When it comes to televisions, bigger isn’t necessarily always better. While the industry continues to see how far they can push the size envelope, there are still millions of TV buyers that don’t want or need a 98-inch 8K television. Instead, many buyers want a quality TV that’s going to last for years and still provide excellent quality.
Enter LG and its excellent lineup of 55-inch TV models that can fill just about any role whether it’s movie streaming, binge watching or gaming, there’s an LG TV for everyone.
Let’s take a look at the absolute best 55-inch LG TVs on the market today and see which one is right for you.
- Best Overall: LG C2
- Best for Gaming: LG C1
- Best Value: LG B2
- Best Budget: LG UQ9000
- Best Splurge: LG G2
- Best Design: LG OLED Objet Collection
Best Overall: LG C2
- LG's fifth generation α9 Processor automatically adjusts your TV's settings depending on what you're watching.
- Filmmaker Mode shows movies the way the movie director originally intended.
- Game Optimizer from LG ensures that that you have your most exciting gaming experience ever
- Wall mountable (VESA 300 x 200) - sold separately
When it comes to the best 55-inch LG television, there’s a pretty unanimous decision in the form of the LG C2.
In fact, it’s not unfair to say that the LG C2 might be the best all-around television on the market today. As LG handles the manufacturing of its own OLED panels, it won’t come as any surprise that they are able to utilize these panels to create some outstanding televisions and the LG C2 is a shining example of that reality. Available in the 55-inch size, the C2 immediately stands out with its Alpha 9 Gen 5 AI Processor 4K that immediately adapts the programming you are watching and outputs the best picture and sound.
More importantly, the LG C2 has some of the deepest blacks and the best contrast available at its price point. The processor also helps drive a wonderfully bright picture that stands out from the competition. Helping the C2 stand out, even more, is its virtual 7.1.2 surround sound which is perfect for anyone without extra speakers. When it comes to that sound, you want to watch movies in Dolby quality and so it’s no surprise LG packed in both Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos.
Adding to the mix are some excellent features for gaming including FreeSync Premium, Game Optimizer mode, and VRR (variable refresh rate).
Pick up the LG C2 from Amazon right here.
Best for Gaming: LG C1
- SELF-LIGHTING OLED: Perfect Black, Intense Color, Infinite Contrast
- α9 Gen 4 AI Processor 4K with AI Picture Pro/Sound Pro
- Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos
- webOS + ThinQ AI w/ Magic Remote
- 4 Year Extended Epic Protect Warranty in Addition to the Included Full Manufacturer Warranty. Intended for Residential Use Only
Gamers looking for their own best TV for gaming can stop looking after discovering the LG C1.
The predecessor to the vaunted LG C2, the C1 offers just about everything the C2 does, just one year older. What it lacks in brightness from the C2, it more than makes up for it with a terrific OLED panel that retains all of the deep blacks, vivid colors, and excellent contrast ratio. The Alpha 9 Gen 4 AI processor ensures motion handling is very smooth which is important for fast-moving action programs but also video games.
Even as a model that’s over a year old, or two years as of this writing, the LG C1 still offers four HDMI 2.1 ports which is an absolute requirement for both the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 models. This ensures future-proofing for this generation of gaming and potentially next-gen in the future as well with the ability to output at 120Hz. Along with HDMI 2.1, you also receive Game Optimizer mode, ALLM, FreeSync Premium, VRR, G-Sync certification, and Cloud Gaming features all with a 1ms response time for the least amount of lag you can imagine on a television.
Grab the LG C1 from Amazon today here and start gaming right away.
Best Value: LG B2
- 8 million self-lit OLED pixels
- α7 Gen5 AI Processor 4K
- 120Hz refresh rate
- NVIDIA G-SYNC, FreeSync Premium, and VRR
There are a lot of 55-inch LG televisions that could qualify for the title of Best Value, but the LG B2 is a true standout.
Offering LG’s best-in-class OLED panel, you have 8 million self-lit pixels outputting at 4K with vivid colors and the same deep blacks LG is known for. Add to that the seventh generation Alpha 7 Gen 5 AI processor and you have a TV smart enough to automatically adjust the picture and sound based on the content displayed. The processor also provides the B2 with dynamic tone mapping which helps push more overall details on the screen and in more lifelike colors. No matter what content you watch, you’ll be doing so with virtual 5.1.2 channel surround sound.
As part of the overall TV experience, you have webOS 22 as the operating system which customizes your viewing experience to help recommend personalized content that refreshes frequently. Plus you receive extra value like voice assistance through Google and Amazon and connectivity through Apple AirPlay. Of course, you can also control your smart devices through the same Google and Amazon setups or add Apple’s HomeKit to your connected home options.
The LG B2 is available on Amazon for quick shipping right here.
Best Budget: LG UQ9000
- Built-in support for Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple AirPlay, HomeKit, and many more
- Enhance your picture and sound with AI from the a5 Gen 5 AI Processor 4K
- Find your faves fast with built-in access to Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV app, Disney plus, HBO Max, and instant access to over 300 plus free LG Channels
- Quickly point, click, scroll, or use voice control to find your favorite content faster with the LG Magic Remote
Whereas the LG B2 offers something of a middle ground in the LG lineup without pushing you into a price tag that has four numbers before the decimal point, the LG UQ9000 will help you keep costs way down.
The best part is that even as you try and look for a budget option, LG makes sure you are not sacrificing too much to get a sub $500 price point.
The UQ9000 still offers outstanding 4K quality for the price and does so with an LED panel that is not just 4K but also provides 4K upscaling for regular HD content. This upscaling is helped by the Alpha 5 Gen 5 AI Processor which gives the whole picture and sound combination a boost by catering the appearance of programming and sound to any content being viewed.
AI Sound Pro is a staple of LG’s OLED panels and can also be found in the UQ9000 and works with the processor to output virtual 5.1.2 channel sound for an immersive experience. LG’s Magic Remote is here to make navigating the webOS smart interface easy to help you find your favorite streaming service or use voice commands through Google and Amazon to quickly find the right program.
The LG UQ9000 is a great budget TV and is available on Amazon right here.
Best Splurge: LG G2
- Built-in support for Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple AirPlay, HomeKit, and more
- Self-lit OLED pixels create a picture quality like no other in our new OLED evo Gallery Edition
- Highest contrast, perfect black and the brightest colors ever seen in an LG OLED
- The latest a9 Gen5 AI Processor 4K, engineered exclusively for LG OLED to automatically adjust your settings to improve picture and sound qualities
- Get in the action the way directors intended with Filmmaker Mode—and enhance every moment with Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos
- NVIDIA G-SYNC, FreeSync Premium and VRR to experience real-time action
- LG Game Optimizer and 4 HDMI 2.1 ports to get you (and keep you) in the action
When you want the best LG has to offer, the LG G2 is the current 4K champion in the company’s television lineup.
Offering even deeper blacks, vivid colors, and sharper contrast than the LG C2, it’s almost hard to believe a picture this good doesn’t cost three times as much. What helps differentiate the G2 from the C2 in the LG lineup is the inclusion of an OLED Evo Gallery panel which somehow provides more perfect blacks and brighter colors than any other LG OLED panel ever produced.
All of these performance tweaks are aided by the Alpha 9 Gen 5 AI processor 4K which also allowed LG to introduce Brightness Booster Max. As the name might suggest, the evo panel on the LG G2 can get brighter than bright, making it ideal for any room and viewing at any time of day.
If you’re not already sold on the G2, the gallery design allows the G2 to sit flat against the wall so there is almost no gap between the television and the wall behind it. Almost like a painting would sit, LG has finally discovered the ideal solution to help hide cords forever. Of course, you might need a cord thanks to all of the excellent gaming capabilities of the G2 like G-Sync, FreeSync, Game Optimizer, and four HDMI 2.1 ports for next-generation console pairing.
Pick up the LG G2 and its impressive evo panel from Amazon today here.
Best Design: LG OLED Objet Collection
- α9 Gen 5 AI Processor 4K
- 8 million self-lit OLED pixels
- Includes detachable cable holders
- LG ThinQ AI, webOS
- Built-in Google Assistant and Alexa
A television design unlike any other, the LG OLED Objet Collection is a wonderfully unique television that adds all of the best panel benefits of LG in a first-of-its-kind design.
Created to be as functional as it is decorative, the design of the Objet offers it a unique stand that helps elevate it from the floor without the need for an entertainment center or wall mount. Instead, the Objet is a stunning addition to any room and naturally blends into any type of decor. To that point, LG added its Art Gallery feature, much like the Samsung Frame, that allows the LG Objet to display various art pieces on the screen when it’s not in use.
To ensure the design remains as beautiful as possible, LG developed a unique solution to run cables through the legs of the television enabling the cables to be hidden from view. Cables or not, that’s not the only highlight of the LG Objet as the OLED panel is powered by the Alpha 7 Gen 5 AI Processor which brings 4K quality to the panel with LG’s typical deep blacks, strong brightness, and vivid colors. Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG are all present to help provide excellent quality for whatever movie or TV show you happen to be watching at the moment.
The LG OLED Objet Collection is available from Amazon right here.
©Grzegorz Czapski/Shutterstock.com
What to Know Before Buying the Best 55-Inch LG TV
Picking out the best 55-inch television might seem like an easy choice if you just choose the right one for your budget. Unfortunately, the decision isn’t and shouldn’t be that basic as there are a few considerations worth looking at before making any purchase decisions.
For example, are you a gamer or a movie watcher? The answer to that question matters quite a bit as someone who values gaming most of all should look to the LG C1 as the best combination of price and gaming features. The movie watcher might want to consider the LG C2 and get that extra bit of panel brightness to make movies jump out just a little bit more on the screen. Gamers also want to make sure they have at least one HDMI 2.1 input on the television so that they have true future-proofing as part of this console generation.
Anyone looking for the best possible sound on a 55-inch LG TV needs to look at the best overall choice with the LG C2. Offering 7.1.2 virtual surround sound, it will offer the most immersive audio experience on this list. While not a dealbreaker, there is a notable audio difference between 7.1.2 and 5.1.2 virtual sound so audiophiles will want to look at the best possible option.
Using the Best 55-Inch LG TVs: What It’s Like
The good news is that no matter which of the 55-inch LG TVs you choose on this list, you are getting one of the best televisions in its category. Of course, that’s true for almost every television here as the LG C2 remains the most recommended best overall television available today. It’s the best possible combination of price, picture quality, future-proofing, smart OS, and benefits like the strong sound or deep blacks that really stand out. Once you use the LG C2, it’s hard to go back to another television that doesn’t offer the same level of quality as LG continuously produces with its OLED panels.
Using a 55-inch television, in general, is definitely not a hangup as you get the same features with every television on this list as you would at 65 or 75 inches. You’re going to get a great screen, LG’s best-in-class processor that helps bring 4K to life, and with AI Sound Pro, some of the best audio available across any television manufacturer including Samsung and Sony.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Ugis Riba/Shutterstock.com.
