RCA QLED: 50" 4K Smart TV RCA - Review 🏆

RCA is a well-known American brand that has been making electronic products since the early 20th century. They are now owned by Technicolor and continue to produce budget-friendly televisions and audio equipment.

The RCA QLED 50-inch 4K TV is one of their latest offerings in the television space. As the name suggests, this is a 50-inch QLED TV with 4K Ultra HD resolution and HDR support. It runs on Tizen OS and comes loaded with smart TV capabilities including access to popular streaming apps like YouTube, Netflix, etc.

This television aims to provide an immersive viewing experience and premium features like QLED display and smart connectivity at an affordable price point. The large 50-inch screen size makes it suitable for most living rooms and home offices.

Design & Build Quality

The RCA 50-inch 4K QLED TV has an attractive design with thin bezels and a sturdy metal stand. The TV measures 44.1 x 28.1 x 8.7 inches and weighs 31.3 pounds with the stand attached. The display has a plastic back panel, while the stand has a brushed metal finish for a premium look.

The stand has a wide, centered pedestal base with feet positioned on the edges for stability. It attaches securely to the TV and provides support without wobbling. The stand can be removed for wall mounting, revealing standard VESA mounting holes.

Overall, the build quality feels solid with no creaking or flexing of the plastics. The bezels, though thin, don't have a true edge-to-edge design but are slim enough for an immersive viewing experience. The metal stand contributes to the TV's sturdy construction that can support the large 50-inch display.

If you're looking for a smaller TV, the RCA RK40FQ1: 40 FHD Roku TV Smart TV is an excellent choice. This 40-inch model features Full HD resolution and comes with built-in Roku functionality, offering access to a wide range of streaming services. The design is sleek with narrow bezels, and the TV includes a user-friendly interface for easy navigation. It is a great option for bedrooms or smaller living spaces where you still want smart capabilities and a crisp display.

Display & Picture Quality

The RCA QLED 50-inch 4K TV features a QLED panel that delivers vivid colors and great contrast. With over 8 million pixels, the 3840 x 2160 resolution provides four times the detail of Full HD for an ultra sharp viewing experience.

It supports High Dynamic Range (HDR) for enhanced color and contrast. HDR10 and HLG formats are supported. The TV has a rated peak brightness of 400 nits, which is fairly standard for this price range. The QLED quantum dot technology helps produce a wider color gamut for more realistic colors.

Viewing angles are also very good on this RCA TV. Colors remain accurate and the picture retains brightness even when viewing from the sides. This is better than a standard LED TV where the picture quality degrades at wider angles. The anti-glare screen further helps reduce reflections and glare when viewing in bright rooms.

Overall, the display quality and picture performance of the RCA 50-inch 4K QLED TV is very good considering its affordable price point. The QLED panel and HDR support allow it to produce bright, vivid and accurate colors with great contrast. The 4K resolution results in crisp detail as well.

For those seeking a smaller, yet equally impressive option, the RCA RK32HN1: 32 Roku TV Smart TV is an excellent choice. This 32-inch Smart TV integrates Roku for seamless access to streaming services and apps. Despite its more compact size, it offers a full HD resolution delivering clear and vibrant visuals. It's an ideal option for bedrooms or smaller living spaces, providing smart features and quality performance in a budget-friendly package.

Sound Quality

The RCA QLED 50-inch 4K TV is equipped with two 10W bottom-firing speakers. While the audio power is decent, the downward-firing speakers fail to provide an immersive sound experience.

The speakers support Dolby Audio for an enhanced listening experience. However, the lack of dedicated tweeters means high frequencies and dialogues may sound muted at times. There is no support for more advanced sound formats like Dolby Atmos.

Overall, the sound quality is mediocre and best suited for casual TV watching. Those looking for a more cinematic audio experience may want to consider pairing the TV with a good soundbar or speaker system. The TV does come with an audio output port to easily connect external speakers.

Smart TV Features

The RCA QLED 50" 4K TV runs on Tizen, which is Samsung's own Linux-based operating system for smart TVs. Tizen provides a smooth and responsive user interface for navigating the TV's smart features.

Some of the popular streaming apps that come pre-installed include Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV and more. This allows you to start watching your favorite shows right out of the box. The Tizen platform also gives you access to Samsung's TV Plus service, which offers over 200 free streaming channels.

The app store on Tizen gives you access to download additional apps and games. It includes popular apps like Hulu, HBO Max, ESPN, NBC, CBS, Pluto TV, fuboTV and a lot more. Apps download and install quickly without any issues.

You can also use the TV to mirror content from your mobile device or stream content using Chromecast built-in. Overall, the smart TV capabilities and Tizen platform make this a great option for cord-cutters.

Ports & Connectivity

The RCA 50-inch 4K QLED TV offers a solid selection of ports and connectivity options. On the back of the TV you'll find:

• 3 HDMI ports - The 3 HDMI 2.0 ports allow you to connect 4K devices like Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, streaming sticks, etc. This provides ample HDMI inputs for most users.

• 2 USB ports - There are 2 USB 2.0 ports which allow you to plug in USB drives to play media files, or connect devices like webcams.

• Ethernet port - The RJ45 Ethernet port provides wired internet connectivity, which is more reliable than WiFi if available.

• Built-in WiFi - The TV has built-in WiFi (802.11ac) so you can connect it to your wireless network and access smart apps and streaming services.

• Bluetooth - Bluetooth 4.2 allows you to pair wireless devices like headphones and speakers. This gives you an easy way to get audio from the TV without running wires.

Overall the port selection covers the essentials like HDMI, USB, and internet connectivity. The inclusion of Bluetooth is also handy for wireless audio options.

Remote Control

The RCA QLED TV comes with a simple yet functional remote control. It has all the necessary buttons to control the TV's power, volume, channels, settings, and more.

The remote is lightweight and fits comfortably in your hand. The buttons have a nice tactile feedback and are laid out in a sensible way. On the top you have the power button, mute, settings, input source, and dedicated buttons for popular streaming apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video. The middle section has a circular navigation pad with an OK button in the center, along with menu and back buttons. The bottom half has volume controls, channel rockers, number buttons, and playback controls.

Voice control is available through the remote which allows you to speak commands into the mic on the remote to launch apps, search for content, change settings, etc. This makes navigation faster and easier without having to click through menus.

The remote runs on 2 AAA batteries which are included. It also has a finder function that makes the remote beep when you press a button on the TV, helping you locate it if it's misplaced in your home. Overall, the remote has an ergonomic design and the necessary controls for operating the Smart TV.

Performance

The RCA QLED 50" 4K Smart TV delivers very good overall performance and responsiveness. The quad-core processor provides smooth navigation through the menus and apps. Loading times are quick when launching apps like Netflix or YouTube.

The upscaling engine does a decent job at upscaling lower resolution content to 4K. While not as advanced as higher-end TVs, standard definition and 720p content looks decently sharp and detailed on the 4K panel.

Motion handling is also solid thanks to RCA's Motion Mode technology. It adds black frame insertion to reduce motion blur in action scenes and sports. There are settings to adjust the intensity of the motion interpolation to minimize the soap opera effect. Gamers will appreciate the low input lag which provides a responsive gameplay experience.

Overall, the performance is quite good for a budget 4K TV. The quad-core processor and Motion Mode allow this RCA model to handle 4K content and motion well. It's a very responsive TV with snappy menus and app launching.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Large 50" 4K screen provides an immersive viewing experience. Crisp, detailed UHD picture quality.

• HDR support delivers a high dynamic range with vivid colors and deep blacks. Good contrast.

• Smooth motion handling with Motion Mode technology. Reduces blur for fast action scenes.

• Tizen operating system offers access to popular streaming apps like Netflix, YouTube, etc.

• Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity options. Can connect wireless headphones.

• Sleek, modern design that looks good in any room. Thin bezels around the display.

Cons:

• Only 60Hz refresh rate, some may prefer 120Hz for gaming/sports.

• Mediocre built-in speakers lack bass. External soundbar recommended for audio quality.

• Limited number of HDMI and USB ports compared to some competitors.

• Remote control feels cheap and plasticky. Buttons are small.

• No support for advanced gaming features like VRR, ALLM, etc.

• Viewing angles and black uniformity could be better. Image degrades at sharp angles.

Conclusion

The RCA 50-inch 4K QLED TV offers a compelling package for budget-focused buyers seeking a large screen 4K smart TV experience.

The design is basic but sturdy, with decent build quality for the price. The 4K QLED panel delivers good picture quality with vibrant colors and deep blacks, though brightness could be better. The sound is only average, so a soundbar may be recommended for an immersive experience.

For smart features, it runs the user-friendly Tizen platform and provides essential apps like Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, etc. Connectivity options are sufficient with 3 HDMI ports and dual band WiFi. The remote is functional but lacks advanced controls.

Overall performance is smooth for most tasks, though some lag may be noticed in heavy multitasking. For the affordable price point, the RCA 50-inch 4K QLED TV delivers very good value.

If you're looking for a big screen 4K smart TV on a budget, the RCA 50-inch model is easy to recommend. Buyers will get a solid smart TV experience and good picture quality at an appealing price point. For shoppers wanting to maximize screen size without breaking the bank, this RCA TV is definitely worth considering.