Samsung DU7200: If CNET had a best bang-for-buck award one of the first winners would be the Samsung DU7200, a TV which delivers a really good picture for an affordable price. The black levels and shadow detail are excellent for the money, and while our test unit looked a little desaturated out of the box that’s easily fixed by adjusting the Color control. It has onboard streaming and the sound quality isn’t too bad either. If you’re looking for a bedroom unit or a gaming TV then the Samsung DU7200 is the model we would choose.
LG OLED C3: When we reviewed the C3 in 2023 it was one of our favorite TVs, and this impression continued into the following year. It’s still a great TV, but with the pricing on this and the C4 being identical right now it makes sense to go for the newer TV.
Hisense U8K: The budget-friendly U8K offers excellent picture quality thanks to its mini-LED backlights and full-array local dimming. It also incorporates unique gaming features and operates on the user-friendly Google TV system. Plus, the U8K is significantly cheaper than other 55-inch TVs with comparable quality from more established brands, making it a strong contender for those seeking a great deal on a 55-inch TV.
Roku Select Series: The Roku Select showed some of the best color of the group with natural skin tones as well as good color saturation. Yet, the reason to buy the Roku Select Series is the same as buying (almost) anything with the Roku name on it: the excellent user interface. That said, the Roku Select I tested had the worst image quality, especially when watching movies. Its black levels were washed-out, its shadows tinged with green and it also had the most distracting reflections when I watched in a lighted room.
Samsung QN90B: If you’re in the market for a top-notch 55-inch TV but prefer not to go with OLED, the Samsung QN90B is an excellent choice. This TV features QLED TV technology with mini-LEDs for a brighter image than any OLED TV. Although OLED TVs still won the contrast battle in our side-by-side tests, the QN90B QLED screen is closer than ever to matching it.
