Even though 55-inch and 65-inch TV models have become the most popular sizes in recent years, smaller TVs are still important to many people. Smaller 42- and 48-inch TVs are incredibly popular for tight spaces, whether that's in a bedroom, dorm room, or just a small living room. While some of the absolute latest and greatest TV technology is reserved for larger TVs, you usually don't have to sacrifice much if you choose to step down to a small TV.
Unfortunately, there are very few 24-inch models on the market, and we haven't tested any that are still available, so you won't find the best 24-inch smart TV in this article. If you need something smaller, consider looking at the best multimedia monitors, as many monitors now have built-in smart platforms that allow them to stream your favorite shows without an external box. Below are our picks for the best small TVs, and you can also see our recommendations for the best 40-42-43 inch TVs and the best 32-inch TVs, or vote on which TVs you want us to buy and test. To learn more about the new models being released this year, check out our 2026 TV lineup page.
We buy and test dozens of TVs yearly, taking an objective, data-driven approach to deliver results you can trust. Our testing process is complex, with hundreds of individual tests that take over a week to complete. Most of our tests use specially designed test patterns that mimic real content, but we also use the same sources you have at home to ensure our results match the real-world experience. We use two main tools for our testing: a Colorimetry Research CR-100 colorimeter and a CR-250 spectroradiometer.
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Best Small TV
Mixed UsageHome TheaterBright RoomSportsGamingBrightnessBlack LevelColorMotion HandlingGame Mode ResponsivenessProcessing (In Development)Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:165HzScreen Finish:GlossyPanel Type:OLEDSub-Type:WOLEDDolby Vision:YesSee all our test resultsSizes:42" 48" 55" 65"The LG C6 OLED 2026 is the best small TV that we've tested. While any size of the C6 delivers a fantastic viewing experience, the 48-inch model in particular has a hidden surprise. It actually uses the RGB Tandem panel with LG's Hyper Radiant technology that's usually reserved for the larger LG C6H OLED. This technology enables the 48-inch C6 to deliver incredibly bright, vibrant colors. Combined with its nearly infinite contrast ratio, it delivers an impactful movie-watching experience, and while it excels in a dark room, it's also a suitable choice for a moderately-lit room.
Like most LG TVs, the C6 is incredibly feature-packed, with a wide selection that helps improve your viewing experience, no matter how you're using it. The built-in webOS smart interface has a massive selection of streaming apps, so you can easily find your favorite streaming content without the added expense of an external streaming box. If you're in a tight space and need to step down to the 42-inch model, it's almost as good, with the same great features, but the colors are slightly less vibrant.
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Best Small TV For A Bright Room
Mixed UsageHome TheaterBright RoomSportsGamingBrightnessBlack LevelColorMotion HandlingGame Mode ResponsivenessProcessing (In Development)Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:165HzScreen Finish:MattePanel Type:OLEDSub-Type:WOLEDDolby Vision:NoSee all our test resultsSizes:42" 48" 55" 65" 77" 83"If you like the inky blacks and incredible picture quality delivered by the LG C6 OLED 2026, but are in a bright room, the Samsung S90H OLED is the best alternative. Like the 48-inch C6, it uses the RGB Tandem OLED panel, but unlike the C6, it has a matte screen coating. This coating does a truly incredible job at reducing distracting reflections from bright ambient light, like windows or lights opposite the screen. It comes with a bit of a downside, though, as this coating adds a slightly hazy look to the image that some people just don't like.
There are a few other differences between this model and the C6. Whereas LG supports the Dolby Vision standard, the S90H supports HDR10+ instead. While most people don't need to worry about this, if you like to collect physical media and mainly watch movies in a dark room, the LG above is still the better choice. Samsung also uses their own Tizen smart interface, but there's very little difference in app availability between them, so while they're different, one is not necessarily better than the other.
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Best Mid-Range Small TV
Mixed UsageHome TheaterBright RoomSportsGamingBrightnessBlack LevelColorMotion HandlingGame Mode ResponsivenessProcessing (In Development)Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:120HzScreen Finish:GlossyPanel Type:OLEDSub-Type:WOLEDDolby Vision:YesSee all our test resultsSizes:48" 55" 65" 77" 83"If you really like what the LG C6 OLED offers but find it too expensive, consider the LG B5 OLED. The 48-inch model is the smallest size available, but if you can fit it into your room and budget, it's hard to beat. You get the same inky blacks as the C6, but colors aren't as vibrant. It's not nearly as bright as the C6, so it's really best-suited for dim or moderately-lit rooms, and small details in movies aren't nearly as vivid.
It has very similar image processing capabilities, so low-resolution and low-quality content looks almost as good. It even has the same support for Dolby Vision. It has a lower peak refresh rate for PC gamers, but you still get four HDMI 2.1 bandwidth ports for up to 4k @ 120Hz gaming with VRR from the latest consoles. You also still get exceptionally low input lag and a nearly instantaneous response time for crystal-clear motion.
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Best Budget Small TV
Mixed UsageHome TheaterBright RoomSportsGamingBrightnessBlack LevelColorMotion HandlingGame Mode ResponsivenessProcessing (In Development)Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:144HzScreen Finish:GlossyPanel Type:LCDSub-Type:VADolby Vision:NoSee all our test resultsSizes:32" 43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85"If you're looking for something more budget-friendly or smaller than 42 inches, the best small smart TV available in a 32-inch size is the Samsung Q8F. It's a bit pricey for a very small TV, but it's one of the only 32-inch models on the market with a 4k resolution. This combination of a small screen and a 4k resolution results in an incredibly sharp image, which is great. Unfortunately, its overall image quality is a big step down compared to the OLEDs above. The TV is just bright enough to handle glare in a moderately lit room, but it's too dim to provide an impactful movie-watching experience.
The TV utilizes Samsung's Tizen OS, which gives you access to a big selection of streaming apps. This means you can ditch the external streaming device and keep your setup tidy. It can even be wall-mounted, so you have the option to tuck the TV into the corner of your kitchen or mount it on a swing arm for easy adjustments. Unfortunately, the 32-inch and 43-inch sizes of this TV are 60Hz models that are very light on gaming features, so serious gamers will want to look elsewhere.
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Best Cheap Small TV
Mixed UsageHome TheaterBright RoomSportsGamingBrightnessBlack LevelColorMotion HandlingGame Mode ResponsivenessProcessing (In Development)Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:60HzScreen Finish:GlossyPanel Type:LCDSub-Type:VADolby Vision:YesSee all our test resultsSizes:43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85" 100"If your budget is tight and you just want a basic, small TV with just okay image quality, consider the Hisense QD6QF. It has worse processing and motion handling than the Samsung Q8F, but otherwise, you get image quality that's incredibly similar. The TV doesn't have local dimming, so blacks appear gray during most scenes. It's bright enough to handle some glare in a moderately lit room, but reflections are visible on the screen in well-lit environments.
The TV performs poorly in removing artifacts from low-quality content, but it excels at upscaling, so it's great for watching cable TV or streaming services. It doesn't have many gaming features, but you can still play in 4k @ 60Hz with VRR. Pixel response times are on the slower side, resulting in visible motion blur, but this is acceptable for casual gaming. It runs the Fire TV OS, which has a big selection of streaming apps, so pairing it with an external streaming device isn't necessary. You also get Dolby Vision and HDR10+, so it has good compatibility. The TV isn't anything special, but it outperforms similar models, so it's a solid, cheap option.
Notable Mentions
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LG OLED48C5PUA:
The LG C5 OLED is a great alternative to the LG C6 OLED 2026 if you're looking to save some money. The 48-inch model uses an older OLED panel and lacks LG's Hyper Radiant technology, though, so it's not as bright and colors aren't as vivid.
See our review -
Samsung QN43QN90FAFXZA:
The Samsung QN90F is one of the few high-end LED TVs that was available in a smaller size. Sadly, it's very difficult to find now, and there's no direct replacement in Samsung's 2026 TV lineup.
See our review
Recent Updates
Jun 16, 2026:
We replaced the LG C5 with the LG C6 OLED 2026, as the 48-inch version features a more advanced panel, making it a far better TV overall. We added the S90H as the 'Best Bright Room Small TV' and refreshed the text throughout.
Mar 18, 2026:
We replaced the Samsung Q60D with the Samsung Q8F in the 'Best Budget Small TV' category, moved the Samsung QN90F to the Notable Mentions, and updated the introduction for clarity.
Nov 17, 2025:
Replaced the TCL Q651G with the Hisense QD6QF in the 'Best Cheap' category. We also removed the Roku Select Series from the Notable Mentions.
Aug 28, 2025:
Replaced the LG C4 OLED with the LG C5 OLED, the Samsung QN90D/QN90DD QLED with the Samsung QN90F, the LG B4 OLED with the LG B5 OLED, and the Hisense A7N with the TCL Q651G. We also tweaked the Notable Mentions section for accuracy.
Apr 17, 2025:
Removed the Sony X85K from the Notable Mentions due to lack of availability, and refreshed some text throughout for accuracy.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best small smart TVs to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (a cheaper TV wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no TVs that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is a list of all our recent reviews of TVs that are available in 48-inch sizes or smaller. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no TV is perfect, most TVs are great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.