Although it might seem as though TVs are growing in size, good things still come in small packages.
Plenty of manufacturers still support smaller TVs—models that range in size from 32-inches to 43-inches. These TVs can be the perfect fit for smaller living rooms or for bedrooms, guest rooms, and dorm rooms.
While 65-inch TVs are more glamorous and 55-inch TVs are the most popular television size, the best 40-inch TVs can deliver great performance and desired features. There are plenty of cheap TVs out there that don’t stand up, however. That’s why Reviewed has tested hundreds of TVs over the years.
People shopping for 40-inch TVs will find plenty of 42-inch and 43-inch models as well—those screen sizes are more common. In fact, our favorite television in this size range is a 42-inch TV, the LG C2
(available at Best Buy for $999.99)
. This 4K OLED TV delivers an exquisite picture and a mountain of extra features, including some of the most sought-after gaming enhancements available today.
If the LG C2 isn’t the best TV for you, we’ve found other great TVs at different price points.
Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
The LG C2 combines the unbelievable performance of an OLED with an array of exciting features.
Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
The Q60B gets bright enough in SDR for casual, daytime viewing. If you watch a good amount of TV in a sunny room, it’ll serve you well.
Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
The QN90B is one of the brightest TVs we’ve ever tested, making it a great choice for sunny living spaces.
Credit:
Reviewed / Tim Renzi
The 42-inch LG C3 OLED is our pick for Best Upgrade, thanks to its incredible picture and laundry list of features.
What to Consider when Buying a 40-Inch TV
Size
Smaller TVs—sets with 32-inch to 43-inch screens—are great options for kitchens, bedrooms, or guest rooms. They can also be the best TV for smaller living rooms, and they are often more affordable than bigger TVs.
Our recommendations for this guide range in size from 40 inches to 43 inches. It’s important to note that you’re less likely to notice the size difference between 40-inch models and 43-inch TVs. A good rule of thumb is that it takes an extra 10 inches or more to make a TV really feel bigger.
Our guide on how to choose the right TV size can help you make what television is best for you—and also for your viewing distance.
Display Type
Shopping for TVs can be confusing. Being familiar with some terms you may see—LED, LCD, OLED, QLED—can help you navigate the experience.
LED refers to Light Emitting Diode while LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. LEDs are the backlights used in LCD TVs, also sometimes called LED TVs for this reason. The LED backlight shines through a layer of a semi-solid substance called “liquid crystal,” named for its ability to morph in reaction to tiny electrical volts and allow light to pass through.
QLED TVs are LEDs with quantum dots, which allows the displays to produce rich colors better than LED TVs without quantum dot technology.
While OLED may sound similar, it’s a different panel technology than LED/LCD. Rather than an LED backlight element shining through an LCD panel element, OLED TVs essentially combine the backlight and crystal array, using sub-pixel strata that produce light and color individually.
Read more: QLED vs OLED—What’s the Difference?
Resolution
If you can afford a 4K TV, we recommend making the upgrade, especially if it’s for a television that may get more use, such as a living room set. The more pixels that a display has, the sharper the image. TVs with 4K resolution (3,840 x 2,160) have more than 8 million pixels. That compares to more than 2 million for Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) and more than 900,000 for 720p TVs (1,280 x 720).
While lower resolution TVs may not noticeably diminish your viewing experience in a kitchen or guest room, the extra money for a 4K TV and better image quality will be worth it for a television that will get heavy use.
Smart TV
Smart TVs have evolved a lot since they hit the market. These days, people use smart TVs mostly as a way to watch movies and their favorite TV shows on streaming services like Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video.
People shopping for a 40-inch smart TV will notice that televisions have different operating systems. Roku is our favorite streaming platform because it’s easy to use, quick, and has a vast array of available apps. Roku TVs have the operating system baked right in.
We also really like Google TV, which is also fast and easy to use. You can find Google TV on Sony televisions and other brands. We’re not as high on Samsung’s Tizen OS or LG’s webOS. Those tend to have more sponsored content and can be slower and not as easy to navigate.
While streaming apps is probably the biggest boon of smart TVs, many of them do a lot more. Depending on the manufacturer, you can expect smart features like the ability to use Alexa and Google Home voice commands, use a web browser, and even control other smart home devices.
Gaming Features
People who play a lot of video games should pay close attention to HDMI ports. To get the most out of some game consoles, gamers will want a TV that has HDMI 2.1 inputs 4K gaming at 120 hertz (Hz). Also important is Auto Low Latency Mode and Variable Refresh Rate. ALLM switches to settings that reduce input lag when you fire up a game while VRR adjusts the refresh rate of your TV to match up with the frame rate of the game you’re playing.
