Toshiba 50L5200U

With good picture quality for its price class, the Toshiba L5200U makes a good everyday TV set at a better everyday price. Just make sure you set your expectations accordingly.

The Toshiba L5200 series comes in three screen sizes: the 50-inch Toshiba 50L5200U (*Est. $900), the 46-inch Toshiba 46L5200U (*Est. $800) and the 40-inch Toshiba 40L5200U (*Est. $600).

Performance

Image quality is far from perfect, but might be perfectly fine for everyday viewing. Without a doubt, the Toshiba L5200U will leave video perfectionists fairly unhappy -- though as sometimes happens, the source of that unhappiness seems to vary with the eye of the reviewer or the specific review sample tested. CNET is among those that grouse about inaccurate colors, while sites like Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity and PCMag.com say that colors are either pretty good or can be made that way with a little -- or a lot -- of work.

Black levels, on the other hand, seem fine for the most part for a TV in this class -- and better than some considerably pricier models, CNET reports. But opinions about contrast ratio vary from very good (at TelevisionInfo.com) to "mediocre" (at PCMag.com). As with any edge-lit LED TV, image uniformity is a bugaboo, and the L5200U is no exception, though how much of a distraction it will be will vary from set to set and viewer to viewer. The TV has a true 120 Hz refresh rate, but some say it's not as effective as some sets in reducing motion blur. A glossy screen indicates that this TV wouldn't normally be the best performer in a bright room, but there's an anti-reflective filter that does a pretty good job of cutting down reflections.

Features

Just a little beyond the barest of bones. It's hard to call a set with a 120 Hz refresh rate and an LED backlight bare-bones, but in today's TV marketplace that's pretty much what it is. There's no 3D, no Smart TV features and no local streaming. The USB input will let you play back your own content (video, music, photos) from a thumb drive. There's also a feature that will automatically set the backlight's brightness depending on room illumination, but reports say that it doesn't work all that well.

Design

Styling is in keeping with feature set and price. Basically, the Toshiba L5200U sports a no-frills look in standard piano black, though the thin bezel is liked well enough. Connectivity is average, with three HDMI inputs. The remote is small and undistinguished, but gets the job done.

Value

It's the price that counts the most with this TV. Judged on its own, there are few reasons to consider the Toshiba L5200U. But expand your view to see what's available at or near the same price point, and things look a lot nicer. You can spend less for a TV in its equivalent screen sizes, but you'll need to give up even more on the picture front in most instances. However, if you want a more advanced set, some attractive options are available for just a little bit more.

Bottom line

In absolute terms, the picture quality of the Toshiba L5200U certainly has its share of warts. While few sets in its class look better, the Samsung EH5000 is an exception and draws somewhat better feedback. Still, the L5200U is a decent choice for TV buyers on a strict budget who want a mid-sized screen -- especially those who couldn't care less for its missing bells and whistles.