Samsung DU7200: If CNET has the best bang-for-buck award one of the first winners is the Samsung DU7200, a TV that provides an excellent picture for an affordable price. Black levels and shadow detail are very good for the money, and while our test unit looked a little desaturated out of the box that was easily remedied by adjusting the Color control. It has onboard streaming and the sound quality isn’t bad either. If you are 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 the following year. It’s still a great TV, but with it and the C4 priced similarly 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 includes unique gaming features and operates on the user-friendly Google TV system. In addition, the U8K is more affordable than other 55-inch TVs of similar quality from more established brands, making it a strong contender for those looking for a great deal on a 55-inch TV.

Roku Select Series: The Roku Select features some of the best color of the bunch with natural skin tones as well as good color saturation. However, the reason for buying the Roku Select Series is the same (almost) anything with the Roku name: the best user interface. That said, the Roku Select I tested had the worst image quality, especially when watching movies. Its black levels are washed out, its shadows are greenish and it also has the most distracting reflections when I’m watching in a well-lit room.

Samsung QN90B: If you’re in the market for a top-notch 55-inch TV but don’t want 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 win the head-to-head battle in our side-by-side tests, the QN90B QLED screen is closer than ever to matching it.