The Best 43-inch TVs In 2025: A Budget Way To Get 4K

We're spoiled for choice right now when it comes to quality TV. Andor has just wrapped up its second season, and it won't be long until The Bear is back and has us hooked. If you have a spare moment between your favourite shows, there's a chance you've thought about whether your current TV is as good as it should be, and how it holds up against the best TVs of 2025.

We've watched our favourite shows on sets of all sizes, but the potential of a 43-inch screen shouldn't be underestimated. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that ultra-high resolutions and stunning visuals are something only larger TVs are capable of, but that's not the case anymore. There are many eye-catching displays at this size, and if your living space means that a 32-inch TV is too small and a 55-inch set too large, you'll find plenty of options to choose from at 43-inches.

However, as one of the more popular screen sizes on the market, there's no shortage of options – making it harder to narrow things down. It's easier to spot a value for money TV when there are fewer on the market – 40-inch TVs, for instance. Fancy-sounding features can disguise a TV which lacks the fundamentals. There are some key factors to bear in mind before you make your decision.

The number of pixels (the resolution) you choose will affect the detail and quality of the TV's image. A full-HD set (1080p) will have over twice the number of pixels of a half-HD set (720p). For gamers, the refresh rate will need to be good enough to avoid choppy motion and distortions. There are different screen types, such as LED, OLED and QLED to reckon with, as well as your budget and how far it stretches. You may even be quite happy with your current brand of TV and want to find one that's the same or similar. And unless you're looking for a soundbar too, you need to make sure that the audio quality of the TV you're considering is good enough for your needs.

That may sound like a lot, but we're here to break everything down and help make your choice easier. We're familiar with what makes a good TV and what can be expected from a 43-inch screen. As home cinema enthusiasts we settle for nothing less than brilliance when it comes to our TV experience.

How we chose the best 43-inch TVs

We've selected the best 43-inch TVs based on criteria such as trusted brands, value for money, unique selling points, and overall user reviews. We examine the technical specifications of each TV we consider to ensure our list is comprised of only the best TVs for resolution, visual quality, sound quality, and design. We also consider the user experience, such as how easy it is to set up the TV and connections or to navigate its menus. Wherever possible, our writers will share their personal insight and hands-on experience regarding a TV they have personally reviewed. Once chosen, we weigh up the strengths and weaknesses of each TV again, and rate their key features. As for retailers, we prioritise those that are well-known and trustworthy while offering great prices. Find out more about how we recommend products.

All prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices, stock and deals are subject to change without notice.

Best 43-inch TVs in 2025

Expert's choice: The best 43-inch TVs

The Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED is a brilliant all-rounder that is sure to please. The ease-of-access to streaming services and compatibility with other devices (speakers and headphones, for instance) make it very user-friendly. Plus, the HDR10+ Adaptive gives it an amazing sense of contrast, so just about any content should look enriched and engaging.

If sound quality is your focus, then we think there's a strong case for the Sony BRAVIA KD-43X75WL. The speakers are rich and can capture bass strong enough to draw you into a movie. Tweak a few settings, and for watching sports, you can feel the roar of the crowd. Immersion is the name of the game for the display too. The slim bezels ensure no screen space is wasted, so you get a TV that is both stylish and highly practical.

We're also fond of the TCL 43RC650K QLED Roku TV, which we find to be a fantastic option for seeing the difference that a QLED screen can make. It's affordable, easy to navigate, and the vibrant colours work wonders with animated shows.

What to look for in a 43-inch TV

Needing to narrow down your choices but not sure how to go about it? We've got you covered. Don't be overwhelmed by fancy-sounding features and tech jargon. Read on for the things to consider when browsing for a new TV.

What you're watching

Depending on what type of content you plan to view on your TV, you should prioritise different features and specifications. Specific genres and mediums will favour one or two areas over others.

If you expect that you'll use your 43-inch TV primarily for movies and TV shows, then factors such as resolution, HDR and potentially refresh rate matter most. Resolution is directly tied to the detail of the display, and HDR influences the colours and contrast, so these will be responsible for how visually impressive the final image is. Refresh rate matters for sports and action movies, since a lot of motion is likely to happen on screen, so a solid refresh rate of no lower than 60Hz will reduce the likelihood of choppiness. Audio might not matter quite as much, since you can always add a soundbar or surround sound system to get better audio quality than the TV can offer by itself.

As for gaming, refresh rate and response time should be prioritised. Smooth motion matters for video games since you'll be reacting to every frame. Even in a turn-based title like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, you must eliminate any choppy frames if you want to parry an attack consistently. Response time matters too, as this will be how frequently the pixels update their colours, and thus plays a similar role to refresh rate for gaming. Resolution is absolutely worth pursuing as well, as you can appreciate the gorgeous visuals of high-end AAA games best if you have a 4K display to view them with. With the Nintendo Switch 2 now capable of 4K output, those planning to play in docked mode most of the time will definitely want to prioritise the resolution.

Where you're watching

A 43-inch TV is versatile. However, because it could end up in a living room or a bedroom, you'll want to look into the specs to ensure that you're picking a TV which best suits its intended location.

Brightness matters in a lot of ways. It's not always in our control how bright or dark it is around a TV, but choosing a screen with good brightness options can help keep what you're watching visually discernible when it's dark. Likewise, if you think the area might be too bright, a TV with good contrast options should help make the colours come through more distinctly. Ideally, you'll be able to get a TV that excels in both of these factors.

Although our focus here is 43-inch TVs, you should still ask yourself if that's the right size for where you want it to go. If you're looking for a bedroom TV, a 32-inch TV might be more suitable and save you some space. And, irrespective of size, if you're planning on watching your new television into the early hours then one with Bluetooth might be the way to go. This will allow you to listen without disturbing others by pairing compatible headphones.

Smart features

Many people now watch shows and movies through streaming services and apps rather than regular TV broadcasts. It's commonplace for TVs to feature at least a few major ones pre-installed (such as Amazon Prime or BBC iPlayer) and plenty of operating systems will let you download more. Even so, it's worth scouting out the options available to your TV before buying, just in case it's missing one that you use a lot and it doesn't allow you to add this post-purchase.

Think about your budget

Although you can invest in a high-end TV and enjoy an unmatched viewing experience, you don't need to choose something expensive to get a quality 43-inch TV. There are plenty of budget and mid-budget models in this size range, and they almost all offer great features to enhance what you watch. Modern 43-inch TVs can boast a 4K resolution, partner it with HDR10, and have a refresh rate of at least 60Hz, all without reaching costly prices. In short, don't feel pressured to choose something over £1,000.

Another factor worth keeping an eye out for is the energy rating. Every TV has an energy class rating that reflects how much power it consumes while powered on. If you want a screen that won't cost as much in the long term, pick one with a better energy class. Unfortunately, most 43-inch TVs sit in class F or G, which is the lower end, but it's still worth bearing in mind.

TV Terminology

It's easy to get tangled up in TV jargon, so to help you decipher what each important term means, we've included a short glossary of a few key areas we think are worth knowing. This way, you should have a deeper understanding of what to look out for when buying a TV, both now and in the future.

Resolution

This refers to the level of pixel density on screen, so it plays a direct role in how detailed the final image appears. You may be familiar with high definition (HD), also known as 1280 x 720, or 720p. Modern budget TVs will often sit at full HD (FHD), which is a step above the HD of previous generations. However, the best 43-inch TVs will be 4K, which has about four times the detail of what FHD is capable of. We've included a lot of 4K models in our list, as it has become increasingly common for this to be the standard. Higher resolutions do exist, such as 8K, but these are usually only designed for larger screen sizes.

OLED and QLED

It's common for a budget or older TV model to have an LCD LED screen, but those that use the most recent tech may feature an OLED or QLED screen. As alternatives to an LED screen, they each have their strengths.

An Organic LED (OLED) screen does not use an LED backlight. That means that instead of having a specific layer to illuminate the screen, the pixels light themselves. As a result, the sense of contrast between bright and dark colours is very apparent, and the screen should work well regardless of angle or external lighting conditions. Plus, since there's no need for a backlight, OLED TVs can be slightly slimmer, although they often end up a bit pricier.

A Quantum Dot LED (QLED) screen adds a layer to the TV. The backlight now passes through a layer of Quantum Dots that enhance the final image. QLED screens tend to feature more vibrant colours than other display types. They have comparable strengths to an OLED screen and are most often found in the price range between LED and OLED.

Refresh rate and response time

Refresh rate refers to how often the pixels on the screen update. Higher refresh rates will update more frequently, and as a result, motion will appear smoother on the TV. This is most obvious when watching sports, a fast-paced action movie, or playing a video game. A refresh rate of 60Hz is fairly standard for a 43-inch TV, as higher rates tend to only appear on larger models or smaller monitors. For most users, 60Hz should be sufficient, but gamers may want to prioritise a screen with a 100Hz or above rate if possible, or a TV with additional gaming features.

Response time is how fast it takes for the pixels to change colour. Measured in milliseconds, you'll often find that modern TVs are at 5ms or 1ms. As a feature, this matters most for those who want to get the best out of their screen setup and account for every detail, but for most cases, it doesn't need to be a priority for a 43-inch TV.

High Dynamic Range (HDR)

As a feature in many TVs, HDR is responsible for expanding the colour palette available to your TV and further refining the detail and contrast. By itself, HDR offers a palette of over one billion colours, so it's a significant addition for any quality TV to have. HDR can offer vibrant and gorgeous displays rather than dull, saturated images. There are various forms of it, such as HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision, each with its own enhancements.

Operating System (OS)

The operating system is the software that the TV runs on. When using your TV, this will mainly affect the menu and navigation layout. It's the same idea as a computer that runs on Windows OS or macOS. It's not as dramatic a difference for TVs as it is for computers, but you may well prefer one OS over another.

Latest updates

This article was first published in June 2025. Future relevant additions and amendments will be noted here.

Kyle Purves is a tech writer and reviewer. They specialise in all types of tech and electronic products, including TVs, monitors, speakers, headphones and consoles.

They have a passion for gaming and are always seeking ways to improve their visual setup. They're also no stranger to hunting down savings, always wanting to get the best deal possible. Outside of work, they can often be found playing through an RPG, building Gundam models, or trying to catch up with their ever-expanding list of shows and anime to watch. If possible, they try to play Dungeons and Dragons a couple of times a week, but getting six adults to be free at the same time is easier said than done.