TCL 3 Series 32S331 32"

The TCL 3 Series 32S331 is a compact 32-inch HD smart TV that nails the basics with a snappy Roku interface and simple setup. It's perfect as a secondary screen for a kitchen or bedroom, but the 720p display and weak built-in speakers make it a poor choice for a main TV. Buy it for the convenience, not the picture quality.

Performance on the TCL 32S331 is a mixed bag that leans heavily on its smart features rather than raw display power. The Roku interface is snappy and responsive, which is a relief on a budget set. Navigating between apps like Netflix and YouTube feels quick, and the simple remote with side-mounted volume buttons keeps things intuitive. For over-the-air TV, the tuner pulls in channels without a hitch, and programming them is straightforward.

Where it stumbles is in the metrics that home theater fans care about. The 720p panel lands in the 6th percentile for display quality, which means it's near the bottom of the barrel for sharpness and clarity. The 60Hz refresh rate is standard but combined with a 19th percentile gaming score, it's clearly not built for fast-paced action. Audio is the real letdown, sitting at the 0th percentile. The 10W built-in speakers are thin and lack any punch, so a soundbar is almost mandatory if you're doing more than just background noise. Picture quality is mediocre at the 37th percentile, with colors that are acceptable but not particularly accurate or vibrant.

Stacked against the heavy hitters in our database, the TCL 32S331 is playing a completely different game. The Sony BRAVIA XR XR77A95L and Samsung Neo QLED QN75QN990FFXZA are flagship OLED and Neo QLED sets that cost thousands and deliver reference-level picture quality. Comparing them directly is almost silly. The TCL's 6th percentile display ranking next to those top-tier sets highlights the gulf in technology.

A more realistic comparison is something like a basic Roku Pro Series 55R8C5 or even another small budget TV. The Roku Pro Series gives you a much better 4K picture and better audio, but it's also larger and pricier. The TCL 32S331's real competition is other cheap 32-inch sets from brands like Insignia or Vizio. In that crowd, the TCL stands out for its Roku integration, which is cleaner and faster than most proprietary smart platforms on budget TVs. If you just need a small screen with good smarts, the TCL is a frontrunner. If you want a good picture, you need to step up in size and price.

Pricing on the TCL 32S331 is a bit of a moving target since it's often found on sale, but it generally sits in the impulse-buy territory. For a secondary screen that you don't want to think too hard about, the value is solid. You're getting a fully functional Roku smart TV with three HDMI ports for less than most streaming boxes and a monitor combined. Just know that you're trading picture and audio quality for that convenience. Alternatives like a basic 1080p monitor with a separate Roku stick might give you a sharper image for a similar total cost, but you lose the all-in-one simplicity.

The TCL 3 Series 32S331 is a 32-inch HD smart TV that's basically the definition of a no-fuss secondary screen. It runs Roku TV, which means you get a dead-simple interface and access to all the major streaming apps without needing to plug anything else in. If you're searching for a small TV for a kitchen, a kid's room, or maybe an RV, the built-in smarts and compact size make it an easy pick. Just don't expect it to blow you away with picture quality. The 720p resolution on a 32-inch panel is fine for casual viewing, but it's not going to win any awards. The real draw here is the Roku platform and the price, which usually hovers in the budget range.

Setup is about as painless as it gets. You get three HDMI ports, which is generous for a TV this size, and the dual-band Wi-Fi remote is simple to use. It also plays nice with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can bark commands at it if that's your thing. The whole package weighs just over 11 pounds, so moving it from room to room is trivial.

But let's be real about what this is. The 3 Series is built for convenience, not for movie nights. The audio is a weak 10W built-in setup, and the display tech is basic LED with no local dimming or HDR worth mentioning. For over-the-air antenna users and casual streamers, it's a champ. For anyone who cares about deep blacks or vibrant colors, you'll want to look elsewhere.

Skip the TCL 32S331 if you're looking for a primary living room TV or care at all about home theater performance. The 720p resolution and bottom-tier audio make movies and shows look and sound flat. Gamers should also steer clear, as the low gaming score means blurry motion and input lag. If you need a small screen but want better quality, look for a 1080p computer monitor with built-in speakers and pair it with a Roku Streaming Stick. For a main TV, even an entry-level 4K set from TCL's own 4-Series will be a massive upgrade in every way.

Should you buy the TCL 3 Series 32S331? If you need a small, cheap smart TV for a bedroom, kitchen, or camper and you don't care about cinematic picture quality, then yes, absolutely. The Roku platform is the star here, making it a breeze to stream content without any extra boxes or headaches. It's also a fantastic option for someone who just wants a simple TV for over-the-air antenna channels.

But if this is going to be your main living room TV, or if you plan to do any serious gaming or movie watching, you should skip it. The 720p resolution and weak audio are hard to ignore once you've seen what even a budget 4K set can do. This is a purpose-built secondary screen, and it excels in that role. For a primary display, save up a bit more and get something with 4K and better sound.