With their mid-range size, 50-inch televisions make the perfect addition to any apartment. They offer many of the same features and picture quality of their larger, more expensive counterparts – just within a smaller frame. If you're looking for something larger, check out the best 55-inch, 65-inch and 75-inch televisions available right now.
But with so many kinds of TVs and brands out there, which one do you pick? We spoke with Anila Nair, assistant manager at Home Genie, an online platform for home services, based in Dubai. Since the company sees a variety of televisions cycle through for repairs and maintenance, Nair is well acquainted with which kinds of televisions work best.
She told Gulf News: “For better picture quality, organic light emitting diode (OLED) TVs are much lighter and thinner. They are also better than light emitting diode (LED) and liquid-crystal display (LCD) TVs at handling darkness and lighting precision, and offer much wider viewing angles, which is great for when large groups of people are watching TV. Refresh rates and motion processing are also better with OLED.”
Although you can be hard-pressed to find OLED televisions in 50-inch dimensions, we added one to our list from Samsung’s quantum-LED (QLED) offerings. The technology is similar to LED televisions, except that it uses nanoparticles called quantum dots to supercharge its brightness and colour – creating exceptional video quality.
What should I look for when buying a television?
When you’re buying a television, it’s important to understand the differences between the various tech and to see what works best for you. Nair had a great tip: “Buyers should ensure that the television has the latest version of software that will support access to all major tech options. Multi-ports, HDMI ports, wireless connections, storage or record options are some of the other features that buyers need to ensure before purchase.”
So, which TV brands deliver, when it comes to all these features and specifications? According to Nair, it comes down to price and smart TV features. She recommended Samsung, LG and Sony, and said: “Sony ranks first on pricing – it’s a smart television in every sense of the term and lets you add apps, set favorite shows, toggle between multiple sources, mirror or stream content of all types from other smart devices and even play in 3D.”
However, when it comes to fully embracing the ‘smart’ in smart TVs, Samsung is your best option. Nair said: “Samsung offers Smart Hub which is your go-to for a world of apps – from content apps to live TV and video-on-demand (VOD). You can even use its Remote Access function to connect to your PC wirelessly, letting you work from home without missing a beat. And with Office 365 available via Remote Access, you can work on documents or do group activities, all remotely and easily on your Samsung Smart TV.”
We researched the best 50-inch televisions in the market and curated a list of the best ones available right now. Get one with Amazon Prime, and have it delivered to you with free, one-day delivery. You can also avail yourself of professional wall mounting services for a small fee.
1. Best Overall: Samsung AU7000 Crystal UHD 4K Flat Smart TV (2021), Titan Gray
Pros
- Excellent 4K picture quality
- Impressive Smart Hub TV interface
- Plenty of control options
- Ultra-slim design
Cons
- No Dolby Vision HDR
- Cannot be mounted to the wall
With a sleek design that packs in powerful technology, this Samsung AU7000 television is our top choice in the 50-inch category. Here’s why. Its Crystal processor ensures you get great performance from all quarters, whether its bright visuals, sharp details or perfect colour and contrast. The television uses high dynamic range (HDR) so that you’re able to clearly see both light and dark in every scene, and its Object Tracking Sound Lite technology produces great 3D sound without the need for a home theatre system. And if you want to watch two things at once – say a live sports game and statistics – just connect your phone to the TV with a press of a button, and make the most of its multi-screen feature. The Samsung AU7000 offers a host of clever features and keeps its price reasonable, which is why it’s our number one selection.
Bonus: Buy with 0% installments and pay Dh123.67 for 12 months with select banks.
2. Best Budget: Hisense 4K UHD Smart TV
Pros
- Dolby Vision HDR
- Built-in Alexa voice assistant
- Includes different modes for customised viewing
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) upscaler included
- One-year warranty by manufacturer
Cons
- Cannot activate voice commands through remote control
Make your television do more for you than just play shows and movies. This Hisense smart TV features Dolby Vision HDR for truly impressive brightness and contrast depths – about 40 times brighter and 10 times darker than the standard picture. If you can’t spot the remote and are in a hurry to watch your favourite show, just ask Alexa to play it for you. And if you’re watching an old movie or TV show, the TV uses its ultra-high definition (UHD) AI upscaler technology to enhance signals and achieve a near-4K resolution. This Hisense TV also integrates the VIDAA U5 smart operating system (OS), from where you can explore a whole slew of popular apps, from YouTube to Netflix.
Bonus: Buy with 0% installments and pay Dh93.75 for 12 months with select banks.
Warranty: Manufacturer provides 1-year warranty.
3. Best for Gaming: Sony BRAVIA X85J Smart Google TV
Pros
- Rich 4K visuals
- In-built voice search
- Incorporates Apple AirPlay and has in-built Chromecast
- Smart remote included
Cons
- No Dolby Vision HDR
- Expensive
With a powerful 4K HDR processor X1 that cuts noise and boosts details, Sony’s Bravia X85J is a great mid-range television that could become your preferred gaming screen. The television uses object-based HDR Remaster technology to adjust the contrast for individual objects on the screen, and so produces greater depth, texture and more realistic images. Fast-paced, competitive gaming is ultra-smooth thanks to its 120fps support. And if you’re just looking to watch quality television, a whole world opens up to you with Google TV’s streaming services.
Bonus: Buy with 0% installments and pay Dh93.75 for 12 months with select banks. Book an in-home wall mounting installation service by a professional for Dh89.10.
Warranty: Amazon offers 1-year extended warranty for Dh171, 1-year accidental damage protection for Dh285, and 2-year damage protection with 1-year extended warranty for Dh363.
4. Best Design: Samsung Q60C QLED 4K Smart TV
Pros
- Sleek, elegant design
- Ambient mode turns TV into artwork
- Tap device to mirror screen on TV
- Powerful Quantum Processor Lite
Cons
- Sound quality may not be up to the mark
- Expensive
Apart from its beautiful, sleek design and its ability to blend into your décor with its Ambient mode, this Samsung Q60C is a great choice if you’re looking for quantum light emitting diode (QLED) technology. The TV brings crisp 4K resolution to its videos and images, and even upscales high-definition (HD) pictures to 4K, removing excessive noise and creating vibrant imagery with deeper blacks. You can also set up quick mirroring from your phone to the TV – it’s as easy as tapping your device on the screen. This sleek device is an elegant addition to any home.
Bonus: Buy with 0% installments and pay Dh156.08 for 12 months with select banks. Book an in-home wall mounting installation service by a professional for Dh89.10.
Warranty: Amazon offers 1-year extended warranty for Dh114, 1-year accidental damage protection for Dh190, and 2-year damage protection with 1-year extended warranty for Dh242.
5. Best Value: LG UHD UP77 Series
Pros
- Bluetooth 5.0 integration
- Compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa
- Excellent video quality
- Includes webOS 6.0
- Redesigned intuitive remote control
Cons
- Audio could be better
- Ports may not be sufficient
Another great option with brilliant 4K resolution, LG’s UP77 series uses Dynamic Colour to produce a broader spectrum of colours than regular TVs, which means videos take on a more natural tone, with vivid colours and deep blacks. Even older, lower definition shows and movies reach near-4K quality thanks to its built-in 4K Upscaler. With its webOS 6.0, the television ensures great optimisation and security, and provides an intuitive platform from where you can stream any show or movie you like.
Bonus: Buy with 0% installments and pay Dh133.67 for 12 months with select banks. Book an in-home wall mounting installation service by a professional for Dh89.10.
Warranty: Amazon offers 1-year extended warranty for Dh114, 1-year accidental damage protection for Dh190, and 2-year damage protection with 1-year extended warranty for Dh242.
Our recommendations are independently chosen by Gulf News editors. If you decide to shop through links on our website, we may earn an affiliate commission, as we are part of Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.
