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 ideal for a secondary TV, such as in a student dorm room 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 from these smaller models, you still want a TV that delivers decent performance and image quality. You may also 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 can determine which small TVs are worth buying based on your budget and usage.
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. Most of our picks are around 42-43 inches, with one 32-inch model. If you need something smaller, consider looking at the best multimedia monitors. 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:144HzScreen Finish:GlossyPanel Type:OLEDSub-Type:WOLEDDolby Vision:YesSee all our test resultsSizes:42" 48" 55" 65" 77" 83"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 C5 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 aren't as bright as the larger sizes of the TV, they're still bright enough to fight glare in a room with a few overhead 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, 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, Switch 2, or a PC with a high-end GPU. Finally, it runs LG's webOS, which is loaded with apps, so you don't need to pair the TV with an external streaming device.
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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 C5 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 and similarly vibrant colors as on the C5, and it comes with almost all the same features. It's not nearly as bright as the C5 in HDR, but it has just good enough HDR brightness for an impactful HDR experience. Unfortunately, it's significantly dimmer in SDR than the C5, so it's best suited for dark or dimly lit rooms.
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. You won't find 144Hz support on the TV as you do on the C5, 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. Like the C5, it runs webOS, which gives you access to every common streaming service.
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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 in HDR to provide an impactful experience. Additionally, its poor contrast results in blacks looking gray during most scenes, so it doesn't look very good in a dark room. Fortunately, it has decent processing overall, which helps to clean up low-resolution and low-quality content.
The TV utilizes Samsung's Tizen OS, which gives you access to a big selection of streaming apps. The smart platform also allows you to cast content from your phone, control the TV with your voice, or play your own videos off a USB stick. 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. If you're considering this TV in the 43-inch size, you're better off going with our pick below, since it offers very similar image quality for a fraction of the cost.
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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's available in a 43-inch and 50-inch model, so you have a couple of options on the smaller end. It has worse processing and motion handling than the Samsung Q8F, but other than that, you get incredibly similar image quality. 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. Highlights in HDR movies, shows, and games don't stand out as they should due to its limited brightness, and the TV struggles to take advantage of the wide color range used in HDR content, leading to an underwhelming HDR experience.
The TV performs poorly in removing artifacts from low-quality content, but it excels at upscaling. 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 at all, but it outperforms other similar models, so it's a solid, cheap option.
Notable Mentions
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Samsung QN90F:
If you mostly watch content in a very bright room, the Samsung QN90F is a good alternative to the LG C5 OLED. The Samsung is significantly brighter, and it utilizes a matte screen coating, so it easily overcomes glare in even the brightest rooms. However, the LG offers superior image quality and performance, so only go with the Samsung if you need its bright room capabilities.
See our review -
Samsung QN42S90FAEXZA:
The 42-inch Samsung S90F OLED is an alternative to the LG C5 OLED. Unfortunately, the 42-inch model uses a WOLED panel instead of the QD-OLED panel found on the larger sizes, so it doesn't have the increased color vibrancy. Therefore, the C5 is better since it supports Dolby Vision and has better image processing.
See our review
Recent Updates
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.
Dec 10, 2024:
Refreshed the text in the introduction for clarity and 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.