The 8 Best 40 Inch LED Televisions
Updated by · How we research
Full HD 40-inch sets and 43-inch 4K models compared on picture, smart platform and ports; the TCL 43F7D leads for its color and HDR support. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Nearly every 40-inch TV is full HD, because makers start 4K at the 43-inch class, a screen only about two and a half inches wider. So the real choice is between a true 40-inch set that fits a tight shelf or cabinet and a 43-inch one with sharper streaming. This list covers both, for bedrooms, kitchens and dorms.
From the manual
- Only the 65- and 75-inch sizes accept a 120 Hz signal, so the 43-inch runs games and video at 60 Hz. p. 1
- Wall mounting takes a VESA 200 x 200 bracket and four M6 x 12 mm screws, neither included; leave the stand legs off. p. 6
- Plug in the Ethernet cable before you hang it, since the network port sits on the back of the 43-inch. p. 6
- The warranty runs one year, and TCL may swap a set 43 inches or smaller for a new or refurbished one instead of repairing it. p. 10
Why the TCL 43F7D is our top pick
Our pick plays Dolby Vision as well as HDR10+, the two formats that tune the picture scene by scene,1 while our runner-up, the Samsung M70H, lists HDR10+ only.3 So the F7D gets the scene-by-scene treatment whichever of the two a show uses. It also adds a quantum dot layer that its maker says covers nearly all of the DCI-P3 color range used for HDR films;1 the Samsung relies on a processing mode it calls Color Booster.3
The runner-up's mini LED label buys less than it sounds. Samsung's own footnote says its dimming is done in software, not by full-array hardware,5 and the F7D lists plain LED backlighting,1 so neither lists true local dimming. Elsewhere they match: both run at 60 Hz in this size,2,4 both have three HDMI inputs, one of them an audio-return port for a soundbar,2,3 and neither remote has number keys.2,4
The M70H does win on software support: Samsung promises seven years of Tizen upgrades for its 2026 sets.3 If that matters more to you than Dolby Vision and a quantum dot layer, the Samsung is the better fit; for streaming movies, the F7D offers more.
| TCL 43F7D | Samsung M70H | |
|---|---|---|
| HDR formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG | HDR10+ |
| Color | Quantum dot layer | Color Booster processing |
| Backlight dimming | None listed | Software-based |
| Refresh rate at 43 inches | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| OS upgrades promised | Not stated | 7 years |
Sources
- TCL 43F7D 1Product page, TCL Canada (French) 2Quick start guide, 43-75F7D (PDF), pp. 1, 7, 8
- Samsung M70H 343-inch product page 42026 TV user guide (PDF), pp. 230, 280
- 5Abt: Samsung's footnote on M70H dimming
From the manual
- The remote that comes with the M70H has no number keys; a button brings up a numeric keypad on screen instead. p. 280
- The 43-inch size tops out at 60 Hz; the M70H's 120 Hz support starts at 55 inches. p. 230
- Streaming apps need a Samsung account; without signing in, only HDMI devices and antenna TV work. simple user guide, p. 1
- Wall mounting calls for a 200 x 200 bracket with M8 screws 23 to 25 mm long. installation guide, p. 2
Compare the specs
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Product | Resolution | HDMI inputs | Soundbar port | HDR formats | Bluetooth | Wall mount (VESA, mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. TCL 43F7D | 4K | 3 | (e)ARC (HDMI 3) | Dolby Vision, HDR10+ | Yes | 200 x 200 |
| 2. Samsung M70H | 4K | 3 | eARC | HDR10+ | Yes, 5.3 | 200 x 200 |
| 3. Roku Select 40R3E5 | 1080p | 3 | — | HDR10 on select models | — | — |
| 4. Amazon Ember 4-Series | 4K | 4 | eARC | HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | — | — |
| 5. Hisense 40QD4SR | 1080p | 3 | No eARC | — | No | 100 x 200 |
| 6. Hisense 40A4NF | 1080p | 3 | eARC (HDMI 3) | None listed | Yes, 5.0 | 200 x 100 |
| 7. Samsung UN40F6000 | 1080p | 2 | eARC | HDR10+ | Yes | 200 x 200 |
| 8. Westinghouse WX40FA2800 | 1080p | 3 | ARC (HDMI 2) | None | Yes, 5.1 | 200 x 100 |
Values come from the makers' spec pages and manuals; the Ember row comes from PCMag's review of the 43-inch set. Hisense Canada lists Dolby Vision for the 40QD4SR on a sheet that also calls this full HD set 4K, so that cell is left blank. Every set here runs at 60 Hz at these sizes.
Sources
- TCL 43F7D Product page, TCL Canada (French) Quick start guide, 43-75F7D (PDF)
- Samsung M70H 43-inch product page Installation guide, 43-85 inch (PDF)
- Roku Select Product information, Roku-made TVs
- Hisense 40QD4SR specifications (Canada) 40A4NF specifications (Canada)
- Samsung F6000F 40-inch spec page
- Westinghouse 40-inch Xumo TV spec page
- PCMag: Amazon 43-inch Ember 4-Series review
From the manual
- Smart Hub apps stay locked until you accept Samsung's service agreement and its terms for collecting personal information. p. 40
- With Anynet+ switched on, the TV remote can run a soundbar or player over HDMI, up to 12 devices. p. 30
- Its USB player handles video files up to full HD, including the AV1 and HEVC formats. p. 182
From the manual
- Put batteries in the remote within 15 minutes of first plugging in the TV and it pairs by itself. p. 5
- Activation needs a phone or computer at xumo.com/activate; a Xumo account with payment details is optional. p. 6
- The 40-inch wall-mounts with four M4 x 10 mm screws, which aren't included. p. 10
- The one-year warranty covers home use only; commercial use and burn-in from static images are excluded. warranty card, p. 1
Editor's Notes
November 5, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
We read the makers' manuals for four of the eight picks, added a spec table and a section on why the TCL leads, and listed each manual's setup and warranty points under its pick. We corrected three claims: the Hisense 40A4NF takes Alexa through its remote rather than hands-free, the Samsung F6000F's drawback is its dim picture and two HDMI inputs, not its price, and the guide's wall-mount sizes now match the sets here.
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
A 43-inch set now leads a 40-inch list, and that's on purpose. The TCL 43F7D adds 4K, a quantum dot color layer and both major high-contrast video formats for not much more than a good full HD set, and the 43-inch class is the smallest size where makers sell 4K LED sets. If a shelf or cabinet caps you at 40 inches, the Roku Select 40R3E5 and the Hisense 40QD4SR are the ones to look at.
Every old pick was a 2020 or 2021 model that has since been replaced, from the Samsung Q60A to the Sony X800H and the LG UN7300, so all seven are gone. The Frame by Samsung lives on in its current version among the special honors. We also cut one of the best-selling 40-inch sets from the shortlist, because reports of frozen screens and bursts of loud static came up far too often.
Small TVs get few lab reviews. We leaned on What Hi-Fi's and TechRadar's 40- to 43-inch roundups, the makers' spec sheets and port layouts, failure patterns in owner feedback, and a recall search for every brand here.
Earlier notes
March 30, 2021, by Christopher Thomas:
In truth, there aren't a ton of brand new TVs in the 40-inch class, as manufacturers tend to reserve their most advanced features for larger models. But that doesn't completely preclude small spaces from having good-looking TVs, as evidence by the Samsung Q60A. While it's not exactly cheap, its picture quality is essentially unrivaled by others its size. The Frame by Samsung preforms marginally better and is much sleeker, but costs notably more, and the Samsung TU8000 is a good choice for movie buffs on a budget.
Last year's TCL S525 remains one of the top mid-range options and punches far above its weight class as far as cost goes. If you want to save even more money, the TCL S435 is a passable solution, but performs notably less well than its more expensive relative. Finally, if daytime television like sitcoms and sports matches are your goal, the LG UN7300 is an excellent low-budget choice, although it's not going to deliver immersive, cinematic productions the way most others will.
Moving forward, LG announced at CES 2021 that they will be releasing a 42-inch OLED called the LG A1. When that's released, it will almost certainly be the best performing and most expensive TV in the size class. [2026 update: LG's first 42-inch OLED arrived in 2022 as part of the C2 series, not the A1; its current successor is listed under special honors.]
January 24, 2020, by Christopher Thomas:
While they're nowhere near as impressive as today's largest displays, 40-inch TVs are still pretty big, and you can sit relatively close to one without being able to make out individual pixels. For this reason, they're often pretty good alternatives to PC monitors, although you won't be able to take advantage of full 4:4:4 chroma at 4K resolutions while also displaying HDR content -- but that just means they're not very future-proof, because that limitation is based on the bandwidth ceiling of HDMI 2.0b. In truth, the biggest drawback of the 40-inch class is that because they're not incredibly popular or very expensive, there aren't as many high-end models around, you'll miss out on things like high-quality HDR processing and OLED technology. On the plus side, though, they're considerably more affordable than larger models.
Now that we've just said that, the Vizio M437-G0 is one of the rare ones that actually goes against the general convention of these low-cost TVs. It features premium specifications and great contrast levels, using the same quantum dot filtration found in the Samsung Q60R, which is an excellent TV in its own right. Speaking of the smartphone giant, the Samsung RU7100 is a mid-range option that, while a bit short of high-end features, delivers a very good picture that most users will be quite happy with. The same can be said of the LG UM7300, and in fact, some users prefer its webOS interface to Samsung and even the TCL-adapted Roku. But not everyone feels that way, so if you're looking for a user-friendly streaming experience, you should definitely check out the TCL S525, which costs relatively little and offers perfectly good image quality.
If you're okay with dropping a bunch of cash, check out the Sony X800G, which looks simply great but is still pretty expensive when compared to the performance of most others. And if you have plenty of money to burn, The Frame by Samsung should be on your radar; it's one of the most aesthetically pleasing TVs ever released, but it's also one of the most expensive in terms of cost per square inch.
Special Honors
LG OLED evo C-Series 42-Inch LG's 42-inch OLED is the small TV that reviewers rank highest. Each pixel lights itself, so black scenes stay black and the picture holds up from the side. It also has a faster-refreshing panel for games. It costs about three times as much as a 43-inch 4K LED set, which keeps it off the main list. lg.com
Samsung The Frame 43-Inch The Frame looks like a framed picture when it's off, showing artwork on a matte screen that cuts glare, and its bezels can be swapped for colored or wood-look ones. It mounts nearly flush to the wall. The current 43-inch version costs far more than an ordinary 4K set of the same size. samsung.com
40 Or 43 Inches, Full HD Or 4K
Screen sizes are measured on the diagonal, and TV makers round them into classes.
Screen sizes are measured on the diagonal, and TV makers round them into classes. A 40-inch class set is about 35 inches wide, and almost all of them are full HD (1080p). The 43-inch class, with a 42.5-inch viewable screen and a width of about 37.7 inches, is where 4K begins. That's why this list mixes the two sizes: for a couple of inches more, you get four times the pixels.
Is the extra sharpness visible on a small screen? TechRadar says it is, and recommends 4K with HDR when the budget allows. Michael Desjardin, who has tested TVs professionally for more than a decade, took the other side in his August 2025 Tom's Guide review of Samsung's 40-inch F6000F: on a 32- or 40-inch display, he wrote, "you're probably not going to notice (or care) about the difference." Full HD still looks clean on a 40-inch set across a bedroom or kitchen, and it's what you'll find in the lowest price tier.
Before you buy, measure the spot, not just the screen. Many budget sets stand on two feet near the ends rather than a center pedestal. Hisense lists a stand span of about 28.6 inches for its 40-inch sets, so a narrow dresser or shelf may need a wall mount instead. Check the VESA pattern in the spec sheet (200 x 100, 100 x 200 or 200 x 200 millimeters on most sets here) and use the screw length the manual lists.
LED, QLED, Mini LED And OLED
Almost every TV at this size is an LCD panel lit from behind by LEDs, which is what "LED TV" means. A QLED set adds a film of quantum dots that makes colors richer and brighter; it doesn't add resolution, so a 40-inch QLED is still full HD. Mini LED means many smaller LEDs, which on premium sets can dim in hundreds of zones for deeper blacks. On a budget set, the term doesn't promise much dimming, and makers rarely publish the zone count.
OLED is a different technology. Each pixel makes its own light, so dark scenes can go fully black. What Hi-Fi names a 42-inch LG OLED its best small TV overall, but OLEDs this size cost about three times as much as a good 43-inch 4K LED set. We list one under special honors.
For streaming, look for HDR support. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ are the two formats that adjust the picture scene by scene. TCL supports both. Samsung skips Dolby Vision on all its TVs, and many budget sets list only basic HDR10 or none at all (Dolby).
Platform, Ports, Sound And Safety
The smart platform shapes daily use as much as the panel does. Software support varies by maker: Samsung, for one, promises seven years of Tizen upgrades on its 2026 sets, though that promise doesn't cover the hardware. Most home screens now carry ads, and many TVs track what you watch to target them; look in the privacy settings to switch that off.
Count the HDMI inputs. A console, a soundbar and a streaming stick fill three, and some cheap 40-inch sets have only two. An input marked eARC sends full-quality sound to a soundbar. Speakers in thin TVs are small, and both What Hi-Fi and TechRadar suggest a soundbar for anything beyond casual viewing. Gamers should expect a standard 60 Hz panel at these prices; a game mode lowers delay, but 120 Hz 4K gaming needs a pricier set.
TVs tip over, and young children are the most at risk. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Anchor It campaign explains how to strap a TV to the wall or mount it. Any set can arrive faulty or fail in the first weeks, so keep the box until the return window closes.
How we researched this
We compared 15 TVs from eight brands at 40 and 43 inches and narrowed them to 9 finalists. For the picks we read TCL's 43-75F7D quick start guide, Samsung's 2026 user guide and M70H installation guide, Samsung's 2025 user guide for the F6000F series and Westinghouse's Xumo TV quick start guide and warranty card, along with the spec pages from TCL, Samsung, Roku, Hisense Canada and Westinghouse. Lab results came from PCMag's test of the 43-inch Ember 4-Series and Tom's Guide's review of the 40-inch F6000F, with the small-TV roundups at What Hi-Fi and TechRadar for context; we found none for the TCL, the Samsung M70H, the Roku, the Hisense sets or the Westinghouse. A November 2026 search of the CPSC recall database found no recall for any of these TVs; the only TV recall there since 2023 covers an 86-inch LG model.
Sources (13)
- What Hi-Fi: best 40- to 43-inch TVs
- TechRadar: best 40-inch TVs
- PCMag: Amazon 43-inch Ember 4-Series review
- Tom's Guide: Samsung F6000F review
- TCL: 43-75F7D quick start guide (PDF)
- Samsung: 2026 TV user guide (PDF)
- Samsung: 2025 TV user guide (PDF)
- Roku: Roku-made TV product information
- Hisense Canada: 40QD4SR specifications
- Westinghouse: 40-inch Xumo TV
- Dolby: Dolby Vision
- CPSC: Anchor It
- CPSC recalls database
Frequently asked questions
Is a 40-inch TV big enough for a living room?
For one or two people sitting close, yes. For a family across a typical living room, it will look small. A 40-inch set suits bedrooms, kitchens, dorms and offices best.
Is 4K worth it on a 40- to 43-inch TV?
Usually, if the price gap is small. 4K starts at the 43-inch class, and TechRadar says the extra detail shows on small screens too. If your space caps you at 40 inches, full HD is the norm and looks fine at a distance.
Do I need a soundbar with a small TV?
Not for news or casual shows, but thin TVs have small speakers. For movies and sports, a soundbar on the eARC or optical output is a clear step up.
Is an OLED TV the same as an LED TV?
No. LED TVs are LCD panels lit by LEDs from behind. OLED pixels light themselves, which gives deeper blacks. The smallest OLEDs are 42 inches and cost far more.
Which 40-inch TV is best for gaming?
Look for a game mode, which cuts input delay, and enough HDMI inputs. The sets here run at 60 Hz. The Amazon Ember 4-Series can also stream games from the cloud without a console.
How do I mount a 40-inch TV?
Find the VESA pattern in the spec sheet, buy a mount rated for it and the TV's weight, and use the screw length the manual gives. If it stays on a stand, anchor it to the wall.
