You're standing in the middle of the Walmart electronics aisle. It's loud. There are seventy-five different screens screaming for your attention, most of them massive 75-inch behemoths that cost as much as a used car. But then you see it. Tucked away near the end of the row is the Walmart 32 inch Samsung TV, looking surprisingly sharp for its size. You might wonder if anyone actually buys small TVs anymore.
They do. A lot.
Small TVs aren't dead; they've just moved. They're in kitchens, dorm rooms, and home offices where a giant screen would feel like a literal wall of heat. Samsung has basically cornered this specific niche at Walmart by offering something that doesn't feel like a plastic toy. Most 32-inch sets are "no-name" brands that look washed out the second you tilt your head three inches to the left. Samsung plays a different game.
The Reality of 720p vs 1080p in 2026
Let's get real about resolution for a second. If you look at the box of a Walmart 32 inch Samsung TV, you’ll likely see "LED" and "Smart TV" in big bold letters. What you need to check is the resolution. Samsung usually offers two versions at Walmart: the standard HD (720p) and the Full HD (1080p) models.
Does it matter? Yes and no.
If this is going in a guest bedroom where people watch the news for twenty minutes before bed, 720p is fine. Save the fifty bucks. But if you’re using this as a secondary gaming monitor or a dedicated streaming screen in a small apartment, hunt for the 1080p version. At 32 inches, the pixel density of 1080p is actually quite high. It looks crisp. You won't see those jagged edges on text that make your eyes feel like they're vibrating.
The contrast ratio on these sets—specifically the M4500 or the newer N5300 series often found in Walmart's inventory—is surprisingly decent. Samsung uses a "PurColor" technology. It’s a marketing term, sure, but it actually does prevent that weird, sickly grey tint you see on cheaper budget panels. Shadows look like shadows, not muddy puddles.
✨ Don't miss: When Can I Pre Order iPhone 16 Pro Max: What Most People Get Wrong
Tizen is the Secret Sauce
The biggest headache with budget TVs is usually the software. You press a button, wait three seconds, and hope the app opens. Samsung puts their Tizen OS on these small sets. It’s the same basic interface you get on their $2,000 QLEDs.
It’s fast.
You get Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and—this is the big one—Samsung TV Plus. If you aren't familiar, it’s basically free live TV. No subscription. No credit card. Just a bunch of channels like Kitchen Nightmares or local news that stream over your Wi-Fi. For a lot of people buying a Walmart 32 inch Samsung TV, that built-in free content is the entire reason they skip the Roku stick.
Why Walmart is the Specific Place to Buy This
Why Walmart? Honestly, it’s about the return policy and the "Price Match" legacy. Even though Walmart's official price matching has changed over the years, they still aggressively peg their Samsung inventory against Amazon and Target.
There's also the "Store Specific" model numbers. You might notice a model number at Walmart that is one digit different from the one at Best Buy. Usually, this is just a way for retailers to manage inventory, but the core panel—the actual glass and the processor—remains the same.
I’ve seen these sets go on "Rollback" for under $150 during back-to-school season. At that price point, you’re getting a screen that will probably last you seven or eight years. Samsung’s build quality on their lower-end stuff is still leagues ahead of the super-cheap brands that use thin, creaky housings.
🔗 Read more: Why Your 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station Probably Isn't Reaching Its Full Potential
The Sound Dilemma
We have to talk about the speakers. They aren't great.
Physics is a jerk. You can't put massive, thumping speakers inside a frame that’s less than three inches thick. The audio on a Walmart 32 inch Samsung TV is "down-firing." This means the sound hits your TV stand and bounces toward you. It's fine for dialogue. It's miserable for action movies.
If you’re putting this in a kitchen, you won't care. If it’s for a kid’s bedroom, they’ll probably be wearing headphones anyway. But if you want this to be a primary TV in a small studio, budget an extra $50 for a tiny soundbar. Even a cheap one will blow the internal speakers out of the water.
Setup and Calibration Tips
When you get the box home, don't just plug it in and leave it on the "Vivid" setting. Walmart floors are bright, so the TVs are set to be blindingly blue and bright to compete with the overhead fluorescents. It looks terrible in a living room.
- Go to Settings.
- Find Picture Mode.
- Switch to "Movie" or "Filmmaker Mode" if available.
It will look "yellow" at first. Give your eyes ten minutes to adjust. You’ll notice that skin tones look like actual skin and not like everyone has a bad spray tan. Also, turn off "Digital Clean View" unless you’re watching really old, grainy DVDs. It tends to make modern HD content look like a plastic smudge.
Connectivity Matters
Most of these 32-inch models come with two HDMI ports.
💡 You might also like: Frontier Mail Powered by Yahoo: Why Your Login Just Changed
That’s it.
Think about your setup. One HDMI for a cable box or a gaming console, and one for... something else? If you have a PlayStation, an Xbox, and a Blu-ray player, you’re going to be swapping cables like it’s 2005. Or you'll need a $15 HDMI switcher. Just something to keep in mind before you leave the store.
The Wi-Fi chip in these is usually 802.11n or ac. It's stable. Samsung is better than most at maintaining a connection through a couple of walls, which is crucial if this TV is going in a "dead zone" bedroom at the far end of the house.
The Final Verdict on Value
Is the Walmart 32 inch Samsung TV the most advanced piece of technology in the world? No. Not even close. But it fills a gap. It’s the "Old Reliable" of the TV world.
It’s for the college student who needs a monitor that doubles as a TV. It’s for the grandparent who just wants to press one button and see the weather. It’s for the person who realizes that a 65-inch screen in a 10x10 room is a recipe for a headache.
Next Steps for Potential Buyers:
- Check the Model Number: Look for the "N5300" version if you want 1080p. Avoid the "M" series if you can find the "N" series for a similar price, as the smart features are snappier.
- Measure Your Stand: 32 inches refers to the screen diagonally. The actual width is usually around 28 to 29 inches. Make sure your surface fits.
- Inspect the Box: Walmart shipping and floor handling can be rough. If the box has a punctured hole or a crushed corner, grab the one behind it.
- Grab an HDMI 2.0 Cable: Even though the TV is only 1080p, better cables have better shielding, which prevents flickering near other electronics.
- Download the SmartThings App: You can control the TV from your phone, which is a lifesaver when you inevitably lose the tiny Samsung remote in the couch cushions.
The best way to buy this is to walk into the store, look at the viewing angles from the side, and make sure the "Smart" interface feels fast enough for your patience level. It’s a solid, workhorse television that does exactly what it says on the box.