Reviews
55’’ Vs 65’’ TV – Which Size is Right for You?
Find out whether you should get a 55” television, or opt for 66” by reading our detailed overview.
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Getting a new big screen television can be exciting, but a lot of things need to be taken into account before making such a big purchase. A TV is something you’ll be using on a daily basis for several years, so the purchase has to count! Is a 55’’ screen big enough or will your needs be better satiated by a 66’’? Let’s go over all the details now.
Differences in Size and Dimensions
A 55’’ TV screen will be about 48’’ across and 27’’ tall, whereas a 65’’ TV screen will be 57’’ wide and 32’’ tall. Make sure to keep this in mind when you decide which size you pick, because it will be necessary when deciding where to place your TV and if your room or house is big enough for it in the first place.
Audience Size
The next thing you should keep in mind is how many people will be regularly using the TV screen at the same time.
If you live alone and plan on having your shiny new TV screen all to yourself then by all means choose whichever size you think will be ideal. But if you live with at least one other person and are buying the TV not just for yourself, you may have to think a little harder about which size to get.
If you only live with one other person then a 55’’ screen should be good enough. However, if you live with three or four people then a 55’’ screen may not be ideal for your Netflix or movie nights. In this case it is recommended to spend a bit extra for the 65’’ set.
Room Arrangement, Mounting and Seating Distance
For some people this will be the most important factor in deciding which screen size to buy. This is because no matter how much you may want a massive TV, it will be of little use if you have nowhere to fit it.
Take note of the TV dimensions that were laid out earlier. If you are concerned about whether a 55’’ or 65’’ TV screen will be too large, simply measure the area you plan on placing it. This can be a cabinet or an empty wall that you are planning on using for a TV mount.
The general rule of thumb is to make sure that the room that will house the TV has enough space to be placed and doesn’t make the room feel too tight. You want a little bit of room for cable management, any sound system that you’ll hook up to it and you also don’t want the TV to be too close to you.
Every TV screen size has an optimal viewing distance. 55’’ screens are the most popular big screen choices in most countries, and they are best viewed when sitting around three to six feet away. For 65’’ screens, this range increases from four to eight feet away.
Resolution and Pixel Density
One of the most important aspects of buying any TV is which resolution it will come in. These days, people almost always decide between either 1080p or 4K.
If you are opting for a 1080p resolution then you will probably be best off with a 55’’ screen as this is often considered an ideal and popular pairing of resolution and size. There’s nothing wrong with getting a 55’’ 4K screen either, but that resolution is best saved for larger screens as the pixel density is four times as large.
A 1080p 65’’ will look fine but this is more or less the point where the pixel density becomes a little light. You would probably be best off getting a 4K TV screen at this size. A 2K or 1440p resolution could also work really well at 65’’ but not only are those harder to find but you may consider them a bit too outdated after owning them for only a year or two.
Final Thoughts
55’’ and 65’’ screens are both popular TV screen sizes for a reason. While they are big, neither of them is too big for most apartments or households, even including some bedrooms as well. They both work well for many different placements, whether wall mounted or placed on a cabinet. This makes them both versatile choices.
For great examples of TV sets in this department, check out the TCL 55-inch 4K 55S535 model or the Samsung 65-inch UHD AU8000 Series. Either one of these sets will offer the ideal viewing experience you are looking for in a new, state of the art television set.
Our pick
TCL 55″ 5-Series 4K UHD Dolby Vision HDR QLED Roku Smart TV
- Superior 4K HDR picture quality
- HDR Pro Pack featuring Dolby Vision
- Advanced Digital TV Tuner
- Natural Motion 240
- Auto Game Mode
Our pick
SAMSUNG 65″ Class Crystal UHD AU8000 Series – 4K UHD HDR Smart TV with Alexa Built-in
- Dynamic Crystal Color
- Crystal Processor 4K
- Smart TV with Multiple Voice Assistants
- HDR (High-Dynamic Range)
- Motion Rate 120
Thank you for reading and good luck on your TV shopping!