- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Best 28"
- Best 32"
- Best 43"
- Best Smart TV
- All Reviews
- Discussions
- Store-bought TVs; no cherry-picked units
- Retest after major updates
- Easily comparable results
- No ads; unbiased reviews
Even though 55" and 65" have become the most popular TV sizes, smaller TVs are still very important to a lot of people. These sizes are great for a secondary TV, like in a guest room or kitchen, or even for student dorms. Although you usually won't get the most advanced features or the best picture quality, there are still many decent TVs available in smaller sizes.
We've reviewed more than 70 TVs in the last 2 years, some are available in smaller sizes, and below you'll find our picks for the best small TVs available for purchase in 2019. See also our recommendations for the best 32 inch TVs.
Note: Since many new TVs aren't available in smaller sizes, you'll notice that some older models remain as picks in our recommendations.
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Best 28 Inch TV: TCL 28S305
Usage Ratings - Version 1.36.3Mixed Usage5.8Movies6.9TV Shows7.1Sports7.0Video Games4.6HDR Movies4.1HDR Gaming6.6PC MonitorThe best small TV we've tested that's also available in a 28 inch size is the TCL 28S305 2018. Its small size makes it suitable for rooms where space is scarce, like a kitchen or a dorm room. This is a mediocre TV. It can't get very bright, so it's not a good choice if your room is bright. It can display deep blacks thanks to the high native contrast ratio, and this improves dark room performance, but the overall picture quality is just mediocre.
This TV has a 720p resolution and is powered by the same excellent Roku TV smart platform found on higher-end TCL models. There are many apps and streaming channels to choose from. You'll most certainly find what you're looking for, and you can also stream files from your mobile device.
Overall, this is a mediocre TV, but the best from the ones available in this size.
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Best 32 Inch TV: Samsung UN32N5300
Usage Ratings - Version 1.36.3Mixed Usage4.8Movies7.4TV Shows7.6Sports6.4Video Games4.4HDR Movies4.5HDR Gaming6.9PC MonitorIf you want a small TV with wide viewing angles, check out the Samsung UN32N5300. This is a basic 1080p TV with mediocre picture quality. It has decent viewing angles thanks to its IPS panel, but dark room performance is lacking. It has good gray uniformity and almost no dirty screen effect, which makes it a good TV for watching sports. It has a fast response time, but no other motion-enhancing features.
Its input lag is low, but it's still one of the highest we've measured so far. This doesn't make it a good choice for those looking for a responsive TV to use for gaming or as a PC monitor. It supports HDR content, but can't deliver a good HDR performance.
Overall, it's a mediocre 32'' 1080p TV, more suitable for smaller rooms.
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Best 43 Inch TV: Samsung QN43Q60R
Usage Ratings - Version 1.37.9Mixed Usage7.2Movies7.8TV Shows7.8Sports8.9Video Games7.2HDR Movies8.3HDR Gaming8.4PC MonitorIf you want the best 43 inch TV from the ones we've tested so far, then check out the Samsung QN43Q60R. This is a good 4k TV that delivers good overall picture quality. It has deep blacks thanks to its high native contrast ratio, which is great for a dark room. It can get very bright is SDR and handes reflections well, so placing it in a bright room isn't an issue. Unfortunately, although the TV has a wide color gamut, it can't get very bright in HDR to deliver bright highlights. On the upside, it has a very low input lag and a very fast response time to deliver crisp motion with only minimal blur.
Unfortunately, like with most VA panel TVs, it can't display an accurate image when viewed from the side and lacks a local dimming feature to improve dark room performance.
Overall, this is a very good 43" TV that will serve you well.
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Alternative With Wider Viewing Angles: LG 43UM7300
If you find the viewing angles of the Samsung Q60R inadequate for your wide room, then get the LG 43UM7300. You won't get the same dark room performance, as this TV has worse contrast ratio and lacks local dimming support. On the upside, the image remains accurate at an angle, the TV has a motion interpolation feature for the soap opera effect fans, and it can handle reflections better.
Overall, if wide viewing angles are important, then get the LG; otherwise, the Samsung is a better choice.
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Best Small Smart TV: TCL 43S517
Usage Ratings - Version 1.37.5Mixed Usage7.1Movies7.5TV Shows7.1Sports8.1Video Games7.1HDR Movies7.8HDR Gaming7.9PC MonitorIf you want a small TV with great smart features, the best small smart TV is the TCL 5 Series/43S517 2018. It's a decent LED UHD TV with a wide color gamut, great dark room performance, and low input lag for gaming or use as a PC monitor.
This TV has great smart features. There are hundreds of streaming channels (apps) available, so you won't need to worry about having an external streaming box like an Apple TV connected to the TV. It can also stream files directly from your mobile device, similar to a Chromecast.
Unfortunately, it doesn't have a local dimming feature, and the smaller models don't support motion interpolation. It can't get very bright and the image degrades when viewed at an angle. Overall, however, it's a decent 4k TV that should please most people.
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Gaming Alternative: TCL 43S425
If you're looking for a TV in the same price range as the TCL 5 Series/S517 2018 with better gaming performance, get the TCL 4 Series/43S425 2019. It's not as bright as the other TCL but, on the upside, it has good dark room performance and the same great smart features. Gamers will appreciate the very low input lag that offers a responsive gaming experience and the fast response time that delivers very crisp motion with just minimal blur trail behind fast-moving content. Overall, this decent TV isn't expensive and will serve you well as a secondary gaming TV or a PC monitor.
Notable Mentions
- Samsung The Frame 2018: Good 4k TV, but extremely expensive. See our review
- Samsung RU7100: Good 4k LED LCD TV, but the Samsung Q60R is better. See our review
- Vizio V Series 2019: Decent TV, but the Samsung Q60R is a better choice. See our review
- TCL 3 Series/S325 2019: Decent TV for the price, but the TCL 43S517 is a better choice. See our review
- TCL S Series/S405 4k 2018: This is gradually being replaced by the S425. Get whichever one is cheaper. See our review
- Vizio E Series 2018: Great TV, but very hard to find. See our review
- Vizio M Series Quantum 2019: Great TV, but we have tested only the other variant (Mxx8) and can't be sure if this variant (Mxx7) will perform the same. We can't include it our recommendations, although it shows in the table. See our review
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best small 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 the list of all our reviews of small TVs. 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.
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