Which 43-inch TV should I buy? Ranking of the best small TVs in 2025

Which small TV to buy? Choosing the right model can be more difficult than it seems. If you've landed here, you probably already know that selecting a 43-inch TV isn't so straightforward. Why? Because manufacturers are increasingly abandoning this size, focusing on larger screens. As a result, most of the mid-range TVs we recommend start at 55 inches, and finding a really good model in a smaller format can be a challenge. Nevertheless, 43-inch TVs are still extremely popular. They are perfect for bedrooms, children's rooms, kitchens or offices, where a larger screen doesn't always make sense.

Best Budget 43-Inch Televisions

In the category of cheap 43-inch TVs, two models from renowned Chinese manufacturers stand out – TCL C69B (or C655) and Hisense A7NQ. Despite their affordable price, they offer high contrast, solid colours, and support for modern HDR formats.

High contrast and QLED technology in a budget television? Yes!

Both models are equipped with VA panels, which means great blacks and high contrast. Furthermore, although they are standard LCD TVs, they feature a PFS LED filter, known as QLED, which translates to more vivid and realistic colours. This means that without spending a fortune, we can enjoy a truly decent colour gamut – clearly better than typical budget models.

📌 Why these models?

• Dolby Vision support compensates for low brightness – this format dynamically adjusts the image, allowing for better results on streaming platforms, e.g. Netflix, Disney+.

• Both models perform excellently as TVs for watching movies and series in moderately darkened rooms. (It’s important to remember that these are budget constructions, which means their brightness isn't the highest).

• They support basic features for gamers such as VRR or ALLM.

TCL C69B / C655 or Hisense A7NQ? Which model to choose?

💡 It depends on your preferences! Both TVs have similar image quality, but differ in operating system, user features, and options for gamers.

TCL C69B / C655 – Google TV and a full app base

✅ Google TV system – full access to thousands of apps from Google Play.
✅ Best choice if you care about smart TV and wide app availability.
✅ Supports ALLM and VRR – a good solution for occasional gamers.
✅ A larger number of apps than on Hisense – apps like music apps (Spotify, Tidal) will not be lacking.

❌ No recording and programming function – for those who watch traditional TV, this may be a drawback.

Hisense A7NQ – more user features and 120 Hz in Full HD

✅ Vidaa System – Hisense's proprietary platform, fast and intuitive.
✅ Recording and scheduling function to USB drive – a great option for traditional television viewers.
✅ ALLM and VRR for gamers, and…
✅ Support for 120 Hz in Full HD! – a great solution for those who prefer higher fluidity at the expense of resolution.

❌ Fewer apps than in TCL – some services may be unavailable.

Comparison: TCL C69B / C655 vs Hisense A7NQ

Mid-range TVs – the best choice at a reasonable price

If you're looking for a small TV with better picture quality but still at a reasonable price, then mid-range models might be the ideal choice. In this category, we recommend two models that stand out from the competition: Sharp GR8 and Samsung Q60D.

Both TVs are LCD with a VA panel, but they differ in brightness, refresh rate, and operating system. Each has its strengths, so the choice depends on your preferences.

Sharp GR8 vs Samsung Q60D

Both models offer colour enhancement technologies, but in different ways:
✅ Samsung Q60D uses quantum dots (QLED), which means a richer colour palette and better colour saturation.
✅ Sharp GR8 is equipped with a PFS LED coating, which also enhances colour quality, as effectively as Samsung's QLED.

📌 Brightness

• Samsung Q60D wins in this category – tests showed it can reach up to 550 nits, making it significantly brighter than the Sharp GR8.

• Sharp GR8 offers brightness closer to budget models (around 350 nits), so it may perform worse in very bright rooms.

📌 HDR Support

• Sharp GR8 supports Dolby Vision, the most popular HDR format that provides better contrast and image dynamics on platforms like Netflix and Disney+.

• Samsung Q60D does not support Dolby Vision, but instead offers HDR10+, which also dynamically adjusts image brightness – though it is still less common than Dolby Vision.

📌 Refresh Rate

• Here Sharp GR8 gains a significant advantage, as its panel has a 144 Hz refresh rate, ensuring smoother motion in dynamic scenes and games.

• Samsung Q60D sticks with 60 Hz, but features Auto Motion Plus for gaming, which is a frame interpolation function. This helps make the image in games appear smoother.

Comparison: Sharp GR8 vs Samsung Q60D

Which mid-range small television to choose? Sharp GR8 vs Samsung Q60D

✔ Sharp GR8 – the best choice if:
✅ You’re looking for the smoothest picture and want to use 144 Hz.
✅ You need Dolby Vision for watching movies and series in the best HDR quality.
✅ Google TV and a vast app library are a priority for you.

✔ Samsung Q60D – a better choice if:
✅ You want a brighter screen – the difference in brightness compared to the Sharp is significant.
✅ You use smart devices and want easy integration with your home ecosystem (e.g., controlling multiple devices with one remote).
✅ HDR10+ is sufficient for you instead of Dolby Vision.

The choice is yours! The Sharp GR8 is an excellent choice for gamers and streaming users, while the Samsung Q60D offers a brighter screen and better integration with the smart home ecosystem.

Premium Televisions – Best Picture Quality in 43 Inches

If you’re looking for the best small television and don’t want to make any compromises on picture quality, then in 2024/2025, the LG C4 and Samsung QN90D/QN92D are absolutely top-tier models in the 43-inch size. It’s safe to say that it’s hard to find a better choice in this category.

Both televisions represent two different technologies – the LG C4 is OLED, which impresses with perfect blacks and infinite contrast, whereas the Samsung QN90D/QN92D is Mini LED, which offers significantly higher brightness and no risk of burn-in.

LG C4 – best 42 inch OLED on the market

LG C4 is one of the most popular OLED televisions in 2024 and 2025 – and not without reason. If you care about the best picture quality for home cinema, this model is unmatched.

📌 Key advantages:
✅ Infinite contrast – perfect black that no LCD television can match.
✅ 144 Hz panel – guarantees exceptional smoothness, both in films and gaming.
✅ Magic Remote Control – intuitive operation of the television, gesture control and pointer.
✅ Support for Dolby Vision – ideal detail reproduction in dark and bright scenes in HDR.
✅ Best choice for cinema lovers and gamers – no ghosting, excellent response time of the panel.

❌ Does OLED have any drawbacks?

• It is not the brightest television on the market, so if you plan to watch mainly in very bright rooms, Mini LED may be a better choice.

• Risk of burn-in? In everyday use, this is unlikely, but if you plan to watch static content for many hours (e.g. news channels, HUD in games), it’s worth keeping this in mind.

Samsung QN90D / QN92D – Mini LED for the demanding

Not everyone can or wants to choose an OLED – and this is where Samsung QN90D / QN92D comes into play. This is a television with Mini LED backlighting, which although it does not offer as perfect black as OLED, has several very significant advantages:

📌 Key advantages:
✅ Significantly higher brightness than OLED – ideal for watching in sunny rooms.
✅ No risk of burn-in – you can safely watch news channels or play games with a static HUD.
✅ 144 Hz panel – just as good a solution for gamers as in the LG C4.
✅ Auto Motion Plus technology – improves motion smoothness in games.
✅ Better viewing angles than typical LCDs – although they still don’t match OLED.

❌ No Dolby Vision
Samsung traditionally does not support Dolby Vision, instead it supports HDR10+. Although this format is gradually gaining popularity (for example, Disney+ recently announced support for HDR10+), Dolby Vision still remains a more common format. However, the high brightness of Mini LED makes the lack of Dolby Vision not so noticeable here, as in the cheaper televisions we described earlier, where limited luminance can affect HDR quality.

Comparison LG C4 vs Samsung QN90D / QN92D

Which premium 43-inch TV to choose?

✔ LG C4 – for fans of perfect blacks and cinematic picture quality
✅ Best choice for movies – infinite contrast and Dolby Vision.
✅ Great for gamers – 144 Hz, low input lag.
✅ Intuitive webOS system with Magic Remote control.

✔ Samsung QN90D / QN92D – for those who want a brighter screen and no risk of burn-in
✅ Ideal for bright rooms – Mini LED provides high brightness.
✅ Excellent for sports and gaming – 144 Hz and Auto Motion Plus.
✅ HDR10+ instead of Dolby Vision – a slightly less popular format, but at this brightness, the differences are minimal.

The final choice depends on you! If you want a cinematic OLED with the best picture quality – LG C4 will be ideal. On the other hand, if you are looking for a TV with higher brightness and no risk of burn-in, then Samsung QN90D/QN92D will meet your expectations. Besides, Maciej talked about them in our material on YouTube.

Alternative TVs – are they worth choosing?

In the segment of 43-inch TVs, apart from classic choices, models appear that may interest specific users due to their unique features. Two of the most popular alternative TVs are:

📌 Philips The One (PUS8959) – with iconic Ambilight backlighting
📌 Samsung The Frame (LS03D) – matte panel and “art mode” feature

Is it worth buying? It depends on your priorities! These aren’t TVs that offer the best picture quality, but they have something that may attract specific groups of viewers.

Philips The One (PUS8959) – Ambilight, but not for movie buffs

The biggest advantage of Philips The One (PUS8959) is the Ambilight backlighting, which significantly enhances the viewing experience, especially in a dark room. It’s this feature that makes many users opt for this model – if you love the dynamic backlighting effect, it's hard to find a better solution. Of course, there are external alternatives, like systems from Govee or Setti, that can provide a similar effect, but they can’t match the precision of the built-in Ambilight in Philips TVs.

📌 Key features:
✅ Ambilight – unique wall lighting around the TV tailored to the content on screen.
✅ 120 Hz panel – excellent motion smoothness, low blur, good for sports and gaming.
✅ Low latency and good response time of the IPS panel – a gaming option for Ambilight fans.

❌ Cons?

• IPS panel = low contrast – even budget VA TVs from our ranking offer better blacks.

• TitanOS system – heavily limited app library, you won't find things like Apple TV, SkyShowtime, or Viaplay here.

Is it worth it? If Ambilight is a priority for you and the limitations of the Smart TV system and low contrast don’t bother you, then this could be a great TV for gaming and sports.

Samsung The Frame (LS03D) – television or work of art?

Samsung The Frame (LS03D) is one of the few televisions that primarily focuses on design. If you care about aesthetics and the television should look like a picture on the wall, then The Frame is a great choice.

📌 Main features:
✅ Matte VA panel – zero reflections, great for bright rooms, and the panel itself has quite decent contrast.
✅ Art Mode – ability to display images while in standby, making the television look like decoration.
✅ OneConnect module – only one cable connecting the television to the external box.
✅ Flat mount included – the television can be mounted flush against the wall.
✅ Interchangeable frames – different colours to match your interior.

❌ Drawbacks?

• No 120 Hz in 43" and 50" versions – unlike the larger variants, the smaller models operate only at 60 Hz.

• Colours may appear less saturated – the matte panel reduces reflections but results in less vibrant colours compared to traditional QLEDs.

• No Dolby Vision – like most Samsung models, HDR relies on HDR10+.

Is it worth it? If you want a television that doesn't look like a television, and aesthetics are crucial for you, then Samsung The Frame might be the perfect choice. Its bright, matte panel might simply appeal to you. However, it's not the best choice for gamers or movie enthusiasts who expect the best picture quality.

That's the end of our ranking of the best 43-inch televisions! We've presented models from various categories – from budget options, through mid-range, to premium televisions. There are also alternative choices included. We hope this guide helps you make the right decision. And you? Which model would you choose? Or would you like to see other televisions included in the ranking? Let us know in the comments!