Which 43-inch television to buy? Ranking of the best small televisions in 2025

Which small television to buy? Choosing the right model can be more difficult than it seems. If you’ve found your way here, you probably already know that choosing a 43-inch television is not that simple. Why? Because manufacturers are increasingly abandoning this size, focusing on larger screens. As a result, most of the mid-range televisions we recommend start at 55 inches, and finding a truly good model in a smaller format can be a challenge. Nevertheless, 43-inch televisions remain hugely 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 televisions, 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. Moreover, although they are standard LCD televisions, they employ a PFS LED filter, referred to as QLED, which results in more vibrant and realistic colours. As a result, without spending a fortune, we can enjoy a really 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 like Netflix, Disney+.

• Both models are great for watching movies and series in moderately dimmed rooms. (It is important to remember that these are budget constructions, hence their brightness is not the highest).

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

TCL C69B / C655 or Hisense A7NQ? Which model should you choose?

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

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

✅ Google TV system – full access to thousands of apps from Google Play.
✅ The best choice if you care about smart TV and a wide availability of apps.
✅ Support for ALLM and VRR – a good solution for occasional gamers.
✅ A larger number of apps than on Hisense – there will be no shortage of music apps (Spotify, Tidal), for example.

❌ Missing recording and TV scheduling features – for those watching traditional television, this may be a drawback.

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

✅ Vidaa System – Hisense's proprietary platform, fast and intuitive.
✅ Recording and programming function on USB disk – a great option for traditional TV 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 cost of resolution.

❌ Fewer applications than on 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 are looking for a small TV with better picture quality, but still at a reasonable price, then models from the mid-range can be an 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 VA panels, 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-enhancing 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 have shown that it achieves even 550 nits, making it a significantly brighter television 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, which allows for better contrast and image dynamics on platforms such as Netflix and Disney+.

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

📌 Panel Refresh Rate

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

• Samsung Q60D remains at 60 Hz, but features Auto Motion Plus for gaming, which is a frame interpolation feature. This allows for a more fluid image in games.

Comparison: Sharp GR8 vs Samsung Q60D

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

✔ Sharp GR8 – the best choice if:
✅ You are looking for the smoothest image 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 base 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. one remote control for multiple devices).
✅ HDR10+ is sufficient for you instead of Dolby Vision.

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

Premium televisions – the best image quality in 43 inches

If you are looking for the best small television and do not want to compromise on image quality, then in 2024/2025, LG C4 and Samsung QN90D/QN92D are absolutely top models in the 43-inch size. It can be confidently said that it's hard to find a better choice in this category.

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

LG C4 – the 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 levels that no LCD television can match.
✅ 144 Hz panel – ensures exceptional smoothness, both in films and in gaming.
✅ Magic Remote control – intuitive operation of the television, gesture control, and pointer.
✅ Supports Dolby Vision – ideal reproduction of details in both dark and bright HDR scenes.
✅ The best choice for cinema lovers and gamers – no motion blur, excellent response time of the panel.

❌ Does OLED have any disadvantages?

• It is not the brightest television on the market, so if you plan to watch mainly in a very bright room, Mini LED might 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 OLED – and this is where Samsung QN90D / QN92D comes into play. This is a television with Mini LED backlighting, which, while not offering such perfect blacks as OLED, has several very significant advantages:

📌 Main advantages:
✅ Much higher brightness than OLED – ideal for viewing 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 LG C4.
✅ Auto Motion Plus technology – improves motion smoothness in games.
✅ Better viewing angles than typical LCDs – though they still do not match OLED.

❌ No Dolby Vision
Samsung traditionally does not support Dolby Vision, instead supporting HDR10+. Although this format is gradually gaining popularity (e.g., Disney+ recently announced support for HDR10+), Dolby Vision still remains a more common format. However, the high brightness of Mini LED makes the absence of Dolby Vision less noticeable here than in cheaper televisions that we have previously described, where limited luminance can affect HDR quality.

Comparison LG C4 vs Samsung QN90D / QN92D

Which premium 43-inch television should you choose?

✔ LG C4 – for fans of perfect black and cinematic picture quality
✅ Best choice for movies – endless 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 ensures 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 is up to you! If you want a cinematic OLED with the best picture quality – then LG C4 will be perfect. However, if you are looking for a television 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 Televisions – Is it Worth Choosing Them?

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

📌 Philips The One (PUS8959) – with the iconic Ambilight backlighting
📌 Samsung The Frame (LS03D) – matte panel and “picture on the wall” feature

Is it worth buying them? That depends on your priorities! These are not televisions offering the best picture quality, but they have something that may attract specific groups of viewers.

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

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

📌 Main features:
✅ Ambilight – unique wall lighting around the television adjusted to the content on the screen.
✅ 120 Hz panel – excellent motion fluidity, low motion blur, good for sports and gaming.
✅ Low latency and good response time of the IPS panel – a gaming proposition for Ambilight fans.

❌ Disadvantages?

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

• TitanOS system – a severely limited app library, for instance, you won't find 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 do not bother you, then it could be a great television 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 aesthetics are important to you and the television should look like a painting on the wall, then The Frame is an excellent choice.

📌 Key features:
✅ Matte VA panel – no reflections, perfect for bright rooms, and the panel itself has quite good contrast.
✅ Art mode – the ability to display images in standby mode, so the television looks like a decoration.
✅ OneConnect module – only one cable connecting the television to the external box.
✅ Flat wall mount included – the television can be hung with no gaps from the wall.
✅ Interchangeable bezels – different colours to match your interior.

❌ Disadvantages?

• 120 Hz missing 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 eliminates reflections but makes the colours less intense than in traditional QLEDs.

• No Dolby Vision – as with 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 could be the ideal choice. Its bright, matte panel might simply appeal to you. However, it is not the best choice for gamers or cinema enthusiasts who expect the best image quality.

This is the end of our ranking of the best 43-inch televisions! We have presented models from various categories – from budget options, through mid-range, to premium televisions. We also included alternative choices. 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 comparison? Let us know in the comments!