David Katzmaier Editorial Director — Personal Tech
David reviews TVs and leads the Personal Tech team at CNET, covering mobile, software, computing, streaming and home entertainment. We provide helpful, expert reviews, advice and videos on what gadget or service to buy and how to get the most out of it.
- Although still awaiting his Oscar for Best Picture Reviewer, David does hold certifications from the Imaging Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology on display calibration and evaluation.
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CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. How we test TVs
There’s a bit of an art to choosing the right TV. You’ll want a screen that’s big enough to see clearly, but not so big that it’s going to end up overwhelming the space. A 55-inch screen tends to be the sweet spot for smaller rooms, so to help you find the best model for your bedroom or dorm, we’ve rounded up the best 55-inch TVs of 2023 below.
Most modern 55-inch televisions come with plenty of features and are smart TVs, so you can enjoy streaming your favorite shows and films on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, Disney Plus and more. And higher-end examples offer all the bells and whistles we’ve come to expect, 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 — including variable refresh rate — to go with a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. The list below represents our favorite 55-inch TVs right now.
At CNET, I review TVs side by side in a state-of-the-art testing lab, taking hundreds of measurements with specialized equipment, comparing gaming, home theater and bright-room image quality. My 20 years experience as a TV reviewer helps me determine not just the best 55-inch TV overall but also the best 55-inch TV in your price range.
What is the best 55-inch TV right now?
The TCL 6-Series Roku TV sits at the top of our list of best TVs for a number of reasons. It offers superb picture quality, an affordable price and Roku, the best smart TV system. It also includes gaming features like 4K/120Hz input and variable refresh rate that can get the most out of consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X. When friends ask me what TV to buy from 55 to 85 inches, and money is still an object, I tell them to get the TCL 6-Series.
There are plenty of other excellent choices out there, however, so even though the 6-Series is my current favorite for most people, it might not be right for your preferences or budget.
Read more: Do This to Your TV Now: 9 Crucial Settings to Improve the Picture
Best 55-inch TVs in 2023
Editors’ choice
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For the last five years, the TCL 6-Series has been our favorite TV for the money, and the latest version — also known as the R655 series — is no exception. This TV has an excellent image thanks to mini-LED tech and well-implemented full-array local dimming that helps it run circles around just about any other TV at this price. It improves upon the previous R635 series with improved gaming extras and a new center-mount stand that you can elevate to make room for a soundbar. And finally, the Roku TV operating system is our hands-down favorite.
Pros:
- Relatively affordable
- Excellent overall image quality
- Roku smart TV is simple, capable
- Improved design with central stand
Cons:
- Some competing mini-LED TVs can get brighter
Note that in addition to the R635, which this TV replaces, other versions of the 6-Series were released in 2021 and remain on sale. The R646 series uses the Google TV operating system, but otherwise has similar specifications to the R655 models reviewed here. The R648 series has 8K resolution and is significantly more expensive.
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The C2 delivers superior picture quality at a price that’s admittedly high, but not ridiculous. It beats any non-OLED TV on this list with its perfect black levels, unbeatable contrast and superb off-angle viewing. It also has excellent gaming features, making it a great companion to an Xbox Series X or S, PlayStation 5 or both. The C2 comes in a variety of sizes as well, though the bigger models are expensive.
The C2 is also one of the lightest TVs we’ve ever reviewed, thanks to its carbon-fiber construction. The 55-inch version weighs just 35 pounds with its stand, compared to 51 pounds for the 55-inch C1 from 2021.
Pros:
- Better picture quality than any non-OLED TV
- Superior contrast and off-angle image
- Best-in-class gaming features
- Sleek styling with ultralight, thin panel
Cons:
- Expensive
- No major picture quality improvements over the C1 from 2021
The C1 was also an excellent TV that delivered similar image quality and features to the C2. We’ve also reviewed the 2023 version, the LG C3, but we recommend the C2 instead right now. Going with last year’s LG OLED saves you a few hundred bucks and the two TVs were basically indistinguishable in features, design and image quality in my tests. The C2 will sell out over the summer and heading into the TV buying season this fall, while the C3 will drop in price, but if you want a high-end TV right now, grab a C2.
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Looking for a high-end TV with spectacular image quality, but don’t want an OLED? The Samsung QN90B is your best bet. This TV uses QLED TV tech augmented by mini-LED for a brighter image than any OLED TV. The spectacular contrast of OLED still won out in our side-by-side tests, but the QN90B QLED screen comes closer than ever.
Pros:
- Best non-OLED picture quality we’ve ever tested
- Incredible brightness with minimal blooming
- Stylish design, packed with features
Cons:
- Expensive
- Slightly worse contrast, off-angle and uniformity than OLED
Samsung produces a number of QLED TVs, but the QN90B is among the highest-end, aside from versions with 8K resolution. This is a 2022 model, but the 2023 version, the QN90C, looks very similar in terms of features and while we haven’t reviewed it, we expect it to deliver similar image quality. It’s also significantly more expensive.
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The Samsung QN90B QLED TV is one of the company’s higher-end televisions for 2022.
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The picture quality of the TCL 4-Series Roku TV was a step behind the Vizio V-Series (see below) in our budget TV test, but the differences between the two are slight enough that you’d really have to have them set up side by side to notice anything at all. The 4-Series lacks the Dolby Vision, Bluetooth connectivity and AMD FreeSync with a variable refresh rate, all of which the Vizio offers.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Excellent smart TV system
Cons:
- Image quality and features lag some entry-level TVs
The 4-Series’ advantage over the Vizio is that it comes with the excellent Roku Smart TV system built in. That makes it a great choice for those looking for a one-stop smart TV solution, without having to add an external streaming device.
Note that TCL has been selling the 4-Series for the last few years with little to no change in image quality or features in our tests, although it has recently added some larger screen sizes, including an 85-inch option.
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Among midpriced models we liked the TCL 6-Series just a little better in our side-by-side comparison, but this Hisense is a strong contender. Its excellent image quality is anchored by best-in-class brightness that improves its bright-room picture quality and makes HDR TV movies, shows and games really pop. It’s actually brighter than the TCL with better contrast, but the TCL’s slightly more accurate image gave it the edge overall. The Hisense uses Google TV instead of Roku, and unlike the TCL, the U8H includes an ATSC 3.0 tuner. Frankly, you can’t go wrong with either one.
Pros:
- Relatively affordable
- Excellent overall image quality
- Best-in-class bright room picture
- Capable Google TV system
Cons:
- Slightly less refined image than some competitors
- “Theater” picture modes engage motion smoothing by default
This is a 2022 model, but the 2023 version, the U8K series, looks largely similar aside from the addition of a 75-inch option. We haven’t reviewed it yet. It’s currently a couple of hundred dollars more expensive than the U8H.
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Samsung is the brand 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 other TVs on this list — even though the ultrathin OLED models are sleeker — and it offers better features, image quality and more sizes than models like the TCL 4-Series and Sony X80K. The TVs listed in this article are all superior values, but if you want a Samsung TV and can’t afford the QN90B, this is a great choice.
Pros:
- Sleek design and excellent remote
- Bright image with solid contrast
- Informative status screen for gaming
Cons:
- More expensive than competing TVs with better picture quality
- Cluttered smart TV menus
This is a 2022 model, but the 2023 version, the Q60C, looks largely similar in terms of features, design and price. We haven’t reviewed it yet, but we expect it to have similar image quality.
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Competition among TVs in the middle pricing band is heating up and the Plus Series is the latest entrant in 2023. It adds a couple of step-up extras, including QLED and full-array local dimming, which help deliver a better picture than the TCL 4-Series, for example. It’s not as impressive as the Vizio MQX, though, since it lacks 120Hz for gaming and worse picture quality overall. If you value those extras, the Vizio is worth saving for, but if not the Roku Plus Series is a very good value.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Good picture quality thanks to local dimming
- Great smart TV system
Cons:
- Lacks 120Hz refresh rate and other gaming extras
- Not as bright as some similarly priced TVs
This is the first TV Roku has produced under its own brand, as opposed to partnering with a brand like TCL, Sharp, Pioneer or Hisense. The company also released a version with fewer features and no local dimming, called the Roku Select Series.
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When we compared the best budget TVs side-by-side, the picture quality of Vizio’s V-Series clearly emerged as the leader of the pack. The Vizio offered the most balanced and accurate picture during our comparisons, and it comes with some useful extras such as Dolby Vision support, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth compatibility and variable refresh rate for potentially smoother gaming. The biggest downside of the Vizio is its smart TV platform, Vizio SmartCast. It’s crowded, slow and littered with ads for platforms such as Tubi and Kidoodle TV. Even when you factor in the cost of adding a new streaming device, however, the V-Series remains the best overall entry-level TV that we tested.
Pros:
- Solid image quality for an entry-level TV
- Lots of features, including VRR and Wi-Fi 6E
Cons:
- Poor built-in smart TV system
Vizio hasn’t announced a 2023 version of the V-Series yet.
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- Sony KD-X80K series: Sony is a prominent brand 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 costs around the same as the TCL 6-Series and Samsung Q60 TVs, and had a worse picture than both, with lighter black levels and contrast. It’s definitely not a bad TV, and we liked 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.
- Amazon Fire TV 4-Series: One of many Fire TVs available for sale, this one is typical of the breed: so-so image quality and a smart TV system that lags behind Roku and Google TV. If you’re a big fan of Alexa voice or see this TV at a really low price it might be worthwhile, but otherwise go for the TCL 4-Series. Read our best budget TVs roundup.
Our TV reviews follow a rigorous, unbiased evaluation process honed over nearly two decades of TV reviews. Our primary TV test lab has specialized equipment for measuring light and color, 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 each TV we review. In every CNET TV review, three or more similar TVs are compared side by side in various lighting conditions playing different media, including movies, TV shows and games, across a variety of test categories, from color to video processing to gaming to HDR. Our reviews also account for design; features; smart TV performance; HDMI input and gaming compatibility; and other factors.
One important aspect of image quality we test is overall brightness. Here’s how it compares in nits across select TVs listed above.
Light Output in Nits
| TV | Brightest mode (HDR) | Accurate mode (HDR) | Brightest mode (SDR) | Accurate mode (SDR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung QN65Q90B | 3,316 | 1,981 | 2,625 | 974 |
| Hisense U8H | 1,867 | 1,867 | 1,605 | 1,605 |
| TCL 65R655 | 1,387 | 1,194 | 1,292 | 624 |
| Vizio M65QXM-K03 | 939 | 742 | 958 | 608 |
| LG OLED65C2 | 812 | 759 | 413 | 389 |
| Roku TV Plus (65-inch) | 514 | 455 | 579 | 404 |
Check out How We Test TVs for more details.
With all the TVs available today, and all the technical terms and jargon associated with television technology, it can be tough to figure out what’s important. Here’s a quick guide to help you cut through the confusion.
Price: TVs range in price from $100 to more than $2,000. Smaller screens are cheaper, well-known brands are more expensive and spending more money can also get you better image quality. Most entry-level TVs have a good enough picture for most people, but TVs last a long time, so it might be worth spending more to get a better picture. It’s also best to shop for a TV in the fall, when prices are lower.
Screen size: Bigger is better in our book. We recommend a size of at least 43 inches for a bedroom TV and at least 55 inches for a living room or main TV — and 65 inches or larger is best. More than any other “feature,” stepping up in TV screen size is the best use of your money. One of the most common post-TV-purchase complaints we’ve heard is from people who didn’t go big enough. And we almost never hear people complain that their TV is too large.
Capability: Among entry-level TVs the most important feature is what kind of smart TV system the TV uses. Among midrange models, look for a feature including full-array local dimming, mini-LED and 120Hz refresh rate, which (unlike some other extras) do help improve the picture, in our experience. And among high-end TVs, OLED technology is your best bet.
For more TV buying advice check out How to Buy a TV.
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