The 5 best small TVs of 2022: All under 43 inches

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Small TVs are a great choice for tiny rooms like college dorms, bedrooms, playrooms, or apartment living rooms. With 32- or 43-inch screen sizes, they’re perfect for tucking away on a shelf, dresser, or dedicated stand and offer more placement options for wall mounting without taking up a ton of space. And just because you can’t have a gigantic screen, that doesn’t mean you have to give up awesome features.

Brands like Sony, Samsung, and LG have small TVs that still offer the kinds of features you’ve come to expect for home entertainment, including integrated voice controls, 4K resolution, streaming capabilities, Bluetooth connectivity, and screen mirroring. Even brands like TCL and Hisense, while being more budget-friendly, still offer small smart TVs with core features for streaming movies and shows. 

Not all small TVs are created equal, so I put together a short list of the best ones you can buy and have broken down their features to help you find the perfect fit for your space as well as your wallet.

Also: Best 32-inch TV deals right now

pros

  • Dolby Atmos/Doby Vision support
  • Voice controls
  • AirPlay 2 support
cons

  • Only 60Hz refresh rate
  • No Chromecast or Apple HomeKit support

Screen size: 43-inches | Resolution: 4K | HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Panel type: LED 

If you’re looking for a TV that’s on the smaller side, you’d be hard-pressed to find one better than the Sony X80K. The 43-inch screen delivers top-notch 4K resolution that’s enhanced by Sony’s proprietary Motionflow XR technology which reduces motion blur for buttery-smooth action as well as Dolby Vision HDR for even better color and detailing. 

The TV’s processor also uses Sony’s XR-reality pro technology to upscale non-4K content so everything from old Hollywood classics to early 2000s sitcoms looks as good as the hottest blockbusters and Netflix originals. The X80K features a preloaded suite of apps like Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max so you can start streaming your favorite shows and movies right out of the box, and it’s optimized for use with the PlayStation 5, letting gamers get the most out of their new console. 

Plus, the voice-enabled remote works with both Alexa and Hey Google for hands-free controls, and you’ll be able to share media right from your smartphone or tablet with AirPlay 2. 

pros

  • Object tracking sound
  • 4K resolution
  • Remote PC access
cons

  • No Dolby Vision/Dolby Atmos support
  • Only 60Hz refresh rate

Screen size: 32-inches | Resolution: 4K | HDR: Quantum HDR, HLG | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Panel type: QLED 

If a 43-inch TV is still a bit too large for your space, the 32-inch Samsung Q60A is your best bet. Not only will you get great 4K resolution, but this TV also features Samsung’s object-tracking sound technology that follows the on-screen action for 3D audio without the need for extra speakers or soundbars. It even has built-in sensors that monitor ambient sound and light to automatically adjust volume and screen brightness so you can enjoy your favorite shows and movies in almost any environment. 

The voice-enabled remote works with Samsung’s Bixby, Alexa, and Hey Google for hands-free controls, or you can connect your new TV to the Samsung SmartThings app to better integrate it into your smart home network; the app allows you to use the voice assistant on the TV to control things like smart light bulbs and other electronics rather than needing to stay within range of a smart speaker. 

With the multi-view feature, you can watch two videos simultaneously; which is perfect for keeping up with news headlines or sports scores while also going through your third re-watch of Seinfeld or 3 hours of old Vine compilations on YouTube. You can even use the Q60A as a remote PC monitor, so you can access your desktop or laptop and work from the comfort of your couch.

pros

  • Built-in digital tuner
  • Great price
  • Works with Alexa and Hey Google
cons

  • Only 720p
  • Voice controls require app or smart speaker

Screen size: 32-inches | Resolution: 720p | HDR: N/A | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Panel type: LED 

For shoppers working with an extremely limited budget, the 32-inch TCL 3-Series is a saving grace. Retailing comfortably under $200, you’ll not only save money, but you’ll also still get a great smart TV. It uses the Roku platform to give you access to hundreds of streaming apps like Hulu, Spotify, and Paramount+ to let you start streaming right out of the box. 

You can also download the companion app to your smartphone or tablet to turn your mobile device into a voice-enabled remote for easier searching and browsing. The 3-Series also works with Alexa and Hey Google-enabled smart speakers for expanded voice controls and better integration into your smart home network. The Roku platform keeps your connected devices and most-used apps in a single, simplified home menu for easier access; which means no more navigating confusing menus or needing to memorize HDMI input names to watch a DVD, play a game, or launch an app. 

Additionally, the TV has a built-in digital tuner so you can watch local news and sports, even if you’ve cut the cord with your cable or satellite provider and moved exclusively to streaming. 

pros

  • 4K
  • Alexa support
  • AirPlay support
cons

  • No Dolby Vision/Dolby Atmos support
  • No Hey Google support

Screen size: 43-inches | Resolution: 4K | HDR: HDR10, HLG | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Panel type: LED 

If you’ve cut the cord and moved to exclusively streaming your shows and movies, the 43-inch Amazon Fire TV Omni Series is the perfect TV for your space. Since it runs on the Fire TV platform, you’ll not only get access to things like built-in Alexa voice controls and the Prime Video app, but also hundreds of other apps and even Alexa Skills to turn your TV into the ultimate entertainment hub. 

You’ll also get great 4K resolution and Dolby Digital Plus audio for a more cinematic experience. You can connect the TV to compatible Echo speakers for whole-home audio while streaming music or use the built-in microphone to make two-way calls with your TV and stay in touch with family and friends. 

With support for Apple AirPlay, you’ll be able to share media from your iOS mobile device for more ways to entertain. You can set up a custom home audio system via Bluetooth connectivity or the HDMI ARC port to take advantage of everything your soundbar, subwoofer, and speakers have to offer.

pros

  • Ample ports and connections
  • Bluetooth surround ready
  • Dedicated game mode with VRR support
cons

  • No Dolby Atmos or Dolby Vision support
  • No A/V connections for certain console generations

Screen size: 43-inches | Resolution: 4K | HDR: HDR10, HLG | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Panel type: LED

Console gamers whose living rooms or dedicated gaming spaces are on the smaller side will love the 43-inch LG NanoCell 75. It has a dedicated game optimizer mode that lets you adjust both white and black balance for better colors and detailing as well as choose a picture mode that best suits your favorite game genres or toggle VRR settings on and off. It has 3 HDMI inputs as well as an RF connection so you can set up multiple consoles, including retro ones like the SNES for the ultimate gaming space. 

With Bluetooth surround sound, you can connect up to two wireless speakers, soundbars, or subwoofers to create a custom home audio configuration that provides a more immersive experience without a headset. The NanoCell 75’s processor uses LG’s ThinQ AI technology to provide excellent native and upscaled 4K resolution so current and older generation games look their best. The TV works with Alexa, Hey Google, and even Siri for hands-free voice controls so you can switch on your console with a word. And sports game fans will love the sports alert feature which keeps you up-to-date on the latest scores, stats, and league standings so you can put together the ultimate fantasy roster. 

The Sony X80K is ZDNet’s top choice. 

The 43-inch screen delivers top-notch 4K resolution, as well as Dolby Vision HDR and also uses Sony’s XR-reality pro technology to upscale non-4K content. The X80K also features a preloaded suite of apps like Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max, and the voice-enabled remote works with both Alexa and Hey Google.

Small TV

Price

Resolution

Screen size

Sony X80K

$500

4K

43-inches

Samsung Q60A

$428

4K

32-inches

TCL 3-Series

$148

720p

32-inches

Amazon Fire TV Omni Series

$330

4K

43-inches

LG NanoCell 75 Series

$400

4K

43-inches

The first thing you need to do is hammer out a budget for your new TV. Not all small TVs are created equal, with some having relatively high price points while others, like the TCL 3-Series, are designed with strict budgets in mind. Once you know how much you’re willing to spend, the next step is to research brands and models to see which features are “must-haves” and which are “nice to haves” since fancier features like object tracking sound and Dolby Vision support will affect how much a TV costs.

Choose this small TV…

If you want…

Sony X80K

The best small TV overall

Samsung Q60A

The best 32-inch TV

TCL 3-Series

The best cheap (and still small) TV

Amazon Fire TV Omni Series

The best small TV for streaming

LG NanoCell 75 Series

The best small TV for gaming

Aside from screen size, I chose a variety of models from both big brands like LG and Sony as well as TCL and Hisense. I also picked models at different price points to accommodate almost any budget as well as TVs that still offered features that you’ve come to expect for home entertainment: streaming capabilities, screen mirroring, 4K resolution, HDR support, and voice controls.

To find the ideal TV size for a smaller bedroom, you’ll have to measure (in inches) from where the TV will be mounted to the wall or placed on a dedicated stand or dresser, then divide that measurement in half. If your bed or chair is between 64 and 86 inches (about 5 ft. 4 inches and 7 ft. 2 inches, respectively), either a 32 or 43-inch television will be perfect for your space.

Insignia offers a 24-inch Fire TV, though I didn’t include it on this list for a variety of reasons. The first of which being that a 24-inch screen is often too small for just about any typical space, including bedrooms, and second that for the price it’s not as good a value as it’s 32 or 43-inch counterparts. It retails for about $120 and has streaming capabilities, but only offers 720p resolution, 2 HDMI ports, and lackluster audio quality.

In 2022, LG and Sony both plan to launch 42-inch OLED televisions: the LG C2 and Sony BRAVIA XR A90K. Since pre-order links are not available yet (the C2 will release sometime in May while the Sony A90K will drop in July), but when they do launch, expect to pay a hefty price. The LG C2 will retail for $1,399.99, and Sony hasn’t released any pricing details yet, but I’ll be willing to bet it will have a similar price tag (if not a bit higher at around $1,499 or even $1,599).

There are a lot of options out there if you’re in the market for a 32 or 43-inch TV. Here is a short list of other small TVs I thought were great choices:

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