The best 50″ TVs give you Smart TV features, HDR compatibility and 4K resolution, but just a little smaller than the more popular 55-inch TVs. So in 4K HDR mode, you can opt for a 50″ TV without compromising on quality or features. In this guide, we've selected the best 50-inch 4K HDR TVs available on the market today.
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Our selection
"With more image enhancement features, including Quantum Dot technology and extended color gamut, the TCL 50C725 is a 50-inch 4K HDR TV that brings incredible…"
"Like most other entry-level TV options, the Hisense 50A71F looks basic, but fully functional and accurate, keeping the viewer focused on the screen."
"With the NanoCell 50 NANO886, LG promises a next-generation TV that guarantees pure color in 4K. This 50-inch 4K HDR TV also offers an optimal…"
"The Hisense 50A7GQ is a 50-inch 4K HDR TV that sits in the middle of the range for 2021 and has a number of features…"
With more image enhancement features, including Quantum Dot technology and extended color gamut, the TCL 50C725 is a 50-inch 4K HDR TV that brings incredible boldness and realism to your screen.
479 £ on BoulangerBy delivering more color, more contrast, and more clarity in 4K resolution, the TCL 50C725 will give you stunning picture quality whether you're watching TV shows, movies, or games. And with Onkyo audio offering premium HiFi quality sound with plenty of depth, power and clarity, the TCL 50C725 can easily become the centerpiece of your home entertainment.
This TV offers a wide color palette and supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. The latter promises stunning contrast and clarity to deliver an exciting cinematic experience. Finally, it's worth noting that this TCL 50C725 features the AIPQ processor that drives the features and performance of the TV. The AiPQ processor processes content in real time, detects the environment, and optimizes the picture and sound based on the content, so oceans look bluer and rainforests look lusher.
Like most other entry-level TV options, the Hisense 50A71F looks basic, but fully functional and accurate, keeping the viewer focused on the screen.
319 £ on BoulangerThe Hisense 50A71F features a 50-inch 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) LED display with support for HDR up to Dolby Vision. Granted, it's not the most affordable TV with Dolby Vision, but it's certainly among the most affordable options available today that supports 12-bit HDR. There is also support for Dolby Atmos audio.
At just over 10kg, the Hisense 50A71F doesn't weigh too much and it's easy enough to mount on the wall with a standard VESA bracket. When it comes to connectivity, you get three HDMI 2.0 ports (one of which supports HDMI ARC), two USB ports, an Ethernet port for wired internet connectivity, a 3.5mm stereo jack, an antenna jack, and an optical audio output port (Toslink).
With the NanoCell 50 NANO886, LG promises a next-generation TV that guarantees pure color in 4K. This 50-inch 4K HDR TV also offers an optimal viewing experience from very wide viewing angles.
639 £ on BoulangerThe NanoCell 50NANO886 is a 50-inch 4K HDR TV that was designed with your home's aesthetic in mind. With a sleek and minimalist design, it hangs on your wall like a work of art, adding a touch of beauty while maximizing your space. The LG NanoCell 50NANO886 brings the cinema into your home with pure color and a host of the latest technology. With enhanced HDR, the latest Dolby advancements and a "cinema" mode offer a truly cinematic experience while in your living room.
The NanoCell 50NANO886 is also perfect for gaming and is optimized for the XBOX Series X through the Game Optimizer. This mode automatically adjusts the image settings, optimizing graphics and visibility, to give you the best gaming experience possible.
The Hisense 50A7GQ is a 50-inch 4K HDR TV that sits in the middle of the range for 2021 and has a number of features you only see on high-end models. So its real strength is obviously its value for money.
479 £ on BoulangerAny specific needs?
The best 50-inch 4K HDR TV in 2021
The best entry-level 50-inch 4K HDR TV
The best high-end 50-inch 4K HDR TV
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OUR SELECTION |
TCL 50C725
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Hisense 50A7100F
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LG NanoCell 50NANO886
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Hisense 50A7GQ
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With more image enhancement features, including Quantum Dot technology and extended color gamut, the TCL 50C725 is a 50-inch 4K HDR TV that brings incredible boldness and realism to your screen.
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Like most other entry-level TV options, the Hisense 50A71F looks basic, but fully functional and accurate, keeping the viewer focused on the screen.
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With the NanoCell 50 NANO886, LG promises a next-generation TV that guarantees pure color in 4K. This 50-inch 4K HDR TV also offers an optimal viewing experience from very wide viewing angles.
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The Hisense 50A7GQ is a 50-inch 4K HDR TV that sits in the middle of the range for 2021 and has a number of features you only see on high-end models. So its real strength is obviously its value for money.
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Display technology
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QLED
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LED
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NanoCell
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QLED
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HDR supported
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HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
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HDR10, HDR10+
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HDR10, HDR10 Pro, HLG, Dolby Vision
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HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision
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Sound power
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2 x 10 Watts
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2 x 8 Watts
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2 x 10 Watts
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2 x 10 Watts
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Number of HDMI ports
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HDMI 2.1 x 3
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HDMI 2.0 x 3
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HDMI 2.1 x 2 / HDMI 2.0 x 2
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HDMI 2.1 x 3
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Repairability index
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6.8 / 10
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5.3 / 10
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5,6 / 10
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6.2 / 10
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One of the most important things to consider before purchasing a 50-inch 4K HDR TV is the screen technology which refers to the type of panel used. And the main screen technologies used are LED, OLED and QLED. LED is the standard liquid crystal technology. OLED TVs are known to have the best black levels, as the areas of the screen that are black can simply turn off, even when other parts of the screen are lit. Finally, QLED is a relatively new screen technology that uses quantum dots to produce colored light.
High Dynamic Range (HDR) refers to the TV's abilityto deliver more color, better contrast levels, and increased brightnesscompared tostandard HD and Ultra HD sets. HDR10 is the most commonly used format. Namely, it has the ability to adjust black levels and maximum brightness for an entire movie or show. Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10+ offer a further evolution in the HDR experience as they offer scene-by-scene optimization.
Therefresh rate represents the number of times per second that the image is updated on the screen. By flashing a series of still images, the TV creates the illusion of motion. The refresh rate is measured in hertz. If a refresh rate is 60 Hz, the image is refreshed 60 times per second. More and more premium 4K HDR TVs will have a native refresh rate of 100 Hz .
Refresh rate is the industry standard for measuring motion rates. However, many TV brands use different terminology to describe motion smoothness rather than picture refresh rate. For example, brands may list Motion Rate 120 or TruMotion 120, but the native refresh rate is 60 Hz.
Inyour plan to buy a 50-inch 4K HDR TV, pay attention to the number of HDMI inputs. These ports can be used in a number of ways, such as adding a sound bar, chromecast, Blu-ray player, and game console.
If you decide to take the plunge and buy a 50-inch 4K HDR TV, make sure the TV supports 2.0 to accommodate future UHD sources. Many TVs on the market have only one port that supports the 4K copy protection systemknown as HDCP 2.2 (high bandwidth digital content protection).
Here'sanother great option from a much more advanced technology: smart TV or connected TV, commonly known as Smart TV. This feature gives you the opportunity to connect to the world through a wireless system: you'll get access to countless videos of the moment, various online games and other applications all equally interesting. The majority of 50-inch 4K HDR TVs have this feature to immerse you fully in high-quality, cutting-edge technology. So you can't live without your 50-inch 4K HDR TV!
HDR, or high dynamic range, is a technology that produces more vivid colors and a higher contrast ratio than standard dynamic range. There are currently four different standards on the market: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and HLG. HDR10 applies its enhancement once, while Dolby Vision and HDR10+ constantly analyze and process the image. HLG is unique among these in that it is the only technology that is backward compatible with non-HDR displays and does not require metadata. HLG is primarily used in TV broadcasting, while HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision are used for Blu-ray content and streaming.
Another important distinction to be made here is that TVs with HDR10 cannot be upgraded to support Dolby Vision because Dolby's format requires their hardware and certification, but Dolby Vision TVs can have their firmware upgraded to support HDR10.
While HDR is certainly not a requirement for a good picture, it will make a noticeable difference when viewing HDR-compatible media when paired with an HDR-compatible source, like a Blu-ray player, of course. And yes, everything in your home theater system should be HDR compatible to display HDR content; that means the source, the playback device and the TV, as well as your receiver if it's in the signal chain between your Blu-ray HDR player and your TV.
Widely considered the most readily available display technology today, OLED (organic light-emitting diode) is also the type of panel found on the most expensive TVs. The technology uses individual organic pixelsthat emit light when an electric current passes through it. The 50-inch 4K HDR OLED TVs are known to have the best black levels, as the areas of the screen that are black can simply turn off, even when other parts of the screen are on.
Themost widely used TV screen technology, LED-LCD, or simply LED as it is commonly marketed, is essentially the same LCD screen, but with an LED (light-emitting diode) backlight. This not only allows the TV to be thinner and have smaller borders around the screen, but also provides a brighter viewing experience. It is also significantly more energy efficient than CCFL backlighting, making it the preferred form of display today.
QLEDis a marketing term made popular by Samsung. It is a relatively new screen technology that uses quantum dots (a type of semiconductor) to produce colored light. This uses a layer of quantum dots that enhances the brightness and colors of the TV. Quantum Dot LED displays are said to be better than standard LED displays, coming close to OLED displays in many ways in terms of performance.
OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode. It's a revolutionary new technology. OLED sends electricity directly through special organic materials that glow red, green, or blue (the three colors that make up all the colors you see on a monitor) whereas previous technologies had to use filters and larger crystals to block or display the light.
This means that OLED TVs can be much thinner and lighter than anything you've ever seen, and display much more vivid and true colors than standard LED TVs even at 4K resolution. They have an incredible ability to display proper contrast, as blacks can disappear completely and whites "pop" off the screen. They are also more energy efficient by their very nature.
LED TVs now account for the majority of TVs sold on the market. LED technology consists of a system of backlighting of the pixels by means of white light, which is then coloured to form the images. The main advantage of the LED TV is its brightness: its display quality does not change even in daylight.
Another advantage of LED TVs is that they are much cheaper than OLED TVs. This is important for people with a limited budget. On the other hand, this type of TV is thicker than the OLED TV and the picture quality is still much lower. Demanding users should skip it.
Between the OLED TV and the LED TV, it is clear that the OLED TV wins because of its more advanced technology. In terms of contrast, the very bright black of the LED TV is replaced by an absolutely deep black on the OLED TV. The details are almost sharper. The OLED TV makes you experience the reality of your sports shows or video games.
50-inch 4K HDR TVs can easily be hung on your wall, placed on rather smaller TV stands, and can be moved more quickly due to their lower weight. This is acceptable to be an advantage for which 50-inch 4K HDR TVs are becoming more and more popular.
The vast majority of 50-inch 4K HDR TVs have 4K resolution. In fact, the best value and resolution/price ratio on the market comes from 50-inch 4K HDR TVs. Within the range of 50-inch 4K HDR TVs, you can find all the display technologies available today: LED, OLED, and QLED. You'll be spoilt for choice.
55-inch TVs are perfect for small living spaces. If your viewing distance is 1.7 metres or less, the 55-inch size will be ideal! You'll want to choose a 50-inch 4K HDR TV to get the best viewing experience possible.
A 50-inch 4K HDR TV has the perfect size to suit all uses. It can be used for both gaming and for watching TV shows and movies.
55 inches is also the minimum for an OLED panel: the high-end panel technology that you'll only find in the most premium flagship models from Sony, Philips or LG. If you want the best picture quality at any price, with excellent value for money, a 50-inch 4K HDR TV is the best possible compromise.
In our opinion, the best brands of 50-inch 4K HDR TVs in 2022 are :
LG is the perfect example of "brand isn't everything". Their high-end models are some of the best TVs you can buy today, while their mid-range and budget models are a bit less appealing (in most cases).
Samsung is known for its QLED panels that use quantum dots for fantastic color performance. Its blacks aren't as deep as OLED panels, but it has a much brighter image, making it ideal for rooms with lots of sunlight.
Sony offers some of the most accurate TVs in terms of colour reproduction, with a solid Smart TV (Google TV) interface, good HDR performance and incredible processing power.
If you're upset about the lack of cheap options among TVs in general, don't worry: there's a reason for that. While LG, Samsung, and Sony all make great high-end sets, their budget and mid-range sets are often overshadowed by TCL, which offers excellent picture quality for the low prices the brand offers.
Vizio sets may not have the extra features of their competitors, but if you're watching movies on Blu-ray or via a separate streaming box, they're perfect for tight budgets. Vizio's P-series offers picture quality comparable to high-end sets, but at a lower price.
The diagram below will help you to get an idea of the typical prices for each price range (entry-level, mid-range and high-end).
However, more expensive does not necessarily mean better.
We therefore advise you to always consult our ranking before deciding, rather than blindly relying on price ranges.
Adjust the colorimetry when you first use it
For a unique immersive experience, nothing beats a proper picture mode setting. On an OLED TV, you can activate different modes depending on the shows you watch. Cinema mode is for a less brightly lit room and activates an automatic contrast and color adjustment. Sport mode focuses on sharpness to better appreciate movement details. Game mode reduces latency and emphasizes sound quality.
Go for 50-inch 4K HDR TVs with HDMI 2.1 ports
AlthoughHDMI 2.1 is a fairly new standard that you won't find on every 50-inch 4K HDR TV, it's slowly becoming an industry standard. The cable and connector are identical to your old HDMI cord, but using an HDMI 2.1 connection can increase your frame rate to 120 frames per second, with resolutions up to 10K. As it stands, there isn't a lot of content that would benefit significantly from an HDMI 2.1 connection, but there is starting to be more and more.
Control the TV from your smartphone
Ifyour remote lacks features that enhance your experience using your 50-inch 4K HDR TV, you can try using your smartphone instead. Roku, Amazon Fire, and Apple TV all have apps that can communicate with your TV.
Check out the innovations on your TV
Better contrast, excellent black rendition, more realistic images, and smoother motion-take some time to study what this means and see it in front of your TV.
Use a Blu-ray player
If you're a movie buff, get a Blu-ray player to make the most of the technology offered by 4K HDR TV. The ultra-realistic images combined with the thrilling sounds will give you a wonderful experience with every movie you watch.
A smart TV is a TV that can access your home network and the internet via built-in Wi-Fi. 50-inch 4K HDR smart TVs are usually preconfigured with their own set of software and apps (Samsung smart TVs, for example, can access the Samsung Hub of apps and programs).
Most LED TVs have a 178-degree viewing angle, which is a good choice. If you have a lot of space though, you should get a 50-inch 4K HDR TV with IPS technology.
Picture quality depends on a variety of technologies including LED, OLED, QLED, Picture Engine, Processor, Dolby vision HDR, HDR 10+, HDR decoder and AI ultra high definition. All of these elements are essential to the screen display and enhance the viewing experience in a variety of ways.
It refers to the contrast between the brightest white pixels and the deepest black pixels of a display. With a higher contrast ratio, the image quality is more transparent, letting all the fine details show through.
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