This guide explains CHOICE issue 579, published in January 2025, covering nine 55-inch 4K TVs bought in 2024. It is a historical test, not a 2026-model ranking or a claim that no newer test exists. Use its categories to frame buying questions, and assess newer products by their own full SKU specifications.
What the Consumer Council tested: nine 55-inch 4K smart TVs
The test was coordinated by International Consumer Research & Testing (ICRT) and carried out by a European laboratory, with a panel of expert viewers; the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department bought the same models separately for safety and energy-efficiency testing. The nine samples fall into three groups: three OLED, four QD/Mini LED and two conventional LED. Models and the retail prices the Council surveyed in December 2024 are below (the prices are historical reference only and have since changed):
| Brand / model | Panel type | Surveyed price, Dec 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung QA55S90DAJXZK | OLED | HK$15,980 |
| LG OLED55B4PCA | OLED | HK$21,980 |
| Sony K-55XR80 | OLED | HK$18,999 |
| Panasonic TH-55MX950H | QD/Mini LED | HK$9,980 |
| Samsung QA55QN85DBJXZK | QD/Mini LED (Neo QLED) | HK$9,980 |
| LG 55QNED86TCA | QD/Mini LED | HK$10,980 |
| TCL 55C655 | QD (quantum-dot LCD; not Mini LED) | HK$7,380 |
| Hisense 55A6N | LED | HK$3,890 |
| Skyworth 55SUE8500 | LED | HK$5,090 |
The full results distinguish picture, sound, energy efficiency, smart functions, usability and safety. Use the Consumer Council detailed report (Chinese-language page) for the exact scores and rating method. Its English URL notes that the detailed page is available in Chinese; access terms follow the Council's website. Compare the exact tested model rather than carrying a rating over to its successor.
Seven buying questions to take from the test categories
1. Contrast, viewing angle and reflections
For a room with windows or seating to the side, compare dark-scene contrast, reflections and viewing angle separately. Read the detailed report for each tested model's result; panel category alone does not establish every model's performance.
2. Compare the sources you actually watch
Use the source you actually watch when comparing picture quality: terrestrial broadcasts, compressed streams and 4K HDR can expose different strengths and weaknesses. A result for one source or tested model is not a guarantee for another model or every streaming app.
3. Check connections for the complete model
Check the complete model's HDMI count and supported resolution/frame-rate combinations. Reserve the ARC/eARC port if using TV audio return, and confirm VRR and HDR for the intended source. Panel refresh alone does not specify every input mode.
4. Dialogue and bass before choosing a Sound Bar
Compare dialogue clarity and bass at the volume you use before deciding whether to add a Sound Bar. The tested model's sound result does not establish its successor's sound. For connection options, see HDMI, eARC and soundbar connection guide.
5. Compare power under stated conditions
Compare measured or labelled power only under stated picture mode, content and standby conditions. Annual cost also depends on viewing hours and the dated tariff; a result for one OLED or Mini LED model is not a technology-wide cost ranking. See TV running-cost guide for the calculation method.
6. Privacy, account settings and updates
Before choosing a smart TV, check account requirements, privacy controls, how to opt out of data sharing and the official update commitment for the regional SKU. These settings can change with firmware and model generation, so an older sample's rating is not a guarantee for a newer model.
7. Read the applicable warranty
Warranty terms depend on the supplier, full model and use. Before ordering, get the service provider, period, on-site scope, included labour, separately quoted parts and exchange conditions in writing. Historical agent terms and repair quotes are not a current quotation for a newer TV.
How to use a January 2025 test in 2026
All nine samples are2024 models. A newer model with a similar name is a different TV, and old-stock availability must be checked. Use the test to identify picture, sound, privacy and support questions—not to transfer scores to new generations.
- Picture and power results belong to the nine tested SKUs and conditions; new panels and screen coatings can change them.
- Account, privacy and OS behaviour can change by generation, region and firmware; check the actual model.
What no longer holds is price and availability: the Council's figures are December 2024 survey prices for licensed sets, and today's market is led by 2025 and 2026 models. For where the technologies stand now, see our Mini LED vs OLED vs QLED 2026 comparison.
Test models and same-brand shopping references
The linked products below are same-brand references, not necessarily the same series. They were not scored in this test and do not inherit its results; verify exact size, regional SKU, current stock and price separately.
| Council test model | Same-brand reference (not tested here) | Relationship and warranty |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung QA55S90D OLED | Samsung S90F OLED product reference (2025); size/availability to confirm; related 65-inch and 77-inch | Next generation of the same S90 series. International version; three years of on-site inspection and repair from Elechid, parts quoted separately. S90F review |
| Samsung QA55QN85D Neo QLED | Samsung 55-inch QN85F Neo QLED (2025); also 75-inch and 85-inch | Next generation of the same QN85 series. International version; three years of on-site inspection and repair from Elechid, parts quoted separately. QN85F 55-inch review |
| LG OLED55B4 OLED | LG OLED evo C6 (2026), LG OLED evo G6 (2026) | Same brand, OLED; C6 and G6 sit above the B series, which we do not carry. International version; three years of on-site inspection and repair from Elechid, parts quoted separately. C6 review |
| LG 55QNED86T QD/Mini LED | LG 75-inch QNED86 (2025), 86-inch | Next generation of the same QNED86 series; we carry it in 75-inch and above only. International version; three years of on-site inspection and repair from Elechid, parts quoted separately. |
| Sony K-55XR80 OLED | Sony BRAVIA 75-inch range (XR90M2, XR70M2, XR50, XR30M2, S30) | Same brand, different technology: our Sony sets are all 75-inch Mini LED, RGB LED or LED — no OLED. Licensed sets with manufacturer warranty. |
| Panasonic TH-55MX950H | — | We do not carry Panasonic. For the same class, see the Mini LED TV collection. |
| TCL 55C655 QD (not Mini LED) | TCL P7K QLED (2025), TCL Q6CS QD-Mini LED (2025); a tier up, the C8K | Same brand, current entry to mid-range series. Licensed sets with manufacturer warranty. |
| Hisense 55A6N LED | Hisense Q6N series 4K (43/50/55-inch), Hisense U7N 144Hz (55/65-inch) | We do not list the A6N itself; the Q6N is the QLED series above the A series, and the U7N a tier above that. Licensed sets with manufacturer warranty. |
| Skyworth 55SUE8500 LED | Skyworth SUE8800 4K QLED (43/55/65-inch), Skyworth SUE7900 4K (43 to 65-inch) | Same SUE series; the SUE8800 is the higher model. Licensed sets with manufacturer warranty. |
A shared series name is not a new-model score. Compare the referenced products independently by room, inputs, reception and current quote. See 55-inch TV collection.
The Council says not to buy TVs "that do not meet Hong Kong specifications" — does that cover international versions?
The first item in the Council's buying tips is not to buy, from online shops, TVs that do not meet local specifications. That deserves to be taken seriously, and it is exactly the point on which a seller of international versions should be explicit. Our Samsung and LG TVs are international versions (not locally licensed); our Sony, TCL, Hisense, Toshiba and Skyworth sets are licensed. Versions can differ in panel, tuner, apps, plug, accessories and support, not only importer and warranty; and there are four things to confirm before you order:
- Free-to-air reception: all nine licensed sets in the Council test have DTMB built in. International-version spec sheets usually list DVB-T2, so whether a set receives Hong Kong's free channels has to be checked model by model — send us the model and we answer for that model. If it does not, check regional app availability, account/subscription conditions and the channels supplied by myTV SUPER, ViuTV or a compatible external DTMB box; they are not interchangeable services. See our TV signal and antenna guide.
- Plug and menu language: Malaysian and Singaporean versions use the same three-pin plug as Hong Kong; Thai versions use a different plug. Whether the menu offers Traditional Chinese also has to be confirmed per model. Ask on WhatsApp before ordering and we answer in writing.
- Who provides the warranty: the manufacturer's Hong Kong service network generally does not accept international versions, so Elechid does. The terms are: free on-site inspection and repair within three years; if parts need replacing, we quote first and proceed only after you confirm. That is not "everything free", but the four questions the Council tells you to ask — what is covered, is it on-site, how many years, are parts quoted before or charged after — all have written answers in our TV warranty policy.
- Licensed sets keep their manufacturer warranty: our Sony, TCL, Hisense, Toshiba and Skyworth sets are licensed, with warranty on the manufacturer's or agent's terms — the same arrangement as the sets in the Council's table.
For which route suits you, including how to read a model number's suffix to tell the market it was made for, see our licensed vs international version TV guide.
FAQ
Has the Consumer Council published a new TV test in 2026?
This guide discusses CHOICE issue 579, published in January 2025. For a newer test, consult the Council's current catalogue; the historical results here are not tests of 2026 models.
Which TV scored highest in the Consumer Council test?
For the highest-rated model and exact category scores in the January 2025 test, consult the Council's detailed results. Those ratings belong to the tested 2024 models, not to newer models with related series names.
Did the Council recommend a budget TV?
For mainly free-to-air viewing, compare reception compatibility, broadcast picture quality, reflections, sound and current price. An entry-level set may suit that use, but HDMI modes, app support and 4K HDR performance still need model-specific checks.
Are the Council's prices still accurate?
No, and they should not be read that way. They are December 2024 survey prices for licensed sets; the market is now led by 2025 and 2026 models, and current prices are those on each retailer's or product page.
Is the S90F Elechid sells the same set as the S90D the Council tested?
No. The S90D is the 2024 Hong Kong licensed model; the S90F is the 2025 model in the same S90 series, and ours is the international version, with three years of on-site inspection and repair from Elechid (parts quoted separately). Specifications, free-to-air reception and menu language are as stated on the product page — ask us about the specific model before ordering.
Do international-version TVs receive Hong Kong free-to-air channels?
Confirm the complete supplied SKU's DTMB reception and aerial conditions. If using myTV SUPER, ViuTV or an external DTMB box instead, check regional availability, accounts, subscriptions and channel coverage separately.
Related articles and products
55-inch TVs | OLED TVs | Mini LED TVs | All TVs
Licensed vs international version TV guide | Mini LED vs OLED vs QLED 2026 | Best Mini LED TVs 2026 | Android TV vs webOS vs Tizen | How long do TVs last
Warranty and contact
To check whether a particular model receives Hong Kong free-to-air channels, has a Traditional Chinese menu, or what delivery and wall mounting cost, WhatsApp +852 9847 9793 with the model and your floor and we will answer for that model. Delivery, installation and wall mounting are charged by size and on-site installation is available; see the delivery and installation page. Store: Room 403, Block A, Chung Mei Centre, 15 Hing Yip Street, Kwun Tong — a collection point; please arrange stock collection in advance, as the store has no demo or side-by-side comparison.
Source: Hong Kong Consumer Council, CHOICE issue 579 (January 2025), "First test of 55-inch 4K TVs", and the press release of 15 January 2025. Model-year correspondence follows each brand's official model naming. This article is general information; the ratings and prices quoted are the Council's data at the time of its survey.
