Small can indeed be beautiful, as these 42 and 43-inch sets that pack in all the clever tech and great picture quality of their larger flagship siblings prove
It’s not all that far back in the mists of time when 48 inches was considered a big TV size. Surprising then that it took until 2020 for even the first 48in OLED TV to hit shops – and for some, that’s still far too big.
Buyers of ‘small’ TVs – 42 or 43-inch sizes that are a much more convenient size for the living rooms many of us inhabit – have therefore for a while been at a disadvantage when it comes to genuine flagship quality. The more home cinema-friendly 55-65-inch screens is where you’ll find the best quality displays, cleverest processing and most fully-featured specs – that previously haven’t been trickled down to smaller sized TVs. In short, until now, those with modestly sized rooms have been barred from owning the best TVs.
This last year though has seen true flagship performance hitting the TV small-time, with 42-inch OLEDs finally available in the form of LG’s OLED42C2 and Sony’s 42A90K. The quality of LCD TVs smaller than 55 inches, meanwhile, has also until very recently been disappointing – until Samsung’s QE43QN90B stepped in to provide a 43-inch Mini LED alternative.
We’ve gathered all three of these brilliantly-sized TVs and put them to the test, pitching each one’s picture quality, features and sound quality against one another and the larger screen sizes in each one’s respective ranges.
For all the convenience of size, there are downsides to a more compact TV, of course. Smaller OLED panels won’t go as bright as their larger siblings due to the Organic Light-Emitting Diodes being packed closer together, for example.
Additionally, smaller TVs tend to struggle more than their larger counterparts when it comes to delivering convincing audio, too. But as always we’d recommend partnering these fantastic TVs with at least a good quality soundbar.
Otherwise, you should expect mostly the same great picture quality, rich feature sets and capable performance that these TVs’ larger siblings provide. Whether you’re short on space, looking for a second TV for, say, a bedroom, or need it as a gaming monitor, you’ll be well served by the TVs featured here. As smaller versions of flagship models, they still represent the cream of the crop – still premium, just a bit more bijou.
So, if you’re after flagship quality with a more compact footprint, follow us over the next few pages as we shine a spotlight on these small wonders of the TV world.
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Samsun
