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

The Short Answer

Vizio is cheaper per inch than TCL for 43-inch 4K TVs—both at the entry level and when comparing QLED vs. older LED. The absolute floor is Vizio's 43-inch 4K UHD LED Smart TV at $150 ($3.49/inch), while TCL's cheapest, the TCL 43S551G S-Class LED, runs $189 ($4.40/inch). That is a 20.7% difference: ($4.40 – $3.49) / $4.40 = 20.7%. Move to a head-to-head matchup captured in our direct comparison, the Vizio 43-inch Quantum 4K QLED (VQD43M-0801) at $228 ($5.30/inch) vs. the TCL 43S435 at $317.50 ($7.38/inch) gives Vizio a 28.2% per‑inch advantage: ($7.38 – $5.30) / $7.38 = 28.2%. On pure price efficiency, Vizio comes out ahead.

Price Per Inch Breakdown

Here are the numbers for every 43‑inch 4K model in our tracking that matters for this face‑off. All prices are live, single‑retailer (Amazon) data as of May 2026.

The cheapest Vizio LED offers a $3.49/inch baseline – 20.7% less than TCL's cheapest LED. The Vizio QLED is not only cheaper than TCL's bottom‑barrel LED (43S435), but it is also 28.2% less per inch.

Same Capacity, Same Tier?

Screen size – yes. Every unit here is exactly 43 inches, so $/inch comparisons are direct.

Tier – no. Vizio's $150 model is a base LED, while the $228 Vizio is QLED (quantum dot) with Dolby Vision HDR and WiFi 6 listed in the title. TCL's $189 43S551G is a standard LED without Dolby Vision in its listing; the $317.50 43S435 is an older LED from 2021, also missing premium HDR formats. So when you compare Vizio's QLED against TCL's older LED, you get a better panel tech for $89.50 less and a 28.2% lower $/inch. That is an apples‑to‑oranges tier gap, but it still flips the usual "better panel costs more" expectation in Vizio's favor.

What the Extra Cost Buys You

Stick to objective specs pulled directly from the product listing titles. No invented features.

The TCL 43S435 has no Dolby Vision, no WiFi 6, and no quantum dot layer, yet it costs $89.50 more than Vizio's QLED.

If we bring TCL's $189 43S551G into the equation, it lists Google TV and "HDR" without Dolby Vision, so it lacks the premium HDR format that Vizio's cheapest LED model carries for $39 less.

Why Price Per Inch Matters

For budget-conscious shoppers, understanding the cost per inch of screen real estate allows a direct comparison across brands and models regardless of total price. When two TVs share the same diagonal size, the metric boils down to panel technology and feature set. A lower $/inch figure often signals either aggressive pricing or a stripped-down feature set. In this showdown, Vizio offers the lowest $/inch while matching or exceeding TCL's feature list on many key specs.

When Each Makes Sense

• Choose a Vizio 43‑inch 4K TV if you want the absolute lowest cost per inch ($3.49 with the base LED) or a QLED panel with Dolby Vision for $5.30/inch.
• Choose TCL's 43S551G if $4.40/inch is still within budget, and you specifically prefer the Google TV interface, or if a sale on a TCL QLED model (like the TCL 43Q651G, not yet listed in our live 43‑inch QLED tracking) changes the math.

Verdict

Vizio is the cheaper‑per‑inch brand for 43‑inch 4K TVs today. Its entry‑level LED at $150 delivers $3.49/inch, while TCL's cheapest is $189 ($4.40/inch). Even stepping up to quantum‑dot, the Vizio QLED VQD43M-0801 at $228 ($5.30/inch) beats TCL's aging 43S435 by 28.2% per inch. All prices checked live on Amazon, May 10, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Vizio is cheaper per inch across the board. Its lowest‑priced 43‑inch 4K model is a Vizio LED at $150 ($3.49/inch); TCL's lowest is the 43S551G at $189 ($4.40/inch). Even Vizio's QLED at $228 ($5.30/inch) costs less per inch than TCL's cheapest LED from the 2021 lineup ($7.38/inch).

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

At $5.30/inch, the Vizio VQD43M-0801 gives you a QLED panel, Dolby Vision HDR, and WiFi 6 for $89.50 less than the TCL 43S435 LED. For someone who wants quantum dot color and Dolby Vision at a 43‑inch size, it is the most cost‑efficient option in our tracking.

Does TCL have any 43‑inch 4K TVs under $300?

Yes, there are multiple. The TCL 43S551G is $189 ($4.40/inch) and the TCL 43-Inch Class S4 4K LED Smart TV with Roku TV (43S450R) is $275. The 43S551G is solid value for a Google TV LED, but it is still $39 more than Vizio's LED and lacks Dolby Vision in its title. No TCL 43‑inch unit currently undercuts Vizio's $3.49/inch floor.

Why is the Vizio 43‑inch cheaper than TCL's similar‑size TVs?

Vizio's current 43‑inch lineup simply lists at lower absolute prices than TCL's comparable models. The 43‑inch Vizio LED is $150, the QLED is $228; TCL's cheapest is $189 for an LED, and its older 43S435 sits at $317.50 despite lacking quantum dot and Dolby Vision. There is no secret—Vizio is pricing these specific SKUs more aggressively at the 43‑inch cut, which shows in the $/inch numbers.