Choosing a TV with enough HDMI ports starts with the equipment you want to leave connected. A soundbar, set-top box and console can fill the available sockets quickly; add a streaming device, laptop or camera and cable swapping begins.
For buyers in India building a permanent setup, four physical inputs are the clean answer. Three can still be enough, but only after counting every device and the HDMI input reserved for eARC rather than trusting the headline port count.
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What actually matters when buying
Start by subtracting the soundbar. A TV with four HDMI inputs leaves three for other devices after eARC is occupied. A three-port model leaves two. If you own a set-top box, console and streaming device, the difference is an HDMI switch or a cable you keep unplugging.
Port placement matters too. Side-facing inputs are easier to reach on a wall-mounted TV, while tightly packed rear ports can make thick cables awkward. A useful layout is one you can access without pulling the television away from the wall.
Do not treat every HDMI 2.1 label as the same promise. eARC carries audio to a soundbar or receiver. ALLM can switch the TV into a low-latency mode. VRR adjusts refresh timing, and 4K120 requires the relevant bandwidth, panel and input support. One feature does not establish the others.
The panel itself matters as much as the socket. A native 120Hz or 144Hz panel is different from a 120Hz-labelled DLG or game mode. If gaming drives the purchase, confirm the native refresh rate and the exact port-feature map rather than buying on one large number.
An HDMI switch can be reasonable for low-bandwidth devices you rarely use, especially when the TV you prefer is much cheaper. It is less elegant for a console, soundbar or device you use every day, and it adds another box, cable and remote-control complication. If three inputs already cover your setup and Rs 60000 is the real ceiling, our guide to the best 55-inch 4K TVs under Rs 60000 in India opens up more picture and platform choices.
In this guide
- Four HDMI ports: connection-headroom picks
- TCL 55T8D: the 55-inch four-port default
- Sony K-43S25M2: four ports for a compact room
- Sony BRAVIA 3 S30: the larger four-port family
- Three ports may be enough
- Samsung UA55M2EHAULXL: Mini LED when two spare inputs are enough
- Samsung UA55UE81AFULXL: the lower-price 4K60 option
- LG 55NU870BPLA: the webOS and casting choice
- Xiaomi FX Pro 55: QLED and Fire TV near Rs 38000
- Which one should you buy?
| Tier and TV family | Approx. price | Connection fit | Main compromise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four ports: TCL 55T8D | Around Rs 58,000 | Four physical inputs; soundbar allocation depends on the eARC map | Exact eARC and gaming-feature map needs confirmation |
| Four ports: Sony K-43S25M2 | Around Rs 55,000 | Compact setup with soundbar plus three devices | 50Hz; no verified VRR or 4K120 |
| Four ports: Sony S30, 55/65 | Around Rs 80,000 / Rs 98,000 | Larger four-port setup with Dolby Vision | Availability may be patchy; check current stock and price |
| Three ports: Samsung M2EH | Around Rs 54,000 | eARC soundbar plus two devices | DLG 120Hz is not native 120Hz |
| Three ports: Samsung UE81A | Around Rs 37,500 | Basic 4K60 setup with two spare inputs | Check current stock and price |
| Three ports: LG NU87 | Around Rs 45,000 | webOS and casting with two spare inputs | No verified Dolby Vision |
| Three ports: Xiaomi FX Pro | Around Rs 38,000 | Fire TV and QLED with two spare inputs | 60Hz; not the obvious value pick beside Samsung UE81A |
Prices are approximate and can vary by seller, pincode and available offers. Check the current amount before buying.
Four HDMI ports: Connection-headroom picks
These are the models for a genuine four-input requirement. The two Sony options have verified eARC support, leaving three inputs for other devices when a soundbar uses that connection. TCL also has four physical inputs, but its exact eARC map must be confirmed before making the same soundbar calculation.
TCL 55T8D: The 55-inch four-port default
The TCL 55T8D is our starting recommendation for most buyers who need four inputs at 55 inches. Priced around Rs 58,000, it sits roughly Rs 4,000 above the three-port Samsung M2EH. That is a modest premium for a fourth physical input, but a setup with a soundbar, set-top box, console and streaming device depends on confirming exactly which port handles eARC.
The screen proposition is stronger than a port-count purchase alone. The exact Indian model combines QD-Mini LED/QLED with a 144Hz panel and listed 34W sound. If you want a 55-inch TV for several devices and higher-refresh gaming, it is the most complete starting point in this set.
There is one important gap. Four physical ports are confirmed, but the retained exact-model information does not map eARC or establish VRR, ALLM or 4K120. Confirm which input handles the features your soundbar and console require before ordering. A 144Hz panel does not settle the capabilities of every port.
Choose the T8D when connection headroom is non-negotiable and a price around Rs 58,000 fits the budget. Buyers who need a fully documented gaming-port map should pause until that detail is confirmed.
Sony K-43S25M2: Four ports for a compact room
A four-port TV does not have to dominate the room. The Sony K-43S25M2 is the better answer for a fixed cabinet, bedroom or short viewing distance where 43 inches is right and several wired devices still need permanent connections.
Around Rs 55,000 puts it surprisingly close to the larger TCL. You are paying for compact fit and a clearly documented layout: four HDMI inputs, eARC/ARC and ALLM. Once a soundbar takes the audio port, three sources can stay connected.
This is not the gaming upgrade that an HDMI 2.1 label may suggest. The native refresh rate is 50Hz, with no verified VRR or 4K120. Buy it when room fit and four-input convenience matter more than screen size or high-refresh gaming. If 55 inches fits comfortably, the TCL gives you much more screen for roughly Rs 3,000 more.
Sony K-43S25M2 on Amazon India
Sony BRAVIA 3 S30: The larger four-port family
The S30 family is the larger Sony path. Both the 55-inch and 65-inch variants have four HDMI inputs, eARC/ARC, ALLM and Dolby Vision, so this is the set to consider when the compact model is too small but you still want three device inputs after the soundbar.
Price and availability make it conditional. Expect roughly Rs 80,000 for the 55-inch model and Rs 98,000 for the 65-inch version. Availability may be patchy, so check current stock and price before treating either as a realistic option.
The S30 is also a 50Hz family. Four ports make wiring easier, but they do not turn it into a VRR or 4K120 gaming choice. At these approximate prices, the 55-inch version asks roughly Rs 22,000 more than TCL’s T8D, and the 65-inch model occupies a different size and budget tier.
Wait for stock and a fresh price. Then choose the S30 for a larger Sony setup with Dolby Vision and four physical inputs, not for high-refresh gaming.
Three ports may be enough
The four TVs below leave two device inputs after an eARC soundbar is connected. They make sense only if that is enough for your actual setup. None is a substitute for four physical inputs when three other devices need to stay connected.
Samsung UA55M2EHAULXL: Mini LED when two spare inputs are enough
With a price around Rs 54,000, the M2EH sits roughly Rs 4,000 below the TCL. The saving is useful only when two spare inputs cover your setup. If you need three, paying the modest difference for TCL is cleaner than adding a switch to a new television.
The reason to choose Samsung is the picture and sound package: Mini LED, 30W two-channel audio, VRR and ALLM. Three HDMI inputs include eARC, so a soundbar can sit alongside two other wired devices without any adapter.
Do not read DLG 120Hz as native 120Hz, and Dolby Vision is not part of this specification. The M2EH suits a buyer who prioritises Mini LED and documented gaming features over an extra socket. Anyone shopping primarily for four connections should keep moving.
Samsung UA55M2EHAULXL on Amazon India
Samsung UA55UE81AFULXL: The lower-price 4K60 option
The UE81A is the price-led choice for a simpler setup. Around Rs 37,500 makes the gap from the four-port TCL large enough to define a different buyer. Confirm current availability and price before ordering.
Three 4K60 HDMI inputs include eARC/ARC. Connect a soundbar and two sources, perhaps a set-top box and console, and the television is full. The 20W sound and Bluetooth 5.2 specification are ordinary, while Dolby Vision and 4K120 are not verified.
Choose it when you know two spare inputs are enough and the lower price matters more than advanced gaming features. If a third source is already on your list, this model solves the wrong problem.
Samsung UA55UE81AFULXL on Amazon India
LG 55NU870BPLA: The webOS and casting choice
The LG belongs here for its platform rather than connection headroom. webOS 26, Google Cast and AirPlay make it useful in a home split between Android and Apple devices. Its three HDMI inputs place eARC on HDMI 2, leaving two other wired sources.
A price around Rs 45,000 means the extra spend over the cheaper Samsung UE81A needs to be justified by webOS and the casting mix rather than port count. Check current availability before buying.
Bluetooth 5.3 and 20W sound complete the everyday package, but Dolby Vision is not verified. Some voice and personalisation features also require the Magic Remote. Choose the NU87 when its interface and casting support matter every day; skip it when you need three spare inputs after eARC.
LG 55NU870BPLA on Amazon India
Xiaomi FX Pro 55: QLED and Fire TV near Rs 38000
The Xiaomi FX Pro is the alternative to the basic Samsung when QLED, Fire TV and listed 34W sound matter more. It has three HDMI inputs with one eARC connection, so the practical limit remains a soundbar plus two other devices.
Around Rs 38,000 puts it close to the Samsung UE81A rather than making it an obvious bargain. Confirm the current amount before buying.
The panel refreshes natively at 60Hz. Its DLG 120 mode does not make this a native 120Hz television. Google Cast is not part of the verified feature set either. Choose it for Fire TV, QLED and stronger listed sound, provided three ports truly cover the room. Buyers who need four inputs should not let the low price blur that requirement.
Xiaomi FX Pro 55 L55MB-FPIN on Amazon India
Which one should you buy?
For most 55-inch buyers who genuinely need four HDMI inputs, choose the TCL 55T8D. At roughly Rs 4,000 above the three-port Samsung M2EH, the extra socket removes the need to compromise on permanent connections. Soundbar buyers should confirm the exact eARC mapping, while console buyers should also confirm the gaming-feature map.
Choose the Sony K-43S25M2 when 43 inches fits the room and four ports matter more than screen size. Consider the grouped Sony K-55S30 or Sony K-65S30 only after stock returns and a fresh price makes sense.
If three ports are enough, decide what you want in exchange for giving up the fourth. Pick the Samsung M2EH for Mini LED, VRR and ALLM; the Samsung UE81A for its lower price; the LG NU87 for webOS and casting; or the Xiaomi FX Pro for QLED, Fire TV and 34W sound. None is the right answer when your setup requires four physical inputs.
