A 50 inch TV is one of the most popular sizes of television out there, so it can be difficult to know which you should choose. They can be a great addition to your home, whether it’s in your lounge or in your bedroom.
For the bedroom, you could also consider a 40 inch TV. And for the lounge, you could go even bigger with a 65 inch TV. But for many people, 50 inches will be the ideal TV size.
So, if you’re looking for the best 50 inch smart TV, which model should you opt for? Here’s some of the standout TVs to pick from at the moment.
Best 50 Inch Smart TV under £500
| Product | Image | Specs | Get More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung TU7100 |  | 4k @ 60Hz | Check Price at Amazon |
| Panasonic TX-50HX580BZ |  | 4k @ 60Hz | Check Price at Amazon |
| Philips 50PUS7505/12 |  | 4k @ 60Hz | Check Price at Amazon |
| Sharp 4T-C50BJ3KF2FB |  | 4k @ 50Hz | Check Price at Amazon |
| LG 50UN81006LB |  | 4k @ 50Hz | Check Price at Amazon |
| HISENSE 50A7100FTUK |  | 4k @ 60Hz | Check Price at Amazon |
| TCL 50P615K |  | 4k @ 60Hz | Check Price at Amazon |
Samsung TU7100
Resolution: 4K | Refresh Rate: 60 Hz | Display: LED | Connectivity: 2 x HDMI, USB, Wireless
When you’re talking about good quality TVs, Samsung is never going to be far from the conversation. And if you’re looking for the best 50 inch TV under £500, then you’re going to struggle anything better than the Samsung TU7100. It has everything you could need from a smart TV.
Firstly, this is a 4K television, which means you’re going to get a high resolution image. A 4K TV has a 3840 x 2160 resolution, which gives it more than 8 million pixels across its display – this is 4 times the amount you’d find in a standard 1080p television.
The HDR display actually uses HDR 10+ technology, which is similar to Dolby Vision. It’s intended to bring out more vibrant colours in your display, and it helps to increase definition and detail in the picture itself. It’s definitely noticeable in the TV, and it works extremely well.
As you may or may not know, Samsung actually uses its own operating system in their smart TVs, called Tizen. The Tizen OS is based on Linux and is very easy to navigate, and it makes it simple to get access to any of the streaming services that you need.
Overall, this is one of the best 50 inch TVs out there, and for what you’re actually getting, it’s not a bad price either. This is no surprise, as Samsung TVs are often the most popular option nowadays, and the TU7100 shows why.
Pros
Cons
Verdict: Overall, this is one of the best TVs under £500. It is the ideal screen size, and the HDR compatibility means that it manages to produce an excellent picture.
Panasonic TX-50HX580BZ
Resolution: 4K | Refresh Rate: 60 Hz | Display: LCD | Connectivity: 4 x HDMI, Ethernet, USB
Another one of the best TVs under £500 you can find is this Panasonic TV. As you’re aware, by opting to go with a big brand like Panasonic you may end up paying a little more for the TV itself. However, it definitely gives you more peace of mind.
Generally the big TV brands are all competing with each other to have the most interactivity with different streaming apps. This model will likely have everything that you need, and its smart platform will allow you to access everything that you need to (Prime Video etc).
This TV has high dynamic range, meaning that its colours are going to be better than the normal. Of course, it’s a 4K TV, which is good if you want to watch the increasing amount of 4K content out there. It has a solid audio quality to match too.
To be honest, if you’re looking at something of this size then you should probably pick one with a higher resolution like this. 4K TVs are pretty much the standard when it comes to high end models. This TV is definitely made to a very good standard and its build quality is solid, so you know that it’ll be reliable in the long term.
If you’re already a Panasonic fan then I won’t have to say much more than this for you to be interested. Their products tend to be above average in terms of design and performance, and this model is one of their better TVs too.
Pros
Cons
Verdict: This is another great smart 4K TV that has the best sound out of any model within the price range.
Philips 50PUS7505/12
Resolution: 4K | Refresh Rate: 60 Hz | Display: LED | Connectivity: 2 x HDMI, USB, Wireless, Ethernet
Although they are typically pretty expensive, a new 50 inch TV doesn’t have to cost a fortune. So if you’re looking for a budget friendly option, then check out this Philips 50PUS7505/12 model. It is one of the cheapest 50 inch TVs on the market, especially when you consider that it’s a smart TV too.
The main reason to opt for this TV is the audio and the video quality. They’re on par with other 50 inch models out there, and the high 4K resolution is definitely a major reason to opt for this one. It also uses Dolby Vision to provide some great visuals.
As well as this, the TV also sounds fantastic, largely due to the high Dolby Atmos standards that it manages to meet pretty easily. If you’re looking for a TV to watch films on, then this would definitely be a good choice, as it’s a great picture and the audio is powerful enough to really create an atmosphere.
You can easily use this TV with any of your favourite apps, and it’s easy to get BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub and anything else you need on there too. The user interface is quite simple to use, even if you’re not too experienced with using new smart TVs.
The only thing I would say is that the stand that this model uses is fairly cheap and not the best. However, it’s pretty expected that certain aspects of the TV aren’t as good as more expensive models out there. So if you’re trying to keep to a strict budget, this is one of the best 50 inch TVs to opt for.
Pros
Cons
Verdict: For those after a cheap 4K TV, this will be a great fit. It doesn’t have a ton of features, but for many, that won’t matter.
Sharp 4T-C50BJ3KF2FB
Resolution: 4K | Refresh Rate: 60 Hz | Display: LED | Connectivity: 3 x HDMI, USB, Wireless
Another excellent option for those looking for a budget friendly 4K 50 inch TV is this model made by Sharp. The old school brand are still making televisions, and they have a good line of smart TVs that includes the 4T-C50BJ3KF2FB.
As you’d expect from any smart TV, it’ll come with Netflix and Amazon Prime already installed and ready for you to use. As well as this, you can also get access to YouTube pretty easily too, as well as having an in-built web browser too.
This Sharp TV produces some excellent imagery and the audio isn’t too bad either. It uses Harman Kardon speakers, which ensures that they sound clear (Harman Kardon is actually a subsidiary of Samsung).
Another thing that I should mention is that this TV is well designed and it particularly slimline. This makes it a perfect option if you’re looking for a relatively lightweight 50 inch TV that you can mount on the wall.
This is another pretty good cheap TV that wouldn’t be a bad addition to your home. It has pretty much all the features most of us looking for in a 50 inch TV, making it one of the best value for money options.
Pros
Cons
Verdict: This is another sub £500 TV that does all that you could need it to, with an easy to use built-in Freeview tuner. Though bear in mind that if your favourite streaming service isn’t well known, you may not be able to add it.
LG 50UN81006LB
Resolution: 4K | Refresh Rate: 60 Hz | Display: LED | Connectivity: 4 x HDMI, Bluetooth, USB, Wireless
The LG 50UN81006LB is one of the better 50 inch options out there, and it’s proven to be extremely popular too. They released a new model of this television in 2020, so it’s sure to be up to date and relevant.
Above everything else, the picture quality is supported by a quad core processor that works extremely well. Add in surround sound quality audio to this and you’ve got pretty much everything you need. But, this TV is a good choice for more than just this – its user navigation is excellent too.
This TV uses its own Linux operating system which makes it really easy to navigate through the apps on the TV. You can easily use newer apps like Disney+ too. It also comes with the LG Magic Remote, which is one of the best remotes out there, much better than those that come with cheaper designs.
This is probably my favourite option for playing video games too, due to the low input lag. Though the refresh rate isn’t great, it’s still going to be enough when you want to switch into gaming mode.
The only thing to be aware of with this television is that it doesn’t have BBC iPlayer in-built into the device. This can be frustrating, especially for UK users. However, it does counteract this by having other useful apps like Now TV, which might not be on other smart TVs.
For some having iPlayer will be a dealbreaker, and it really depends if you already have a TV box at home (for example if you’re already with Virgin, then you can watch iPlayer through that). But aside from this, it’s a pretty great television with an excellent display and a lot of functionality.
Pros
Cons
Verdict: As an alternative, this Ultra HD television is one of the better made options. With low input lag, it also makes good choice if you’re looking for a TV for casual gaming.
HISENSE 50A7100FTUK
Resolution: 4K | Refresh Rate: 60 Hz | Display: LED | Connectivity: 3 x HDMI 2.0, Bluetooth, USB, Wireless
You can’t always go for the well known brands when purchasing electronics. Less popular makers can often offer some great value for money, and that’s the case with this Hisense TV. Although within the TV industry, the brand Hisense is pretty well known for their cheap TVs.
It has all of the services that you’re going to need in if you’re in the UK. It also has a full HD 4K display, which works with precision colour and ultra dimming to get a good balance of contrast and vibrancy. If you’re looking for a TV to fit in your living room, this would be a fine choice.
Something else that’s good about this model of TV is that you can integrate it with your Amazon Alexa very easily. If you have your own smart home setup indoors, then it makes sense to opt for a 4K TV that can fit in with that. You can actually control the TV with Alexa, which is pretty cool.
Having multiple HDMI 2.0 inputs that you can use is definitely a good thing, as you’ll be able to connect your set top box and Fire stick to this at the same time. It’s ideal for watching catch up TV, and thankfully it’s at the budget end of the price spectrum too.
So, one of the good things about this model is that you can get it for a pretty low price. It’s actually quite significantly under £500, which makes it excellent value for money. For those on the hunt for a budget TV, this one definitely stands out.
Pros
Cons
Verdict: A great budget option for anyone looking for an LED TV that will give you easy access to Netflix, Amazon Prime video and more.
TCL 50P615K
Resolution: 4K | Refresh Rate: 60 Hz | Display: LED | Connectivity: 3 x HDMI, Bluetooth, 2 x USB, Wireless
This lightweight TV will appeal to those that are looking to watch films in 4K but don’t necessarily have the budget for an expensive model. It’s not perfect, but it does have a decent quality picture.
You do have a variety of different options when it comes to connectivity with this TCL television. It has three different HDMI ports that you can take advantage off, as well as both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection too.
In comparison to the rest of the televisions here, it’s probably not quite on par with the others when it comes to quality. Although it’s simple enough to use, the remote control could be improved, as well as the overall build of the TV.
But all in all, I do think there are more positives than negatives when it comes to TCL televisions in general. Sure, they may not be on the level of Samsung – but they’re usually 50-100% cheaper than premium brands. If you’re looking for a TV with a low price tag, this might be the one.
Pros
Cons
Verdict: If you’ve got tight purse strings, this would definitely be an option you’ll want to consider. It’s one of the cheapest 50 inch TVs around.
Common Questions about 50 Inch TV’s
Is a 50 inch 4K TV worth it?
Nowadays, the majority of options you’re going to find that are 50 inches in size are going to be 4K resolution. This is because with larger TVs like this, it’s quite easy to see the step up in quality from lower resolutions like 768p and 1080p. Whilst on smaller TVs this isn’t as noticeable. But even if you sit far away from a 50 inch TV, you’ll be able to see the difference in pixels quite clearly. So, yes a 4K TV is definitely worth it if you’re looking to opt for a 50 inch TV.
Do I need a 50 inch TV?
You might not even be sure whether you need a 50 inch TV in your house. Although 50 inch was actually considered large at one point, nowadays they are actually a pretty standard size. If you’re looking for a TV for your lounge, then I’d advise that you opt for a 50 inch TV, as it’s a good size for most people.
Are there any TVs that are not smart TVs?
You don’t necessarily need to opt for a smart TV, but nowadays the majority of people are opting to go with a smart TV over a standard model. This is because of all the features they have inbuilt to them, which makes them much better to use than a standard TV. However, you can opt for a standard TV if you want to save some cash.
How big is a 50 inch screen?
If you’re not entirely sure how big a 50 inch TV is going to be, then generally you can look at both the width and height to confirm this. A 50 inch TV is going to be slightly less than 44 inches in width, and just less than 25 inches in height. So, although they sound huge, they’re actually not that tall in terms of height.
How far should I sit from a 50 inch TV?
Even though there are larger options out there, you should still sit a reasonable distance away from a 50 inch television. It’s recommended that you sit at least 6 feet (2m) away from a TV of this size, so anywhere between 2-4m seems to be a reasonable distance.
Conclusion
With a HD TV like this, there are various different brands out there for you to choose from. And from Samsung to Sharp, there are a variety of different features and technologies used to improve your viewing experience too.
In conclusion, there are many options out there for those that are trying to find a 4K 50 inch TV that’s less than £500. Thankfully, nowadays 4K televisions are cheaper than ever, and for us as consumers that manages to give us a good variety to choose from.
Any of the models that I’ve featured here will be a good fit for most people, so you can’t really go wrong. Even budget TVs of 50+ inches nowadays will come with a high image resolution and a whole host of features too.
