42-inch TVs – Test Rankings

Available screen sizes: 43”, 50”, 55”, 65”, 75”, 85”

Technology: LCD VA, PFS LED

Brand: TCL

Verdict:

TCL P7L is a successful budget television that shows you can get more than just a screen for basic viewing for a modest sum. It does not match pricier Mini LED or OLED models, but in its class it has a lot to offer. The VA panel delivers decent blacks and contrast, so during an evening session the picture does not look as flat as on many cheap IPS models. After calibration the colours are also goo...

Available screen sizes: 43”, 50”, 55”, 65”, 75”

Technology: LCD VA, PFS LED

Brand: PHILIPS

Verdict:

The idea behind The One has hardly changed over the years and with the Philips PQS9001 this is both a strength and its biggest drawback. You still get a versatile mid-range television whose main distinguishing feature is Ambilight. The light that follows the picture can change the atmosphere of an evening viewing and for many people will be the main reason to buy it. It's easy to see why: once you...

Available screen sizes: 43”, 50”, 55”, 65”, 75”

Technology: LCD IPS, White LED

Brand: SONY

Verdict:

The Sony Bravia 2 II is a television that performs best in simple, everyday use. And we suspect many people will choose it mainly because of Google TV. The system provides access to a huge number of apps and streaming services, and it also includes Chromecast, AirPlay and convenient voice search. The set itself may not run as quickly as more expensive Sony models, but in terms of features there is...

Available screen sizes: 43”, 50”, 55”, 65”, 75”, 85”, 100”

Technology: LCD VA, PFS LED

Brand: SONY

Verdict:

The Sony Bravia 3 II is a TV that quickly reveals the idea the manufacturer had for this model. It's meant above all to be a sensible Bravia for gaming, and in that respect the changes are substantial. After all, Sony has fixed one of the biggest annoyances of its TVs, the presence of only two full-featured HDMI 2.1 ports. Here there are four, and that alone makes the Bravia 3 II a much more conve...

Available screen sizes: 42”, 48”, 55”, 65”

Technology: WRGB OLED

Brand: LG

Verdict:

LG C6 is a very successful evolution of one of the most popular OLEDs on the market. The TV itself hasn't changed radically compared with last year's C5, the look is very similar, webOS offers comparable features, and gamers once again get pretty much everything you can expect from a modern television. You can't really complain, since the C5 was already a very complete piece of kit in that regard....

Rating

8.3/10

Available screen sizes: 43”, 55”

Technology: LCD VA, PFS LED

Brand: DREAME

Verdict:

The Dreame Q100 is the manufacturer's entry-level model, and its price alone hints at what to expect. This is not a TV that tries to win on picture quality. Its strengths lie elsewhere: it has Google TV, surprisingly many features for gamers and costs relatively little. In terms of image, the Q100 performs similarly to many other sets in this segment. The VA panel provides decent contrast, colours...

Available screen sizes: 42”, 48”, 55”, 65”, 83”

Technology: WRGB OLED

Brand: SAMSUNG

Verdict:

The Samsung S90H is a TV that simply makes a superb impression. The combination of an OLED’s absolute black, high brightness and excellent motion clarity gives a picture that’s hard to look away from. And that’s exactly what we expect from a good OLED TV. The matte anti-reflective coating also works very well. Reflections in bright sunlight stop being a major problem, and thanks to the presence of...

Rating

8.4/10

Available screen sizes: 32”, 43”, 55”, 65”, 75”, 85”, 98”

Technology: LCD VA, Mini-LED PFS LED

Brand: TCL

Verdict:

TCL A400 Pro is one of the most interesting lifestyle TVs we’ve tested so far. Not because it turns the whole idea of the “TV as a picture” on its head. In that respect it does roughly what the competition does: it’s meant to look good, blend into the room and not be just another black slab in the living room. Its real strength lies elsewhere: in picture quality. This is the first TV of this kind ...

Available screen sizes: 43”, 50”, 55”, 65”, 75”

Technology: LCD IPS, White LED

Brand: BLAUPUNKT

Verdict:

Blaupunkt UGC5500S is a textbook example of a very cheap television that has primarily two huge advantages: the Google TV system and an extremely low price. It is these two elements that make it an appealing option for many people. During testing, we also found a great alternative use for it, which is working with a computer. Thanks to the exemplary legibility of fonts and good viewing angles of t...

Available screen sizes: 43”, 50”, 55”, 65”, 75”, 86”

Technology: LCD IPS, White LED

Brand: LG

Verdict:

LG NANO81A is essentially a continuation of the NanoCell series, which has hardly changed at all over the past few years. Apart from the new operating system, refreshed remote control, and a few marketing additions, we are dealing with practically the same design we have known for years. Thanks to the nanostructure filter, the television can display better, cleaner colours than standard budget tel...