Panasonic TC-P50U1 Plasma HDTV Review - Tour & Design

Tour & Design Summary
Editorial Note: This is a review of the Panasonic TC-P50U1. Test results are for this model, but should indicate the general performance of other sizes in the TC-PxxU1 series. The TC-PxxU1 series includes the following models: TC-P42U1, TC-P46U1, and TC-P50U1.  Read here for more details on series differences.
• Clean, simple design, though its highly reflective • Decent number of ports • No swivel base
	Introduction	Page 2 of 18	Blacks & Whites

Front

The Panasonic TC-P50U1 is pretty ordinary looking for a television. The bezel is black and very shiny, and picks up fingerprints like magic. The power button is on the front of the set, apart from the rest of the controls on the side.

Back

The back of the TV, like most TVs, is rather uninteresting. The only unfortunate issue is that base of the TV does not swivel, making the ports more difficult to access. Panasonic has placed the rear ports on the side, which should help with the problem. For information about the ports on the back of the Panasonic TC-P50U1 see our Connectivity section.

Sides

On one side of the Panasonic TC-P50U1 is a series of buttons for the basic controls. On the other side is a series of ports: HDMI, composite AV, and SD card. For information about the ports on the back of the Panasonic TC-P50U1 see our Connectivity section.

Stand/Mount

The stand looks like it can handle the heft of the TC-P50U1, but the fact that it does not swivel limits access to the back ports.

No swivel base

Controls

The controls on the side of the Panasonic TC-P50U1 are the same you find on nearly all televisions: channel up/down, volume up/down, menu, and input. The buttons themselves are easy to reach and well-placed.

Remote Control

The remote control for the Panasonic TC-P50U1 is not very good. It's light enough, but the remote is just not comfortable to hold. Also, the buttons squeak and the response time on the TV is too slow. 

The remote is not great, but it suffices

In The Box (7.0)

The items that come with the Panasonic TC-P50U1 are few: the remote control, batteries, an AC power cable, cleaning cloth, and the user's manual. 

Aesthetics (6.0)

The Panasonic TC-P50U1 is a reserved, no-frills design. There's no clever bits of plastic or weird colors. It merely serves to hold the screen, which is the only part of the TV you only want to see anyway. 

All Models in the TC-PxxU1 Series
This is a review of the Panasonic TC-P50U1. The other sizes of HDTVs in this series should be similar in terms of performance and usability. For details about any differences, click on the image to jump to the Series Comparison page.
Panasonic TC-P42U1 42 inches	Panasonic TC-P46U1 46 inches	Panasonic TC-P50U1 50 inches