The best 43-inch TVs: Excellent quality in a space-saving size

My pick for the best 43-inch TV is the Samsung QN90C for its Pantone-validated QLED screen, Dolby Atmos support, object tracking sound, and support for the Samsung Gaming Hub. The Gaming Hub gives you access to cloud gaming services like Amazon Luna, Xbox GamePass, and GeForce Now so you can play your favorite PC games from the comfort of your couch or wherever you travel. It also supports Samsung's Q Symphony feature, which allows you to connect compatible sound bars to use in unison with your TV's integrated speakers for enhanced audio for music, movies, and shows.

The answer to this question entirely depends on what you want to use the TV for. If you're looking for a simple upgrade, you'll want a TV that offers the same access to your favorite apps as the model it's replacing as well as better picture and sound quality. 

For movie and TV buffs, picture and sound quality are top priority. So you'll want to look for TVs with support for HDR codecs like Dolby Vision or HDR10+ as well as Dolby Atmos for virtual surround sound or object tracking sound for audio that follows the on-screen action. And console gamers will want a 43-inch TV with a dedicated gaming mode that helps reduce input lag and boosts picture contrast, as well as providing plenty of HDMI inputs for multiple consoles.

While testing and researching each 43-inch TV featured on this list, I kept the following criteria in mind:

• Picture and sound quality: Whether you're looking for a smaller, secondary TV for your bedroom, or a high-quality 43-inch TV for your apartment or dorm room, it's important to get the best picture and sound you can for your budget. I made sure to include TVs at different price points which support Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR10, and/or Dolby DTS for enhanced picture and sound.
• Connectivity: If you've cut the cord with your satellite or cable provider, it's important to choose a TV that has a preloaded suite of popular apps. And if you still watch broadcast television or have Blu-Ray/DVD players, game consoles, and sound bars, you'll need a TV with plenty of HDMI inputs. Each TV featured in this article features a preloaded suite of apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video as well as at least 3 HDMI inputs.
• Price: No two TV budgets are going to be the same, as some may be looking for ultra-low budget models as a temporary solution and others are willing to spend top-dollar to check every box on their "must-have" list. I've done my best to include TVs at budget, mid-range, and premium price points.

A 43-inch TV isn't going to work for every person or every space in your house, but it can be a great option if you're looking for a secondary screen in your bedroom or child's playroom, or a smaller TV for apartments and dorm rooms.

A 43-inch TV doesn't mean you have to compromise on must-have features, either. Many new, smaller TVs still offer the same features as their big-screen counterparts, like: voice controls, OLED panels, virtual surround sound, HDR support, and even dedicated sports or gaming modes. A smaller TV is also going to be more budget-friendly, making a 43-inch model a great choice if you're looking to save money on a TV upgrade.

Unless you're talking about TVs from brands you've never heard of, the TVs on offer at Walmart are often the exact same models you'll find at Best Buy and other big tech retailers. Brands often have contracts with multiple retailers to maximize their chances of selling well as well as to increase their market share. 

If you've got your eye on a fancy LG or Sony OLED TV or a big-screen Samsung, the one for sale at Walmart will be identical to the one you buy directly from the brand or at another, tech-focused retailer. The only real differences you'll notice will be in the buying process itself as well as return policies and customer service quality.

Televisions used to have a much longer shelf life than they do now (I only very recently trashed the 19-inch Zenith CRT that I'd had since I was about 10 years old), but you can still get a lot of mileage out of yours. Since smart TVs need regular firmware updates, and brands are constantly releasing new models or entirely new product line-ups, there are now limitations for how long your TV will last; this is due to brands dropping support for very old models to help free up resources for new models. 

But don't worry! You can still expect to get at least 5 good years of use out of your new TV, and perhaps as many as 10 years if you keep up with regular firmware updates and don't have any major issues like hardware failure or accidents like flooding.

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