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While big-screen TVs get a lot of attention, some spaces aren't large enough to fit a massive display. If you have a smaller living room or are shopping for a secondary TV to set up in a bedroom, a 50-inch display is a great option. Though there are fewer midrange and high-end models to choose from at this size, the best 50-inch TVs still offer a reliable viewing experience, and they're often a lot more affordable than their larger counterparts.
Our top pick is the LG C3, one of the few OLED TVs you can buy in under 55 inches. When it comes to premium performance on smaller screens, this model is an outlier since it delivers top-notch contrast and perfect black levels in a compact form factor. But if you want a budget-friendly set, we recommend the Hisense U6H, which manages to pack in features like quantum dots and local dimming that are missing on competing 50-inch sets in this price range.
Below, you can find all our picks for the best 50-inch TVs, including an entry-level LED display for casual viewing and a QLED designed with gaming in mind.
Note: LCD-based TVs (including LED and QLED models) are usually sold in a 50-inch screen size, while OLED TVs are sold in a slightly smaller 48-inch size. For that reason, we've included a 48-inch OLED in this guide.
Our top picks for the best 50-inch TVs
Best overall: LG C3 - See at Amazon
Best budget: Hisense U6H - See at Best Buy
Best entry-level: TCL S4 - See at Amazon
Best midrange for gaming: Vizio MQX - See at Amazon
Best overall
The 48-inch LG C3 is the ideal TV for people who want a smaller display that doesn't skimp on picture quality. It uses an OLED panel, which is rare for TVs smaller than 55 inches, and this type of screen gives it key benefits over the LED and QLED sets that round out the rest of our guide.
The C3 offers all the benefits that OLED screens are known for, including pixel-level contrast control and wide viewing angles. On other types of displays, black levels can look elevated when you watch TV with the lights off, and colors and contrast can distort if you sit to the side of the panel. But on the C3, black levels disappear into a dark room without any blooming around bright objects, and picture quality remains consistent even if you're off-center from the display.
The C3's peak brightness of around 800 nits is very respectable, especially compared to other displays you can find in the 48-to-50-inch class. Though Sony and Samsung sell brighter OLED TVs that use quantum dot filters, those models are only available in larger sizes. Simply put, there are few TVs this small that look this good. In fact, there's only one other OLED that's sold in 48 inches, the Sony A90K, and the C3 delivers very similar image quality for around $400 less.
Outside picture performance, the C3 offers solid smart TV streaming via LG's webOS platform. The interface isn't our favorite, but it still provides reliable access to all of the best streaming services, along with built-in support for Alexa voice control. The C3 is equipped well for the latest consoles, too, with a 120Hz refresh rate that can support smooth gaming on a PS5 and Xbox Series X. However, unlike Samsung's OLED TVs (only available in larger sizes), the C3 does not support a 144Hz refresh rate when paired with a PC.
At a typical sale price of just under $1,000, the C3 is pricey for a 48-inch TV, but the jump in picture quality you get over our other picks is substantial.
Best budget
Hisense's U6H is the 2022 version of its newer U6K QLED, our pick for the best TV you can get on a budget in larger sizes. But while the U6K isn't sold in 50 inches, you can still find the older U6H in this size, and it remains a great option for the money.
Like the U6K, the U6H uses a QLED panel with quantum dots to produce a wide color gamut and a solid peak brightness of about 600 nits. It also has local dimming to help control the TV's contrast, enabling it to brighten and darken across specific areas. However, unlike the newer U6K, this model uses regular-sized LEDs instead of Mini LEDs in its backlight, so it has fewer zones to work with. This makes the U6H more prone to halos around bright objects on dark backgrounds.
Still, for the money, there are few 50-inch TVs that can achieve this level of image quality. Most competing models at this price are missing local dimming entirely and many lack quantum dots as well, so they're limited to a more narrow range of colors.
However, the U6H can't avoid other common pitfalls of TVs in this class. Most notably, it has subpar viewing angles, so contrast and colors fade if you sit off-center from the display. It's also limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, so you can't get high frame rate support when paired with a console or PC.
The standard model comes with Google TV built-in and a Google Assistant voice remote but there's also a variation sold exclusively through Amazon, called the U6HF, that uses the Fire TV interface and Alexa instead. We prefer the Google TV model since the Fire TV option has a more limited menu system with fewer picture calibration options, but the Amazon edition is easier to find in stock and is often on sale for a bit less than its Google counterpart.
Best entry-level
The TCL S4 is the best 50-inch TV for buyers who want an affordable display meant for casual viewing. This entry-level model lacks advanced picture quality features, but it's an inexpensive option for basic smart TV needs.
The S4 uses a regular LED panel without quantum dots or local dimming. This means it can't produce a wide color gamut, and it can't control its light output across different segments of its screen. As a result, black levels will veer toward gray or slightly blue when watching movies in a dark room, and HDR movies and shows won't play with the same peak brightness and color accuracy as they would on a QLED or OLED TV. And like most TVs in this class, viewing angles are poor, so colors will look faded if you sit to the side of the screen.
All those cons might make it sound like the S4 is a bad TV, but that's not really the case. It's just that this isn't a model geared toward videophiles, home theater buyers, or serious games. It cuts costs to offer the bare necessities for a decent image at an affordable price, and in that sense, it's a worthwhile set. This is a display meant for people who want a cheap but reliable 50-inch TV that gets the job done but nothing more.
The S4 is available in Roku TV, Fire TV, or Google TV variants, so you can choose which smart TV interface you like best. We like Roku for its simple navigation, but the Fire and Google options have the benefits of built-in support for Alexa or Google Assistant, respectively.
Best midrange for gaming
Vizio's MQX is designed with gaming in mind. This midrange TV is one of the few 50-inch QLED models available that supports a 120Hz refresh rate in 4K, and it can even support up to 240Hz if you game in 1080p on a computer.
This enables a smooth experience when you play games with frame rates higher than 60 frames per second on a PS5, Xbox Series X, or PC. The TV also uses a QLED panel with wide color support and local dimming to help control contrast and black levels. However, the display only uses 16 dimming zones, which is low and can cause more noticeable blooming (halos around bright objects) than you'd see on QLEDs with more zones or on OLED TVs with pixel-level contrast.
At a peak of around 400 to 500 nits, the MQX's brightness is decent for a TV in this class but a bit under the minimum of 600 nits that we recommend for entry-level high dynamic range performance. If you're buying a 50-inch TV with HDR movie-watching in mind, we think you're better off with the Hisense U6H since it can get a little brighter and has double the number of dimming zones. However, the U6H only has a 60Hz refresh rate, so the MQX has a clear edge when it comes to gaming. Both TVs have subpar viewing angles, so neither has a big advantage there.
How we pick 50-inch TVs
To choose the best 50-inch TVs, we use a combination of testing and research bolstered by more than a decade's worth of expertise covering the home entertainment product industry.
When we test TVs, we usually evaluate 65-inch models since most brands consider that their flagship size. However, if a specific TV model is offered in multiple sizes, that model's overall performance usually remains similar across sizes 50 inches and larger. For example, a 48-inch LG C3 OLED and a 65-inch C3 OLED have the same basic specs and capabilities. The only notable difference is the size of the screen.
However, the best 50-inch TVs that have local dimming, like the Hisense U6H and Vizio QMX, use fewer dimming zones in their smaller variations versus larger options. This results in differences in brightness and contrast when comparing a 50-inch model to another size. Sometimes, there are bigger variations in features and design across sizes, so we note those instances when they pop up.
When evaluating TVs, we consider factors like clarity/sharpness, contrast, peak HDR brightness, color gamut, off-angle viewing, refresh rate, smart TV interface, and general value for the money. We use an X-Rite iDisplay Plus colorimeter to assess brightness when we review a TV and use test patterns on the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark 4K Blu-ray disc to check other objective image elements.
We also watch plenty of real-world content on every TV we test and get a feel for what it's like to use a TV on a day-to-day basis. We play several key scenes from movies and TV shows to examine local dimming, HDR performance, upscaling, and more. Sources include Blu-ray discs, streaming services, and live TV in various levels of quality, from standard definition to 4K.
50-inch TV FAQs
Vizio
Is 50 inches a good size for a TV?
The best 50-inch TVs are a good option for buyers who need a compact display for a smaller room, but the selection of midrange and high-end TVs offered in this size is limited compared to what you'd find when shopping for a 55- or 65-inch TV.
For instance, many of the best OLED TVs are only available in 55, 65, and 77 inches. Likewise, several of our favorite QLED TVs from brands like Hisense and TCL, like the U7K and QM8, are not available in 50 inches.
However, there are a few high-end exceptions, like our top pick in this guide, the LG C3, which is one of the few OLED TVs made in smaller sizes. But generally speaking, most 50-inch TVs are built with entry-level and lower-midrange performance in mind.
If you want a larger selection of mid-tier and premium display models to choose from, check out our guides focusing on larger TVs:
How much should a 50-inch TV cost?
The best 50-inch TVs will set you back between $200 to $1,000, depending on what type of display you buy.
Entry-level LED models from value-friendly brands like TCL, Hisense, and Vizio can be found for around $200 to $250. These options are good for casual viewing but often lack advanced features like quantum dots and local dimming. Lower-midrange QLED sets range from $300 to $550, and these options will deliver better color, higher contrast, and brighter panels. However, many of our favorite upper-midrange QLED models are not available in 50 inches.
Likewise, high-end 50-inch TVs are hard to come by, but you can find a couple of OLED models, like the LG C3, and top-tier QLED models, like the Samsung QN90C, in this size for around $1,000 to $1,200.
Is 4K worth it on a 50-inch TV?
Though the benefits of 4K resolution are best appreciated on larger TV sets, 50 inches is still big enough to make 4K worthwhile, especially if you plan to sit close to your display.
However, the debate about whether 4K is worth it on a TV this size has mostly become a moot point since major brands no longer sell 50-inch HDTVs. Most HDTV models are now restricted to 43 inches and under. If you're buying a 50-inch or larger TV in 2024, 4K is the standard.
For more 4K display recommendations available in multiple sizes, check out our guide to the best 4K TVs.
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