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 current models on the market, check out our 2025 TV lineup page.
Quick Look
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 are done with 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.
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Best 48-Inch TV
Mixed Usage8.6Home Theater8.8Bright Room7.7Sports8.2Gaming8.8Brightness8.3Black Level10Color8.3Processing (In Development)8.7Game Mode Responsiveness9.3Resolution4kNative Refresh Rate144HzScreen FinishGlossyTypeOLEDSub-TypeWOLEDSee all our test resultsDolby VisionYesThe best TV we've tested with a 48-inch screen size is the LG OLED48C5PUA. OLEDs like this one aren't available in 50-inch sizes, so instead, you have to get something a bit smaller. It delivers superb picture quality, with perfect black levels, thanks to its near-infinite contrast ratio. Additionally, highlights stand out well, and colors are vibrant, so HDR content looks great. The TV is bright enough for most well-lit rooms, but it doesn't do the best job handling direct reflections, so try to avoid placing it directly opposite a window, lamp, or other direct light source. Its built-in LG webOS interface has a massive selection of streaming apps, making it a great choice for a dorm or other small space. It's also great for movie fans, since it has Dolby Vision and very good image processing.
Its nearly instantaneous pixel transitions make it great for gaming, resulting in clear motion with no distracting blur behind fast-moving objects. It has four HDMI 2.1 ports, allowing for 4k @ 144Hz gaming with VRR, meaning you can take advantage of the PS5, the Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, or a PC with a recent graphics card. Its wide viewing angle means you can watch the TV from an angle and image quality is barely degraded, which is great if you have friends over. Unfortunately, there are subtle diagonal lines in darker scenes that are visible if you sit very close to the screen, so keep that in mind if you plan to use it as a PC monitor.
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Best 50-Inch TV
Mixed Usage8.2Home Theater8.1Bright Room8.7Sports8.5Gaming7.8Brightness9.0Black Level8.3Color7.7Processing (In Development)7.7Game Mode Responsiveness7.8Resolution4kNative Refresh Rate165HzScreen FinishMatteTypeLEDSub-TypeVASee all our test resultsDolby VisionNoIf you want the best 50-inch TV and don't want anything smaller, consider the Samsung QN50QN90FAFXZA. Unlike the LG C5 OLED, this model uses a Mini LED backlight with local dimming. You don't get the same perfect black levels as an OLED, but blacks still look deep and bold in a dark room, albeit with some haloing around subtitles and highlights. Still, combined with the TV's punchy colors and very bright highlights, you get an impactful HDR experience. One of the unique features of this model is its matte screen coating, which does an amazing job handling reflections. Since the TV also has fantastic SDR brightness, this TV overcomes glare in even the brightest of rooms. It doesn't support Dolby Vision, but it supports the similar HDR10+, so you still get a dynamic HDR format. It comes with the Tizen OS, which is loaded with apps and makes finding content easy.
The TV's viewing angle is a bit on the narrow side, especially compared to OLEDs, so it's not the best option for wide seating arrangements. It has very good upscaling capabilities, but it doesn't do a very good job removing artifacts from low-bitrate feeds. However, it's a great gaming TV, with four HDMI 2.1 ports that support up to 4k @ 165Hz. It also supports VRR for nearly tear-free gaming. It doesn't have the same nearly instantaneous response times as an OLED, but pixel transitions are quick enough that you don't notice a ton of blur behind fast motion.
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Best Mid-Range 48-Inch TV
Mixed Usage8.2Home Theater8.4Bright Room6.7Sports7.1Gaming8.5Brightness7.0Black Level10Color8.3Processing (In Development)8.3Game Mode Responsiveness9.0Resolution4kNative Refresh Rate120HzScreen FinishGlossyTypeOLEDSub-TypeWOLEDSee all our test resultsDolby VisionYesIf you really want the LG C5 OLED but find it's too expensive, consider stepping down to the best 48-inch TV for those with a strict budget, the LG OLED48B5PUA. The B5 isn't as bright as the C5 is, but it's just bright enough in HDR for highlights to stand out. Colors are almost as vibrant as they are on the C5, and you get the same perfect black levels, so HDR content is still immersive on this TV. Sadly, it's pretty dim in SDR, so it only overcomes glare in dimly lit environments. Fortunately, you still get a similarly wide viewing angle, making it suitable for wider seating arrangements. It runs the same version of webOS, so finding apps and content is a breeze.
The TV supports Dolby Vision and has solid image processing, which is great for movie fans. When it comes to gaming, you get most of the same features as the C5, such as four HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR, and nearly instantaneous pixel response times. The TV doesn't support 144Hz like the more expensive model does, but you still get 4k @ 120Hz, so it's fully compatible with the Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and the PS5.
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Best Budget 50-Inch TV
Mixed Usage7.0Home Theater7.1Bright Room7.3Sports7.3Gaming6.5Brightness6.7Black Level7.6Color6.5Processing (In Development)7.1Game Mode Responsiveness7.2Resolution4kNative Refresh Rate60HzScreen FinishGlossyTypeLEDSub-TypeVASee all our test resultsDolby VisionYesThe Best Buy exclusive TCL 50QM5K is by far the best budget model you can get in this size range. Unlike budget models from other brands, this TV has local dimming to deepen blacks, so it avoids looking washed out in dark scenes. It's also bright enough to handle glare from indirect light sources in a well-lit room. However, it doesn't do a good job reducing the intensity of mirror-like reflections, so it's best to avoid placing the TV screen directly in front of light sources. The TV has decent-looking colors and it's just bright enough in HDR for highlights to stand out a bit, so HDR content still has some impact. Like most LED models, it has a pretty narrow viewing angle, so it's not a great choice for wide seating arrangements.
It runs the popular Google TV OS, so finding content is easy and you have several other smart features at your disposal. On top of that, it supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and passes through all popular audio formats, so it has excellent compatibility. 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. This model really stands above other budget models available in a 50-inch size, so it's worth taking the trip to Best Buy to purchase it.
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Best Cheap 50-Inch TV
Mixed Usage6.0Home Theater5.8Bright Room6.3Sports6.0Gaming6.2Brightness5.6Black Level4.9Color6.8Processing (In Development)6.3Game Mode Responsiveness6.7Resolution4kNative Refresh Rate60HzScreen FinishGlossyTypeLEDSub-TypeVASee all our test resultsDolby VisionYesIf you want something cheaper, consider the Hisense 50QD6QF, which is the best 50-inch smart TV for those with a strict budget. Its picture quality is much worse than any other model on this list, but it's an alright model if you just need something cheap for a bedroom or kitchen. The TV is just bright enough to handle glare in a moderately lit room, but reflections are visible on the screen in brighter rooms. It's also too dim in HDR for highlights to stand out as they should. However, it does display a wide range of colors, so the image doesn't look too muted. The biggest knock against this model is that it lacks local dimming, so blacks look grayish during most scenes. The TV has a pretty narrow viewing angle, so it looks its best when viewed from directly in front of the screen.
You won't find many modern gaming features on this TV, so it's not a great option if you want to take advantage of your modern console. However, you can still play games in 4k @ 60Hz with VRR, so screen tearing is kept to a minimum. Fortunately, the TV's pixel response times are pretty average for an LED model, so there's not a ton of blur behind fast motion. It runs the Fire TV OS that has every major streaming service, so you can ditch your external streaming device and save some space.
Notable Mentions
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Samsung QN48S90FAEXZA:
The 48-inch Samsung S90F OLED is an alternative to the LG C5 OLED. Unfortunately, the 48-inch model doesn't use a QD-OLED panel like some of the bigger sizes do, so you don't get the same color vibrancy as those have. Since the C5 is brighter in SDR, has better image processing, and supports Dolby Vision, it's the better choice.
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 -
Sony K-50S20M2:
The 50-inch Sony BRAVIA 2 II is an alternative to the Hisense QD6QF if your top priority is image processing. The Sony does a better job upscaling and cleaning up low-quality content, and it also has a much wider viewing angle. However, the Hisense offers much better image quality overall for significantly less money, so it's the better option for almost anyone.
See our review
Recent Updates
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.
May 14, 2025:
Mentioned the LG C5 OLED alongside the LG C4 OLED and the Samsung QN90F alongside the Samsung QN90/QN90DD QLED. We also added a link to our 2025 TV Lineup page and confirmed the accuracy of our picks.
Jan 07, 2025:
We updated the introduction paragraph and added the TCL S5/S551G to the Notable Mentions section.
Oct 09, 2024: Replaced the Roku Select Series with the Hisense A7N in the 'Best Budget 50-Inch TV' category and updated the Notable Mentions.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best 48-50 inch televisions 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 the list of all our 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. Also, keep in mind that our scores aren't comparable across different test benches, so the older TVs in the list below score higher than they would today.