The best 32-inch TVs

Despite TV screen sizes getting ever bigger in recent years, with some exceeding 100 inches, 32-inch is still the preferred option for many people shopping for a new set for their living room, or an additional TV for a bedroom, kitchen or study.

But unfortunately, many of these smaller, cheaper sets don’t make the grade. With manufacturers focusing on 50-inch TVs, 55-inch TVs and 65-inch TVs, these smaller models have been all but left behind.

That means if you’re looking for a new 32-inch set, for every solid option there are dozens of shoddy ones sitting alongside. Here, we reveal the models that impressed our expert lab tests.

If you just want to see our favourite sets then check out the best TVs we've tested.

32-inch TVs - what you need to know

Before we get to the best models, it's important to measure your expectations. The fact of the matter is that manufacturers don't release many 32-inch TVs anymore. Sometimes their ranges only include one, and they are almost always inferior to their larger cousins.

The reason for this is partly to do with demand and partly to do with limitations of the small screen. You will have noticed that almost every TV is 4K, but none of them are 32 inches. That's because the bump in resolution doesn't really show on anything smaller than 40 inches, unless you're sat as close to it as you would a computer monitor.

32-inch TVs are still popular, but aren't nearly as in demand as 43, 50 and 55-inch models. Most people want, and should, be buying bigger TVs for their living rooms. The average living room is around 18.5 metres squared and that means in most instances you'll be sitting roughly three metres from your TV. A 32-inch screen is much too small for that distance.

Of course, we understand that some people still want smaller TVs, which is why we will continue to test the few that are released. What we don't do is change the way we evaluate them. This would improve the score, but wouldn't give a realistic impression of how good these TVs are.

The 32-inch TVs we've listed here are the best available, but they aren't as good as larger sets.

Best 32-inch TVs

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Where to buy a 32-inch TV

TVs are sold at most home and tech retailers. Below, we've picked some popular retailers that sell 32-inch TVs – they also scored highly in our member survey on the best tech shops.

• Amazon stock thousands of TVs from most major brands – including their own Amazon Fire TVs. Prices start from just over £100, with most models being under £500. You'll get free delivery on many models, and if you're a Prime member you can get free next-day delivery on several TVs.
• Richer Sounds has many LG, Philips, Panasonic, and Samsung TVs on offer. You'll get free delivery on orders over £50, which means TVs will get delivered free of charge. Richer Sounds is also the winner of our retailer of the year award.
• Very has 32-inch TVs from brands like TCL, Hisense, and Samsung available. Most models will cost £200 or less, with some costing upwards of £400. Standard delivery is £9, with quicker options coming in at £17 or more. 

How big is a 32-inch TV?

The size of the bezel differs from TV to TV, which means there isn't one exact figure for the width, height and depth of a 32-inch TV, but on average it's around 73.1 x 47.2 x 17.9cm.

How to choose the best small TV

If you’re replacing an old small TV that could be anywhere from 22 to 32 inches with one of the same size, you may find that you can jump up to a slightly bigger set. With bezels shrinking, a bigger screen can now fit in a smaller space. Height and width measurements for every TV can be found in the tech specs of our reviews.

Plus, with many 40-inch TVs now coming with 4K ultra-HD resolution, you can sit slightly closer without losing any detail. Our guide to buying the perfect TV size recommends that you sit about the same distance (around 2.5 metres) from a Full-HD 32-inch TV as you would a 4K 40-inch one.

Our testing has shown that the average quality in this larger size bracket is higher than that seen among 32-inch TVs. And choosing a 40-inch TV doesn’t mean spending a lot more money than you hoped – check out our guide to the best 40 to 43-inch TVs for sets to suit all budgets.

32-inch TVs: features to look out for

If you’ve decided that a 32-inch TV is for you, here's what you need to look out for when you're making your choice.

• Full-HD display: To get the best possible picture quality, go for a 1080p, or Full-HD, TV. An HD-Ready set will let you view HD content but it typically won't be as good as a Full-HD model. New 4K TVs are available, but they're mainly in sizes of 40-inches and over.
• Built-in HD tuner: You'll need HD content in order to enjoy your high-definition display to the full. Go for a 32-inch TV with a built-in Freeview HD or Freesat HD tuner, allowing you to get subscription-free digital TV channels. Some TVs even have both.
• Smart TV: Most new TVs from come with smart TV features, allowing you to watch catch-up and on-demand services such as BBC iPlayer and Netflix. But cheaper TVs can miss out. Head over to what is a smart TV? to find out if this is an important feature for you.