1. The list in brief
2. Best value OLED TV
3. Best QLED TV
4. Best OLED TV
5. How to choose
6. How we test
50-inch TVs are set at the perfect size to fit most living rooms and spaces, but tend to be a little small to act as the main display. These options among the best TVs at the 50-inch range make it easy to add that secondary screen to the kitchen, bedroom, guest room, or office, while still carrying with them some incredible specs to boot.
That being said though, the best 50-inch TVs aren't too common due to the fact that few manufacturers deliver options at that size. For the most part, you'll find far more models at the 55-inch range, which might be your big ticket to the high flying action of March Madness.
But enough about the best 55-inch TVs, what you're in the market for is something only a tad smaller with just the right amount of horsepower for entertainment, sports, gaming, and the like. These options come packed with special features made by some of the best manufacturers in the industry, including the likes of Samsung, LG, and Sony.
We know a thing or two about TVs. Look no further than our many faceoffs, with the most recent being our LG C4 OLED vs B4 OLED, in tandem with our many years of testing and experience in underscoring the most apt display for any occasion, from the best OLED TVs to the best TVs under $1,000. Whether you need that budget 50-incher for the guest room, or are just in need of a smaller screen with tons of gaming specs, these options among the best 50-inch TVs will steer you in the right direction.
The quick list
The LG C3 OLED is the best value OLED
We can't get enough of the LG C3 OLED, as it offers the best price to performance in the market. You'll be missing out on an ATSC 3.0 tuner, but you still will get a powerful gaming display with tons of wiggle room at just $1,299.
The best QLED TV you can buy
With 4 total HDMI 2.1 inputs, a rechargeable remote, one of the brightest screens in the market, and a QLED screen, the Samsung QN90C is once more a well-rounded 50-inch option that doesn't cost too much, either.
The best OLED TV
Sony's A90K is quite the looker. Built on an OLED screen, the A90K comes with incredible picture quality and leverages a peak HDR brightness of 640 nits in tandem with 99.78% coverage of the UDHA-P3 Color Gamut.
The full list: Best TVs in detail
The LG C3 OLED pops up on practically every one of our best lists, as it just proves to be an incredibly stellar display with loads of potential across varied use cases. It's exceptional in the gaming department, leveraging 4 HDMI 2.1 inputs, a 120Hz refresh rate, 12.9ms of input lag, and a host of additional features, like VRR, ALLM, and even a Dark Room mode under LG's handy Game Optimizer.
With only a 40W speaker across 2.2 channels, the C3 OLED may not offer the crispiest of sounds, but at least it's coming in a relatively low price point of $1,299 for its 48-inch model. It may not be 50-inch, but it's close enough.
It's bar none the best LG TV, utilizing LG's beloved webOS 23 platform, which streamlines user's content discovery, bypassing the need for a Amazon Fire TV Stick, while also making it easier for users to customize their TV home screen experience.
Read our full LG C3 OLED review.
The best QLED TV
Like the LG C3 OLED, Samsung's QN90C Neo QLED comes equipped with a total of 4 HDMI 2.1 inputs and a 120Hz refresh rate. Though, you will be missing out on that gorgeous OLED screen, but that's not to say the QLED isn't just as — if not maybe even a little more — worthwhile.
Its mini-LED backlighting offers incredible range in terms of potential brightness, coming in at around 1,987 nits of peak HDR brightness. In terms of color, the QN90C can hit 99.77% of the Rec709 color gamut. The QN90C is powered by Samsung's Neural Quantum 4K chipset, which allows for some serious upscaling for both SD and HD content.
Although most Samsung TVs typically cost an arm and a leg, the QN90C is just $1,599 for the 50-inch model, making it rather enticing for those trying to nab a well-rounded display at a meagre price.
Read our full Samsung QN90C Neo QLED TV review or browse our Samsung promo codes
The best OLED TV
The Sony Bravia XR A90K is quite a remarkable display that hits all the right spots in its range. Only available in a 42-inch and 48-inch model, it's best suited for those looking to get a smaller screen that's just as powerful as the best 65-inch options out there.
Best of all if the A90K comes equipped with an OLED screen, so you get rich details and stunning vibrancy no matter what you're watching. You will have some expected downsides as such, like quite a low peak brightness of 218 nits in standard content and just 640 nits for HDR content.
That's not a knock at the A90K, though, as a lower brightness level comes standard on most OLED TVs. At least with the A90K, you get quite a grand gaming platform, as it sports 2 HDMI 2.1 inputs, VRR, ALLM, and even two PlayStation 5-specific features, Auto Genre Picture Mode and Auto HDR Tone Mapping.
Read our full Sony Bravia XR A90K review.
Best 50-inch TV Test Results
| TV | Peak Brightness (tested) | Delta-E (tested) | BT2020 Color Volume (tested) | Input Lag (tested) |
| Samsung QN90C | 1546.55 nits | 2.2404 | 77.15% | 9.2ms |
| Sony A90K OLED | 640.23 nits | 4.2061 | 72.07% | 16.1ms |
| LG C3 OLED | 819.9 nits | 1.3908 | 73.95% | 9.1ms |
Other 50-inch TVs we've tested
- Samsung CU7000: The Samsung CU7000 is also available in a 50-inch size for around $350, though we don't recommend it due to its low brightness and poor color saturation. The models on this list are more expensive, but they're significantly better.
How to choose the best 50-inch TV for you
How to choose the best 50-inch TVs for you
Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.
When looking for a 50-inch TV, follow our TV Buying Guide tips. If you put some thought into what you need from a TV, you’ll be able to enjoy your purchase for years to come.
Size: Wondering what size room a 50-inch TV is perfect for? Check out our guide What size TV should you buy?. It shows that a 50-inch 4K TV is best for viewing when you’re sitting about four feet from the unit. That makes them a great match for a bedroom or small apartment. Then decide if you’re locked into a 50-inch model.
If your space will allow for a larger unit, we recommend you go bigger — even if you think you’ll be happy with a smaller screen, a bigger one helps make the experience of watching more engaging. And moving up to a 55-inch TV will bring more options and features.
Price: Expect to pay around $300 for most 50-inch TVs, although those with better features or an established brand name can cost $500 or more.
Features: Consider which ports you need and how many. The number of HDMI ports you need depends on how many devices you plan to plug in — a streaming stick, game console or cable box, for example. Most of these TVs have four HDMI inputs, but some have three. If you plan to use a sound bar, you may need an optical digital audio or a 3.5 mm auxiliary output. You may also want a TV that supports Bluetooth so you can listen on your headphones without disturbing people around you.
Gaming: If you're going to be doing a lot of gaming on your new TV, and particularly if you have one of the next-gen consoles, consider TVs with HDMI 2.1 ports. This will support Variable Refresh Rate, for super-smooth 120Hz gaming.
If you've narrowed down your TV shopping by brand, price range or screen size, check out our picks for the best TVs in each.
Best TVs | Best 4K TVs | Best smart TVs for streaming | Best TVs for gaming
The best TVs under $1000 | The best TVs under $500
Best TV brands | Best Samsung TVs | Best TCL TVs | Best LG TVs | Best Roku TVs | Best OLED TVs | Best QLED TVs | Best 8K TVs
The smallest smart TVs | Best 43-inch TVs | Best 55-inch TVs | Best 65-inch TVs | Best 70-inch TVs | Best 75-inch TVs | Best 85-inch TVs
And don't forget to watch out for the latest TV reviews.
How we test the best 50-inch TVs
How we test 50-inch TVs
Testing the best 50-inch TVs is a thorough process. We put every TV through our custom set of lab tests, measuring color gamut, color accuracy and brightness to objectively see which sets are the best for these key indicators. We also test for lag time, measuring to the millisecond how long it takes for content to travel from the original video source to the screen. We use these results to make numbers-based comparisons about color and display quality.
We spend hours with each set to see how our lab results translate into anecdotal performance. We also compare competing sets using a range of content across several sources. With that information, we can tell you which TVs look best, sound best, and offer the best viewing experience.
Of course, we also consider the smart TV functions and apps for each TV, looking at everything from the remote control design to the voice interaction.
