The best 40-inch TVs
The best 40 inch TV in the UK for 2026: Hisense 40A5STUK, TCL 40V5D, Amazon Ember 40 and Philips 40PFS6000, plus the LG OLED42C65LA as the best 42-inch TV.
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The best 40 inch TV in the UK for most buyers in 2026 is the Hisense 40A5STUK. The Hisense 40A5STUK is a 2026 Full HD Hi-QLED with quantum dot colour, Dolby Atmos, an eARC port and VIDAA with Freely, and it cost £279 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026). The TCL 40V5D is the best value at £209, the Amazon Ember 2-Series 40" is the pick for Alexa households, and the LG OLED42C65LA is the best 42-inch TV.
Most UK guides fold 40-inch TVs into 43-inch round-ups. This page covers 40 and 42-inch sets only, and it answers the question those guides skip: at 40 inches almost every TV is Full HD, while one size up is 4K for the same money. The comparison table below shows the numbers. For the next size up, see Best 43 inch TV UK 2026; for the next size down, see Best 32 inch smart TV UK 2026.
What is the best 40-inch TV to buy?
The Hisense 40A5STUK is the best 40-inch TV to buy because the Hisense 40A5STUK is the only 40-inch pick here that combines quantum dot colour, Dolby Atmos, eARC and Freely. A 40-inch TV is a bedroom, kitchen, caravan or study screen, so the smart platform, sound and size matter more than peak brightness.
- Resolution: every 40-inch pick is Full HD (1920 x 1080). Compare Electronic found no current 4K 40-inch model from Hisense, TCL, Samsung, LG or Amazon on Amazon UK in September 2026.
- 42 inches: the 42-inch size is almost entirely OLED in 2026, which is why the 42-inch pick costs four to six times more than the 40-inch picks.
- Refresh rate: the 40-inch picks run at 60 Hz. The LG OLED42C65LA is the only pick here for a PS5, Xbox Series X or PC above 60 fps.
1. Hisense 40A5STUK - best 40-inch TV overall
Hisense 40A5STUK specifications
- Screen: 40 inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) Hi-QLED
- Refresh rate: 60 Hz
- HDMI ports: 2 (one eARC)
- Dolby Atmos: Yes
- Tilting stand: Yes (8 degrees)
- Smart platform: VIDAA with Freely
- Model year: 2026
The Hisense 40A5STUK is the most complete 40-inch TV Compare Electronic tracks in September 2026. Hisense uses a quantum dot layer for wider colour than a plain LED panel, and the stereo speakers decode Dolby Atmos. One of the two HDMI ports supports eARC, so a soundbar can take lossless audio from the TV's own apps.
The Hisense 40A5STUK has a dual-position stand that stands upright or tilts back 8 degrees, which suits a desk where the TV doubles as a monitor. VIDAA with Freely puts BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 live channels in one guide over broadband, alongside Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video and YouTube. At £279 it costs £70 more than the TCL 40V5D.
Hisense 40A5STUK - pros and cons
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2. TCL 40V5D - best value 40-inch TV
TCL 40V5D specifications
- Screen: 40 inch Full HD QLED
- Refresh rate: 60 Hz
- HDR10: Yes
- AirPlay 2: Yes
- Ethernet: Yes
- Smart platform: Fire TV with Freely
- Model year: 2026
The TCL 40V5D is the best-value 40-inch TV at £209 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026). The TCL 40V5D is a 2026 QLED with HDR10, Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual:X, and it runs Fire TV with Freely built in. Apple AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth are included, so an iPhone can cast to it and wireless headphones can pair to it.
The TCL 40V5D costs £5.22 per inch, the lowest of any QLED here. It has a single USB port and no Dolby Atmos. TCL sells the TCL 43V6D, a 4K set, for £10 more, which is the main reason to think twice before buying any 40-inch TV.
TCL 40V5D - pros and cons
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3. Amazon Ember 2-Series 40" - best for Alexa homes
Amazon Ember 2-Series 40 specifications
- Screen: 40 inch Full HD LED
- Refresh rate: 60 Hz
- HDR: HDR10 and HLG
- HDMI ports: 2 (one eARC)
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6
- Smart platform: Fire TV
The Amazon Ember 2-Series 40-inch is the best 40-inch TV for an Alexa household at £209.99 on Amazon UK (September 2026). Amazon builds the Ember 2-Series around Fire TV with the Alexa voice remote, Wi-Fi 6 and the Ambient Experience, which shows art, widgets and smart-home controls when the TV is idle.
The Amazon Ember 2-Series 40 has two HDMI ports, one with eARC, and supports HDR10 and HLG. It uses a plain LED panel without quantum dots, so the TCL 40V5D gives richer colour for 99p less. The Ember earns its place through Amazon's software updates and Echo integration rather than panel quality.
Amazon Ember 2-Series 40 - pros and cons
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4. LG OLED42C65LA - best 42-inch TV
LG OLED42C65LA specifications
- Screen: 42 inch 4K OLED evo (41.5 inch viewable)
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz, VRR up to 165 Hz
- HDMI 2.1 ports: 4
- Processor: alpha11 Gen3
- Dolby Vision: Yes
- Weight: 9.8 kg without stand
- Smart platform: webOS 26
The LG OLED42C65LA is the best 42 inch TV in the UK at £1,099 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026). The LG C6 42-inch is a 4K OLED, so every pixel lights itself and switches off fully for true black, with no backlight blooming. LG fits all four HDMI ports with HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and supports VRR up to 165 Hz for PC gaming, plus Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and the alpha11 Gen3 processor.
LG lists the OLED42C65LA at 932 mm wide and 9.8 kg, 4.6 cm wider than a 40-inch screen. The LG C6 does not support HDR10+ or DTS passthrough. Samsung's 42-inch S90H OLED is listed at £999 on Amazon UK at the time of writing, with HDR10+ instead of Dolby Vision. For desk gaming, the LG OLED42C65LA also competes with the screens in Best OLED gaming monitor UK 2026.
LG OLED42C65LA - pros and cons
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5. Philips 40PFS6000 - cheapest 40-inch smart TV
The Philips 40PFS6000 is the cheapest 40-inch smart TV worth buying at £179.99 on Amazon UK (September 2026), or £4.50 per inch. The Philips 40PFS6000 is a Full HD LED set with Pixel Plus processing, Dolby Digital sound and the Titan OS platform, which carries the main UK streaming apps and works with Alexa and Google voice assistants. It suits a spare room or kitchen where price matters more than colour or sound.
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Radar · 0-100 scores
- 40A5STUK Hi-QLED
- 40V5D Full HD QLED Fire TV
- Ember 2-Series 40"
- OLED evo C6 42" (OLED42C65LA)
Best 40-inch TV UK 2026 spec sheet
| Spec | Hisense 40A5STUK | TCL 40V5D | Amazon Ember 40 | LG OLED42C65LA | Philips 40PFS6000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 40 inch | 40 inch | 40 inch | 42 inch | 40 inch |
| Resolution | Full HD | Full HD | Full HD | 4K | Full HD |
| Panel | Hi-QLED | QLED | LED | OLED | LED |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz | 60 Hz | 120 Hz (VRR 165 Hz) | 60 Hz |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Smart platform | VIDAA, Freely | Fire TV, Freely | Fire TV | webOS 26 | Titan OS |
| Price (Sept 2026) | £279 | £209 | £209.99 | £1,099 | £179.99 |
The LG OLED42C65LA is the only 4K and the only high-refresh TV in the table. Among the 40-inch sets, the Hisense 40A5STUK is the only one with Dolby Atmos.
How much does a 40-inch TV cost per inch?
A good 40-inch TV costs between £4.50 and £6.97 per inch on Amazon UK in September 2026. A 40-inch 16:9 screen measures 88.6 cm by 49.8 cm, or 684 square inches, and a 42-inch screen measures 93.0 cm by 52.3 cm, or 754 square inches.
Compare Electronic's price-per-inch breakdown
| TV | Price (Sept 2026) | £ per inch | £ per 100 sq in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philips 40PFS6000 | £179.99 | £4.50 | £26.33 |
| TCL 40V5D | £209.00 | £5.22 | £30.57 |
| Amazon Ember 2-Series 40 | £209.99 | £5.25 | £30.71 |
| Hisense 40A5STUK | £279.00 | £6.97 | £40.81 |
| LG OLED42C65LA | £1,099.00 | £26.17 | £145.80 |
The LG OLED42C65LA costs 4.8 times as much per square inch as the TCL 40V5D. That premium buys 4K, OLED contrast and 120 Hz gaming, so the two sets serve different buyers rather than competing.
Should I buy a 40-inch or a 43-inch TV?
Buy a 43-inch TV unless the space is narrower than about 97 cm. A 43-inch screen is 95.2 cm wide against 88.6 cm for a 40-inch screen, only 6.6 cm more, and it has 16% more area. The bigger reason is resolution: 43-inch TVs are almost all 4K, while 40-inch TVs are almost all Full HD.
Compare Electronic's 40 versus 43-inch price check
| Brand | 40 inch | 43 inch | Extra for 43 inch |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCL | 40V5D, Full HD, £209.00 | 43V6D, 4K, £219.00 | +£10.00 |
| Hisense | 40A5STUK, Full HD, £279.00 | 43E6QTUK, 4K, £229.00 | -£50.00 |
On Amazon UK in September 2026, 4K at 43 inches costs £10 more from TCL and £50 less from Hisense than the brands' 40-inch Full HD sets. A 40-inch TV makes sense only when the extra 6.6 cm of width does not fit, or when Freely, Dolby Atmos or a tilting stand matters more than 4K.
How far should you sit from a 40-inch TV?
Sit 1.2 to 1.7 metres from a 40-inch TV. The THX 40-degree guide puts a 40-inch screen at 1.22 m and the SMPTE 30-degree guide puts it at 1.65 m. A 42-inch screen moves each figure out by about 6 cm.
Compare Electronic's viewing distance table
| Screen | 40° (immersive) | 30° (mixed use) | 4K detail visible within | Full HD detail visible within |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 inch | 0.97 m | 1.32 m | 0.63 m | 1.27 m |
| 40 inch | 1.22 m | 1.65 m | 0.79 m | 1.59 m |
| 42 inch | 1.28 m | 1.74 m | 0.83 m | 1.67 m |
| 43 inch | 1.31 m | 1.78 m | 0.85 m | 1.70 m |
The last two columns use the one-arcminute limit of 20/20 vision. At 40 inches, Full HD pixels become invisible beyond 1.59 m, so a 40-inch Full HD TV looks sharp from a bed or sofa. At desk distances under 1 m, the 4K LG OLED42C65LA is noticeably sharper.
What is the best 40-inch smart TV?
The TCL 40V5D is the best 40-inch smart TV for value, and the Hisense 40A5STUK is the best for Freely. Every pick is a smart TV with Netflix, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Disney+, Prime Video and YouTube. The platform decides the experience:
- Fire TV (TCL 40V5D, Amazon Ember 40): Alexa voice control and the widest app library. The TCL 40V5D adds Freely.
- VIDAA with Freely (Hisense 40A5STUK): fast and simple, with live channels over broadband.
- webOS 26 (LG OLED42C65LA): the most polished interface, with Google Cast and AirPlay 2.
- Titan OS (Philips 40PFS6000): covers the main UK apps, with a smaller catalogue.
For a 32-inch alternative, see Best small TV UK 2026.
UK buying notes for 40-inch TVs
- Aerial: every pick has a built-in Freeview tuner. A bedroom without an aerial socket can use Freely on the Hisense and TCL, or an indoor aerial; see Best indoor TV aerial UK 2026.
- Returns: the Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives a 30-day right to reject a faulty TV.
- TV licence: watching live TV or BBC iPlayer on a second-room TV is covered by the household licence, £180 a year from 1 April 2026.
Who should skip a 40-inch TV?
A 40-inch TV is the wrong buy for anyone with 97 cm or more of width to spare, because a 4K 43-inch TV costs about the same. It is also the wrong buy for a main lounge: at 2.5 m a 40-inch screen fills about 20 degrees of view.
- Gamers: no 40-inch pick runs above 60 Hz. The LG OLED42C65LA does, or see Best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X.
- Very tight spaces: a 32-inch TV is 70.8 cm wide, 17.8 cm narrower than a 40-inch set.
Verdict
The Hisense 40A5STUK is the best 40 inch TV in the UK in September 2026: quantum dot colour, Dolby Atmos, eARC and Freely for £279. The TCL 40V5D is the best value at £209, the Amazon Ember 2-Series 40 suits Alexa homes, and the Philips 40PFS6000 is the cheapest at £179.99. The LG OLED42C65LA is the best 42-inch TV at £1,099. If 97 cm of width is available, a 4K 43-inch TV costs the same money.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best 40 inch TV in the UK?
The Hisense 40A5STUK is the best 40-inch TV for most UK buyers in 2026. The Hisense 40A5STUK is a 2026 Full HD Hi-QLED with quantum dot colour, Dolby Atmos, an eARC HDMI port, a stand that tilts back 8 degrees and VIDAA with Freely, and it cost £279 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026).
What is the best 42 inch TV in the UK?
The LG OLED42C65LA is the best 42-inch TV in the UK in 2026. The LG C6 42-inch is a 4K OLED with four HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR up to 165 Hz, Dolby Vision and the alpha11 Gen3 processor, and it cost £1,099 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026). It is the smallest size in the LG C6 range.
What is the best 40 inch smart TV in the UK?
The TCL 40V5D is the best-value 40-inch smart TV at £209 on Amazon UK (September 2026). The TCL 40V5D runs Fire TV with Freely built in, adds AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth, and uses a QLED panel. The Hisense 40A5STUK at £279 runs VIDAA with Freely and adds Dolby Atmos and a tilting stand.
Are 40-inch TVs 4K?
Most 40-inch TVs sold in the UK in 2026 are Full HD (1920 x 1080), not 4K. Every 40-inch pick in this guide is Full HD. For 4K at a small size, the TCL 43V6D cost £219 on Amazon UK in September 2026, only £10 more than the Full HD TCL 40V5D, and the LG OLED42C65LA is 4K at 42 inches.
How far should you sit from a 40-inch TV?
Sit 1.2 to 1.7 metres from a 40-inch TV. A 40-inch screen is 88.6 cm wide, so it fills a 40-degree field of view at 1.22 m and a 30-degree field of view at 1.65 m. A 40-inch Full HD picture shows every pixel only within 1.59 m, so Full HD is sharp at normal distances.
Should I buy a 40-inch or a 43-inch TV?
Buy a 43-inch TV unless the space is narrower than about 97 cm. A 43-inch TV is 6.6 cm wider than a 40-inch TV, has 16% more screen area and is almost always 4K. On Amazon UK in September 2026 the 4K TCL 43V6D cost £10 more than the TCL 40V5D, and the 4K Hisense 43E6QTUK cost £50 less than the Hisense 40A5STUK.
Is a 42-inch OLED TV good for gaming?
Yes, a 42-inch OLED TV is one of the best gaming screens for a desk or bedroom. The LG OLED42C65LA has four HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR up to 165 Hz, near-instant pixel response and Dolby Vision gaming, at £1,099 on Amazon UK (September 2026). None of the 40-inch picks runs above 60 Hz.