Just because you aren’t buying a big-screen TV doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get great picture quality. If a model measuring 40 to 49 inches is the proverbial “just right” for your space, we recommend looking first at LG’s C3 Series. The 42- and 48-inch C3 OLED TVs are every bit as good as their larger counterparts, delivering wonderful picture quality for movies, TV shows, and games.
But if you’d like to spend less or get a more decor-conscious, lifestyle-oriented TV, we have other recommendations in this size range, too.
Our pick
This versatile OLED TV delivers the best picture quality in the 40- to 49-inch size range and is also great for gaming. But it doesn’t come cheap.
This versatile OLED TV delivers the best picture quality in the 40- to 49-inch size range and is also great for gaming. But it doesn’t come cheap.
The LG C3 OLED TV—available in both 42- and 48-inch screen sizes—claimed our runner-up spot for the best OLED TV and is our favorite gaming TV, so it’s no surprise that we also think this model is the best TV you can buy in the 40- to 49-inch size range.
Like the larger sizes in the C3 Series, the OLED42C3 and OLED48C3 boast the strengths that make OLED TVs the best-looking screens available—namely, perfect black levels that pair with above-average screen brightness to create impeccable contrast, a rich color palette that makes high dynamic range (HDR) content really pop, wide off-angle viewing, and excellent screen-response time that’s ideal for serious gaming.
The C3’s webOS smart-TV platform is not our favorite way to stream content, but it gets the job done. The TV’s sturdy but lightweight design makes it feel deserving of its price. In fact, other than webOS feeling a bit outdated, the high price is the only drawback of the C3 in this size class.
Budget pick
Offering solid picture quality and the intuitive Roku smart-TV platform, this 40-inch HDTV delivers great value—if you don’t mind the 1080p resolution.
Not everyone is looking to shell out big bucks for the best-looking 40- to 49-inch TV available. If you want a modest-size TV that delivers a pleasing picture and a smooth user experience for a low price, we recommend the 40-inch Roku Select Series HD 40R2A5R.
This TV sidesteps the price increase associated with a 4K resolution, instead delivering a workmanlike, full-HD (1080p) image that pairs nicely with its built-in Roku smart-TV platform. (Roku also sells a separate Select Series 4K line that includes a 43-inch model, which we plan to test.) Like its smaller Select Series HD sibling—our pick for the best 32-inch TV—the 40R2A5R provides respectable image contrast, good color accuracy, and low input lag for a TV in this price range.
However, this LCD TV doesn’t have any of the advanced picture technologies that elevate our favorite budget and high-end 4K LCD TVs, such as quantum-dot color and mini-LED backlighting. And it isn’t bright enough to fare well in brighter-than-average rooms.
The included Roku remote is easy to use and has built-in voice-search functionality. You also get three HDMI 2.0 inputs and compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant.
Also great
This 43-inch TV stands out for its artwork-inspired presentation, but it’s also just a really good TV. A subscription is necessary to make best use of the art-centric features.
If you’re looking for a 40- to 49-inch TV that can hide in plain sight, blending into the aesthetic of any room it’s in, Samsung’s The Frame may pique your interest. The 43-inch model (QN43LS03BAF) delivers the same bright, richly appointed image as many of Samsung’s upper-tier QLED TVs do, but it’s disguised as a work of art.
The Frame is meant to continue looking great even when you aren’t watching it. When it isn’t playing TV shows or movies, it enters a low-power state and displays an image of your choosing on a matte screen that makes it look more like art than video.
Naturally, you pay more for this TV to gain that artsy functionality: This model usually costs as much as our top pick but doesn’t come close to matching it in image contrast. You also have to pay for a subscription to access the full range of art options.
