Insignia F40 Series NS-32F401NA28 31.5"

A cheap, cheerful 32-inch Fire TV that's perfect for secondary spaces. Don't buy it for the picture, buy it for the price and the smart features.

The smart features are the standout. Fire TV runs smoothly enough, and having Alexa built in plus AirPlay 2 is a nice combo you don't always get at this size. The Direct LED backlight helps with even lighting, which is a plus over edge-lit sets. But the picture quality is where things get real. It's a 1080p panel in a world moving to 4K, and the HDR support is basically a checkbox, not a feature. Gaming is fine for casual play at 60Hz, but don't expect low input lag or high refresh rates. The audio is surprisingly decent for a budget TV, with Dolby Digital and eARC support, which is a nice touch if you want to add a soundbar later.

Stacked against the Sony BRAVIA 2 II and TCL S5-Series, the Insignia loses on picture quality and HDR, but it wins on price and simplicity. The Sony and TCL are 4K sets with better panels, but they cost significantly more. The Roku Select Series is a closer rival in spirit, but Roku's OS is less flexible than Fire TV if you're already in the Amazon ecosystem. The Samsung U8000F and LG UA77 are in a different league for picture, but you're paying for it. For a 32-inch bedroom TV, the Insignia's smart features and price make it the pragmatic pick.

At USD 80 to 90, this is a no-brainer for a secondary screen. The spread across vendors is tight, but if you're hunting, the US listings show a USD 10 gap, so shop around. For under a hundred bucks, you're getting a smart TV with solid connectivity and a decent OS. Just don't expect it to replace your living room set.

The Insignia F40 Series is a 32-inch Fire TV that nails the basics and skips the fancy stuff. It's a 1080p panel with a Direct LED backlight, which means decent brightness uniformity for a budget set. The real hook here is the Fire TV OS with Alexa and Apple AirPlay 2, making it a solid pick for a bedroom or kitchen where you just want to turn it on and watch something. Don't expect cinematic magic, but for everyday streaming, it's a friendly little workhorse.

If you're looking for a main living room TV with 4K, real HDR, or serious gaming chops, this isn't it. Go grab a TCL S5-Series or Sony BRAVIA 2 II instead. The Insignia is a secondary screen, not a centerpiece.

If you need a small, cheap smart TV for a bedroom, kitchen, or guest room, the Insignia F40 Series is an easy yes. It's not going to blow you away with picture quality, but it does the job with a friendly OS and solid connectivity. For under USD 90, it's hard to argue with what you get.