A general tone of they hate us because they ain't us boastful defensiveness: "They ignored your potential. Dissed your achievements. Mocked your ambition. But it's not the critics who count. And you know that."
A narrative that suggests that crypto investors are as brave and tough and strong as UFC fighters.
Voiceover work by 51-year-old rapper Eminem.
The pointed re-emphasis of the company's "fortune favors the brave" slogan, which I last saw on a TV ad during the 2022 Super Bowl — the event that's now shorthand for crypto's overreach into popular culture. That particular ad, starring Matt Damon, has been (mostly) scrubbed from the internet, but not before it generated a South Park parody, and a halting, carefully worded interview where Damon explains why he did the ad (for charity, he says).
Crypto.com isn't the only one pushing crypto on TV again. Coinbase, which also bought time during the 2022 Super Bowl, is back as well. Grayscale Investments has one, too. But those aren't nearly as aggressive as the Crypto one: Coinbase cheekily argues that crypto makes more sense than traditional money, and Grayscale simply says that you're better off buying crypto through funds like its ETF than buying on your own.
All that said, the 2024 crypto revival still seems more like an echo of the last boom than a replay. I don't run into random people who confidently want to explain their meme stock strategy the way I did a few years ago. And beyond Jack Dorsey, I don't hear anyone arguing that bitcoin, or any other crypto, is going to rebuild/reorder society — just that the number could go up, so why not take a flier?
But you never know. Maybe The Onion was right, and we are experiencing an "exponentially decreasing retro gap," which means that the early 2020s are now fuzzy, sepia-toned memories some of us want to bring back.
X never fully complied with the order, though X did geoblock footage of the Wakeley church attack in Australia, according to the ABC.
Australia's online regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, wanted a global block.
That said, Musk isn't completely in the clear. A final hearing is set to decide the matter in coming weeks, according to the ABC.
"Not trying to win anything," Musk wrote in response to a commenter on X. "I just don't think we should be suppressing Australian's rights to free speech."
Musk has publicly feuded with Australian government officials over the issue, with Australia's environment minister Tanya Plibersek calling him an "egotistical billionaire."
It's just one of many international battlegrounds where Musk is waging war in the name of content moderation. He's been feuding with a judge on the Brazilian supreme court over an order to block accounts and has announced he will fund legal challenges to Ireland's upcoming hate speech laws.
When Business Insider asked about the ruling, X's press office sent an automated response it's been using for months: "Busy now, please check back later."
The eSafety Commissioner didn't respond to a request for comment from Business Insider made outside business hours.
As Michael Cohen, the former president's personal-attorney-turned-nemesis, was testifying as the prosecution's star witness in the case, Eric Trump slammed his dad's ex-"fixer" in a post on the social media site X.
"I have never seen anything more rehearsed!" Eric Trump, who was seated in the courtroom's front row during the historic trial, posted in reference to Cohen's testimony.
Eric Trump sat directly behind his father with Alina Habba, a lawyer for Donald Trump, to his right and a pair of Secret Service agents to his left.
Cellphones are banned for most people in the courtroom, including journalists (credentialed press are permitted to use their laptops). However, there is an exception for lawyers and those in attendance in the first row, court officers told Business Insider.
Former President Donald Trump and attorney Emil Bove just before prosecutors called Micael Cohen to the witness stand at Trump's New York criminal hush-money trial.
One of Cohen's roles included shaping the perception of Trump in the press and trying to keep negative stories out of the papers. Cohen testified that he sometimes lied for Trump and and bullied people to please him.
"The only thing that was on my mind was to accomplish a task to make him happy," Cohen told jurors.
Prosecutors allege Trump illegally disguised records reimbursing Cohen for a $130,000 hush-money payment made to adult film actor Stormy Daniels in the days before the 2016 election.
Michael Cohen, the ex-lawyer for former President Donald Trump, departs his home in Manhattan to testify in Trump's criminal hush-money trial.
REUTERS/Mike Segar
The payment, according to prosecutors, was to buy Daniels' silence over a one-time sexual encounter the porn star says she had with Trump at a Lake Tahoe hotel suite in 2006 during a celebrity golf tournament.
Prosecutors are hoping Cohen's testimony will bolster their argument that Trump orchestrated the payment to Daniels as part of an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 election.
"So not all things will go exactly like you have in mind. Some will, some won't, and that's great," Doug McMillon said. "Anything else would be boring."
Speaking at his alma mater, McMillon shared three pieces of career advice for new graduates.
He also revealed the mistake that could have ended his career before it started.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon returned this weekend to his alma mater, the University of Arkansas, where he delivered the commencement address to the class of 2024.
In his seven-minute speech, the 57-year-old Arkansas native shared three pieces of advice from his career, which has seen him rise from Walmart's loading docks to the company's top job.
McMillon also revealed how some plans didn't work out — like being rejected from the top MBA programs — and how a mistake could have ended his career before it began.
The following transcript has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Thank you for the invitation to be your speaker. My goals are to hopefully say something helpful and to be brief.
Being brief is something I can control, so here goes: I've got three pieces of advice.
First, be present. Life goes by fast, so try to enjoy every moment. I'm wired to think more about what's coming next than the moment right in front of me. Planning is important, but enjoying the present is, too.
When I was sitting in your chair, I had a plan. It was 1989, and in one of my final classes, our Professor Jim Webster required us to write what he called a life plan.
Jim had us write out the professional, financial, and personal goals we had for our life. I still have it, and I was mostly wrong.
I planned to make more than $24,000 a year in my first real job out of school. I made less than that.
I planned to get into business school at Harvard, Stanford, or Wharton. They all rejected me.
I planned to start my own business, make a new product, launch a brand, and make it in the USA, and that didn't happen.
But thankfully, I got the more important personal stuff right. In the plan, I named who I wanted to marry, and Shelly said yes. And we have two children — that was in the plan, too — and they're now successful adults, and they continue to be the highlights of our life.
So, not all things will go exactly like you have in mind. Some will, some won't, and that's great. Anything else would be boring.
Career-wise, the first thing I tell anyone who asks for guidance is to do today's job well, be present, drive change, deliver results, and do it the right way.
Being present in today's role and earning trust leads to the next job opportunity. The chapters in life personally and professionally go by so fast, so try to enjoy every moment and every phase of it. Be present.
My second piece of advice is to pursue a career that does not feel like work. Life is too short to invest so much time doing something you don't enjoy.
I grew up in a house where my dad was professionally unhappy. Being a dentist just wasn't for him.
Now, I believe some of you are going to be dentists. Thank you very much, thank God, God bless you. My brother married a dentist, and she loves it. It just wasn't for my dad, and too often, it robbed us of some joy in our house.
So, I set myself up for flexibility. I got a degree in accounting because I felt that would apply to any business, and I followed it up with an MBA, thinking that would help me move companies or even industries if I wasn't happy.
Ironically, I found my happy place immediately and never had to leave. I love the challenge of retail. The purpose and culture of Walmart, and the people I've worked with over the years have become my lifelong friends.
I hope you find your spot quickly like I did. But if you don't, my advice is that you shouldn't give up until you do.
I'm not suggesting you run from hard things or adversity when they come up, and they will. In fact, your connection to your purpose and what gives you energy is what will enable you to persevere. If you're in the right place, most days, work won't even feel like work.
My third and final piece of advice is to assume positive intent from others and show them some grace. Know that you'll get more joy from what you give than what you get.
Sam Walton's wife Helen said it's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you've lived. She was right.
If you find yourself feeling stuck or negative, go do something to help someone else, then notice how you feel. It works. It's unselfish and kind of selfish in a way.
There's a lot of conflict in our world today. Lots of worrying and too much suffering. We have a lot of challenges to be solved.
I've been traveling all over the world for more than 30 years now, and years ago, I was advised to focus on the differences from country to country.
I was in South Africa with our associates last week, and I was reminded of the same thing I've seen everywhere else: people have so much more in common than we do differences. We should focus on that.
The things we care about are largely the same: we want our kids to have it better than we do, we want to be loved and accepted, and we want to make a difference.
My encouragement to you is to realize that, and when you encounter others, assume positive intent, show some grace, and be forgiving.
My first day on the job with Walmart I rear ended my boss's car. It's a true story, his name is Benny Bridwell, he lives in Rogers, you can ask him.
I showed up to work at the warehouse, but he decided to take a few of the rookies across town to help decorate the high school gym for the shareholders meeting in 1984.
Benny stopped at a stop sign, and I thought he had gone through. My car didn't have air conditioning or radio, so I had a cassette tape boombox in the passenger seat blaring really loud, and my windows were down I didn't want him to hear me.
So I leaned over to the seat to turn the volume down — I think it was Bryan Adams playing at the moment. I then punched the gas, and I hit him really solid.
He gets out of the car, walks around, looks at his bumper, looks at mine, shakes his head, and he says, "McMillon, you are not too smart, are you?"
And I remember shrugging like, "I guess not."
He showed me some grace and forgiveness. I don't even know if he ever told anyone. I guess my career could have ended right then.
Realize that we're more alike than different, and remember that you'll get more joy from giving than receiving. Show people some grace.
Thanks again for the invitation; it really is an honor. My congratulations to all of you. Now, go make this university proud.
When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
LG's C3 is one of the best 55-inch TV models you can buy right now.
Amazon
When shopping for a new TV, size is one of the first things you'll need to settle on. Models are available across a wide range of options, with 55 inches being a popular pick for people who want a medium-sized display. Entry-level 55-inch TVs can be found for under $300, and many brands sell 55-inch versions of their top TVs with all the advanced features you'd get on a bigger size. The best 55-inch TVs provide excellent picture quality while still being large enough to show off the benefits of 4K resolution.
Based on a combination of hands-on testing and research bolstered by a decade's experience covering the home entertainment industry, we've picked the five best 55-inch TVs you can buy. Our top recommendation is the LG C3, which delivers fantastic contrast thanks to its OLED screen while often costing less than similar 55-inch sets from other brands. But if you want to spend under $500, we recommend the Hisense U6K. It produces a wide range of vivid colors and is the cheapest Mini LED TV on the market.
Below, you can find all five of our picks for the best 55-inch TVs, including a high-end option for home theater enthusiasts and a cheap entry-level model great for casual buyers.
Under most circumstances, we recommend Samsung's S90C as the best TV you can buy right now, but LG's C3 has an edge if you're specifically looking for a 55-inch display. The key factor at this size is price and availability. The 55-inch C3 is easier to find in stock and is often cheaper than the 55-inch S90C.
While the C3's peak brightness of 800 nits can't match the S90C's 1,000 nits, it still gets bright enough for average living rooms and delivers the same pixel-level contrast that all OLEDs are known for. This means you'll get deep black levels that disappear in a dark room and intense high-dynamic range (HDR) highlights without any of the halos that can appear around bright objects on some QLED TVs.
And unlike even the best Samsung TVs, the C3 supports Dolby Vision to provide the most accurate HDR image from streaming services like Disney Plus and Netflix. We don't think Dolby Vision is a must-have, but it is a nice perk. Check out our HDR TV guide for more details on the differences between HDR formats. Viewing angles on the C3 are also excellent, so the picture doesn't dramatically fade or distort when you sit off to the side of the TV.
The display is a great pick for gamers, too, thanks to its low input lag and fast 120Hz refresh rate for smooth gameplay on a PS5 or Xbox Series X. LG's webOS smart TV platform is solid as well, and with the included Magic Remote, you can navigate through the menus via physical buttons or motion controls by pointing the remote at the screen and moving a mouse-like cursor.
If you can find the 55-inch option in stock, the Samsung S90C is a strong alternative that can deliver a slightly more vivid image. But inventory for that model is scarce and it tends to be pricier than the 55-inch C3. LG also has a new 2024 version of the C3 called the C4. The new model can get a bit brighter, but it's more expensive. For now, we still recommend the C3 as the best 55-inch TV you can get.
Best premium option
The Sony A95L is the best 55-inch TV for high-end performance. Competing displays from LG and Samsung get close, but the A95L has an edge if you're willing to spend top dollar.
The TV uses a QD-OLED panel to offer pixel-level contrast and industry-leading color performance. The A95L is also one of the brightest OLEDs we've ever tested. We measured a peak of around 1,500 nits in our brightness test pattern, a whopping 500 nits more than its predecessor, the A95K. The A95L can only hit that number when displaying small bright elements on the screen, but that's still an incredible feat for an OLED display.
This impressive brightness allows the A95L to deliver exceptional HDR images. Black levels disappear into a dark room, while specular highlights shine with pinpoint accuracy and no blooming. If you watch TV in a home theater setting, the A95L simply dazzles.
Samsung's brand-new S95D OLED can get even brighter with a peak of around 1,700 nits, but Sony's proprietary picture processing enables image accuracy that edges out rival brands. This processing also offers impressive upscaling that minimizes flaws in lower-quality sources, like HD feeds from streaming services, cable, and indoor TV antennas. Viewing angles are also top-notch, so you don't have to worry about colors distorting when sitting off-center.
The A95L's Google TV operating system works well, too, and the included Google Assistant voice remote has a premium feel with a handy backlight that automatically turns on when you pick it up. A webcam is also included, which supports video calls and gesture controls. The TV's stand can even be configured in a high- or low-profile mode depending on whether you want to put a soundbar in front of it.
The only notable feature missing is 144Hz support, which is something that Samsung, Hisense, and TCL offer on some of their higher-end TVs when you pair them with a gaming PC. But if you're using a console, like a PS5 or Xbox Series X, you can rest easy knowing you'll still get full 120Hz support.
Given its price, the A95L is geared toward big home theater enthusiasts willing to pay a premium for top performance. Most buyers will be satisfied with any of the less expensive 55-inch TVs we recommend, but if money is no object, the A95L is the TV to get.
Best anti-reflective display
Samsung's high-end S95D has a unique matte screen that sets it apart from nearly every other 55-inch TV you can buy. Most competing displays use a glossy or semi-glossy panel, but the S95D's matte display enables it to reduce glare and reflections significantly.
In fact, the S95D is the best anti-glare TV we've seen. If you have a room where reflections are a big problem, this set could be the solution you're looking for. However, there is a notable drawback. While the S95D's matte screen combats glare, it gives black levels a slightly elevated look in bright rooms. This can give dark scenes a hazy and flat quality when you watch TV with the lights on. So, there's a clear tradeoff, and whether you prioritize reducing reflections or preserving black levels comes down to personal preference.
Thankfully, in a dark room, the S95D's black levels look just as impressive as any OLED's. The TV delivers exceptional picture performance that holds its own against top competitors from Sony and LG. It's also the brightest OLED we've ever measured, with a peak of 1,700 nits. Sony's A95L still has an edge when it comes to overall image quality and accuracy, but the S95D is easily one of the top high-end TVs there is.
The TV's design is also premium, with a uniformly thin profile and a One Connect Box to house its inputs instead of building them into the panel. And gamers get cool perks like a 144Hz mode when paired with a PC, and access to the Xbox Game Pass app to stream games.
Samsung's cheaper Frame TV uses a similar matte screen, but that model can't match the S95D's image quality. The brand also still sells the 2023 version of this display, called the S95C. The S95C offers similar performance for less money, but it doesn't have the S95D's new glare-free panel. Though pricey, the S95D is the best 55-inch TV you can buy if you want the most effective anti-reflective screen on the market.
Buyers who want the best 55-inch TV under $500 should look no further than the Hisense U6K. Though the 55-inch model technically carries a full retail price of $580, it's almost always on sale for $450 or less.
Unlike most TVs in this price range, the U6K doesn't skimp on advanced picture quality features. It's the most affordable TV on the market that has a Mini LED backlight with local dimming and quantum dots. This gives it unmatched color and contrast performance for the money. With a max of around 600 nits, the display gets bright enough to show off the benefits of HDR content, and it has solid black levels with minimal blooming.
However, the U6K isn't as bright as more expensive QLEDs, and its contrast control isn't anywhere near as precise as an OLED. The display also demonstrated lackluster viewing angles during our testing, which means colors and contrast fade when you sit to the side of the TV. Hardcore gamers may also want to splurge for a step-up model since the U6K only has a 60Hz panel rather than a 120Hz one.
The U6K uses the Google TV operating system, and its interface and Google Assistant voice remote are solid. However, navigation can be a bit sluggish compared to higher-end models. But despite a few drawbacks here and there, the U6K's picture quality beats every other TV in its class. Hisense does sell a new 2024 version of this set called the U6N. But it has very similar specs and costs more. As long as the U6K remains available for less money, it's still the best 55-inch TV to buy under $500.
Though we previously recommended TCL's step-down S4 model in this spot, a recent price drop has made the Q5 a much better value in this class. At under $300 for the 55-inch size, the Q5 is an excellent entry-level TV for buyers who favor affordability.
And despite its low price, the Q5 uses a QLED panel with quantum dots to provide a wide color gamut, just like the pricier picks in this guide. But the Q5 doesn't have a Mini LED backlight or local dimming to control contrast across specific areas. Instead, it has a standard direct-lit backlight. As a result, the TV's contrast is lower, and its black levels aren't as deep as the other displays we recommend. This means dark scenes could look washed out if you watch TV with the lights off. Colors and contrast also distort if you sit to the side of the screen, but that's common for any TV this inexpensive.
Peak brightness is limited to around 400 nits, which is fine for standard dynamic range (SDR) content but on the low side for HDR playback. We recommend you pay more for the Hisense U6K if you want a budget-friendly TV with HDR in mind. Gaming performance is also a mixed bag. The panel can support 120Hz when displaying 1440p or 1080p resolution, but it's limited to 60Hz with 4K.
However, the Q5 is a solid option if you just want basic 4K playback, and its color performance is noticeably better than most TVs in this price range. Integrated support for the Google TV platform and a voice remote round out the package, offering reliable playback from all the best streaming services.
How we test 55-inch TVs
A test pattern used to measure a TV's peak brightness.
Steven Cohen/Business Insider
To select the best 55-inch TVs, our team relies on a combination of hands-on testing and research informed by more than 10 years of experience reviewing home entertainment products.
When we review TVs, we focus on 65-inch units since that size is considered the industry's flagship offering. However, a TV model's overall performance usually remains comparable across sizes 55 inches and above. For instance, a 65-inch Sony A95L OLED and a 55-inch A95L have the same basic specs and capabilities. The only notable difference is the size of the screen.
However, some TVs that use local dimming, like the Hisense U6K, will employ fewer zones in smaller screen sizes versus larger ones. This can lead to differences in contrast performance when comparing a 55-inch model to another size, but not enough to alter our general impressions of that model. Occasionally, there are bigger differences in design and features across different sizes, and we note those details when applicable.
To test TVs, we look at picture clarity, contrast, peak brightness, color performance, viewing angles, gaming capabilities, smart TV navigation, and overall value. We measure HDR brightness with an X-Rite iDisplay Plus colorimeter and use test patterns on the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark 4K Blu-ray disc to evaluate other objective display parameters.
But test patterns can only reveal so much, so we watch plenty of actual movies and shows to see how a TV performs with real-world content on a day-to-day basis in both dark and bright rooms. We revisit various scenes on each TV we test that we've specifically chosen to examine black levels, shadow details, HDR highlights, and upscaling. Our demo content includes 4K, 1080p high definition (HD), and standard definition (SD) material from various sources like Blu-ray discs, streaming services, and cable TV.
55-inch TV FAQs
Ryan Waniata/Insider
Is 55 inches a good size for a TV?
A screen size of 55 inches is a great choice for various rooms. This size is still big enough to feel immersive in smaller living rooms while offering a more compact alternative to 65-inch models that might be too big for some spaces.
A 55-inch TV is also a great fit for a bedroom where you might want something smaller than what you've got in your living room but not so compact that you must sacrifice picture quality features. Most brands' best 4K TVs are available in 55-inch options, but many top displays are not sold in sizes below that. For instance, if you want one of Samsung or Sony's best OLED TVs, 55 inches is the smallest size available.
How much should a 55-inch TV cost?
The best 55-inch TVs vary in price, with entry-level options starting at under $300 and high-end options costing $2,000 or more.
If you want a midrange 55-inch TV, you should plan to spend about $400-$700. Several great 55-inch QLED models in that price range have quantum dots, local dimming, and Mini LED backlights to deliver good contrast and peak brightness levels as high as 1,000 nits.
Shoppers who want a 55-inch OLED TV rather than a QLED will have to pay more, with prices starting at around $1,000. Though notably more expensive than their QLED counterparts, OLED TVs offer pixel-level brightness control for superior contrast and black levels.
How far should you sit from a 55-inch 4K TV?
The smaller a 4K screen is, the closer you'll need to sit to the display to see the full benefits of its resolution. To see the extra detail that 4K offers over 1080p Full HD, you'll want to sit at a distance of about one to 1.5 times the size of your display. For a 55-inch 4K TV, the recommended viewing distance is between 4.6 and 6.9 feet from your TV.
Of course, you can still sit farther away from your TV and enjoy its image quality, but the recommended distance will allow you to see the best level of detail.
If you need to sit even closer to your TV or just have a small room to work with, check out our guide to the best 50-inch TVs.
And for rooms where you'd need to sit farther from your display, we recommend opting for a larger screen size to get the full benefits of 4K. Check out our guides to the best 65-inch TVs, best 75-inch TVs, and best 85-inch TVs for our top recommendations.
Should you buy a soundbar to pair with a 55-inch TV?
Even the best 55-inch TVs tend to have mediocre built-in speakers. Audio drivers integrated into most TVs are small and often placed in areas that can lead to a muddy sound that lacks range and deep bass. For this reason, we recommend pairing your TV with a soundbar or full surround sound system to get the best audio quality for movies, TV shows, and video games.
For the most immersive experience, we suggest finding a system that supports Dolby Atmos, which can enable sound effects from all directions, even above your head. Performance varies depending on the model you get, but there are entry-level Atmos systems that can still provide a nice upgrade over your TV's built-in speakers.
Under most circumstances, we recommend the Samsung S90C as the best TV you can buy, but LG's C3 has a slight edge if you're specifically looking for a 55-inch display. The key factor at this size is price. The 55-inch C3 is often at least $200 cheaper than the 55-inch S90C, while the 65-inch models of both TVs are typically sold at matching prices.
When they cost the same, the S90C is the winner since it has a brighter image and higher color volume. But when you can save a couple hundred bucks going with the C3, we veer toward recommending LG's TV. While its peak brightness of 800 nits can't match the S90C's 1,000 nits, it still gets bright enough for average living rooms and delivers the same pixel-level contrast that all OLEDs are known for. This means you'll get deep black levels that disappear in a dark room, along with intense high-dynamic range (HDR) highlights without any of the halos that can appear around bright objects on some QLED TVs.
And unlike even the best Samsung TVs, the C3 supports Dolby Vision to provide the most accurate HDR image from streaming services like Disney Plus and Netflix. Viewing angles on the C3 are also excellent, so the image doesn't dramatically fade or distort when you sit off to the side of the TV. The display is a great pick for gamers, too, thanks to its low input lag and fast 120Hz refresh rate for smooth gameplay on a PS5 or Xbox Series X. LG's webOS smart TV platform is solid as well, and with the included Magic Remote, you can navigate through the menus via physical buttons or motion controls by pointing the remote at the screen and moving a mouse-like cursor.
If you don't mind paying a bit more, the Samsung S90C is a strong alternative that can deliver a brighter, slightly more vivid image, but for the money, we think the LG C3 is the best 55-inch TV overall. Buyers should keep in mind that LG will be releasing a 2024 "C4" version of this display later this year, but we don't expect a big performance increase and see little reason to wait for the updated model.
Best entry-level
The TCL S4 is a solid entry-level display for buyers who just want a basic smart TV but don't want to pay more to get better image quality. At under $300 for the 55-inch model, the S4 delivers good performance for the money but makes some key concessions to get there.
The S4 uses a regular 4K LED panel, which means that it doesn't have quantum dots for expanded colors, and it doesn't have local dimming to dim and brighten its image across specific zones. Instead, it has a standard direct-lit backlight. As a result, the TV's black levels aren't as deep as the other displays we recommend, and it's more prone to uneven brightness across the screen, which can cause dark scenes to look washed out if you watch TV with the lights off. Colors and contrast also distort if you sit off to the side of the screen, but that's common for any TV this inexpensive.
Peak brightness is limited to under 300 nits, which is fine for standard dynamic range (SDR) content. But while the S4 technically supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision playback, its low brightness and lack of wide color support severely undercut its ability to render HDR videos properly. HDR content will still look better than SDR videos, but this isn't the model to get if you're buying a TV specifically for HDR capabilities.
However, the TV still delivers a decent 4K image with solid contrast, considering its lack of dimming. The model we're recommending here comes with Amazon's Fire TV operating system built in, along with an Alexa voice remote, but TCL also sells a version of this same display that uses Google TV instead. App selection varies slightly between each platform, but they both support the most popular streaming services, so deciding between them depends on which ecosystem and interface you like the best.
For under $300, the TCL 55-inch S4 offers good value, but only if you just want a simple TV for casual viewing. However, if you're willing to pay a bit more, you can get substantially better image quality with other budget-friendly models like the Hisense U6K, our "best under $500" pick. Before buying the S4, you should also check for what TCL's step-up model, the 55-inch Q5, is selling for. Though that model has a higher list price than the S4, both TVs are sometimes on sale for nearly the same amount. The Q5 is a similar TV but uses quantum dots for better color performance.
Best under $500
Buyers who want the best 55-inch TV under $500 should look no further than the Hisense U6K. Though the 55-inch model technically carries a full retail price of $580, it's almost always on sale for $450 or less.
Unlike most TVs in this price range, the U6K doesn't skimp on advanced picture quality features. It's the most affordable TV on the market that has a Mini LED backlight with local dimming and quantum dots. This gives it unmatched color and contrast performance for the money. With a max of around 600 nits, the display gets bright enough to show off the benefits of HDR content, and it has solid black levels with minimal blooming.
However, the U6K isn't as bright as more expensive QLEDs, and its contrast control isn't anywhere near as precise as an OLED. The display also demonstrated mediocre viewing angles during our testing, which means colors and contrast fade when you sit to the side of the TV. Hardcore gamers may also want to splurge for a step-up model since the U6K only has a 60Hz panel rather than a 120Hz one.
The U6K uses the Google TV operating system, and its interface and Google Assistant voice remote are solid. However, navigation can be a bit sluggish compared to higher-end models. But despite a few drawbacks here and there, the U6K's picture quality beats every other TV in its class. This is the best 55-inch TV to buy if you want a budget display that doesn't sacrifice HDR performance.
The Hisense U7K is a midrange 55-inch TV that punches way above its class. Like the cheaper U6K, this model uses a QLED panel with a Mini LED backlight. But the U7K steps things up with a higher peak brightness of 1,000 nits and a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, which makes it an excellent gaming display.
The TV's local dimming delivers high contrast with great black levels, and its bright highlights allow it to deliver a more realistic HDR experience than the U6K. It still has fewer dimming zones than more expensive QLED models, which could create some brightness fluctuations. But for the money, the U7K's performance is impressive.
On the downside, like the U6K, the U7K's Google TV OS can be a little sluggish, and the display's image quality degrades if you sit too far off to the side of the screen, but these issues are common for QLED models in this price range. The display is also prone to some minor uniformity issues that can cause a subtle "dirty screen" effect during some panning motions. However, this was rarely noticeable during our tests.
The 55-inch U7K's price fluctuates, but it's almost always $650 or less, which makes it tough to beat. The TV's closest competitor is the 55-inch TCL Q7, which delivers similar performance but uses regular-sized LEDs rather than Mini LEDs. This gives the Q7 less control over local dimming. That said, if you find the Q7 on sale for less than the U7K, it's a worthwhile alternative.
The Sony A95L is the best premium 55-inch TV you can buy. Competing displays from LG and Samsung get close, but the A95L has an edge.
The TV uses a QD-OLED panel to offer pixel-level contrast and industry-leading color performance. The A95L is also the brightest OLED we've ever tested. We measured a peak of around 1,500 nits in our brightness test pattern, which is a whopping 500 nits more than its predecessor, the A95K, and just slightly more than this TV's closest rival, the LG G3. The TV can only hit that number when displaying small bright elements on the screen, but that's still an incredible feat for an OLED display.
This impressive brightness allows the display to deliver exceptional HDR images. Black levels disappear into a dark room, while specular highlights shine with pinpoint accuracy and no blooming. If you watch TV in a home theater setting, the A95L simply dazzles.
Sony's proprietary picture processing enables image accuracy that edges out rival brands, with impressive upscaling that minimizes flaws in lower-quality sources, like HD streams and cable feeds. Viewing angles are also top-notch, so you don't have to worry about colors distorting when sitting off-center.
The A95L's Google TV operating system works well, too, and the included Google Assistant voice remote has a premium feel with a handy backlight that automatically turns on when you pick it up. A webcam is also included, which supports video calls and gesture controls. The TV's stand can even be configured in a high- or low-profile mode depending on whether you want to put a soundbar in front of it.
The only notable feature missing is 144Hz support, which is something that Samsung, Hisense, and TCL offer on some of their higher-end TVs when you pair them with a gaming PC. But if you're using a console, like a PS5 or Xbox Series X, you can rest easy knowing you'll still get full 120Hz support.
Given its price, the A95L is geared toward big home theater enthusiasts willing to pay top dollar for top performance. Most buyers will be satisfied with any of the less expensive 55-inch TVs we recommend, but if money is no object, the A95L is the TV to get.
How we test 55-inch TVs
A test pattern used to measure a TV's peak brightness.
Steven Cohen/Business Insider
To select the best 55-inch TVs, our team relies on a combination of hands-on testing and research informed by more than 10 years of experience reviewing home entertainment products.
When we review TVs, most brands typically send us their 65-inch screen size, considered the industry's flagship offering. However, a TV model's overall performance usually remains comparable across sizes 50 inches and above. For instance, a 65-inch Sony A95L OLED and a 55-inch A95L have the same basic specs and capabilities. The only notable difference is the size of the screen.
However, some TVs that use local dimming, like the Hisense U7K, will employ fewer dimming zones in smaller screen sizes versus larger ones. This can lead to slight differences in contrast performance when comparing a 55-inch model to another size, but not enough to alter our general impressions of that model. Occasionally, there are bigger differences in design and features across different sizes, and we note those details when applicable.
To test TVs, we look at picture clarity, contrast, peak brightness, color performance, viewing angles, gaming capabilities, smart TV navigation, and overall value. We measure HDR brightness with an X-Rite iDisplay Plus colorimeter and use test patterns on the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark 4K Blu-ray disc to evaluate other objective display parameters.
But test patterns can only reveal so much, so we watch plenty of actual movies and shows to see how a TV performs with real-world content on a day-to-day basis. We revisit an assortment of scenes on each TV we test that we've specifically chosen to examine black levels, shadow details, HDR highlights, and upscaling. Our demo content includes 4K, 1080p high definition (HD), and standard definition (SD) material from various sources like Blu-ray discs, streaming services, and cable TV.
55-inch TV FAQs
Ryan Waniata/Insider
Is 55 inches a good size for a TV?
A screen size of 55 inches is a great choice for a variety of different rooms. This size is still big enough to feel immersive in smaller living rooms while offering a more compact alternative to 65-inch models that might be too big for some spaces.
A 55-inch TV is also a great fit for a bedroom where you might want something smaller than what you've got in your living room but not so small that you must sacrifice picture quality features. Most brands' best 4K TVs are available in 55-inch options, but many higher-end displays are not sold in sizes below that. For instance, if you want one of Samsung or Sony's best OLED TVs, 55-inches is the smallest size available.
How much should a 55-inch TV cost?
The best 55-inch TVs vary in price, with entry-level options starting at below $300 and high-end options costing $2,000 or more.
If you want a midrange 55-inch TV, you should plan to spend about $400-$700. Several great 55-inch QLED models in that price range include quantum dots, local dimming, and Mini LED backlights to deliver good contrast and peak brightness levels as high as 1,000 nits.
Shoppers who want a 55-inch OLED TV rather than a QLED will have to pay more, with prices starting at around $1,200. Though notably more expensive than their QLED counterparts, OLED TVs offer pixel-level brightness control for superior contrast and black levels.
How far should you sit from a 55-inch 4K TV?
The smaller a 4K screen is, the closer you'll need to sit to the display to see the full benefits of its resolution. To see the extra detail that 4K offers over 1080p Full HD, you'll want to sit at a distance of about one to 1.5 times the size of your display. For a 55-inch 4K TV, the recommended viewing distance is between 4.6 and 6.9 feet from your TV.
Of course, you can still sit farther away from your TV and enjoy its image quality, but the recommended distance will allow you to see the best level of detail. For rooms where you'd need to sit a lot farther from your display, we recommend opting for a larger screen size to get the full benefits of 4K. Check out our guide to the best 65-inch TVs for our top recommendations.
Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Melinda French Gates announced she's resigning as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
"The time is right for me to move forward into the next chapter of my philanthropy," she wrote in a statement on X.
She added that she'll have "an additional $12.5 billion to commit to my work on behalf of women and families" thanks to an agreement with her ex-husband, Microsoft founder and billionaire Bill Gates.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is expected to announce new ChatGTP and GPT-4 updates at a 1 p.m. ET event on Monday.
AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson; Arantza Pena Popo/Insider
Something new is coming from OpenAI, and Sam Altman will reveal more at 1 p.m. ET on Monday.
The OpenAI CEO said the news will include updates to ChatGPT and GPT-4.
However, he ruled out any search engine or GPT-5 announcements.
OpenAI is gearing up to introduce new — and possibly magical, according to its CEO — updates to ChatGPT.
Cofounder and CEO Sam Altman has teased "new stuff" coming to ChatGPT and GPT-4, the AI model that powers its chatbot, and told his followers to tune in Monday at 1 p.m. ET for its "Spring Update" to learn more.
Altman did rule out a couple of things you shouldn't expect — specifically GPT-5 or a new OpenAI search engine, which is reportedly in the works. OpenAI is reportedly planning to eventually take on internet search giant Google with its own AI-powered search product.
OpenAI is also working on a voice assistant that can talk to you, The Information reported on Friday, so there's a chance we learn more about that during the event.
OpenAI has also long been partnered with Microsoft, helping power the "new Bing," and reportedly had recent talks with Apple as the iPhone giant looks to bring generative AI to its iOS software.
Ahead of the Monday demonstration, Altman said OpenAI thinks people will love the news and that the product update "feels like magic to me."
Besides GPT-4, OpenAI's other products ahead of Monday's announcement include its AI-powered image generator DALL-E, its unreleased text-to-video generator Sora, and its GPT app store.
Business Insider will be covering OpenAI's announcements live — keep scrolling for the latest…
For those who want to watch live, you can view the whole event here.
Bernie Sanders is the second-oldest senator, and he wants to serve six more years.
Despite other elderly senators struggling with health issues, Sanders is pressing ahead
"I would not have run if I didn't think I had the energy," said Sanders.
Bernie Sanders will be 89 in January 2031, the end of what would be his fourth term in the Senate.
That didn't deter the now 82-year-old Vermont senator and two-time presidential candidate from announcing his reelection last week.
Yet many remain concerned not just about Sanders, but elderly politicians in general. Sen. Dianne Feinstein ran for reelection at age 85, only to experience several public memory lapses before dying in office. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, 82, experienced two public freeze-ups last year.
"I would not have run if I didn't think I had the energy," Sanders told the Washington Post," describing age as "only one factor" when it comes to evaluating political candidates.
That's similar to what he told Business Insider two years ago, saying it's "fair to ask about anything that's reasonable, including age" but that age is "not a reflection of their views on the issues."
Sanders is currently the second-oldest member of the Senate, ranking behind the 90-year-old Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa.
Concerns about age have famously dogged President Joe Biden, who is the oldest president in American history at age 81.
But in Congress, seniority carries institutional advantages that motivate lawmakers to hang on for longer.
Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, the longest-serving woman member of Congress in American history, explicitly made the case for her own seniority in an interview with BI in 2022.
"It's a lot for a community to give up," Kaptur said at the time. "People here have a lot to lose."
Sanders himself has benefited from seniority allowing him to chair the Senate Budget Committee during the first two years of Biden's presidency and now the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for the last 16 months.
He noted in his reelection announcement that it puts him "in a strong position to provide the kind of help that Vermonters need in these difficult times."
By Ganesh Bukka, Vice President & Global Head, Industry 4.0, Hitachi Digital Services
Data is supposed to unlock operational efficiency and productivity. Too often, it instead leaves businesses feeling handcuffed and unable to act on the sheer volume of information they generate. With IoT and the edge producing floods of operational technology (OT) data, and ever-more-sophisticated data collection and analytics feeding information technology (IT) systems, more and more companies are seeking ways to integrate these two crucial streams. OT and IT integration can enable business agility, optimize operations, help businesses hone their competitive edge, and inform decision-making so they can quickly seize emerging business opportunities.
But, integrating OT and IT is a massive undertaking, and few businesses have the in-house resources to achieve this holy grail of data enablement. The challenges cut across industries: Organizations in the energy, rail, and manufacturing segments feel the urgency of integrating the data from these two sides of the house to increase their visibility and better manage the data life cycles of critical assets.
That's why Hitachi recently announced the formation of Hitachi Digital Services, a division of the tech giant that has been launched to help organizations across diverse industry segments address these real-world challenges. With its Hitachi Application Reliability Centers, Hitachi Digital Services brings a strong record of success in helping organizations integrate OT and IT to benefit the companies and end consumers they serve.
Data integration supports intelligent decision-making, which in turn supports business continuity
The real-world perspective is essential because this is not a theoretical discussion. It's an actuality that plays out in real-time every day at every manufacturing and power plant and within every corporate asset — systems, equipment, and facilities worth millions, if not billions, of dollars. Despite that value, organizations struggle to efficiently anticipate when those assets will require maintenance, when they are on the brink of a breakdown, or when a failure will shut down the power grid. Cybersecurity threats introduce an additional level of complexity to the equation.
With all those factors to consider, businesses must have a network of complex subsystems equipped with advanced sensors, sophisticated protocols, and precise monitoring capabilities in place. These solutions must optimize efficiency, productivity, and business continuity by integrating and harmonizing data. Companies must also ensure interoperability among their legacy and newer-generation technology and extend connectivity across business-enabling applications like product life cycle management, manufacturing, enterprise resource planning (ERP), and supply chain systems. Only when all these variables are addressed can their data be a resource they can access, interpret, and act on to avert problems and meet production timelines.
Realize OT and IT integration with an industry-experienced partner
Achieving that level of performance requires the intelligent integration of OT and IT. The convergence of OT and IT integration is bucketed into three streams:
The depth of integration expertise required is beyond the scope of what most companies have available in-house — and many companies lack collaboration between business and IT units. Even businesses with robust OT and IT departments often find that members of each team struggle to incorporate the other's perspective into their approaches to building an integrated solution.
Through its Hitachi Application Reliability Centers, Hitachi Digital Services provides an external partner with industry-specific experience to facilitate, simplify, and manage the process of aligning all these considerations. Hitachi Digital Services teams have collaborated with customers on industry cloud accelerators that harmonize data and create a common data architecture. That's essential because even when businesses struggle with what they perceive as a unique data integration scenario, the underlying problems are often universal. That means that with the right partner, there is often an existing, use case–driven, proven solution and framework that can be customized to their challenges and specifications.
By collaborating with that partner, organizations can optimize the collection, integration, and enrichment of information across the whole data life cycle. A skilled and experienced partner can also help the business develop a mature data culture that respects and incorporates OT and IT that might otherwise be left in competition and conflict. Once there is a meaningful data culture with organization-wide data governance, the business has a foundation to build a reliable system of operations to run the enterprise.
The result of this intelligent integration between OT and IT can be game-changing. Some benefits that businesses have realized by integrating through Hitachi Application Reliability Centers include:
By enabling all these benefits and more, OT and IT integration can help organizations achieve the greatest possible business value from their data.
Some millennials are suddenly surging ahead financially.
Those with growing fortunes can thank a set of unique economic circumstances in recent years.
It means some feel more confident about retirement, or were able to buy new homes outright.
James Barnesis surprised to find himself beating the millennial odds.
At age 33, he is firmly in the middle of the generational cohort born 1981 to 1996.By some accounts, they killed off staples like napkins and cereal and spent too much money on avocado toast and fancy coffee. Many started their careers in the aftermath of the Great Recession, have contended with a housing affordability crisis throughout adulthood, and generally seemed tobe doomed to economic misery.
Pre-pandemic, Barnes' situation skewed closer to that traditional millennial image. In his early 20s, Barnes and his wife lived with his parents. She went corporate and he worked with a managed service provider for assisted living facilities as they steadily paid down their student loans and saved for their own home.
"Just starting out and graduating college, you're saddled with student debt, you're living in an apartment which you're paying rent for, you're not building any equity, you're generally not making nearly as much money as you thought you'd be making right out of the gate at college," Barnes said. "So looking at even a $150,000 price tag for a house, you're just like, when is that ever going to happen?"
In 2017, it did finally happenfor the Barneses.They put a down payment on a house in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Barnes said it was just a regular, normal life: They commuted to Atlanta for work, hung out with friends, worked on home improvements, enjoyed being DINKs, and took care of their pet bearded dragon. They weren't struggling, but they always watched their budget and spent conservatively.
James Barnes and his wife.
Courtesy of James Barnes
When the pandemic hit, Barnes' wife intensified her very millennial hobby: Perusing real estate and touring open houses. She discovered they were sitting on a gold mine — their house had doubled in value.
It prompted a strategic life move. The couple decided to sell and move back to Barnes' home state of Alabama. When a real estate company offered $300,000, double what the couple had paid, they jumped on it.
"I know this is a very odd scenario for most millennials and really most people, but we sold a house and basically just bought a house outright," he said.
!function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
The Barneses are part of a new millennial group that is suddenly doing very well financially — especially if they bought real estate pre-pandemic. In the fourth quarter of 2019, millennials held $3.5 trillion in real estate wealth; as of the fourth quarter of 2023, that's more than doubled.
After an adulthood plagued by economic woes, the pandemic brought on astudent-loan payment pause, rising salaries, spiking real estate and stock holdings, and government stimulus. It all helped change the fortunes of some millennials. While all of that isnot enough to lift up a whole generation struggling with high living costs, a lucky few managed to capture the golden egg.
Doubling wealth in just a few years
While many millennials are approaching an age that's generally associated with peak earning and homeownership years, they were lagging behind pre-pandemic: As of early 2020, millennials owned 4% of the country's real estate value; at that same age, baby boomers owned 32%.
Now, however, things are looking up. Over half of millennials now own their homes — up from 43% in 2019 — and, as of 2022, millennials' average pre-tax householdincome was $100,315, up from $79,514 in 2019.
Khary, an elder millennial parent of two who works in technical advising, weathered his generation's classic economic double punch: The Navy veteran said he got laid off in 2008 and, going into the pandemic, had about $40,000 in combined student loan debt between him and his spouse.
"It felt like I lost about four or five years of progress in trying to build up my savings and plan ahead for the future," he said. Khary and other millennials BI spoke to asked to go by first name only over privacy concerns.
When the pandemic hit, Khary suddenly got some relief. Between the student loan pause, stimulus checks, a pay raise, and a robust stock market, he doubled his investment savings and was able to max out his retirement accounts, according to documentation viewed by BI. He's still paying off student loans but said his payments are much easier to make now.
And he's within sight of something coveted by Americans of all generations: a comfortable retirement. He said his early-career layoff lost him a few years of building up his savings and planning ahead.
"The pandemic really just helped to bridge that gap and helped me get back what I had lost," he said.
Many in his generation can relate. Average millennial wealth doubledbetween 2019 and 2023, according to an analysis from the Center for American Progress. Similarly, the real median net worth for Americans under the age of 35 grew by 143% from 2019 to 2022.
!function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
The most striking thing about millennials' sudden surge in wealth: It dwarfs the progress of previous generations that experienced a recession during their young adult years.
For example, Gen Xers' real wealth grew by only 4% in the four years following 2007's Great Recession. Baby boomers' real wealth grew by 46% in the four years after the 1990 recession. Millennials outpaced them all and then some.
One game changer for millennials was the student-loan payment pause and the subsequent relief programs President Joe Biden has been rolling out.Millennials holding debt had, on average, $40,614 as of 2023. The Biden administration has been chipping away at some of America's student debt load, forgiving nearly $160 billion so far through account adjustments, fraud restitution, and clearing a backlog of applications to major debt forgiveness programs like one for people who work in public service.
Amanda, a millennial parent in Texas who works in tech, never made any payments on her loans at all. Since she didn't go straight into college after graduating from high school, she graduated from college during the pandemic pause.
The break alleviated some concerns over her financial prospects after graduation. She said she felt her degree was completely useless. Her school also didn't offer any of the job assistance it had promised. But, it all ended up working out for Amanda; just two weeks after she and her husband bought a house together in 2023,she found out her $80,000 loan balance was forgiven. In total, Amanda and her family have more than doubled their income since the start of the pandemic; she's making just around $100,000 now.
"I came from very poor circumstances and I was determined that my kid would not live the same way I did," she said.
Some anxiety — but more stability
The pandemic didn't turn around every millennial's financial position. The rise in wealth has added fuel to the generation's class divide because it left some behind — after all, many millennials still live paycheck to paycheck.
"A lot of millennials are doing worse than their parents," Rob Gruijters, a university lecturer at the University of Cambridge and the coauthor of a recent paper on the growing millennial wealth gap, told BI.
"The narrative is increasing inequality, and that has losers and winners," he said. "So there's people who are on the top side of the distribution, they benefit from the increase in inequality, and then there's quite a substantial number of people who are losing in that situation."
One way the top end is getting richer while lower-income millennials still struggle is through stock market investments. Stock values have skyrocketed over the last few years, with the S&P 500 soaring after the initial pandemic shock and still hitting record highs; however, the top 10% of Americans own around 93% of stocks.
Still, lower-income Americans were the ones most likely to have benefited from the post-pandemic wage gains pushed by labor shortages in some industries. Research has found that wage growth at the bottom of the income distribution helped counteract the effects of decades of wage inequality and even pared down the college wage premium.
Still, even some millennials who have seen their lots improve fret about the future. They're hyperaware of just how quickly things can take a turn.
"I know that I'm doing a lot better than other people my age, but there's still a lot of anxiety that if there's another pandemic, if anything crazy happens, if we lose our jobs, how do we pay the bills?" Amanda said.
For Caitlin de Oliveira, 34, the pandemic boost hasn't meant anything as radical as doubling her household's income or buying a new home. Instead, stimulus measures — including monthly child tax credit checks in 2021 — meant that her family was ableto gain a financial foothold.
Caitlin de Oliveira and her family.
Courtesy of Caitlin de Oliveira
Between upping their savings and gains from a robust stock market, their 401(k) has grown to a little under $85,000 — up from around $20,000 in 2019. That's meant she's been able to feel confident that they are on their way to being able to retire in a good spot.
"Just knowing that is so comforting," she said. She said that she doesn't think millennials are as "dumb" financially as people say — "a lot of us are really trying — it's just been hard."
In the past, Khary said, millennials had dealt with crises and just complained. But not this time.
"As millennials, I think we felt ready and it proved that we had been through quite a bit and we kind of learned from it," he said. "It kind of built up a sense of confidence in us that we can actually handle sort of what's coming down the road if there's any more crises."
Are you a millennial whose finances have improved substantially over the last few years? Contact this reporter at jkaplan@businessinsider.com.