Today TVs can be gigantic, but what if you just want something small and inexpensive to fit in a dorm, apartment of kid’s room? For areas where a 50-inch TV just overwhelms the space, the 43-inch size offers more value than a smaller model and still won’t cost much. Many 43-inch TVs still have 4K resolution and smart TV streaming features, so you’re getting a lot of the basic stuff, just in a smaller size. Compared to a 50-inch or larger TV, choosing a 43-inch screen will save you $100 or more. Sure, if you have the space it’s worth spending extra for a bigger screen, but 43 inches is still a worthy size to enjoy a good viewing experience.
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Things to to know about 43-inch TVs
Since they’re relatively small and inexpensive, 43-inch TVs usually lack the latest picture-enhancing extras found on larger sets, such as 120Hz, full-array local dimming, Mini-LED and advanced gaming features. Finding a 43-inch TV set with a high-end, excellent-quality picture is a lot more difficult than compared to 55-inch models. OLED TVs are the exception. They’re available in 42-inch sizes (see below) and deliver superb image quality, for a high price.
The list below represents the best TVs in the 43-inch screen size I can recommend, with a couple of things to keep in mind going in:
- At this size, where 4K TV image quality isn’t a priority for manufacturers, I prize smart TV functionality first. If all you’re looking for is a TV for watching your shows or for a gaming TV to hook up a console, the best 43-inch TV models definitely fit the bill.
- Looking for another size? Check out: 55-inch TVs, 65-inch TVs and 75-inch TVs.
- Don’t see what you’re looking for below? Here are all of the TVs I’ve reviewed, with more coming soon.
Best 43-inch TVs of 2025
The picture quality of the TCL 4-Series Roku TV was a step behind the Vizio V-Series in our budget TV test, but the differences between the two are slight enough that you’d really have to have them set up side by side to notice anything at all. The 4-Series lacks the Dolby Vision, Bluetooth connectivity and AMD FreeSync with a variable refresh rate, all of which the Vizio offers.
The 4-Series’ advantage over the Vizio is that it comes with the excellent Roku Smart TV system built in. That makes it a great choice for those looking for a one-stop smart TV solution, without having to add an external streaming device.
Note that TCL has been selling the 4-Series for the last few years with little to no change in image quality or features in our tests, although it has recently added some larger screen sizes, including an 85-inch option.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Excellent smart TV system
Cons:
- Image quality and features lag some entry-level TVs
When we compared the best budget TVs side-by-side, the picture quality of Vizio’s V-Series clearly emerged as the leader of the pack. The Vizio offered the most balanced and accurate picture during our comparisons, and it comes with some useful extras such as Dolby Vision support, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth compatibility and variable refresh rate for potentially smoother gaming. The biggest downside of the Vizio is its smart TV platform, Vizio SmartCast. It’s crowded, slow and littered with ads for platforms such as Tubi and Kidoodle TV. Even when you factor in the cost of adding a new streaming device, however, the V-Series remains the best overall entry-level TV that we tested.
Vizio hasn’t announced a 2024 version of the V-Series yet.
Pros:
- Solid image quality for an entry-level TV
- Lots of features, including VRR and Wi-Fi 6E
Cons:
- Poor built-in smart TV system
The Hisense A6H Google TV, like the Vizio V-Series, offers some higher-end features at the entry-level price. This TV features a premium build quality and comes with Dolby Vision support, Bluetooth connectivity and DTS Virtual:X for simulated surround sound. The Hisense A6H comes preloaded with Google TV — which is our second favorite smart platform after Roku — but we found it ran slower than Google TV on higher-end TVs like the Sony X80K.
Although its image quality falls short of the TCL and Vizio, the A6H also stands out from the pack in design. The bezels on the TV are incredibly thin, and the display itself attaches directly to the back of the panel, leaving corners that are round and metallic. This gives the TV a more premium finish that I did not see with other units in this price range.
Ultimately, the Hisense A6H Google TV is a good choice for budget buyers who appreciate its design and want the Google TV interface.
Pros:
- Premium build quality
- Dolby Vision support
- Good smart TV platform
Cons:
- Picture quality isn’t quite as good as others on this list
The Samsung Q60B is more expensive than the models above but it’s also better in pretty much every way. It’s got a slimmer, sleeker design, more features including a solar-powered remote and slightly better picture quality, with superior brightness, compared to the others. The TVs above are better values, but if you want something nicer in this size, and don’t want to break the bank on an OLED TV, the Q60B is a great choice.
This is a 2022 model, but the newer version, the Q60C, looks largely similar in terms of features, design and price. We haven’t reviewed it yet, but we expect it to have similar image quality.
Pros:
- Sleek design and excellent remote
- Bright image with solid contrast
- Informative status screen for gaming
Cons:
- More expensive than competing TVs with better picture quality
- Cluttered smart TV menus
It’s technically an inch smaller than any of the other TVs on this list, but if you want the best TV in this size range and money isn’t a major concern, look no further than the LG C2. Its image quality and features run circles around any of the other TVs on this list — and the price is more than double. We’d recommend getting a larger version of the C2 (48-inch, 55-inch or more) if you could, but maybe your size is limited while your budget is not.
The C1 was also an excellent TV that delivered similar image quality and features to the C2. We’ve also reviewed the newer model, the LG C3, but we recommend the C2 instead right now. Going with the C2 saves you a few hundred bucks and the two TVs were basically indistinguishable in features, design and image quality in my tests.
Pros:
- Better picture quality than any non-OLED TV
- Superior contrast and off-angle image
- Best-in-class gaming features
- Sleek styling with ultralight, thin panel
Cons:
- Expensive
- No major picture quality improvements over the C1 from 2021
