Even though 55-inch and 65-inch TV models have become the most popular sizes, smaller TVs are still important to many people. These sizes are great for a secondary TV, like in student dorm rooms or a guest room, and if you have the space, even in a kitchen. Although you usually won't get the most advanced features or the very best picture quality, you still want a TV that delivers decent performance and image quality. However, you may want a small top-of-the-line gaming TV to use in place of a monitor, and there are a few solid options for that as well.
By putting dozens of TVs a year through our meticulous testing process, we're able to determine if a TV is bright enough for use in a well-lit room, if it displays vibrant colors, if it has the contrast needed to look good in a dark room, and whether or not it has good gaming performance and smart features. Different people have certain needs and budgets, so our list has options for almost anyone. 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. However, there are 27-inch monitors that can be used in place of a TV.
Below are our picks for the best small TVs or the best small smart TVs available. See our recommendations for the best 40-42-43-inch TVs, the best 32-inch TVs, and the best multimedia monitors if you need something smaller than 32 inches, or vote on which TVs you want us to buy and test. To learn more about the 2024 models, check out our 2024 TV lineup page.
LG's C Series of OLEDs have been some of the best small TVs you can buy for the past several years, and the LG C4 OLED is no different, as nothing else comes close to it in this size. It's a fantastic option with incredible picture quality, and it's available in a wide range of sizes, including 42 and 48-inch models that are great for an office or small bedroom. Although the 42 and 48-inch sizes don't have LG's Brightness Booster technology, they're still bright enough to overcome glare in a room with the lights on and provide an impactful HDR experience. You also get deep, inky blacks due to its perfect black levels, so the TV looks amazing in a dark room. Additionally, it displays a wide range of colors, so content looks vibrant and lifelike.
The TV even has great image processing, and it supports Dolby Vision HDR and DTS audio formats, so whether you're watching old DVDs or high-quality 4k streams, you'll be pleased with the image it provides. Its nearly instantaneous response time makes it great for gaming, resulting in crystal-clear motion. It supports HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on all four of its HDMI ports, allowing for 4k @ 144Hz gaming with VRR, meaning you can take full advantage of the PS5/PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X|S, or a PC with a recent graphics card.
If you mostly watch content in a bright room, an LED TV like the Samsung QN90D/QN90DD QLED is better than the LG C4 OLED. The Samsung is an impressive TV with amazing picture quality, and it has incredible peak brightness and stellar reflection handling, making it easy to see in very bright rooms. You don't get the same inky blacks as you do on the LG C4, but you still get impressive black levels thanks to its Mini LED local dimming feature, although there's some blooming around bright highlights in dark scenes. The TV's upscaling is on par with the C4, but its low-quality content smoothing is worse. Fortunately, the TV displays vibrant and lifelike colors that are sure to impress.
It supports 4k @ 144Hz on all four of its HDMI 2.1 bandwidth ports, and it has VRR support. Additionally, it has very low input lag and a fast enough response time for minimal blur behind fast motion. These features make it a great choice for those who need a gaming TV to pair with their Xbox Series X, PS5/PS5 Pro, or a gaming PC. Sadly, the TV's viewing angle is only okay, so you do have to sit directly in front of the screen for the best picture quality. It's available in 43 and 50-inch models.
If you're looking for something smaller than 42 inches, the best very small TV we've tested is the Samsung Q60D QLED. It's available in a wide range of sizes, down to a very small 32-inch model. Although it isn't nearly as good as the LG C4 OLED or the Samsung QN90D/QN90DD QLED, it's one of the few TVs you can buy in a very small size without sacrificing performance or reducing the native resolution. It delivers decent picture quality with an okay contrast ratio, vibrant colors, and very good peak brightness in SDR. It handles glare well thanks to its decent reflection handling, making it a good choice for an office or bedroom with lots of light, especially when watching SDR content.
Sadly, it lacks advanced gaming features like VRR technology to reduce tearing, although that is to be expected for a cheaper model. Although it supports HDR, it doesn't have a local dimming feature and can't get bright enough for HDR content to really stand out. The TV does have good upscaling capabilities, but unfortunately, its low-quality content smoothing is poor.
If you really like what the LG C4 OLED offers but find it too expensive, consider the LG B4 OLED. The 48-inch model is the smallest size available, but if you can fit that size into your room and into your budget, it's hard to beat. You get the same inky blacks and vibrant colors as you do on the C4, and it comes with almost all of the same features. The biggest knock against it is that it's not as bright as the C4 in HDR, but it still has good enough HDR brightness for an impactful HDR experience. It also has similar SDR brightness and reflection handling, so it can handle some glare in a room with the lights on.
It even has the same upscaling capabilities as its more expensive sibling, and its low-quality content smoothing is only slightly worse. You won't find 144Hz support on the TV like you do on the C4, but you still get four HDMI 2.1 bandwidth ports for up to 4k @ 120Hz gaming with VRR. You also still get exceptionally low input lag and a nearly instantaneous response time for crystal-clear motion.
If you want a basic, small TV with otherwise good image quality, consider the Hisense A7N. It's available in a 43-inch and 50-inch model, so you have a couple of options on the smaller end. It has fewer gaming features than the other TVs on this list, as it's limited to a 60Hz refresh rate and doesn't have HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, but it still supports VRR. It also has a great response time and very low input lag, so it's a good gaming TV if you don't care about 4k @ 120Hz. It even supports Dolby Vision and DTS audio passthrough, which is great for a TV this cheap.
It's not the brightest in HDR, but it's decent for watching movies in a dark room due to its ability to display a wide range of colors and its not bad contrast. Plus, the TV has very good peak brightness in SDR, resulting in a pleasant viewing experience in a room with the lights on. Unfortunately, its viewing angle is very narrow, so you do need to sit directly in front for the best possible image. Still, it's a good option if you want something smaller that doesn't look bad. Just keep in mind that the 43-inch model has a reduced feature set, so if you want all the settings that the other sizes offer, you will want to go with the 50-inch model.
The Roku Select Series is a good alternative to the Hisense A7N and has slightly better contrast and a wider viewing angle. However, the Hisense has a much wider color gamut, supports VRR and Dolby Vision, does a better job handling reflections, and performs better with upscaling, so it provides better overall image quality.
See our reviewRefreshed the text in the introduction for clarity and accuracy.
Sep 17, 2024: We replaced the LG C3 OLED, the Samsung QN90C/QN90CD QLED, and the Samsung Q60C QLED with their 2024 successors. We also replaced the Sony X85K with the LG B4 OLED in the 'Best Mid-Range Small TV' category and updated the Notable Mentions.
Jun 25, 2024: We refreshed some text throughout the article for accuracy and clarity.
Apr 26, 2024: Added mentions of the Samsung Q60D QLED, Samsung QN90D QLED, and LG C4 OLED in the 'Best Very Small TV,' the 'Best Bright Room Small TV,' and the 'Best Small TV' categories, respectively. We also refreshed some text throughout for clarity.
Feb 29, 2024: Added more information to the Amazon Fire TV Omni Series and the LG OLED Flex for clarity in our Notable Mentions. Also included a link to our 2024 TV lineup page and refreshed the text about the LG C3 OLED.
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best small TVs or the best small smart TV 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 TVs that are available in 43-inch sizes and 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.