly listening to your smart TV via wireless headphones, it would be worth considering purchasing a dedicated entertainment wireless headset with a transmitter, as they tend to have a great range, with some models even accepting multiple headsets.

Summary: the best 55-inch TVs

Whether you want to spend a fortune to get the best of the best, or you’re looking for something a little cheaper, modern TVs can offer a plethora of incredible features that really do enhance the viewing experience.

As well as delivering superb picture quality, most, if not all, of the best 55-inch TVs are also incredibly slim and have barely any bezels surrounding the display. This means that even a relatively large screen size – such as 55-inches – will take up a relatively smaller amount of space than you might expect. They also look far sleeker and more attractive as a result.

You may be wondering if parting with hundreds, if not thousands of pounds is worth it for a new telly. Ultimately, that’s a question only you can answer. But if your current television is more than a few years old then in our opinion, a modern TV will offer a transformative experience. There have been huge improvements compared to what was available five or ten years ago. We’d consider it money worth spending, especially if you enjoy watching TV, movies, or gaming.

How we chose:

When deciding our shortlist, the first thing we consider is picture quality. That means we want televisions that support HDR, and give you the sharpest, clearest picture possible. Factors such as whether they use OLED, Mini-LED, or QLED, the type of backlighting they use, and how bright they are, will all influence our choices.

We also want TV’s that provide good quality sound, even without the aid of a speaker system or soundbar. And we know that gaming is an ever-popular pastime, so making sure these TVs can also keep up with the latest generation of consoles and PC games is something else we consider.

William Austin-Lobley is the Deputy Tech & Fitness Editor for What's The Best. Here, he oversees, curates and researches listicles and reviews as many products as his home office can handle.

He has spent nearly five years writing about tech, audio, outdoors and fitness and has reviewed everything from smartphones to ice baths. In addition, he's well-versed in sniffing out the best deals and savings the internet offers.

When not at his desk writing, reviewing or deal-hunting, he'll be relaxing with Japanese crime novels, bingeing some classic anime, strolling the countryside or at the gym listening to the heaviest metal Spotify has to offer.

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