Vizio vs TCL 43-Inch 4K TV: Cheaper Per Inch?

The Short Answer

This comparison used to be a straightforward price-per-inch face-off between two 43-inch models. It isn't anymore — at least not with real inventory. In our live tracking, TCL currently has zero 4K TVs listed in the 40 to 50-inch range. Its cheapest verified 4K sets, LED or QLED, start at 55 inches. Vizio, meanwhile, has one verified 4K model right in this size class: the 43-inch Quantum QLED (VQD43M-0801) at $188.00, or $4.37 per inch.

So the honest answer is that Vizio isn't just cheaper per inch than TCL at 43 inches — TCL isn't in the race at 43 inches right now. That can change fast (retailers restock and drop new SKUs constantly), so treat this as a snapshot, not a permanent verdict.

What's Actually in Stock at 40–50 Inches

Here's every model our tracking currently verifies in the 40 to 50-inch window, across both LED and QLED panel types:

Two things jump out. First, the cheapest 4K TVs in this size band right now aren't Vizio or TCL at all — Insignia and Toshiba both undercut Vizio's QLED on straight $/inch, though they're standard LED, not quantum-dot panels. Second, TCL simply doesn't appear in this table. It has 40-inch QLED-branded sets at similar prices, but they're 1080p Full HD, not 4K, so they don't belong in a 4K comparison.

Why TCL Is Missing From This Comparison

TCL does sell 43-inch TVs. What our live price tracking does not currently show is a 43-inch (or any 40-to-50-inch) TCL model that is both verified in stock and genuinely 4K resolution. TCL's tracked 4K lineup — the S-Series and F35-Series — starts at 55 inches. Below that, the TCL sets we can verify in this size range (like the Q3K Series) are QLED for color but 1080p for resolution, so they're a different product category, not a budget 4K alternative.

That's a meaningfully different situation from the outdated version of this comparison, which cited specific TCL 43-inch models and prices (the 43S551G, 43S435, and 43S405) that are not in our current verified pricing data. Rather than repeat numbers we can't stand behind, we're reporting what's actually confirmed: TCL is not currently competing at this size and resolution combination.

Why Price Per Inch Still Matters Here

Price per inch normalizes cost across screen sizes, but it doesn't normalize panel technology — a $/inch QLED number and a $/inch LED number aren't interchangeable, since QLED (the "Q" in Vizio's Quantum line) buys you better color volume and typically higher peak brightness than standard LED. Use $/inch to shop within a panel type: if you want QLED color specifically at 43 inches, check today's 4K QLED lineup — Vizio is the only currently-verified option at $4.37/inch. If panel tech doesn't matter and you just want the lowest $/inch 4K set in this size window, 4K LED options from Insignia and Toshiba beat it on straight price.

When Each Makes Sense

• Choose Vizio's 43-inch Quantum QLED if you specifically want 4K QLED at this size — it's currently the only verified option from either brand under 50 inches.
• Choose Insignia or Toshiba if straight price-per-inch on a standard 4K LED matters more than quantum-dot color — Insignia's 43-inch runs $3.49/inch and Toshiba's $3.72/inch, versus $4.37/inch for Vizio's 43-inch Quantum QLED.
• Wait and check back if you want a TCL 4K TV specifically at 43 inches; it isn't currently in our tracked inventory at that size.
• Consider 55 inches if you're open to sizing up — that's where TCL actually competes on 4K. See our 65-inch Vizio vs. TCL QLED breakdown.

Verdict

At 43 inches, Vizio is the only brand of the two currently offering a verified 4K TV — its Quantum QLED (VQD43M-0801) at $188.00, or $4.37/inch. TCL's real 4K lineup starts at 55 inches in our live tracking. That makes this less a price battle and more a stock-availability story, worth rechecking since both brands rotate SKUs frequently. All prices above are live, verified listings as of this update.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which 43-inch 4K TV is cheaper per inch: Vizio or TCL?

As of this update, Vizio is the only one of the two with a verified 43-inch 4K TV in stock — the Quantum QLED (VQD43M-0801) at $188.00 ($4.37/inch). TCL does not currently have a tracked 4K model in the 40-to-50-inch range; its cheapest verified 4K sets start at 55 inches.

Is the Vizio VQD43M-0801 a good value for the price?

At $4.37/inch, it's the only verified 4K QLED under 50 inches from either brand right now, though two plain-LED 43-inch models (Insignia and Toshiba) currently beat it on straight price per inch if quantum-dot color isn't a requirement for you.

Does TCL have any 43-inch 4K TVs?

TCL sells 43-inch TVs in general, but our live pricing data doesn't currently show a 43-inch TCL model that is both in stock and genuinely 4K resolution — the TCL sets we can verify near that size (like the Q3K Series) are 1080p, not 4K. TCL's confirmed 4K lineup starts at 55 inches. An earlier version of this article cited specific TCL 43-inch models and prices that are no longer confirmed in our live tracking; we now report only what current data actually shows.