Best 50 inch TV UK

Best 50 inch TV UK

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Nearly all new TV’s in this size range are 4K these days. Offering over eight million pixels, 4K technology improves the picture quality significantly and more and more programs and services use this technology to deliver content. All the sets in this roundup have 4K. It is not just 4K that matters though, and even on lower priced sets some of the newer and innovative technologies such as HDR, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos are present. Depending on your intended usage, there may be other considerations, such as Bluetooth if you plan to listen with wireless headphones, an optical port for use with some soundbars, whether the TV can be controlled by Smart technologies such as Alexa or Google Assistant, or even an app on a mobile phone, and the range of catchup and streaming services on offer. Gamers may need to consider refresh rates with sets even in the mid-price range now offering 120Hz panels. 

What is the best 50 inch TV UK?

All the sets featured can be wall mounted and have removeable stands, although the size of mount required, and the screw configuration varies between manufacturer so its best to check if they are compliant with any existing mounts you may have prior to purchase.

Samsung 50" TU7100 HDR Smart 4K TV with Tizen OS
Sony BRAVIA KD49XH81 - 49-inch - LED - 4K Ultra HD - High Dynamic Range (HDR) - Smart TV (Android TV) - with Voice Remote - (Black, 2020 model)
LG 49NANO866NA 49" 4K Ultra HD NanoCell Smart TV
HISENSE 50AE7400FTUK Dolby Vision 50-inch 4K UHD HDR Smart TV with Freeview play, and Alexa Built-in (2020 series), Silver, Operating System VIDAA
PHILIPS Ambilight 50PUS8545/12 50-Inch LED TV (4K UHD, P5 Engine, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR 10+, Freeview Play, Works with Alexa, Android TV) Mid Silver/Light Silver (2020/2021 Model)
Samsung 50" TU7100 HDR Smart 4K TV with Tizen OS
Sony BRAVIA KD49XH81 - 49-inch - LED - 4K Ultra HD - High Dynamic Range (HDR) - Smart TV (Android TV) - with Voice Remote - (Black, 2020 model)
LG 49NANO866NA 49" 4K Ultra HD NanoCell Smart TV
HISENSE 50AE7400FTUK Dolby Vision 50-inch 4K UHD HDR Smart TV with Freeview play, and Alexa Built-in (2020 series), Silver, Operating System VIDAA
PHILIPS Ambilight 50PUS8545/12 50-Inch LED TV (4K UHD, P5 Engine, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR 10+, Freeview Play, Works with Alexa, Android TV) Mid Silver/Light Silver (2020/2021 Model)
£679.99
Price not available
Price not available
Price not available
Price not available
Samsung 50" TU7100 HDR Smart 4K TV with Tizen OS
Samsung 50" TU7100 HDR Smart 4K TV with Tizen OS
£679.99
Sony BRAVIA KD49XH81 - 49-inch - LED - 4K Ultra HD - High Dynamic Range (HDR) - Smart TV (Android TV) - with Voice Remote - (Black, 2020 model)
Sony BRAVIA KD49XH81 - 49-inch - LED - 4K Ultra HD - High Dynamic Range (HDR) - Smart TV (Android TV) - with Voice Remote - (Black, 2020 model)
Price not available
LG 49NANO866NA 49" 4K Ultra HD NanoCell Smart TV
LG 49NANO866NA 49" 4K Ultra HD NanoCell Smart TV
Price not available
HISENSE 50AE7400FTUK Dolby Vision 50-inch 4K UHD HDR Smart TV with Freeview play, and Alexa Built-in (2020 series), Silver, Operating System VIDAA
HISENSE 50AE7400FTUK Dolby Vision 50-inch 4K UHD HDR Smart TV with Freeview play, and Alexa Built-in (2020 series), Silver, Operating System VIDAA
Price not available
PHILIPS Ambilight 50PUS8545/12 50-Inch LED TV (4K UHD, P5 Engine, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR 10+, Freeview Play, Works with Alexa, Android TV) Mid Silver/Light Silver (2020/2021 Model)
PHILIPS Ambilight 50PUS8545/12 50-Inch LED TV (4K UHD, P5 Engine, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR 10+, Freeview Play, Works with Alexa, Android TV) Mid Silver/Light Silver (2020/2021 Model)
Price not available

Samsung TU7100

Samsung 50″ TU7100 HDR Smart 4K TV with Tizen OS: Amazon.co.uk: TV

Samsung 50" TU7100 HDR Smart 4K TV with Tizen OS
  • Crystal Display: lose yourself in crystal clear colour
  • Crystal Processor 4K, 4K Upscaling & Adaptive Sound: relax as your TV adapts to give you the very best 4K picture and targeted sound
  • HDR Powered by HDR 10+: enjoy a true-to-life picture with brighter colour and broader contrast
  • Smart TV powered by Tizen: only the No. 1 selling Smart TV brand¹ can give you access to the largest collection of 4K content and all your catch-up TV apps
  • What's in the box: Samsung 50" TU7100 HDR Smart 4K TV, One Remote Control, standard remote, batteries, user manual and power cable

Featuring the Tizen operating system which has the widest range of services, apps and 4K content, this is a very slimline set with extremely narrow bezels that weighs just 11kg. Samsung describe this set as having a “Crystal Display” and what this means in practise is that it is fitted with their proprietary Crystal Processor which upscales content to 4K and adapts image quality to suit the content being viewed. This results in a very sharp contrast and increased brightness that give the image a vibrancy often lacking from competitors sets. Purists may argue that this is an artificial and unnatural effect and may prefer a more natural image, however when viewed side by side with other sets it is a compelling selling point, and a feature that Samsung uses on most of their devices including phones and tablets and has won them many admirers.

Unfortunately, this set has limited inputs with just 2 HDMI and 1 USB port, however this can be increase with the use of an external HDMI switch at additional cost. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optical and antenna inputs are all present. The cabling is routed using the Samsung “Clean Cable Solution” which routes the cables through one of the stand legs to create a distraction free viewing experience. The remote-control unit can be used as a universal remote to control other Samsung devices which helps reduce clutter. For gamers, there is a game enhancement mode that dynamically adapts the picture and sound to fit the scene. This set is compatible with a wide range of smart home systems including Alexa, Google Assistant, SmartThings and its own Bixby. Airplay 2 is built in to enable the streaming of content from Apple devices.

Users are generally pleased with the image quality and range of apps and services on offer; however, some have mentioned that it comes pre-loaded with a lot of services they would not use. The sound quality is reported to be acceptable but a little tinny so an external sound bar may be required for best results as the range of sound settings and technologies are also slightly limited. A very small number of users have reported that there are issues with screen flickering which necessitated the return of their units, and this appears to be a manufacturing issue that Samsung are aware of and may have rectified on new production sets.

Sony Bravia KD49XH81

Sony BRAVIA KD49XH81 – 49-inch – LED – 4K Ultra HD – High Dynamic Range (HDR) – Smart TV (Android TV) – with Voice Remote – (Black, 2020 model): Amazon.co.uk: TV

Sony BRAVIA KD49XH81 - 49-inch - LED - 4K Ultra HD - High Dynamic Range (HDR) - Smart TV (Android TV) - with Voice Remote - (Black, 2020 model)
  • More colour, contrast and clarity: Our powerful X1 processor uses advanced algorithms to cut noise and enhance the picture whilst our 4K X-Reality Pro uses a unique database to upscale images even closer to 4K resolution**quality of upscaled picture will vary depending on the input source
  • Vivid, real world colour: By widening the colour spectrum, our TRILUMINOS Display reproduces more colours than a conventional television
  • With Dolby Vision, the KD-49XH81 provides a cinematic experience with stunning colours and excellent contrast. While Dolby Audio provides an immersive audio experience.
  • Voice Remote and Google Assistant: Talk to the remote to find films and TV series, switch apps, have your questions answered, or even control other smart home devices, such as your smart lights; connect your Alexa-enabled devices to the KD49XH81 TV to control the volume and more using just your voice; access streaming services in an instant, including Netflix, Prime Video and Google Play Movies, or catch-up when it suits you best with On-Demand TV; display content from your smartphone, tablet and other devices with Chromecast built-in (Android or iOS) or Apple AirPlay (iOS).*Google, Android, Android TV and other related marks and logos are trademarks of Google LLC. Use of this TV requires consent to Google Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.Applications availability varies by country, language and device. Feature availability depends on country and availability of compatible products. Also may require software update. Third party services and content may be subject to terms & conditions and payment and may be changed, interrupted or discontinued at any time *2 AirPlay and HomeKit are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
  • Beautifully designed: With its narrow bezel, a premium metal blade stand and the new premium aluminium remote, this flat screen 65 inch TV is luxurious and looks refined in any environment

This 49” set uses LED technology with a high dynamic range and is 4K. Powered by Android, it has a huge range of services available which can be controlled using the voice activated remote control which also controls Alexa or Google Assistant enabled external devices. There is a big focus on online services here and this set even has a Chromecast feature built in.

This is a stylish set with narrow bezels and a premium metal blade stand. Even the remote control is made of aluminium. There are a whole host of picture enhancing technologies incorporated into this set, including “4K X-Reality PRO” which reproduces real-world detail and upscales lower resolution content to 4K, Triluminous technology which is powered by Sony’s X1 processor and reproduces life-like colour, and Motionflow XR which reduces blur when viewing fast moving content. Dolby Vision uses HDR to bring scenes to life and creates a cinematic experience. For sound, there is Dolby Atmos compatibility which adds a multidimensional effect, and X-Balanced Speaker which Sony claim complements the TV’s design and drives out clear sound for movies and music.

Inputs / outputs include four 4K 60Hz compatible HDMI ports, 2 USB, optical, DVB-S and DVB-T antenna inputs, LAN, and composite AV, which should be sufficient for most needs. For wireless access this set includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for connecting wireless headphones or speakers.

Users are impressed with the image quality, range of features, and its performance when used for gaming (it is especially touted for PS4 users). Some owners have commented that the sound quality is poor, however one must consider the thin nature of these sets and the limited internal space that prohibits the production of a deep bass sound. Where excellent sound quality is required its probably best to use a soundbar.

LG 49NANO866NA

LG 49NANO866NA 49″ 4K Ultra HD NanoCell Smart TV: Amazon.co.uk: TV

LG 49NANO866NA 49" 4K Ultra HD NanoCell Smart TV
  • 4K Ultra HD
  • webOS Smart Platform
  • TV Energy Efficiency Class A
  • Screen Size in " 49

The LG NANO866NA is a 4k LED TV in LG’s NanoCell range. This is an IPS panel with a 120Hz refresh rate which makes it excellent for fast moving scenes and for use with game consoles. LG’s NanoCell technology offers pure and realistic colours to give you an incredible 4K Ultra HD display. This LG also features webOS which is LG’s award winning and simple to use smart platform which hosts all the most popular streaming services including Now TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Disney+. This is a slimline set with very narrow bezels featuring a crescent shaped stand. The design and technology used in this set make it suitable for family or group viewing as it features an ultra-wide viewing angle so there is no degradation of picture quality or intensity for those positioned off centre.

Inputs / outputs include four 4K 60Hz compatible HDMI ports, 2 USB, optical, RF and SAT antenna inputs, LAN, composite AV, and headphone out, which should be sufficient for most needs. For wireless access this set includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 for connecting wireless headphones or speakers.

Powered by the LG a7 Gen3 processor, this set has the full range of picture and sound enhancing features including upscaling of low-resolution content. The ‘No Photobiological LED Hazard’ test measures five standards including blue light, actinic UV, near UV, IR radiation, and retinal thermal.
These are the official international standards for measuring the harmful effects of LEDs on the human body, as defined by the IEC. All NanoCell TVs exceeded each standard making them safer than other sets for prolonged viewing and less straining on the eyes.

User reviews are overwhelmingly positive; however, some users have noted that some catch-up TV services that they normally use are not available. This is very new technology so there is a lack of long-term feedback at the moment, however, LG are heavily invested in this new NanoCell technology which reduces the effect of residual image blur so that when watching sports for example, every subtle movement is picked up.

HISENSE 50AE7400FTUK

HISENSE 50AE7400FTUK Dolby Vision 50-inch 4K UHD HDR Smart TV with Freeview play, and Alexa Built-in (2020 series): Amazon.co.uk: TV

HISENSE 50AE7400FTUK Dolby Vision 50-inch 4K UHD HDR Smart TV with Freeview play, and Alexa Built-in (2020 series), Silver, Operating System VIDAA
  • Power source type: Corded Electric
  • Dolby Vision HDR - delivers highlights up to 40 times brighter and blacks 10 times darker. Inspired by cinema technology, Dolby Vision HDR technology gives resulting images an astonishing brightness and contrast depth.
  • DTS Virtual: X - Never miss a sound. Dialogue is automatically recognised and separated out from background noise for a clearer audio experience. You can also listen at higher volumes without distortion.
  • Wide Colour Gamut - A vivid yet natural viewing experience with a wider range of colour.
  • VIDAA U 4.0 Smart TV - access Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Freeview Play and Rakuten with direct access keys on remote.

This 4k model from Hisense has an impressive array of features given its price. Dolby Vision HDR compatibility delivers brighter highlights and ten times darker blacks while maintaining a vivid but natural viewing experience. Manufactured from a single piece of steel that reaches seamlessly across the rear of the display and featuring a contemporary stand, this is an attractive set that is nicely styled to fit most homes. The smooth motion feature analyses any movement in adjacent frames and inserts an optimal image in between to create a more fluid illusion of motion which is invaluable especially when viewing sport or high-speed action programs or movies. The sound system is Dolby Digital DTS Vitual-X compatible the sound is about as good as it gets for a slim TV without using an external sound bar.

Inputs / outputs include four 4K 60Hz compatible HDMI ports, 2 USB, optical, DVB-S and DVB-T antenna inputs, LAN, and AV, which should be sufficient for most needs. For wireless access this set includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for connecting wireless headphones or speakers. This model uses the Hisense VIDAA U Smart TV system which includes access to Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube and Freeview Play among others, and most services have dedicated quick access buttons on the remote control. In addition to the remote control, this unit can be controlled using the “Remote Now” app which is available for both Android and IOS devices. Alexa compatibility is also built in.

Users are generally very pleased with the picture and sound quality and are impressed with the range of features on offer given the low price. Some users have commented that they have experiences software issues with settings reverting to default or some of the online features not working consistently.

Philips Ambilight 50PUS8545/12

Philips Ambilight 50PUS8545/12 50-Inch LED TV (4K UHD, P5 Engine, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR 10+, Freeview Play, Works with Alexa, Android TV) Mid Silver/Light Silver (2020/2021 Model)

PHILIPS Ambilight 50PUS8545/12 50-Inch LED TV (4K UHD, P5 Engine, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR 10+, Freeview Play, Works with Alexa, Android TV) Mid Silver/Light Silver (2020/2021 Model)
  • With this 4K TV and 3-sided Ambilight, your screen will feel bigger than it is. Moreover, this means less eyestrain when watching TV.
  • Get the most out of your Philips TV with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. The sound is crystal-clear and the picture is as sharp as in the cinema.
  • Thanks to the P5 Perfect Picture Engine and HDR 10+, the 50-inch TV delivers bright and brilliant content with noticeably more depth. Ambient temperature: 5°C to 35°C
  • The Philips Ambilight TV has it all. Thanks to Android, you can stream your favourite films, download apps from the Google Play store, or command all Google Assistant-compatible smart home devices.
  • Included in delivery: Philips 50PUS8545/12 50-inch LED television (2020/2021 model); remote control, batteries, power cord, quick start guide, legal and safety brochure, table top stand

This 4K UHD Philips Ambilight set has Android TV which means there are hundreds of applications that can be downloaded and some degree of futureproofing due to the ability to have firmware updates, although this is dependent on each manufacturer. The most interesting feature, and one that is only found on Philips sets, is Ambilight. This is a multi-colored lighting system located behind the unit that illuminates the wall and surrounding areas with colour effects that complement the on-screen action. Not only does it create an attractive effect, but also reduces eye strain and makes for a cozy environment. 

This set has Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for excellent picture and sound, and all major streaming service have applications available. DTS Play-Fi is a feature that allows the sound to be played on any compatible speakers you have in any room. This set can be controlled using voice commands via either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. 

This set is attractively designed with a metallic finish, light weight, and very slim bezel which makes it ideal for wall mounting. Inputs / outputs include four HDMI ports, 2 USB, optical, DVB-S and DVB-T antenna inputs (Freesat enabled), LAN, AV and headphone socket which should be sufficient for most needs. For wireless access this set includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for connecting external sound devices such as speakers and headphones. This set can be wall mounted using a 200mm VESA mount. One thing to consider with Philips sets is that they often use slower processing technology than other manufacturers, and whilst this is not an issue when viewing programmes, it can sometimes feel a little sluggish when navigating through menus and settings and the start up time can be a little slow.

Most users are satisfied with both the picture and sound quality and are impressed with the Ambilight effects. There are many positive comments about the operating system and the range of services on offer. Some users have experienced problems with the reliability of the Wi-Fi connection and there are reports that the sets software can be buggy, requiring occasional resets.

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Amy Green

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