As prices have come down and technology has improved, it’s true that more and more of us want larger 4K TVs for our main television. However, there are still plenty of people out there who would be better suited to something smaller.
Whether that’s down to space – perhaps you’ve got a specific area in your living room to fill – or maybe you’re looking for a second room, a 32-inch TV could be the perfect size for you.
It’s worth mentioning that manufacturers aren’t making as many TVs at this smaller screen size these days, so you won’t get the very best of TV tech here. But if it’s a size that’s going to work best for your needs, we’ve taken a detailed look at the market to find you the very best models available right now.
Think you can stretch a bit bigger? Check out our picks for best 42- and 43-inch TVs.
Best 32-inch TV: Our top picks
Samsung/Pocket-lint
Samsung Q60C
1. Best 32-inch TV overall
Premium pick
A high-spec TV in a compact size, 32-inch sets don’t get much better than this. But it’ll cost you…
- 4K QLED panel
- HDR10+ support
- Great smart TV system
Samsung is one of the few brands to offer true flagship-level features in its smaller TVs. The Q60C is a 2023 TV from the brand, and is about as good as it gets in this size bracket.
Packing a 4K screen – rare at this size – and QLED panel technology for the ultimate colour accuracy, plus Samsung’s Quantum Processor Lite chipset for improved upscaling, it doesn’t scrimp on performance for the smaller screen size.
Not content with just bringing best-in-class 4K picture quality to the table, the Q60C also packs the company’s excellent Tizen operating system for all your smart needs. It’s a clean chassis with minimal bezels, too.
Considering you can pick up this TV for around the same price as the popular Q60A from 2021, it’s a bit of a no brainer. If you want a high-performing TV at a small size, this gets the top nod from us – as long as you have the budget.
Samsung/Pocket-lint
Samsung The Frame LS03B
2. Best 32-inch TV for wall mounting
Shape shifter
Samsung’s Frame TV is a great option when space it at a premium, because it looks best when wall mounted. That’s because when it’s off, it looks like a piece of art, not a TV.
- Superb picture quality
- Amazing Art Mode
- Great smart TV system
Samsung’s superb line-up of The Frame TVs are a great option if you don’t love having a black box of a TV in the corner of your room. When you’re not watching it, it can switch into Art Mode, and play a selection of art or your own pictures. The screen is ever-so-slightly matte, so it looks pretty authentic in use too.
For that reason, it looks even better when wall mounted and has an option for customisable frames to suit your decor – but it does come with a stand if you prefer.
While its bigger models are 4K, with this 32-inch screen you’ll get a full HD picture with HDR – which is perfectly sharp at this size. You’ll also get Samsung’s QLED technology, which ensures punchy colours with 100% colour volume, plus Samsung’s excellent Tizen smart TV system.
Sony/Pocket-lint
Sony KD32W830K
3. Best 32-inch TV for the midrange
A great pick that’s priced decently, well-built and aesthetically pleasing.
- Versatile Google TV platform
- Chromecast built-in
- USB hard drive recording
- Not the best for wall mounting
- Only 720p
Sony makes some of the best TVs around and this 32-inch option is no exception – we think it’s one of the most nicely designed panels in this size range. It’s only 720p but the picture upscaling is pretty good – as is Sony’s strength – with HDR support to boot.
When it comes to smarts, you won’t be let down by the flexible Google TV platform, which has over 5000 apps available. If you do happen to find something that’s not supported, you can easily cast to the set’s built-in Chromecast – top stuff.
TCL/Pocket-lint
TCL 3-Series HD TV
4. Best 32-inch TV for Full HD value
Lots to like
TCL’s 3-Series TV is always a popular buy for those looking for smaller screen sizes on a budget. This offers a lot to like
- 1080p picture
- Roku TV built in
- Good connectivity
TCL’s 3-Series TV should be a decent option for its price, offering a full HD picture and Roku TV built in, which is a great smart platform for all the biggest streaming services.
It has built-in voice control, with support for Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant, dual-band Wi-Fi and three HDMI ports for hooking up the rest of your home cinema kit.
One of those should probably be a soundbar (via ARC), as we don’t expect great things from this TV from a sound perspective. Picture quality needs a bit of work in the menu out of the box but once you’ve got it balanced, it represents a very good value set.
Amazon/Pocket-lint
Amazon Fire TV 2-Series
5. Best 32-inch TV for streaming
Smart cookie
$129.99 $189.99 Save $60
Amazon’s Fire TV 2-Series is its entry-level in-house TV, which delivers a 720p picture and all of Fire TV’s streaming smarts at its heart.
- Fire TV is a great smart platform
- Good feature set
- Great price
This is the entry-level television in Amazon’s own Fire TV series, which comes with all the streaming services of Fire TV – think Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and more – at its core, plus gaming and Alexa smarts too.
It’s only 720p but that’s par for the course at this screen size – you do get HDR10 and HLG support for punchier HDR pictures with compatible content.
It has Bluetooth built in, so you can connect a pair of wireless headphones and listen privately, plus it can save your viewing position if you have more than one Fire TV device in the house, so you can move your viewing from room to room.
Hisense A4 Series
6. Best 32-inch TV for small budgets
Solid choice
$139.99 $149.99 Save $10
Great for those who value connectivity on a budget.
- Great price
- Chromecast built-in
- Works with Alexa
This Hisense TV is a good 1080p option, packing in some handy features.
There are two HDMI ports for hooking up a set top box and Blu-ray player or games console, and both Amazon Alexa and Google Chromecast on board for voice control and casting content from your phone.
As you might expect, there are some compromises to be made on the specification front at this price – for example there is no local dimming or HDR support. It’s also not the fastest performer, so you may need some patience when moving around the Vidaa interface – but there are a good selection of apps included, including Disney+, Netflix and Apple TV+.
For under $150 though, you can’t expect flagship performance, so manage your expectations accordingly and we think you’ll find plenty to like here.
How did I choose the best 32-inch TVs?
When choosing a great small TV, the process isn’t much different than choosing a bigger one – you just have to dial down your expectations slightly. First of all I considered any of the premium ranges of top manufacturers that might go down to 32 inches, so those people that are looking for the very best small picture had an option. Samsung’s Q60C ticks that box, and having seen it in a bigger screen size I feel confident that you’ll be happy with its performance if you have the budget.
However, with very few manufacturers offering 32-inch TVs in these premium ranges, I next turned my attention to more affordable options, which meant dropping down to 1080p or even 720p resolution. I scanned the smaller-sized ranges from brands I trust and hundreds of user reviews to find a good balance of performance and price, considering the range of features, the resolution, the connectivity, as well as rhw build quality you’re getting for your money.
Should I buy a 32-inch TV?
If this is the size that works best for your space – absolutely. As you can see above, you still have a fair option on models, but just not the latest and greatest tech. If you can make space for a larger screen – one of the best 42- or 43-inch TVs perhaps – you will find better panels and technology available to you, and even more so if you can push to 55 inches and above. Still, at this screen size, even 720p material looks ok on it, and 1080p looks superb – so you can usually bag a bargain.
What should I look for in a 32-inch TV?
Our buying advice alters slightly if you’re considering a 32-inch TV, compared with bigger sets. While we would generally recommend 4K HDR TVs for most screen sizes, at 32 inches, you may not see a huge difference in picture quality with a better resolution – but a big difference in price.
If your budget isn’t restricted, then go for it – it’ll actually be the panel technology and backlighting in these better sets that will make the bigger difference to your viewing experience, and if it’s your main TV then it’s worth investing in.
However, if you’re trying to save some money on the screen for a second or third room, a 1080p or even 720p screen might be worth considering for more casual watching. You’ll want to think about what you plan to watch, and how – do you need a good built-in smart system, or an HDMI port for hooking up a Fire TV or Roku stick?
Also bear in mind that the sound from a 32-inch TV is likely to be middling at best, so you may want to add a soundbar. Check you have enough HDMI ports or an optical input to accommodate this too in the TV you’re considering.
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