Best 48 Inch TVs That Will Draw Your Attention

TV screens nowadays are being integrated with all sorts of new cutting edge technology. They feature nice designs that would make any surface look good, with a smaller screen to body ratio; such that, the picture covers the whole space. They are also smart and responsive to technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

When it comes to resolution, we have all the latest jargon, ranging from Ultra HD to 4k to 8k resolution displays. With this, you get that extra clarity that literally brings life to your living room. And all these features you can get with your 48 inch TV.

Since a TV is likely to stay with you for the long haul, it would be wise to invest in the latest technologies. You will need a screen that won’t be outdated by next the year. To help you make a smart choice, we give you our list of the best 48-inch screens in the market right now.

Top 5 48 Inch TVs Of 2020 Reviewed

1. Sony KDL48W650D

Best Smart 48 Inch TV

The Sony KDL48W650D offers the best of smart TV functionality, featuring built-in Wi-Fi and streaming capabilities. What more could you ask for?

Sony KDL48W650D 48-Inch smart TV is a very popular product known for its sharp, HD picture. Thanks to the 60Hz refresh rate and Motionflow XR 240. This setting enables the TV to capture quick movements and visuals without interruption. After initial settings, the Wi-Fi will automatically connect to your internet router so you can go online and watch your favorite Netflix shows anytime. Most users love its versatile connectivity to their devices as the TV acts as its own Wi-Fi spot. This means you can play and watch your treasured videos on a bigger screen, together with your family and friends.

Best of all, you can stream your favorite media directly from your home network computer, mobile phone, or web browser. And of course, you can view all videos, photos and shows in a Full HD 1080p.Additional cool features of this TV are the cable management which allows you to arrange all cables neatly across the back of the TV and channeled through the stand for a neater setup.

2. VIZIO 48” 1080P Smart LED TV

Best 48Inch 1080p Smart LED TV

Are you looking for an LED, full-HD TV? The VIZIO 48” 1080P Smart LED TV has a resolution of up to 1080 pixels, which is great for producing vivid pictures. It comes with 6 LED zones to help enhance the clarity of the pictures you view. The TV measures 42.70 by 25.01 by 2.68 inches without the stand. When the stand is included, it measures 42.70 by 27.37 by 9.84 inches. Apart from TV channels, you can watch your favorite movies through the dedicated 1 USB and 3 HDMI ports.

So much about hardware. The TV set comes with great apps such as Amazon Instant Video, Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, Hulu Plus, and so on. With these apps, you can stream all kinds of videos, TV series, and movies. It connects to the internet through high-speed Wi-Fi. The connection is faster and easier. This TV comes with a fresh, modern design, and perfect picture quality. With a 120Hz refresh rate and clear action 240, this TV set is the best you can have.

3. Samsung UN48JS9000 Curved 48-Inch Ultra HD Smart LED TV

Best Curved 48-Inch 4K Smart LED TV

Samsung is one of the top TV makers in the world. With the UN48JS900, the company seems to have outdone itself by providing the best curved 48-inch 4K Smart LED TV. It comes with a curved screen to draw you right into the action. If you love watching movies or sports, this is the best TV for you. It doesn’t really matter the angle at which you are sitting. It features a 4K ultra-HD resolution, for detailed, true-to-life images.

The smart TV has the ability to provide content in the form of videos and movies from many sources. If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone, you can easily share and stream content to the TV. You can get content from apps, streaming sources, video-on-demand, live TV, and programs. The TV is designed to deliver a clear contrast by dimming background LEDs on a selective basis. It comes with 3 USB and 4 HDMI ports for enhanced connectivity.

4. Sony KDL48R5

Best 48 Inch Tv for The Money

Offering incredible picture quality and smart TV functionality, the Sony KDL48R5 gives plenty of amazing features without breaking your bank.One of the most notable features of Sony KDL48R5 is the Edge LED backlight panel that allows excellent color accuracy and superior contrast. The Full HD 1080p makes watching Blu-ray discs, HD sports and movies, and TV shows even more enjoyable and satisfying. And because it has smart features too, you can stream online videos. It has built-in apps such as Netflix, YouTube, and many more.

What’s unique about this product is the Motionflow XR technology that recreates the movement of real life and makes fast-paced action look natural. reduces image noise and adds more depth to your content. If you care so much about picture quality, the Sony KDL48R5 is surely a great deal for your buck. What’s more, the sleek design of this TV makes it a great addition to any home.

5. TCL 48FS3750

Best 48 Inch TV for Streaming

Boasting over 3,000 streaming channels, the TCL 48FS3750 makes an ideal Roku TV. Featuring an easy-to-use interface, personalized home screen, and a Roku TV remote, you will have a great time watching your favorite shows.With the thousands of channels available through Roku TV, you will never run out of content to watch. One of the best features of this TV is the personalized home screen that lets you easily access channels, cable TV, game consoles, and other inputs/devices.

No more browsing complicated menus. You can organize your apps the way you want, with your favorites on the top menu.TCL 48FS3750 also has a high definition display with 120Hz refresh rate so you don’t miss a thing in fast-moving contents. The Roku TV remote is easy to navigate, having only 20 buttons. And if in case you misplace it, you can still access the apps on your TV through your mobile phone or tablet. The Roku TV app incorporates voice search as well for easy navigation.

You can also send photos, music, and videos or cast movies and web videos from your phone to your TCL TV for a larger and more engaging viewing experience.

How To Choose 48 Inch TV: the Ultimate Buying Guide

Most people think that shopping for a TV is simple until they begin their search. If you have not replaced your TV set for a while now, you might be surprised to see how the world of TV has changed and that you now have numerous choices, not only in the brand but also in the specifications, functionality, and features.

You may come across Ultra HD (UHD) or 4K TVs which promise to deliver high picture quality than the HDTVs. You may also hear about high dynamic range or HDR TVs that produce more vivid, brighter and dynamic images. And if you’re stuck in LED TVs, you will be shocked to know that there’s now a new, more modern version: the OLED TV. Currently, these TVs are pricier than LED/LCD models but each year, the price gap narrows down so fast you might think twice about whether to splurge in buying a top-of-the-line set or settle with older yet powerful TVs.

Well, you have a pretty good start by identifying the size of TV you want. 48-inch TVs are neither too small nor too big for a household. However, there are some more things to consider before you make the final purchase.

TV Resolution: Is it HD or Ultra HD?

The first thing you want to look at when comparing TVs is its native resolution. Think of it as the tiny elements (dots) that make up the whole picture. Your standard should be 1080p for a crystal-clear viewing. This model has roughly 2 million pixels all in all. If you want more, you can go with ultra-high definition (UHD) TVs which contain 8 million pixels. Yes, that’s 4 times that of the HD set. Since the pixels are denser, they allow superior picture detail. For 48 inch TVs, you will definitely do well with the 1080p resolution.

Refresh Rate

Another important thing you should consider is the refresh rate which describes how many times per second a picture is refreshed in the screen. The standard refresh rate is 60Hz. However, the rule of thumb is “the faster the better”. Modern TVs have a refresh rate of 120Hz, some are as high as 240Hz.

However, you should know that there are different ways a TV utilize a faster refresh rate. One way is by inserting black images between the original pictures to create an illusion of a more solid picture with less blurry. Another method is by generating and inserting new images between two adjacent pictures. Nonetheless, depending on the TV’s video processing, it can make the picture look flat or as if it was poorly lit.

Some modern models feature a high-frame rate (HFR) support wherein the TV has a higher refresh rate and an added support for the content for more detailed picture quality. The HFR is ideal for watching live TV sports.

What’s the Contrast Ratio?

The contrast ratio describes a range of brightness levels that the TV can display. However, the way contrast ratio is measured varies between manufacturers so it can be difficult to make a comparison based on the information provided on the label. A good way to test whether the TV has a good contrast ratio is to watch content with dark scenes and check how well it reveals detail in the shadows. Don’t get swayed away by the vibrant contents being played on the TV while it’s still in the store. Do experiment with the brightness, sharpness and other picture settings before making the final decision.

HDMI and Connections

High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) allows you to transfer videos and audio files between devices. Modern TVs incorporate HDMIs for more versatile viewing. Now, you can watch contents on your TV directly from a USB or a computer. You can also plug in your game console, speaker, mic, and other devices.

When shopping for a TV, go for the models with more HDMIs and USB ports (at least four) unless you will be connecting your devices to a separate home-theater receiver or HDMI switcher. If you are buying a UHD TV, check if it has 2.0 version of HDMI which is required to support 60-frames-per-second 4K video content. Most new TVs have HDCP 2.2 which allows you to view pre-recorded 4K movies from your Blu-ray player.

To ensure you get a clean set up after mounting your TV, make sure you hide your wires perfectly.

Smart Functionality

You don’t necessarily need to connect your TV with an Antenna to enjoy the content, no! Most modern TVs already have smart functionality that allows you to stream contents online through a built-in WiFi. With a smart TV, you can watch online series and shows on Netflix, download movies, pick up a Skype call, browse the web, and even post on Facebook. Many TV manufacturers offering smart functionality make use of a third-party platform like Roku and Google to provide more comprehensive smart solutions for the users, while others have built their own.

Smart TVs usually have built-in apps, especially big names like Pandora, Hulu, and Netflix. However, do check if the TV you’re buying includes the apps you want or gives you the option to download it.

The smart capability is becoming a standard feature in modern TVs. Yet, they still vary as to the features. Some TVs offer a personalized way of organizing your home screen so you get easier access to the channels and apps you want. Depending on your streaming needs, choose the TV that gives you a more flexible use of your smart TV. If you prefer to buy a basic TV in the meantime, that’s also fine. Anyway, you can just buy a separate streaming media player like an Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku player, or Google Chromecast in case you would want to have smart functionality in the future.

Viewing Angle

The viewing angle is another factor to consider. Most LCD TVs relatively have limited viewing angles, unlike OLED TVs which have virtually unlimited viewing angles. Poor viewing angle means the picture looks great only in a fairly narrow-angle, which is basically in front of the screen. When shopping for a TV, do check if you can view contents with quality and detail from different positions – at the side, front, down, and above. Also, check if the picture gets dimmer, or loses contrast and color accuracy as you move farther away from the screen.

Again, remember that in most stores, TV brightness and colors are boosted to unnatural levels, making it seem like the picture quality is good from any angle. It is important to check the viewing angles the moment you set up your new TV at home so you still can return the set if it proves to be disappointing. It needs to provide the best experience, both in terms of view and sound clarity.

Remote Controls

If you’re not planning to use a universal remote control, do pay attention to the included clicker in the set. The remote control should be easy to hold and use. The fewer the buttons, the less complicated it is and the easier navigating will be. Many people prefer medium-size remotes with backlit buttons. Some modern TVs can be navigated either using a remote control or an app (via your mobile phone). If you prefer both, look for the model that has this feature.

Overall Look and Setup

Since TVs are generally furniture, you want something that fits nicely in your home and sets up easily and neatly. These days, the trend is that thinner TVs are the most stylish. They are also space-saving, lightweight, and easier to mount or set up. Furthermore, consider a TV that has a way to hide or manage to wire so your set looks neatly installed on your wall or placed on a stand.

Does the TV Have a Warranty

Like any other home appliance, you should not forget to check if your TV has enough warranty to give you peace of mind that if anything wrong happens in your set, you know where to go. As a standard rule, there should be at least 30-day return or replacement policy. Most manufacturers offer a one-year warranty, which may cover parts and labor. For the best protection, ensure that you connect your TV to a surge protector. 

Final Words

Buying a TV these days can be overwhelming, especially that innovations in this product is so fast it can be hard to keep up with the latest specifications and features. To make your shopping easier, always bear in mind what you really want and need from a TV set. The factors included in the buying guide above are the most important ones that you should pay attention to. If you are clueless about where to start, check out our best 48 inch TV reviews. Take time to compare the pros and cons and important features so you end up buying the set that will give you many years of quality entertainment in the comforts of your own home.