We Found The Best 55-inch TVs In 2026: Smart Sets For All Budgets

As the successor to the brilliant S95D OLED, we think that this is easily one of the most capable 55-inch televisions of the past few years. Here Samsung has delivered even more brightness, which in turn means more vibrancy and colour accuracy. Plus, there’s the latest NQ4 AI Gen3 Processor for superior imagery and upscaling. All of that makes this one of the best Samsung 55-inch TVs on the market right now.

Given that OLEDs tend to have slightly lower brightness levels than QLEDs, one of our favourite features is Samsung’s Glare Free anti-reflection technology – another feature that’s been optimised for a more matte finish and fewer onscreen reflections, even in brightly-lit rooms. So, you can sit and enjoy your movies in glorious HDR10+ with gorgeously deep blacks and 4K detail without a hitch. We think there’s only one way to make this TV look better, and that’s giving it pride of place on your wall using a mount like the Perlesmith TV Wall Bracket for 26-70-inch TVs. The larger the screen, the more we advocate wall mounting to keep a TV out of harms way, as well as in prime position for viewing – which this Samsung absolutely deserves.

Audio is another series of high-spec additions, thanks to Dolby Atmos and DTS. Both take advantage of Samsung’s OTS+ (Object Tracking Sound) to give extra realism, as it intelligently monitors dialogue and effects to emanate them from the right place on-screen. Eight internal speakers really make this a great option for anyone who doesn’t want to invest in a soundbar (although it will work with a Q-Symphony enabled soundbar for bigger sound all around). A 120Hz refresh rate that supports a massive 8K resolution (or 165Hz at 4K) make this a great gamer option, too.

In our research, we did find some users found that the lack of support for the Freeview Play app a little limiting (replaced by Samsung’s own TV Plus app). However, if you can spare the cash, we think there are very few OLED sets that can truly compete with the S95F right now. Your next-generation games, genre-defining movies, and addictive television have arrived in style.

Looking for a soundbar? We’ve paired each of the TVs in our list with the ideal soundbar from the same brand where possible, with many of them being top Dolby Atmos soundbars too. We’ve also selected the best match for both the capability, price and size of the TV. Our top choice for the Samsung S95D is the Samsung Q990D Q-Symphony 11.1.4ch Cinematic Dolby Atmos Wi-Fi Soundbar. For a less expensive option, take a look at the Samsung Q930F we reviewed.

The best soundbars aside, we’ve included some of the must-have accessories for your new 55-inch TV at the end of the article too, with options for all budgets.

Sometimes a lower-priced television arrives that genuinely surprises us for its range of features. This Hisense 55-inch 55E6QTUK comes equipped with everything we’ve come to expect from a modern smart television: a wide range of apps includes the new Freely platform which brings together content from across multiple UK channels that you’d normally need several apps for. HDR10+ is included, plus the market-leading version of that – Dolby Vision. That means ever more colours for a vibrant and natural tones and a detailed picture.

Despite not having a QLED panel like some other Hisense models, the Hisense 55E6QTUK uses an LED panel to hit its incredibly low price point. All of that 4K detail and HDR richness is supported by Full Array Local Dimming – a feature we think is essential on a TV with an LED panel. The backlight can be controlled or even turned off in certain areas to help achieve deeper blacks. This 2025 model also has an AI Engine and 4K upscaler to deliver real-time fine-tuning for what’s on screen.

As for audio, it has DTS Virtual X sound. However, we found some users who thought that sound is tinny at times, but that’s easily solved with a budget soundbar – like the one we recommend below. All in all, for us the Hisense 55E6QTUK is the perfect television for any movie-lover or telly addict who wants some excellent features for a smaller price tag.

Looking for a budget soundbar? Try the Hisense 2.1 CH 240W All in one Soundbar.

Amazon’s Fire TV range has been around for a few years and they’re something of a high-value option given the latest tech they’re packing. This Omni Mini LED 55-inch set brings the Mini-LED panel to the fore, with its superior colour over previous Amazon Fire TVs, plus super-deep black levels and higher contrast thanks to a whopping 512 dimming zones. Your atmospheric late-night film sessions are going to look a lot closer to what the director intended with this model, while still being a mid-budget set that seriously undercuts OLED and some QLED options.

The rest of the spec is equally impressive, with its full 4K resolution and wide HDR support joined by refresh rates up to 144Hz, making this TV more than capable as your go-to display for next-gen console gaming. The AMD FreeSync Premium Pro is the icing on the cake here, as the Variable Refresh Rate keeps gameplay smooth during both expansive open-world moments and frantic firefights.

Sound is also a highlight with support for Dolby Atmos spatial audio. That said, the speaker arrangement here is only 2.1, so those looking for Atmos and other surround formats (it does not support DTS) should really consider an external soundbar. We’re fans of the Fire TV OS too which makes streaming a slick affair, helped by Wi-Fi 6E. All in all, that’s several premium features at a sensible price.

Looking for a soundbar? We recommend the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus for its 3.1 channels and support for both Atmos and DTS: X.

If there’s a feature you’ve heard of, chances are it’s here in the Sony Bravia 8 OLED K55XR80. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ are present for beautiful and realistic colours, and sound comes from the superior Dolby Atmos for spatial audio. Picture quality and cutting-edge contrast levels come via the stunning OLED display – boosted even more with Sony’s AI, XR Contrast Booster and Triluminos Pro features.

The K55XR80 is also calibrated so that it can recreate images as the creator’s intended. It uses Netflix and and Amazon Prime Calibrated Modes for total accuracy with those platforms. There’s even an IMAX enhanced mode for the ultimate home cinema experience.

We’ve used OLED displays before of course, but not one quite as well-equipped as this in terms of the amount of control over the image. Out of the box the TV looks sleek with minimal bezels and it’s quite slim and easily wall-mountable – even with its built-in audio prowess (it uses Acoustic Surface Audio+ to map Dolby Atmos to the right place on-screen and beyond).

With the TV online we had all of our favourite apps like Prime Video, Paramount + and Plex at our fingertips. It was a particular treat to watch Nosferatu on this set. We fully expected the 4K OLED panel and HDR support to do justice to the dimly-lit scenes with plenty of shadow detail if desired, and we weren’t disappointed. The blacks are suitably inky, the extended colour palette plus Sony’s XR Triluminos Pro has a lot of finesse, and we could tweak everything to suit – from basic picture settings to contrast boosting and more. There’s even IMAX support.

We did find Sony’s Motionflow technology fine for rougher sources like broadcast TV and YouTube, but we had to disable or fine-tune those settings, and others, to avoid giving 24fps films that overly-smooth video-like look. Elsewhere, the audio is probably the best we’ve experienced outside of a TV soundbar. Dolby Atmos tracks across the screen and projects into the room with startling clarity. It’s the first TV we’ve used that really doesn’t automatically warrant a soundbar – even for film fans. All in all, this is a TV that sets the standard for OLED performance and makes for immersive movie nights, excelling when it comes to darker content.

Read our full review of the Sony Bravia 8 OLED K55XR80 TV.

Looking for an Atmos soundbar? Read our review of the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 8.

TCL is a brand we’ve had our eye on for quite a while as its recent models are giving bigger names on the TV block a run for their money. This TCL 55P7K-UK is a 55-inch model that sets itself apart from the company’s more commonplace low-end sets right off the bat – and that’s all down to a really balanced specification with plenty of high-end bells and whistles that we normally only see from more expensive options.

Firstly, this is a QLED screen with HDR10 and Dolby Vision for top-tier HDR colour range. Plus, this screen features TCL’s HVA panel technology, giving it less glare and a wider viewing angle than most QLEDs. That, coupled with the exceptional brightness, makes it a solid option for viewing in brightly lit rooms. And then there’s the AI processor to really make those visuals crystal clear. We’re also pleased to see the inclusion of Dolby Atmos on a set that’s this affordable, with users reporting that the internal speakers are better than expected. However, we think you’ll benefit from an Atmos soundbar to make the best of this TV’s audio capabilities.

Gamers are well catered for too, with a dedicated Game Bar, super low latency to keep your reactions sharp, and 120Hz mode with a variable refresh rate. But those who want to game at 4K 120Hz should be aware that this refresh rate is only available at 1440p resolution. Still, for the money, we think that this TCL is great value – whether you’re gaming, watching live TV or settling down for an evening of streaming.

Looking for a TCL soundbar with subwoofer? The TCL S55HK 2.1 channel Dolby Atmos Soundbar is a great match.

We may have mentioned gaming a few times in our line up, but the Hisense 55-inch 55E78QTUK is a feature-packed option for any button-basher. A 2025 model, you’ll find a 4K QLED panel with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision for extra colours, plus a full-array of direct lighting across the whole panel. But why does any of that matter for gamers? Well, gaming benefits hugely from an extended colour palette and controllable black levels. That means that shadow detail is nuanced and, for when you have cutscenes or gameplay set in near-darkness, you get deeper blacks that increase immersion.

We also love the overall design of this TV, as it has a slim bezel which helps accentuate the size of the screen. Audio is also well-specified here, as it can pipe 40 watts of Dolby Atmos sound through two built-in speakers and an internal subwoofer. Users say the sound quality is excellent for built-in speakers, too.

But, we’ve saved the best until last. This TV has a scorching 144Hz refresh rate with ALLM and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. Those last two features deliver a variable refresh rate and detailed fast on-screen motion that won’t suffer from stuttering or tearing. And of course there’s low latency mode for winning reaction-times. All in all, we think this Hisense is a great hub for gaming that won’t leave your bank account in tatters.

Looking for a soundbar with immersive surround sound? The Hisense AX5100Q 5.1 Channel Dolby Atmos Soundbar has a subwoofer and two rear speakers.

A more advanced version of the Sony Bravia 8 OLED K55XR80 TV we reviewed, this Bravia 8 II model ramps up the high-end features with a price tag to match. However, we think the extra expense is well justified when you look at what’s on offer here. Leading the charge is the combination of cutting-edge QD-OLED screen tech with its clever integrated speaker feature – making it one of the most advanced here when it comes to built-in audio.

Sony has amped up the sound here with its Acoustic Surface Audio+ feature which effectively uses the surface of the screen itself as a speaker, placing sound so that it comes from a more natural on-screen position. Add to that the support for Dolby Atmos and DTS: X spatial audio and you have one of the best-appointed TVs on the market in terms of built-in audio. More is more when it comes to speakers and channels, and this one is 2.2-channel (stereo plus two dedicated subwoofers) with 50 watts of total power. That said, if you do want to connect a compatible soundbar such as the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9, the TV’s Acoustic Centre Sync feature will make it work in tandem with the bar for even broader soundscape and extra realism.

Back to the picture technology for a moment. We’re huge fans of the latest QD-OLED panel here. The fusion of quantum dot colour with the self-illuminating OLEDs results in a beautifully rich colour palette and wide viewing angles. Add to that the wide support for HDR (including Dolby Vision and HDR10) plus auto tone mapping and fully calibrated colour modes for Netflix and Amazon Prime, and you have a picture that’s worthy of that advanced audio support. Google TV is a welcome addition too, with its snappy and intuitive interface.

Looking for a soundbar? Although this set has a ground-breaking sound system, we recommend the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9 for those looking for serious cinematic impact.

We can’t resist a bit of LED mood lighting to give a high-tech feel to any home, and the Philips 55OLED760 television comes from its Ambilight range. As the name suggests, Ambilight is an ambient light that shines from the back of the set onto the wall behind. But the clever bit is that the tone and brightness will change to match whatever is on the screen, creating a massive immersion effect that’s hard to describe without seeing it. Yes, you can buy separate LED lighting sets that claim to do the same thing, but this often involves small cameras that need to be place close to the screen to work its colour-matching magic. Here, it’s all built-in – and with the considerable lighting expertise associated with Philips. Also, by minimising the contrast between a bright screen and dark surroundings, Ambilight can even help reduce eye strain. 

But this TV isn’t just about lighting effects, as its OLED display is stunning – panel quality being another thing the brand is known for. It supports HDR including Dolby Vision and HDR10+ formats and gamers will love the fast 120Hz refresh rate, Variable Refresh Rate, Auto Low Latency Mode. As for us, we particularly love the easy integration with your smart home thanks to having both Alexa and Google voice assistants built in. Sound is also well catered for thanks to Dolby Atmos and a dedicated speaker array – so, no need for an external soundbar here unless you just want extra power.

Size-wise, the Ambilight feature makes this TV slightly thicker than some rivals, so wall-mounting is probably not going to be as neat. However, we think the sense of immersion that comes from that intelligent rear light display is well worth it for some truly engrossing entertainment.

Looking for a Dolby Atmos soundbar to match? We recommend the Philips TAB5309 Soundbar 2.1 with Wireless Subwoofer.

This second generation of the popular Sky Glass TV still seamlessly integrates your Sky streaming subscription service, effectively replacing set-top-boxes, but now it has an even brighter 4K QLED display. It also improves on the previous version by having more local dimming zones – which means less blooming of bright highlights when you’re watching something dark and moody. It still supports a wide range of HDR standards such as HDR10 and Dolby Vision, so all of those extra colours will really add realism.

Tech upgrades aside, the main benefit of Sky Glass is still squarely aimed at Sky subscribers who want to enjoy all of those box-office blockbusters on a 55-inch screen – but without the dish. This one does everything over Wi-Fi. We like the emphasis on ease of use here, with simple ways to access your favourites and continue from where you left off. It’ll even tailor recommendations on what to watch next and more. Dolby Atmos sound is onboard too – but this time around there’s seven rather than six internal speakers, the extra one being a decent subwoofer for that extra bass.

In terms of refresh rate for high frame rate content, this gen2 version is still only 60Hz – so serious console gamers who favour titles that run at 120fps might want to look at others in our list. Anyone who isn’t a Sky subscriber will find their options more limited, but we think this is reasonable given who this set it aimed at. One last addition is Sky’s own smart voice control which responds to the “Hello Sky” command, but there’s no Alexa or Google voice assistants built-in.

Last but not least, we think the well-named Sky Glass is still a bit of a looker, its frameless edge and sophisticated design will add a touch of class to your living room. All in all, this TV combines easy access to the best in the latest movies and shows with less fuss and more audio-visual excellence to bring your subscription-based streaming to life.

Looking for a soundbar? Sky does not make soundbars at the moment but the good news is this model has all of the elements of a 7-speaker soundbar built-in. But, if you prefer external audio kit, we think the Denon Home 550 Compact Sound Bar is a good pairing. We tested this in our full review of the Denon Home cinema kit.

When considering a new TV, not all of us are thrilled at the thought of a large rectangle hogging the corner of the room. So, it’s no wonder that wall-mounting your TV has increasingly become a popular interior design choice. Enter Samsung’s newest 2025 version of The Frame – a 55-inch 4K QLED model that’s been designed to look like a framed piece of art when mounted on the wall. Unsurprisingly, we love this feature of The Frame. You can set it to display your favourite masterpieces whenever you’re not actively watching your preferred movies or TV series. The Samsung Art Store also allows you to choose from over 2500 artworks from renowned galleries and collections. We think that having a TV that integrates this well into your interior décor is exciting and unique.

There’s even a range of frame-like bezels to choose from, but we like that it’s also been designed to sit very closely against the wall, completing the gallery-like illusion. The neat installation is made possibly by a single near-invisible cable that leads to a separate connection box so that your connections don’t need to snake up the wall. Thankfully though, its not all about artistic visuals, as there’s also Dolby Atmos audio to bring your 3D soundscapes to life. 

As for the screen, it’s a gorgeous 4K QLED panel with truly excellent black and contrast levels, plus HDR10+ and HLG for an extended colour palette – again, all a bonus for displaying all kinds of art in a realistic way. It’s also got a variable 120Hz refresh rate which is ideal for console gaming. Perhaps the only real downside of choosing a TV that’s meant to be on al of the time is just that – it may not be a top choice for those who don’t like leaving their screens on all day. But, for its overall design, features and innovation, we think that this is one TV that’s very worthy of being put on display.

Looking for a wall-mountable soundbar? The Samsung S60D 5.0ch Lifestyle All-in-one Soundbar has a slim profile and fits flush to the wall.

This is not just another QLED or OLED TV. The LG 55QNED87A6B has a QNED display. We love cutting-edge tech, and here LG has invented a new way of displaying your shows and films. QNED stands for Quantum Nanocell LED. It’s a hybrid of the quantum dots you’ll find in a QLED TV and the tightly-packed backlight of mini-LED TVs. You benefit from the best of both technologies in terms of colour and tone accuracy. Brightness, contrast and vibrancy are also extremely good.

As an LG model, this also has AI-enhanced image optimisation from the company’s α8 AI Processor. Amazon Alexa is also built-in and is easily accessed via the remote for all of your voice control and smart home commands. The refresh rate is a seriously high 120Hz and comes with a range of other features to ensure smooth motion and other gamer-friendly features.

The whole thing runs on the webOS platform which gives intuitive control over your guide, access to your favourite content and more. Despite its exciting new display tech, our research did find that some users reported slightly narrower viewing angles than others, so you may need to look at a different display type if you have some members of the family sitting at tight angles to the screen. We’re also happy to see lots of inputs at the back for all of your devices and more – including both satellite and terrestrial aerial inputs.

For us, this TV is all about the colours. The QNED panel type is probably one of the best for watching programmes and movies in the most vivid and accurate colour range and contrast levels. Your neon-lit sci-fi series, lush green nature programmes and sweeping movie landscapes will never look better.

Looking for a soundbar? The LG S60T Smart Sound Bar has 3.1 channels, DTS support and LG AI Sound Pro, as do many of the best LG soundbars.