Would you believe that manufacturers consider a 50-inch TV to be small? Well, it's true, and they focus most of their attention on models that are 55 inches and larger as a result.
But to most living and breathing people, 50 inches is pretty large for a TV. To many, it's very large – as large as their living room will comfortably accommodate, in fact.
The good news is that while the selection of 50-inch TVs is a little smaller than that of 55-inch TVs, you've still got a lot of choice, including OLED models.
(Actually, OLEDs always come in 48 inches rather than 50 inches, but for our purposes, they can be considered the same size)
So, how do you choose the right 50-inch TV for you? That's where we come in. Below, you will find the three very best 48- and 50-inch TVs to have emerged from our rigorous, comparative testing process.
Our experts have decades of combined TV-testing experience, and every model is tested in our dedicated test rooms without external influence, so you can trust our ratings and recommendations.
You can click here to find out more about how we test TVs, and if you're looking for a wider range of TVs, also check out our guides to the best TVs, best OLED TVs and best Mini LED TVs.
If it's the best 48- and 50-inch TVs available right now that you're after, though, you need only to scroll down, but do also check out the coming soon section, which flags some upcoming models that might be worth waiting for.
The quick list
Best overall
The LG C4 OLED's excellent picture quality, unrivalled feature set and value make it the best 48- or 50-inch TV you can buy, and it's not even close.
Best budget
Budget TVs are hard to get right, but the 50-inch Omni QLED succeeds where others have failed thanks to a consistent, considered performance and impressive feature set.
Best for sound
With its super-detailed image quality and innovative sound system, the Sony A90K has to be considered by those with the means.
May 2025
All sections and entries have been checked and updated to reflect our most up-to-date buying advice, and we've added a new 'coming soon' section, where you will find all of the upcoming 48- and 50-inch TVs that we're most excited to test. We've removed the 'also consider' section due to a lack of readily available alternatives to our main recommendations.
I’ve been testing TVs for 18 years, and 50 inches is always one of the trickiest sizes to test. This is because it’s the middle option in most lines, being too big to be described as a second TV for most homes, but too small to fit into the big screen category. It’s also one of the most prevalent, with most uber-affordable LCD lines offering a 50-inch option and OLEDs a slightly smaller 48-inch option. It’s one of the trickiest sizes to buy, especially by our hallowed performance-per-pound metric, as a result – which is also why the team and I make sure to properly test them whenever we get them into our viewing rooms.
Best overall
The LG C-series continues to be our recommendation for the best TV at this size. Admittedly, competition isn't as fierce as it is in the 55- to 65-inch region, but that shouldn't downplay what an all-round corker this 'little' fellow is.
The OLED48C4 produces a crisp, balanced and rich image that's even better than its C3 predecessor.
A smaller display means a higher pixel density, so this version of the C4 is even sharper than its larger counterparts while also retaining many of the picture characteristics we've come to appreciate from the larger model.
It also carries the same excellent feature set, including four HDMI 2.1 sockets (for 4K/120Hz gaming with VRR and ALLM), alongside Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos immersive audio. The webOS smart platform is also very well equipped with plenty of streaming apps, though we find it to be a touch ad-heavy for our liking.
It's not all perfect, as the built-in audio system is very underwhelming, but that's really par for the course with TVs, particularly at this sort of size. As ever, we recommend that you budget for a soundbar. If that's not something you're prepared to consider, take a look at the Sony A90K below.
Overall, though, the C4 is comfortably the best TV available at this size, particularly when you take into account the huge discounts that are now available on it.
Do bear in mind that the newer C5 is also now available, but we haven't tested the 48-inch version of that yet. Its price is still very high, too, so it's hard to imagine it supplanting the C4 immediately.
Read the full LG OLED48C4 review
Best budget
It’s fair to say that the standard of budget TVs has dropped significantly in recent years. Samsung, once the master of surprisingly capable and feature-packed budget models, struggles to scrape a four-star rating at the entry level these days, so we now have to look elsewhere for our televisual bargains.
Before we received the 65-inch Amazon Omni QLED in for review, we were expecting a TV packed with features and an eye-opening specification for the money, but likely short of cinematic quality. What we found was a TV that combined a very strong feature set and specs with surprisingly considered picture quality. So we were keen to do a dedicated review of the 50-inch model – and we're glad we did.
The Omni QLED’s performance is markedly more assured, considered and authentically cinematic than expected at this level, now or in the past.
It clearly isn’t up there with the latest OLED models, such as the LG C4 above and Sony A90K below, but if those are out of reach, this is an excellent compromise that will give you authentically cinematic entertainment for very little money (and effort).
Read our full Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED QL50F601 review
Buying a cheap 50-inch TV is a particularly dicey experience. This is largely because, while there are lots of affordable 50-inch LCDs doing the rounds, based on our testing most aren’t worth your money. Which is why the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED was such a welcome surprise when we got it in for testing. But, before you go rushing to buy one, I’d recommend keeping an eye on Amazon’s deals section as this already great value TV is frequently discounted, sometimes by over 15-20 per cent.
Best for sound
Shockingly (at least by modern tech standards) this 2022 TV is still Sony's only 48-inch OLED model.
Thankfully, the Sony XR-48A90K is still a great alternative to the company's Bravia 8 OLED and A95L QD-OLED, neither of which is available in sizes smaller than 55 inches.
It might not quite have the flawless gaming feature set of the LG C4 OLED above (there are just two HDMI 2.1 sockets, for example), but it’s not far off, and it's a very good gaming TV in its own right, particularly if you’re a PS5 player.
It's fair to say that movies come first with the A90K, though. It delivers an extraordinarily detailed rendition of everything you play through it, and it majors on picture authenticity, particularly in terms of colours and contrast.
What perhaps sets it apart from the competition most, though, is the A90K's sound quality. It sounds a bit lightweight and thin compared to larger TVs such as its Bravia 8 and A95L stablemates, but it's very good by the standards of TVs this size, producing very clear and detailed audio.
The Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology, which features actuators that vibrate the whole screen to make sound, also allows the set to sound very direct and spacious at the same time.
We always recommend adding a dedicated sound system, particularly when buying a premium TV such as this, but if you're determined not to add even a soundbar, the A90K is the 48- to 50-inch TV to buy.
Read the full Sony XR-48A90K review
Coming soon
- LG OLED48C5
While we've reviewed the 55-inch version of the new C5, the 48-inch model hasn't yet made it into our test rooms, and because there tends to be a bit of difference between 48- and 55-inch OLEDs, particularly in terms of brightness, we're reserving judgment for now. That said, if the 48-inch model gets even close to the 55-incher for performance, it's going to be superb. - LG OLED48G5
2025 marks the first year that LG's G-series has featured a 48-inch model, which will be exciting news for those who fancy the picture frame-style design in a smaller package. Do be aware, though, that the 48-inch G5 lacks the fancy new Primary RGB Tandem OLED technology of its larger siblings. - Samsung S90F
Samsung's S95F QD-OLED model unfortunately doesn't come as a 48-inch model, but the step-down S90F OLED does. We're expecting a sharp and punchy picture to along with the very stylish design and superb gaming specs. But, as ever with Samsung, there will be no Dolby Vision support. - Panasonic Z90B
Panasonic's just-announced Z90B OLED model will be made available in a 48-inch size. Expect a supremely cinematically accurate picture, better-than-average sound and support for all four HDR formats. Gaming specs look very good, too, albeit across just two of the four HDMI inputs. - Philips OLED810
Philips' top 48-inch model for 2025 is the OLED810. It won't go as bright as its larger siblings, which is normal for OLED TVs this size, but we expect the 48-inch OLED810 to be brighter and more vibrant than most rivals, simply because that's how Philips tends to tune its TVs. Gaming specs look very good across the two HDMI 2.1 sockets and, of course, Ambilight is on board for an added dose of the spectacular.
How to choose the best TV for you
Picture quality
First and foremost a 50-inch TV needs to deliver decent picture quality. Whether it’s black-level performance running moody movies like The Batman, or reliable motion handling playing frantic sports fixtures, any 50-inch TV needs to deliver an immersive, accurate viewing experience for us to recommend it. If it suffers from key things, like muddy blacks, poor colour accuracy or distracting “soap opera effect” of over-processing then we won’t recommend it.
Sound quality
On top of that, we also expect it to be able to deliver “watchable” sound quality. We say “watchable” as audio is an area most modern TVs struggle with, even in the top end of the market. There are some exceptions, but this is largely due to the slim dimension of modern TVs, which make it hard to pack them with the hardware necessary to match most soundbars, let alone the audio performance of a good surround sound system.
Features
We also expect most TVs to include an adequate set of features to meet its target audience’s needs. For gamers, this includes things like whether it can run games faster than 60Hz, and has enough HDMI 2.1 connectivity to let it have more than one console connected alongside a Dolby Atmos soundbar. Many TVs, even expensive ones, still only have two HDMI 2.1 inputs, one of which doubles as an eARC. The latter is needed to connect a Dolby Atmos system.
Streaming
For general entertainment, we also check app support to make sure commonly used platforms, like Netflix, Apple TV, Disney+, Amazon Instant Video and region-specific catchup services are supported.
Value for money
We then factor price into our advice. Though we have a baseline of what we take as acceptable, we don’t expect a TV to match the performance of a rival that’s twice its price. Additionally, if a TV performs marginally better than a rival but is more expensive we’ll factor in whether we think the gains are worth the additional cost. For us to recommend it we have to feel the reader is getting great bang for their buck.
How we test TVs
Any 50-inch TV we review goes through a rigorous testing process in our dedicated London viewing rooms. During testing we apply the same checks we do to all other TV sizes.
Direct comparisons: Our testers never review in isolation or from memory. When we test a TV it is in our controlled viewing room which has been treated for sound and has controlled lighting conditions.
In addition, we will directly test it against any rival or step-down TV we think you’d also be considering. We do this using a TA-AN1000 to split the signal so we can run the same tests on each TV we’re comparing. That way we can draw direct comparisons of their performance.
Picture quality: We test 50-inch TVs' picture quality using a variety of sources. These include 4K Blu-ray test discs played using a Panasonic DP-UB820EB, and streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+ and their ilk.
We constantly update the test discs we use to reflect modern movie trends but always tailor our choices to a specific aspect of picture performance. For example, if we want to check shadow detail and black levels, we’ll opt for a dim, low brightness movie like The Batman, which is mastered at an atypically low 400 nits.
If we want to check max brightness, we’ll switch to a scene from a very bright movie, like Pan, which is mastered to a 4000 nit peak brightness. The same is true when we check HDR performance across the various standards.
We also test TVs’ upscaling capabilities using 1080p content on Netflix and DVDs, like True Grit, whose grainy quality causes most sets to struggle.
As part of the process, we will always make sure to tweak the 50-inch TV's settings to get the best possible performance out of it. We don’t fully calibrate a TV during the process as this is a step beyond what most regular buyers would be able to do.
Audio quality: To gauge audio quality we run a series of demanding tests taking the same direct comparisons we do with picture quality. At the start, we will play a series of movies to gauge general performance and immersion levels.
But we’ll also do more difficult stress tests. These can include things like playing challenging scenes, such as the bass-heavy second scene of BladeRunner 2049, to check for things like distortion and speaker rattle. We’ll also check the TV’s various audio settings to get the best performance possible. On sets with Dolby Atmos in-built speaker systems, we’ll check performance here and see how effectively they can replicate the “dome of sound” experience.
App support and gaming features: We never take a TV’s spec sheet as gospel. As part of that, we’ll open popular apps, like Netflix and Disney+, to make sure they support and can output the HDR and surround standards they purport to – you’d be surprised how many don’t.
For gamers, we’ll do the same for things like VRR, 4K/120Hz and ALLM with a PS5 and Xbox Series X connected. We also check input lag using a Leo Bodnar device on any set we test, to make sure it can deal with competitive, reaction focussed games.
FAQ
Is 50-inches big enough for a lounge TV?
The best-sized TV is always determined by the space you’re putting it in. That’s why we always recommend measuring your space before buying a TV. This is important as, while bigger screens can be more immersive to watch, they can take up a lot of space, and you want a reasonable viewing and listening distance to get the best experience possible. You can see how to do this in detail in our “which TV size should you buy?” guide.
However, 50-inches is generally a good option if you’re short on space, which is why we find they tend to work best in smaller living rooms, or larger bedrooms. The big thing to remember is that, if you want the best experience possible, you will want to invest in a soundbar or speaker package, so you should factor in the space for those as well.
Are 48-inch OLEDs the best?
If you read What Hi-Fi? regularly, you’ll know OLED TVs are a staple fixture in our general best TV guide. But 48-inch OLEDs are still not as common as you’d think, and there are still a number of OLED TV ranges that start with 55-inch options. 48-inch options only tend to appear in step-down lines, like the LG C-series.
As to if these are always better than their LCD rivals, the answer is a firm 'it depends'. While they offer superior black levels due to the way they generate images by charging individual pixels, rather than a whole backlight, they don’t always perform better in other key metrics. We’ve tested plenty of LCD/Mini LED sets that offer better value, max brightness levels, colour accuracy and audio quality than competing OLEDs. You should never take OLED as an automatic badge of quality, and do your research on sites like What Hi-Fi? before buying a 50-inch TV.
How much should you spend on a 50-inch TV?
This depends on your budget and specific needs. 50-inch TV prices range from a few hundred bucks all the way up to thousands. On top of that, having compared numerous sets side-by-side, we can confirm that paying more doesn’t automatically mean getting the best 50-inch TV possible.
We recommend thinking about your specific needs. If you don’t game you can cut costs by not worrying about needing multiple HDMI 2.1 inputs. Equally if you just plan to watch terrestrial TV you probably don’t need to worry as much about apps’ HDR support. However, we would warn you that many of the latest sub-£400/$400 TVs we’ve tested have been outright terrible, featuring terrible picture processing, poor black levels and poor picture uniformity. Which is why the cheapest set we currently recommend still floats at around the £500/$500 mark.
Recent updates
- May 2025
All sections and entries have been checked and updated to reflect our most up-to-date buying advice, and we've added a new 'coming soon' section, where you will find all of the upcoming 48- and 50-inch TVs that we're most excited to test. We've removed the 'also consider' section due to a lack of readily available alternatives to our main recommendations. - July 2024
Added the LG C4 to the also consider section. - May 2024
Updated intro. - March 2024
Added new intro, top tips, also consider, how we choose, how we test and FAQ sections.
Useful links
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
- Looking for a bargain? Here are the best cheap TVs
- Hardcore gamer? These are the very best gaming TVs
- Need a certain size? We've rounded-up the best 55-inch TVs
- Need something bigger? What about the best 65-inch TVs
- Want a future-proof TV? Here are the best 8K TVs
