5 Best 40-Inch Smart TVs (2023 Guide)

In This Guide: Hisense 40-Inch Smart TV | TCL 43-Inch 4K UHD Smart TV | TCL 40-Inch Smart LED Roku TV | Toshiba Full HD Smart Fire TV | SAMSUNG 40-Inch Smart FHD TV | Buyer’s Guide | How To Care for Your 40-Inch Smart TV | FAQs

Whether you want to catch a football game or binge the latest episode of a series, a smart TV is your answer. However, 55-inch, 65-inch, and 85-inch TVs may sound too big, heavy, or expensive to you. In which case, opt for a 40-inch model that offers the same intuitive operating system. To help find the right TV for your needs, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best 40-inch TVs on Amazon. Check out our findings below. You can also learn more about the differences between television sizes and models in our TV buying guide.

Top 5 40-Inch Smart TVs

After researching several models, we’ve identified our top recommendations for 40-inch smart TVs:

• Best Remote Control: Hisense 40-Inch Smart TV
• Best Resolution: TCL 43-Inch 4K UHD Smart TV
• Best Roku TV: TCL 40-Inch Smart LED Roku TV
• Best Fire TV: Toshiba Full HD Smart Fire TV
• Best For SAMSUNG Users: SAMSUNG 40-Inch Smart FHD TV

Best Remote Control: Hisense 40-Inch Smart TV

Pros and Cons

✔ Has built-in surround sound and speakers for a crisp audio experience
✔ Weighs only 13 pounds
✔ Has a numerical keypad on the remote control for watching live TV

✘ Has some user complaints about the restrictions on the Android TV platform
✘ Features an LCD display, which is inferior to a full-array LED display

What Customers Are Saying

In their positive reviews, users primarily highlighted this 40-inch TV’s robust built-in speakers, quick and easy setup, and Google Assistant compatibility. Some users also appreciated how lightweight this TV was. However, some customers complained about the TV being sluggish. One user also said that the included TV legs weren’t supportive enough.

Best Resolution: TCL 43-Inch 4K UHD Smart TV

Pros and Cons

✔ Has three HDMI inputs, including an Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) one for better sound quality
✔ Offers built-in Google Assistant to support convenient voice control features
✔ Comes at a competitive price

✘ Has a 60-hertz (Hz) refresh rate, which is slower than the 120-Hz refresh rate of most other 4K TVs on the market
✘ Has a cluttered operating system

What Customers Are Saying

Positively, customers who reviewed this 43-inch TV were impressed with its 4K resolution, especially considering that it was within the same price range as 1080p TVs. Satisfied users also appreciated the access to thousands of applications through the Google TV operating system. Negatively, some customers had issues with the color bleeding from the display.

Best Roku TV: TCL 40-Inch Smart LED Roku TV

Pros and Cons

✔ Sits elevated with the included legs
✔ Includes one ARC connection for Xboxes and other video game consoles
✔ Can move it from room to room, as it weighs just over 13 pounds

✘ Has a 1080p resolution instead of a 4K one
✘ Dated as a 2019 model

What Customers Are Saying

Overall, users appreciated the familiarity of the Roku operating system, which allowed them to easily navigate to Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming applications. They also said that the picture quality was adequate, meeting their expectations for the price. Conversely, some customers experienced software issues after several months of use.

Best Fire TV: Toshiba Full HD Smart Fire TV

Pros and Cons

✔ Includes an Alexa-enabled remote control
✔ Uses DTS Virtual: X technology to create a rich and immersive audio experience
✔ Comes in a smaller 32-inch size if 40 inches is too large for you

✘ Doesn’t have an automatic low-latency game mode like other Toshiba smart TVs do
✘ Has a direct-lit LED display, which is a step down from a full-array one

What Customers Are Saying

Customers primarily gave this smart TV positive ratings, as it had high-quality built-in speakers, Apple AirPlay support, and Amazon Alexa voice control. Some buyers who left lower ratings said that the remote control stopped working after less than 30 days. They also didn’t like how sensitive the inactivity timer was.

Best For SAMSUNG Users: SAMSUNG 40-Inch Smart FHD TV

Pros and Cons

✔ Includes three AAA batteries for the remote control
✔ Displays a greater contrast of color with its Micro Dimming Pro technology
✔ Connects to Wi-Fi for streaming

✘ Has only two HDMI ports
✘ Has conflicting images about what legs come with it

What Customers Are Saying

Many customers who purchased this SAMSUNG smart TV said that the setup was quick and easy. They also said that the 1080p resolution was crisp and clear for not being 4K. However, some unhappy customers complained about the quality and the volume of the sound from the built-in speakers.

While 40-inch TVs are generally less expensive and robust than larger models, they still have many smart capabilities. Below, we break down these capabilities and other factors and specs to help you make a purchasing decision.

Resolution

Resolution refers to the number of pixels on a TV’s screen. The higher the resolution, the clearer the image. While 4K is becoming the new resolution norm for smart TVs, you can still find more affordable 1080p TVs. You may also see even high-end 8K TVs, though they’re expensive and hard to come by.

Refresh Rate

Refresh rate refers to the number of times the picture on the screen refreshes per second. Hertz (Hz) is the unit of measurement for this. While 60 Hz is the standard, shoot for 120 Hz if you watch a lot of videos with rapidly changing scenes.

Platform

Smart TVs come with a built-in operating system. Some TV manufacturers have their own streaming platform, while other TVs use a third-party platform, such as Roku TV, Android TV, or Fire TV. Whatever the case, make sure that this platform is compatible with the apps and devices you want to use with your TV.

Sound

TV screens are lighter and thinner than ever before, but this comes at the cost of speaker quality. For a premium audio experience, we recommend purchasing a separate soundbar. Usually, manufacturers sell soundbars that are specifically designed for their TV models.

Inputs

Your 40-inch smart TV should have a panel on the back or side of the screen with HDMI ports, USB ports, headphone jacks, and other inputs. This is a necessity if you want to use speakers, gaming consoles, and other devices with your TV.

How To Care for Your 40-Inch Smart TV

The average lifespan of a smart TV is around five years, but some models can last up to a decade. By taking proper care of your new TV, you’re bound to get more use out of it. Here are our tips on how to maintain it.

Turn Off the Power

Many users let their TV go idle when they’ve paused a show or movie, often forgetting that it’s still on. Simply pressing the home and power buttons on your remote control saves electricity and prevents the pixels on the display from burning out so quickly.

Leave Some Room for Ventilation

Don’t situate your 40-inch smart TV directly against a wall or on an entertainment center. The rear and bottom of the TV should have at least a few inches to “breathe” since they give off heat during long hours of operation.

Fortunately, nearly every TV comes with legs that leave enough room between the bottom of the TV and the surface of the TV stand to allow for air circulation. However, also make sure that your TV is away from any other items on your TV stand. If you decide to mount your TV, the mount should be at least a few inches from the wall.

Carefully Dust the Screen

Using a clean microfiber cloth, periodically wipe the surface of your TV screen. This minimizes dust buildup, which can scratch the surface. Make sure that the TV is cool and off before you dust it.

Use a Surge Protector

As with most electronic devices in your home, plug your TV into a surge protector. This is especially important, considering you may have other devices plugged into your TV. In the event of a storm or a different malfunction, a surge protector can prevent these valuable electronics from short-circuiting.

Secure the TV

Keep the power cords to your TV and its accessories out of any walkways where someone could accidentally trip over them. If your TV is on a stand, keep it from tipping over by securely fastening the legs. If you opt for wall mounting, check that all of the mount’s pieces are fastened to each other and to the TV.

Frequently Asked Questions About 40-Inch Smart TVs

What is the highest resolution available for a 40-inch TV?

The highest resolution for 40-inch TVs is 4K. However, the majority of 40-inch TVs use 1080p, which is a step down from 4K. TVs that measure more than 40 inches may have an 8K display, though this is rare and expensive.

How do I know if a TV is “smart?”

The first sign that you’re looking at a smart TV is if it has a built-in streaming platform, such as Roku TV, Fire TV, SAMSUNG TV, or Google TV. From there, you can look for other smart features, such as voice assistance.

What size TV should I buy?

Ultimately, the best screen size comes down to where you’re putting the TV. Take special note of how far from the TV screen you’ll be. The best viewing distance for a 40-inch TV is seven to 10 feet away, which is about how far away the bed in a bedroom or guest room is going to be from the TV. For an open and spacious living room, you might want to consider a 55- or 65-inch model.

Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team

This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.

We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.

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