Podcast #1222: Five Highly Rated 55 Inch TVs Under $500

On this week’s show we recommend five 55” TVs for less than $500 that will give you the best bang for your buck! We also read your emails and take a look at some of the week’s news.

News:

• Anker opens pre-orders for its Nebula X1 Pro projector system
• Amazon unveils a new Fire TV lineup, including the $40 Fire TV Stick 4K Select
• TiVo Exiting Legacy DVR Business
• Walmart’s Onn 4K Pro Google TV Streaming Device is On Sale At Its Lowest Price Ever

Other:

• DIY Surround Sound... USING LASERS!
• Signal GH

Highly Rated 55 Inch TVs Under $500 

This week we scoured the Internet for best bang for the buck TVs that would work in a typical family room. For this criteria we landed on 55” as it is, in our opinion, the Goldilocks size. We read reviews from sites like RTINGS, CNET, Tom's Guide, and What Hi-Fi? To select five models that have something for everyone. All the TVs are 4K smart TVs with good picture quality, HDR support, and gaming features. 

All Models Available at Amazon

Here's a comparison of the top-rated options:

TCL QM6K (QLED Mini-LED)  55-inch ~$445 at Amazon  

• CNET: 8.6 out of 10
• RTINGS: 7.1 out of 10 overall 
• Tom's Guide: 4 out 5

144Hz refresh rate, local dimming for deep blacks, Google TV OS, VRR/AMD FreeSync for gaming, Dolby Vision HDR. Best all-around budget TV; excels in brightness, color vibrancy, and motion handling for movies/gaming—rivals pricier models without blooming issues.

Hisense QD7QF (QLED)  55-inch ~$350 at Amazon  

• CNET: 8 out of 10 
• RTINGS: 6.8/10

Full-array local dimming, 144Hz VRR, Dolby Vision/Atmos, Google TV, twice the brightness of most budget rivals. Unmatched contrast and immersion for the price; ideal for dark-room viewing and gaming, with solid upscaling for streaming.

Roku Plus Series (QLED Mini-LED) 55-inch $400 at Amazon

• Tom's Guide: 4 out of 5
• WIRED: Best Smart TV 

Mini-LED backlight, quantum dots for color pop, Roku OS (simple streaming), HDR10+, 60Hz with low lag.  Easiest interface for casual users; great value for vibrant colors and decent blacks—perfect for bright rooms and Roku fans.

Hisense U6K (Mini-LED) 55-inch ~450 at Amazon 

• RTINGS: 7.4 out of 10| 
• Tom’s Guide: 4.5 out of 5

Quantum dots, local dimming, 60Hz Game Mode, VIDAA OS, Dolby Vision, Affordable entry to Mini-LED tech; strong HDR performance and shadow detail—beats basic LEDs in contrast without extras.

Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED 55-inch $410 at Amazon

• What Hi-Fi?: 4 out of 5; 
• RTINGS: 7.6 out of 10 

Local dimming, Alexa voice control, Fire TV OS, Dolby Vision, wide color gamut | Balanced for smart home integration; solid contrast and app ecosystem—best for Amazon Prime users wanting a compact, feature-rich set.