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Aug 13, 2023

The best 40, 42 and 43

We pick the best 40- to 43-inch 4K TVs for cinematic thrills in smaller spaces

We pick the best 40- to 43-inch 4K TVs for cinematic thrills in smaller spaces

The LG C2 is still our top pick for the 40- to 43-inch TV. We've recently added its successor, the LG C3, to our guide and although that might be a better TV, you'll likely find the C2 reduced in price, which makes it fantastic value and the best choice for most people. If you're on a budget, Samsung's TVs tend to offer reliability, clarity and consistency in the images that's easy to recommend, like the solid Samsung BU8500.Matt Bolton, Managing Editor – Entertainment

The best 40 inch TVs are not to be underestimated. They might not have the gargantuan screen heft of the best 65-inch TVs or the best 75-inch TVs but there are still some excellent screens hovering around the 40-inch mark. Not only that but they’re exceptionally affordable at this size. Whether you just don't fancy a panel dominating your entire living room or you’re looking for a smaller TV for the bedroom, the best 40-inch TVs below will happily deliver 4K content directly into your eyes.

And don't be fooled by their small form factor. The best 40-inch TVs don't compromise on functionality. 4K resolution and HDR - or high dynamic range - mean that whatever you’re watching, they'll deliver ultra-crisp visuals and bright colours. Plus, just like their bigger siblings, you’ll get the same smart TV interfaces with streaming services built in for all your regular Netflix and Disney+ binges. You’ll even find one of the best gaming TVs below. If you want to plug in a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, LG's 43-inch C2 comes with HDMI 2.1 functionality for variable refresh rate and gaming in 4K at 120fps.

You might notice that there aren't very many of the best OLED TVs in the list below. That's because smaller OLED panels are still difficult for manufacturers to make without lots of waste, and that means they're still quite expensive to create. LG appears to have cracked the problem with its very impressive 42-inch C2 and recently-released C3, but you'll find that the bulk of the best TVs at this size don't yet use OLED.

Let's take a look at the very best 40-inch TVs as well as our favourite 42 and 43-inch TVs too. In addition to rating each TV we've also provided some top tips on how to find the perfect TV for you below, scroll down after you've read the guide.

Our expert review:

When it was first released in 2022, the LG C2 was the first OLED 4K TV to come in a 42-inch size. Now the LG C3 is here (and further down in our list), meaning the C2 is no longer the best option in terms of sheer specs, performance and features. But it remains at the top of our list because we still think it's a fantastic TV – and if you can find it reduced now it's a little older, it's excellent value.

Because each individual pixel of an OLED TV generates its own light, you get perfect precision in scenes that contrast light and dark, with true black right next to bright lights. You also get very impressive nuance in dark scenes, bringing out more detail in these moment than LED TVs can manage.

And it's also packed with all of LG's latest and greatest image tech. You get its highest-end image processing, so everything looks totally sharp and natural on the 4K screen, and it also supports HDMI 2.1 on all of its HDMI ports, so there's 4K 120Hz and VRR support for next-gen gaming – this is 100% future-proofed. It's a fantastic small TV for gaming and can only be bested by the newer LG C3.

The sound system isn't as rich as the visuals, so we'd suggest adding a small soundbar, and it's not as bright as the Samsung 43-inch QN90A mini-LED TV. But it's still brighter than the vast majority of the competition. You might find it reduced these days but it's still a pricey choice. Then again, if you want an advanced 42-inch TV, this is it. In addition to our overall LG C2 review (below), we've also specifically tested the LG C2 42-inch model for comparison.

Read the full LG C2 review

Our expert review:

With the BU8500 Samsung has set out to deliver a superb all-rounder with an affordable price tag, and we think it's achieved exactly that. For a relatively small price you're getting 4K HDR (albeit without Dolby Vision), three HDMIs, voice control, two remote controls and all the apps you might want. It's not up there with the very best TVs that cost many times more, but it delivers much better picture quality than you'd expect at this price. The only real downside is that its speakers are very weedy, but at this price you can afford to add a decent soundbar to go with it.

The main corners that have been cut are in processing: the upscaling here isn't as good on lower-resolution sources as Samsung's higher-spec models, and while we didn't find input lag to be a problem the fact that Samsung hadn't published the figures suggests it's going to be a bit more laggy than the best gaming TVs. You’ll also lose out on some multi-HDR support, so while you will get HLG, HDR10, and HDR10+ dynamic metadata you’ll miss out on Dolby Vision (though this is true of all Samsung TVs). None of the issues are significant enough to be a deal-breaker at this price (and the TV still performs incredibly well) but you might notice a steep picture improvement on larger and more expensive models.

All things considered, though, we think this is a fantastic 43-inch set for the price. It's superb value for money and one of the best Samsung TVs in terms of bang for buck.

Read our full Samsung BU8500 review

The TCL 4-Series isn't as exciting as the company's 6-Series QLED with Mini LED, but it's surprisingly good value at around $200, a solid choice in our best TCL TV guide and a good option if you're looking for a smaller 43-inch TV on a budget.

The 4-Series is available in two different variations based on its smart platform – either Roku TV or Android TV – but we strongly recommend opting for the Roku model for its smoother performance, usability and security.

Disappointingly, the 4-Series doesn't have all the latest specs (no HDMI 2.1, VRR, ALLM, etc...) but it does support HDR10 and HLG forms of HDR, has a built in 802.11ac wireless antenna and has one HDMI port with ARC, which is great for folks who want to cut down on the number of remotes in their house.

It's not the best TCL TV on the planet, but if you're limited to a 40-inch TV and want to have hundreds of streaming channels at your fingertips, the TCL 4-Series Roku TV is a smart bet and a very good value.

Read our full TCL TV guide

Our expert review:

The LG C2 which came before this TV is still sitting pretty at the top of this best smaller TV list because we think it's a solid option for most people. However, the LG C3 is a better TV in almost every way – you'll just be paying a little more for it.

There's a lot to love about the LG C3. For starters, it's slim with a fibre construction that makes it more lightweight than its predecessor. This TV delivers excellent picture quality, with impressive levels of brightness, contrast and definition. It takes advantage of LG's Alpha9 Gen6 chip, which is used for picture processing and HDR-improving features, like Expression Enhancer and OLED Dynamic Tone Mapping Pro. What this means is that your images look clearer, better and brighter. That's why we think it's a solid choice for movie lovers. But there's a lot to love here for gamers too with four HDMI 2.1 inputs with support for 4K 120Hz, VRR, ALLM, along with FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync.

The only notable downside is that buyers in the US should be aware that it lacks the built-in ATSC 3.0 digital TV tuner found in LG's step-up G3 series models. The LG OLED C3 is available in a range of screen sizes, including smaller 42-inch and 48-inch options, which is still rare for a good 4K OLED TV.

Read our full LG C3 review

We're still reviewing the Samsung Q90C, but wanted to include it here because it replaces the Samsung Q90B that was in this position before it and brings a few notable upgrades.

The Samsung Q90C is available in a wide range of sizes from 43 through to 85-inches, which is why it makes our list of the best smaller TVs. Its solid reflection handling and brightness makes it a good choice for lots of purposes and lots of rooms. We find that's what most people want from a smaller TV, versatility.

It looks set to be one of our favorite Samsung TVs of 2023, with solid specs for movies lovers, like upscaling for lower resolution content, good contrast and lots of brightness. As well as low input lag, a high refresh rate and fast response times for gamers.

We'll be adding our full Samsung Q90C review to this list soon.

Our expert review:

The Samsung Q60B QLED TV starts from a much cheaper price than Samsung's other QLED sets, but despite the low price its spec sheet includes Quantum Dot colors, a comprehensive smart TV system, and Samsung's Object Tracking Sound technology.

Picture quality starts well, with the Q60B producing more brightness and Quantum Dot-inspired color punch than the vast majority of cheap TV rivals. Its playback of native 4K sources is also impressively crisp most of the time, too. It doesn't miss out compared to the best 4K TVs for Ultra HD content.

This is a very cheap TV, however, and that means of course there are going to be compromises. The motion processing isn't as natural as it is on Samsung's more premium sets, and grey scenes are rather flat. Nevertheless, the Samsung Q60B is still one of the best TVs under £1000 – and at the time of writing, the best TVs under £500 in its 40-inch incarnation – due to its winning combination of good picture quality and excellent affordability.

Read our full Samsung Q60B review

It's worth remembering that 40-inch screens, while once the pinnacle of high-end TV tech, are now considered a small size compared to many other TV displays.

Manufacturers can make bigger screens than ever before and, these days, 55-inch 4K TVs are standard, with 65-inch 4K TVs quickly growing in popularity.

A 40-inch TV should come with 4K resolution, but you'll be able to see the benefits more clearly on a larger size. We find that a 40-inch TV is a pretty decent size for a single viewer not sitting too far away, but for a family or group of flatmates it's not ideal.

To make sure if a 40-inch TV is right for you, measure the space you'd like to put it in and consider how much your budget can stretch.

In this guide, we've also included several 42-inch and 43-inch TVs, which might give you a bit of extra screen space if the best 40-inch TVs seem a touch too small.

For ease, we've included 40-inch TVs as well as the best 42-inch TVs and 43-inch TVs in this guide.

Of course, many things affect the size and scale of a TV screen beyond simply the diagonal length of the panel, including the width of the bezel (the black strip around the screen's edges), built-in speakers, HDMI inputs and connections, as well as the depth of the casing (which often varies in different places). What this means is you may not notice the difference between a 40-inch TV and a 43-inch TV due to all of these factors.

We've also seen increased production of 42-inch TVs in recent years, with TV brand LG bringing out 42-inch OLED TVs, like the LG OLED42C2 at the top of this guide.

Many people find 42-inch and 43-inch TVs are perfect for smaller rooms, like studies, kitchens and any other space in your home where you don't need a huge, cinematic display. Even for smaller living rooms, 43-inch TVs are the perfect sweet spot.

Not sure how to choose what 40-inch, 42-inch or 43-inch TV is for you? While the options might feel overwhelming, it's worth considering what we think about when recommending TVs here on TechRadar.

Ultra HD vs Full HD: It's a common misconception that you can't see the difference between full HD and Ultra HD/4K on a screen smaller than 55 inches. You can. We recommend picking a TV with 4K Ultra-HD and HDR if you can find one. It makes a big difference.

Operating system: 40-inch, 42-inch and 43-inch TVs didn't always come with a smart TV operating system in the past but they often do now. What you're looking for, ideally, is a well-maintained operating system like Roku TV, LG's webOS or Samsung's Tizen operating system. If you go with a TV that uses a proprietary operating system (basically an operating system exclusive to that one TV) you might have some serious issues down the road.

Inputs and outputs: Multiple HDMI ports are important if you have many devices to hook up to your TV but you may find less on a TV that's smaller than 43-inches. We recommend choosing a TV with more one HDMI port. You'll find yourself swapping cables far too often if you do.

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Matt is TechRadar's Managing Editor for Entertainment, meaning he's in charge of persuading our team of writers and reviewers to watch the latest TVs and movies on gorgeous TVs and listen to fantastic speakers and headphones. It's a tough task, as you can imagine. Matt has over a decade of experience in tech publishing, and previously ran the TV & audio coverage for our colleagues at T3.com, and before that he edited T3 magazine. During his career, he's also contributed to places as varied as Creative Bloq, PC Gamer, PetsRadar, MacLife, and Edge. TV and movie nerdism is his speciality, and he goes to the cinema three times a week. He's always happy to explain the virtues of Dolby Vision over a drink, but he might need to use props, like he's explaining the offside rule.

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