JVC LT-50EP4457 50" 49.5" Review

It's a cheap 4K Roku TV. The picture and sound are bad, but it works. Only buy it on sale for a spare room. Not for your main setup.

The JVC LT-40EP4257 is a basic 40-inch TV that gets you a 4K screen and the Roku smart platform for a very low price. That's the whole pitch. It's for someone who wants a bigger screen for streaming Netflix in the bedroom or a spare room, and doesn't want to think about it too much.

Let's be real: the performance is exactly what you'd expect for the money. The 4K resolution is nice for sharp text and menus, but the picture quality scores in the 1st percentile in our database. That means it's at the very bottom. The 220-nit brightness is dim, so you'll want to use it in a dark room. The 60Hz refresh and 9.5ms input lag are fine for casual gaming, but competitive players will want something faster. The audio, at 16W, is also in the 2nd percentile. It gets loud enough to hear dialogue, but it's thin and lacks bass. You'll want a soundbar.

Here's the thing: you can find this TV for between $150 and $350. At the lower end of that range, it's a hard deal to argue with. You're getting a functional 4K Roku TV. At $350, you're starting to bump into better options from TCL or Hisense that have superior picture quality. Shop around for the $150-$200 price tag, and it makes sense as a pure utility purchase.

Stacked up, it's outclassed by similarly priced TVs. A TCL 4-Series at the same price has better contrast and brightness. The Hisense A4 Series often beats it on picture quality for a few bucks more. This JVC's only real advantage is if you find it on a deep discount. Compared to its own family, the 43-inch MAW595 model is essentially the same TV, so go for whichever is cheaper. The 32-inch MAR205 is only HD, not 4K, so the 40-inch is the better value if you want the higher resolution.

Skip this if picture quality matters to you at all. If you're watching movies in a dark home theater or care about HDR, this TV will disappoint. Also, avoid it if you need good built-in sound; plan on buying a soundbar from day one.

Buy this TV if you need a second screen for a guest room, kitchen, or garage, and your budget is absolutely rock-bottom. You're trading picture and sound quality for cost and convenience. For a main living room TV, you can do much better without spending a fortune.