It is a fact that every few years a new wave of technology hits the HDTV market, making older televisions feel obsolete. The good news is that you do not need to crush your bank account by paying thousands of dollars to stay on top of television technology trends.
At just $798, the Vizio M50-C1 has the perfect combination of resolution, features, and value, making it a logical choice as the best 50-inch HDTV under $1,000. While many television manufacturers offer a decent 50-Inch HDTV in the under-$1,000 price-range, this second-generation 4k HDTV from Vizio clearly offers the most “bang for your buck.”
It was Vizio who took the HDTV world by storm last year when the first M-Series was announced, featuring units for under $500. While it was only slightly-groundbreaking for a manufacturer to offer a 4k television at such a low price, their performance is what impressed experts the most.
The second generation of the M-Series includes the M50-C1, a very-well-liked 50-inch flat screen TV that costs under $1000 despite the fact that it offers a picture clarity on-par with much more expensive television sets.
This HD television uses a direct backlight to achieve its powerful clarity. A local dimming feature makes it possible for the owner to adjust the brightness of specific areas on the screen. The M50-C1 includes 32 independently dimmable zones. CNET pointed out that while the most expensive Vizio models have more, 32 zones is quite impressive for its screen-size.
Rtings.com also has many compliments for the M50-C1. The TV achieves a solid 8.0 aggregate score and receives praise for its above-average contrast ratio and the small amount of discernible input lag.
Another highlight is the television’s ability to upscale 1080p resolution programming.
As the reviewer for Rtings.com so succinctly states, “For a 4k TV to be this good for so cheap is a steal,” while cementing its place as the “Best Budget 50-Inch 4k TV.”
SmartReview lauds the advanced features of the M50-C1, including its Smart TV function. This feature allows the user to access popular apps like Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Facebook, and hundreds of others. Another highlight is the Active Pixel Tuning feature, with which individual pixels may be manually adjusted to the appropriate brightness. The television was among a handful of TVs chosen for the site’s Top Picks of 2015.
The M50-C1 features a full-array direct backlight to improve the uniformity of the picture. This upgrade is particularly noticeable when compared with edge-lit flat screen televisions. The HDTV also comes with a backlit-keyboard “Smart Remote” and a built-in DTS TruSurround system.
Despite being universally-praised by tech experts across the web, there are a few flaws with the Vizio M50-C1. These are by no means serious deficiencies or are they enough reason to avoid the TV; even the most expensive flat screen television will have a few flaws.
From Rtings.com to SmartReview, the biggest complaint with the M50-C1 is its poor viewing angles. When the viewer is off-axis, the television loses quite a bit of saturation.
Rtings.com also makes note of a long motion blur trail during some, but not all, transitions. The reviewer goes on to explain that the M50-C1 has some “bugginess” in the firmware that makes a “soap opera effect.” There are also issues with the local dimming feature, which can over-darken isolated bright objects on the screen.
A temporary issue is that some apps such as Hulu Plus have yet to offer any programming in 4k resolution. With more and more programs and apps having 4k capability, this should be a short-lived problem.
Lastly, CNET makes a point of explaining that only one of the television’s five HDMI ports is HDMI 2.0 compatible – the other four are unable to accept 4k sources at the standard 60 FPS.
While it may be true that 4k television technology is still in its infancy, the future of television-viewing is clearly headed in that direction. While most 4k HDTVs cost well over a thousand dollars, the Vizio M50-C1 is affordable enough for almost any shopper.
After studying review upon review heaping praise upon the M50-C1’s excellent features and stunning picture clarity, it was an easy choice for Dealspotr to name it the best 50-inch HDTV under $1000.
