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

Easily one of the most technologically innovative televisions of the past few years, Samsung has seemingly done the impossible by combining the vibrancy and colour range of excellent QLED TVs with the contrast and depth of OLED to produce the ultimate television experience. 

The result? Impossibly breathtaking visuals that are far and beyond anything we've seen on a 55-inch TV. This TV introduces OLED Glare Free anti-reflection technology to reduce onscreen reflections even in bright rooms. Next-generation games, genre-defining movies, and tear-inducing television, the Samsung S95D is visually sensational. 

Audio is catered for with the excellent addition of Dolby Atmos and DTS with (OTS+) Object Tracking Sound+ to give extra realism. OTS+ is a brilliant innovation. The TV can intelligently monitor key sounds, like dialogue, and make them emanate from the right place on-screen. It also uses Adaptive Sound Pro and Active Voice Amplifier to make sure that dialogue is balanced against other sounds, rather than being drowned out. 

If you can spare the cash, there isn't a finer television on the market that can truly compete with the S95D, it's just that good.

Hisense is known for its incredibly reasonably priced televisions, even its high-end QLED models are considerably more affordable than other competing brands. But to hit this incredibly low price point, the U6K uses a Mini-LED panel but with some excellent technical extras. It is perhaps one of the best-priced televisions on the market. 

It comes equipped with everything you've come to expect from a modern smart television - full smart app access, HDR10+, Bluetooth, and more. But they've thrown in the king of HDR colour palette performance, Dolby Vision, too. This is supported by full array local dimming, an essential component of high-quality HDR displays. 

The clarity of sound comes via the welcome addition of DTS Virtual X, and a Game Mode reduces input lag. The U6K is the perfect budget television that, other than not having the 120Hz refresh rate preferred by some gamers, doesn't have any major drawbacks.

This Amazon Fire TV 55-inch Omni QLED TV is a brilliant option for a few reasons. You're getting a beast of a screen, running Amazon's OS, which is connected to Prime and other Amazon services. Fire TV is an excellent TV platform, offering support for all the major streaming services you might expect – Netflix, Disney Plus, Apple TV and Prime Video, as well as Now TV and Discovery+.  

The standout feature has to be that QLED screen - rich colours, deep blacks, vibrant pictures and finished with really impressive sound. It utilises a full-array LED setup to deliver the best possible contrast. It really is impressive for a television at this comparatively affordable price point.

If you’re a gamer, this telly also offers a lot. It’s a 60Hz panel rather than the 120Hz you’ll get on more expensive models, but it supports variable refresh rate and auto low latency mode, to help in fast moving games where lag can make the difference between winning and losing.

It wouldn't be a true roundup of the best televisions of the year without at least mentioning LG's C4 OLED TV - one of the best displays on the market. With a bright OLED screen at over 1,000 nits, and the legendary near-infinite blacks you get with OLED, this is the ultimate television for gaming and rich realistic cinema experiences. 

A breathtaking razor-thin design houses gorgeous OLED depth with some formidable 40W speakers twinned with Dolby Atmos. Colour realism is delivered by HDR and Dolby Vision IQ. 

There's a variable 120Hz refresh rate If you're a gamer, with Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync compatibility. Plus, the break-neck 0.1ms response time is going to amp up your reflexes and put you on course for a win. There’s also support for 4K/144Hz inputs, variable refresh rate and auto low latency mode. It’s a comprehensive package designed to give gamers the best possible experience. 

In terms of smart TV functions, the ever-brilliant LG operating system works to provide one of our favourite television user experiences ever. It'll even use AI to upscale lower resolutions. Now, if you're sold on the beauty of OLED technology but want more choices, we've gathered our favourite OLED TVs here for you too.

If you’re looking for a premium TV with a mid-range price tag, the TCL C845K may be the screen for you. Whereas many of our favourite TVs utilise OLED, this screen uses Mini-LED to deliver outstanding performance, at a competitive cost.  

HDR brightness has been increased to a whopping 2,000 nits, promising incredible contrast levels between light and dark areas of the screen. It also incorporates double the number of local dimming zones than the previous generation, to help reduce bloom around bright objects on dark backgrounds. It also supports HDR, HDR 10+, HLG and Dolby Vision IQ formats.  

Two of the four HDMI ports support 4K/120Hz feeds, making it perfect for Xbox or PlayStation 5 owners. It can also support 144Hz PC games, if you want to connect your PC to it. TCL has incorporated a Dolby Vision Picture Mode to reduce lag, as well as Auto Low Latency Mode to provide super-quick response times.  

It’s not quite as slim as the thinnest TVs on our list. As such, it might not be the best option if you’re looking to wall mount your TV. But, when it comes to value for money, this is right up there with the very best models.

When it comes to watching tv, films, or playing games, the Philips OLED908 television takes things to a different level. This TV offers superb picture quality, a dedicated speaker array to deliver improved audio without using a soundbar or speakers, all in an incredibly sleek package. And Philips’ Ambilight feature is the cherry on top of an already impressive cake. 

Ambilight is designed to project mabient lighting onto the wall around the television. When it’s set to vivid, the colours will change to match whatever is on the screen. It’s impressive technology which helps to create a more immersive experience, and it’s virtually unique to Philips televisions. Philips also claims that by minimising the contrast between a bright screen and dark surroundings, Ambilight can help reduce eye strain. 

This particular TV isn’t just about gimmicks, though. As well as Ambilight, this OLED display delivers stunning picture quality, with peak brightness of 2,100 nits. It supports HDR content, including Dolby Vision, HDR10+ Adaptive, HLG and HDR10 formats. It’s also got plenty for gamers, with a 120Hz refresh rate, Variable Refresh Rate, Auto Low Latency Mode, and Dolby Vision gaming support.  

It’s a slightly thicker television than some rivals. This is mainly down to its built-in speaker array, made by Bowers and Wilkins. While it almost certainly won’t match up to a dedicated soundbar, it’s still a step up from the audio you’ll find on most televisions.

Experience next-generation viewing with a 55-inch Sky Glass TV, a marvel in home entertainment. With its seamless, one-device operation, this TV ticks all the boxes for anyone seeking power and simplicity in a smart TV. The vibrant, ultra-HD display brings your favourite shows and films to life in stunning clarity and colour.

Sky Glass TV integrates effortlessly with Sky's streaming service, offering tailored content recommendations. There's no need for a satellite dish; everything streams directly through a Wi-Fi connection, making setup and daily use remarkably straightforward.

In our Sky Glass TV review, we felt that the built-in Dolby Atmos sound is a real treat. This all-in-one media powerhouse combines superb audio-visual performance with a stylish, frameless silhouette, transforming any room into a sophisticated entertainment hub.

Wall mounting your TV has become increasingly popular over the years. It makes sense, then, to consider getting a TV that’s designed specifically for being mounted on your wall, to get the best possible viewing experience. And, trust us, the LG G4 is an absolute beast of a television. 

The display itself is a gorgeous 4K Ultra HD OLED panel that offers exceptional contrast between light and dark. It’s also got a native 120Hz refresh rate, and support for Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG. It’s genuinely one of the best around. There are also 10 different picture modes, to help you get the best experience from whatever you’re watching – whether that’s movies, sports, or gaming. 

And speaking of gaming, this is a superb telly, supporting Variable Refresh Rate between 40Hz and 144Hz, as well as a Game Optimizer mode, which delivers a quick pop-up menu so you can quickly adjust settings. There’s also Dolby Atmos sound support for crystal clear soundscapes. 

The LG G4 is currently the best television LG has made, and it’s perfect for wall mounting - it’s designed to leave almost no gap between the telly and the wall. But, in a first for LG, the 55-inch model does now come with a stand in the box in case you’d prefer to have it on a TV stand.

The best Sony TVs have been consistently among the best brands for years, if not decades. And with the A95L, they’ve produced yet another incredible premium TV that’s perfect for any die-hard cinephiles who are looking for one of the best pictures around. 

In terms of picture quality, brightness, motion response, and gaming, this is one of the best around. Whether you’re watching sports, movies or box sets, you’re going to have a great experience. The A95L automatically upscales images close to 4K, XR Clear Image helps reduce blur and image noise, while XR OLED Motion helps reduce blur caused by fast movement.  

There’s also plenty of support for gamers, as this TV supports 4K/120Hz via two HDMI 2.1 ports, as well as VRR and ALLM. The Bravia cam that comes with it can recognise where you’re sitting and adjust picture and sound settings accordingly. You can also cover the camera if you're concerned about privacy. 
It’s also got some of the best built-in speakers currently available. With this TV, you may not need to bother with a separate soundbar. 

Our one complaint is with Sony’s decision to put the feet of this TV at the very edges of the bottom of the screen. This means you’ll need an extremely wide TV stand for it to fit on, otherwise you’re looking at a wall mount.