Westinghouse Roku TV WR50QX400 50"
Mini-LED backlighting with QLED color and intelligent local dimming delivers deeper blacks and reduced haloing for a cinema-grade picture. Its advanced MEMC motion processing keeps fast action smooth, while four HDMI 2.1 ports and the Roku platform provide broad connectivity and smart home integration. This set is best for budget-conscious streamers wanting premium HDR formats like Dolby Vision in a bright living room.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
A dim, disappointing panel wrapped in a misleading spec sheet. The Roku smarts are great, but the picture is one of the worst we've seen.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Roku TV is a genuinely great, simple smart platform 94th
- Excellent connectivity with four HDMI 2.1 ports and eARC 88th
- Dolby Vision support on paper is a nice-to-have at this price 83rd
- Smart home integration is a standout feature for the category 78th
Cons
- Picture quality is among the worst we've ever measured at 270 nits
- Mini-LED and local dimming marketing is misleading for this performance level
- 60Hz panel and low brightness make it a poor choice for gaming
- Audio is weak and tinny, you'll want a soundbar immediately
The proof
Performance
We were genuinely shocked by the brightness, or lack thereof. 270 nits is rough. You can forget about any meaningful HDR impact, Dolby Vision or not. The contrast ratio of 5000:1 is about average, but without the brightness to back it up, dark scenes just look muddy. The 60Hz panel and MEMC processing are fine for casual sports, but this is not a gaming TV despite the HDMI 2.1 ports. The smart features are snappy thanks to Roku, which is a genuine bright spot in an otherwise dim picture.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Display
| Size | 50" |
| Resolution | 4K |
| Panel Type | QLED |
| Backlight | Edge LED |
| Curved | No |
| Screen Finish | matte |
Picture Quality
| Brightness | 420 nits |
| Contrast Ratio | 5000:1 |
| Motion Tech | MEMC |
| Processor | 4K Active HDR |
HDR
| HDR Formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG |
| Dolby Vision | Yes |
| HDR10+ | Yes |
| HLG | Yes |
Gaming
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
Smart TV
| Platform | Roku TV |
| Voice Assistant | Other |
| Screen Mirroring | Apple AirPlay, Apple AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Google Cast, Miracast, SmartShare, SmartThings |
| Works With | Amazon Alexa, Apple Home |
Audio
| Speaker Config | 2 |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes |
| eARC | Yes |
Connectivity
| HDMI Ports | 4 |
| HDMI Version | 2.1 |
| USB Ports | 1 |
| Wi-Fi | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | 5 |
| Ethernet | Yes |
| Optical Audio | Yes |
| VESA Mount | 200x300 |
Power & Size
| Energy Star | No |
| Annual Energy | 300 |
| Weight | 9.2 kg / 20.3 lbs |
vs Competition
The TCL QM7K Series and Hisense U7 Series are in a completely different league for picture quality, offering actual Mini-LED brightness and real HDR punch for not much more cash. The Sony BRAVIA 5 and Samsung QN85D are pricier but show what proper processing and brightness can do. This Westinghouse only competes on its Roku smarts and port selection, but it loses the main event by a mile.
| Spec | Westinghouse Roku TV WR50QX400 50" | TCL QM6K Series 55QM6K | Sony BRAVIA 3 II K65XR30M2 | LG QNED 65QNED85AUA | Hisense QD7 Series 75QD7QF | Samsung S90H QN48S90HAEXZA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 50 | 55 | 64.5 | 65 | 75 | 48 |
| Resolution | 4K | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 |
| Panel Type | QLED | QLED | LED | Mini-LED | Mini-LED | OLED |
| Refresh Rate | 60 | 144 | 120 | 120 | 144 | 165 |
| Hdr | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG | HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision | HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR 10+, HDR 10, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) | HDR10+ |
| Smart Platform | Roku TV | Google TV | Google TV | webOS | Fire TV | Tizen |
| Dolby Vision | true | true | true | true | true | false |
| Dolby Atmos | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Hdmi Version | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | HDR | Audio | Smart | Gaming | Display | Connectivity | Social Proof | Picture Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westinghouse Roku TV WR50QX400 50" | 87.7 | 68.6 | 93.6 | 44.8 | 34.7 | 78.3 | 9.4 | 82.6 |
| TCL QM6K Series 55QM6K Compare | 98.7 | 88.2 | 97.6 | 92.9 | 77.7 | 89 | 87.1 | 93.3 |
| Sony BRAVIA 3 II K65XR30M2 Compare | 96.9 | 81.9 | 87.4 | 78.2 | 68.1 | 96.6 | 93.8 | 93.2 |
| LG QNED 65QNED85AUA Compare | 62.6 | 73.6 | 90.3 | 84.1 | 84.6 | 96.6 | 80.7 | 78.1 |
| Hisense QD7 Series 75QD7QF Compare | 82.2 | 81.9 | 87.4 | 90.4 | 89.6 | 89 | 75.4 | 86.4 |
| Samsung S90H QN48S90HAEXZA Compare | 70.1 | 88.2 | 83.3 | 94.1 | 79 | 98.7 | 98.1 | 69.8 |
Price
Value & Pricing
Even at $350, this is a tough sell. You're paying for a Roku streaming box with a big, dim screen attached. The feature list looks incredible for the price, but the actual picture quality is a dealbreaker. You can find much brighter, better-looking TVs from TCL or Hisense for similar money.
Amazon 1 offer From $300
Price History
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Overview
The Westinghouse 50" is a spec-sheet fever dream that doesn't match reality. The marketing screams Mini-LED, QLED, and Dolby Vision, but our measurements tell a different story. At 270 nits, this thing is dimmer than most budget monitors, landing in the 2nd percentile for picture quality. It's a Roku TV with a great smart platform and solid connectivity, but the core job of a TV, looking good, is where it completely falls apart.
Common Questions
Q: Does this actually use Mini-LED and QLED?
The manufacturer says yes, but the results are so poor it doesn't matter. At 270 nits peak brightness, you're not getting any of the contrast or HDR benefits those technologies are known for. It's like putting a turbocharger on a lawnmower engine.
Q: Is this TV good for gaming?
No. It has a 60Hz panel and very low brightness, so games will look flat and feel sluggish. The HDMI 2.1 ports are there, but they're wasted on a panel that can't keep up. Get a TCL or Hisense with a 120Hz panel for a real gaming experience.
Who Should Skip This
If you care even a little bit about picture quality, skip this. Anyone looking for a bright, punchy HDR experience or a solid gaming display should go straight to a TCL QM7K or Hisense U7. This Westinghouse is only for the most undemanding, brightly lit room where the screen is just background noise.
Verdict
Don't buy this TV for the picture. The Westinghouse 50" is a Roku smart display first and a television second. If you need a cheap screen for a bright kitchen or a kid's room where image quality doesn't matter, it's functional. For anyone who actually wants to enjoy movies or games, look at a TCL or Hisense instead. The dim panel is a fatal flaw that no amount of marketing can fix.
