If you’re in the market for a new TV, the choices are endless—and can be almost overwhelming. If you’ve narrowed down the size to a 55-inch TV, you’ve already solved one piece of the puzzle. According to Carl Prouty, technologist at
Abt Electronics
in Glenview, IL, 55 inches is the most popular TV size available. “It's large enough for a good home theater experience, but not so large as to feel overwhelming in a smaller room,” he explains.
What to Consider
After you’ve decided that you want a 55-inch TV, there are a few other factors that you’ll want to consider as well. Prouty says your next decision should be whether you want an LED or OLED device. “LED TVs are great for bright rooms, while OLED TVs perform best in dimly lit rooms.” In addition, some companies have released QLED (quantum dot) TVs, which can be cheaper than OLEDs, and often provide more vivid colors.
You'll also want to make sure the TV you choose has enough—and the right kind of—inputs to accommodate your components. While many newer TVs are more likely to have HDMI inputs, they may not be compatible with some of your older devices.
Based on our experience and talking to experts like Prouty, we also recommend looking for a
smart TV
that will let you wirelessly stream content (subscription-based or free) over Wi-Fi through services like YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, and more.
However, there’s also another factor that you should consider from an ergonomic standpoint. And this could change the desired size of the TV, or where you plan to place it. “When setting up a new TV
Montgomery County Chiropractic Center
in North Wales, Pennsylvania. “For a 55-inch TV, the ideal viewing distance for proper ergonomics is 100 feet away from the TV, with the sightline facing directly at the middle of the TV.”
He also suggests angling the TV correctly to avoid suffering neck pain or eye strain. “Installing a wall-hanging unit for your 55-inch TV that angles slightly downward will help prevent sitting at improper angles for long periods of time,” Conrad explains. “The recommended angle for a 55-inch TV would be 20 degrees downward, as most people slightly recline 10 degrees while sitting on a couch.” That means if you’re hanging your TV on the wall, you should consider a
good, articulating TV mount
.
How We Selected
I’ve tested and written about tech and entertainment products for a variety of digital publications, including Tom’s Guide, Bob Vila, The Spruce, Realtor.com, Apartment Therapy, and The Daily Beast. This list includes 55-inch TVs that I’ve tested, as well as those recommended by our experts, combined with extensive research. I also recently reviewed the best
4k TVs
. I evaluated the best 55-inch TV models here based on their design, performance, and value for the money, and made sure to include a variety of options to choose from.
