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The best 40 to 43-inch TVs: top picks from our expert tests

It's one of the most popular screen sizes, but standards on 43-inch TVs have slipped in favour of bigger TVs in recent years. We show you the best from our independent testing and the features to look out for
Martin PrattPrincipal researcher & writer
Group of friends watching TV

In this article

Over the years, we’ve tested hundreds of 43-inch TVs, so we know what the best models can offer and what the worst ones lack. 

From pin-sharp pictures and superb soundtracks to sickly skin tones and dreadful dins, we’ve seen and heard it all. Here, we show you some of the best and worst.

Most 40 to 43-inch TVs tend to be low-end, but there are handful of high-end models, such as LG and Sony OLEDs.

Take a look at our TV reviews to see a range of the best options at different sizes.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the fantastic small TVs in the table. If you’re not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access to our table plus all our reviews – from TVs to sound bars.

Best 40 to 43-inch TVs

Not found the right TV for you? We'll help you pick the best model for your budget – see our expert TV reviews.

Small 4K TV reviews by brand

Small 4K TV reviews by price

Why you can trust our TV reviews

A TV is an expensive purchase and it's a device you're likely going to spend a lot of time with, so you want it to be good. Our tests are exhaustive and each TV spends more than month in our lab before we're ready to give a verdict. That means when you look at our reviews, you can have absolute confidence in those expert verdicts. A Best Buy recommendation from us is ironclad. 

A Best Buy TV will have rich, balanced sound that's versatile and suitable for whatever genre you enjoy watching. It will look fantastic, too, with crisp, precise detail, balanced, vibrant colours and broad contrast at every resolution.

We go further than just picture and sound, too. We test to see how easy a TV is to use if you're blind or partially sighted, and we examine how the TV handles your personal data.

Plus, we never take samples from brands. Every TV we test was bought from a shop, so we know our tests align with your experience with the TV at home.

Small TVs were an afterthought for years, but with manufacturers now releasing more high-end models and putting more effort into the entry-level ones, we're seeing a resurgence. We test all TV sizes in exactly the same way, so you know that a 43-inch TV that scores the same as a 65-inch one will be every bit as good.

Martin PrattWhich? TV expert

Where to buy a 40 to 43-inch TV

TVs are sold at most home and tech retailers. You can even pick them up from some supermarkets. Below, we've picked some of the most popular retailers that sell TVs between 40 and 43 inches – they also scored highly in our member survey on the best tech shops.

  • Amazon stocks thousands of TVs from most major brands, including its own Amazon Fire TVs. Prices start from lower than £150, but can quickly balloon into the thousands. You'll get free delivery on many models and, if you're a Prime member, you can get free next-day delivery on several TVs.
  • John Lewis carries smaller TVs from brands like LG, Samsung, Sony, and Panasonic. The cheapest small TVs start from £200 and, while there are some costing upwards of £2,700, you typically won't pay more than £700 for one. You'll get free standard delivery on most TVs, and can add extra services like TV setup and recycling for additional costs.
  • Richer Sounds is the winner of our retailer of the year award. It has many LG, Philips, Panasonic, and Samsung TVs on offer. Richer Sounds offers free delivery on orders over £50, which means TVs get delivered free of charge.
  • Very has TVs from brands LG, TCL, Hisense, and Samsung available. The cheapest ones cost under £200 but, depending on the model, you'll be paying around £300 to £400. Standard delivery costs £9, with quicker options costing £17 or more.

How big is a 40 to 43-inch TV?

Each TV has a different sized bezel and stand, so there will always be slight differences in the height, width and depth of a TV. We've taken the average size of the models we've tested so you can get a good idea of how much space one will take up.

  • 40-inch TV: 57.3 x 90.5 x 22cm (H,W,D)
  • 43-inch TV: 62.4 x 96.8 x 23.4cm (H,W,D)

What features do the best 40 to 43-inch TVs have?

A 40 to 43-inch TV is the right size for you if your sofa is about 3 metres away. For more guidance, use our TV screen size calculator.

If you’ve decided that a 40 to 43-inch TV is for you, here are some features to look out for:

  • 4K display: there's no reason to buy an HD TV these days. 4K ones look better and don't tend to cost much more.
  • Smart TV: most TVs are smart these days, so you can connect them to the internet to watch content on streaming and catch-up apps. However, some only have a selection of pre-loaded apps, so check our reviews to avoid those.
  • PVR functionality: TVs with built-in PVR functionality mean you can connect a USB hard drive to the TV and then be able to pause and record live programmes. Some have twin-tuner PVR functionality, meaning you can watch one programme while recording another.
  • HDR: HDR (high dynamic range) improves the contrast on TVs in an effort to make crisper whites and deeper blacks with more variation of colour in between. There are five formats with different manufacturers supporting different ones. Pay attention to how many formats the TV you're eyeing up is compatible with, and find out more about them and how they differ in our guide to HDR TV.
  • High-end displays: it used to be just the bigger screens that got high-end features, but now you can get 42-inch OLED and QLED TVs.

What you need to know about Which? TV reviews 

Every TV we test goes through hundreds of rigorous independent assessments in our test lab. Many websites base their testing on one person's opinion and preferences, whereas we use teams of highly trained experts to test hundreds of models every year.

We don't accept TVs from manufacturers. We buy from the shop, just like you, so we aren't beholden to brands or PR representatives.

For more information, see how we test televisions.

What size TV should I buy?