The best 43-inch TVs are a good choice for a shared set-up, but are also small enough for private use in the bedroom. You can curl up in bed with your partner to enjoy the newest romantic comedy or retreat to play a favorite video game after a long day at work. Regardless of how you use your TV, it’s important to learn more about the resolution, refresh rate, panel technology, and dimensions before choosing the best 43- inch TV for your home. We’ve picked our favorites and highlighted what you need to know to make an informed decision.
— Best Overall: LG 80 Series 43–inch Alexa Built-in, 4K UHD Smart TV
— Best Budget: Amazon Fire TV 43-inch Omni Series 4K UHD smart TV
— Best QLED: SAMSUNG 43-inch Class Neo QLED
— Best for Gaming: Sony X85K 43-inch TV
— Best Smart TV: TCL 43-inch 4K UHD HDR Smart Android TV
How We Picked the Best 43-Inch TVs
To put together a list of the top 43 inch TVs, we drew upon our years of experience with old and new TV technology in order to differentiate between the best products and those that fell short. We also researched multiple brands and over 40 different products, eliminating many good quality products in the process, including a Vizio 43-inch TV, a Hisense 43-inch TV, and an Insignia 43-inch TV. Only the top 43-inch TVs made it to the top of the list.
The dimensions, resolution, refresh rate, and panel technology were the most important factors we used to determine the best 43-inch TVs available. OLED and QLED products are considered to be superior to ULED and standard LED TVs, though it was also important to ensure that the refresh rate could keep up with gamer demands. A refresh rate of about 60Hz (hertz) was acceptable for regular TV use, but for any gamers that are looking to get an edge over their competitors, a 120Hz refresh rate was ideal. Similarly, it was essential to select 43-inch TVs with a resolution that could keep up with the current graphics and display demands in the video game and cinematic industry.
The Best 43-Inch TVs: Reviews and Recommendations
Best Overall: LG 80 Series 43-inch Alexa Built-in, 4K UHD Smart TV
Why It Made the Cut: The small size of this 43-inch TV makes it an ideal addition to a PC gaming set-up.
Specs:
— Dimensions: 38.1 inches L x 8.5 inches W x 24.5 inches H
— Resolution: 4K
— Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Pros:
— Quad core processor
— Small enough for a PC gaming setup
— Voice commands through the Magic Remote
— Game Optimizer and Filmmaker modes
Cons:
— Risk of screen burn-in
If you’re looking to expand your gaming rig without taking up a lot of additional space, consider the LG 80 Series 43-inch 4K UHD Smart TV. It has a slim screen that only measures 2.2 inches thick, though the stand is 8.5 inches thick, so users will either need to mount the TV to the wall or make some space for the narrow stand. This TV can be set up at a computer desk to improve a home office or for PC gaming, but it can also be used in the bedroom, living room, or media room to enjoy the latest series you’re streaming.
You can connect a console to the LG 43-inch TV and switch to the Game Optimizer mode for instant access to the specific display settings saved exclusively for gaming. When it gets difficult to focus on your RPG or strategy game, turn off the console or PC. Then you can enjoy the vibrant 4K scenes that use LG’s TRUMOTION 120 technology to help boost the 60Hz refresh rate. This boost reduces blur and increases the speed to a maximum of 120 frames per second, which is ideal for watching action movies and sports.
Best Budget: Amazon Fire TV 43-inch Omni Series 4K UHD smart TV
Why It Made the Cut: This affordable 43-inch Fire TV comes equipped with a 4K UHD resolution and hands-free voice control through Amazon Alexa.
Specs:
— Dimensions: 38 inches L x 3.6 inches W x 22.6 inches H
— Resolution: 4K
— Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Pros:
— Access to thousands of shows and movies
— Inexpensive 4K UHD TV
— Amazon Alexa built-in
— Smart home compatible
Cons:
— Risk of screen burn-in
If you’re not looking to spend a lot on a TV, you can get one with many of the same features from premium brands while saving money with the Amazon Fire TV. It boasts a 4K UHD (ultra-high-definition) resolution, giving viewers the opportunity to see new series or old favorites in stunning detail. This 43-inch TV also comes with Amazon Alexa built in, which works seamlessly with the Amazon Alexa smart home system, allowing users to wirelessly pair Amazon Echo speakers, start a video call, or show picture-in-picture live camera feeds.
However, if the idea of having a TV with the ability to ‘listen’ seems concerning, users can rest easy knowing that this Amazon Fire TV has a simple off switch to disconnect the microphone to protect your privacy. Through the Fire TV operating system, users get access to thousands of shows and movies, but it is important to note that if the TV is left on a fixed screen for too long, it could cause the image to burn into the screen. Always turn off the TV or set up a screensaver to prevent this issue.
Best QLED: SAMSUNG 43-inch Class Neo QLED
Why It Made the Cut: The impressive QLED colors and sharp contrasts of this 43-inch TV will entrance viewers.
Specs:
— Dimensions: 37.8 inches L x 8.8 inches W x 24.5 inches H
— Resolution: 4K
— Refresh Rate: 120Hz
Pros:
— Impressive 120Hz refresh rate
— Object Tracking Sound for realistic audio
— Anti-reflection for minimal glare
— Intense QLED color creation
Cons:
— High price
While many people will be looking for the fastest refresh rate or a high resolution for their gaming or viewing habits, some of the true differences between products can only be seen by comparing the panel technology. This Samsung 43-inch TV is made with QLED panel technology to help ensure that viewers can experience new series or older favorites in crystal-clear detail. The QLED display creates sharp contrasts and brighter colors than even OLED TVs can produce.
The SAMSUNG 43-Inch Class Neo QLED comes equipped with the Samsung Object Tracking Sound+ (OTS+) system that follows the action on screen for a more realistic auditory experience. An anti-reflection screen reduces glare, while the 120Hz refresh rate keeps up with action scenes or live sports to provide viewers with smooth, clear images without worrying about blurry edges or overlapping. Though, as with many QLED TVs, this high-end product comes with a premium price tag.
Best for Gaming: Sony X85K 43-inch TV
Why It Made the Cut: Gamers can get an edge in new first-person shooters and fast-paced strategy games due to the 120Hz refresh rate.
Specs:
— Dimensions: 38 inches L x 11.3 inches W x 24.75 inches H
— Resolution: 4K
— Refresh Rate: 120Hz
Pros:
— Fast refresh rate
— 4K X-Reality Pro upscales old content to improve resolution
— Works with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant
— Motionflow XR system improves image clarity
Cons:
— Risk of screen burn-in
If you’re looking for fast-paced gaming and stunning visuals, the Sony X85K 43 Inch TV is a great option. The 4K resolution improves the detail, clarity, and vividness of each scene. It’s also paired with the 4K X-Reality Pro system, which enhances the detail and clarity of older content to almost 4K resolution. The Sony X85K 43 Inch TV can be used with either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, giving users the option to control the TV with simple voice commands.
Gamers will want to take a second look at this TV due to the fast 120 Hz refresh rate that can help them gain an edge over competitors. The TV also uses the Motionflow XR system to smooth blurry images and increase image clarity during action-packed scenes or live sporting events. Just make sure to turn off the TV when it isn’t being used or set-up a screensaver to prevent screen burn-in.
Best Smart TV: TCL 43-inch 4K UHD HDR Smart Android TV
Why It Made the Cut: You can enjoy thousands of apps and hundreds of thousands of shows and movies with this TCL Android smart TV.
Specs:
— Dimensions: 38.2 inches L x 9.9 inches W x 24.6 inches H
— Resolution: 4K
— Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Pros:
— Built-in Google Assistant for voice control
— High Dynamic Range (HDR) improves color accuracy and brightness
— Chromecast built-in to cast movies, shows, and photos
— Affordable price
Cons:
— Risk of screen burn-in
The TCL 43-inch 4K UHD HDR Smart Android TV takes advantage of smart home technology to offer users the ability to control the TV with simple voice commands. It comes with Google Assistant built in, allowing users to change the temperature in the home, dim the lights, view Google Photos, look up sports scores, and search for movies, shows, and apps. The TV also has Chromecast built in, so users can cast movies, shows, and photos from their Android or iOS device directly to the TV.
This TCL 43-inch TV isn’t going to be the best choice for fast-paced gaming because it only has a 60Hz refresh rate, but it’s more than enough for casual gaming or binge-watching. The 4K TV uses the High Dynamic Range (HDR) system to further improve color accuracy and brightness. However, it’s important to turn off the TV when it’s not in use to prevent screen burn-in. Alternately, users could set up a screensaver or set an auto-off timer to protect the TV.
Things to Consider Before Buying The Best 43-inch TVs
Before deciding on the best 43-inch TV for your home, take a few minutes to think about how you use your current TV and how you plan to use your new smart TV. Gamers may want to prioritize the refresh rate so they aren’t held back in first-person shooters, while binge watchers should look for a TV with panel technology that won’t lead to ongoing eye strain.
Dimensions
TVs are advertised by the screen size, so all 43-inch TVs should have a screen that measures about 43 inches diagonally from the top right corner to the bottom left corner. However, this doesn’t mean that every 43-inch TV has the same width, height, or depth. In order to find out if your new 43 inch TV will be able to fit in the planned location, get the exact dimensions of the product and compare them with measurements from your home.
Make sure to plan where you want to set up the TV up, then take measurements and use this information to find a TV that will fit the space. Keep in mind that if you invest in a TV with a curved screen, the depth of the TV will be greater than a product with a flat screen. This also means that the TV should be able to fit more comfortably in a corner, though there aren’t very many 43-inch TVs with a curved screen.
Refresh Rate
Any semi-serious gamers know that they need a TV or a computer screen with a good refresh rate if they want to keep up with the competition in fast-paced games, like first-person shooters (FPS). The refresh rate is measured in hertz (Hz) and it is essentially the speed at which the image on the screen is refreshed within one second.
Not only is the refresh rate important for gaming, but if you enjoy any action movies, live sports, or other fast-moving media, then a quick refresh rate can help capture the rapid movement without blurring. A refresh rate of 60Hz is decent for leisurely TV watching, role-playing games, and puzzle games that don’t typically require precise timing. But if you’re used to playing fast-paced action games, first-person shooters, or watching live sports then you may want to look for a 43-inch TV that can get up to 120HZ.
Resolution
Resolution used to be more of a factor than it is now because there were more HD options available. However, most 43-inch TVs are now made with 4K resolution, which is currently the most that any console can keep up with. So unless you are trying to find a TV for your PC setup, you won’t see any real benefit in paying extra for an 8K device, especially on the smaller 43-inch screen.
A TV that can display images in 3840 x 2160 resolution can be said to be a 4K device with about 8,294,400 individual pixels, while a resolution of 1080 x 1920 falls in the high definition (HD) category with just 2,073,600 individual pixels. Despite having about four times more pixels, the actual difference between HD and 4K on a 43-inch TV isn’t significant because the screen is too small for the average viewer to notice a substantial increase in detail, clarity, and vividness.
With this in mind, you can opt for a 43-inch HD TV for a lower price than a 43-inch 4K TV without a significant difference in picture quality.
Panel Technology
The technology that’s used to create a picture on a gaming TV is called panel technology and it currently consists of LED, OLED, QLED, and ULED options.
— LED TVs are LCD TVs. It’s important to understand that there is no difference between the two. The only reason why LED and LCD were ever used to differentiate between devices is because there were LCD TVs that used cold-cathode fluorescent lights (CCFLs) for backlighting instead of LEDs, but CCFL TVs have largely been replaced by LED TVs. These TVs use LED backlighting to transmit an image onto the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) panel, while newer technology, like OLED TVs, have panels that emit their own light. LED TVs are gradually being pushed out of the forefront of the market to make room for the superior OLED and QLED products, but if you don’t mind the older tech, then opting for an LED TV is a great way to save some money.
— OLED stands for Organic Light-Emitting Diode, which essentially means that the panels in these TVs emit their own light instead of having to be backlit to create pictures. In fact, one of the ways that OLED technology is superior to LED technology is that it controls each LED individually, allowing the TV to simply turn off specific LEDs to create a true-black appearance that can’t be matched by LED TVs. However, the drawback of this design is that each pixel is an individual heat source, so to prevent overheating, an OLED display will actually be dimmer than an LED TV when it’s displaying a large amount of bright colors.
— QLED TVs are considered by some to be superior to OLED TVs, though this isn’t a definitive judgment. QLED stands for Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diode and these TVs are typically Samsung devices. QLED has been developed almost exclusively by Samsung, though some other companies, including Sony, may also carry a small number of QLED products. This technology uses quantum dots, which are microscopic nanocrystals that react to blue light by emitting red light or green light, depending on the size of the nanocrystals. This allows QLED gaming TVs to create brighter colors than LEDs and stunning contrasts that rival OLED TVs despite being backlit or edge-lit, making them ideal for gaming.
— ULED stands for Ultra Light-Emitting Diode and it’s a term that you need to watch out for when looking for a gaming TV. While it isn’t necessarily a bad designation, it also fails to provide any real information because ULED is simply a term used to refer to products that operate using a collection of Hisense hardware and software. This does not mean that these devices are on par with OLED or QLED products, so take the time to ensure that you are getting what you expected when you are considering one of these gaming TVs.
FAQs
Q: Is 4K worth it on a 43-inch TV?
The reason for the enhanced appearance of 4K resolution over HD resolution is due to the number of pixels used to create the image. 3840 x 2160 resolution (4K) results in about 8,294,400 individual pixels, while 1080 x 1920 resolution (HD) results in just 2,073,600 individual pixels. So, it makes sense that 4K is generally considered to be better.
However, using 8,294,400 individual pixels to create a 75-inch TV screen is different from using the same number of pixels for a 43-inch TV screen. While you may see a slight increase in detail, clarity, and vividness, most 43-inch TVs can create a similar image quality with HD resolution, so it may not be worth the upgrade.
Just keep in mind that as technology progresses, most manufacturers will move away from HD resolution entirely, which means that you may need to invest in a 4K TV or devote a substantial amount of time to the search for an HD product.
Q: How wide is a 43-inch tv?
The exact width of a 43-inch TV depends on the brand and the specific product. While the screen should be about 43 inches diagonally from the top left corner to the bottom right corner, the width of the TV is measured horizontally. On average, the width of a 43-inch TV is about 36 to 40 inches.
Q: Is a 43-inch TV big enough for a living room?
Whether the 43-inch TV is big enough for your living room really depends on the size of the room, the placement of the TV, and the position of the furniture. On average, the best seating distance for the picture produced on a 43-inch 4K TV is about 3.5 to 5.5 feet. If you will be sitting at a greater distance than 5.5 feet from the TV, then it may be better to choose a larger size.
Q: How much do 43-inch TVs cost?
As the size of the TV decreases, the price also decreases, so you can expect to pay less for a 43-inch TV than you would for a 50-inch or 75-inch TV. For a basic 43-inch TV, you can pay as little as $200, but a high-quality 43-inch TV can still cost over $1,000, despite the size.
Final Thoughts on the Best 43-Inch TVs
Take advantage of the Game Optimizer mode to quickly switch from binging a series to gaming with the LG 80 Series 43-inch 4K UHD Smart TV. Or if you’re looking to save money, you can instead connect an Amazon Fire TV to your smart home system for voice control, video calling, and more.
This post was created by a non-news editorial team at Recurrent Media, Futurism’s owner. Futurism may receive a portion of sales on products linked within this post.
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