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4k-led5 min read

TCL 43-Inch S4 Price Per Inch Hits $6.40 in May 2026

By Jon Levesque··Updated May 5, 2026

Key Takeaway

The TCL 43S450R costs $275 and $6.40/inch, 83% more than the 43-inch 4K floor. We break down the real per-inch value in 2026.

The cheapest TV per inch isn’t a 43-inch 4K model

If you search for the lowest possible cost per diagonal inch in May 2026, the TCL 32-inch S3 1080p LED (32S350) takes the crown at $3.12/inch ($100 total). That 32-inch set gives you 1080p resolution and the Fire TV platform for roughly the price of two mid-range dinners. The 43-inch S4—our focus—costs more than double per inch. The jump from $3.12 to $6.40 is a 105% increase, ($6.40 - $3.12) / $3.12 = 1.0513), and that premium buys you 4K resolution and another 11 diagonal inches. Whether that’s worth it depends entirely on your need for a 43-inch 4K screen.

TCL 43-inch S4 price per inch breakdown

As of our live data on May 5, 2026, it’s listed at $275 across tracked retailers. The division is straightforward: $275 ÷ 43 inches = $6.40 per inch. No hidden fees, no bundle required. This is the second-most expensive 43-inch TCL 4K LED in our current tracking, only behind the older 43S435 at $7.38/inch.

How the S4 stacks up against other 43-inch 4K TVs in May 2026

Within the 43-inch 4K LED category we track four in-stock models. Here’s how the TCL S4 lands:

  • VIZIO 43-inch 4K UHD LED Smart TV w/Dolby Vision HDR, WiFi 6 — $150 ($3.49/inch). This is the cheapest 43-inch 4K television our database shows.
  • TCL 43S551G (S5 S-Class LED 4K UHD HDR Smart Google TV) — $189 ($4.40/inch).
  • TCL 43S450R (S4 4K LED Smart TV with Roku) — $275 ($6.40/inch).
  • TCL 43S435 (2021 model 4K UHD Smart LED TV) — $318 ($7.38/inch).

The S4’s $6.40 per inch is 83% more expensive than the Vizio 43-inch floor: ($6.40 - $3.49) / $3.49 = 0.8338. Even against TCL’s own newer S5 model, the S4 carries a 45% premium: ($6.40 - $4.40) / $4.40 = 0.4545. For a buyer who simply wants a 43-inch 4K TV, the S4 is not the cheapest option—neither in absolute price nor in price per inch.

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If your budget is purely per-inch driven, the TCL 32S350 at $3.12/inch is less than half the cost per inch of the S4—but you lose 4K resolution and 11 diagonal inches.

4K vs. 1080p value: where the S4’s $6.40 falls

The overall 4K LED category floor sits at $3.28/inch, held by a 58-inch Westinghouse ($190). But comparing a 43-inch TV against a 58-inch floor is a misleading size mismatch. The more meaningful floor is the cheapest 43-inch 4K model: the Vizio at $3.49/inch. The TCL S4 is 83% above that 43-inch benchmark.

For additional context, the overall QLED floor is $3.88/inch (VIZIO 50-inch VQD50M at $194) and the OLED floor is $13.54/inch (LG 48-inch B5 at $650). The S4’s $6.40 sits squarely between the cheapest 4K LEDs and premium OLED territory, which might tempt shoppers into thinking it offers a middle-ground quality—but the specs don’t indicate anything beyond a standard 4K LED set.

Is the TCL S4 worth $6.40 per inch in 2026?

At $275, the TCL 43S450R costs $125 more than the Vizio 43-inch that includes Dolby Vision HDR and WiFi 6. The S4’s only listed advantages are the Roku platform and the larger TCL brand name, but no special display or audio features are documented in the live listings. TCL itself offers a cheaper 4K alternative in the 43S551G ($189, $4.40/inch) with Google TV and HDR support. Unless you specifically need the S4’s Roku experience and cannot find a Roku stick to pair with the less expensive Vizio, the S4’s $6.40 per inch is hard to justify.

The S4 also cannot claim any unusual size efficiency. The 55-inch TCL 55S425 ($330, $6.00/inch) actually comes in at a slightly lower per-inch cost, demonstrating that larger screens often achieve better $/inch even within the same brand—so the S4 doesn’t even win that battle.

In a market where the 43-inch 4K floor is $3.49 per inch, paying 83% more for the S4 means you’re spending extra without getting a clearly documented spec upgrade. This makes the S4 a niche buy for those who prioritize Roku integration above all else and are willing to pay a meaningful premium for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the price per inch of the TCL 43-inch S4 in May 2026?

$6.40 per inch, calculated from its current price of $275 ($275 ÷ 43 inches). This is based on in-stock data collected on May 5, 2026.

How does the TCL S4 43-inch compare per inch to other 43-inch 4K TVs?

The TCL 43S551G ($189) comes in at $4.40/inch, 31% cheaper per inch than the S4. The older TCL 43S435 is even more expensive at $7.38/inch.

Is the TCL 32S350 a better value per inch than the TCL S4 43-inch?

Yes, if your only metric is cost per diagonal inch. The 32S350 costs $3.12/inch, which is less than half the S4’s $6.40. However, you give up 4K resolution and screen size—a trade-off that matters if you specifically need a 43-inch 4K display.

What is the cheapest TCL 4K TV per inch right now?

The TCL 43S551G at $4.40/inch. That’s 31% below the S4’s per-inch cost (($6.40 - $4.40) / $6.40 = 0.3125) and comes with HDR and Google TV, giving you a more current feature set for less per inch.

Is the TCL S4’s $6.40 per inch still a good deal for a 43-inch 4K TV in 2026?

No. The Vizio 43-inch at $3.49/inch offers a better price-per-inch for 4K and includes Dolby Vision HDR and WiFi 6. Even TCL’s own 43S551G delivers more modern specs at a lower per-inch cost, leaving the S4 as an overpriced option unless you absolutely require the Roku platform built in.