Every year, TVs improve in quality, brightness, and capabilities due to innovative new technologies and intense competition.
Even smaller and more budget-friendly models are benefiting from these advancements, making it an excellent time to upgrade a bedroom, dorm, or kitchen TV—if you know where to look.
If you’re looking to buy a small TV for someone in your life, we’ll help you find one that offers great picture quality and modern smart features across various styles and price points. Get ready to sit back, put down the laptop, and enjoy big thrills on a not-so-big screen.
Even though 55-inch and 65-inch TV models have become the most popular, smaller TVs still hold significant value for many.
These smaller sizes are ideal for a secondary TV in places like student dorm rooms, guest rooms, or even in a kitchen if space permits. While you might not get the most advanced features or the best picture quality, there are still many good-quality TVs available in smaller sizes.
6 Best Small TVs 2024
1. LG C3 OLED
The LG C Series OLEDs have consistently been some of the best small TVs available, and the LG C3 OLED is no exception, offering unparalleled quality in its size range. This TV boasts exceptional picture quality, deep blacks, and high peak brightness.
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It’s available in several sizes, including a 42-inch model perfect for an office or guest bedroom. The LG C3 comes with a plethora of extra features and excellent image processing, making it handle low-quality and low-resolution content impressively. It also supports advanced audio and video formats, making it an excellent option for a small home entertainment setup.
HDR content looks stunning on the LG C3 due to its near-infinite contrast ratio and wide color gamut, ensuring vibrant content. Its almost instantaneous response time makes it ideal for gaming, providing clear motion without blur or ghosting. All four HDMI ports support HDMI 2.1, allowing for 4k @ 120Hz gaming, and it supports all variable refresh rate (VRR) technologies, making it perfect for the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or a PC with a recent graphics card.
The LG C4 OLED is now available and also offers a 42-inch model. It features a new processor, can achieve up to 4k @ 144Hz, and is purportedly brighter than the C3. However, it’s significantly more expensive at launch, so unless you need those upgrades, the cheaper C3 is a better choice while it’s on sale.
2. SAMSUNG 70-Inch Class QLED 4K Q60C
For those seeking a TV smaller than 42 inches, the best very small TV is the Samsung Q60C QLED. Available down to a 32-inch model, the Q60C isn’t as advanced as the LG C3 OLED or Samsung QN90C/QN90CD QLED but is one of the few TVs available in very small sizes without sacrificing performance or native resolution.
It offers decent picture quality, adequate contrast, fantastic black uniformity, and good peak brightness in SDR. It handles glare well, making it suitable for offices or bedrooms with a lot of light, especially for watching SDR content.
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The Q60C includes a built-in smart interface with a great selection of streaming apps, eliminating the need for a separate streaming device. However, it lacks advanced gaming features like VRR technology.
Although it supports HDR, it lacks a local dimming feature and doesn’t get bright enough for HDR content to stand out.
The Samsung Q60D QLED is now available in 32-inch and 43-inch models. It runs a newer version of the Tizen OS, has a refreshed design, and offers minor improvements in picture quality and sound. However, it’s quite expensive at launch, so the Q60C remains a better value.
3. Roku 32″ Select Series
The best budget small TV is the Roku Select Series. Comparable in quality to the Samsung Q60C QLED but more affordable, it comes in a wider range of sizes, including smaller 24- and 32-inch 720p models and a 40-inch 1080p model.
It isn’t the brightest TV in HDR but offers decent performance for watching movies in dark rooms with adequate contrast, great black uniformity, and excellent color and HDR brightness accuracy. It also has good peak brightness in SDR.
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The Roku Select Series is a good gaming TV if you don’t need advanced features like VRR and 60Hz refresh rate but offers fast response times and low input lag.
It includes the Roku TV operating system, which is user-friendly and packed with apps. The remote features an integrated microphone for voice commands and a headphone jack for private listening. Overall, it offers a good user experience, especially at its price point.
For Costco members, the Hisense A6/A65K might be a slightly better option at a similar price, but the Roku is a great choice if Costco isn’t an option.
4. Sony 43 Inch 4K Ultra HD TV
For those wanting more features without paying a premium, the Sony X85K is the best mid-range small TV. It offers more premium picture quality than cheaper models and is available down to a 43-inch size.
Thanks to its great SDR peak brightness and good reflection handling, it’s better suited for bright living rooms. It also displays deep blacks in dark rooms due to its high native contrast ratio, though it lacks a local dimming feature.
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Unlike many mid-range TVs, the X85K includes gaming features like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and VRR support, making it fully compatible with the Xbox Series X and PS5. Even if you don’t game, the Google TV interface offers a wide range of apps for streaming your favorite content.
5. SAMSUNG 43-Inch Class Neo QLED
If you often watch TV in a bright room, the Samsung QN90C QLED, an LED TV, is a better choice than the LG C3 OLED.
The Samsung QN90C offers superb picture quality, exceptional peak brightness, and a wide array of gaming features.
It excels in handling reflections, making it ideal for very bright rooms. While it still performs well in dark rooms with its high contrast ratio and Mini LED local dimming, it does have more blooming around bright highlights compared to the LG.
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The QN90C is available in smaller 43- and 50-inch sizes, which are particularly good for gaming, supporting up to 4k @ 144Hz on all four HDMI 2.1 ports. However, these smaller models have a narrower viewing angle, so it’s best to sit directly in front for optimal picture quality.
The TV also includes VRR to reduce tearing and has very low input lag, making it a fantastic choice for a small gaming room.
The Samsung QN90D QLED, now available, comes in 43-inch and 50-inch models, supporting 4k @ 144Hz and featuring a new processor for better overall picture quality. However, it’s much more expensive at launch, so the QN90C is a more cost-effective option while still available.
6. TCL S3 series
The TCL S3 series is an excellent choice for those looking for a small-screen TV with good performance and solid features on a tight budget. Its 1080p resolution ensures a clear and sharp picture even from a few feet away, complemented by relatively good brightness and HDR support.
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The S3 series includes a voice remote for easy search and navigation, and it offers a variety of streaming platforms, including Roku OS (my favorite smart TV platform), Google TV, and Amazon’s Fire TV.
However, it’s important to note that the Google TV and Fire TV models only come with two HDMI ports, while most TVs typically have four. Despite this limitation, the TCL S3 is a decent TV available at an incredibly low price.
What to Look for in a Small TV?
When shopping for smaller TVs, it’s essential to consider various factors to ensure you’re getting the best performance and features within your budget. Recent advancements in TV design have brought many high-end features to smaller and more affordable models.
Here are the key aspects to consider when selecting a small TV:
1. Screen Size and Resolution
Resolution is crucial for picture quality, but screen size also plays a role in how we perceive detail. Many small TVs now offer at least 1080p “Full HD” resolution, which is significantly sharper than 720p “HD” displays, especially on screens 32 inches or smaller.
- 1080p vs. 720p: A 1080p TV will look much clearer and more realistic than a 720p TV when viewed up close, but from across the room, the difference is less noticeable.
- 4K Ultra HD: Moving up to 4K resolution offers four times the pixels of 1080p, but on sets smaller than 40 inches, the improvement in detail and clarity might not be as significant. However, 4K HDR TVs deliver the best picture quality with superior brightness, contrast, and color reproduction, especially for HDR content.
2. QLED and OLED
Advanced panel technologies like QLED and OLED can significantly enhance picture quality:
- QLED TVs: These use quantum dots to improve color vibrancy and brightness over traditional LED displays.
- OLED TVs: These are self-emissive, lighting each pixel individually for superior image control, resulting in better contrast and more natural colors. While more expensive, QLED and OLED TVs provide a better viewing experience.
3. Advanced Features and Specialty Designs
Gamers and sports enthusiasts should look for TVs with low input lag and excellent motion handling. Key features include:
- HDMI Inputs: Ensure the TV has enough HDMI ports for your devices, with two or three being typical for small TVs.
- VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode): These features optimize your TV for gaming with next-gen consoles and PCs.
4. Aesthetics
Consider the design and aesthetics of the TV, especially if it’s a focal point in your room. Ultra-slim panels and TVs designed to resemble framed pictures can enhance your decor but typically come at a higher cost.
By weighing these factors, you can find a small TV that fits your needs and budget while offering excellent performance and features.