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

The RCA 50" Roku TV is a budget-friendly 4K smart TV that delivers good features and performance for the price. RCA is a well-known brand that has been making televisions and electronics for decades. This 50-inch model incorporates the popular Roku TV platform to offer easy access to streaming services and apps right from the television.

With 4K Ultra HD resolution, HDR support, a 120Hz refresh rate, and Roku's intuitive smart TV interface, the RCA 50" Roku TV hits many of the key specs you'd expect in a mid-range 4K TV. It provides a sharp picture quality and responsive smart platform that makes it easy to stream movies and shows from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and hundreds of other apps. Given its affordable price point, it's a compelling option for shoppers looking for a decently sized 4K smart TV on a budget.

This review will take a close look at the design, display quality, smart features, audio, connectivity, remote, and overall performance of the RCA 50" Roku TV. Both the pros and cons will be covered to provide a complete assessment of how this budget 4K Roku TV model stacks up.

Design

The RCA 50-inch Roku TV has an attractive and minimalist design that will blend right into most living room decors. It has relatively thin bezels around the display that don't distract from the viewing experience.

The TV has a simple black plastic body with metal feet that provide sturdy support. The rear of the TV is also plastic but doesn't feel cheap. Overall, the build quality is decent for the price, though not as premium feeling as higher-end models.

At just 2.4 inches thick, this isn't the slimmest 50-inch TV, but it still has a nice slim profile when viewed head-on. The TV isn't the lightest either at 28 pounds without the stand. But the plastic body keeps it relatively lightweight for its size.

The included stand screws into the bottom of the TV and consists of two wideset metal feet. The stand feels very stable on a media stand and allows for some cable management. The TV can also be wall mounted with a 200mm x 200mm VESA mount (not included).

For those looking for a smaller option, the RCA RS24H1A: 24 Smart Android TV is a great choice. This 24-inch smart TV runs on the Android platform, offering access to numerous streaming apps and services. It features a crisp 720p HD resolution and comes with built-in Wi-Fi for easy connectivity. The compact size and lightweight design make it ideal for smaller rooms or kitchens where space is at a premium.

Display Quality

The RCA 50" Roku TV delivers an impressive 4K Ultra HD picture quality with 3840 x 2160 resolution and support for High Dynamic Range (HDR). The 4K resolution provides sharper, more detailed images compared to 1080p Full HD, with over 8 million pixels on the screen. Small details in images and textures really stand out thanks to the higher resolution.

The HDR support further enhances the display by expanding the color gamut and contrast ratio. HDR content shows brighter whites and deeper blacks, making images come alive with vivid colors and increased depth. Highlights and shadows are retained even in the same scene, rather than getting washed out or too dark. This creates a more realistic and immersive viewing experience. Overall, the 4K resolution and HDR capabilities produce stellar picture quality that is perfect for watching movies and shows.

For those considering an upgrade, the RCA QLED: 50 4K Smart TV is a fantastic choice. This model features Quantum Dot technology, which enhances color accuracy and vibrancy. The QLED panel delivers deeper blacks and brighter whites, rivaling OLED in performance. Along with built-in smart functionalities, users can access popular streaming services without additional devices. It's an ideal blend of cutting-edge display technology and smart features for a superior viewing experience.

Smart TV Features

The RCA 50" Roku TV comes with Roku's user-friendly smart TV platform built-in, giving you access to thousands of streaming channels. One of the biggest benefits of Roku TVs is how easy they make streaming your favorite content.

With the simple home screen, you can quickly access free streaming channels like Pluto TV, as well as premium options like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Apple TV+, and more. Roku makes it easy to find the shows and movies you want to watch across all your streaming services - simply use the universal search or browse by category.

The Roku platform regularly adds new streaming channels and features through automatic software updates. This ensures your Roku TV stays up-to-date with the latest streaming options. Roku also has a mobile app that lets you use your smartphone or tablet as a remote, cast content to your TV, listen to audio privately, and more.

Overall, the built-in Roku platform provides an excellent smart TV experience on this RCA 50" 4K model. Both seasoned streamers and smart TV beginners will appreciate the intuitive interface and breadth of streaming options.

Audio Quality

The RCA 50-inch Roku TV delivers an immersive audio experience thanks to Dolby Audio support. It has two 8W downward-firing speakers that provide decent sound quality for everyday TV watching.

While the speakers don't match the audio capabilities of a dedicated soundbar, they are capable enough to fill a medium to large room. The audio is clear and easy to hear, with minimal distortion even at high volumes.

Dolby Audio helps optimize the sound by providing audio processing that creates a surround-sound effect. This gives a sense of dimensionality to the sound, making it feel more cinematic. Explosions and action sequences have more punch, while dialogue remains focused.

The TV also has several audio settings like volume leveling and night mode to improve the listening experience. An audio output port allows connecting the TV to an external speaker system for more powerful sound if desired. But the built-in speakers work well for casual TV viewing and streaming movies.

Overall, the RCA Roku TV delivers satisfactory audio performance for its price range thanks to the Dolby Audio enhancements. The sound quality is perfectly adequate for everyday entertainment in a living room setting.

Ports & Connectivity

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

• 3 HDMI ports - The HDMI ports support HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2, allowing you to connect 4K devices and game consoles. There are enough HDMI ports for connecting a Blu-ray player, game console, and streaming stick.

• 2 USB ports - The USB ports allow you to connect external devices like hard drives to play media files directly on the TV. You can also use the USB ports to view photos or listen to music from a flash drive.

• Ethernet port - For the best streaming experience, use the Ethernet port for a wired internet connection. This ensures smooth 4K streaming without buffering issues.

• Digital audio out - Send audio from the TV to an external speaker system via the digital optical audio output.

• Composite video input - Connect older, analog devices like a VCR using the composite video input.

The abundance of HDMI and USB ports make it easy to connect all of your media devices to this RCA 4K Roku TV. The HDMI 2.0 support also guarantees compatibility with the latest 4K 60Hz devices.

Remote Control

The RCA Roku TV comes with a simple yet functional remote control. It has a slim and lightweight design that fits comfortably in your hand.

The remote has all the standard buttons like power, volume, channel up/down, input selection, etc. There's also a dedicated button for quickly launching the Roku menu. From here you can access installed apps, search for content, adjust settings and more.

One of the best features of the Roku remote is support for voice commands. Press the microphone button and you can speak to find movies, launch apps, search for actors and more. Voice search works quite well and makes controlling the TV much easier, especially when searching for specific content.

The remote runs on 2 AAA batteries which are included. It connects wirelessly to the TV via Bluetooth so you don't have to point it directly at the TV. The buttons have a nice tactile feel and clickiness. Overall the Roku remote covers all the basics and adds voice control for extra convenience.

Performance

The RCA 50" 4K UHD Roku TV delivers excellent overall performance for its price point.

Picture Quality

The 4K resolution and HDR support result in a sharp, detailed picture. Colors are vibrant and accurate straight out of the box. Fast action scenes in movies and sports look smooth with minimal motion blur. The matte display does a decent job handling reflections and glare. While not as bright as premium 4K TVs, the image remains viewable in moderately-lit rooms.

Response Time

Input lag measures around 15ms, which is very low and great for gaming. The TV feels responsive with quick pixel response times. Fast motion looks fluid with minimal ghosting or blurring. The TV's 60Hz refresh rate is typical for this price range and handles motion well in most content.

Streaming Performance

Built-in WiFi supports smooth 4K streaming from popular apps. The Roku TV interface is snappy and intuitive to use. Launching and switching between apps is fast with no lag. The TV has plenty of power to stream high quality 4K video without buffering or compression artifacts. Overall streaming performance exceeds expectations for an affordable 4K smart TV.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Large 50-inch 4K screen provides an immersive viewing experience.
• Sharp image quality with vibrant colors and good contrast.
• Built-in WiFi for accessing streaming apps and web browsing.
• Runs on Android TV interface for easy access to apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, etc.
• Support for HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HLG high dynamic range formats.
• Decent 20W sound output with Dolby Audio enhancement.
• Voice control via Google Assistant for hands-free navigation.
• Easy to setup and intuitive remote control.
• Good value for money for a 50-inch 4K TV.

Cons

• Viewing angles could be better on the VA panel.
• Only 60Hz refresh rate, no gaming features.
• Lacks advanced smart TV features like screen mirroring.
• Remote lacks dedicated buttons for popular streaming apps.
• Only 2 HDMI ports limits connectivity options.
• Build quality is plasticky and a bit lightweight.
• Picture quality could be better, especially in dark scenes.

Conclusion

Overall, the RCA 50" 4K Roku TV offers a solid smart TV experience at an affordable price point. The sleek and simple design looks good in most living rooms, while the 4K resolution and HDR support deliver a sharp, vibrant picture quality. The Roku TV platform is easy to use and offers a wide selection of apps like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and more.

The built-in audio is decent but lacks bass. Connecting an external soundbar can significantly boost the audio for a more immersive viewing experience. Port selection is sufficient for most needs with 3 HDMI inputs and 2 USB ports. The remote is basic but gets the job done.

For shoppers looking for a budget-friendly 50-inch 4K smart TV, the RCA 50" Roku TV is a great option. While it doesn't have the premium features and specs of more expensive models, it delivers solid performance and usability at an affordable price point. The user-friendly Roku TV platform and access to thousands of apps make it easy to stream movies, shows, live TV and more. Overall, it's a great value large screen TV that's ideal for most living room setups.