LG B5 OLED55B5PUA 55"

The LG B5 is a 55-inch OLED that delivers perfect blacks, 120Hz gaming with G-SYNC and FreeSync, and Dolby Vision HDR for $800 USD. It's not the brightest OLED out there, and the built-in speakers are nothing special, but the price-to-performance ratio is excellent. If you're upgrading from an LED TV and want that OLED jump without breaking the bank, this is the one to get.

The Alpha 8 AI Processor Gen 2 is the star here. LG claims 100% colour volume and 100% colour fidelity, which in plain English means the B5 can hit the full DCI-P3 colour space without washing out at higher brightness levels. That's a big deal for HDR content, where cheaper panels tend to lose saturation as the scene gets brighter. The infinite contrast ratio is standard OLED fare, but it's still the thing that makes this TV look so good in a dark room. Every pixel turns off completely for true black, so you get that depth and dimensionality that LCDs just can't match.

Gaming performance is solid, with the 120Hz refresh rate and both G-SYNC and FreeSync support meaning you won't see screen tearing on either an NVIDIA or AMD GPU. The HDMI 2.1 ports are there for 4K at 120Hz, which is what you want for a PS5 or Xbox Series X. Our gaming percentile ranking of 75th puts it in the "strong" category, not top of the charts, but more than enough for most people. The OLED Motion tech helps with fast-moving content, though if you're a competitive gamer chasing every millisecond of input lag, there are faster panels out there. For everyone else, this is a very capable gaming TV.

The Sony BRAVIA XR XR77A95L is the obvious step-up competitor, with a bigger screen and Sony's excellent processing, but you'll pay significantly more for it. The TCL QM8K and Hisense U8 series are the value challengers, offering mini-LED brightness that beats the B5 in well-lit rooms, though they can't match the OLED's perfect blacks and viewing angles. The Samsung Neo QLED QN900F is another bright-room contender, but again, it's a different technology with different strengths.

Where the B5 wins is the combination of OLED contrast, gaming features, and price. The Roku Plus Series 55R6C7 is cheaper, but it's a budget LCD that doesn't come close on picture quality or HDR performance. If you want the OLED look and you don't want to spend a fortune, the B5 is the sweet spot. If you need brightness above all else, look at the TCL or Hisense instead.

At $800 USD, the B5 is one of the more affordable ways to get into a 55-inch OLED from a major brand. You're getting the same core panel tech that LG puts in their more expensive models, just without the brightness-boosting tricks. The value proposition is strong if you're coming from an older LED TV and want that OLED jump without spending $1,500 or more. Our budget score of 79.2 reflects that this is a good deal, though not the absolute cheapest 55-inch OLED you'll find.

The trade-off is brightness and peak HDR performance. If you're in a room with lots of windows or you watch a lot of daytime sports, you might find yourself wishing for more punch. But for evening movie watching and gaming, the B5 delivers 90% of the premium OLED experience at a fraction of the price. That's a trade most people will happily make.

The LG B5 is one of those TVs that makes you realize how far OLED has come. It's a 55-inch 4K panel with the Alpha 8 AI Processor Gen 2 doing the heavy lifting, and LG is leaning hard into the AI angle this year. There's even a dedicated AI button on the Magic Remote now, which feels like a small thing until you're three menus deep trying to find the picture settings. The B5 sits in that sweet spot where you get the core OLED experience without paying for the flashier G-series or the brighter MLA panels. And at $800 USD from Best Buy, it's priced to move.

Who's this for? Someone who wants that perfect black level and pixel-level contrast without spending a fortune. It's a strong pick for dark room movie watching and streaming, and the smart home crowd will appreciate how well it plays with Alexa and the rest of the webOS ecosystem. Our database puts it in the 87.6 range for smart home use and 83.2 for streaming, which tells you LG nailed the software side. The 120Hz panel and HDMI 2.1 support also make it a legitimate gaming display, even if it's not the absolute fastest thing on the market.

What makes the B5 interesting is the balance. You're getting Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG, G-SYNC and FreeSync support, Wi-Fi 6E, and that gorgeous OLED panel, all in a package that weighs about 14.3 kg and mounts on a standard 300x200 VESA pattern. It's not the brightest OLED out there, and the picture quality percentile ranking of 36th tells us it's not going to blow anyone away in a sunroom. But for the price, the feature set is genuinely hard to argue with.

If you're putting this TV in a bright room with lots of windows, or you plan to use it outdoors on a patio, the B5 is not for you. The outdoor score of 50.6 in our database is a clear signal that this panel struggles in high ambient light. You'd be better off with a bright mini-LED like the TCL QM8K or Hisense U8, which can push much higher peak brightness and fight glare more effectively.

Also skip this if you're a competitive gamer who needs the absolute lowest input lag and fastest response times. The B5 is good for gaming, but there are dedicated gaming monitors and higher-end OLEDs that edge it out. And if you're an audio purist who refuses to buy a soundbar, the 2.0 channel speakers here won't satisfy you. Budget for a soundbar or a proper audio setup if you go with the B5.

For most people, the LG B5 is the OLED to buy right now. It nails the fundamentals: perfect blacks, accurate colours, solid gaming features, and a smart TV platform that actually works well. The $800 USD price makes it an easy recommendation for anyone upgrading from an older TV. You'll notice the difference immediately, especially if you watch movies in a dark room.

If you're a serious home theatre enthusiast who wants the absolute best HDR brightness, you should look at LG's G-series or Sony's A95L instead. And if you're putting this in a bright living room with floor-to-ceiling windows, the B5 might leave you wanting more. But for a bedroom, a basement, or a moderately lit living room, this is a fantastic TV that punches well above its price.