TCL S3 TCL 32-Inch Class S3 1080p LED Smart TV with Roku Review
The TCL S3 32-inch is a $144 TV that knows its job: be a reliable, simple screen for a bedroom or kitchen. The Roku software is fantastic, but don't expect home theater thrills.
The 30-Second Version
For $144, this is the best cheap bedroom TV you can buy. The Roku software is great, the picture is fine for the size, and it just works.
Overview
Look, this is a bedroom TV. That's the one thing to know. The TCL S3 32-inch is a small, simple, and cheap screen that gets you a decent 1080p picture and the excellent Roku smart platform. It's not here to blow your mind with visuals, but it's here to reliably play Netflix in your guest room or kitchen without any fuss. For the price, it does that job shockingly well.
Performance
Honestly, the performance is exactly what you'd expect for $144. The 1080p picture is fine for a screen this size, landing in the 45th percentile in our database. It's not dim, but it's not bright either. The 60Hz refresh rate and basic Game Mode are fine for casual gaming, but competitive players will feel the lag. The real star is the Roku OS, which is fast, intuitive, and has everything you need. It's in the 83rd percentile for smart features, which is impressive for a TV this cheap.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The Roku smart platform is fantastic and easy to use. 90th
- It's incredibly cheap for a fully-featured smart TV. 82th
- Setup is dead simple, plug it in and connect to Wi-Fi.
- The bezel-less design looks modern for a budget set.
Cons
- The speakers are tinny and weak (36th percentile for audio). 5th
- Picture quality is just okay, with no HDR to speak of. 18th
- It feels a bit chunky and plasticky compared to pricier models. 23th
- Only 3 HDMI ports, and one is taken up by ARC if you use a soundbar. 24th
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Display
| Size | 32" |
| Resolution | 1920 (Full HD) |
| Panel Type | LED |
| Backlight | LED |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Year | 2023 |
Gaming
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
Smart TV
| Platform | Roku TV |
| Voice Assistant | Google Assistant, Alexa |
Audio
| eARC | No |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
Value & Pricing
For $144? It's an absolute steal. You're getting a fully functional 32-inch smart TV that works. The value proposition is simple: maximum function for minimum cash. If your budget is tight and your expectations are realistic, this is a no-brainer.
vs Competition
Don't compare this to 4K Mini-LED monsters like the TCL QM8 or Hisense U6. That's like comparing a scooter to a sports car. For a 32-inch budget TV, your real choices are other TCLs, Insignias, or maybe an Onn. The S3 wins because of Roku. Many competitors at this size use clunkier, ad-heavy smart systems. If you find a similar-priced TV with Android TV or a proprietary OS, the S3's Roku is a cleaner, faster experience. That's its edge.
| Spec | TCL S3 TCL 32-Inch Class S3 1080p LED Smart TV with Roku | Sony BRAVIA 5 Sony BRAVIA 5 98" 4K HDR Smart Mini-LED TV | LG OLED evo - G5 series LG - 77" Class G5 Series OLED evo AI 4K UHD Smart | Hisense U65QF Mini-LED Hisense - 75" Class U6 Series MiniLED QLED UHD 4K | Samsung Neo QLED Samsung QN800D 75" 8K HDR Smart Neo QLED Mini-LED | Roku Mini-LED QLED 4K - Pro Roku - 55" Class Pro Series 4K QLED Mini-LED Smart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 32 | 98 | 77 | 75 | 75 | 55 |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 7680x4320 | 3840x2160 |
| Panel Type | LED | Mini-LED | OLED | Mini-LED QLED | Mini-LED | Mini-LED QLED |
| Refresh Rate | 60 | 120 | 120 | 144 | 120 | 120 |
| Hdr | - | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG | HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG |
| Smart Platform | Roku TV | Google TV | webOS | Fire TV | Tizen | Roku TV |
| Dolby Vision | - | true | true | true | false | true |
| Dolby Atmos | - | false | true | true | true | true |
| Hdmi Version | - | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
Common Questions
Q: Is this good for gaming?
Only for super casual stuff. It has a basic Game Mode, but it's 60Hz with higher input lag. For a proper gaming TV, you need a 120Hz panel, which this definitely doesn't have.
Q: Can I use it as a computer monitor?
You can, and the 1080p resolution is right for it. Just know the speakers are bad and the auto-brightness features might be annoying for desktop use. A dedicated monitor is usually better.
Q: Does it have Bluetooth?
Nope. The specs list Wi-Fi for smart features, but there's no Bluetooth for connecting wireless headphones or speakers. You'll need to use the audio jack or HDMI ARC.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a primary living room TV with great picture quality, skip this immediately. The speakers are bad, there's no HDR, and 32 inches is tiny for a main setup. Go get a 55-inch TCL Q6 or Hisense U6 instead. Also, hardcore gamers should look elsewhere.
Verdict
If you need a small, secondary TV for a bedroom, kitchen, dorm, or office, buy the TCL S3. It's the best cheap 32-inch smart TV you can get right now because the software doesn't suck. If this is going to be your main living room TV, save up a few hundred more and get something bigger and better. But for its intended role, it's a perfect, simple solution.