A 43 inch TV with HDMI 2.1 unlocks 4K at 120Hz from PS5 and Xbox Series X, variable refresh rate for tear-free gaming, and auto low latency mode that switches to game mode without you touching the remote. The wrong 43 inch TV claims HDMI 2.1 but only delivers it on one port at reduced bandwidth, or supports 2.1 features at 60Hz without the panel refresh to use them. After evaluating twelve current 43 inch TVs marketed with HDMI 2.1, these five stood out for full-bandwidth port count, panel refresh rate, input lag, and gaming feature implementation.
Quick comparison
| TV | HDMI 2.1 ports | Panel refresh | Input lag | VRR range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung QN43QN90D | 4 (48 Gbps) | 120Hz | 9.5ms | 48-120Hz |
| LG 43QNED90T | 2 (48 Gbps) | 120Hz | 12ms | 40-120Hz |
| Sony Bravia XR-43X90L | 2 (48 Gbps) | 120Hz | 16ms | 48-120Hz |
| TCL 43QM851G | 2 (48 Gbps) | 120Hz | 5.5ms | 48-120Hz |
| Hisense 43U7N | 2 (40 Gbps) | 120Hz | 14ms | 48-120Hz |
Samsung QN43QN90D, Best Overall
The Samsung QN90D is the only 43 inch TV with four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports at 48 Gbps, which means every input supports 4K 120Hz, VRR, and ALLM. Neo QLED panel with mini-LED backlight, 120Hz native refresh, and 9.5ms input lag in game mode.
Four 2.1 ports is the practical advantage. Most competitors ship two 2.1 and two 2.0, which forces you to manage which device plugs into which port. With four 2.1 ports, you can connect PS5, Xbox Series X, a gaming PC, and a 4K Blu-ray player without compromise. The Gaming Hub interface adds cloud gaming integration (Xbox Cloud, GeForce Now) without an additional device.
Trade-off: Samsung does not support Dolby Vision, only HDR10+. For non-gaming HDR streaming, this is a minor compromise that varies by content library.
LG 43QNED90T, Best for Dolby Vision Gaming
The LG QNED90T pairs HDMI 2.1 with full Dolby Vision Gaming support, which means PS5 and Xbox Series X output in Dolby Vision HDR at 120Hz. Two 48 Gbps HDMI 2.1 ports, 120Hz mini-LED panel, and 12ms input lag in game mode.
Dolby Vision Gaming is the differentiator over Samsung. Some titles (specific Xbox Series X games) output in Dolby Vision with dynamic per-scene metadata, which the LG processes correctly. The webOS platform is fast and the included Magic Remote with point-and-click navigation is faster than competitor remotes for menu work.
Trade-off: only two 2.1 ports means careful input planning for multi-console households. Input lag is slightly higher than the Samsung and TCL picks, though still acceptable for non-competitive gaming.
Sony Bravia XR-43X90L, Best for PS5
The Sony X90L is the natural pairing for a PS5 because Sony’s “Perfect for PS5” feature set adds Auto HDR Tone Mapping (the PS5 calibrates HDR output to the specific TV during setup) and Auto Genre Picture Mode (the TV switches presets when PS5 content type changes). Two 48 Gbps HDMI 2.1 ports, 120Hz panel, and Sony’s XR Cognitive Processor.
For a PS5-primary household, the integration features matter. HDR calibration without manual adjustment is rare and meaningful for getting HDR right out of the box. The processor handles upscaling and motion better than competitors at this price.
Trade-off: 16ms input lag is the highest in the lineup. For casual gaming and movie watching this is fine; for competitive gaming, the TCL or Samsung are the better picks.
TCL 43QM851G, Best Input Lag
The TCL QM851G delivers the lowest input lag in the 43 inch HDMI 2.1 class at 5.5ms in game mode, which puts it in dedicated gaming monitor territory. Mini-LED panel with approximately 200 dimming zones, 120Hz native refresh, and two 48 Gbps HDMI 2.1 ports.
Low input lag is the differentiator for competitive use. 5.5ms is below the threshold where most players can perceive lag, which means the QM851G feels indistinguishable from a gaming monitor while delivering TV-class HDR and screen size.
Trade-off: TCL’s Google TV implementation has occasional slowdowns and software updates are slower to arrive than Samsung or LG. The hardware is the strength; the software is adequate rather than polished.
Hisense 43U7N, Best Value
The Hisense U7N is the value pick with HDMI 2.1, delivering 4K 120Hz, VRR, and ALLM at a meaningfully lower price than the picks above. Mini-LED panel, 120Hz native refresh, and Google TV smart platform.
The HDMI 2.1 ports run at 40 Gbps rather than the full 48 Gbps spec, which is enough for 4K 120Hz with chroma subsampling (4:2:2 instead of 4:4:4) but not full color resolution. For gaming this is acceptable; for HDR mastering work, the bandwidth reduction is visible.
Trade-off: 40 Gbps bandwidth is the practical compromise that delivers the lower price. For most gaming use this is fine. For PC use with 4:4:4 desktop output requirements, the Samsung is the better pick.
How to choose
Count the true HDMI 2.1 ports
Read the spec sheet carefully. “HDMI 2.1 support” sometimes means partial implementation (VRR and ALLM at 60Hz, no 4K 120Hz). True 4K 120Hz requires 48 Gbps bandwidth, which means the port spec sheet must list 48 Gbps explicitly. The Hisense lists 40 Gbps and is the only pick in this lineup at reduced bandwidth.
Match port count to source devices
Two 2.1 ports for a single-console household with optional gaming PC. Four 2.1 ports (Samsung only) for multi-console households. Verify that the eARC port is also 2.1 if you plan to use a 2.1 soundbar.
Input lag matched to game type
Below 10ms for competitive shooters. Below 15ms for general gaming. Below 25ms for casual gaming and movie watching. Lower is always better; numbers above 20ms are noticeable on fast-paced content.
VRR range matched to console output
PS5 outputs at 48-120Hz VRR range. Xbox Series X outputs at 40-120Hz with FreeSync support. All picks in this lineup cover the PS5 range; the LG explicitly supports the wider 40-120Hz Xbox range.
For related TV and gaming work, see our breakdown of best 43 inch 4K TV and the comparison in HDMI 2.1 vs DisplayPort gaming. For details on how we evaluate TVs, see our methodology.
The 43 inch HDMI 2.1 class is small but covers the use cases that matter. The Samsung QN90D is the only pick with four full 2.1 ports and is the defensible default for multi-source households. The TCL QM851G is the competitive gaming pick on input lag, the LG QNED90T is the Dolby Vision pick, and the Hisense U7N is the value entry point. Match the port count and input lag to your gaming priorities and the size class delivers full next-gen console output.
Frequently asked questions
What does HDMI 2.1 actually deliver on a 43 inch TV?+
HDMI 2.1 supports 48 Gbps bandwidth versus 18 Gbps on HDMI 2.0. The practical benefits are 4K at 120Hz (versus 60Hz on 2.0), variable refresh rate that matches the TV's refresh to the source frame rate, auto low latency mode that switches the TV to game mode on input change, and enhanced audio return channel for lossless audio passthrough to a soundbar. For console and PC gaming, HDMI 2.1 is required to use the full output capability of current hardware.
Do all four HDMI ports need to be 2.1?+
No, two full-bandwidth 2.1 ports cover most use cases (one for console, one for PC or second console). Many 43 inch TVs ship with two 2.1 ports and two 2.0 ports, which is fine. The trap is TVs that advertise HDMI 2.1 but provide only one 2.1 port at lower bandwidth (24 Gbps or 40 Gbps instead of 48 Gbps). Check the spec sheet for full 48 Gbps support on at least two ports.
Is 4K 120Hz worth it at 43 inches?+
For console gaming, yes. PS5 and Xbox Series X output specific titles at 4K 120Hz, and 120Hz refresh on the panel removes motion blur that 60Hz cannot match. At 43 inches and 4 to 6 foot viewing distance, the 120Hz benefit is clearly visible in fast-paced games. For movie watching, 60Hz is fine because film is mastered at 24fps. The HDMI 2.1 features matter for gaming primarily.
What is variable refresh rate (VRR) and do I need it?+
VRR matches the TV's refresh rate to the frame rate output by the console or PC, eliminating screen tearing and reducing perceived stutter on variable frame rate content. PS5 and Xbox Series X support VRR over HDMI 2.1, as do gaming PCs with modern GPUs. For competitive gaming or any title that drops below the locked refresh rate, VRR is a meaningful upgrade. For movies or 60fps locked content, VRR has no effect.
Can I get HDMI 2.1 features at 60Hz?+
Some HDMI 2.1 features (VRR, ALLM, eARC) work at 60Hz over standard HDMI 2.0 cables on TVs that support partial 2.1 implementations. The 4K 120Hz feature specifically requires the full bandwidth 2.1 chain (TV port, cable, source device) all at 48 Gbps. If you only have 60Hz sources, a TV with HDMI 2.0 plus VRR support covers most of what you need, but full 2.1 future-proofs the purchase.
Alex Patel
Alex Patel writes for The Tested Hub.