EMtronics Roku 32″ HD Smart TV Review: The Ultimate Budget Smart TV for Small Spaces?

There’s a familiar scenario in many homes: the main living room TV is occupied, and you’re looking for a screen to catch up on a series in the bedroom, follow a recipe in the kitchen, or set up a gaming station for the kids. The search begins for something that’s not too big, not too expensive, but still smart enough to access all your favourite streaming services without a mess of extra boxes and wires. It’s a surprisingly tricky balance to strike. Go too cheap, and you’re stuck with a sluggish interface and poor picture quality. Overspend, and you’ve just bought a mini home cinema for a room that doesn’t need it. This is the precise challenge the EMtronics Roku 32″ HD Smart TV aims to solve. It promises the seamless, user-friendly experience of the Roku platform in a compact and affordable package, designed specifically for those secondary spaces where a 65-inch behemoth would be overkill. The question is, does it deliver on that promise without cutting too many corners?

What to Consider Before Buying a Compact Smart TV

A TV is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for entertainment, information, and connection. In the context of a smaller, secondary TV, its role becomes even more specific. It’s the portal to a quiet evening’s viewing in the bedroom, a digital cookbook and entertainer in the kitchen, or a dedicated, lag-free screen for a games console in a den. The primary benefits are convenience and accessibility. Having a smart, connected screen in these spaces means you don’t have to compromise on your viewing habits. You get instant access to Netflix, Disney+, Freeview Play, and more, all integrated into a single, simple-to-use device that fits neatly into your life and your home’s layout.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the exact scenarios mentioned above: parents wanting a TV for a child’s room, students in dorms, homeowners needing a kitchen or bedroom screen, or gamers looking for a dedicated monitor on a budget. It’s for the pragmatist who values a slick user interface and comprehensive app support over bleeding-edge picture technology. Conversely, it might not be suitable for those who are cinephiles seeking the deepest blacks and most vibrant HDR highlights for a primary home cinema setup. If your goal is to be fully immersed in a 4K HDR blockbuster, you should be looking at larger, more premium OLED or QLED models which offer superior picture processing and higher resolutions.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: At 32 inches, this TV is in the sweet spot for smaller rooms. Its physical dimensions (73.2 x 7.8 x 43.5 cm with the stand) are compact, and its incredibly low weight of just 3.86 kg makes it easy to place on furniture or mount on a wall without needing heavy-duty brackets. Always measure your intended space to ensure a comfortable fit and viewing distance.
• Performance & Resolution: The key performance metric here is the smart platform. The Roku OS is arguably the best in the business for its speed, simplicity, and vast app library. The screen resolution is 720p (HD Ready). While not Full HD, on a 32-inch screen viewed from a few feet away, the picture is sharp and clear, making it perfectly adequate for its intended use. For connectivity, three HDMI ports is a huge plus at this price point.
• Materials & Durability: Like most televisions in this budget category, the EMtronics Roku 32″ HD Smart TV is constructed primarily from plastic. It feels lightweight, which is great for setup, but also implies it may not withstand rough handling as well as a premium, metal-framed set. Based on some user feedback, it’s wise to handle the unit with care during unboxing and setup to avoid any accidental damage.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: This is where the product truly shines. The Roku platform is famously intuitive, with a simple grid of apps and a straightforward remote. Setup is a guided, step-by-step process that takes mere minutes. Long-term maintenance is minimal, requiring little more than a regular dusting with a soft, dry cloth.

Keeping these factors in mind, the EMtronics Roku 32″ HD Smart TV stands out in several areas, particularly its user interface and connectivity. You can explore its detailed specifications and current offers here.

While the EMtronics Roku 32″ HD Smart TV is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

Unboxing the EMtronics Roku 32″ HD Smart TV: Lightweight and Ready to Go

Our first impression upon receiving the EMtronics Roku 32″ HD Smart TV was its remarkable lack of weight. The box itself is easily managed by one person, and inside, the TV is securely packed but minimalist. One user accurately described it as being “light as a feather,” and we wholeheartedly agree. This is a significant advantage, immediately removing any intimidation factor from the setup process. Inside the box, you find the TV panel, two simple plastic feet, a bag of screws, the Roku remote with included AAA batteries, and a quick start guide.

Assembly is refreshingly simple. Attaching the two feet requires just a Phillips head screwdriver and takes less than two minutes. Once assembled, the TV is stable on a flat surface, though its light build means it’s best placed where it won’t be easily knocked. Powering it on for the first time initiates the famous Roku setup sequence. It’s a beautifully guided process that involves connecting to your Wi-Fi network, logging into or creating a free Roku account, and then letting the TV automatically download your favourite apps like Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and more. From opening the box to streaming our first show, the entire process took about 10 minutes. It’s a seamless and welcoming introduction that perfectly encapsulates the user-friendly philosophy of the Roku platform.

Performance in Detail: How the EMtronics Roku 32″ HD Smart TV Really Performs

A TV’s worth is measured not just by its spec sheet, but by its day-to-day performance. How does it feel to use? Is the picture engaging? Does it connect to everything you need? We put the EMtronics Roku 32″ HD Smart TV through its paces in a variety of real-world scenarios, from binge-watching series and broadcast TV to hooking up a games console. The results were consistently impressive for a television at this price point, largely thanks to its excellent software and thoughtful hardware choices.

The Roku Experience: The Brains of the Operation

The single greatest feature of this television is, without a doubt, the integrated Roku smart platform. It is the core of the user experience and elevates this set from a simple budget screen to a genuinely brilliant smart device. Unlike the often clunky, slow, and proprietary operating systems found on other budget TVs, Roku OS is lightning-fast, intuitive, and incredibly comprehensive. The home screen is a clean, customisable grid of your favourite apps—or “channels” as Roku calls them. There’s no clutter, no confusing menus, just direct access to your content.

The Roku Channel Store is vast, featuring every major streaming service you could want: Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV+, NOW, plus all the UK catch-up services like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, All 4, and My5, all neatly integrated under the Freeview Play banner. The universal search function is a standout feature, allowing you to search for a movie or TV show by title, actor, or director, and showing you where it’s available to watch—whether for free, as part of a subscription, or for rent. It’s a powerful tool that saves time and money.

Control is handled by the included simple remote, which has dedicated shortcut buttons for popular services, or via the excellent Roku mobile app. The app turns your smartphone into a powerful remote, offering a keyboard for easier text entry, voice search, and a “private listening” mode. This allows you to stream the TV’s audio directly to your phone’s headphones, a fantastic feature for late-night viewing in the bedroom without disturbing anyone else. Furthermore, with support for Alexa, Google Home, and Apple AirPlay, it integrates seamlessly into any existing smart home ecosystem.

Picture Quality: Is 720p Good Enough in 2024?

Let’s address the main technical specification that might give potential buyers pause: the 720p “HD Ready” resolution. In an era of 4K and even 8K, is 720p obsolete? For a massive living room centrepiece, absolutely. But for a 32-inch screen intended for a bedroom or kitchen, the answer is a resounding no. At a typical viewing distance of 4-6 feet, the human eye struggles to perceive the difference between 720p and 1080p on a screen of this size. During our testing, we found the picture to be perfectly sharp and detailed for its purpose.

Streaming high-definition content from Netflix and Disney+ resulted in a vibrant and pleasing image. Colours were well-saturated without looking cartoonish, and brightness was more than sufficient for a normally lit room. The direct-lit LED backlighting provided good uniformity across the screen with no noticeable bright spots or dim corners on our unit. Where the TV truly surprised us was with gaming. We hooked up a PlayStation and, echoing the feedback from one user, found the experience to be excellent. The picture was crisp and responsive, with vibrant colours that made games pop. In fact, for consoles that target 1080p, running them on a native 720p screen can sometimes result in a smoother perceived performance. For anyone seeking an affordable but highly capable screen for a console, the EMtronics Roku 32″ HD Smart TV is a fantastic option that punches well above its weight. If this sounds like the perfect fit for your secondary entertainment needs, you can find the best price on the EMtronics Roku 32″ HD Smart TV here.

Sound and Connectivity: More Than Meets the Eye

Audio on budget flat-screen TVs is often an afterthought, and while the EMtronics Roku 32″ HD Smart TV won’t compete with a dedicated soundbar, its performance is respectable. The inclusion of Dolby Audio processing helps to provide clear dialogue and a wider soundstage than you’d expect from small, downward-firing speakers. For watching the news, YouTube videos, or casual TV shows in a smaller room, the built-in audio is perfectly adequate. For movies or gaming, you’ll benefit from a simple soundbar or, even better, using the Roku app’s private listening feature with a good pair of headphones for a truly immersive experience.

Connectivity, however, is an undeniable high point. The inclusion of three HDMI ports is exceptionally generous for a 32-inch TV. This is a practical, real-world benefit that sets it apart from many competitors which often only offer one or two. This means you can have a Sky box, a PlayStation, and a Nintendo Switch all connected simultaneously without ever having to fumble with cables behind the TV. This versatility makes it an ideal hub for a bedroom or playroom entertainment setup. The addition of a USB port allows for easy playback of photos, music, and video files from a flash drive, and the standard aerial input, optical audio out, and headphone jack round out a comprehensive set of connections that covers all bases.

What Other Users Are Saying

Our positive hands-on experience is largely mirrored in user feedback. One buyer, in particular, provided a glowing report that aligns perfectly with our findings. They purchased the EMtronics Roku 32″ HD Smart TV as a replacement for a more expensive Samsung model and were thrilled with the results. They highlighted the “really good quality” picture, noting that their daughter found the PlayStation’s image to be superior on this TV. They also praised the “simple” setup and the “light as a feather” build, calling it a “brilliant TV” and highly recommending it.

However, it’s important to present a balanced view. While our review unit was flawless, a couple of users reported receiving units that were damaged upon arrival or expressed concerns about the TV’s physical sensitivity. One user stated the item was damaged despite an intact package, while another disagreed with a verdict of physical damage from customer support. This feedback serves as a crucial reminder: given the TV’s very lightweight plastic construction, it’s essential to inspect it carefully upon delivery and handle it with care during assembly to ensure its longevity.

How Does It Compare? EMtronics Roku 32″ HD Smart TV vs. The Competition

No product exists in a vacuum. To truly understand the value of the EMtronics Roku 32″ HD Smart TV, it’s helpful to compare it against a few alternatives that cater to different needs and budgets.

1. Cello C1925SH 19″ Full HD LED Frameless TV

The Cello C1925SH is all about fitting a screen into the absolute smallest of spaces. At just 19 inches, it’s significantly smaller than the EMtronics model, making it a prime candidate for a caravan, boat, or a tiny kitchen countertop where every inch matters. Its key advantage is a Full HD (1080p) resolution packed into that small screen, which will look incredibly sharp. However, its major drawback is the lack of an integrated smart platform like Roku. While it has Freeview HD and a satellite receiver, you’ll need to add an external streaming stick to access services like Netflix. This is the better choice for someone who prioritises a minimal physical footprint and basic broadcast TV over a seamless smart experience.

2. CHiQ U43QM9K 43 inch 4K QLED Roku TV

The CHiQ U43QM9K represents a significant step up in every category. It’s a larger 43-inch TV designed for a main viewing area, boasting a 4K resolution and QLED panel technology for superior colour accuracy and brightness compared to the EMtronics’ standard LED screen. The crucial similarity is that it also runs on the excellent Roku TV platform. This makes it the perfect alternative for someone who loves the Roku interface we’ve praised but wants a premium picture quality for their primary living room TV. It offers the same ease of use and app support but in a bigger, more visually impressive package, albeit at a higher price point.

3. Hisense 58 Inch VIDAA Smart TV 58A6KTUK

If sheer screen size is your main priority, the Hisense 58A6KTUK is a compelling option. This massive 58-inch 4K TV offers a truly cinematic experience for a budget-friendly price. It supports advanced formats like Dolby Vision for enhanced HDR performance, which the EMtronics lacks. The primary difference lies in the smart platform. Hisense uses its own VIDAA OS, which is a capable and fast system with good app support, but many users find Roku’s interface to be more straightforward and its app library more comprehensive. This Hisense model is for the buyer who is willing to trade the simplicity of Roku for the largest possible screen for their money.

Final Verdict: Is the EMtronics Roku 32″ HD Smart TV the Right Choice for You?

After extensive testing, we can confidently say that the EMtronics Roku 32″ HD Smart TV is a standout product in its category. It successfully avoids the pitfalls of most budget televisions by focusing on what truly matters for a secondary screen: a world-class user experience. The integration of the Roku platform is its masterstroke, providing a fast, simple, and comprehensive smart interface that is a genuine joy to use.

While the 720p resolution and lightweight plastic build are clear concessions to its affordable price, they are smart compromises. The picture quality is more than adequate—and indeed, surprisingly good—for its 32-inch size, and the generous offering of three HDMI ports adds a level of practicality often missing in this class. For a bedroom, kitchen, kid’s room, or as a dedicated gaming monitor on a budget, it’s difficult to find a more complete and user-friendly package. It delivers exceptional value and proves that a great smart TV experience doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag.

If you’ve decided the EMtronics Roku 32″ HD Smart TV is the right fit, you can check its current price and purchase it here.