50 vs. 55 Inch TV: A Big Difference?

Five extra inches of screen space can cost a few hundred bucks, and that’s a lot. 

Even Elon Musk, currently the wealthiest man in the world, would give spending more for a “few extra inches” a second thought.

Is such a minute addition really worth paying hundreds of dollars more for? It is a puzzle that hounds both gamers and movie buffs. 

Here we will break down the major differences between the two and why some lean toward spending a few extra Benjamins. 

In all honesty, as a team of happy-go-lucky cinephiles, we’d drop a few hundreds on the extra five inches. 

Still, some consumers with a better grasp of financial management would choose otherwise. 

Further proving that it is a conundrum indeed. Read through this article, and we promise to give you tips that may sway your decision to achieve finality. 

First up, let’s discuss their differences, shall we? 

What is a 50-inch TV?

Let’s get this out of the way:

• Fifty-inch screens aren’t fifty inches wide. 
• The number of inches a screen is advertised as actually refers to the longest point of its diagonal dimensions.
• It isn’t fifty inches wide or long. It is a combination of both. 

Confused? Don’t worry, so were we. However, think of it this way if you are a geometry buff. 

Your rectangular screen is made up of two right angle triangles, and it is their shared hypotenuse that measures fifty inches.

Here’s a diagram to give you a visual.

As you can see, its width doesn’t reach fifty inches, with its height measuring nearly only half as much.

Fifty inches refers to the longest end-to-end point of your screen. 

This clarification matters because now, five extra inches may look like much more than you initially thought.

What is a 55-Inch TV?

Now that you know what a fifty-inch TV looks like, you have a better idea of how big fifty-five inches should be.

While it is five inches larger, its height and width measure only a couple of inches more.

Here’s something to help you understand what we mean.

You can see that even the width of a fifty-five-inch TV doesn’t measure fifty inches. 

However, both its width and height measure at least two inches more. 

A fifty-five-inch screen’s total surface area is five inches larger. 

If you ask us, this makes all the difference, but let’s compare them side-to-side.

50 vs 55 Inches: Breaking It Down

Unless your bedroom is larger than average, you probably aren’t buying a spectacular fifty to fifty-five-inch SmartTV  setup for personal viewing. 

Maybe, you are considering making an addition to your home theater or an upgrade from what you already have for gatherings like movie marathons or game nights. And here’s where their size and use may differ.

Using a 50-inch vs a 55-inch TV 

Let’s say you host regular movie marathons and require large screens to optimize the viewing experience. In this case, bigger displays make better choices for your viewing parties. 

However, when it comes to visual technicalities such as resolution, there aren’t many extras you are paying for between fifty-inch and fifty-five-inch screens. 

Are There Fundamental Differences Other Than Their Size?

Their use and function are the same. They both require electric input, link cables, stands, and mounts. 

There aren’t necessarily any hardware or software variations between the two other than their size. 

Because digital screens are such integral parts of our lives for watching videos, playing games, streaming, or sharing presentations, even if size is the only distinction between two screens, it may make all the difference!

However, remember that larger devices require more room. You might be unable to place a fifty-five-inch in the same area using the same mount as devices that measure less.

Supporting components are probably the most significant differences besides their sizes, and it could be a problem if you don’t have more to spend on supplementary parts.

E.g., Mounts, brackets, etc.

Affordability

As we have mentioned, the difference in prices is typically significant. 

A few hundred dollars for five extra inches may already be too much for your budget.

Have you thought about how much more you have to spend on add-ons to accommodate your new hardware if it doesn’t fit into your existing stands, mounts, or brackets? 

Don’t attempt to forcibly attach a fifty-five-inch screen on a mount that is only built to accommodate fifty inches or less. 

You risk damaging your home’s TV, mount, and other fixtures by forcing something where it doesn’t belong.

A wall mount  needs to fit your TV correctly, and a sturdy bracket  can save you from headaches and unnecessary costs in the future.

Alternatives

We know you must have already spent a significant amount of time deciding between a 50- and 55-inch TV. However, if you are already leaning toward a fifty-five-inch, did you know you only had to spend a little extra to make a ten-inch difference instead of just five?

Yes! If you want to go all the way, let’s go all the live-long way! 

Why not go for sixty inches? If you have at least another $100-$150 to spare, you can opt for additional square inches!

Think about it. A fifty-five-inch TV costs an average of $200 more than fifty-inch-TVs, and a sixty-inch TV only requires a hundred dollars more to double the additional inches you are already purchasing. It’s a lesser price for a more significant upgrade. 

Still, if you want to keep your options between a fifty- and fifty-five-inch TV, here’s a comparison table to help simplify things.

Comparison Table

It may come as a shock to some of you that the “five extra inches” wasn’t only, in fact, five. 

• Based on overall computations, the difference between a fifty-inch TV and a fifty-five-inch TV is more than two hundred square inches.

You are paying an average of a dollar per additional square inch.

Final Words

Hopefully, we have equipped you with enough information to choose between a 50- and 55-inch TV.

Remember, in terms of resolution and other similar aspects, there are no significant differences between the two.

However, you know that you aren’t paying more for an extra five inches but two hundred additional inches instead.

We hope this makes things easier for you, and you can see your choice sitting in your living room without regret!

Don’t forget to invite us to your viewing party!