As larger TV sizes have become popular, manufacturers aren't making nearly as many smaller models as they used to. While most manufacturers have neglected the 48-50 inch market segment in recent years, there's still a market for some good TVs in this size range. They're available in various price ranges, from premium models to more basic, cheap models, so choosing the right one can be challenging. By testing dozens of TVs each year, we can determine which small models are worth your money, depending on your budget and needs.
Below are our recommendations for the best 48-50-inch TVs. All of the TVs on this list have smart features, so this will also help you find the best 48-inch and the best 50-inch smart TVs for your needs. Also, see our picks for the best PC monitor TVs, the best 55-inch TVs for something bigger, or the best 40-42-43 inch TVs for something smaller. You can also vote on which ones you want us to buy and test. To learn more about the newest models on the market, check out our 2026 TV lineup page.
We buy and test dozens of TVs yearly, taking an objective, data-driven approach to deliver results you can trust. Our testing process is complex, with hundreds of individual tests that take over a week to complete. Most of our tests use specially designed test patterns that mimic real content, but we also use the same sources you have at home to ensure our results match the real-world experience. We use two main tools for our testing: a Colorimetry Research CR-100 colorimeter and a CR-250 spectroradiometer.
-
Best 48-Inch TV
Mixed UsageHome TheaterBright RoomSportsGamingBrightnessBlack LevelColorMotion HandlingGame Mode ResponsivenessProcessing (In Development)Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:165HzScreen Finish:GlossyPanel Type:OLEDSub-Type:WOLEDDolby Vision:YesSee all our test resultsSizes:42" 48" 55" 65"The best 48-inch TV overall that you can buy is the LG OLED48C6PUA. It delivers amazing image quality, with inky blacks and vibrant colors. Although this smaller size isn't as bright as the larger models, it's still good enough to make bright areas stand out when you're playing HDR games or watching high-quality HDR movies and shows from streaming services. However, it's a bit too dim to handle glare in a well-lit room, so it's best suited to dark or moderately lit rooms if you don't want to see reflections on the screen. Its built-in webOS interface has a massive selection of streaming apps, making it a great choice for a dorm or other small space.
It has four HDMI 2.1 ports, allowing for up to 4k @ 165Hz gaming. It also supports all types of VRR, so you get a nearly tear-free gaming experience regardless of the console or PC you play on. Motion is also crystal-clear, so you don't have to deal with distracting motion blur in fast-paced games. Its wide viewing angle means you can watch the TV from an angle, and image quality remains consistent, which is great if you have friends over. If you're in a bright room, you could consider the Sony BRAVIA 7 II instead. It's a great TV overall, with fantastic peak brightness that helps it overcome more glare during the day, but it's also considerably more expensive than the C6.
-
Best Budget 50-Inch TV
Mixed UsageHome TheaterBright RoomSportsGamingBrightnessBlack LevelColorMotion HandlingGame Mode ResponsivenessProcessing (In Development)Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:60HzScreen Finish:GlossyPanel Type:LCDSub-Type:VADolby Vision:YesSee all our test resultsSizes:50" 55" 65" 75" 85"The Best Buy exclusive TCL 50QM5K is by far the best 50-inch TV you can get in the budget category. The TV doesn't display inky blacks, like the LG C6 OLED 2026 does, but unlike budget models from other brands, this TV has local dimming to deepen blacks, so it avoids looking washed out. It's bright enough to handle some glare in a well-lit room, but it's a lot dimmer when watching HDR movies and shows, so bright areas don't pop out as much in that content. Colors are noticeably more muted than they are on the C6, but they still look vibrant enough that the image doesn't look dull. Like most LED models, it has a pretty narrow viewing angle, so it's not a great choice for wide seating arrangements since image quality degrades rapidly when watching TV from an angle.
It runs the popular Google TV OS, so finding content is easy, and you have several other smart features at your disposal. It's limited to 4k @ 60Hz gaming, but it still supports VRR to reduce screen tearing. Furthermore, it has low input lag, and motion blur isn't too bad, so it performs decently for gamers on a budget. It's not the greatest TV ever, but this model really stands above other budget models available in a 50-inch size.
-
Best Cheap 50-Inch TV
Mixed UsageHome TheaterBright RoomSportsGamingBrightnessBlack LevelColorMotion HandlingGame Mode ResponsivenessProcessing (In Development)Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:60HzScreen Finish:GlossyPanel Type:LCDSub-Type:IPSDolby Vision:YesSee all our test resultsSizes:43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85"If you want something cheaper than the TCL QM5K, consider the Walmart-exclusive Vizio Mini LED Quantum 4K instead. It's an okay TV overall, with a few picture-enhancing features like local dimming and surprisingly good accuracy out of the box. It actually gets brighter than the TCL, but it has significantly worse contrast, so blacks aren't nearly as deep or as uniform in dark scenes. It's also pretty light on picture processing, so it can't do much at all to clean up low-quality content from streaming services.
It runs the VIZIO OS smart interface, which looks nice but has a very limited selection of streaming apps. Most major streaming services are available, but there's no way to add others, so you may want to consider pairing it with an external streamer if you're missing anything. It has a few extra gaming features, including a boosted 120Hz refresh rate that only works at a lower resolution, and it supports VRR to help reduce screen tearing.
Notable Mentions
-
Samsung QN48S90HAEXZA:
The 48-inch Samsung S90H OLED is a great alternative to the LG C6 OLED 2026 if you mostly use your TV in a bright room.
The TV's matte coating does a phenomenal job
overcoming glare, so reflections aren't an issue at all. However, the LG
is brighter, has better image processing, and supports Dolby Vision, making it the better TV overall.
See our review -
Hisense 50QD7QF:
The 50-inch Hisense QD7QF is an alternative to the TCL QM5K. The Hisense has slightly more vibrant colors that are more accurate out of the box, but the TCL has better black levels, brightness, and image processing, making it the superior TV overall.
See our review
Recent Updates
Sep 18, 2026:
We removed the LG B5 OLED from the list, as it's too similar to the LG C6 OLED 2026. We also replaced the Hisense QD6QF with the Vizio Mini LED Quantum 4K as it's better, cheaper, and more widely available.
Jun 23, 2026:
We replaced the LG C5 OLED with the LG C6 OLED 2026 as our top pick, since the newer model is the better option and is more widely available. We also replaced the Samsung S90F OLED with the Samsung S90H OLED in the Notable Mentions section, since the latter is a better alternative for those looking for a bright room option.
Mar 20, 2026:
We confirmed the accuracy and availability of our current picks.
Nov 19, 2025:
We added the TCL QM5K to the article in a newly created 'Best Budget 50-Inch TV' category. We also replaced the TCL Q651G with the Hisense QD6QF in the 'Best Cheap' category, and updated the Notable Mentions.
Sep 09, 2025:
Replaced the LG C4 OLED with the LG C5 OLED, the Samsung QN90D with the Samsung QN90F, and the LG B4 OLED with the LG B5 OLED. We also replaced the Hisense A7N with the TCL Q651G, and renamed that section 'Best Cheap 50-Inch TV' since it's more suitable. Finally, we updated the Notable Mentions.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best 48-inch TVs and the best 50-inch TVs to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (a cheaper TV wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no TVs that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is a list of all our recent 48-50 inch TV reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no TV is perfect, most TVs are great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
