You’re standing in the back of the store. The fluorescent lights are humming, and you’re staring at a wall of glowing rectangles. It’s overwhelming. Most people gravitate toward the massive 75-inch beasts that cost as much as a used car, but there’s a quiet cult following around the Walmart small TV sets tucked away on the bottom shelves. These aren't just for dorm rooms anymore. Honestly, the utility of a 24-inch or 32-inch screen in 2026 has actually increased as we’ve all become obsessed with multi-screen setups and "secondary" entertainment spaces.
Small TVs are the Swiss Army knives of the tech world. They fit where nothing else can.
I’ve spent years tracking consumer electronics trends, and there’s a specific nuance to how Walmart stocks these smaller units. They aren't just selling "cheap" TVs; they are the primary gateway for brands like Onn, Vizio, and TCL to prove their value. If a 32-inch Onn Roku TV fails you, you aren't going to buy their 65-inch 4K Pro version later. The stakes are surprisingly high for these little guys.
The Reality of Buying Walmart Small TV Sets
Most people think "small" means "bad." That’s a mistake. While you won't get OLED black levels or a 144Hz refresh rate for your PS5 Pro on a $98 screen, you are getting something much more valuable: versatility.
The current inventory of Walmart small TV sets usually splits into three camps. First, you have the ultra-budget 720p models. These are basically monitors with a tuner. Then, there are the 1080p "Full HD" smart sets. Finally, we’re seeing a surge in "small" 4K sets, though those usually start at the 43-inch mark, which is pushing the definition of "small" for a kitchen or a desk.
Why does Walmart dominate this specific niche? It’s the supply chain. Because they move so much volume, they can dictate price points that even Amazon struggles to match when you factor in the "buy it and take it home right now" convenience. If your guest room TV dies on a Friday night, you’re going to Walmart. You aren't waiting for a courier.
Screen Resolution: Does 720p Still Matter?
Let's get real for a second. In a world of 8K marketing, 720p sounds like a relic from 2005. But on a 24-inch screen? You can barely tell the difference between 720p and 1080p from six feet away. The pixel density is high enough that the image stays sharp.
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I’ve seen people agonize over this. Don't. If you’re putting a TV in the kitchen to watch the news while you scramble eggs, 720p is fine. If you’re using it as a secondary PC monitor, though, you’ll hate it. Text will look like it was written in crayon. For monitor use, you absolutely must hunt down the 1080p variants of these Walmart small TV sets.
The Onn Brand Paradox
Walmart’s house brand, Onn, used to be the joke of the tech industry. It was the "my first TV" brand. Things changed around 2022 when they leaned hard into the Roku integration. By using Roku’s operating system, Walmart bypassed the biggest hurdle of cheap TVs: terrible software.
A $120 Onn TV feels just as fast as a $1,000 Sony in the menus because the Roku OS is lightweight. It’s a clever move. You’re paying for the panel, and you’re getting the software for free. I’ve talked to floor managers at several North Carolina locations who say the return rate on Onn sets has plummeted over the last two years. They’re becoming the "old reliable" for people who just want a screen that works without a ten-minute boot sequence.
Hidden Use Cases You’re Probably Missing
Think bigger than a bedroom dresser.
One of the coolest trends I’ve seen involves DIYers using Walmart small TV sets for digital art frames. Since these TVs are often thin and light, you can remove the plastic stand and mount them inside a standard wooden picture frame from the craft aisle. Load a USB drive with high-res paintings, and suddenly you have a "Samsung Frame" vibe for about $100 instead of $600.
Then there’s the "Home Office Command Center."
Instead of buying a $300 ultra-wide monitor, many remote workers are grabbing two 32-inch 1080p sets from Walmart. It gives you a massive amount of screen real estate for Slack, Spotify, and email while your main laptop screen handles the heavy lifting. Just make sure your graphics card has enough HDMI ports. If it doesn't, you’re looking at an extra $20 for a splitter or a docking station.
- Kitchen companion: Great for following YouTube recipes without squinting at a phone.
- Garage/Shop TV: These are cheap enough that if a rogue splash of oil or a wood chip hits it, you won't cry.
- Retro Gaming: If you have an old Nintendo 64 or a PS2, these smaller LED sets often handle the lower resolution better than a giant 4K screen that tries to upscale the image and makes it look like soup.
What to Look for Before You Tap Your Card
You have to check the ports. I cannot stress this enough. Cheap TVs are the first place manufacturers cut corners on connectivity. Some of the smallest sets only have one or two HDMI ports.
If you plan on plugging in a Roku stick (if it's not already built-in), a gaming console, and maybe a soundbar, you’re out of luck. Look for at least three HDMI inputs. Also, check for a headphone jack or Optical Out. Most small TVs have speakers that sound like they are trapped in a tin can. You'll likely want to hook up a pair of $20 computer speakers to get decent audio.
Another thing? The remote.
Walmart’s Onn and some Vizio models have remotes that require line-of-sight. If you hide the TV in a cabinet or a weird corner of the gym, the remote might be finicky. It sounds like a small gripe until you’re yelling at the screen because you can’t mute a commercial.
Comparing the Big Three: Onn vs. Vizio vs. TCL
When you browse the Walmart small TV sets section, you’ll mostly see these three.
Vizio usually wins on picture quality. They have better color tuning out of the box. But their "SmartCast" software can be sluggish. It’s annoying. You press a button and wait a beat for the TV to respond.
TCL is the middle ground. They’ve been making small TVs forever, and they have the manufacturing down to a science. Their 3-Series is a staple at Walmart. It’s the "safe" bet.
Onn is the value king. It’s usually $20 to $40 cheaper than the others. Is it the "best"? No. Is it the most "worth it"? Often, yes. Especially if it's for a kid's room where it might eventually meet a flying Lego.
The Longevity Myth
"Cheap TVs only last a year."
I hear this constantly. It’s mostly nonsense. Most modern LED TVs, regardless of price, are rated for about 30,000 to 60,000 hours of use. If you leave a TV on for eight hours a day, every single day, it’ll still last you over a decade. The hardware usually outlives the software. In five years, the "Smart" features might feel slow, but you can just plug in a $20 streaming stick and the TV is brand new again.
The real danger to these small sets isn't internal failure; it's physical damage. Because they are light, they are easy to tip over. If you aren't wall-mounting, please, for the love of everything, use the safety straps if you have pets or toddlers.
How to Get the Best Deal at Walmart
Don't just walk in and buy the first thing you see. Walmart's website often has "hidden" clearances that aren't marked on the shelf.
Check the "Pro" or "Commercial" sections of the site too. Sometimes, small signage displays are categorized differently but function exactly like a TV. Also, the best time to buy isn't actually Black Friday. It's right before the Super Bowl or during the "Back to College" window in August. That’s when the 24-inch and 32-inch inventory is flooded, and prices drop to move units.
Sound Quality is the Achilles Heel
We need to talk about the speakers. Physics is a jerk. You cannot fit a high-quality speaker into a chassis that is only two inches thick. Walmart small TV sets are notorious for sounding thin.
If you are using this in a noisy environment, like a garage or near a loud AC unit, you will struggle to hear dialogue. Most people end up buying a cheap soundbar, which can sometimes cost as much as the TV itself. A pro tip: look for "PC speakers" in the electronics aisle. They use a 3.5mm jack (which most small TVs have) and provide way more punch than the internal TV speakers for about $15.
Understanding the Warranty Gap
Walmart offers their "Protection Plan" through Allstate. Usually, I tell people to skip extended warranties. For a $400 phone? Skip it. But for an $80 TV? The warranty is often like $9. If you’re putting this TV in a high-risk area—like a workshop or a kid’s playroom—that ten bucks is actually a decent piece of mind. Just keep the receipt. Digital copies are better because Walmart’s thermal paper fades into a blank white sheet in about six months.
Actionable Steps for Your Purchase
If you're ready to pull the trigger on one of these sets, follow this checklist to ensure you don't end up with a plastic brick.
First, measure your actual clearance. People underestimate how much space the "feet" of the TV take up. Some small TVs have legs at the very edges, while others have a center stand. If your shelf is narrow, edge-legs will fall off.
Second, download the Walmart app. Use the "Scan to Check Price" feature while you're in the aisle. I've found TVs that were marked $128 on the shelf but scanned at $94. The employees can't always keep up with the price drops.
Third, inspect the box. If the box has a crushed corner, leave it. Small TVs have very little padding. A dropped box almost always means a cracked panel, and you don't want the headache of driving back to the store for a return.
Finally, ignore the "Demo Mode." The TVs on the wall at Walmart are cranked to 100% brightness and "Vivid" color mode to catch your eye. It looks terrible in a normal room. Once you get home, go into the settings and switch it to "Movie" or "Standard" mode. Your eyes will thank you.
Buying a small TV shouldn't be a stressful event. It's a tool. Whether it's for monitoring security cameras, watching the weather while you get dressed, or acting as a dedicated "Twitch" screen for your gaming setup, these budget sets do the job. They aren't status symbols. They're practical tech for practical people. Just make sure you get the 1080p version if you're sitting closer than four feet. You'll notice the pixels otherwise, and trust me, once you see them, you can't unsee them.