Products at a Glance
How we picked
We’ve used our expertise to evaluate the current offerings on the market, taking into account customer reviews, specs, design, and value for money. We’re aiming to give you as much information as possible while making it all easy to understand, so you can make the best choice possible. We also make sure to update our selections based on new releases, new technology, and more. Remember, we have loads of guides on practically every type of TV available today, so if you’re interested in a slightly bigger size, why not check out our top picks for the best 50-inch TVs or even browse some of the best 70-inch TVs.
Product Reviews
- OLED panel
- 120Hz refresh rate
- VRR support
- Quite expensive
We think one of the best 48-inch TVs for most people is the LG C2. It offers excellent performance and good build quality, which make it suitable for general use.
Much like some of the best LG TVs, this TV also sports a 4K display backed by LG’s 8 million self-lit OLED pixels. This means it has superior contrast with deeper blacks, greatly improving picture quality and allowing you to see more details in dark scenes. Further, it features an α9 Gen5 AI Processor 4K inside, which automatically adjusts both picture and sound settings depending on the content you’re watching.
In addition to being great for watching movies/TV shows and sports, this OLED TV is also suitable for gaming. It has a low input lag, fast response times, and a 120Hz refresh rate, all of which should give a smoother and more responsive gaming experience. Plus, you get VRR support as the TV is compatible with both G-Sync and FreeSync. You get four HDMI ports, with all of them supporting 4K resolution at 120Hz output, which is a big plus if you intend to use the TV for gaming on PS5 and Xbox Series X.
Along with this, it has a user-friendly interface and gives you access to popular streaming services for endless entertainment. It comes with a standard remote, but you can also use Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control.
Overall, this LG product is the best one available if you want a 48-inch TV for different usages. It’s easy to set up, VESA mountable and includes many features to make your viewing experience more enjoyable and convenient.
- 4K resolution at 120Hz
- PS5 exclusive feature
- VRR support
- Slightly overkill if you're not using it for gaming or watching sports
For strictly gaming purposes, the Sony XR48A90K is the best option. It’s similar to our top pick, but it offers a bit more gaming features that are especially beneficial if you have a PS5.
It has a dedicated game menu and includes the PS5 exclusive features Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode. The former improves picture quality when gaming, while the latter automatically adjusts the settings when you switch from watching movies to playing games.
In addition to the PS5 exclusive features, this Sony TV offers excellent performance for gaming in general. You get features like 4K resolution at 120Hz, with the tweaked HDMI ports. It also has VRR support, ALLM, and Motion Blur, which should deliver a smooth gaming experience.
Coming to the overall picture quality, you get stunning visuals with high contrast and vibrancy, thanks to the OLED panel. The TV also has the XR OLED Contrast Pro, which should deliver deeper blacks and immersive depth.
We’d recommend this Sony product if you want an OLED TV for gaming. Although it’s best used for PS5 gaming, it should also work for gaming on PC and other consoles like the Xbox Series X and the older PS4. If you’re looking for a gaming TV specifically, you can check out the best gaming TV.
- 4K resolution at 120Hz
- VRR support
- Older model TV
If you like the LG C2 Series but want a more affordable option, consider this TV from the previous LG C1 Series. It’s similarly suitable for all-around usage and offers great value for the money, especially if you can grab it during a big sale.
Like our top pick, this smart TV has an OLED display type and 4K resolution. Both aspects greatly improve the overall picture quality: the former allows for superior contrast and wide viewing angles, while the latter makes images sharper and more detailed. Watching movies/TV shows and sports on the TV is fantastic. The colors look realistic, and the motion is smooth with minimal blur – as you can expect from one of the best OLED TVs. The α9 Gen4 AI Processor 4K inside automatically detects the content and adjusts the picture and sound settings for the best viewing experience.
This TV is just as good for gaming as it supports 4K gaming at 120Hz. You also get VRR, and it’s compatible with G-Sync and FreeSync, which is suitable for action-packed games like first-person shooters. The ALLM feature ensures that you experience minimal input lag, making your gaming experience smoother.
Although it’s an older model, this OLED TV is still one of the best on the market and makes for a great alternative to the LG C2 Series. Although it lacks a few advanced features, the difference is very slim and practically negligible for most people.
- One of the best looking TVs on the market
- Improvements to brightness and chipset
- An excellent choice for gamers
- LG C2 still great for most, and cheaper
- For non-gamers, it's a bit overkill
If you’re looking for the best LG 48″ OLED TV, we’d say the LG C3 is the one to go for. The LG C3 has received excellent reviews and has made some small, but meaningful improvements to the C2.
The C3 is slightly brighter than the C2 and has features like a brightness booster that’ll improve the picture quality in well-lit rooms. It’s also got a more advanced chipset for further image and audio optimization based on the content you’re watching.
Of course, they’ve still kept the 120hz, VRR, ALLM, and adaptive sync technology for the gamers out there, meaning you can easily double this TV up as a gaming monitor for next-gen consoles and even a powerful PC.
There’s even a slimmer design this time around, with practically non-existent bezels and a super sleek finish on the back of the TV itself.
Overall, we think the LG C3 is the ultimate 48″ TV you can get right now if you’re looking to go all in and score one of the best LG TVs on the market.
How to pick the best 48-inch TV
Whether you’re looking for a TV to play games or to binge on Netflix (or do both), here’s what you should be looking for in a 48-inch TV.
Display Type
We will be looking at OLED, QLED, and LED to understand how it would affect your TV experience. Starting off with OLED, the display type that offers the best picture. OLED TVs have self-illuminating pixels that deliver life-like images with high contrast. You also get wider viewing angles, so you can view the TV comfortably from any angle. These TVs tend to be pricey, but the visuals are worth that price.
You can say that QLED TVs are in a spot between OLED and LED because you get vibrant picture quality without spending a lot. QLED TVs use backlights, but the Quantum Dots enhance the pictures. However, the viewing angles are not as wide as OLED TVs. With that being said, QLED is much more energy-efficient than OLED.
Finally, we have LED TVs, which are suitable for well-lit rooms. The color accuracy is not as good as OLED or QLED, but the brightness and local dimming do deliver high contrast. Further, LED TVs are widely available for varying budgets, unlike OLED TVs which tend to be expensive.
To sum up, you can go for the display type that best caters to your needs and suits your budget.
Resolution
It is advisable to get the best resolution within your budget so you get an immersive viewing experience. Usually, you will find a 4K TV easily, which is a great resolution to have in a 48-inch TV. As the screen size is smaller, you get more pixel density, which should deliver detailed and immersive visuals.
Refresh Rate
Most TVs are 60hz, which is more than enough for casual gaming, sports, and everyday viewing. However, if budget is not a constraint, you can look for TVs that have a high 120Hz refresh rate, which reduces motion blur and delivers smoother visuals.
Gaming Features
If you’re planning on playing video games on your TV or if your TV is going into your console setup, you need to look for features that would tweak your experience. Most TVs have ALLM, which reduces input lag. However, a more gaming-oriented TV will let you game with 4K resolution at a 120Hz refresh rate, support VRR to eliminate screen tearing, and even have a dedicated game mode.
In addition to this, you can look for smart home features, virtual assistant compatibility, and other features that would enhance your TV experience.
Is a 48-inch TV a good size?
For smaller rooms, absolutely. For gaming, yes. For larger rooms, it’s a little small if you’re sitting far away from it. I personally have a 43-inch TV, and it looks pretty big in my living space and enormous if I move it to a bedroom. We’d recommend a 48-inch TV for most people, but it’s well worth considering some of the best 55-inch TVs and above if you’re planning on sitting far back from it.
Does anyone make a 48" TV?
No, unfortunately. At the time of writing Sony and LG are the brands that release 48″ TVs, but this could change in the near future, especially with the increased focus on gaming features and the fact that 48 inches is an ideal size for most gaming setups. The good news is that there are many more options at 50-inches from other brands, such as TCL, Hisense, Samsung, and more.
Can you get a 48-inch smart TV?
In short, yes. It’s very rare to find TVs that aren’t smart nowadays. Even the best 24-inch TVs are!
Is a 48-inch TV big enough for a living room?
We’d say so, but it’s all about how far away you sit from the TV itself. Personally, I’d anything more than 3 meters away is too much and you’ll want to grab something bigger.
Our Verdict
We think that the LG C2 is still one of the absolute best mid-sized TVs you can get, and ticks all the right boxes for gaming, watching movies, and everyday usage. You get an OLED display with 4K resolution for immersive visuals, and you also get a 120Hz refresh rate and VRR for gaming. It also packs smart home features, so you can build the ultimate setup around this stunning display.