Our Top Picks
INSIGNIA 32" Class F40 Series 1080P Full HD32 inches7.5 x 28.6 x 19.1 Inches9.3 PoundsCheck on Amazon
Roku 40-Inch Select Series Smart TV 2026-1080p Full40"7.1 x 35.1 x 21.9 inches10.6 poundsCheck on Amazon
With a cheap TV, the sticker on the box matters less than three decisions you make first: how big a screen your room actually needs, whether you want 720p, 1080p or 4K, and which smart platform you will live with every day. Budget sets all do the basics, so the useful comparisons are the ones that change what you see on the couch: resolution for the screen size, the built-in app system and what the remote can do.
This guide is for anyone buying a second TV for a bedroom, kitchen or dorm, a first TV for a small apartment, or a bigger set for a living room without a premium budget. Eight models are compared by what their titles state, covering two smart TV platforms and sizes from 24 to 65 inches. It is a shortlist for 2026 buyers, so confirm ports and stock details on each product page.
Quick Picks
INSIGNIA 32" Class F20 Series LED HD Smart Fire TV, Voice Remote with Alexa, Free & Live TV
One of the consumer electronics options compared in this guide.
View on Amazon
INSIGNIA 50" Class F50 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV, Voice Remote with Alexa, Stream Live TV Without Cable
One of the consumer electronics options compared in this guide.
View on Amazon
INSIGNIA 40" Class F40 Series LED Full HD Smart Fire TV, Voice Remote with Alexa, Free & Live TV
One of the consumer electronics options compared in this guide.
View on AmazonINSIGNIA 32" Class F40 Series 1080P Full HD Direct LED Smart Fire TV, Voice Remote with Alexa, Free & Live TV
One of the consumer electronics options compared in this guide.
View on Amazon
Roku 24-Inch Select Series Smart TV 2026-720p HD TV - RokuTV | Flat Screen LED Television with Voice Remote, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Headphone Mode - Streaming Live Local News Sports & Movies
One of the consumer electronics options compared in this guide.
View on AmazonRoku 40-Inch Select Series Smart TV 2026-1080p Full HD TV - RokuTV | Flat Screen LED Television with Voice Remote, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Headphone Mode - Streaming Live Local News Sports & Movies
One of the consumer electronics options compared in this guide.
View on Amazon
Insignia 65" Class F50 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV, Voice Remote with Alexa, Stream Live TV Without Cable
One of the consumer electronics options compared in this guide.
View on Amazon
INSIGNIA 32" Class FE Series LED Full HD Smart Fire TV, Voice Remote with Alexa, Stream Live TV Without Cable
One of the consumer electronics options compared in this guide.
View on Amazon| Product | Best for | Key spec from the title |
|---|---|---|
| Insignia 32-inch F20 | Kitchens and bedrooms | 32 inches, HD, Fire TV, Alexa remote |
| Insignia 50-inch F50 | A main room on a budget | 50 inches, 4K UHD, Fire TV |
| Insignia 40-inch F40 | Mid-size bedrooms | 40 inches, Full HD, Fire TV |
| Insignia 32-inch F40 | Sharper small screens | 32 inches, 1080p, Direct LED |
| Roku 24-inch Select | Tiny spaces and RVs | 24 inches, 720p, Bluetooth headphone mode |
| Roku 40-inch Select | Roku fans wanting Full HD | 40 inches, 1080p, voice remote |
| Insignia 65-inch F50 | Big-screen living rooms | 65 inches, 4K UHD, Fire TV |
| Insignia 32-inch FE | Full HD on a small set | 32 inches, Full HD, Fire TV |
How to Choose
Resolution for the screen size
On a 24 or 32 inch set, 720p is acceptable and 1080p is sharper for text and menus. At 40 inches 1080p is the sensible floor. At 50 inches and up, 4K UHD makes a visible difference, especially when you sit within about 8 feet. Pay for the pixels only where your screen size and seating distance let you see them.
Smart platform and remote
The Fire TV models here have an Alexa voice remote and a catalog that leans toward one ecosystem. The Roku models use the Roku platform, with a simple home screen and a voice remote. Both include the major streaming apps. Pick the interface you find easier, because budget sets live or die by menu speed.
Ports and sound
Look for at least two HDMI inputs, one of them with ARC if you plan to add a soundbar, plus USB for media and an optical or 3.5 mm output. Built-in speakers on small TVs are thin, so plan on a soundbar for movies. A Bluetooth headphone mode, as in the Roku titles, helps for private late-night viewing.
Where budget TVs cut corners
Expect modest peak brightness, limited HDR performance, narrow viewing angles and a slower interface than premium sets. Refresh rates are typically 60 Hz, which is fine for video and casual gaming. Ignore motion-smoothing claims and focus on size, resolution and the ports you need.
The 8 Best Options
Insignia 32-inch F20
The F20 is a 32-inch LED HD Smart Fire TV with a voice remote with Alexa, free and live TV. HD on a 32-inch set is the entry tier, so it fits a kitchen, a bedroom or a guest room where the TV is not the main event.
- Strength: an Alexa voice remote and Fire TV platform for easy streaming.
- Strength: a compact 32-inch size fits shelves and small walls.
- Trade-off: HD resolution is softer than the Full HD models listed alongside it.
Skip it if you will use it as a computer monitor or sit very close. The text will look soft compared with 1080p, and anyone who cares about picture detail should consider the Full HD models in the same size.
Insignia 50-inch F50
A 50-inch LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV with an Alexa voice remote and live TV streaming without cable. It is a main-room option for people who want a big screen with modern resolution without moving to a premium set.
- Strength: 4K UHD resolution at 50 inches shows its benefit in a living room.
- Strength: a Fire TV platform with a voice remote brings streaming to the front.
- Trade-off: the title mentions no HDR or refresh rate, so expect basic performance.
Skip it if you want advanced HDR or high refresh rates for gaming. A budget panel prioritizes size and resolution over polish, and picky viewers should look at the next tier up. A bright living room also exposes the limits of a basic LED panel, so seating and window placement deserve a thought before you mount it.
Insignia 40-inch F40
The 40-inch F40 is a Full HD LED Smart Fire TV with an Alexa voice remote and free and live TV. It sits between the small and large sets, a good size for a bedroom wall or a small living area.
- Strength: Full HD at 40 inches gives sharp, clear everyday viewing.
- Strength: a Fire TV platform with Alexa voice control.
- Trade-off: it is not 4K, so it will not show the extra detail at this size.
Skip it if you plan to sit very close or want a larger screen. It is a straightforward, sensible mid-size set, and anyone building a media room will want to step up in size. For a typical bedroom with the bed about 8 to 10 feet from the wall, 40 inches is a comfortable fit, and larger sets can feel overwhelming at that distance.
Insignia 32-inch F40
This 32-inch F40 is a 1080p Full HD Direct LED Smart Fire TV with a voice remote. It offers a sharper picture than the F20 at the same screen size, which helps if you use the set for reading menus, subtitles or light PC use.
- Strength: 1080p resolution on a 32-inch screen keeps text crisp.
- Strength: a Direct LED design and an Alexa voice remote.
- Trade-off: it is the same small screen as the HD model, so size remains modest.
Skip it if you want a larger screen or 4K. It is a refinement more than an upgrade, and buyers choosing between this and the F20 should pick resolution first. Because the two sets look nearly identical on paper, the model number in the title is the only reliable way to be sure which version you are ordering.
Roku 24-inch Select
The smallest set here, a 24-inch 720p HD Roku TV with a voice remote, Wi-Fi and a Bluetooth headphone mode. It fits a tiny bedroom, a workshop, a dorm desk or a camper where space is tight.
- Strength: a compact 24-inch body fits small spaces.
- Strength: Bluetooth headphone mode supports private listening.
- Trade-off: 720p is the lowest resolution on the list.
Skip it if you want a main TV or a bigger screen. It excels at secondary rooms, and anyone looking for high resolution should move to a 1080p or 4K model. Its small panel suits a desk or a counter, where you sit a few feet away, and it is a poor match for a couch several rows back.
Roku 40-inch Select
The Roku 40-inch Select Series is a 1080p Full HD Roku TV with a voice remote, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth headphone mode. It suits Roku fans who want a simple interface and a mid-size screen for a bedroom or den.
- Strength: the Roku platform has a straightforward home screen.
- Strength: Full HD resolution and a voice remote at 40 inches, plus Wi-Fi for streaming.
- Trade-off: no 4K, and the title lists no HDR or port details.
Skip it if you want 4K or the Fire TV ecosystem. It is sensible, with no surprises, and buyers who watch a lot of high-detail content may want a higher resolution. Roku sets are known for a simple, uncluttered home screen, which helps less tech-savvy relatives, and the headphone mode helps anyone sharing a room with a sleeping partner.
Insignia 65-inch F50
The largest model here, a 65-inch LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV with an Alexa voice remote. It suits a spacious living room where a big screen and sharp resolution matter more than top-tier panel technology.
- Strength: 65 inches of 4K UHD fills a big room.
- Strength: Fire TV with Alexa voice control keeps streaming simple.
- Trade-off: a large budget panel can show limited brightness and contrast.
Skip it if you sit close or want strong HDR and high refresh for gaming. It is a size play, and enthusiasts should look at higher-tier panels. At this size, the wall or stand also matters, so measure the space and confirm the stand width fits your furniture before you order, and add a soundbar to match the scale of the picture.
Insignia 32-inch FE
The FE series 32-inch is a Full HD LED Smart Fire TV with a voice remote and streaming without cable. It is another sharp, small option for kitchens, dorms and bedrooms.
- Strength: Full HD resolution on a compact 32-inch frame.
- Strength: a voice remote and Fire TV streaming set up quickly.
- Trade-off: the title gives no detail on ports or panel type.
Skip it if you want 4K or a large screen. Check port counts before buying, as small sets can have only one or two HDMI inputs. It is easy to confuse with the other 32-inch models in the same family, so check the series letters in the title before you commit to it.
Which One Fits Your Situation
A first apartment living room
The Insignia 50-inch F50 delivers 4K and Fire TV, a balanced main set that does not demand a huge wall.
A bedroom or dorm
The Insignia 40-inch F40 or the 32-inch F40 gives Full HD without taking over the room.
A tiny space, workshop or camper
The Roku 24-inch Select is small, with Bluetooth headphone mode for quiet listening.
A big-screen movie room
The Insignia 65-inch F50 offers a large 4K screen where seating distance justifies the size. Sit at least eight feet back for comfortable viewing, and treat the set as a budget way into a very large screen.
Common Mistakes
- Buying 4K for a screen too small to show the difference.
- Choosing HD on a larger set where text and edges look soft.
- Forgetting to count HDMI ports for consoles and a soundbar.
- Assuming a smart interface will stay fast on a budget processor.
- Skipping a soundbar and then blaming the TV for thin audio.
Related guides
- External Hard Drive For Xbox Series X
- How To Check Gpu Temperature While Gaming
- Wrist Rests For Gaming Mouse
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 32-inch TV still worth buying?
Yes, for kitchens, bedrooms and offices. Choose 1080p over 720p if you sit close or read text on screen.
Do I need 4K at 50 inches?
It helps. At 50 inches and up, 4K shows added detail, and most streaming services offer 4K content.
Fire TV or Roku?
Both cover the major apps. Choose the one whose interface and remote you prefer, or the one you already use on other devices.
Are cheap TVs good for gaming?
For casual play, yes. Competitive players should look for higher refresh rates and low input lag, which are rarely listed on budget sets.
