Trying to find a new TV is a whole thing, isn’t it? You go online, and suddenly you’re hit with a wall of numbers and letters like QLED, OLED, HDR10+, and it feels like you need a degree just to buy something to watch movies on. The 50-inch size is this weirdly perfect middle ground, not so big it takes over your entire wall like some kind of movie theater screen but definitely not small either. It just kind of fits. For 2025 the tech they are packing into these mid-size screens is getting seriously good. It’s a tough market out there so we did the legwork to find the models that are actually worth your money.
Why is 50-Inches the Magic Number for Many?
It’s a size that just works for so many places. You can put it in a medium-sized living room and it won’t feel small.
It’s also perfect for a bedroom or a dedicated gaming room where you’re sitting a bit closer. You get a big enough picture without it being overwhelming.
The price is also generally in that sweet spot. You get access to some of the higher-end picture technology without the huge price jump you see in the 65-inch and larger models. It is a good balance.
Our Top Picks for the Best 50-Inch Smart TV of 2025
Alright, let’s get into the good stuff. We looked at a bunch of TVs, from the super expensive ones to the ones that won’t make your wallet cry. These are the ones that stood out.
Samsung QN85E Neo QLED 4K TV
Samsung is always in the conversation, and their Neo QLED tech is a big reason why. It uses these tiny little lights, way smaller than normal LEDs.
This thing gets crazy bright. If you have a sunny room, this TV just blasts right through the glare, which is super nice for daytime watching.
The smart system, which is Tizen, it’s generally fast and has all the apps you’d want. It can be a little cluttered with ads but you get used to it.
Good Stuff: Awesome brightness, great for gaming, colors look very vibrant.
Not-so-good Stuff: Can sometimes have a little “bloom” or halo effect around bright objects on a dark screen.
For gamers this TV for gaming is great. It has all the high-end features your PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X needs to look its best. Things feel super responsive.
Sony Bravia X90M Full Array LED 4K TV
Sony’s whole deal is making things look as real as possible. They have this brain inside the TV, a processor, that is just incredible at cleaning up the picture.
It makes shows and movies that are in lower quality look much better. It’s also just fantastic with colors, everything looks very natural, not overly flashy.
Sony uses Google TV, which is a big win. It’s simple, clean, and really good at recommending stuff you might actually want to watch.
Good Stuff: Amazing picture processing, natural colors, Google TV is easy to use.
Not-so-good Stuff: Not as bright as the Samsung, so maybe not the top pick for a super sunny room.
The sound is also pretty good for a flat TV. A lot of TVs have awful speakers but Sony’s is typically a step above. You’ll still want a soundbar eventually but it’s not an emergency.
LG C5 Series evo OLED 4K TV
OLED is different. Instead of having a big light behind the screen, each tiny dot of light turns on and off all by itself. This is a game-changer.
This means blacks are perfect black. Not dark gray, but true, inky blackness. Watching a space movie on this is something else, the stars pop against the void.
The downside to OLED TVs is that they aren’t as blindingly bright as a top-tier QLED. In a dark or dimly lit room, they are considered to be the king of picture quality.
Good Stuff: Perfect black levels, amazing contrast, super thin design.
Not-so-good Stuff: Not ideal for very bright rooms, risk of burn-in (though it’s rare now).
LG’s webOS smart platform is also really quick and has a neat little “magic remote” that works like a pointer. It’s a nice touch that makes typing in passwords less of a pain.
TCL 6-Series R685 Mini-LED QLED 4K TV
TCL just keeps getting better every year and it’s kind of wild. They pack so much technology into their TVs for a price that feels like it should be higher.
This is a Mini-LED TV, which is the same basic idea as Samsung’s Neo QLED. You get really good brightness and better control over the dark areas than a standard LED TV.
The picture quality is way better than what the price tag suggests. It is considered by many to be the best budget option around that still gives you a premium feel.
Good Stuff: Amazing value for the money, great picture, uses the simple Roku TV system.
Not-so-good Stuff: The picture processing isn’t quite as good as the Sony, so fast motion can sometimes look a little messy.
It runs Roku, which is probably the easiest smart TV system to use. No fuss, just big icons for your apps. Perfect for people who don’t want a complicated menu.
Things to Look For When Buying a 50-Inch TV
Beyond just picking a model, here are a few things to keep in your head while you shop.
Panel Type: OLED vs. QLED vs. LED
This is the big one. OLED gives you the best contrast and viewing angles. QLED (and Mini-LED) gives you awesome brightness and vibrant colors. Regular LED is the most affordable and is perfectly fine for most people. What you pick depends on your room and your budget.
Smart Features and The OS
This is the “Smart” in Smart TV. The operating system (OS) determines how you find your shows. Google TV is great for recommendations, Roku is super simple, and Samsung’s Tizen and LG’s webOS are fast and full of features. Try to see them in a store if you can to see which one you like clicking through.
Gaming Stuff You Need
If you’re a gamer, this matters a lot. You want a TV with a “120Hz refresh rate” for smooth motion. You also want to look for “HDMI 2.1” ports. These are the ports you need for the newest consoles to run at their full potential, giving you features that make games feel more responsive.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is 50 inches big enough for a main living room?
For many people, yes! If your couch is about 6 to 8 feet away from the TV, a 50-inch screen will feel plenty big and immersive. If your room is very large, you might want to think about a 55 or 65-inch model.
2. What’s better at this size, QLED or OLED?
It really depends on your room. If you watch a lot of TV during the day in a room with lots of windows, a bright QLED is probably the better choice. If you do most of your watching at night in a darker room, an OLED’s perfect blacks will look amazing.
3. Do I really need to buy a soundbar for a 50-inch TV?
You probably should, yeah. As TVs get thinner, the speakers inside get smaller and tinnier. A decent, not-too-expensive soundbar will make a huge difference in how clear voices are and how impactful movie sound effects are.
4. How much should I plan to spend on a good 50-inch TV in 2025?
There’s a wide range. A solid budget model like the TCL will be in the $500-$700 range. Mid-range options like the Sony X90M will be closer to $800-$1100. High-end OLEDs and top-tier QLEDs will normally be $1200 or more.
Key Takeaways
The 50-inch TV size is a fantastic all-rounder, great for bedrooms, apartments, and medium living rooms.
The main choice in picture technology is between the perfect blacks of OLED and the powerful brightness of QLED/Mini-LED.
For gamers, look for features like 120Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 ports to get the most out of new consoles.
Don’t forget the smart platform—Google TV, Roku, Tizen, and webOS all work differently, so pick one you find easy to navigate.
A soundbar is almost always a good idea to improve the audio experience.
