The best 32-inch TV for 2024: small screens for any budget

An LG 32-inch TV on a red background
(Image credit: LG)
Editor's note: March 2024

We've chosen the LG 32LQ6300 as the best 32-inch TV for most people based on our testing, thanks to its great picture quality, solid gaming performance and intuitive smart TV platform. It may not be the best in every single area, but it's at least good in all areas, and is a reliable smart TV that comes at an extremely competitive price.

James Davidson, TV Hardware Writer

The best 32-inch TVs are smarter than you think. In fact, many of the best 32-inch TVs are packed with a stack of smart features, useful tech, and deliver strong picture performance, despite not featuring the same high-end screen tech as larger models. But this means they're much cheaper than their bigger siblings – when so many of us are watching our money to make sure we're not spending more than we can afford, 32-inch sets are often very wise buys.

It's worth pointing out that if you're looking for a 4K TV you won't find it at this size. That's because at 32 inches you simply won't get the benefit of all those extra pixels – so you'd be paying for something you can't really see. These TVs have either HD or 1080p resolution and that's more than sharp enough; we don't think you get any benefit from 4K until you step up at least one size to one of the best 40-inch TVs. It's much better to have HDR instead: that gives you much more dynamic and lifelike images no matter what display resolution you have, and some of these TVs include it.

We still test 32-inch TVs the same way we test anything else, 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 their price and size into account when judging them.

Unfortunately, one feature that many of the TVs we've chosen have inherited from larger models is fairly lackluster sound. That's an easy fix: we'd definitely recommend investing in one of the best soundbars to truly bring things to life. The Sonos Ray is a particularly good, more affordable option that's the right size for these kinds of TVs. 

The best 32-inch TV for 2024

LG 32LQ6300 with lake on screen

(Image credit: Future)
The best 32-inch TV for most people

Specifications

Screen size: 32-inch
Screen resolution: Full HD (1080p)
Panel type: LED
Smart TV : webOS
HDR support: HDR10, HLG

Reasons to buy

+
Good HDR picture
+
Solid gaming performance 
+
Better than expected audio 

Reasons to avoid

-
Cluttered home menu 
-
Some black uniformity issues

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

Kids watch The Incredibles on a 32-inch Vizio D-Series smart TV

(Image credit: Vizio)

2. Vizio D32h-D1 (US)

The best cheap 32-inch TV for US buyers

Specifications

Screen size: 32 inches
Resolution: HD (720p)
Panel type: LED LCD
Smart TV: SmartCast
HDR: No

Reasons to buy

+
Full array backlighting
+

Reasons to avoid

-
Remote is annoying to use
-
Sound quality isn't top class

VIZIO pretty much rules the roost when it comes to great-value TVs in the United States, with the Vizio D-Series emerging as one of the best small TVs out there right now.

While the name might not exactly jump out at you, Vizio's small screen hits dead center for balancing features and price. You don't get a 1080p Full HD screen, but you get a full array LED backlight, which means a brighter image that's easier to see during the day. You also get smart TV features full of the most popular streaming services (including Netflix, YouTube and Hulu) on the SmartCast platform, which is also used on Vizio's high-end sets.

You're getting a basic pair of 5W speakers built-in, so it might be worth plugging in some external audio hardware, but you're getting a good feature list for such a small TV and small price – including two HDMI ports, one USB port, and HDMI ARC support for a soundbar.

This is an untested model, but if you're looking for something smart, small and affordable at a 32-inch size, VIZIO's small screen offers a lot for the price.

32-inch Toshiba WK3C smart TV on kitchen counter, showing recipe

(Image credit: Toshiba)
The best cheap 32-inch TV for UK buyers

Specifications

Screen size: 32 inches
Resolution: HD (720p)
Panel technology: LED LCD
Smart TV: Toshiba Smart Portal
HDR: HDR10, HLG

Reasons to buy

+
Surprisingly good images
+
Built-in Alexa support

Reasons to avoid

-
Not Full HD
-
Alexa’s voice is a bit hoarse

The Toshiba WK3C Alexa TV combines straightforward TV viewing and voice assistant functionality in one very affordable package, making it one of the best 32-inch TVs out there.

The built-in (and hands-free) Alexa support covers what you’d get from one of the best smart speakers or one of the best smart TVs. During our testing, we had no trouble using the Amazon voice assistant to summon apps, look for content, or power the television on and off – though it’s an always-on affair, without the easy mute functions of an Amazon Echo.

The picture is surprisingly good, too, given the price and limitations of this HD resolution set. The processor handles HD sources, or those downscaled from 4K, very well. There’s a trace of motion judder that occurs across moving backgrounds, pictures far better in the foreground in general, but it’s a small issue that’s not overly noticeable on such a small TV. Freeview Play support is a great addition for UK viewers too.

All in all, the Toshiba WK3C is something of a steal for those who don’t need a higher-resolution screen. Just keep in mind that you're only getting HD (720p) resolution on both the 24-inch and 32-inch sizing options.

Read our full Toshiba WK3C Alexa TV review

32-inch TCL 3-Series Roku TV on wooden counter

(Image credit: TCL)

4. TCL 3-Series Roku TV (US)

The best 32-inch TV for smart TV features

Specifications

Screen size: 32-inch
Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Panel type: LED
Smart TV: Roku TV
HDR: No

Reasons to buy

+
3 X HDMI ports
+
Roku platform built-in

Reasons to avoid

-
Dim output compared to rivals
-
No HDR on offer

The TCL 3-Series isn't the most technically impressive model in our best TCL TVs guide, but it does offer a lot for the price. At a 32-inch size, this small TV packs in Full HD resolution, direct full-array dimming (no edge lighting then) and even the excellent Roku operating system found on a host of other TCL TVs.

Roku is the saving grace of this cheap TV, adding a sleek and well-organized smart platform with substantial app support: Netflix, Disney Plus, Apple TV Plus, Hulu, and more. Three HDMI ports give you a lot of connectivity options too, while the 60Hz panel doesn't hurt either.

TCL TVs have a tendency towards quite aggressive overprocessing and high contrast images, which will only be more prominent on its cheaper screens – but for an affordable model that won't be a nightmare to navigate, the 3 Series is a good bet for one of the best 32-inch TVs. 

And while we haven't reviewed this model ourselves, we've seen enough TCL TVs to get a good sense of what's on offer.

32-inch Cello smart TV with Android TV platform

(Image credit: Cello)
The best cheap 32-inch TV with 1080p resolution

Specifications

Screen size: 32 inches
Resolution: Full HD (1080p)
Panel type: LED LCD
Smart TV: Android TV
HDR: No

Reasons to buy

+
Decent picture compared to rivals
+
Android TV built-in

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited viewing angles
-
Feeble sound

Cello might be a humble British TV brand, but it knows how to cater to those on a tight budget and those in need of a smaller-than-standard screen. The Cello Smart Android TV starts at just £179 for a 24-inch size, and comes in at £199 for a 32-inch TV size.

For that price you're getting Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, and surprisingly comprehensive smart TV features. The Cello Netgem smart TV that used to be in this guide made do with a very basic operating system – without even Netflix support – and the move to Android for the latest TVs from this range can only be an improvement. 

Sure, there are better interfaces than Android for higher-end sets, but it's highly unusual at this price, packing in Chromecast, Google Assistant support, and the best streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Rakuten. You even have Freeview Play – for the UK's terrestrial broadcaster catch-up services.

Picture performance is decent for the price, too, with consistently lit pictures and generally smooth motion from HD/SDR sources.

Read our full Cello Smart Android TV review

The best 32-inch TVs 2024: FAQ

A couple watching a 32-inch smart TV in blue room

(Image credit: Freeview)

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

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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.

James Davidson
TV Hardware Staff Writer, Home Entertainment

 James is the TV Hardware Staff Writer at TechRadar. Before joining the team, he worked at a major UK based AV retailer selling TV and audio equipment, where he was either telling customers the difference between OLED and QLED or being wowed by watching a PS5 run on the LG 65G2. When not writing about the latest TV tech, James can be found gaming, reading, watching rugby or coming up with another idea for a novel. 

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