Samsung’s 55-inch QN55Q8F QLED is $547.99 — just $9.96 per inch — while LG’s cheapest 55-inch 4K TV in this snapshot, the OLED55C5PUA, is $1,179.99 or $21.45 per inch. That puts Samsung at less than half the per‑inch cost. If your 55‑inch purchase is about value on May 3, 2026, Samsung is the clear budget pick.
The Short Answer
Samsung wins the 55‑inch price‑per‑inch battle by a large margin. The Samsung 55" Q8F QLED (QN55Q8F) is $547.99 on Newegg — $9.96 per inch ($547.99 ÷ 55). The cheapest 55‑inch LG model tracked in this snapshot, the OLED C5 (OLED55C5PUA), is $1,179.99 on Amazon — $21.45 per inch ($1,179.99 ÷ 55). That’s a difference of $11.49 every screen inch, or a 53.6% lower cost per inch for Samsung (($21.45 − $9.96) ÷ $21.45 × 100). If you simply want the least expensive 55‑inch 4K TV per inch of screen, Samsung’s QLED is the pick.
Price Per Inch Breakdown
- Samsung 55" Class Q8F QLED 4K Vision AI Smart TV (QN55Q8F)
Price: $547.99 at Newegg | $/inch: $9.96 ($547.99 ÷ 55 ≈ $9.96) - LG 55" Class OLED C5 4K Smart TV (OLED55C5PUA)
Price: $1,179.99 at Amazon | $/inch: $21.45 ($1,179.99 ÷ 55 ≈ $21.45)
The per-inch gap of $11.49 means every inch of Samsung’s screen costs less than half what that same inch costs on LG’s C5. In percentage terms, Samsung is 53.6% cheaper per inch than this LG 55‑inch OLED.
For context, LG’s overall tracked price floor — the cheapest LG 4K TV of any size in our data — is the 42‑inch OLED C5 at $778.65 ($18.54 per inch). Even against that smaller set, Samsung’s 55‑inch Q8F is roughly 46.3% less expensive per inch (($18.54 − $9.96) ÷ $18.54). The value lead holds regardless of the specific LG model you compare.
Same Capacity, Same Tier?
Both are 55‑inch 4K TVs, but QLED and OLED put them in different technology tiers. The panel tech drives most of the price difference — OLED costs more to manufacture than QLED. For cost-per-inch shoppers who only care about screen size, this is still a direct comparison. If you want OLED’s self-lit pixels, the LG C5 is the sole OLED here and commands a premium.
What the Extra Cost Buys You
Looking at objective specs for these two models:
- Display Type: LG C5 — OLED (self‑emissive pixels); Samsung Q8F — QLED (LED‑backlit with quantum dots). OLED typically delivers perfect blacks and wider viewing angles.
- Price Premium: Extra $11.49 per inch, or about 115% more per screen inch than the Samsung Q8F ($21.45 vs $9.96).
- Smart Platform: LG C5 runs webOS (2025); Samsung Q8F runs Vision AI/Tizen. Both are current platforms, but no performance data beyond model year is available in this snapshot.
- Warranty: Standard 1‑year limited on both from respective retailers; no extended coverage data present.
No other objective differentiators (RAM, processor, HDMI bandwidth) are confirmed for these variants, so we stop at display tech and price.
When Each Makes Sense
- Choose the Samsung 55" Q8F ($9.96/in) if you want the absolute lowest price per inch for a 55‑inch 4K TV today and you don’t require OLED‑level contrast. You’ll save over $630 versus the LG C5 and still get a 55‑inch 4K smart TV.
- Choose the LG 55" C5 ($21.45/in) if OLED’s self‑illuminating pixel quality is worth paying 115% more per inch (that’s $11.49 extra for every diagonal inch). The $1,179.99 price includes that OLED panel, and you’re willing to spend that premium for the deepest blacks.
Verdict
On May 3, 2026, Samsung’s 55‑inch QN55Q8F QLED at $547.99 ($9.96/inch) is the clear per‑inch value champion against LG’s 55‑inch OLED C5 at $1,179.99 ($21.45/inch). Even if we broaden the comparison to LG’s overall 4K floor, Samsung remains roughly 46% cheaper per inch. All prices are in‑stock online as of the data snapshot: Newegg for Samsung, Amazon for LG. If your decision is driven by cost per diagonal inch and you’re not locked into OLED, Samsung wins hands down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Samsung QN55Q8F really cheaper per inch than any LG 55‑inch 4K TV?
In our May 3, 2026 tracking of LG 55‑inch 4K TVs, the cheapest model captured was the OLED C5 at $1,179.99 ($21.45/in). The Samsung Q8F at $547.99 ($9.96/in) is indeed 53.6% less per inch. Note that other LG 55‑inch models exist but weren’t returned in this specific comparison snapshot; the gap may shrink if/when a lower‑priced LG NCED or QNED 55‑inch appears in our live data.
Why does LG’s 55‑inch OLED cost $21.45 per inch while Samsung’s QLED is under $10?
The technology difference is the main driver. OLED panels are manufactured differently from LED‑backlit QLEDs and generally command a higher price. The LG C5 is a 2025 OLED model with self‑emissive pixels; the Samsung Q8F uses a QLED backlight system. The price difference ($1,179.99 vs $547.99) directly reflects that panel cost.
Can I get a 55‑inch LG non‑OLED TV that’s cheaper per inch?
Our current vs query didn’t return any 55‑inch LG NCED or QNED models, so we can’t confirm a cheaper 55‑inch LG in this exact dataset. LG’s overall 4K floor is a 42‑inch OLED C5 at $18.54/in, but that’s a smaller screen. If a budget 55‑inch LG LED appears, it could reduce the gap, but as of this snapshot the Samsung Q8F remains dramatically less expensive per inch than any tracked LG 55‑inch.
Where can I buy the Samsung 55" Q8F for $547.99?
The price is from Newegg, in‑stock as of May 3, 2026. Check the Newegg listing directly for the Samsung QN55Q8F; prices and availability may change after the snapshot date.
Does the $/inch calculation include the stand or just the panel?
Our $/inch figure uses the listed price of the complete television (panel plus included stand) divided by the screen’s diagonal size in inches. If the retailer bundles a stand‑free version, the per‑inch number wouldn’t change because the diagonal remains 55 inches. The math is transparent: $547.99 ÷ 55 = $9.96; $1,179.99 ÷ 55 = $21.45.