Best Small TVs Australia 2026:
32 to 43 Inch Sets, and How Long They Stay Smart

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links to amazon.com.au. If you buy through one of these links iFix may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It doesn't change which products we recommend. We focus on what actually lasts based on 16 years of repair-shop experience.

Which size fits the room

Small TVs get bought for bedrooms, kitchens, kids rooms, granny flats and the study, and in each of those rooms the furniture decides the size more than anything else. Measure the width of the chest of drawers, the bench or the wall space first, then add a bit of room either side. A 43 inch TV is roughly a metre wide including the frame, a 40 inch a little under, and a 32 inch about 73cm. Those are rough numbers, so check the listing or the maker's spec sheet for the exact width.

Distance matters too. In most bedrooms you're sitting or lying about 1.5 to 2.5 metres from the screen, and at that distance a 32 inch can look small while a 43 inch feels about right. In a kitchen you're usually further away and glancing at it, so a 32 or 40 inch is often plenty. For a kids room, I'd usually go smaller than you think, because the TV is more likely to get bumped, and a smaller set is easier to mount safely.

The picks below run from a 32 inch SKYWORTH at the entry end to a 43 inch LG Mini LED at the top, with a 40 inch, a second 43 inch and an LG 32 inch in between. I've put the LG 43 inch first because it's the best-ranked 43 inch smart TV on Amazon AU at time of writing and the one I'd buy for a bedroom used every night. If you want something bigger, the 55 inch TV guide picks up where this one stops.

4K, Full HD and HD at small sizes

Resolution is where small TVs differ most, and the listings don't always make it obvious. The LG 43 inch QNED70B is 4K. The SKYWORTH 43 and 40 inch models are Full HD, which is 1080p. The two 32 inch TVs are HD, which on Amazon AU listings usually means a lower resolution than Full HD, though neither listing gives the exact pixel count. At 32 inches and two metres back, that's less of a problem than it sounds, but on a 43 inch it's easy to see.

Here's how I'd think about it. On a 32 inch TV in a kitchen or kids room, HD is fine for free-to-air, YouTube and cartoons. At 40 inches, Full HD is the sensible minimum. At 43 inches, if you sit close or watch a lot of streaming in 4K, the extra resolution on the LG is worth having. Most streaming services charge more for 4K plans, so check what you actually pay for before you pay extra for a 4K screen you'll never feed.

HDR is the other label you'll see. All five picks list some form of HDR support, such as HDR10, HLG or HDR10 Pro. On a small, lower priced TV, HDR mostly means the set can read the signal, not that it can show it with real punch. That takes brightness and local dimming, which the LG's Mini LED backlight is built for and the others mostly aren't. I wouldn't pay extra for an HDR label alone on a small TV.

Google TV against webOS

The three SKYWORTH TVs run Google TV with Chromecast built in, according to their listings. The LG 43 inch runs LG's webOS, and the listing says it supports Google Cast and Apple AirPlay as well. The LG 32 inch listing only describes an integrated smart platform, without naming it, so check the product page if that matters to you. Both systems run the main Australian streaming apps, including Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video and Disney+, and both have voice search.

In practice, people who already use an Android phone or Google Home usually find Google TV easier, because casting from the phone just works and the recommendations follow your Google account. People with iPhones often prefer the LG because AirPlay lets them throw photos and video to the screen without an extra app. The menus feel different, but neither is hard to live with, and after a week most people stop noticing.

What matters more than the brand of software is how quickly it runs. Small, lower priced TVs often have slow processors and small amounts of memory, and that's what makes the menus lag after a few years of app updates. The listings don't state processor speed or memory, so I can't compare them on that. The LG lists its alpha 7 AI Processor Gen9, which is a step up from the processors in most small TVs, and that's one more reason it sits at the front of the list.

Software updates and how long a smart TV stays smart

The question I get asked most about small TVs isn't about the picture. It's why the apps stopped working on a TV that still turns on fine. Smart TVs depend on the maker updating the software, and on the app makers supporting that software. When updates stop, apps slowly drop off or stop logging in, and the TV becomes a screen with a tuner. It's the most common reason people replace a working small TV.

The LG QNED70B listing says the TV receives security updates until 31 December 2030, which is the only update promise on any listing here. The SKYWORTH and LG 32 inch listings don't state an update period. That doesn't mean they won't get updates, but you're taking it on trust. For a bedroom TV you'll keep for six or seven years, a stated update date is worth weighing alongside the price.

The good news is that a TV with dead apps isn't dead. Plug a streaming stick into a spare HDMI port and you've got current apps again for the cost of the stick. It's the fix I suggest most often for older TVs that come in. Our guide to streaming devices covers which ones to buy, and it's a far better move than binning a TV with a perfectly good screen.

Sound, and why small TVs sound thin

Small TVs have tiny speakers in shallow cases, and there's no way around the physics. The SKYWORTH listings mention Dolby Audio and several sound modes, and the LG listings don't make a big claim about sound at all. Expect clear voices at sensible volumes and very little bass on all five. That's fine for a kitchen or a kids room. In a bedroom used for movies, it starts to grate.

If sound matters, a small soundbar does more for a small TV than any upgrade in the TV itself. Check the TV has an HDMI ARC or eARC port before you buy one, because that lets the TV remote control the soundbar volume. None of these listings state the HDMI port count or whether one is ARC, so check the spec sheet. Our soundbars under $1,000 guide has options that suit a smaller screen.

Bluetooth headphones are the other option for bedrooms, where one person wants to watch while the other sleeps. The LG 32 inch listing mentions built-in Bluetooth, and Google TV generally supports Bluetooth audio, but the listings don't promise headphone support on every model. Test it in the first week while the return window is open. A wired headphone socket isn't mentioned on any of the listings.

Wall mounts, VESA and where small TVs go

Most small TVs end up on a wall or a bracket, especially in kitchens and kids rooms. Every TV uses a VESA mounting pattern, which is the spacing of the screw holes on the back, and the bracket has to match it. None of these listings state the VESA pattern, so look it up in the manual or the maker's spec sheet before you buy a bracket. Use the screws that come with the bracket, and fix it into studs or proper wall anchors, not plasterboard alone.

Kitchens are hard on TVs. Steam and grease from the cooktop get drawn into the vents at the back, and heat rising off an oven shortens the life of the power board and the backlight. Mount it away from the cooktop and out of the steam, and leave space behind it for air to move. A TV jammed into a cabinet with no airflow runs hotter, and heat is what ages the electronics fastest.

In kids rooms, the main risk is a TV pulled over. If it sits on furniture, use an anti-tip strap to fix the TV and the furniture to the wall, and keep cords out of reach. Small TVs are light, which helps, but a 43 inch set on a chest of drawers can still tip if a child climbs the drawers. A wall mount at adult height is the safest option, and it keeps little hands off the screen.

Power boards, storms and standby

The power board is the part of a TV I see fail most after a storm, and small TVs are no different. A surge on the mains can take out the power supply section, and the usual sign is a TV that won't turn on at all or clicks and goes dark. Plug your TV into a surge-protected powerboard, and unplug it during a big electrical storm if you can. A quality surge board is a small cost against the price of a new TV.

Standby power on a modern small TV is low, and none of these listings state a figure, so I won't guess one. Turning the TV off at the wall overnight saves a little power and also protects it from surges while you sleep, which on the Central Coast in storm season is worth doing. Our guide to smart home power savings has a few ways to automate that with a smart plug.

The other common fault is the backlight. Small LED TVs use strips of LEDs behind the screen, and when one strip fails you get sound but no picture, or a very dim picture. Running the TV at maximum brightness all the time shortens their life. Most TVs look better and run cooler with the brightness turned down a notch from the shop setting, and it's the easiest way to make the backlight last longer.

Warranty, sellers and what I left out

The LG 32 inch lists a 24-month warranty, the LG 43 inch a one-year limited warranty, and the three SKYWORTH TVs a one-year warranty. Australian Consumer Law can give you more than that for a TV that fails early, so keep your order email. The LG TVs are sold by Amazon AU, and the SKYWORTH TVs are sold by SKYWORTH Australia's own Amazon storefront, so you're buying from a local seller either way.

I left out smart monitors sold as TVs, because they usually have no TV tuner, and I left out 24 inch and 12V caravan TVs, which are a different job. I also skipped no-name TVs from overseas sellers and anything listed as renewed or refurbished, because a small TV is too low priced to gamble on a screen without local support. Every pick here is new stock from a local seller.

If you're choosing between a small TV and a fix for an older set, think about what's actually wrong with the old one. If the picture is fine and only the apps are slow, a streaming stick usually fixes it. If you want a bigger screen for not much more, the TVs under $1,000 guide covers 50 to 65 inch sets at prices close to the top of this list.

And if the TV you've got has a picture fault, power fault or a cracked screen, the workshop section below explains what usually fails and whether it's worth fixing. Cracked screens on small TVs are rarely worth replacing, because the panel can cost close to a new set, but power boards and backlights often are.

The 5 picks, $289 to $710

Prices are Amazon AU at time of writing (30 October 2026) and move week to week. Ranks are Amazon AU category sales ranks, checked the same day.

Side-by-side comparison

What we see fail in the workshop: small TVs

Small TVs fail in the same ways big ones do, just with less at stake, so the question is usually whether the fix is worth it against a new set. Three faults come in far more often than anything else. Here's what they look like, why they happen and when it's worth getting one looked at before you replace it.

Decision tree: which one should you actually buy?

• Want the best small TV for a bedroom you'll keep for years? → The LG 43 inch QNED70B at $710 is 4K Mini LED with webOS and security updates promised until 31 December 2030.
• Want a 43 inch screen without paying for 4K? → The SKYWORTH 43 inch Q5600H at $439 is Full HD QLED with Google TV and Chromecast built in.
• Need something between 32 and 43 inches? → The SKYWORTH 40 inch E5500H at $339 is Full HD with Google TV, text scaling and over 400 free live channels.
• Want a simple 32 inch with the longest warranty? → The LG 32 inch LB655 at $345 lists a 24-month warranty and built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
• Want the lowest priced second TV? → The SKYWORTH 32 inch Q5600H at $289 is #4 in TVs on Amazon AU and runs Google TV.
• TV won't turn on, or sound but no picture? → Bring it to our Erina workshop. We'll check the power board and backlight and tell you whether it's worth fixing against a new set before you spend anything.

Frequently asked questions

What size TV is best for a bedroom?

In most bedrooms you sit or lie about 1.5 to 2.5 metres from the screen, and at that distance a 40 or 43 inch TV usually feels right, while a 32 inch can look small. Measure the furniture or wall space first, because a 43 inch TV is roughly a metre wide including the frame. If the room is small or the TV sits on a chest of drawers, a 32 or 40 inch might fit better. Check the exact width on the maker's spec sheet before you order.

Is a 4K TV worth it at 43 inches?

It can be. At 43 inches, if you sit close or watch a lot of 4K streaming, the extra sharpness is easy to see, and the LG QNED70B is the only 4K set in this list. At two metres or more, a Full HD 43 inch looks fine for free-to-air and HD streaming. Most streaming services charge more for 4K plans, so check what you pay for. At 32 inches, 4K makes very little difference from a normal viewing distance.

Google TV or webOS: which is better?

Both run the main Australian streaming apps, including Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video and Disney+, and both have voice search. Google TV, on the SKYWORTH picks, has Chromecast built in and suits Android and Google Home households. LG's webOS, on the LG 43 inch, supports Google Cast and Apple AirPlay, which suits iPhone users. How quickly the TV runs matters more than which system it uses, and after a week or so most people stop noticing the difference.

Why have the apps stopped working on my smart TV?

Smart TVs depend on software updates from the maker and on app makers supporting that software. When updates stop, apps slow down, stop logging in or disappear. A factory reset can help for a while. The lasting fix is a streaming stick plugged into a spare HDMI port, which gives you current apps for the cost of the stick. Check a new TV's listing for a stated update period: the LG QNED70B lists security updates until 31 December 2030.

How do I know which wall bracket fits my TV?

Every TV uses a VESA mounting pattern, which is the spacing of the screw holes on the back, such as 100 x 100mm or 200 x 200mm. The bracket must support that pattern and the TV's weight. None of the listings here state the VESA pattern, so look it up in the manual or the maker's spec sheet before you buy. Fix the bracket into studs or proper wall anchors rather than plasterboard alone, and use an anti-tip strap if the TV sits on furniture.

Is it worth repairing a small TV?

It depends on the fault. A power board after a storm is often worth repairing, because the part costs a lot less than a new TV. A backlight fault, where you hear sound but see no picture, is often worth it on a mid-priced set. A cracked screen is rarely worth it on a small TV, because the panel can cost close to a new set. Slow menus and dead apps are usually fixed with a streaming stick rather than any repair.

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