TCL 50S450G 50 inch TV: In-Depth Review and Customer Opinions

TCL is a global electronics and home appliance company based in China. They have a wide range of televisions at affordable prices and known for integrating the latest display technologies in their products.

In recent years, TCL has become one of the top 3 global television brands thanks to their quality TVs at competitive prices. Their TVs come with premium features like QLED displays, mini-LED backlighting, Dolby Vision HDR, and integrated Roku smart platform.

The TCL 5-Series is their 2021 lineup of 4K LED smart TVs. It sits below their premium 6-Series models and aims to provide great picture quality with Roku smart features at an affordable price point. The 50-inch 50S546 is among the most popular models in the 5-series lineup.

Design

The TCL 50S450G has an attractive, minimalist design with thin bezels around the display for a more immersive viewing experience. The TV itself has a slim profile that won't stick out too far when wall mounted. The angular metal stand has a small footprint as well, making the 50S450G a great option if space is limited.

Overall, the clean, no-frills aesthetic allows the 50-inch screen to take center stage. The thin bezels help draw attention to the content you're watching rather than the television itself. The slim form factor means the 50S450G can fit into most decor seamlessly.

The minimalist design language continues through the entire TCL S450 series, including the very similar TCL 50S450F. Both models feature thin bezels surrounding the 50-inch 4K panel and a slim profile for wall mounting. The key difference is in the stands - the 50S450G has an angular metal stand while the 50S450F has two plastic feet. However, the footprint is nearly identical.

With dimensions of 44.1 x 28.1 x 3.2 inches without the stand, the 50S450G has a very slim depth that allows it to sit nearly flush to the wall when mounted. The TV is also lightweight at just 15.4 pounds without the stand. This makes wall mounting fairly simple, though professional installation is recommended. The angular metal stand adds stability while keeping the footprint compact at 44.1 x 8.7 inches.

Overall, those looking for a streamlined 50-inch 4K TV that takes up minimal space will appreciate the TCL 50S450G's pared back design. It forgoes any flashy elements and instead focuses on delivering an immersive viewing experience. The thin bezels and slim profile almost fade into the background so the stellar 4K picture takes center stage.

Display

The TCL 50S450G is equipped with a vibrant 50 inch 4K UHD display featuring 3840 x 2160 pixel resolution. The panel uses VA technology, providing impressive image quality with vivid and accurate colors, deep black levels and excellent contrast.

4K resolution means the TV has four times the number of pixels compared to Full HD 1080p displays. This allows for sharper, more detailed images along with the ability to view 4K Ultra HD content. The higher pixel density results in a lifelike viewing experience whether you're watching movies, TV shows, sports or playing games.

In addition to 4K resolution, the 50S450G display supports High Dynamic Range (HDR). HDR significantly expands the color and contrast range, bringing out details that standard dynamic range can't capture. It makes colors appear richer while increasing brightness and dark levels for a truly cinematic experience. The display can accept and decode HDR signals including HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision. Overall, the 4K HDR display provides an immersive viewing experience in your living room.

If you're looking for a 50-inch 4K TV from another brand, the SAMSUNG UN50TU7000FXZA is an excellent option to consider. This 50-inch 4K UHD smart TV from Samsung also provides a stellar viewing experience with its Crystal Processor 4K for lifelike 4K upscaling, High Dynamic Range support, and PurColor technology for rich colors. It has a slim, minimalist design that would look great in any living room. The Tizen smart platform gives you access to popular streaming apps and services. Overall, the Samsung UN50TU7000FXZA is a comparable 50-inch 4K TV that's worth looking into if you want an alternative to the TCL 50S450G.

Audio

The TCL 50S450G comes with 2 speakers that deliver a total power of 10W. The speakers provide decent audio quality for everyday TV watching. Dialogue in TV shows and movies sounds clear and understandable. However, the speakers lack bass and don't get very loud, so don't expect an immersive audio experience. For more powerful and robust sound, you'll need to invest in a soundbar or external speaker system. But for casual viewing, the built-in speakers get the job done. Just don't expect to be wowed by the audio performance. The speakers are functional, but that's about it. Those looking for booming or cinematic sound will need to look elsewhere.

Smart Features

The TCL 50S450G comes loaded with smart capabilities powered by the intuitive Roku TV platform. This gives you access to over 5,000 streaming channels including popular ones like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and more.

You can easily search for movies, shows, and content across various streaming services using the universal search function. The remote has dedicated buttons for popular channels like Netflix, Hulu, and ESPN for quick access. Voice control is supported through compatibility with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa-enabled devices, allowing you to change channels, launch apps, search for content and more completely hands-free.

Setting up and customizing the TV is a breeze with the user-friendly Roku TV interface. The home screen provides personalized recommendations based on your viewing history and subscriptions. You can also cast shows, movies, photos, and music from your smartphone or tablet directly to the TV thanks to built-in Chromecast support. Overall, TCL's excellent smart platform makes it simple to access all your favorite entertainment.

Ports

The TCL 50S450G comes with a solid array of ports that allow you to connect various devices and accessories.

On the back of the TV, you'll find the following ports:

• 3 HDMI ports - The HDMI ports support HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2. This allows you to connect devices like Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, streaming sticks, etc. in up to 4K resolution at 60Hz.

• 1 USB port - The USB port allows you to connect devices like hard drives to play your media files or record live TV with a compatible storage device.

• Composite input - For connecting older devices that use composite cables like VCRs or game systems.

• RF input - Allows you to connect coaxial cable from an antenna or cable source.

• Ethernet - For connecting to your home network via wired internet. Helpful if you want faster and more reliable streaming compared to WiFi.

• Digital audio output - Optical port that allows you to output sound to a compatible sound system or soundbar.

• Headphone jack - For private listening with headphones.

The number and variety of ports on the TCL 50S450G provide ample options for connecting media players, game systems, streaming devices, sound systems, and more. The HDMI 2.0 and USB support are especially helpful for getting the best quality out of 4K devices.

Remote

The TCL 50S450G comes with a simple plastic remote control. The remote is lightweight and easy to hold in one hand. It has a simple button layout with dedicated buttons for major functions like power, input source, channel controls, volume, etc. This makes the basic functions quick and easy to access.

The remote has buttons for launching popular streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube. There are also buttons for launching the Roku smart platform and the TV settings menu. Voice control can be activated with a button towards the top of the remote.

The minimalist button layout helps keep things simple for basic TV viewing. The dedicated streaming service buttons are useful for quickly launching your favorite apps. The remote lacks any advanced controls, which helps keep costs down. But the basic functionality is all there in an easy to use format.

Overall, the remote that comes with the TCL 50S450G gets the job done without any complexity. The dedicated streaming buttons add nice convenience. Just don't expect advanced controls for tweaking picture settings and such.

Performance

The TCL 50S450G delivers good picture quality considering its affordable price point. It can't compete with more premium 4K TVs, but for most everyday viewing the image quality is quite pleasing.

The 4K resolution panel shows good detail, and colors appear natural and accurate out of the box once calibrated. High definition content looks crisp, and the TV upscales lower resolution content decently. Fast-moving scenes exhibit some motion blur, but no more than expected at this price.

Viewing angles are also decent thanks to the VA panel. Black levels could be a bit deeper but shadows and night scenes still look good. HDR performance is limited due to the lack of local dimming, but HDR content is still enhanced over SDR.

Overall, the picture quality is very solid for causal TV watching and streaming. It may not satisfy videophiles, but it provides good visuals for most TV content. For the price, most buyers will be pleased with the performance.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Great value for the price. The TCL 50S450G packs in a lot of features at a budget-friendly price point.

• Runs Roku TV. The Roku platform is easy to use and offers thousands of streaming apps. No need for a separate streaming device.

• Slim profile. The TV has a slim design that doesn't take up much space on your TV stand or mounting. Looks great on the wall.

Cons

• Mediocre sound quality. The built-in speakers lack bass and richness. Consider pairing with a soundbar.

• Picture degrades at wider viewing angles. You'll get the best image quality sitting directly in front. Colors start to shift when viewing from the sides.

Conclusion

The TCL 50S450G is a solid budget 4K TV that delivers good picture quality and smart capabilities for the price. It utilizes TCL's 4K Creative Pro upscaling engine to handle lower resolution content well. The 50-inch screen size and 4K resolution provide an immersive viewing experience.

The Roku TV platform is easy to use and provides access to plenty of streaming apps. Gaming connectivity is also decent with low input lag. Voice control support via Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa provides a convenient hands-free way to operate the TV.

While the TCL 50S450G performs well for its price point, it lacks more premium features found on higher-end 4K TVs. The audio quality is just average and may require a soundbar for an audio boost. The TV also lacks advanced gaming features like HDMI 2.1 and Variable Refresh Rate. Those wanting the best 4K picture quality may want to look at more advanced LED or OLED TVs.

Overall, the TCL 50S450G hits a nice sweet spot for budget-minded shoppers wanting a big-screen 4K smart TV. While it omits premium bells and whistles, it delivers very good performance and value in its price range. For general home entertainment, the TCL 50S450G is a solid choice.