Best small-screen LCD TV

Samsung's EH4000 is tough to beat

While finding reviews for sets 32 inches or larger is often a simple matter, getting feedback for smaller sets can be a challenge. Of the major review sites, only ConsumerReports.org regularly covers smaller screen sets. User feedback can also be useful, as can looking for reviews of larger screen sizes in the same series.

This last was a great help in identifying the Samsung EH4000 as a top pick for a smaller space.

Though professional reviewers don't specifically look at the 26-inch Samsung UN26EH4000 (*Est. $250), a few do spend time with the 32-inch Samsung UN32EH4000 (*Est. $320) and largely like what they see. Since the two sets share identical specs save for screen size, that bodes very well for the smaller UN26EH4000.

Though this TV is pretty bare-bones in the features department, for the size class and price picture quality is truly excellent -- you'll need to turn to bigger and more expensive TVs to find better. Blacks are good, as are shadow details, and color is even more impressive. Uniformity, always a concern in an edge-lit LED set, is above average. The matte screen eats up room reflections, which along with a high tested contrast ratio makes the EH4000 a good choice for well-lit spaces such as a kitchen counter.

Note that the resolution of this set is only 720p, but experts are almost unanimous in saying anything higher is wasted in screen sizes this small. Built-in audio is most important in a smaller TV, which is unlikely to be hooked into an external sound system, and it's pretty good in the EH4000 -- good enough for everyday TV watching, say even the harshest audio critics.