Trying to find the best 40 inch smart TV in the UK? Then you’ve come to the right place.
This article discusses some chief considerations before making a decision, then we give you our top 5 recommendations along with what makes them stand out.
Here’s a quick view of our top three favourites:
Table of Contents
What to Consider When Buying a 40-inch Smart TV
Resolution and HDR
Resolution refers to the general sharpness and clarity of the picture. Currently, 8K is the newest resolution available in the market, but it will take a while before content will be made available in this resolution. 4K (Ultra HD) is a realistic standard, and 1080p ((Full HD) is a pretty decent resolution too.
Ports
Do you only need HDMI, or will you also be needing scart, coax, and other ports? And how many of each do you need? Ultimately, this is determined depending on what devices you plan to connect to your TV. Besides the types of ports and the number, you also need to consider which part of the TV they’re on. You would want them to be easily accessible, as unmounting the TV just to have access to the ports is not practical.
Smart Software
What smart software does the TV run? Does it come with an app store where you can easily download additional apps from? How does the interface feel?
Speakers
You wouldn’t want a tinny sound when watching a movie or playing a game. Some smart TV brands partner with audio engineering companies and develop their own sound system. It’s important to test this and read up on the latest TV audio trends too.
Best 40-inch Smart TV
Samsung UE40NU7120 40-Inch 4K Ultra HD Certified HDR Smart TV
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One of the strongest contenders in the best 40-inch Smart TV category is from Samsung. The Samsung UE40NU7120 40-Inch 4K Ultra HD Certified HDR Smart TV has all the best features that you would expect in a modern Smart TV.
The model is ultra HD-certified, i.e. it projects picture in 4k resolution. While content creators are only starting to produce movies with this picture quality, you can be sure that this TV is going to be future-proof. Moreover, this TV is your best companion in viewing sports content with its Auto Motion Plus, an excellent motion management feature specially created for high action videos such as sports.
As far as the TV’s smart features are concerned, what would stand out among others is the Samsung Universal Guide, which aims to lessen the time you spend searching. You get an overview of the shows from different apps all on one page instead of toggling between apps and modes. It also has a unique ability to be controlled from your mobile device such that you don’t have to leave what you’re currently watching while searching for something else to view.
Pros
- TV will stay future-proof for a while with its 4k resolution, providing colour and clarity to your movies and shows like never before
- Clean cable solution – cables are nicely concealed sparing you the annoyance that dangling cables give
- Rich smart features including universal guide, smart view, and access to Samsung cloud
Cons
- Does not come with a scart connection which needs to be purchased separately
- Some ads may pop up while browsing
Sharp LC-40FI5342KF 40 Inch Full HD LED Smart TV with Freeview Play
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There’s a reason why Sharp has been a very well known electronics brand, especially for TV. They have been an industry leader, manufacturing TVs with impressive qualities and features, among them the Sharp LC-40FI5342KF 40-inch Full HD LED Smart TV, which is a more than a decent option for those wanting to get a 40-inch screen.
The resolution is full HD, but on top of that, the TV has ACE PRO, a powerful image optimisation technology, ensuring that every content you view is at its clearest and most crisp and most natural.
They have partnered with Harman Kardon to bring a cinematic audio experience, offering superb dynamic range and exceptional accuracy. It only takes one sitting to distinguish its amazing difference compared to other ordinary TV audio.
Besides being a powerful smart TV, Sharp has decided to retain some of the basic features of a traditional TV that people love, such as the multiple ports on the back: 3 x HDMI, SCART, 2 x USB, Component, Composite and Digital Optical Audio ports. This is especially important if you would like to use this TV as a monitor for your other devices as well, such as your DVD player, gaming consoles, and the like.
Pros
- Harman Kardon audio system provides a full cinematic sound that will surely enhance your viewing experience
- Picture quality is superb with full HD resolution and ACE PRO image optimisation
- Freeview, Netflix, BBC, and other essential apps are preloaded
Cons
- Amazon Prime app is not available on this TV
- No “power off” switch; either leave your TV on standby or unplug it from the socket
Sony Bravia KDL40WE663BU (40-Inch) Full HD HDR Smart TV (X-Reality PRO)
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The first thing that one would find appealing about the Sony Bravia KDL40WE663BU (40-Inch) Full HD HDR Smart TV is its slim profile, no extra bulkiness, which makes it super efficient if you’re concerned about taking up so much space in your living room or wherever you want to install it.
But this TV’s selling points are not limited to that. It is packed with amazing features that are sure to crank your viewing experience up a notch. First, it has HDR (high dynamic range) as well as X-Reality Pro. A TV with HDR means all the picture details are preserved, especially those that tend to get lost in dark or bright areas of an image. X-Reality Pro is Sony’s powerful image processor that upscales every pixel for exceptional clarity.
The standard apps are preloaded in this TV, and thankfully, its remote control has dedicated Youtube and Netflix buttons that automatically take you to the app without having to browse through the menu. Also built-in is ClearAudio+, Sony’s special sound field that detects a music track that the user is currently playing then selects the best sound-field to deliver the best listening experience.
Pros
- Excellent video and audio quality with HDR, X-Reality Pro, and ClearAudio+
- Slim profile making it an efficient choice if concerned about space
Cons
- This TV uses the Opera TV platform, not Google which the newer Sony models now use
- Only 2 HDMI ports available
JVC 40 inch 4k Ultra HD Smart LED TV with Freeview Play
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The first thing worth mentioning about this TV is that for its price range, it’s pretty impressive that it’s Ultra HD, i.e. it has a resolution of 4K. That’s 4 times better than a full HD TV. Additionally, it’s an HDR TV too, which means deeper colours and brightness. Combining these two gives you closer to life viewing experience.
The TV also comes with multiple ports, allowing external hardware and devices to be easily connected to the TV. Also, it’s compatible with the Amazon TV fire stick, which will allow you access to additional apps and content providers that may not be preloaded in this TV.
The apps that this TV comes preloaded with include streaming platforms BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All4, My5, UKTV Play, Netflix 4K, and YouTube 4K. Social media apps Facebook and Twitter are also available, along with some gaming apps that your kids will definitely love.
Lastly, JVC televisions have the parental lock feature. So you won’t have to worry about your kids getting access to channels and content not suitable for them.
Pros
- Excellent picture quality with 4K resolution and high dynamic range (HDR)
- Multiple ports available: HDMI, scart, USB, optical, all giving you the convenience of connecting other devices all so easily
- JVC Parental Lock ensures your kids only access what’s right for them
Cons
- Not too many additional apps can be downloaded besides the preloaded ones unless you use an external platform such as Amazon fire stick
- The remote control is unlike most remotes and may take some getting used to
Sharp LC-40CFG6021K 40-Inch LED Smart Full HD TV with Freeview HD
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This is the second Smart TV on this list from Sharp. The Sharp LC-40CFG6021K 40-Inch LED Smart Full HD TV boasts of a full HD resolution which is ideal for gaming, connecting to a Blu-ray player, and viewing HD content on streaming platforms. It also has multiple HDMI ports, which allows you to connect all your devices and easily switch among them, instead of having to unplug one to give way to another. Also quite importantly, you don’t ever have to scramble around to find the inputs even if you mount this TV on the wall, as all the connectors are side and downward-facing, making them easily reachable.
The remote control uses RF technology, which means you don’t have to aim it in the TV’s direction for it to work. This is especially important if you install the TV in a busy or cramped room.
Other features include the integration of harman/kardon sound system filling the entire room with a crystal-clear, cinematic audio experience. With the built-in Freeview tuner, you get access to 60 Freeview channels, 12 HD, and up to 254 radio stations, all without an extra cost.
The physical design of the TV is remarkable too, with its very minimal bezel and aluminum stand.
Pros
- Multiple HDMI ports, all side and downfacing, are available, enabling you to connect multiple devices and conveniently switch among them
- Full HD resolution ideal for gaming and high-resolution video content
- RF technology remote lets you control the TV without needing to aim the remote at the TV’s direction
Cons
- Not many downloadable apps besides the preloaded ones