When picking one of the best televisions of the year, without fail, there's always a 50-inch smart TV in the roundup. The perfect middle ground for size and value, 50-inch smart TVs are a fantastic choice for getting the full cinematic effect in your lounge at a reasonable price.
Yes, one of the best 43-inch TVs might be a cheaper alternative, but that difference in size has an impact on your immersion: that extra screen size offers all the more visual excitement for your eyes, without being excessively large or expensive.
The best 50-inch TVs at a glance:
But with the sheer volume of options and television manufacturers competing for the coveted centrepiece of your lounge, choosing the ultimate 50-inch television this year is an undeniable challenge, one that's difficult to overcome without the right advice.
We've been through the rigmarole of picking the perfect television and have had our fair share of televisions, so we're well-practised in translating the wordy jargon and complex language into something digestible for the average person to pick up.
The best 50-inch TVs of 2024
All prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices, stock and deals are subject to change without notice.
Best overall
SAMSUNG Ideal for the keenest gamers and film fanatics alike, the Samsung QN90D is at the cutting edge of television technology, offering unparalleled visuals, phenomenal sound and razor-sharp responsiveness. The main draw of the QN90D is its top-notch Neo-QLED screen panelling, which pushes the brightness of an already bright technology to new heights. Searing colour and intense picture precision, the QN90D bursts with colour, giving viewers a dazzling spectacle each time you switch it on and settle down for the evening.
Complete with a 40W audio output and Dolby Atmos surround sound which upscales immersion beyond belief, its rich, bassy sound eliminates the necessity for a speaker setup almost entirely. For gamers, it's particularly challenging to find a television that can support 144Hz, and combined with the best smart TV visuals money can buy, it's certainly an excellent choice for gamers. A 144Hz refresh rate pushes gaming consoles to their very best performance, you'll almost certainly notice the phenomenal smoothness and reduced input lag from the QN90D, it's the best performance imaginable.
If we were to nitpick the QN90D, we'd note that the intensity of the picture's brightness might be almost too overwhelming for some users, especially from lighter tones, giving those with light sensitivity some discomfort after hours of use.
If you're looking for the most intense picture possible in a smart television, Samsung's QN90D is quite possibly the best choice for your money. With great sound, gorgeous picture quality and one of the best televisions for gaming of the year, the Samsung QN90D is a terrific choice this year.
Pros
- Fantastic ultra-thin design
- Gorgeous Neo QLED television screen
- Cutting-edge refresh rate
Cons
- Very bright compared to standard screens which might prove too much
| Screen size | 50 inches |
| Other sizes | 43, 55, 65, 75, 85, 98 inches |
| Screen type | Neo QLED, 3840 x 2160p |
| Refresh rate | 144Hz |
| HDMI ports | HDMI 2.1 x 4 |
| HDR | Neo Quantum HDR |
| Audio | 40W audio output |
| Smart assistant | Bixby via remote, Amazon Alexa via remote or TV |
| Dimensions | Without stand: 644.1 x 1113.6 x 26.9 mm (H x W x D) |
| Weight | With stand:17.6 kg |
Best budget
Samsung A cornerstone of the ultra-HD television market for countless years by now, the latest iteration of Samsung's Crystal UHD 50-inch TV is priced similarly to a low-end smart television, but with Samsung's phenomenal user interface and audiovisual post-processing included in its long list of exciting features. Though it might not have the colour or contrast of a QLED or OLED television, it still has some slick tricks under its sleeve: most notably its PurColour mode, which pushes colours and overall brightness to higher, more visually exciting levels.
Samsung's stellar design and unique features shine throughout the Crystal UHD TV, its user experience rivalling any higher-end smart television on the market this year, but the Crystal UHD isn't without its flaws. As it's a base model, the features and programs users can toggle through to fine-tune their cinematic experience are on the lighter side, which is given thanks to its price but certainly worth noting. As brilliant a budget television it may be, there are also limits to its picture, with particularly bright or dark scenes proving to be challenging to this television in terms of colour reproduction.
For the vast majority of film lovers, however, dedicated as they are, the fineries of colour reproduction accuracy are likely to be a minor, insignificant footnote on what is a splendid deal worth snatching up the moment you can.
Pros
- Excellent quality visuals
- Brilliant Samsung user interface
- Ultra-thin and lightweight design that's perfect for wall mounting
Cons
- A little lighter on features compared to other Samsung models
| Screen size | 50 inches |
| Other sizes | 43, 55, 65 inches |
| Screen type | LED |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz |
| HDMI ports | HDMI 2.0 x 3 |
| HDR | HDR10+ |
| Audio | 20W |
| Smart assistant | Bixby |
| Dimensions | Without stand: 656.2 x 1112.2 x 79.6 mm (H x W x D) |
| Weight | With stand: 10.4 kg |
Best budget QLED
Hisense A high-quality, low-cost screen from manufacturer Hisense, this 50-inch TV sports the ever-incredible QLED screen panel technology, creating what is a tremendously eye-catching home cinema experience. We find the design of Hisense's 50A7NQTUK to be a particular stand-out of the budget television market: its large central metal stand creates a dazzling centrepiece for any lounge, with an aesthetic that surpasses its price. Unsurprisingly, the bezel-less design of the 50A7NQTUK creates all the more drama to the picture itself, having that limitless, immersive view of your screen is tough to capture on budget televisions, so it's pleasant to see on such a cheap model.
As for the picture itself, QLED remains one of the most visually engaging screen technologies on the market, and though its brightness isn't as remarkable as you might find in a pricier model, it stands as one of the best-looking screens this year in terms of price.
QLED televisions have entered the ranks of budget technology in recent years, which is certainly intriguing, but equally, it's best to read sceptically into its specifications. As with many QLED models at its price, the brightness that you might come to expect from a QLED panel simply isn't there. With an average of 350 nits brightness, this is painfully average compared to typical 4K smart televisions on the market, so you're not getting the typical searing brightness of a true QLED.
Be that as it may, the sheer spectrum of colour capable on this cheaper television is in and of itself commendable, budget televisions have come a long way over the years, and the Hisense 50A7NQTUK is a prime example of this evolution.
Pros
- QLED visuals are great
- The overall design is stunning
- Cheaper than most QLEDs at its size
Cons
- Not as bright or powerful as other QLED TVs
| Screen size | 50 inches |
| Other sizes | 43, 55, 65 inches |
| Screen type | QLED |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz |
| HDMI ports | HDMI 2.1 x 3 |
| HDR | HDR/HDR10+ |
| Audio | 20W |
| Smart assistant | Alexa built-in |
| Dimensions | Without stand: 647 x 112 x 77 mm (H x W x D) |
| Weight | With stand: 11.8 kg |
Best OLED TV
Panasonic A typically pricier screen technology, but a pleasant surprise to see for less than £1,000 nonetheless: Panasonic's TX-48MZ700B is a tough blow to budget screens on account of its simply stunning visuals, build quality and refreshing design.
Though we may have referred to certain standard LED screens on the list as 'ultra-thin', when it comes to OLED, they're as thin as can be. At its sharpest point, the TX-48MZ700B is around 4mm thick, which gives this television a clean, ultra-modern aesthetic that is irresistible to a TV lover. Those fooled into believing that the TX-48MZ700B is thin for gimmick's sake would be mistaken: its thickness is on account of the screen's lack of a backlight panel, which gives the television's picture what's known as 'infinite contrast'. Since the black tones of the TX-48MZ700B are created from a complete lack of light, the contrast is utterly superb.
Contrast in a television gives images a bold, life-like quality which is constantly strived for in television technology, and for roughly £700, you can hardly argue that it's a poor deal. Visuals are breathtaking, overall gaming performance is sublime on account of its 120Hz refresh rate, and audio is similarly superb despite a lack of space for a speaker to snugly squeeze into.
One major downside to Panasonic'sTX-48MZ700B, which all OLED televisions inevitably face is its fairly average brightness and tendency towards screen-burn, both problems which are prevalent in the TX-48MZ700B. Brightness, whilst good on the TX-48MZ700B, is comparable to a standard LED television, which pales in comparison to a fully-fledged QLED TV.
A television stunning television experience isn't all about brightness and an expanded array of colours, however, and many consider contrast to be the best way to achieve a truly realistic 4K picture, and we're not likely to disagree. A bargain price with masterful visuals, the Panasonic TX-48MZ700B is one of the best OLED televisions of the year for its price.
Pros
- Unbelievable OLED visuals
- Fantastic price
- Stunning build quality
Cons
- OLED TVs are prone to screen burn
| Screen size | 48 inches |
| Other sizes | 42, 55, 65 inches |
| Screen type | OLED |
| Refresh rate | 144Hz |
| HDMI ports | HDMI 2.1 x 3 |
| HDR | HDR10 |
| Audio | 20W |
| Smart assistant | Google Assistant |
| Dimensions | 683 x 1068 x 252 mm (H x W x D) |
| Weight | 15.5 kg |
Best 50-inch TV under £300
RCA A solid, dependable choice from RCA, the ROKU TV is an ideal choice for budget buyers in search of a basic smart television experience: plug in, tune out. It's a great-looking 4K TV with all you've come to expect from a smart TV, with some cutbacks here and there which make it as cheap as can be.
The overall design of the RCA Roku is certainly impressive, its bezels are ultra-thin, as is the overall thickness of the television itself, making it ultra-light and suitable for wall-mounting without any concern of wall damage.
Compatible with a range of smart assistants for instant access without the faff of searching via a television remote, whilst also having a reasonably intuitive, albeit limited user interface. Herein lies the largest flaw of the RCA Roku TV: its overall build quality, which also inevitably affects the software side too. The RCA Roku television is fairly cheaply made, with a plasticky backing and a generic Android user interface which leaves much to be desired.
Paying out of pocket for a little polish on your user interface might be ideal for some, but most are likely to find it absolutely useable, and the amount of time you spend interacting with the televisions actual interface compared to menus in streaming apps, is fairly minimal. If you're looking for a reliable smart television for less than £300 that certainly holds its own with phenomenal 4K visuals, the RCA Roku TV is the way to go.
Pros
- Fantastic value 50-inch television
- Strong visuals for price
- Good user interface with voice assistant compatibility
Cons
- Fairly cheap build quality
| Screen size | 50 inches |
| Other sizes | 43, 55 inches |
| Screen type | LED |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz |
| HDMI ports | HDMI 1.4 x 2 |
| HDR | HDR |
| Audio | N/A |
| Smart assistant | Compatible with Google Home/Alexa/Apple HomeKit |
| Dimensions | 270 x 1,120 x 710 mm (H x W x D) |
| Weight | 12.9 kg |
Best audio
TCL TCL's bargain 50-inch television expertly balances performance and cost, offering a delightfully cheap smart TV at a fraction of the cost of its competitors on what is a remarkable screen. TCL's 50V6BK features a borderless design with an elegant, unobtrusive foot stand, drawing your eye strongly to the immersive screen.
As for the screen itself, the 4K quality paired with the DR10 screen creates an appealing viewing experience that is perfect for any home, cinephile or otherwise. For less than £300, it's a brilliant bargain worth grabbing, especially considering that it's a brand-new model. The strong 20W audio output is another surprising element of the TCL 50V6BK, it's difficult to find such loud audio in a cheap television, so you'll certainly be surprised by its excellent sound.
It's hard to fault the TCL 50V6BK for the money, there are certainly drawbacks to cheaper televisions, you're not going to achieve that break-through visual excellent that you might with a QLED or OLED screen, but 4K remains a gorgeous resolution, even at its price.
A fantastic smart TV for anyone on a budget, with all the scale and beauty you want out of a television, the TCL 50V6BK is a great choice this year.
Pros
- Fantastic 50-inch television for less than £300
- Good connectivity
- Solid audio with immersive Dolby Atmos
Cons
- Doesn't offer the same picture quality as a higher-end television
| Screen size | 50 inches |
| Other sizes | 43, 55, 58 65, 75 inches |
| Screen type | LED |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz |
| HDMI ports | HDMI 2.0 x 3 |
| HDR | HDR10 |
| Audio | 20W audio output |
| Smart assistant | Compatible with Alexa |
| Dimensions | Without stand: 775 x 1,235, 115 mm (H x W x D) |
| Weight | 10.6 kg |
How to choose the best 50-inch smart TVs for you
What are the best apps for a smart TV?
In our opinion, the best smart TV apps are the ones that have the shows you like, useful features and reliable quality. For these features to work, you’ll need a WiFi or Ethernet connection with a good broadband connection and high or unlimited data limits. However, apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Spotify Premium will require a subscription fee and will not allow you to access content without signing up. Here’s what we recommend:
Netflix
The pioneering subscription service that changed TV and film. The Netflix app allows you to access thousands of titles, both existing and original exclusive productions, such as Stranger Things, Black Mirror, Sex Education, The Witcher and The Stranger. The app itself is extremely reliable and simple to use, and there are a number of subscription package choices.
VPN
If you want to expand what's on offer to you, we highly recommend using a VPN. Affordable and easy to use, VPNs are a legal way to get around geo-blocking by tricking websites into thinking you are in a different place to where you actually are. By doing so, you are able to watch the content found on the US Netflix or Australian Amazon Prime, for example.
While there are many VPNs available, we suggest grabbing one of the best VPN for streaming. These have the bandwidth to handle video content and ensure a strong performance.
Amazon Prime Video
Another top-quality subscription service, offering an array of films and TV shows, including The Office US, The Hunters and Man In The High Castle. Prime Video often has a great selection of the latest movie releases and offers you the option to purchase or rent other titles that may not be included in your subscription. Like Netflix’s app, the Prime app is straightforward to use.
BBC iPlayer
This on-demand catch-up app gives you access to the best of the BBC. Programs are available to watch for up to 30 days after their original broadcast, and you can restart and rewind live programs. You’ll also have access to a large back catalogue of BBC programming, including brilliant shows like Killing Eve, Doctor Who, and Would I Lie To You? as well as award-winning documentaries like Blue Planet II. You’ll need a TV license to use this service.
All 4
All 4 is Channel 4’s answer to the BBC’s iPlayer. The content included covers Channel 4, E4, More 4 and Vice TV. The back catalogue available on the app will allow you to comfortably binge on comedies like Black Books, The IT Crowd and Peep Show, or catch up on The Great British Bake Off, 24 Hours In Police Custody and Gogglebox. This is a free service, but you’ll have to suffer through the occasional advert break.
YouTube
This is an important app for anyone who loves any one of the plethoras of YouTube personalities, gamers or influencers. Much like the smartphone app, this smart TV app will allow unlimited and free access to countless hours of independent entertainment. YouTube does offer a subscription service, known as YouTube Premium, but this doesn’t restrict free access to a vast selection of content.
Spotify
Here, you can sign in to your Spotify account and access your favourite tunes through the smart TV. You can start a free Spotify account and start listening to the latest music immediately with occasional 30-second advert breaks, or you can sign up for Spotify Premium to have uninterrupted streaming. The app is super easy to use, reliable and great for a party.
FAQs: your questions answered
What size TV do I need?
The answer to this question is very much a decision arrived at after deliberation between your available space, budget and requirements. However, it tends to be sensible to have the smaller TVs in smaller rooms, and larger ones in the biggest rooms.
If you're too close to a TV, no matter how high-quality the image, it's going to look blown out and poor. Too far, and you may as well watch Netflix on your phone.
Here’s a rough guide to give you an idea of the minimum distance you should have from your TV when viewing HD content:
40-inches - 80 inches (6.7 feet)
50-inches - 100 inches (8.3 feet)
55-inches - 108 inches (9 feet)
60-inches - 120 inches (10 feet)
65-inches - 130 inches (10.8 feet)
75-inches - 150 inches (12.5 feet)
What can a 50-inch smart TV do?
A smart TV is a television that can connect to the internet independently from any extra gadgets like an Amazon Fire Stick or a set-top box. They’re typically pre-loaded with a selection of recognisable on-demand catch-up apps, such as BBC iPlayer, All 4, and ITV Hub; and subscription services such as Amazon Prime Video or Netflix. Thankfully, a smart TV will also allow access to other internet services, such as news, weather and social media.
Some models also offer additional features, such as Bluetooth connectivity for wireless audio connections, and smartphone and tablet connections.
Is it worth buying a smart TV?
If you’re someone who loves to watch TV, whether it be soaps, Nordic noir dramas, reality shows or blockbuster movies, then a smart TV is likely to be worth it. The internet connection offers up plentiful access to free and paid-for content via apps, whenever you want it.
What’s the cheapest smart TV?
The best smart TV deals are the ones that give you the features you need without compromising on the essentials. Therefore, there's no point in getting a great deal on a smart TV if the sound or picture is disappointing. So, choose wisely.
Do smart TVs have Bluetooth?
Smart TVs usually come with Bluetooth features. Whether or not a smart TV has a Bluetooth feature varies from model to model. If in doubt, check with the manufacturer.
Bluetooth is a great feature for a smart TV, as it allows you to connect wireless audio devices; like speakers, headphones, hearing aids, or other peripheral devices like keyboards.
Can I pair my phone to my smart TV?
It depends on the TV brand and model, phone brand and model, and available screen-mirroring apps. Not to mention the availability of Bluetooth connections. However, as technology improves, more and more smart TVs are capable of being paired with a smartphone.
Smart TVs with Google Chromecast in-built can mirror content from both Android and iOS devices.
Many smart TVs come with a feature called something similar to ‘Screen Mirror’ or ‘Wireless Display’. This pairs with a smartphone via an installed app. This then shows your phone screen on the TV, which is great for viewing photos, videos or video chats.
There’s also app-to-app pairing, which will allow you to control a TV app with your phone. For example, you can browse Netflix’s catalogue on your phone, and then tell it to play via the TV app.
Best 50-inch smart TVs of 2024: jargon buster
Screen resolution: HD, 4K and Ultra HD
These terms refer to the number of pixels that make up the image on the screen. So, 4K screens offer four times more pixels than HD screens, with 8.3 million pixels working across the screen. This makes for more detailed and accurate images. Here's a list of the most common ones when looking for the best 50-inch smart TVs.
HD: 1280×720
Full HD: 1920×1080
Ultra HD/4K: 3840×2160
HDR and HDR10+
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. It works to get as much light, crispness and depth into your picture. So, whites are brighter and blacks are darker. It offers a huge range of over one billion colours. HDR10+ is an extension of this, but the use of metadata creates an even more refined picture.
High Dynamic Range (HDR) and Dolby Vision
High Dynamic Range smart TVs have a wider colour palette - over a billion colours compared to a few hundred thousand available on non-HDR screens. More colours mean more accurate pictures, vivid colours and better contrast and shadow detail. Dolby Vision is Dolby’s version of HDR and HRD10+.
OLED and QLED
LED screens use a backlight to provide the image. With OLED panels, the pixels produce their own light which gives greater accuracy to the image. The best OLED TVs are popular with cinephiles and even some gamers. This is thanks to the low response times that OLED can deliver.
QLED panels are a Samsung property that replaces Liquid Crystals (found in LCD) with Quantum dots. Samsung believes these produce much more vibrant and bright colours and sharper images. Thankfully, some of the best QLED TVs are now quite affordable compared to even a year ago.
Freeview Play
Freeview Play is a service that combines on-demand and catch-up television streaming into one place, allowing you to browse forward and back to see upcoming shows from the previous week.
Why should you trust us?
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William Austin-Lobley is the Editor for What's The Best. Here, he oversees, curates and researches listicles and reviews as many products as his home office can handle.
He has spent nearly five years writing about tech, audio, outdoors and fitness and has reviewed everything from smartphones to ice baths. In addition, he's well-versed in sniffing out the best deals and savings the internet offers.
When not at his desk writing, reviewing or deal-hunting, he'll be relaxing with Japanese crime novels, bingeing some classic anime, strolling the countryside or at the gym listening to the heaviest metal Spotify has to offer.
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