‘ZDNet Recommends’: What exactly does that mean?
ZDNet’s recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.
When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNet nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.
ZDNet's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.
Whether you want a small TV for your bedroom or a second screen to mirror your phone, these 32-inch TV deals are the best available.
Obviously, 32-inch TVs are small, but sometimes that's just what you need. If you're outfitting a dorm room, office, or spare bedroom -- a small TV will fit perfectly atop a dresser or can be hung at the foot of the bed. Best of all, you can get a model with smart technology for under $200.
Some of the best deals on 32-inch TVs right now include models that are compatible with Alexa and built-in streaming services. It's hard to find a 32-inch model that isn't a smart TV, so you can set up your device to stream even if it doesn't have built-in apps. Here are some of the best deals we found on 32-inch screen TVs that deliver on-screen clarity and smart features.
Backlight Type: Full Array LED | Resolution: 1080p HD | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Display Technology: LED, LCD | Smart Functionality: Yes | Current Price: $178 on Amazon | Regular price: $199.99
This television is most ideal for Chromecast users who want to ditch their USB stick, but anyone who needs a small smart TV may love it. If a simple setup is high on your list of priorities -- you're in luck here. The VIZIO D-Series has AirPlay and Chromecast built-in, plus it's compatible with Alexa. You can plug in other devices by way of USB or HDMI, including speakers or gaming systems. Or, download apps like Hulu and Netflix to the smart TV -- which can automatically connect to your home's wi-fi network -- and log in using existing credentials. This 32-inch model also has something called WatchFree+, which gives you access to live television at no cost. This makes it a perfect option for someone who isn't quite ready to cut the cord from traditional cable just yet.
Backlight Type: Direct Lit LED | Resolution: 720p HD | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Display Technology: LED | Smart Functionality: Yes | Current Price: $159.99 at Best Buy | Regular price: $199.99
You can save $40 right now on this smart Fire TV. A Fire TV has an easy-to-navigate home screen, and downloading your go-to apps for other streamers is simple. If you have traditional cable, you can also hook up your cable box to the 32-inch screen. This model is ideal for Amazon users who want a TV that integrates with their Alexa, Amazon Prime Video, and home internet. That being said, you don't need a current Amazon account to get maximum usage out of a Fire TV.
Backlight Type: Full Array LED | Resolution: 720p HD | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Display Technology: LED | Smart Functionality: Yes | Current Price: $138 at Walmart | Regular price: $248
This 32-inch model has a steep discount at Walmart, and snagging one is a great way to access streaming apps. It might be a good fit for Roku users and non-Roku users alike, but people who have previously used a Roku box or streaming stick might quickly take to it.
Roku streaming devices typically come in the form of a small box that operates similar to a cable box -- you plug it into your television to access channels and apps. If you upgrade to a Roku TV, you no longer need an external device at all. Your home screen will be the familiar Roku screen, and you can download your favorite streaming apps. Given its use as a Roku streaming service, this TV is best for people who are planning to cut the cord with cable altogether and switch to the Roku lifestyle. That being said, the TV is capable of connecting to your cable box.
The remote is a little more complicated than some competitors
Backlight Type: Direct Lit LED | Resolution: 720p HD | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Display Technology: LED | Smart Functionality: Yes | Current price: 149.99 at Best Buy | Regular price: $179.99
This Fire TV is great for people who are picky about audio, and you can currently save about 25% at Best Buy. The 32-inch set has DTS TruSurround, which creates a cool immersive sound experience -- something you don't always find on smaller TVs. Like other smart TVs, this model also has an internet connection and a home screen that makes it simple to download streaming service apps or individual channel apps. If you have a live TV streaming subscription, like Sling TV, you can sign in fast and start watching.
The Insignia Class F20 Series has three HDMI ports, composite jacks, a digital optical jack, a headphone jack and a coaxial jack. If you need to plug in a Blu-ray player or gaming console, you're guaranteed to have the right port. You'll get AppleTV+ free for three months with this TV, as well as 30 days of fuboTV at no cost.
Backlight Type: Direct Lit LED | Resolution: 720p HD | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Display Technology: LED | Smart Functionality: Yes | Current price: $199 at Target | Regular price: $219
If you want to do a quick Google search in between Netflix episodes, check out this affordable Samsung. Currently, on sale at Target, the Samsung M4500 has a built-in web browser in addition to its standard wi-fi and Samsung Smart Hub. The hub is where you can download your favorite apps, like Hulu and Prime Video. If you'd like a smart TV that acts a bit more like an old school set than some modern options, this could be the 32-inch set for you. It costs a little more than other similar options, but you're getting the reliability of a trusted brand and Ultra Clean View images.
Also: Best TV: Budget-friendly to big-screen opulence
When choosing the best 32-inch TV deals, we naturally considered the price of each product. We also weighed the discount against available features, ensuring our selections did not sacrifice popular functionality for a lower price tag. Our selected deals include TVs with features like smart technology, HD resolution, and a good audio experience.
Unlike a 65-inch TV, which probably has a featured spot in your living room, a 32-inch television is more likely to be a supplemental device. A lot of people put these convenient screens in a spare bedroom or office. They also fit well in a small studio apartment or other modest living space.
The right 32-inch TV for you may depend on where you plan to use it.
How much bang can you really get for your buck when it comes to a 32-inch TV? There aren't significant differences between most of our favorites, but the VIZIO does have a higher resolution. And, some of the models -- like the VIZIO -- do not have high definition range for color and contrast, while the Samsung model does. Here is a quick breakdown based on price and picture quality.
VIZIO 32-inch D-Series Full HD 1080p Smart TV
Toshiba 32-inch Class V35 Series LED HD Smart Fire TV
RCA 32-inch Class HD 720P Roku Smart LED Television
Toshiba 32-inch Class V35 Series LED HD Smart Fire TV
Samsung 32-inch Smart HD LED TV
A 32-inch screen is one of the smallest available, so that it might be dwarfed in a large space. Stick to rooms 10x10 or smaller, or a corner nook for this type of TV.
There are 32-inch TVs without smart technology, sometimes called non-smart TVs, but they are not easy to come by. Most new televisions are connected to the internet and designed to connect to your apps and streaming services. Non-smart TVs are also less likely to be on sale than their smart counterparts. If you're looking for the best TV discounts, smart TVs are the way to go. If you don't feel comfortable using the smart technology, you can always switch your TV set to the cable input and use it instead of online streaming platforms with your traditional cable box.
Direct-lit and full array lighting are similar, but they have a few key differences. Both refer to the way your TV screen is lit from behind. Full array lighting means your screen has LED lights spread out across the entire back side of the screen. They usually have local dimming, which means the lights are separated into zones. Depending on what you're watching, your TV may dim some zones and increase the lighting in other zones. This offers brighter whites and darker darks on your screen.
Direct-lit backlighting also involves having LED lights spread out across the back of your screen. However, in this case, there are fewer bulbs, and they usually don't have the ability to perform local dimming. Full array lights may offer more concise color contrasting -- but direct-lit TVs can still have decent clarity and contrast.
These aren't the only 32-inch TV deals to consider. If you want to expand your small TV options, consider these alternatives.
Best small TV 2022: Top 32-inch and 43-inch models
Best laptop deals available right now: March 2022
Best 55-inch TV 2022: The Goldilocks of screen sizes
Best 75-inch TV 2022: In this case, bigger can be better
Best iPhone deals available right now: March 2022
Best Chromebook deals available right now: March 2022
Best desktop deals available right now: March 2022
Amazon Fire Stick vs Roku Streaming Stick
Please review our terms of service to complete your newsletter subscription.
You agree to receive updates, promotions, and alerts from ZDNet.com. You may unsubscribe at any time. By joining ZDNet, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
You agree to receive updates, promotions, and alerts from ZDNet.com. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to receive the selected newsletter(s) which you may unsubscribe from at any time. You also agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge the data collection and usage practices outlined in our Privacy Policy.
© 2022 ZDNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Privacy Policy | Cookie Settings | Advertise | Terms of Use