The best 55-inch 4K TVs are a great stepping stone into the world of cinematic home theaters. There are a lot of choices when it comes to 55-inch TVs, too, as almost all of the products in our best TV rankings have a 55-inch option. These TVs vary by price point and screen technology. You'll find today's best OLED TVs and high-end LED options, more affordable QLED screens, and the supremely budget-friendly LED alternatives.
Having this kind of selection to browse through is nice – but it can also feel overwhelming. That's why we've put together this guide to the best 55-inch TVs, so you can compare what's out there and find a fantastic discount (just in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup).
We've taken different use cases and priorities into mind when shortlisting screens, including picture and sound quality, color accuracy, and price. The TechRadar team also gets hands-on with all of the TVs listed below. We test out each screen, so we can confidently assert how they hold up in real-world setups.
You'll also find older models in our rankings. Since prices are typically slashed after launch, these older options could give you the best bang for your buck, even after newer models take center stage. Plus, gamers will be happy to learn that today's best gaming TVs often come in 55-inch sizes, too.
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I'm TechRadar's Managing Editor for Entertainment, and I've been in tech publishing for over 15 years, including for TechRadar in its earliest days. I've been writing about the latest TVs and soundbars since 2017, and I worked directly with our reviewers and editors to put together the recommendations in this guide, based on our real-world experience with these TVs.
July 11, 2026
Revamped entries, adding the TCL QM6K and the TCL C6K as the best options under $/£500, and the LG B5 as the best for under $/£1,000.
The top 55-inch TVs, chosen by our testers
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Best 55-inch TV overall
✅ You want top-tier picture performance: Thanks to the C5's striking contrast, vibrant colors, and clarity, you get a premium viewing experience at a mid-range price.
✅ You want an OLED that's great for gaming: Packed with features, it's also very responsive and serves up stunning visuals, making it a top choice for gamers.
❌ You already own the C4: We highly rate the C5, but its improvements over the C4 are minor. If you've got last year's model, there's little reason to upgrade.
❌ You want exceptional built-in sound: Audio here is fine, but doesn't match up to the C5's impressive picture quality.
The LG C5 continues LG’s C-series tradition of delivering top-tier OLED performance at a more approachable price than flagship models. The biggest news here is a new Alpha 9 Gen 8 AI Processor, which brings a brightness boost as well as smarter picture and sound tuning, making it a worthy successor to the C4 and an easy pick as the best overall 55-inch TV.
Picture quality is impressive across the board. Colors are vibrant and accurate, contrast is fantastic, and detail is life-like. Motion is handled well, and the C5’s upscaling adds sharpness to lower-res sources. Like most OLEDs, it does pick up reflections if you watch in a bright room, but in typical or dimmer spaces, it looks great.
The built-in 2.2-channel Dolby Atmos system is clear and balanced, and LG’s AI sound tools will give you a chance to personalize the audio. But a soundbar is still necessary here if you want depth and impact. The C5 is great for gaming. All four HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K 144Hz, VRR, ALLM, Dolby Vision gaming, plus FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync, and LG’s Game Optimizer is here too, which makes quick adjustments easy.
LG's webOS 25 is still one of the best smart TV platforms, now with improved AI search, tailored recommendations, and profile switching with voice recognition. It’s fast, intuitive, and packed with useful customization.
The C4 is still the better bargain while it remains available, but if you want the latest tech, then the C5 offers outstanding picture quality, excellent gaming support, and a polished smart experience. It’s the most well-rounded 55-inch TV you can buy.
Read our full LG C5 review
Best 55-inch TV under $500
✅ You're looking for a feature-rich bargain: Despite its budget pricing, the QM6K delivers more than other cheap TVs.
✅ You need an easy-to-use TV: If you don't want to get bogged down in menus and setup, the Google TV is a great fit.
❌ You want the absolute best picture quality: Our tests found that the QM6K's picture is decent, but it displays some vignetting.
❌ Audio quality is everything: Similar to its picture, the QM6K's audio is average if slightly boxy.
If you're on the hunt for a bargain 55-inch TV that still delivers outstanding picture quality, the TCL QM6K delivers in droves. It's decently bright, and during our hands-on living room tests, it consistently produced a punchy, watchable picture even in rooms with moderate daylight.
Picture quality holds up well for everyday use, with the panel supporting up to a 120Hz refresh rate. This makes the QM6K great for watching sports and gaming, where smooth motion matters the most. We appreciated the four HDMI inputs, too, including two HDMI 2.1 ports, which provide flexibility for connecting multiple modern devices. The Google TV OS runs smoothly – great news for folks who want a fuss-free interface. Setup and daily navigation are nice and straightforward.
The QM6K also impressed us as a budget gaming TV. Input lag measured at 13.1ms in Game mode at 4K/120Hz. We found that translated to fantastic responsiveness with responses happening immediately in even the most action-heavy games. Variable refresh rate support and the 120Hz refresh rate combine to deliver solid gaming performance for the price, covering the needs of most casual and mid-core gamers.
There are a few caveats to keep in mind, however, starting with the overall picture quality. The QM6K can't match the near-infinite contrast and color accuracy of OLED models like the LG C5, nor the peak brightness of Samsung's S95F, both of which cost considerably more. Still, for what you pay, the QM6K offers more than sufficient punch and color richness in typical living room settings.
Sound is another predictable weak spot, and we felt that the audio was thin and lacked depth, especially when listening to dialogue at lower volumes. If you're used to premium TV speakers or crave cinematic sound, you'll want to budget for a soundbar or external speakers. This is par for the course in this price bracket, but it's worth planning for.
Read our full TCL QM6K review
Best 55-inch TV under £500
✅ You don't want to shell out for a flagship TV: The C6K comes with mini-LED picture quality, plenty of features, and a price that won't break the bank.
✅ You're a gamer: Considering the price, the C6K's gaming features and performance are especially impressive.
❌ You watch from an angle: Unfortunately, we found that the C6K's contrast fades when viewed from off-centre, and blooming is more visible.
❌ You don't have a soundbar: The C6K's built-in sound is distinct and clear, but for the best and most immersive audio, you'll need to pair it with a soundbar.
The TCL C6K is as impressive as it is budget-friendly, delivering impressive color accuracy, sharp detail, and deep black levels for its price bracket. For anyone prioritizing picture quality over premium frills, it's a compelling starting point.
In our hands-on testing, the C6K’s mini-LED panel delivered bright, punchy images with measured peak brightness of 705 nits in Filmmaker Mode and 984 nits in Standard Mode on a 55-inch screen. HDR highlights looked impactful, and upscaling from HD and lower-quality sources produced consistently crisp results – and we found that colors, especially reds and blues, practically leapt off the screen.
There was some minor black crush during dark scenes, and sharpness wasn't quite on par with pricier rivals, but we think that the overall performance still outclasses anything else at this price.
For gamers, the C6K checked all essential boxes: two HDMI 2.1 ports with VRR and ALLM support, and input lag measured at a responsive 13.2ms in Game mode (4K/60Hz). We enjoyed a smooth and stutter-free gaming session without any artifacting or ghosting during fast-paced sequences. This set covers all the basics for current-gen consoles and offers a degree of future-proofing not always found in this category.
Audio remains a compromise – as you might expect. The built-in speakers are serviceable for casual viewing, but the soundstage feels confined, and bass is notably thin, lacking the depth you’d want for movies or games. On the plus side, Google TV access is straightforward, with a clean interface that's easy to navigate. More advanced smart features, however, like universal search and profile switching, can feel a step behind higher-end brands.
Read our full TCL C6K review
Best 55-inch TV under $1000 / £1000
✅ You want great picture quality: Expect contrast-rich images, vibrant colors, and realistic textures. It looks more premium than the budget price suggests.
✅ You want a solid gaming TV: A full suite of gaming features and impressively responsive performance make it a strong choice for gamers.
❌ You want to watch in bright rooms: Brightness is only middling, and the screen can be reflective, so it performs best in dimmer conditions.
❌ You’d prefer solid built-in sound: The audio isn’t terrible, but it doesn’t live up to the picture quality. You’ll need a soundbar for the best experience.
LG’s B5 is one of the cheapest OLED TVs you can buy, yet it still delivers impressive picture quality and excellent gaming support, making it our top budget pick.
In our LG B5 review, we found its pictures to be crisp and contrast-rich, with vibrant colors and realistic textures that look more premium than its entry-level status would suggest. Detail levels are strong, and although it’s not the brightest TV around, it can still produce a cinematic image, as long as the conditions are right. The trade-off comes in bright rooms, where its middling brightness and reflective screen can make darker scenes lose their impact. It’s best to watch it in dimly lit environments instead.
The B5 is well stocked with gaming features, carrying four HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K 120Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium, Nvidia G-Sync), ALLM, and Dolby Vision gaming. It also runs on LG’s latest webOS 25 smart platform, which adds new AI tools like AI search, AI Concierge, and an improved AI chatbot, while keeping navigation fast and user-friendly.
The B5 doesn’t bring big changes over last year’s B4, and its built-in audio doesn’t live up to the picture, so a soundbar is recommended. But with its mix of OLED picture quality, gaming specs, and new smart AI features at this price, the LG B5 is the best budget OLED TV you can buy.
Read our full LG B5 review
Best elite 55-inch OLED TV
✅ You watch TV in a bright room: The Glare Free 2.0 screen here eliminates reflections, perfect if you might want to put it in light, bright spaces.
✅ You love a colorful picture: The color display here is stunning, especially with HDR sources. Along with high brightness, the picture experience of the S95F is truly fantastic.
❌ You're looking for a bargain: This is a flagship OLED TV, so it’s no surprise it comes with a premium price tag. It’s worth it, but it’ll stretch most budgets.
❌ You want a perfect picture out of the box: A minor complaint, but you do need to tweak Filmmaker Mode in bright viewing conditions.
The Samsung S95F is the brand’s latest flagship OLED TV, delivering a premium set of features with the top performance to match. It also manages to push brightness to impressive new highs, making it our top premium 55-inch OLED.
The S95F introduces a second-gen version of Samsung’s OLED Glare Free screen technology, improving on the original from the S95D that came before it by combining glare reduction with even better picture contrast in bright rooms. With its next-gen QD-OLED panel, the S95F delivers richer brightness, superb black levels, and realistic details and textures that give movies and TV shows incredible depth.
The One Connect box keeps external connections tidy while making the TV’s razor-thin design possible. The updated Tizen smart interface feels slicker than ever, now with a Samsung Art Store subscription option too. Gamers get plenty of features, 4K at 165Hz, VRR with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM, and HDR10+ gaming across four HDMI 2.1 ports, plus an ultra-low 9.5ms input lag. There’s also Samsung’s Game Hub for cloud gaming, as well as plenty of AI features that promise to fine-tune picture and sound.
Built-in audio is punchy and accurate with a strong level of bass for a slim set. Design-wise, the S95F is stunning; it’s sharp, sleek, and undeniably premium. It’s not flawless. Black levels aren’t perfect, and the high price will put it out of reach for many people. But the Samsung S95F is still an outstanding OLED and certainly deserves its place as our top premium pick.
Read our full Samsung S95F review
More 55-inch TVs we've tested
Hisense U6N: Hisense's cheapest mini-LED TV is now astonishingly cheap, particularly in the US, and provides bright images with good contrast. It lacks a 120Hz screen for gaming, so that's a key thing you're losing – but for movies on a budget, it's very good. It's just not quite as good on value as the TCL C805 in the UK, while the small price step up to the U7N in the US is small enough that we recommend most people should do that. But here's our Hisense U6N review to read through, because it does a very good job in its own right.
Hisense U8N: This is a super-bright mini-LED TV that’s excellent for both sports and movies, and also has great built-in sound. The main reason why the U8N got bumped by the Samsung Q80D for the mid-range spot is that it has fewer extensive gaming features than the Samsung, and 55 inches is a popular screen size for gaming. It's a fantastic TV, though, and you can read all about that in our full Hisense U8N review.
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Panasonic Z95B: Panasonic's new flagship OLED TV features a new 'Primary RGB Tandem Panel’ with similar tech as that found in LG’s G5 OLED. Last year’s Panasonic Z95A was only available in a 65-inch size in the US, but this new model is also sold in a 55-inch size and features a new 5.1.2-channel built-in speaker configuration tuned by Panasonic's sister brand Technics. Read our full Panasonic Z95B review.
Samsung Q60D: This budget QLED TV performs well, but you simply get much brighter images with better contrast and more features, especially for gaming, from the Hisense and TCL models mentioned here generally. Our Samsung Q60D review highlighted that it has far better picture quality than you might expect from its specs, though, so if the price is right and you want a Samsung set, it's a strong pick.
TCL C855: This is only available in the UK and Europe, but it's an extremely good-value mini-LED TV. Again, it falls in a slightly awkward place in terms of value, but we think it's very much worth looking at, especially because it has some really aggressive discounts. Here's our TCL C855 review for the in-depth verdict.
Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED: Amazon's first mini-LED TV delivers great picture quality and is surprisingly good for sports, as we found in our Amazon Mini-LED review. It has a good stock of gaming features and, unsurprisingly, uses the Fire TV Smart TV platform. It's also priced similarly to many other mini-LED sets.
Philips OLED809: Only available in the UK, the OLED809 is a brilliant mid-range OLED TV that offers great picture and sound quality, along with Philips' immersive Ambilight feature. We rated the OLED809 highly in our Philips OLED809 review, but it's marginally more expensive than its main rival, the LG C4.
How to choose the best 55-inch TV
What is the best 55-inch smart TV?
The LG C5 is the best 55-inch TV available. It sits at the top of our rankings thanks to its awesome image quality, a stack of features, and a price tag that won't break the bank. Although the LG C6 was recently unveiled, it's a pricier pick, and the C5 is still a great option that'll last you for years.
How much should you pay for a 55-inch TV?
55-inch TVs are typically budget-friendly, and some LCD models cost around $400/£400. That number will double for mid-tier options, however, and continue to rise for high-end screens with OLED panels or mini LED backlighting. A brand new 55-inch OLED will usually cost around $1,799 / £1,799, for example.
Is a 55-inch smart TV big enough?
55-inch TVs are the flagship size for today's televisions – and that makes them the most common sizing option. 55 inches is a happy medium between the best 43-inch TVs and the best 75-inch TVs.
Screen size is an important factor to keep in mind when shopping around, however. You'll typically pay less for a smaller screen, and we're seeing more and more options among the best 50-inch TVs that offer premium screen tech, including OLED.
However, larger screens are increasingly becoming the norm for those who can fit them into their home, and mass production means a big-screen display isn't quite the bank-breaking cost that it used to be.
A bigger screen translates to more details that are visible at a greater distance, and a better sense of cinematic immersion. Keep in mind, though, that picture defects are also more visible at larger sizes, so you should make sure that you're getting a TV good enough to warrant a step-up in screen size.
What should I look for in a 55-inch TV?
First and foremost, your 55-inch TV should deliver an outstanding picture – nobody wants to deal with artefacts or visual defects, after all.
We think that it's well worth investing in OLED or mini-LED screens at this size, as 55-inch TVs offer a great entry point to premium TV tech. You'll also avoid the massive price tags of larger models. For LCD models, you want to make sure you're getting direct full array lighting rather than the edge lighting still found on some budget sets, which limits the consistency of brightness across the screen.
Otherwise, you'll want 4K HDR support, and you may want to check that HDMI 2.1 is included if you're partial to gaming, with the VRR (variable refresh rate) and ALLM (auto low latency mode) support usually thrown in.
What’s the difference between an OLED 55-inch TV and an LED one?
There are several major differences between OLED and LED TVs. The main examples? Brightness, black levels, response times while playing video games, and the potential risk of burn-in.
We generally consider OLEDs to be better than LED sets. However, if you're working with a tight budget, LED TVs are still well worth the investment – and tend to be much cheaper.
We prefer OLED TVs because of the stunning picture quality that they deliver. It's better than the average LED experience, and though LED TVs are generally brighter than traditional OLED panels, the gap has reduced over the last few years. Thanks to the advent of the likes of Samsung’s QD-OLEDs (quantum dot technology) and LG’s MLA screens (Micro Lens Array), the best OLED TVs are now able to get startlingly bright.
Older WOLED TVs generally don’t get as bright as LED televisions, though. If you can’t afford a QD-OLED or one of LG or Panasonic’s more recent MLA sets - like the LG G4 OLED - you may be better off buying an LED TV if you do a lot of daytime viewing/gaming.
The biggest advantage OLEDs have up their sleeve is unquestionably their superb contrast, which is achieved thanks to their perfect black levels. As OLED TVs can turn off every single one of their on-screen pixels, you’re left with effortlessly inky blacks, which make them ideal for viewing movies at night in a dark room. By contrast, LED TVs have to rely on dimming zones in darker areas of on-screen content, and quite simply, these never fully convince as true black.
It’s worth noting that OLED technology does have one significant Achilles heel that LED TVs rarely suffer from: burn-in. This is a longstanding panel defect whereby if you leave a static image on an OLED TV for hours at a time (like, say, the HUD in a video game), it can leave a permanent ghostly artefact/shadow on the screen. Many modern OLED TVs have built-in features to help combat this problem - like pixel cleaning cycles - but this is still an area where LED has the advantage.
Finally, if you’re a gamer, OLED usually has the edge on LED, as often the best OLED TVs have slightly faster response times than LED sets. In turn, this makes playing video games feel a little more responsive to play.
What should I look for in a 55-inch TV for gaming?
Response time is a key element to keep in mind if you're on the hunt for a 55-inch gaming TV. You'll want as rapid a response as possible, with little to no input delay, so that the action happens instantly on screen as soon as you press a button. The good news is that most modern TVs come with dedicated Game Modes that dramatically reduce lag – so PS5 and Xbox Series X gaming sessions are as smooth as silk.
In general, LG makes the best gaming TVs thanks to the firm’s proprietary ‘Game Optimizer’. Easily accessed via its dedicated dashboard, it helps further reduce input lag via sliders that make in-game actions on a controller feel smoother.
LG’s gaming-focused optimiser also sports features such as VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), ALLM (Automatic Low Latency Mode), Nvidia G-Sync, and AMD FreeSync Premium - all of which further smooth out gameplay. Though it’s worth noting these features are also available in TVs from the likes of Samsung and Sony, too.
VRR helps make frame rate dips less noticeable, leading to in-game experiences that feel more consistent. G-Sync and FreeSync essentially perform the same function by, you guessed it, ‘syncing’ a game’s frames per second (FPS) to match your TV’s refresh rate.
How we test the best 55-inch TVs
We use the same methods to test the best 55-inch TVs as we do across all our other TV buying guides. This testing criteria is broken down by picture quality (looking at particular elements such as contrast, color, and so on), audio quality of built-in speakers, gaming features, smart TV platform, ease of use, design, and value for money. We base our testing on subjective opinion and objective measurements of the picture quality, which we take using specialized equipment.
Firstly, we’ll run on TVs across various types of AV sources, such as broadcast, streaming, and 4K Blu-ray. During this time, we’ll cycle through the different picture presets found on each set, such as Standard, Movie, and Sport, to establish what we see as the most accurate for that set. We then watch the same movies, TV shows, and so on again, making notes of how they compare to each other.
When analyzing picture quality, we’ll use a mixture of sources such as 4K Blu-ray and streaming to look at color reproduction and accuracy, contrast and black levels, and textures. We’ll then use lower-resolution sources such as broadcast TV and DVD to test a TV’s upscaling effectiveness.
We’ll also look at how a TV handles black uniformity (how well it can display dark tones across the screen evenly), especially on LCD-based models. This is when we consider how effective the backlight is and if it suffers from any backlight blooming. We’ll also test motion, not just for 24fps movies but also for sports viewing, looking out for judder and blur – and seeing how effective a TV's motion settings are for reducing this.
After we’ve conducted subjective tests surrounding picture quality, smart TV platform, sound quality, and so on, we move on to objective tests using specialized equipment to measure color accuracy, brightness, grayscale, and more, recording results through Portrait Displays' Calman calibration software.
The first area we will usually test is brightness. We use a test pattern generator and colorimeter to measure a TV’s brightness levels across a variety of window sizes, from 1% all the way to 100% (full screen brightness). The more significant window sizes include 10%, which will usually tell you what a TV’s peak brightness is and how HDR highlights will look, and 100%, which will indicate the TV’s full screen brightness and how it can handle longer periods of brightness across the whole screen (which is often important when viewing sports). Full-screen brightness generally also tells us how effective a TV will be at handling reflections. We do these tests not only to test a TV’s backlight, but also to measure our results against any figures claimed by the manufacturer. Brightness tests are conducted in light-controlled rooms to prevent any external light sources from affecting results.
Color reproduction, in both SDR and HDR, is also tested as we look at each TV’s accuracy to its source and how wide a color gamut it can display on screen. We won’t just look at color, though; we also look at grayscale to test how accurately a TV can display black tones and just how effective its contrast is as well.
When it comes to gaming tests, we use the Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI input lag tester to test the latency time that a TV’s processing adds when displaying video games. We’ll also test the effectiveness of a TV’s Game Mode (if it has one), which is often used to adjust the TV’s settings to its optimum when gaming. We also look out for a number of features, such as how many HDMI 2.1 ports a TV has and whether it supports VRR, 4K 120Hz, ALLM, and more.
When conducting these tests, we aim to keep everything as consistent as possible in our TV testing lab, but it’s worth noting that some reviewers will work in different environments with different setups. In those instances, we always make sure that our reviewers have the same level of equipment and conduct the same tests.
Latest updates to the best 55-inch TV list
July 11, 2026
Revamped entries, adding the TCL QM6K and the TCL C6K as the best options under $/£500, and the LG B5 as the best for under $/£1,000.
May 18, 2026
Updated FAQs, introduction, and 'How we test' section.
December 8, 2025
Replaced the LG C4 with the LG C5 as our 'best overall' choice. Also switched the Hisense U7N with the Hisense U75QG as our 'best budget' pick.
September 13, 2025
Replaced the Samsung S95D with the Samsung S95F as our 'best premium OLED' pick, based on our recent testing. Also added the LG B5 in our 'best budget OLED' slot, replacing the LG B4.
July 14, 2025
Replaced the Samsung 55QN90D with the Samsung 55QN90F as our ‘Best for sports’ pick, based on recent testing.
Read more updates…
May 8, 2025
Swapped LG G4 with the new LG G5 as 'Best for wall-mounting' option due to its superior overall picture quality.
March 10, 2025
Added in a gallery of images for each entry. Added more TVs to our section of 'Other TVs we've tested'.
February 13, 2025
Added new sections, 'What’s the difference between an OLED 55-inch TV and an LED one?' and 'What should I look for in a 55-inch TV for gaming?' to 'How to Choose the best 55-inch TV'.
January 15, 2025
Added section 'New 55-inch TVs coming in 2025' detailing new TV announcements made at CES.
December 20, 2024
Checked all products against our latest reviews, and added more information about other sets we've tested to add more context.
November 25, 2024
Added an 'Also consider' section describing otherwise worthy TVs not included in this guide, and why they didn't make it in.
November 13, 2024
Added section on Black Friday 2024 55-inch TV deals.
September 19, 2024
Replaced the Samsung QN90C with the Samsung QN90D as 'best for sport'.
August 21, 2024
Replaced the Samsung Q80C with the Samsung Q80D as 'best mid-range'.
July 2, 2024
Hisense U7N introduced as 'best budget (US)'. Amazon Omni QLED became 'best budget (UK).
June 3, 2024
Replaced LG C3 with new LG C4 as "Best for versatility" due to improved picture brightness and gaming features.
May 3, 2024
Replaced Samsung S95C with Samsung S95D for best premium OLED, due to improved picture/features.
March 28, 2024
Added testing data graphs for all TVs, to make it easy to compare them in key areas.
March 5, 2024
Expanded the 'How We Test' section to give more detail on how the TVs in this guide are tested.
January 31, 2024
Replaced the LG A2 with the LG B3 as 'best budget OLED' due to dwindling stock levels of the A2.
January 4, 2024
Added LG G3 as the 'best for wall mounting'. Checked the rest of list against our latest reviews.
December 13, 2023
Combined best budget UK and US to best budget and chose the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED. Removed Sony A95K and 'best for image quality' category. Renamed Samsung S95C as 'best premium OLED'. Replaced Samsung Q80B with Samsung Q80C as 'best mid-range' due to stock levels.
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