Not everyone has the space or the budget for a giant TV, but most do TVs that I check are 55 inches and up - and for good reason. So you shouldn't be shocked that I only have two tips to help you find the best 32-inch TV.
I usually start with a 55-inch display for several reasons:
- I always recommend a bigger TV if you can afford it and have the space.
- A smaller TV is cheaper, so people rely less on reviews than on price differences.
- Bigger TVs are also getting cheaper, reducing the price gap and making bigger devices better values.
- A smaller TV will have poorer picture quality as TV manufacturers reserve their best technology for larger models. If you want great picture quality, the best possible wide angle, industry leading smart features, great sound quality, and an HDMI or USB port for all of your devices, a bigger screen size is usually the way to go.
- Most readers ask me for a review bigger televisions.
stay tuned
Subscribe to CNET's TV, Streaming and Audio Newsletter to get the most out of our home entertainment coverage.
For all of these and other reasons (not least when watching films and TV episodes, flipping through channels or streaming on Hulu, Netflix or Disney Plus) 32-inch TVs are the smallest I review - and there are only two current models with this screen size worth recommending. Just like 43 inch setsThe next bigger size I'm reviewing doesn't have the latest extras at this size - all 32-inch TVs still have HD TV resolution (720 pixels or 1080p) instead of 4KFor example and none has image-enhancing extras like local dimming with full array. Instead, I first appreciate smart TV apps and built-in streaming apps for watching TV shows, YouTube movies, and more.
The list below shows the best 32-inch size TVs that I reviewed in the CNET test lab. There I compare them side by side to see which ones they are most worth buying. When I factor in things like viewing experience, display, refresh rate, resolution, remote control, smart features, streaming, sound, input delay, and connectivity, I can only recommend two. If you are undoubtedly in the small TV marketplace, here are some good ones.
Sarah Tew / CNET
Do you remember when I said that smart TV is king with this screen size? Roku is our favorite platform for a live TV streaming service like Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and others, and it's even better integrated with this smart TV. At that price point, buying a separate streamer for Roku is a significant investment - and juggling the streamer's remote control is a chore. So if you need a TV this size to meet your needs, this is our pick for the best 32 inch TV.
It has three HDMI ports, delivers high quality images at 720 pixels high definition, and is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, so you don't have to update your smart speaker devices to interact with that particular 32-inch TV . Read CNET's TCL 32S325 Roku TV Review.
Sarah Tew / CNET
If you're looking for the best 32-inch TV with Alexa, this Toshiba comes with Amazon's built-in Fire TV system, making it a direct competitor to the TCL's Roku system. In general, we like Roku better than Fire TV thanks to superior menus and search capabilities, but this Toshiba has a cool extra that the TCL lacks: the built-in Alexa available via the remote control. Note that the echo point is not included in the above image.
This 32-inch TV also offers three HDMI connections, 720p HD picture quality and an LED display. Read our Toshiba 32LF221U19 review.
Learn more about buying a new 32-inch TV
Still with me If none of these TVs suit you, my advice is that at this size, almost any Roku TV that is $ 130 or less is a good choice. Roku licenses its operating system to television brands like Hisense, RCA, Sharp, and others. Each of them offer the smart features and smart TV perks of my top pick above. If you insist on a small TV from another brand like Samsung, LG, or Vizio, that's fine, but you know that at this size, you'll likely pay more for similar picture quality and a worse Smart TV experience than the two above TV.
Are you looking for more information? Everything you need to know is here Buy a new TV in 2021.