The Westinghouse 50 is the budget smart wall fireplace that punches above its price. For around $399 it offers up to 144 flame-and-ember color combinations - more than any other unit here - plus Alexa/Google control, a thermostat, a 24-hour timer, and both log and crystal media sets. Its 5,110 BTU heater is squarely supplemental, and it has fewer deep expert reviews than the Touchstone line, but on features-per-dollar it is the value play for a wall install.
Full review
Real-World Performance
The Westinghouse 50 offers adjustable 750W and 1,500W heat settings backed by a built-in thermostat that ranges from 62 to 82 degrees and a 24-hour timer - more thermostatic control than several pricier units here. Its 5,110 BTU output is standard for the category, which means it is a supplemental heater best suited to small spaces and zone heating rather than warming a large open floor plan.
The Inside Review's hands-on writeup frames the heating as 'fair supplemental heating' and emphasizes that the unit's strength is ambiance and smart integration rather than raw output. That tracks with the rest of the category: every electric fireplace at this size is a few-degrees-of-warmth appliance, and the Westinghouse delivers exactly that with unusually granular thermostat and timer control for the price.
The 24-hour timer is a genuinely useful touch that several pricier units lack, letting you schedule the fireplace to switch off after you fall asleep or warm a room before you arrive home. Combined with voice control through Alexa and Google Home, the Westinghouse leans into convenience: you can dim the flames, change colors, set a target temperature, and time the heat without ever touching the unit, which is rare at this price point.
Build Quality and Design
The Westinghouse installs either surface-mounted on a wall or recessed into a roughly 49 x 15-inch opening, giving it the same flexibility as the Touchstone units. It is a slim 5.5 inches deep, and the fit and finish are described as superior to bottom-tier budget models, with materials substantial enough to inspire confidence even though it is not as premium as the high-end wall fireplaces.
The headline design feature is color. The Westinghouse advertises up to 144 flame-and-ember combinations, five brightness levels, and five flame speeds - by far the widest visual palette in this roundup. It ships with both faux-log and fire-glass crystal ember beds so the look can shift from traditional to modern without extra purchases.
The 50-inch black glass front is sized to match the Touchstone wall units it competes with, and the recessed-capable depth means it can be flush-mounted into a framed opening for a built-in look despite the budget price. Reviewers describe the flame visuals as photo-realistic and note that the sheer number of color options makes it easy to dial in a warm orange traditional fire or a cooler modern blue - a level of customization that is genuinely uncommon below the $400 mark.
What Reviewers Loved
Buyers rate the Westinghouse 50 at 4.6 stars across more than 100 Amazon reviews, with the recurring praise being the photo-realistic flame visuals and the breadth of color options. The smart-control trio - app, voice via Alexa and Google Home, and the included remote - earns high marks for convenience at a price point where smart features are not a given.
The Inside Review concludes it 'represents excellent value for money, ideal for users seeking ambiance, style, and moderate supplemental heating,' which is the consistent verdict: this is the features-per-dollar leader, delivering most of what the Touchstone units offer for meaningfully less money.
Where It Falls Short
The Westinghouse's limitations are mostly about depth of pedigree rather than function. It has fewer published expert reviews than the Touchstone Sideline or Chesmont, and no independent lab has assigned it a numeric tested score, so buyers are leaning more on owner reviews and the manufacturer's claims.
The build, while good for the price, is not as substantial as a premium wall fireplace, and the 5,110 BTU heater remains supplemental - it will struggle in a large room. For most buyers these are acceptable trade-offs given the price, but anyone wanting the most reviewed, most premium option should step up to the Touchstone line.
It is also worth noting that the per-room coverage Westinghouse cites is conservative, and like every unit in this roundup it is a comfort heater rather than a primary one. The flame, while praised as photo-realistic, is still a flat behind-glass projection that cannot match the Dimplex Revillusion's in-log depth - so buyers chasing the most convincing fire should not expect this budget unit to deliver it.
How It Compares to Alternatives
The Westinghouse undercuts both Touchstone wall units on price while actually beating them on flame-color variety - 144 combinations against the Sideline's three. What you give up versus the Touchstones is the depth of expert review coverage, the slightly more premium build, and, against the Chesmont, the three-sided wraparound view and floating mantel.
Compared to the Dimplex Revillusion RLG25 and the freestanding Duraflame 3D, the Westinghouse is a different form factor entirely: it is a wall fireplace, where the Dimplex is a firebox insert and the Duraflame is a portable stove. Within the wall-fireplace bracket, it is the clear budget choice.
The way to think about the Westinghouse is as the value answer to the Touchstone wall units: it matches them on install flexibility and beats them on color variety while undercutting them substantially on price, asking only that you accept a thinner review history and a slightly less premium build. For buyers who prioritize getting the most features for the money, that is an easy trade to make.
Value at This Price
Value is the Westinghouse 50's entire reason for existing. At around $399 it delivers the smart-home control, thermostat, 24-hour timer, dual media sets, and color-changing flames that buyers expect from units costing $200 to $300 more. The up-to-144 color combinations alone outclass every other unit here on visual variety, and the recessed-or-surface install flexibility matches the pricier Touchstone wall fireplaces.
The trade-offs that keep the price down are intangible rather than functional: fewer published expert reviews, no third-party lab score, and a build that is good but not premium. For a buyer who weighs features against dollars, the Westinghouse is the clear winner of this group; for a buyer who weighs brand pedigree and review depth, the Touchstone units justify their higher cost. On pure spec-per-dollar, nothing here beats it.
Long-Term Reliability
The Westinghouse name carries consumer trust, and the 4.6-star average across more than 100 Amazon reviews is encouraging for a relatively recent entrant, though the review base is far smaller than the Duraflame's or the Touchstone Sideline's. The LED flame system and ceramic heater are standard, low-maintenance components, and the built-in thermostat plus overheat-aware design follow the same safety conventions as the rest of the category.
The biggest long-term unknown is simply time on the market - with fewer multi-year owner reports than the established players, its durability track record is less proven. Buyers comfortable with that uncertainty are rewarded with a feature-rich unit at a low price; risk-averse buyers may prefer the longer paper trail of the Touchstone or Duraflame options. No widespread reliability complaints have surfaced so far.
Who It's Best For
The Westinghouse 50 is for the budget-conscious buyer who wants a smart, color-rich wall fireplace and is comfortable installing it themselves. If you want Alexa control, a thermostat, a timer, and dozens of flame colors without paying Touchstone money, this is the pick - and the wide color palette makes it especially appealing to buyers who want to match the flame to a room's mood or decor.
Look elsewhere if you want the reassurance of extensive expert testing and the most premium build (the Touchstone Sideline or Chesmont), if you need to heat a large room, or if you are converting an existing firebox and need an insert like the Dimplex Revillusion. For most value-focused wall installs, though, the Westinghouse is hard to argue against.
Strengths
- +Up to 144 flame-and-ember color combinations - the widest color menu in this roundup
- +Wall-mount or in-wall recessed installation flexibility
- +Alexa and Google Home plus app and remote control at a budget price
- +Adjustable 750W/1500W heat with a built-in thermostat (62-82F) and 24-hour timer
- +Ships with both faux-log and fire-glass crystal ember beds
Watch-outs
- −5,110 BTU heater is best for small spaces and zone heating, not large rooms
- −Fewer published expert reviews than the Touchstone units
- −Budget build is good but not as substantial as premium wall fireplaces
- −No independent third-party lab testing with a numeric score
How it compares
The budget wall-mount pick - it undercuts the Touchstone Sideline 50 and Touchstone Chesmont on price while offering far more flame colors (up to 144 vs 3 on the Sideline), though it has fewer expert reviews and a less premium build; like those units it is a wall fireplace rather than a firebox insert like the Dimplex Revillusion RLG25 or a freestanding stove like the Duraflame 3D.
Who this is for
At a glance: budget-minded buyers who want a smart, color-rich wall fireplace and can install it themselves.
Why you’d buy the Westinghouse 50" Electric Fireplace
- Up to 144 flame-and-ember color combinations - the widest color menu in this roundup.
- Wall-mount or in-wall recessed installation flexibility.
- Alexa and Google Home plus app and remote control at a budget price.
Why you’d skip it
- 5,110 BTU heater is best for small spaces and zone heating, not large rooms.
- Fewer published expert reviews than the Touchstone units.
- Budget build is good but not as substantial as premium wall fireplaces.
Rating sources
“Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars across more than 100 reviews, with buyers highlighting photo-realistic flame visuals and easy smart control.”
“The Westinghouse 50" Smart Electric Fireplace offers excellent visual appeal, fair supplemental heating, and robust smart home integration, all at a competitive price point.”
“Up to 144 color combinations, 5 brightness levels and 5 flame speeds, with adjustable heater output and a built-in thermostat that can be set between 62F to 82F.”
Our 4.5 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
