Best 40-inch OLED TVs in 2026 (42-inch models)

LG's 42-inch C6 is the small OLED we would buy. LG's UK page confirms four HDMI inputs, each supporting 4K at 120Hz, variable refresh rate up to 165Hz, auto low latency mode and quick media switching, plus HGiG mode and Dolby Vision for gaming. Few TVs of any size are listed with this much gaming support for consoles and PCs, and the 42-inch suits use as an oversized desktop monitor.

There is one compromise at this size. LG's range pages list Brightness Booster on the 48, 55 and 65-inch models but not on the 42-inch, so expect it to be a little less bright in HDR than its bigger siblings. In a bedroom or on a desk, where you sit close and lighting is usually softer, that is rarely a problem.

HDR formats are Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG, with no HDR10+. webOS 26 is quick, and LG promises security updates until the end of 2030.

The screen is glossy, so avoid placing it opposite a window if you can. Otherwise, this is the best all-rounder at 42 inches.

Samsung's 42-inch S90H is the small OLED to choose if reflections are a problem, for example in a kitchen, a conservatory or a bedroom with a window opposite the bed. Samsung's Glare Free finish diffuses reflections much better than the glossy screens on the LG, Panasonic and Philips models.

Samsung's spec sheet, reproduced by Euronics Ireland (model QE42S90HAEXXU), lists 4K at up to 165Hz on all four HDMI inputs, plus eARC. The panel is 100Hz native with VRR up to 165Hz, so it is as capable as the LG C6 for gaming.

Samsung supports HDR10+, including HDR10+ Advanced, but not Dolby Vision. Dolby Vision content still plays, just in standard HDR10. On the 42-inch, Samsung uses its OLED HDR processing rather than the stronger OLED HDR+ found on bigger S90H models.

Tizen runs smoothly and Samsung promises seven years of OS upgrades, which is reassuring for a TV that may live in a spare room for a long time. If you prefer Dolby Vision and do not have a reflection problem, the LG C6 is the better buy.

Panasonic's Z90B is a 2025 model that continues in Panasonic's 2026 range, and the 42-inch is one of the few small OLEDs that supports both Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive. Both formats can adjust the HDR picture to your room's lighting, which suits a small room where the lights change through the day.

Panasonic tunes the Z90B for a natural, true-to-source picture, which suits films and drama. Default motion smoothing is best switched off, and Filmmaker mode does that for you.

Panasonic's UK page confirms 144Hz and HDMI 2.1 support, but only two of the four inputs are full HDMI 2.1, and one of those also handles eARC. If you want to connect two consoles and a soundbar, the LG C6 is more practical.

The Fire TV platform is simple and includes Freely in the UK, so you can watch live BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 over the internet. The interface does carry a lot of promotion. It is sold as the TV-42Z90B in the UK and Europe; the UK retail code is TV-42Z90BEB.

Philips is the only brand offering Ambilight, and the OLED811 is the first chance to get it on a 42-inch OLED from Philips' 2026 range. Ambilight uses LEDs on the back of the TV to cast colour onto the wall that follows the picture. It makes a small screen feel bigger and is easier on the eyes when you watch in the dark.

TP Vision, which makes Philips TVs, lists four HDMI 2.1 inputs with up to 165Hz, FreeSync Premium and G-Sync compatibility, so it is a capable gaming screen. It also supports Dolby Vision 2 Max as well as HDR10+, giving it wider HDR support than LG or Samsung.

The 42-inch has a 50W sound system, smaller than the 70W on larger OLED811 sizes, so a soundbar is still worth considering.

The smart platform is TitanOS. It covers Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video and YouTube and supports Alexa, Google Assistant and AirPlay 2, but has fewer apps than Google TV. The 42-inch launched in August 2026. The model name is the same in the UK and EU; retail codes end in /12.

Sony has not made a new small OLED since the A90K, which launched in 2022. We include it because it is still the only 42-inch Sony OLED and the obvious choice for anyone who wants Sony's picture processing in a small size, but you should know it is several years older than the other TVs here, and it may be hard to find new.

Its strengths are classic Sony: the XR processor, natural colour tuning and Acoustic Surface sound, where the screen itself acts as the speaker. It runs Google TV, which has the broadest range of apps of any platform in this list, and supports Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG.

The age shows elsewhere. Sony's specification page lists a 120Hz panel and only two inputs with 4K 120Hz, and the brand has since moved on to newer panels, so it is likely to be less bright than the 2025 and 2026 models. For gaming, LG's C6 is clearly better.

If you find it new at a good discount and you value Sony's processing and Google TV, it is still a lovely small TV. Otherwise, the LG C6 42-inch is the better buy in 2026.