The way we watch television is changing all the time. But if there’s one thing that’s constant, it’s that we need a great TV to consume the media we love. Hardware is important and we want to make sure we’re getting the ultimate TV experience. Movies, shows, and video games are made to be enjoyed at super high resolutions and sometimes even in three dimensions. When we enjoy this media, we don’t want to miss out on quality!

When you watch your favorite movies, you want to feel like you’re really there on the set. When you’re watching a show, you want to feel like you’re interacting with the characters. When you’re playing a video game, you want to be right in the middle of the action. There’s no better way to do that than to with a best 4K 55 inch HDTV that’s within your budget.

With technology rapidly changing and upgrading, it can be hard to know what we need to buy to keep up. Maybe you bought a 1080p TV a few years ago and thought you were set for a while because it’s “Full HD.” Full HD is good, but it’s no longer the top of the line. 4K has taken over as the king of resolution. Luckily we’re in a sweet spot where 4K is new enough to be the best, but starting to get old enough to be affordable. Let’s take a look at some of the top rated HDTVs currently on the market.

Here is a list of 2017’s top rated and reviewed 55 inch 4K TVs to help you choose the best products for your home.

Best 55 Inch 4K HDTVs | Top 7

Our Rank4K HDTVResolution (Pixels)Refresh Rate (Hz)Price
1Samsung UN55KS95003840 x 2160120Hz$$$
2LG 55EG96003840 x 2160100Hz$$
3Vizio P55-C13840 x 2160240Hz$$$$$
4Sony XBR-55X930D3840 x 2160120Hz$$$$
5LG OLED55E6P3840 x 2160120Hz$$$
6Samsung UN55JS90003840 x 2160120Hz$$$
7Vizio M55-C2OLED55E6P3840 x 2160120Hz$$$

Who Is This Review For?

It’s simple, this review is for anybody who wants a great viewing experience in their home theater. Maybe you still have an old standard definition TV. Maybe you have HD, but you’ve been putting off an upgrade until you found the perfect TV. We’re here to help you find the best 55 inch HDTV for you.

This review is especially for anybody confused by 4K. What’s the difference between 4K and 1080p? What’s the difference between Full HD and Ultra HD? It’s not as complicated as it sounds, we’ll get into the details soon.

What To Look For

When you’re shopping for HDTVs, you’re going to see long lists of stats and specs that blend together and don’t make sense. We’re here to tell you which numbers you need to pay attention to and which ones can help you get the most out of your purchase.

  • Resolution: 4K vs 1080p – This is a common question coming from people in the market for a new TV. First let’s explain the terms. 1080p means the same thing as Full HD. 4K basically means the same thing as Quad HD and Ultra HD (UHD). We’ll use these terms interchangeably throughout the review. The difference is in the pixels. 1080 is the amount of pixels stacked up vertically in a Full HD display. The “p” stands for “progressive” meaning it progressively scans each line to give you a better picture rather than an interlaced scan like in lower definition TV’s. 4K, however, has around 4000 pixels horizontally. The actual number ranges between 3840 and 4096, but anything in that range falls under 4K or UHD classification. The higher the number of pixels, the better the definition. If you have a 1080p TV and a 4K TV of the same size, the 4K TV will have a greater amount of pixels in the same size display making for a better picture. To put it simply, the more pixels the better. Every TV on our list is 4K.
  • Screen size – Every TV on our list is in the 55 inch class. That doesn’t mean every TV is exactly 55 inches, but they’re all around that size. TV screens are measured diagonally, so the distance from one corner of the screen to the opposite corner is the screen size. Screen size matters especially in HDTVs because resolution becomes more noticeable at bigger screen sizes. The bigger the screen, the more you’ll see the difference in resolution. 55 inch screens are popular for 4K TV’s because that’s where it really starts to look better than 1080p. If you’re getting a small TV like under 30 inches, there isn’t a dramatic difference between Full HD and Ultra HD. When the screen is bigger, the pixels need to stretch out more to make a good picture. That’s when you really want a lot of pixels making 4K ideal.
  • Display Types: LCD vs LED vs OLED – It’s getting complicated, but stay with me! I promise we’ll get right to the TV reviews after this. The three basic display types are worth going over. LCD stands for liquid crystal display. This has been a very popular display type since the beginning of flat panel TV’s. The pixels in an LCD display are turned on and off electronically using liquid crystals to rotate polarized light creating the image. It’s backlit by a fluorescent light. LED stands for light emitting diode and it’s quickly replacing just about everything that makes light. It’s similar to an LCD, but the backlight is an LED rather than fluorescent. OLED stands for organic light emitting diode. In an OLED TV, each pixel provides its own illumination. OLED is common in curved TV’s. Curved TV’s claim to be a more natural shape for our round eyes and actually look better from any angle. Whether or not it’s better is up to personal preference.

Best 55 Inch 4K HDTV Reviews

Editor’s Rating:

– 55″ Ultra High Definition 4K TV
– Screen Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels
– 120Hz refresh rate
– LED edge backlight
– Smart TV

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Samsung UN55KS9500 Quick Review

This Samsung is a curved LED smart TV. It’s big on color in every part of the spectrum. Bright colors look brilliant, blacks look especially deep and dark, contrast is sharp, and dynamic brightness brings out details you wouldn’t even see in a lower definition TV. This Samsung isn’t just for HD content. If it notices a non-HD input, it automatically remasters the image tweaking it to the perfect brightness and contrast. No more messing around with settings to make the picture look good. It’s also a smart TV. Just go to the Smart Hub to access your favorite streaming apps. You can even connect yout TV to your smartphone with the exclusive Smart View App. With the brilliant picture and simple connectivity, this Samsung is one of the best 55 inch HDTVs on the market.

 

  • The Ultimate Curved 4K SUHD Picture powered by the Quantum Dot Color Drive. Fires off a billion more colors than HD TVs for a lifelike picture unlike anything else
  • More than just pitch black, get the best shades of black with Triple Black Technology.
  • Never miss a detail in the dark.
  • HDR 1000 mirrors the high contrast and vividness the way movie makers intended
  • Advanced contrast, color and sharpness for true-to-life image quality with Supreme UHD Dimming
  • Smart 2016 – Use one universal remote to switch from Live TV to streaming seamlessly. Easily access
Household Audio

Editor’s Rating:

4.8 Stars

– 55″ Ultra High Definition 4K TV
– Screen Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels
– 100Hz refresh rate
– 3D HDTV
– Smart TV

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LG 55EG9600 Quick Review

This LG is a powerhouse. If you want a great 4K HDTV with an OLED display, 3D, and a curved panel, this is worth a serious look. LG’s OLED technology has been widely praised by tech critics for its self-lighting pixels with vivid color and infinite contrast. It achieves deeper blacks by turning off individual pixels where black is present rather than firing off black light. This also helps with efficiency. Deeper black makes bright colors pop more for an overall more vivid picture. If you really want to make the picture pop, it can play 3D content if you have a 3D Blu-ray player. Normally for a premium home theater you need aftermarket speakers, but this TV comes with harman/kardon premium audio making the stock speakers more than enough for most people. To top it all off, the LG webOS 2.0 gives this TV a brain so you can connect to the internet and your favorite apps. With a sleek design and a very thin bezel, this might be the most aesthetically pleasing on our list.

  • Backlight: OLED does not require a backlight giving it deep blacks and making it extremely thin
  • Smart Functionality: Yes – webOS 2.0, includes Magic Remote
  • Dimensions (W x H x D): TV without stand: 48.3″ x 28.3″ x 2″, TV with stand: 48.3″ x 29.9″ x 8.4″
  • Inputs: 3 HDMI, 3 USB, 1 RF, 1 Component, 1 Composite, 1 Optical, 1 RS232
Household Audio

#3. Vizio P55-C1

VIZIO P55-C1

Editor’s Rating:

4.7 Stars

– 55″ Ultra High Definition 4K TV
– Screen Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels
– 240Hz refresh rate
– Built-in Chromecast
– Smart TV

Vizio P55-C1 Quick Review

This Vizio has a few unique features that make it worth a look. For starters, it comes with a 6-inch 1080p Android tablet remote pre-installed with the Vizio SmartCast app. The SmartCast app is pretty slick for browsing movies, shows, music, and apps in your hand rather than on the TV screen. Since it was made specifically to connect with this TV, it does a great job syncing up. It even comes with a wireless charging dock. As for the TV itself, it’s the highest ranked LED/LCD display on CNET. This is achieved by being sort of a hybrid between LED and OLED. Not every pixel gets its own LED, but there are 126 active LED zones that brighten the screen. This Vizio has a few tricks up its sleeve that make it one of the best 4K TVs out there.

  • Play content from cable and satellite set-top boxes, game consoles, Blu-ray players and more. If you use an external antenna to watch local over-the-air broadcast TV signals, a TV tuner is required.
  • 54.64″ screen (measured diagonally from corner to corner) A great size for a living room or mid-sized home theater space.
  • VIZIO SmartCast app: To access available smart content on your Home Theater Display, download this free app to a compatible smartphone or tablet. It also turns that device into a powerful touch-screen remote.
  • Chromecast Built-in: In order to cast your favorite shows, movies, music and more, you must download the Google Cast app and use your compatible mobile device along with cast-enabled apps to send content right to your Home Theater Display.
Household Audio

Editor’s Rating:

4.7 Stars

– 55″ Ultra High Definition 4K TV
– Screen Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels
– 120Hz refresh rate
– Slim Backlight Drive LED Backlight
– Smart TV

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Sony XBR-55X930E Quick Review

Not only does this Sony TV deliver outstanding picture quality with bright brights, dark darks, and colorful colors, but it comes with Android TV capability. It connects seamlessly with your Android device which opens up the TV to a new level of connectivity. Google Cast allows you to stream content from your phone or tablet straight to the TV with ease. The Google Play Store introduces apps for your TV that you never knew you needed. You can even talk to your TV through your remote control with voice search. If you’re attached at the hip to your Android device, this Sony could be perfect for you.

  • Refresh Rate: 120Hz (Native); Motionflow XR 960 (Effective)
  • Backlight: GRID ARRAY with Local Dimming and Boosting; Edge Lit
  • Smart Functionality: Yes
  • Dimensions (W x H x D): TV without stand: 48.9″ x 28.3″ x 1.4″, TV with stand: 48.9″ x 30.4″ x 10.4″
  • Inputs: 4 HDMI (HDCP 2.2/HDMI 2.0a), 3 USB
  • Accessories Included: Voice Remote Control (RMF-TX200U), Batteries (R03), AC Power Adaptor (ACDP-240E01), AC Power Cord Spec (C17 US 2Pin (w Polarity), Cord-Set), IR Blaster (IRB-BR1), Table Top Stand (Separate, assembly required)

 

Household Audio

#5. LG OLED55E6P

LG OLED55E6

Editor’s Rating:

4.6 Stars

– 55″ Ultra High Definition 4K TV
– Screen Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels
– 120Hz refresh rate
– 3D HDTV
– Smart TV

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LG OLED 55E6P Quick Review

This LG is similar to the LG we talked about earlier, but this one isn’t curved and isn’t 3D. Rather than being curved, it’s an extremely slim flat panel with the OLED module directly behind the glass. Another difference is webOS 3.0 rather than 2.0 for the smart TV functionality. It’s a more intuitive interface that’s easier to connect with mobile devices. Other than that, you get the same outstanding 4K resolution from the innovative OLED display projecting incredible color and deep, dark blacks. If you want the thinnest possible TV that’s still loaded with features and fantastic picture quality, this LG is definitely worth consideration.

  • Smart Functionality: Yes – web OS 3.0
  • Dimensions (W x H x D): TV without stand: 48.7″ x 30.2″ x 2.2″, TV with stand: 48.7″ x 30.2″ x 6.9″
  • Inputs: 3 HMDI, 3 USB, 1 RF, 1 Component, 1 Composite, 1 Optical, 1 RS232C, 1 Ethernet
  • HDR Enhanced Display
Household Audio

#6. Samsung UN55JS9000

Samsung UN55JS9000

Editor’s Rating:

4.6 Stars

– 55″ Ultra High Definition Curved 4K TV
– Screen Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels
– 120Hz refresh rate
– 3D HDTV
– Smart TV

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Samsung UN55JS9000 Quick Review

The Samsung UN55JS9000 4K smart TV was an Editors’ Choice for Reviewed.com for 2015. It earned that award by being one of the best 55 inch tvs in color, brightness, and overall definition. It uses a technology that Samsung calls Nano-Crystal color. That’s a fancy way of saying it reveals a wider range of colors. It does make a difference in the range and variety of color that comes through. The curved screen uses an auto depth enhancer that optimizes contrast depending on the scene to make it look more realistic. Perhaps the best feature on this TV is the eight-core processor inside. It performs well above the average smart TV in terms of speed so you get your apps and streaming content lightning fast. It’s easy to see why this is an award winner.

  • Refresh Rate: 240CMR (Effective)
  • Backlight: LED
  • Smart Functionality: Yes, Built in Wi-Fi: Yes
  • Dimensions (W x H x D): TV without stand: 49″ x 28.1″ x 3.6″, TV with stand: 49″ x 31.1″ x 12.7″
  • Inputs: 4 HDMI, 3 USB
Household Audio

#7. Vizio M55-C2

Vizio M55-C2

Editor’s Rating:

– 55″ Ultra High Definition 4K TV
– Screen Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels
– 120Hz refresh rate
– LED backlight full array
– Smart TV

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Vizio M55-C2 Quick Review

This Vizio is another sort of hybrid between LED and OLED. It has a full array of lighting with over 32 active LED zones adapting to what’s on the screen. It offers 4K UHD and it’s a smart TV that brings you all of your favorite apps without the need for additional hardware. It’s also an award winner earning an Editors’ Choice from Reviewed.com and an “Excellent” editors’ rating from CNET. You would expect a high-end, award-winning television like this to be expensive, right? Think again, this is by far the least expensive TV on our list. It may not be the ultimate on our list in any one category, but for value and bang for the buck, it’s hard to argue that this Vizio isn’t the best bang for your buck.

  • Refresh Rate: 120Hz (Effective)
  • Backlight: LED (Full Array w/ 32 Active LED Zones)
  • Smart Functionality: Yes – Built-in Wi-Fi
  • Dimensions (W x H x D): TV without stand: 48.8” x 28.0” x 2.5”, TV with stand: 48.8” x 30.4” x 10.0”
  • Inputs: 5 HDMI, 1 USB Ports
  • Accessories Included: Remote
Household Audio

Looking for the perfect home theater system that will give not just crystal clear imagery from one of the best 4K HDTVs, but equally clear sound? Try taking a look at Household Audio’s list of the Best Floor Standing Tower Speakers, Best Bookshelf Speakers, or even our list of the Best Soundbars. You won’t be disappointed.