The best 32-inch TVs are smarter than you think – they now come with streaming apps built-in, useful gaming features, and deliver strong picture performance, despite not featuring the same high-end screen tech as larger models.
This means that the best 32-inch TVs don't have 4K screens generally, but that's fine, because, you wouldn't even notice the extra pixels at such as small size – you need to step up to one of the best 43-inch TVs at least to pick up on that. But these TVs do have HDR support, for more dynamic and lifelike images.
We test the best 32-inch TVs the same way we test high-end models, though – we're looking for rich contrast, realistic colors, and user-friendly smart TV software with all the key services on. We just obviously expect a different level of performance from these much cheaper TVs compared to more expensive models, and we take that into account when judging them. You will usually find that these small TVs aren't great for sound, though, and adding one of the best soundbars can help to add clarity to speech. The Sonos Ray is a high-quality option that's the right size, or the Saiyin DS6305 is an extremely cheap and small improvement over built-in speakers.
The quick list
Our at-a-glance list of the top 32-inch TVs, based on our testing. You can click to read a more in-depth write-up of each model, or go straight to the current best prices as retailers.
The best 32-inch TV for most people
The LG LQ6300 has the most natural, consistent picture, includes LG's Game Optimizer and covers all the bases well – all for a very reasonable price.
The best cheap 32-inch TV (US)
HDR support, Amazon Fire TV smart TV platform and better-than-expected sound quality in a TV this size – all for a remarkably cheap price.
The best cheap 32-inch TV (UK)
With Roku's great smart TV platform built-in and delivering decent gaming performance, the JVC LT-CR230 is a good budget option – exclusive to Currys in the UK.
The best 32-inch QLED TV
Bright, colorful QLED pictures, solid gaming performance and a visually appealing, slim design make the Hisense A5K a brighter and bolder small TV option.
I test most of the TVs that come through TechRadar, and I've reviewed everything from the budget 32-inch TVs you see here up to the world’s most elite OLED TVs. Before joining TechRadar, I worked for one of the UK's leading AV retailers, dealing with bedroom TVs, custom home theater installations, and everything in between. I personally tested the TVs in this guide, and crafted the list in collaboration with TechRadar's AV editors.
Recent updates
July 24, 2024
Added the Quick List to this guide, to make it easier to quickly find the TV that best suits you.
The best 32-inch TVs for 2024
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The best 32-inch TV for most people
The LG 32LQ6300 may not be the most well-equipped 32-inch TV on the market, but it does so many things well. Providing a good picture, solid gaming performance (despite a lack of next-gen features) and above-average audio, the LQ6300 is a great all-around performer, and with a competitive price tag to boot.
The LG 32LQ6300's picture is natural, with defined textures and great overall color, especially when it comes HDR images. It does suffer from black uniformity issues (which means how evenly black tones can be displayed across the screen by the TV's backlight) and struggles with fast motion shots, but its still one of the better 32-inch images we've seen.
Although the LQ6300 may not have any next-gen gaming features, it's still punchy and dynamic and performs well at 60Hz, displaying those fast-paced sequences well. The built-in audio isn't going to shake the foundations of the room, but it's plenty clear and carries a nice weight to it for such a small set.
Although there are 32-inch sets with a more defined picture or more gaming features out there, there aren't many who will do what the LQ6300 does for the price it's at. It demonstrates its value with ease and that's why it's the best 32-inch TV for most people.
Read our full LG 32LQ6300 review
Get the best deal on LG products with our LG coupon codes.
The best cheap 32-inch TV in the US
The Amazon 32-inch 2-series is a cheap, small-screen TV that gives you access to Amazon's Fire TV smart TV platform, decent built-in sound for a TV this size. Although its overall picture is inconsistent, when you can realistically expect to pay $119 for this set, it's hard to argue against. (The 32-inch 2-series is also available in the UK, with prices dropping to £149 at times, but we think the JVC CR230 is marginally better.)
While the Amazon 2-series' picture can be a mixed bag, it still shows plenty of vivid punch in colorful scenes for a small LED set. Black levels and contrast are lacking, but that's to be expected at this price. It won't blow people away anytime soon, but the picture should suit most people looking for a cheap TV just fine.
The Amazon 2-series fares better In some other areas, with clear, built-in audio that surprises and access to plenty of apps via the Fire TV smart TV platform. But the real highlight here is the price, especially if you can pick it up for $119 during one of Amazon's regular sales.
Read our full Amazon 2-series review
The best cheap 32-inch TV in the UK
The JVC LT-32CR230 is a Currys exclusive TV that aims for simplicity and delivers. Its Roku TV smart TV platform provides a streamlined, no-frills option for accessing movies and TV shows. It may be inconsistent in other areas, such as picture quality, but at £139 it offers a budget option to those seeking a secondary, small screen.
Similar to the Amazon 2-series, the JVC 230's picture is a mixed bag. Black levels are sub-par, with the edge-lit LED panel creating a clouding effect and showing darker tones as gray rather than black. However, its colors are vibrant enough. Motion can also be hit-and-miss and there are no motion settings to compensate.
Roku TV is the JVC 230's real highlight, but gaming is also solid enough. It doesn't carry any gaming features, but when tested with Battlefield V on an Xbox Series X, the 230 more than adequately handled the graphically intense moments.
We've seen the LG 32LQ6300 sell for £179, and it's definitely worth the extra money. But for those looking to save, the JVC CR230 will serve as a good enough TV for your spare room, and at £139, it's a good value.
Read our full JVC LT-32CR230 review
The best 32-inch QLED TV
The Hisense 32A5K delivers a good QLED picture in a small screen size for a modest price of roughly £199. It also provides a budget gaming TV option for those in need of a secondary screen. While other aspects hold it back, especially its sound, it's a solid option for casual viewing.
Picture quality is the A5K's strongest plus point. Even on a small screen, the A5K's vibrant QLED colors are on full display, with vivid reds particularly well-handled, and textures and skin tones are more accurate and true-to-life than what you see on most 32-inch sets. Sadly, it doesn't have the best black levels or shadow detail, but that's typical for a cheap TV.
Gaming is also surprisingly fun on the A5K despite its lack of gaming features (although you'll never get many on a 32-inch set anyway). The A5K handles intense gameplay well, with quick switching between targets in FPS games feeling smooth. Unlike the LG LQ6300, the A5K's Game Mode is bare with almost no settings to adjust, but that doesn't stop gaming from being enjoyable.
Those needing good built-in sound will find the A5K's speakers are thin with almost no punch whatsoever, even by 32-inch TV standards, and VIDAA can also be a little clunky and cluttered as a smart TV platform. But, if you are looking for a bedroom TV for casual TV viewing and gaming, the A5K will serve you well.
Read our full Hisense A5K review
The best 32-inch TVs 2024: FAQ
What are the perks of a small 32-inch smart TV?
Size isn't everything, as the best 32-inch TVs can attest to. Many of these smaller screens offer much sharper 720p or 1080p picture quality thanks to their compact display. This means there's much less risk of the displayed image appearing blurry as a result of poor upscaling on a larger 4K-capable TV. Some even offer HDR, injecting that smaller, sharper screen with a burst of color.
The smaller size of a 32-inch TV also means that they're offered a good degree more in the way of portability. Need to move the TV to a different room or house? It's far more manageable with a smaller 32-inch TV than with a 4K giant.
How much does a 32-inch smart TV cost?
Prices vary between brands, but even the best 32-inch TVs are cheaper than even the most basic, entry-level 4K tellies. Prices can also vary depending on what features you're looking for.
UK buyers on a budget might look for the Cello Smart Android TV, which costs £199 for a 'gets-the-job-done' level experience. For something more premium, the great-looking (in more ways than one) Samsung The Frame 32-inch QLED TV costs around £449.
In the US, the Vizio D-Series' 32-inch model, which is our top choice at the moment, is somewhat equivalent to the Cello Smart Android TV, costing just $179 for a basic, but functional experience. The TCL 3-Series is similarly affordable at $219 but with a few quality features like full 1080p HD, 3 HDMI ports and loads of streaming apps built in.
Is a 32-inch TV too small for a living room?
That totally depends on the size of your living room, how far away you want to be from your TV in order to watch it and what you'll be using it for, like watching movies and TV shows or playing games and catching up with sports.
Generally speaking, the viewing distance between you and your TV should be at least 1.5 times the diagonal screen size of the TV. So if you have a TV that's 55-inches, then the minimum viewing distance needs to be 82-inches, around 6.8 feet.
However, some people might still find that way too close for comfort and it'll all depend on personal preference.
What to look for in a 32-inch smart TV
Shopping for a new TV can feel pretty overwhelming these days: there are so many different technologies and each manufacturer seems to put all kinds of acronyms in their product descriptions to make things feel even more confusing. Never fear. That's why we're here.
Other than the price, there are only a few really crucial things you need to consider when you're shopping for a 32-inch TV. The first is resolution, which is how many dots – pixels – the screen is made of. The more dots, the better the picture. At this size you'll see models described as HD or Full HD. The latter is better. HD resolution is the same as a DVD disc, so the screen has 720 rows of pixels from top to bottom. Full HD has 1,080. That means more detail, especially if you're sitting fairly close to the TV.
You'll see the acronym QLED on a lot of TV sets in general, especially ones from Samsung. QLED is a modern TV technology that's designed to deliver brighter, more colorful pictures – it's a big step up over the non-QLED options you get among 32-inch TVs.
There are two more acronyms to look for: HDR and HDMI. HDR stands for High Dynamic Range, and it means that the contrast between the lightest and darkest bits of the picture is very dramatic. That's great for movies and for gaming. And HDMI refers to the most important connection the TV has, which is the HDMI sockets it has for connecting external devices such as games consoles, streaming boxes or Blu-ray players. Soundbars can also connect over HDMI, but most can also connect over a digital optical port, and that's what we'd recommend with most 32-inch TVs, since they tend to have a limited number of HDMI ports you'll want to use for other purposes.
Latest updates
24 July, 2024
Added the Quick List to this guide, to make it easier to quickly find the TV that best suits you.
14 June, 2024
Put in the Hisense 32A5K as 'best for QLED'. Made this latest updates section to keep track of all revisions to this 32-inch TV guide.
