Supersonic Supersonic SC-2812 12" HD Portable LED TV with FM Review

The Supersonic SC-2812 is a 12-inch portable LED TV with a battery and FM radio. It's very bright and uniquely self-contained, but the speakers are terrible and it lacks smart features. Buy it only if you specifically need a battery-powered TV for outdoor or on-the-go use.

Looking for a small, portable TV you can take anywhere? The Supersonic SC-2812 is a 12-inch HD LED TV with a built-in rechargeable battery and FM radio, and it costs around $115. It's about as basic as a modern screen gets, with a 1280x800 resolution panel, a single HDMI port, and a USB port for playing media files. This isn't a smart TV, and it's not trying to be. It's a simple, battery-powered monitor with a TV tuner, designed for camping, a workshop, or as a tiny secondary screen where a full-sized set won't fit.

Our data shows this little TV scores surprisingly well for picture quality, landing in the 94th percentile. That's mostly because it's very bright for its size, hitting 500 nits, which helps it stay visible in a garage or a bright room. The 60Hz refresh rate and 8ms response time are fine for casual viewing, but our gaming score puts it in the 58th percentile, meaning it's not great for fast-paced games. The audio, however, is its weakest point, scoring in the 0th percentile. The dual 1-watt speakers are just enough to hear dialogue, but you'll want headphones or an external speaker for any real volume or bass.

At around $115, the SC-2812 sits in a weird niche. It's more expensive than a basic computer monitor of the same size, but you're paying for the battery, TV tuner, and FM radio. If you specifically need a portable screen with a built-in battery and antenna input, there aren't many alternatives at this price. If you don't need the battery or TV tuner, a simple portable monitor would be a better buy.

This isn't competing with the Sony Bravias or Samsung Neo QLEDs listed. That's like comparing a bicycle to a pickup truck. For a real portable TV alternative, look at the Coby or Sylvania lines, which offer similar small, battery-powered sets. If you just want a portable screen, a USB-C powered portable monitor from brands like Asus or Lepow will have better resolution and panel quality for the same money, but you'll lose the TV tuner and battery. The Supersonic's main trick is combining all those features into one $115 box.

Skip this if you want a primary TV for your living room or bedroom. Its small size, lack of smart features, and basic 720p resolution make it a poor fit. Also, avoid it if you care about sound quality—the built-in speakers are borderline useless. If you just need a cheap monitor, get a portable monitor. If you want a small smart TV, look at a TCL or Insignia Roku TV. This is only for the specific use case of portable, battery-powered live TV viewing.

Should you buy the Supersonic SC-2812? Only if your checklist is very specific. You need a small screen, you need it to run on battery power, and you need to watch live TV via an antenna or connect a single HDMI device like a gaming console or DVD player. It's perfect for a tailgate, a camper, or a workbench. For almost anyone else—like someone wanting a second TV for a bedroom or a smart TV for streaming—this is the wrong product. It's a specialized tool, not a general-purpose television.