Best 40 inch TV: our pick of sets perfect for smaller spaces

When shopping for a new television, it's always very tempting to go bigger, but the best 40 inch TVs are ideal additions to the home, whether as a secondary screen or a smaller one for the bedroom or study.

And choosing a smaller model doesn't mean you need to compromise on quality, with most 40 inch TVs sporting 4K resolution, surround sound, and OLED or QLED panels that match bigger models from the top brands.

Many also have built-in smart assistants such as Alexa or Google Home, allowing you to control your TV using just your voice. In short, the only difference between a 40 inch TV and something bigger is the size. 

Below we rank the best 40 inch TVs around right now, from older 2020 models that still hold up to brand-new sets that offer the absolute best visuals and smart features. Read on to see what we thought, or head over to our ranking of the best TV brands for more.

The best 40 inch TVs in 2023

A TV designed to be turned off as often as it is turned on. When not watching movies and TV, the Frame TV from Samsung looks just like a framed work of art, photo, or smart display with clock or weather reports. You can even customize the bezel to suit the rest of your home decor. 

The QLED 4K resolution is good on its own, of course, but it's the design where the Frame really puts its best foot forward. The separate box allows the set to sit flush to the wall like a picture would, and the Art Store includes a vast array of different options to choose from.

One of the best features is a power-saving motion sensor, which means the TV will only display your chosen images when someone is in the room, powering down when left alone.

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Samsung's Neo QLED TVs are recommended for unmatched brightness, ensuring you're not reaching to close the curtains even on sunny days. With a Neo Quantum Processor 4K upscaling everything using AI and Quantum HDR 24X, keeping colors bright and vibrant, you'll enjoy stunning visuals no matter what.

Sound is also good, with the Samsung QN90A sporting OTS (Object Tracking Sound) Lite to create the effect of audio coming from different areas of the screen, depending on what you're watching.

As a bonus - the QN90A looks good even when you've finished watching. Ambient mode displays everything from works of art to your family photos while using less power.

If you're looking for a good, solid 40-inch TV on a budget, and the latest specs aren't essential to you, then the Sony X800H 4K LED TV is a great choice. At $1000, you get Dolby Vision visuals and Dolby Atmos sound, with X-Reality PRO upscaling content to 4K.

The TV also has voice control through built-in Google Assistant, which you can access through a dedicated button on the remote. The X800H also works with Alexa and Apple HomeKit, but you need an existing speaker to connect. An older model, but still a good one for most households.

Probably the best small TV amongst the 2021 crop, the A9S features the best of Sony's tech along with a gorgeous 4K OLED panel, Google and Alexa smarts built-in, and Android TV for all of your streaming needs.

Sony is the leader of the pack when it comes to visuals and sound, and that hasn't been compromised for a smaller model. Instead, the Picture Processor X1 Ultimate is responsible for the dazzling picture quality, and 4K X-Reality PRO and Object-Based Super Resolution helps to upscale older and lower-resolution content.

Acoustic Surface Audio is another excellent feature, creating the illusion that all sounds come from different parts of the TV for greater immersion. Ambient Optimization also promises to adjust everything to match the environment in which you're watching. Overall, our pick for the best 40 inch TV around right now.

An older model hailing from 2020, the LG CX still earns its place on this list due to its future-looking-for-the-time specs, a bevy of visual and audio-boosting features, and gamer-friendly design.

The a9 Gen 3 AI processor works away in the background to provide stunning and detailed visuals, using AI Picture Pro, AI Sound Pro, and AI 4K Upscaling to ensure everything you watch looks its best. Dolby Vision IQ also adjusts the picture based on ambient conditions and the genre of what you're watching.

Similarly, Dolby Atmos sound is a welcome presence. You can use the CX's AI Acoustic Tuning, which uses TV and remote signals to map surroundings to adjust audio to the room's dynamics. 

Gamers are catered for by NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync compatibility to keep stuttering and tearing to a minimum which, along with the other features, sets the LG CX apart.

Caroline Preece

Caroline is the go-to expert on A/V technology for Livingetc, spending her time testing and reviewing everything from smart appliances to the latest big screen TVs. This list of the best 40 inch TVs was built using the knowledge of the industry she has gathered over the last ten years and real-world testing conducted by both her and experienced freelance writers. TVs are ranked based on how well they work in the home, as well as their specs and design.

How to choose the best 40 inch TV for your home

Is a 40 inch TV big enough?

TVs in the range of 40-49 inches are on the smaller end of the scale, with only 24-inch and 32-inch sets below them, so you may be asking whether one would be big enough. This, of course, depends on where you plan to place the TV.

A 40 inch TV is perfect for a number of situations, including as a bedroom TV, a TV for the kids, or in a smaller space. Many choose a set in this size range as a secondary TV, but those who want to spend less and who don't particularly want their set to dominate the living space may also go smaller.

How much should I spend on a 40 inch TV?

The cost of the best 40 inch TVs can vary widely but, generally speaking, you won't pay more than $2000 even for the latest models with the most up-to-date specifications. For example, the most expensive entry on our list - the 48-inch Sony A9S - costs $1800 at the time of writing. 

Of course, if you don't need an OLED screen or top resolution, the price can drop significantly. Budget brands such as Vizio and TCL offer models for less than $300, while others range anywhere between these two price points.