Panasonic TC-P50U50 [pictures]

In a year when dual-core TVs vaunt voice control, touch-pad remotes, gesture recognition, app stores, and often mediocre picture quality, the Panasonic TC-P50U50 is a throwback. A bona fide Dumb TV, the U50 comes in only one size -- 50 inches, take it or leave it, bub -- and couldn't launch an app or sync with 3D glasses to save its life. If you're like me and consider those extras largely unnecessary in a television, you'll find a lot to like here.

No, Panasonic's cheapest 1080p plasma TV can't match the picture quality of its more expensive linemates, but it trounces any TV I've seen in its price range. Exceedingly deep black levels and accurate color, along with plasma's hallmark perfect uniformity and off-angle viewing, combine for 2D bliss in medium-dark to dark rooms.

It doesn't do as well with the lights turned up, however, so if you can spare the money, or just want a larger size, you should consider stepping up. But if you just want the best 1080p 50-inch TV for the best price, look no further.

Read the full review of the Panasonic TC-P50U50.

If you have more than two HDMI sources, for example a cable box, game console, and anything else, you may want to consider another TV. Or you could pair the U50 with an HDMI switch (they're cheap) or AV receiver -- it's a bit more of a hassle, but using a good universal remote can make the experience seamless.

Additional jacks of note are one component-video/composite video input, one USB port, and one SD card slot. Worth noting at this price level is the SD card slot, which makes it easy to view photos from digital cameras on the big screen (Panasonic is the only TV maker to commonly include such a slot).

Read the full review of the Panasonic TC-P50U50.