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If you’re in the market for a new TV for your bedroom, one of the first things you’ll need to consider is the size.
While a larger TV might seem appealing, a 43-inch TV is a popular choice for many people.
But is a 43-inch TV too small for a bedroom?
A 43-inch TV is likely too small for a bedroom, a better option would be a 48 or 55-inch TV.
If your bedroom is standard-sized (10 x 10 or 10 x 11), a 48 to 55-inch TV may be ideal for providing a comfortable watching experience. Master bedrooms (16 x 16) can accommodate a 70 to 85-inch TV.
I will go more in-depth in this article and I explain why I think you are better off going with a 48 or 55-inch TV for your bedroom in the preceding sections.
A 43 Inch TV Is Too Small For a Bedroom
If you’re wondering whether a 43-inch TV is too small for a bedroom, the answer is yes.
While it may seem like a good option due to its lower price point, a 43-inch TV will not provide the best viewing experience in a bedroom.
It is simply too small of screen size, if you plan on watching TV shows or movies on it you will not be immersed visually with such a small TV.
Get a 48-55 Inch TV Instead
The smallest size I would recommend getting is a 48-inch TV.
However, if you want a more immersive experience, a 55-inch TV is recommended. In fact, many people in small bedrooms find that a 55-inch TV is perfect.
Personally, I decided to go with a 55-inch TV in my bedroom and am happy with it.
Not once have I thought it is too big. In fact, sometimes I wish I had a 65-inch! And I live in a SMALL bedroom.
While you can save some money by getting a smaller TV like a 43-inch, it’s just not worth it.
Generally speaking, getting a larger-sized TV is always better, especially if you plan on watching TV shows or movies on it.
A larger TV will fill your field of vision and feel more immersive.
In addition, a larger TV will allow you to see more details, making the viewing experience more enjoyable.
You won’t have to strain your eyes to see the action on the screen, and you’ll be able to appreciate the visuals more.
Choosing the Right Size for Your Bedroom
When it comes to choosing the right TV size for your bedroom, there are several factors to consider to ensure you have the best viewing experience.
One of the most important factors is the viewing distance.
You want to make sure that you are not sitting too close or too far away from the screen.
This will not only affect your comfort but also the clarity of the image.
The ideal viewing distance for a 43-inch TV is between 5 and 7 feet, which is why I believe it’s impractical for a bedroom.
I have a small bedroom and the optimal viewing distance for me is about 9 feet, which is perfect for my 55-inch.
Get a tape measure out and calculate your optimal viewing distance from the TV. I bet it’s more than 5-7 feet.
Another important factor to consider is the viewing angle. You want to make sure that you can comfortably watch your TV from your bed without straining your neck.
A good rule of thumb is to mount your TV at eye level when you are sitting in bed.
It’s also important to consider the available space in your bedroom. If you have more available space, you may want to consider a larger TV size.
As mentioned before it’s important to measure the space where you plan to place your TV to ensure it will fit comfortably.
Comparing TV Technologies and Brands
Some of the most popular TV technologies on the market today include OLED, QLED, and LED.
OLED displays offer excellent contrast and color accuracy, making them a great choice for movie and TV enthusiasts.
On the other hand, QLED displays use quantum dots to produce brighter colors and better brightness levels.
LED displays are the most affordable option, but they don’t offer the same level of picture quality as OLED or QLED displays.
When it comes to brands, Sony and LG are two of the most popular options on the market today.
Both of these brands are excellent options and their premium models are top-of-the-line.
But if you are on a budget I’d recommend considering other options.
Other brands like Samsung, TCL, and Hi Sense are worth considering.
Samsung’s QLED TVs offer excellent picture quality, while TCL and Hi Sense offer affordable 4K TVs for those on a budget.
Additional Features to Consider When Buying a TV
When choosing a TV for your bedroom, there are additional features that you should consider before making a purchase.
These features can enhance your viewing experience and make your TV more versatile.
Refresh Rate
A TV’s refresh rate refers to how often it updates the image on the screen.
A higher refresh rate can reduce motion blur and make fast-paced action scenes smoother.
If you plan on using your TV for gaming or watching sports, look for a TV with a high refresh rate, such as 120Hz.
HDR and Dolby Vision
HDR (High Dynamic Range) and Dolby Vision are technologies that can improve the color and contrast of your TV.
They can make bright colors brighter and dark colors darker, resulting in a more vivid and immersive viewing experience.
If you plan on watching content from streaming services like Netflix, look for a TV that supports HDR or Dolby Vision.
Soundbar
While modern TVs have built-in speakers, they do not provide the best audio quality.
A soundbar can enhance your TV’s sound and make dialogue clearer.
Some soundbars even come with a subwoofer for added bass.
If you are interested I wrote an article about the best soundbars for small rooms if you want to check that out.
TV Stand
If you plan on placing your TV on a stand, make sure the stand is sturdy and can support the weight of your TV.
Some TV stands also have built-in storage for your media devices, such as a Blu-ray player or game console.
HDMI Ports
Make sure your TV has enough HDMI ports to connect all of your media devices. You may also want to look for a TV with HDMI 2.1, which supports higher resolutions and refresh rates.
Game Mode
If you plan on using your TV for gaming, look for a TV with a game mode.
Game mode can reduce input lag, resulting in a more responsive gaming experience.
Ultra HD and 8K
Ultra HD (also known as 4K) and 8K are higher resolutions than standard HD.
They provide more detail and clarity, resulting in a more immersive viewing experience.
However, not all content is available in Ultra HD or 8K, so make sure you have access to content in these resolutions before making a purchase.
What to look for in a TV for a Bedroom
When considering a 48-inch to 55-inch TV for your bedroom, it’s essential to look for a balance between picture quality, smart features, and connectivity.
Here are some key factors to keep in mind when choosing a mid-sized TV:
- Resolution: While 4K UHD offers higher resolution, consider whether you’ll be able to take full advantage of it based on your viewing distance and content preferences. For a 48-inch TV, the optimal viewing distance to appreciate 4K UHD is around 6-8 feet. If this isn’t feasible, it’s not a big deal. Personally, I think 4k is overrated, when you get a 4k TV the real benefit is HDR which does not require a strict viewing distance. Just do not be at too far of a distance.
- HDR and Dolby Vision: High Dynamic Range (HDR) enhances color and contrast levels, especially for feature films and prime-time shows from streaming networks. Ensure that the TV supports the specific HDR format of the content you’ll be watching.
- Screen Technology: OLED screens provide excellent contrast ratios and intense blacks, making them ideal for film enthusiasts. If OLED is out of budget, QLED/ULED sets can be a suitable choice, especially for brighter rooms.
- Audio Quality: Most modern TVs offer mediocre built-in sound, barely suitable for casual TV watching. For an immersive experience, ensure the TV supports a surround sound system or a Dolby Atmos Soundbar.
- Smart TV Features: Many modern TVs include smart features with support for popular streaming services. If you prefer standalone streaming devices, you can opt for “dumb” TVs and save costs.
- Voice Assistants and Home Automation: Smart TVs are continually improving their integration with voice assistants and home automation systems, offering a wide range of options for customization and convenience.
Best 48-55 Inch TVs
Sony 48 Inch 4K Ultra HD TV A90K Series
- INTELLIGENT TV PROCESSING The Cognitive Processor XR understands how humans see the real world to deliver intense contrast with deep blacks, high peak brightness, and natural colors.
- OLED CONTRAST XR OLED Contrast Pro technology allows you to feel the beauty of OLED with immersive depth and realism, pure black, and lifelike brightness.
- WIDE SPECTRUM OF COLORS - Rediscover everything you watch with billions of accurate colors and see impressive picture quality that is natural and beautiful, enhanced by XR Triluminos Pro.
- ALL YOUR GAME SETTINGS IN ONE PLACE Game Menu puts all your gaming picture settings and exclusive assist features in a single easy-to-manage interface.
- PERFECT FOR PLAYSTATION 5 Take your gaming to the next level with input lag as low as 8.5ms and BRAVIA XR exclusive features for the PlayStation 5 Auto HDR Tone Mapping & Auto Genre Picture Switch.
Hisense 55-Inch Class U8 Series Mini-LED ULED 4K UHD
- 4K ULED: Hisenses proprietary ULED technologies boost color, contrast, brightness, and motion.
- QLED QUANTUM DOT WIDE COLOR GAMUT: Quantum Dot QLED produces purer, richer, more brilliant and accurate color than a regular LED TV. Creating over a billion color combinations that bring vibrant images to life in a way non-QLED TVs cant
- Dolby Vision IQ & Dolby Atmos: Dolby Vision HDR picture and Dolby Atmos sound are cinema technology for your home. They provide amazing realism you can see and hear in every scene
- SAMSUNG OLED TECHNOLOGY: See movies, games, and more in a whole new light thanks to the mesmerizing picture quality across a full range of gorgeous colors; Only a brand like Samsung can provide incredible detail and unbelievable screen brightness.voltage : 120 volts
- NEURAL QUANTUM PROCESSOR W/ 4K UPSCALING: If you’re streaming an HD movie, watching sports, or looking at home videos, experience it all transformed into sharp 4K resolution with our high-performance, AI powered processor*
- QUANTUM HDR OLED: With fine-tuned brightness and optimized contrast made possible by self-illuminating pixels, your picture is instantly enhanced as Quantum HDR OLED analyzes each scene so you can enjoy rich and accurate colors
- PANTONE VALIDATED: Enjoy color validated by industry leading experts at Pantone, so that images on the screen look as incredible as they do in real life
- DOLBY ATMOS & OBJECT TRACKING SOUND LITE: Keep your ears on the action with Dolby Atmos and virtual top speakers that follow the story; When a dragon swoops across the screen, 3D sound moves along with it thanks to Object Tracking Sound Lite
- MOTION XCELERATOR TURBO PRO: Motion Xcelerator Turbo Pro creates consistently crisp 4K visuals at blazing-fast speeds up to 120hz and Game Motion Plus goes up to 144hz with compatible PC-connected content
- Superior 4K Ultra HD: Picture clarity combined with the contrast, color, and detail of Dolby Vision HDR (High Dynamic Range) for the most lifelike picture.
- QLED: Quantum dot technology delivers more than a billion colors with greater accuracy, better brightness, and wider color volume, matching the format used by most cinema screens and Hollywood content creators. This provides exceptionally vivid and lifelike picture performance.
- Contrast Control Zones: Contrast is optimized across up to 60 localized zones for striking distinction between bright and dark areas of the image for maximum detail, depth, and dimension.
- Sony A90K: This is a 48-inch. I own two of these in my house. It is one of the cheaper Sony OLEDs you can get on the market as Sony Is known to produce very expensive TVs. It is equipped with Dolby Vision HDR Technology.
- Hi Sense U8 Mini ULED: Hi Sense is the brand I recommend for buying cheap high-quality TVs. In fact, I wrote an entire article about why Hi Sense TVs are so cheap. This particular model is the best budget 4k TV on the market in my opinion. It comes with everything you need for a cheap price. Dolby Vision HDR, Dolby Vision IQ, Dolby Atmos, 4K resolution of course. It is equipped with ULED technology which allows for a wider color gamut and higher peak brightness. If you are not looking to break the bank I think this is a no-brainer.
- Samsung S90C: If you want the best budget 55-inch OLED on the market then this is the TV for you. The S90C is a phenomenal TV for watching movies. With OLED technology you get sharper detail and more enhanced contrast. OLED is simply the best way to experience 4K HDR images, they look life-like and resemble how we see things in real life. Personally, I own an OLED, A Sony A80J to be exact. If I had to go back in time I would get the S90C as it is substantially cheaper.
- TCL Class 5 Series: If you are really going bargain hunting and want a TV for less than $500 then this is a good choice. You get all the HDR technology available on the market, HDR 10, Dolby Vision, and HDR 10 Plus. Also is a QLED TV which allows for more enhanced contrast and color. This is a 50-inch TV.
