Vizio VHD32M-08 32"

The Vizio VHD32M-08 has one of the lowest display quality scores we've ever recorded, landing in the bottom 6% of TVs. Despite that, it still manages a 4.4-star average thanks to its ultra-budget price and simple streaming chops. For a secondary screen at $100, it's hard to beat, but don't expect it to look good doing it.

The Vizio VHD32M-08 lands in a weird spot. At 32 inches with a 720p panel, its display quality sits near the absolute bottom of our database (6th percentile). Yet it still holds a 4.4-star rating from thousands of buyers. The secret? It's a cheap, small smart TV that does the basics. If you just need a screen for a kitchen or kid's room to stream YouTube, it does fine. But you're trading away any semblance of picture quality for that budget price.

The Google TV interface is about average for this class, but owner feedback points to frustrating ads and a tedious setup process requiring a VIZIO account. Still, it does have Bluetooth for headphones and works with Alexa, so it's not completely behind the times. Just don't expect great sound from the built-in speakers, they're in the bottom 13% of TVs we've tested.

This Vizio is firmly in the 'basic streaming screen' category. With a 720p resolution and a Full-Array LED backlight, picture quality is mediocre, landing in the bottom half of our database. Active Pixel Tuning might help a bit, but you're still looking at a panel that struggles with color and detail compared to even a budget 1080p TV. The 60Hz refresh rate means it's not suitable for anything beyond casual console gaming, and with a gaming score in the 17th percentile, input lag is likely noticeable. Smart features are about average, but connectivity options are sparse, ranking in the 15th percentile. You get Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a couple of HDMI ports, but that's it.

Price tags jump from $100 to nearly $300, so shop around. At the lower end, this is about as cheap as a smart TV gets, and you're getting an acceptable streaming screen. But at $293, you're flirting with 40-inch 1080p territory from TCL or Hisense that will look far better. For a secondary room, the value is there if you can snag it under $150.

Stacked against competitors like the TCL 55QM7K or Hisense U6, the Vizio looks like a toy. Those models deliver 4K HDR with quantum dot color and gaming features for a few hundred more. Even the Roku Plus Series 55R6C7 brings a sharper picture and simpler smart platform. The Vizio wins only in size and price, barely. If you can fit a larger TV, spend the extra money. But if you're limited to small spaces and a tight budget, it's one of the few new 32-inch smart TVs left.

Skip this TV if you care at all about picture quality or sound. With a display score in the 6th percentile and audio in the 13th, movie nights will be a letdown. Gamers should also look elsewhere; the 17th percentile gaming score means laggy, blurry action. And anyone allergic to ads and mandatory accounts will find the smart platform infuriating. If you can spend a little more, a 40-inch 1080p Roku TV will be a night-and-day improvement.

If you need a tiny, dirt-cheap smart TV for a workout room or a kid's corner, the Vizio VHD32M-08 does the job and won't break the bank, especially near that $100 mark. Just know that the picture is fuzzy, the sound is weak, and the smart software will test your patience with ads. For anything resembling a main TV, look elsewhere.