Yahoo Finance These Top-Rated Small TVs Are Perfect for Your Tiny Living Space
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These Top-Rated Small TVs Are Perfect for Your Tiny Living Space
If you live in a dorm, a tiny bedroom in a shared house, or a studio, the go-to for streaming movies and shows is likely your laptop. Considering that you also likely spend the entire day working it, it's nice to slap it closed and get your entertainment on something larger than a 15-inch screen. Having a tiny space doesn't mean skipping out the pleasure of an actual TV either—or spending a ton of cash—as there are plenty options to suit your setup and budget. Read on for our top recommendations, plus advice and tips to before you shop.
What to Consider
When you’re shopping for smaller TVs—especially those with 32-inch displays—keep in mind that you may have to sacrifice features found in larger sets. Going for a smart TV is a must, and you should buy the set with the highest resolution you can afford. You can save a few extra bucks by going with something that has 720p resolution, though it may be worth spending a bit more to get 1080p HD.
If cinematic picture quality is a priority, you’ll want to opt for 4K, also known as ultra-high-definition (UHD). It has four times the pixels of, say, an older HD 1080p TV, but expect to fork over several hundred dollars more. There are QLED (quantum dot LED) TVs on the market, which are essentially next-gen LED TVs, and some smaller sets feature the technology. There’s also OLED (organic light-emitting diode) TVs, which swaps the LED backlight with millions of individual pixels to emit light, though the newer technology is almost never found in smaller sets.
Gamers and sports fans will want to look for TVs with low lag time and good motion handling. Depending on your setup, the number of ports and HDMI inputs can be another important factor, with three being the average. Beyond that, it’s all about the aesthetics of the TV itself—options such as ultra-slim sets or TVs that look more like framed pictures on the wall for those who prioritize high design.
How We Chose
We considered TVs that are 43 inches or less as “small,” and every one we feature has an average rating of at least four stars. In addition to reading through customers reviews, we factored in our own research and knowledge when picking the best smart TVs, and drew from other expert sources including Wirecutter, Tom’s Guide, and TechRadar.
Staff, Courtesy of VIZIO - 2/10
Samsung 32-Inch Class LED Smart FHD TV 1080P
SAMSUNG
amazon.com
$227.99
Key Specs
• Screen size: 32-inch
• Resolution: 1080p
• HDMI ports: 2With more to spend, this Samsung smart LED TV offers a 1080p-resolution for better black-and-white contrast and than our budget pick, plus Wi-Fi connectivity. It runs on the brand’s Tizen OS for access to all your favorite content without a separate streaming device, which is definitely a plus, especially if you use platforms other than Alexa. It also has good sound, with Dolby Digital Plus.
The downside is that there are only two HDMI ports, whereas most TVs for the same price or less have three. But if you're in the market for something with a crisp picture from a top brand, it’s an excellent choice.
amazon.com - 3/10
Samsung QLED 4K 32Q50 Series Smart TV
Samsung
amazon.com
$459.99
Key Specs
• Screen size: 32-inch
• Resolution: 4K
• HDMI ports: 3This 32-inch also runs on Samsung’s Tizen OS, but it comes with features that few other TVs of this size have: 4K UHDm, with a powerful processor for an exceptionally crisp picture. Another major highlight is a QLED display, which gives you more than one billion shades of vibrant colors thanks to quantum dot technology. There are also three HDMI ports, but expect a higher price tag for all the bells and whistles.
amazon.com - 4/10
Vizio D-Series Smart TV
VIZIO
amazon.com
$202.00
Key Specs
• Screen size: 24-inch
• Resolution: 1080p
• HDMI ports: 2The Vizio D-Series gives you a great viewing experience despite its small screen, with full 1080p HD resolution, an LED display and full-array backlight for a bright picture even in low-light conditions—like a dim dorm room—plus built-in Wi-Fi for streaming Netflix, Prime Video, and others.
It also has Comcast built in, so you can turn your phone into a remote and stream content from Comcast-enabled apps. There are only two HDMI ports—though if you’re looking for a 24-inch TV with a rich picture, it may not be a dealbreaker.
amazon.com - 5/10
Insignia Smart HD TV
INSIGNIA
amazon.com
$119.99
Key Specs
• Screen size: 32-inch
• Resolution: 720p
• HDMI ports: 3There’s a lot to like about this Insignia Fire TV. In addition to its low price point, it offers a wealth of apps and channels on one easy to navigate home screen—including Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu and more—plus a voice remote with Alexa for searching content and controlling your other smart devices.
The 32-inch TV also features three HDMI ports, above-average sound quality, and a standard 60Hz refresh rate, but the 720p resolution is what makes it so affordable. Still, it’s a solid option that offers great value if you’re on a budget.
amazon.com - 6/10
TCL 4K UHD Smart LED TV
TCL
amazon.com
$339.39
Key Specs
• Screen size: 43-inch
• Resolution: 4K
• HDMI ports: 3It’s tough to beat a 43-inch 4K set for under $350, the cost of this TCL at the time of this writing. In addition to coming with Roku TV, which offers one of the most dynamic and user-friendly smart platforms on the market for streaming content, it gives you the benefit of 4K HDR for top-notch color and clarity—and the price is competitive with other TVs of similar size with lower resolution. It also has low lag time, making it a good choice for gamers, though the sound quality doesn’t match the pros of this TVs other features.
amazon.com - 7/10
Sony 4K Ultra HD LED Smart TV
Sony
amazon.com
$799.00
Key Specs
• Screen size: 43-inch
• Resolution: 4K
• HDMI ports: 4It's tough to find fault with this Sony set, which came out on top as the best LED 4K TV in our tests. It delivers a truly immersive viewing experience for any viewer, particularly gamers and sports fans who want details captured on screen with fast motion handling. It also has an impressive four HDMI ports and is compatible with Google TV and Apple Airplay, which gives you scads of streaming content options, plus it works with Alexa.
The only downside is the price, which may be prohibitive for some shoppers.
Amazon - 8/10
Samsung 32-inch Class FRAME QLED
Samsung
amazon.com
$467.99
Key Specs
• Screen size: 32-inch
• Resolution: 1080p
• HDMI ports: 2For those who want all the best features and don’t want to sacrifice style, there’s no better choice on the market than The Frame, made by Samsung. It gives the appearance of a framed piece of art to seamlessly blend into wall decor, and if you need more colorful paintings or prints to hang, you can subscribe to the brand’s “art store” for access to a library of images.
There’s also the option of changing the color of the frame itself to black, white, or beige. And this TV is more than a pretty picture, with a powerful 4K AI processor, cinematic quality color, and superb sound.
amazon.com - 9/10
Samsung QLED Q60A Series 4K Smart TV
SAMSUNG
amazon.com
$527.95
Key Specs
• Screen size: 43-inch
• Resolution: 4K
• HDMI ports: 3If 4K resolution is a priority and you don’t want anything smaller than 43 inches, this Samsung smart QLED TV is your best bet. It delivers a vibrant, cinematic quality image with full HDR and dual backlights for sharp contrast, along with fantastic sound and a best-on-class lineup of features. Alexa is built in and it’s compatible with Google assistant, plus it comes with all the most popular apps and has three HDMI ports.
Another major plus is its slim profile. It costs less than $600 at the time of this writing, which isn’t outrageous considering the tech, but it isn’t cheap either for a TV this size.
amazon.com - 10/10
Samsung Crystal UHD 4K HDR Smart TV
Samsung
amazon.com
$647.99
Key Specs
• Screen size: 43-inch
• Resolution: 4K
• HDMI ports: 2If you’re a gamer looking for a TV that’s more affordable than the Sony above, you can’t go wrong with the Samsung Crystal UHD TU800 series.
When it comes to gaming, the larger the better in terms of display, but at 43 inches this is one of the best options on the market if you don’t have a ton of space, plus all the benefits of 4K viewing. It also features super-low input lag—only 9.7ms—though its refresh rate is 60Hz, so you won’t get the same level of motion handling as pricier sets with 120Hz, and it only has two HDMI ports.
amazon.com
