The best 50-inch TVs of 2026: Expert tested

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When you're investing successful a new TV, the apical 3 factors you should see are representation quality, surface size, and colour contrast. Depending connected your space, you whitethorn take a 50-inch, 55-inch65-inch, 75-inch, oregon possibly an even larger TV to presumption your favourite shows, movies, and games. If you're looking for a 50-inch TV to acceptable your flat oregon bedroom, these TVs connection a beauteous representation for a decent terms constituent compared to larger sizes.

Like astir of you, I request my TV to bash much than conscionable watercourse shows and movies. I besides usage it to play euphony for parties, play video games, and stock media similar photos and abbreviated videos. Each TV I chose for this database supports a wide scope of apps to crook your location theatre into the eventual amusement hub. 

For our April update, we wholly overhauled our usher and ensured each products were successful stock.

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What is the champion 50-inch TV close now?

The Samsung QN90F is the champion 50-inch TV you tin bargain close now, offering a large equilibrium betwixt price, performance, and features. You get a glare-free show with a 120Hz refresh rate, enactment for Dolby Atmos virtual situation dependable arsenic good arsenic Samsung's Object Tracking Sound technology, and a dedicated gaming hub with enactment for unreality gaming services similar Xbox Game Pass truthful you tin play your favourite titles without a console oregon PC. 

Keep speechmaking beneath to find retired much astir the Samsung QN90F arsenic good arsenic my different picks for the champion 50-inch TVs.

Also: How to crook disconnected HDMI-CEC connected your TV

The champion 50-inch TVs of 2026

Samsung Neo QLED QN90F

Adam Breeden/ZDNET

Why we similar it: With dedicated representation and dependable modes for everything from unrecorded sports to console gaming, the Samsung QN90F is 1 of the astir well-rounded astute TVs you tin buy. You get a 120Hz refresh complaint with VRR enactment to destruct question blur and surface tearing portion Object Tracking Sound and Dolby Atmos springiness you a much immersive audio experience. The glare-free show besides helps boost visibility successful agleam rooms and chopped reflections.

Who it's for: If you're looking to get immoderate of the champion representation you tin bargain extracurricular of an OLED, you'll beryllium hard-pressed to find a amended enactment than the QN90F. It's cleanable for upgrading your main TV arsenic an amusement hub with enactment for hundreds of streaming apps, unreality gaming, and surface sharing.

Review: Samsung QN90F

Who should look elsewhere: If you prioritize TV representation prime and person the currency to burn, you'll privation to put successful a high-end OLED from LG, Sony, oregon Samsung. With amended colour accuracy, detailing, and contrast, you get much true-to-life images to support your location theatre connected the cutting edge. 

Samsung QN90F tech specs: Panel type: Neo QLED | HDR: Neo Quantum HDR+ | Audio: Dolby Atmos, Object Tracking Sound Lite | Refresh rate:  | Voice controls: Alexa, Bixby, Hey Google

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LG C5 OLED 4K TV 2025

Adam Breeden/ZDNET

Why we like it: While technically a 48-inch screen, the LG C5 is the champion 50-inch people OLED TV you tin buy. With signature representation quality, Dolby Vision HDR, and a 120Hz refresh rate, you get the astir retired of everything news, sports, movies, and console gaming. With implicit 8.3 cardinal self-lit pixels, the LG C5 OLED tin execute cleanable blacks for enhanced opposition and good details.

Review: LG C5 OLED

Who it's for: If you're looking to put successful the champion of the champion representation quality, the LG C5 is the cleanable option. The OLED sheet is susceptible of recreating ultra-accurate colors, ace good details, and bold opposition for premium-grade representation prime that stands caput and shoulders supra QLED and Mini LED options.

Who should look elsewhere: While an fantabulous TV, the LG C5 is besides precise costly owed to the OLED technology. Often retailing for hundreds much than QLED and Mini LED competitors, the LG C5 whitethorn not beryllium the champion prime if you're looking to instrumentality to a much humble budget.

LG C5 tech specs: Panel type: OLED | HDR: Dolby Vision | Audio: Dolby Atmos | Refresh rate: 120Hz | Voice controls: Alexa, Hey Google

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A TCL QM5K TV connected  a grey background

TCL/ZDNet

Why we similar it: If you' privation to make a dedicated gaming space, the TCL QM5K is simply a large prime with 4K resolution, HDR10+ support, and dedicated low-latency representation mode. You'll besides get VRR enactment to boost the autochthonal 60Hz refresh complaint up to 144Hz for smoother playback. It besides features Bluetooth connectivity for customized location audio, aggregate HDMI inputs for your favourite consoles, and Wi-Fi 5 for fast, reliable wireless internet.

Also: 3 tiny gadgets I spot to artifact electrical surges, data-stealing software, and more

Who it's for: Budget-conscious console gamers tin upgrade dedicated spaces and location theaters connected a fund portion inactive getting high-end features similar VRR support, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos virtual situation sound. And with enactment for hundreds of apps, you tin watercourse to your heart's contented betwixt games.

Who should look elsewhere: While the TCL QM5K is simply a large 50-inch TV, it lags down immoderate of its competitors erstwhile it comes to representation and audio quality. If you're looking for thing a spot much premium, determination are OLED options from LG arsenic good arsenic high-end QLED screens from Samsung.

TCL QM5K tech specs: Panel type: QD-Mini LED | HDR: HDR10+ | Audio: Dolby Atmos | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Voice controls: Alexa, Apple Homekit, Google Assistant

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A Sony Bravia 3 LED TV connected  a grey background

Sony/ZDNet

Why we similar it: The Sony Bravia 3 was astir tailor-made for streaming. It features enactment for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for enhanced representation and sound, a 60Hz refresh rate, arsenic good arsenic AirPlay and Google Cast compatibility. With a suite of preloaded apps similar Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube, you tin commencement streaming your favourite contented close retired of the box. You'll besides get a 12-month subscription to Sony Core for streaming movies arsenic filmmakers intended them to beryllium seen.

Who it's for: Whether you're wanting a caller superior oregon 2nd screen, the Sony Bravia 3 is simply a large option. With tons of enactment for hundreds of apps and surface sharing, you'll beryllium capable to enactment connected apical of moves, quality headlines, and the latest world TV.

Also: Own a Sony TV? Changing these 3 settings volition greatly amended its representation quality

Who should look elsewhere: If you're looking for thing much premium, you should take an enactment with a 120Hz refresh complaint oregon OLED sheet for premium-grade representation quality. 

Sony Bravia 3 tech specs: Panel type: LED | HDR: Dolby Vision | Audio: Dolby Atmos | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Voice controls: Alexa, Google Assistant

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A Hisense QD6 TV connected  a grey background

Hisense/ZDNET

Why we similar it: The Hisense QD6 retails for nether $500, making it a large prime for shoppers seeking a high-quality TV that isn't going to interruption the bank. With features similar enactment for some Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos, dedicated crippled mode with VRR support, and integrated dependable controls, you'll beryllium capable to crook immoderate country into the eventual amusement hub.

Also: How to crook disconnected standby mode connected your TV

Who it's for: The Hisense QD6 uses the Fire TV level to springiness you entree to thousands of movies, shows, and songs successful the Amazon Prime room arsenic good arsenic different streaming apps similar Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney+. This makes it an astir cleanable enactment for anyone who has chopped the cord with their cablegram oregon outer supplier and moved exclusively to streaming.

Who should look elsewhere: This large starter astute TV lacks immoderate premium features similar a 120Hz refresh rate, enactment for the latest versions of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity arsenic good arsenic a 4K passthrough for mounting up location audio equipment. 

Hisense QD6 tech specs: Panel type: QLED | HDR: Dolby Vision | Audio: Dolby Atmos | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Voice controls: Alexa, Hey Google | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 4x HDMI, 2x USB, RF

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I chose the Samsung QN90F arsenic the champion 50-inch TV you tin bargain with its enactment for object-tracking sound, 120Hz refresh rate, and VRR enactment for smoother question portion gaming. It besides features a matte show to assistance chopped glare and reflections for a amended viewing experience.

Best 50-inch TV

Best price

HDR

Audio

Samsung QN90F

$885

Quantum HDR+

Object Tracking Sound Lite

LG C5

$1,097

Dolby Vision

Dolby Atmos

TCL QM5K

$330

HDR10+

Dolby Atmos

Sony Bravia 3

$568

Dolby Vision

Dolby Atmos

Hisense QD6

$200

Dolby Vision

Dolby Atmos

*Lowest terms astatine clip of writing. Please enactment that retail terms whitethorn alteration depending connected retailer and disposable deals, sales, and discounts.

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Once you've nailed down a budget, see wherever you privation your 50-inch TV to beryllium and however you'll usage it. If you privation to upgrade the main TV successful your surviving country oregon location theater, you'll privation to outpouring for a exemplary that offers plentifulness of connectivity for playback devices and large representation and dependable prime for household movie nights oregon ticker parties with friends. 

If you're looking for a secondary surface for your chamber oregon gaming space, you'll privation thing a spot much budget-friendly since it whitethorn not beryllium utilized arsenic often.

Buy this champion 50-inch TV...

If you need...

Samsung QN90F

A well-rounded 50-inch TV with object-tracking sound, a dedicated gaming mode, and 120Hz refresh rate.

LG C5

A 50-inch OLED TV that features fantabulous representation and audio prime arsenic good arsenic a big of astute features for your location theater.

TCL QM5K

A 50-inch TV for gaming that features automatic debased latency, Dolby Atmos sound, and VRR enactment to boost the refresh complaint up to 144Hz.

Sony Bravia 3

A 50-inch TV for streaming with built-in surface sharing and a preloaded suite of fashionable apps.

Hisense QD6

An ultra budget-friendly astute TV that features Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision support.

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When buying for a caller 50-inch TV, whether arsenic your main surface oregon a 2nd enactment successful your chamber oregon kids' playroom, determination are a fewer basal criteria to support successful mind:

  • Price: No 2 shoppers volition person the aforesaid fund for a caller oregon upgraded TV. I've included 50-inch TVs astatine assorted terms points to acceptable a wide scope of budgets.
  • Picture and dependable quality: Having a smaller TV doesn't mean you person to sacrifice large representation and sound. Each tv featured connected this database has been confirmed to enactment HDR codecs similar Dolby Vision oregon HDR10+ and enhanced audio similar Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos, oregon DTS:X.
  • Connectivity: A TV isn't conscionable for watching movies and shows anymore. People expect their TVs to beryllium capable to entree and download apps, browse the web, play music, stock photos, and adjacent marque oregon person video calls. Each 50-inch TV connected this database has been confirmed to person a suite of preloaded apps, aggregate HDMI and USB ports for playback devices and crippled consoles, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support, and built-in dependable controls.

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While galore manufacturers person reached a statement connected standardizing surface size classes, determination are inactive a fewer outliers—even astatine large brands similar Sony and LG. Some brands take to nutrient 83-inch models, and I person considered galore and adjacent included 1 (the Sony A80L), arsenic they are rather akin successful viewing country to an 85-inch model. 

I've besides considered galore different factors erstwhile investigating and researching the 85-inch TVs connected this list:

  • Picture quality: A TV is lone arsenic bully arsenic the images it tin produce. With 4K solution and 60-120Hz refresh rates being the norm, it's easier to get a prime big-screen TV. Sony besides produces a large-screen OLED for ultra-detailed images and enhanced contrast.
  • Audio quality: Tinny oregon cheap-sounding TV speakers tin ruin your viewing experience. I've chosen 85-inch TVs that enactment HDMI eARC connectivity for mounting up dependable bars and different audio equipment, arsenic good arsenic enactment for premium audio drivers similar Dolby Atmos.
  • Features: While each acceptable connected this database volition person beauteous bully representation and audio quality, immoderate genuinely radiance erstwhile it comes to other features. Some sets person other representation settings that fto you fine-tune things to your liking, and immoderate person peculiar gaming modes that fto you tinker with options and acceptable things up specifically for your benignant of gameplay. 
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity person go modular for location TVs arsenic much and much radical power from cablegram and outer providers to exclusively streaming contented via apps similar Netflix and Disney+. But I've besides made definite that each TV connected this database has plentifulness of HDMI and USB inputs and a hardwired Ethernet transportation truthful you tin easy link DVD oregon Blu-Ray players, crippled consoles, audio equipment, and much reliable net connections. 

Find retired much about how we trial TVs at ZDNET.

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Latest quality connected 50-inch TVs

  • January 2026: Sony entered a tentative statement with TCL to co-own the Bravia TV brand, with caller models expected to deed store shelves successful 2027.
  • March 2026: Major brands person each announced yearly refreshes to flagship and fund exemplary lineups, featuring updated displays, processors, and caller astute features similar enhanced AI upscaling.

Spending hard-earned currency connected a TV tin mean spending hundreds oregon adjacent thousands. There's bully and atrocious quality connected these 50-inch picks. 

The bully quality is that these days determination are truthful galore options to take from. The atrocious quality is that we can't archer you the champion magnitude to walk connected a TV due to the fact that everyone's needs and budgets vary. Generally, our picks connected this database scope from $290 to $1,200.

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Ideally, your TV basal should elevate your tv astatine slightest 2 feet supra the floor. Additionally, you volition apt privation a basal that is 3-5 inches wider than your TV. Most TVs person feet alternatively of a cardinal basal now, truthful unless you program to equine your TV connected the wall, a wide basal is necessary.

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Latest updates

  • April 2026: We overhauled our usher and made definite each the TVs were successful stock.

More 50-inch TVs to consider

A TCL S4 astute  TV connected  a grey background

TCL/ZDNet

The TCL S4 is different excellent, budget-friendly 50-inch TV. It supports some Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos arsenic good arsenic Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. While it doesn't connection 4K resolution, it does enactment some HDR10 and Dolby Vision for enhanced opposition and detailing. And with Dolby Atmos, you'll get virtual situation dependable for a much immersive acquisition portion streaming shows, movies, and music.

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A Sylvox Pool Pro 2.0 outdoor TV connected  a grey background

Sylvox/ZDNET

My spouse's champion person and her hubby precocious moved into a location with a excavation and snapped up the 55-inch Sylvox Pool Pro 2.0 connected sale. I got to spot it for myself during a caller sojourn and was pleasantly amazed however bully the representation looked, adjacent successful the agleam Central Florida sun. 

The QLED sheet was agleam with vibrant colors and crisp contrast, and the matte show helped chopped glare from the excavation h2o and overhead sunlight. My lone ailment is that the built-in speakers sounded a spot level compared to brands similar Samsung, but Sylvox offers a companion dependable bar to assistance boost audio quality.

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For much connected getting the astir retired of your TV, cheque retired how to wide your TV cache (and wherefore you should), and six TV settings you should alteration close now.

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