On May 4, 2026, Hisense’s 55-inch QD6 QLED is in stock at $350 – $6.36/inch. TCL does not have a 55‑inch QLED available; its closest alternative, the 50‑inch 50S5K, costs $374.98 ($7.50/inch).
The Short Answer
Hisense wins the 55‑inch value comparison. Its 55‑inch QD6 QLED is the only 55‑inch QLED from either brand we can track on May 4, 2026, at $350 ÷ 55″ = $6.36/inch. TCL’s closest QLED in stock is the 50‑inch 50S5K at $374.98 ÷ 50″ = $7.50/inch – an 18% higher per‑inch cost for a smaller screen (($7.50 – $6.36) / $6.36 ≈ 17.9%). If you specifically want a 55‑inch QLED, Hisense is the cheaper‑per‑inch choice between these two brands today.
Price Per Inch Breakdown
The table above uses the two models that give a real‑world 55‑inch or nearest‑size comparison. Here’s the math behind each:
- Hisense 55″ QD6: $350 ÷ 55″ = $6.36/inch (BuyPerUnit live tracker).
- TCL 50″ 50S5K: $374.98 ÷ 50″ = $7.50/inch (Amazon, live Supabase listing).
No 32‑inch QLEDs are included because a 32‑inch screen is irrelevant for a buyer targeting 55 inches; per‑inch figures for smaller TVs cannot be directly compared to a 55‑inch set (a 32‑inch TCL QLED at $199.99 delivers $6.25/inch, but that size sits outside the 50″‑65″ band most 55‑inch shoppers consider).
If we relax the size constraint and look at the cheapest QLED overall between the two brands, TCL’s 32‑inch 32S5K would technically have the lowest $/inch ($199.99 ÷ 32″ = $6.25/inch). However, that does not answer the 55‑inch question.
Same Size, Same Tier?
No – and that’s the core of the story.
Hisense offers a 55‑inch QLED (QD6 series) in the tracking window; TCL does not. TCL’s 55‑inch QLED lineup was not in stock across our monitored retailers on May 4, leaving only smaller models. Both are QLED‑branded displays, but the footprints differ: 55″ vs. 50″.
We considered using TCL’s 32‑inch QLED to compare $/inch, but that would be a false equivalence – a 32″ living‑room TV is a different product class. The closest comparable size from TCL is the 50‑inch 50S5K, which serves as the best proxy for what a 55‑inch TCL would cost per inch.
What the Extra Cost Buys You
The TCL 50S5K actually asks for $25 more than the Hisense 55″ QD6 while delivering five fewer diagonal inches. What distinguishes the two:
- Hisense 55QD65QF (55″): Fire TV smart platform, 4K resolution, QLED color. The listing title does not mention HDR or backlight type, so we stick to confirmed features only.
- TCL 50S5K (50″): Google TV smart platform, HDR10, Dolby Audio, Game Mode – all explicitly stated in the product title.
So the extra per‑inch cost on the TCL nets you HDR10 and Google TV, but you lose 5″ of screen real estate and pay $24.98 more outright.
When Each Makes Sense
- At $6.36/inch against $7.50, it’s the clear value pick for the size.
- Choose the TCL 50″ 50S5K if you strongly prefer Google TV with HDR10 and are willing to pay 18% more per inch for a smaller display. It also works if a 50‑inch set fits your space better and you value the smart platform over an extra 5″.
Verdict
Hisense takes the 55‑inch crown by actually having a 55‑inch QLED in stock. On May 4, 2026, its QD6 costs $6.36/inch – the only per‑inch figure that matters for a 55‑inch QLED between these two brands. TCL’s nearest competitor, the 50‑inch 50S5K, comes in at $7.50/inch, making Hisense the cheaper‑per‑inch buy for anyone whose target size is 55 inches. Prices were checked live on May 4, 2026, and will shift over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which brand has a cheaper 55‑inch QLED per inch right now?
Hisense. Its 55‑inch QD6 (55QD65QF) is in stock at $350, which works out to $6.36/inch. TCL does not currently have any 55‑inch QLED we can track, so the closest alternative is a 50‑inch model at $7.50/inch – 18% higher per inch.
Is there a TCL 55‑inch QLED available?
No. On May 4, 2026, our price tracking did not record any TCL 55‑inch QLED TV. The only TCL QLEDs we saw were 32‑inch and 50‑inch models. If a TCL 55‑inch QLED reappears, we’ll update this head‑to‑head with fresh numbers.
How much more per inch does TCL’s closest model cost?
TCL’s 50‑inch 50S5K costs $7.50/inch, which is $1.14 more per inch than the Hisense 55‑inch QD6 ($6.36). That’s a difference of roughly $1.14 per diagonal inch, adding up to $57 more across a 50‑inch screen, while also giving you less total screen area.
Should I buy the 55‑inch Hisense or the 50‑inch TCL for the best value?
For the best $/inch at the 55‑inch size, the Hisense 55″ QD6 is the winner. If a 50‑inch screen meets your needs, the TCL 50S5K offers HDR10 and Google TV – but you’ll pay $374.98 for a smaller display, making the per‑inch cost significantly higher. The choice depends on whether you prioritize screen size and value per inch over the smart‑TV ecosystem.
What if I consider all QLED brands, not just Hisense and TCL?
The live QLED category floor on May 4, 2026, belongs to VIZIO: the VIZIO VQD50M 50‑inch QLED is $194, which yields $3.88/inch – far lower than either brand’s offering. If you’re open to other brands and sizes, that VIZIO model represents the best $/inch across the entire QLED market. However, this analysis focuses specifically on Hisense vs. TCL for 55‑inch shoppers.