LG 50QNED80URA 50 inch TV: In-Depth Review and Customer Opinions

LG's 50QNED80URA is a mid-range 2022 model 50-inch 4K LED TV. Featuring LG's Quantum Dot Nanocell display technology and webOS smart platform, it provides good picture quality and smart features at an affordable price point.

The 50QNED80URA has an understated design with thin bezels and two V-shaped stands. It includes LG's a7 Gen5 AI Processor 4K for upscaling and optimizing picture quality, along with support for Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG high dynamic range formats.

For gaming, it has Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and supports a 120Hz refresh rate when paired with compatible devices. Other key aspects include the built-in Google Assistant and Alexa voice assistants, and webOS platform that provides quick access to popular streaming apps.

Overall, the LG 50QNED80URA is a solid choice for those wanting a 50-inch 4K TV with good picture quality and smart connectivity at a reasonable cost. It provides an impressive balance of features without going overboard on price.

Design

The LG 50QNED80URA features a sleek and minimalist design with very thin bezels around the display. The TV has an understated look that blends into any living room.

The bezel along the sides and top measure just 0.19 inches, while the bottom bezel is slightly thicker at 0.39 inches. This creates a nearly borderless aesthetic when viewing content and allows for an immersive viewing experience.

The rear of the TV also has a thin profile, measuring 1.85 inches thick. The TV can lay nearly flush when wall mounted. The thin bezels and slim depth give it a light, airy appearance from all angles.

The stand has an attractive brushed metal finish with a curved shape. The stand feet are positioned far apart for stability. While curved, the feet don't extend far past the edges of the TV.

Overall, the 50QNED80URA has an impressively minimalist design achieved through extremely thin bezels and a slim depth. The discreet, understated styling allows it to blend seamlessly into modern décor.

While the LG has a sleek design, there are other 50-inch TV options with similar thin bezels and slim profiles. The Sony KD50X85K is a comparable 50-inch 4K TV with narrow borders and a 1.61 inch thickness. It has an aluminum rear cover and two-way stand for a clean, contemporary look. Like the LG, the Sony stand has widely spaced feet for stability without dominating the space. Both TVs have a minimalist aesthetic perfect for wall mounting. The Sony also comes in a 55-inch and 65-inch version with the same slim design.

When choosing between these two minimalist TVs, the LG QNED has a lower profile with thinner bezels while the Sony X85K stand may blend into some decor better with its two-way design. The Sony also offers the option of a larger 65-inch screen size. Overall the designs are quite similar with narrow bezels and slim depths to practically disappear when viewing content.

Other key design aspects to compare are the stand width, depth with stand, borders, rear covers, and measurements in total. The LG and Sony have strong similarities in these areas with a focus on subtlety. For those wanting a streamlined, modern TV look, either of these options will deliver with ultra thin bezels and compact depth for mounting flush to the wall.

A discreet TV design prevents the set from dominating a room visually. It becomes part of the backdrop rather than a focal point. For living rooms and bedrooms where the décor is the main feature, a TV like the LG 50QNED80URA or Sony KD50X85K is an excellent choice. The minimalist look complements without overwhelming. With dimensions under 2 inches thick, they provide a cinematic viewing experience without the bulky hardware.

Display & Picture Quality

The LG 50QNED80URA features a 50-inch 4K LCD panel that uses IPS technology to provide wide viewing angles and consistent image quality. The IPS panel has a 3840 x 2160 pixel resolution that delivers crisp, detailed 4K visuals. With 8.3 million pixels, 4K resolution offers 4 times the pixels of standard 1080p full HD for enhanced clarity and definition. Tiny details in images and videos really come to life.

The IPS technology enables the TV to have realistic colors and consistency at various angles. So the picture retains accuracy when viewing from the sides or at an angle, instead of appearing washed out. The 50QNED80URA has a standard 60Hz refresh rate. While higher refresh rates like 120Hz offer benefits for fast motion scenes, a 60Hz refresh rate is typical for most TV programming and content.

Overall, the 4K IPS panel provides a sharp, vibrant picture with wide viewing angles. The resolution and panel technology let you see movies, shows and games with excellent detail and color performance. The 50-inch screen size is great for most living rooms and home theater setups, providing an immersive viewing experience without taking up too much space.

If you're looking for a similar 50-inch 4K TV from LG, check out the LG 50UQ7570PUJ. This model also has a 50-inch 4K IPS panel for wide viewing angles and vivid colors. It supports HDR for enhanced contrast and brightness. The 50UQ7570PUJ has LG's Quad Core Processor 4K for upscaling HD content. It also features gaming features like Auto Low Latency Mode. With webOS smart TV platform, you get access to popular streaming apps and voice controls.

Both the LG 50QNED80URA and LG 50UQ7570PUJ provide excellent 4K picture quality and smart features in a 50-inch size. The main differences are the 50UQ7570PUJ adds HDR support and LG's latest processing and gaming enhancements. It uses IPS NanoCell technology for wider color gamut coverage. So the 50UQ7570PUJ represents a step up in certain areas, though both are great mid-range 4K TV options.

When choosing a 50-inch LG 4K TV, look at the panel technology, HDR capabilities, refresh rate, smart platform, and extra features. Both the 50QNED80URA and 50UQ7570PUJ deliver sharp 4K resolution, accurate colors, and smart connectivity. The 50UQ7570PUJ builds on the display performance with advanced HDR, gaming, and processing. But the 50QNED80URA still provides a quality 4K viewing experience and may fit your needs at a lower price point.

Smart TV Features

The LG 50QNED80URA comes with LG's user-friendly webOS smart platform. This provides access to a wide range of built-in apps and streaming services. Some highlights include:

• Netflix - Watch popular movies and TV shows on demand. LG TVs come with a dedicated Netflix button on the remote for quick access.

• Prime Video - Stream movies and shows from Amazon's library. An Amazon Prime subscription provides additional benefits.

• Disney+ - Enjoy content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and more.

• YouTube - View YouTube videos and channels directly on your TV.

• Hulu - Access Hulu's collection of TV series, movies, originals and more.

• Apple TV - View iTunes content and Apple TV+ original programming.

• LG Channels - A selection of free streaming TV channels and content.

The webOS platform makes it easy to download additional apps from the LG Content Store. Popular options include HBO Max, ESPN, Crackle, Tubi and many others.

Controlling webOS is simple with the LG Magic Remote or voice controls. Overall the smart features provide easy access to top streaming apps and services.

Gaming Performance

The LG 50QNED80URA is an excellent option for gaming thanks to its low input lag and AMD FreeSync support.

Input lag refers to the delay between an input on your controller and the reaction on the TV screen. Lower input lag results in a more responsive, real-time gaming experience. This LG TV has very low input lag at just 10ms in game mode, which should keep gameplay feeling snappy.

The TV also supports AMD FreeSync variable refresh rate technology. This synchronizes the refresh rate between the TV and compatible gaming consoles or PCs to prevent screen tearing and stuttering. When enabled, games look smooth with no graphical artifacts.

Overall, the fast response time and FreeSync support allow this TV to deliver an immersive, fluid gaming experience. Fast-paced competitive games will feel highly responsive, while story-driven adventures or RPGs will display smoothly. So gamers looking for a 50-inch TV should be pleased with the LG 50QNED80URA's capabilities.

Audio Quality

The LG 50QNED80URA is equipped with a 2 channel, 20W speaker system. The stereo speakers provide decent audio quality for everyday TV watching. Dialogue comes through clearly and the speakers can get reasonably loud without too much distortion.

However, as is common with slim LED TVs, bass response is limited due to the lack of a dedicated subwoofer. Explosions and action sequences won't have quite the same impact as with higher-end audio setups. The built-in speakers are sufficient for casual viewing but those looking for an immersive cinematic experience may want to consider pairing the TV with a soundbar or surround sound system.

Overall, the audio capabilities are fairly typical for an LED TV in this price range. The speakers will handle daily TV watching, news and sports reasonably well, but a dedicated sound system is recommended for movies and gaming. For most users, the audio should be satisfactory right out of the box. Those wanting a premium home theater experience may need to invest in external audio components.

Connectivity

The LG 50QNED80URA comes with a solid set of connectivity options, allowing you to hook up multiple devices and access streaming content.

• HDMI - This TV has 4 HDMI ports, including 1 HDMI 2.1 port supporting high bandwidth for 4K/120Hz gaming. The HDMI ports are perfect for connecting media players, game consoles, Blu-ray players, and more.

• USB - There are 2 USB ports included, allowing you to play media files directly from USB drives.

• Ethernet - For a stable wired internet connection, there is a LAN port.

• Wi-Fi - Built-in Wi-Fi (802.11ac) allows for wireless connectivity and access to smart TV features.

• Bluetooth - Bluetooth 5.0 support allows you to connect wireless headphones, speakers, and other accessories.

With multiple HDMI inputs, USB connectivity, ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, the LG 50QNED80URA gives you all the ports and wireless options you need to connect media devices, game consoles, and more. The HDMI 2.1 port makes this TV ready for the latest gaming consoles and high frame rate gameplay.

Remote Control

The LG 50QNED80URA comes with the LG Magic Remote, which is an air mouse-style remote that allows you to easily point, click, scroll and control the TV's interface. The remote connects to the TV via Bluetooth, so you don't have to aim it directly at the TV.

The Magic Remote has a minimalist design with very few buttons. You get a clickable scroll wheel, a microphone button for voice controls, number buttons, and dedicated buttons for popular streaming apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The scroll wheel makes it easy to navigate through menus and lists. Clicking the wheel acts as an OK/Select button.

One of the best features of the Magic Remote is the point and click functionality. You can move an on-screen cursor to easily select menu items instead of having to click through layer after layer of menus. This makes navigating the smart TV interface much faster.

The remote also has gesture control capabilities. You can swipe and flick the remote to scroll quickly or go back to the previous screen. Overall, the Magic Remote offers an intuitive and seamless way to interact with the LG TV.

Pros

The LG 50QNED80URA has several strong advantages that make it a compelling 4K TV option:

• Excellent Picture Quality: Reviewers praise the LG 50QNED80URA for its impressive 4K picture quality. It uses LG's Quantum Dot NanoCell display technology to deliver vibrant, accurate colors and deep blacks. The high contrast ratio and solid brightness levels result in a very pleasing and immersive viewing experience.

• Low Input Lag for Gaming: This LG TV performs extremely well as a gaming display. It has a low input lag of under 10ms, which is perfect for fast-paced console or PC games. There is also support for variable refresh rate technologies like AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible for smooth gameplay. Gamers will appreciate the quick response time.

• User-Friendly webOS Smart TV Platform: The webOS platform on the LG 50QNED80URA is intuitive and simple to use. It provides quick access to popular streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and more. The Magic Remote makes navigating the smart TV interface a breeze. webOS also supports voice controls through Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Overall, it delivers a smooth and convenient smart TV experience.

Cons

• Only 60Hz refresh rate - While a 60Hz refresh rate is standard for most TVs, more premium models offer higher 120Hz or 144Hz refresh rates for smoother motion and gaming. The 60Hz rate on this LG TV is adequate but not optimal for fast action content or gaming.

• Basic 2-channel audio system - The built-in audio system on the LG 50QNED80URA is relatively basic, with just 2 speaker channels and 10W of power per channel. This may not provide the most immersive or powerful sound compared to TVs with more advanced audio setups. If high quality audio is a priority, you may want to consider adding a separate soundbar.