Under €300, the TV market has changed a lot in recent years: even at this price point you can now find QLED panels, full smart platforms, and even refresh rates above the standard 60Hz, once reserved for far pricier models. We compared three models — Xiaomi TV F 32, LG 32LQ63006LA and TCL 32V4C — all under €170, to figure out which is the better deal depending on your priorities, and what you actually give up choosing this tier over a pricier one.
Xiaomi TV F 32: the cheapest
At under €140, the Xiaomi TV F 32 is a full Fire TV with built-in Alexa and AirPlay compatibility for the Apple ecosystem, a rare detail on such an affordable device and one that makes it interesting even for iPhone owners. Resolution stays at HD Ready (1366×768): at 32 inches, viewed from a typical bedroom or kitchen distance, the detail loss compared to Full HD is noticeable but not dramatic, while the jump to 4K would only be obvious on much larger screens. There’s no declared HDR, so compatible content plays back in its standard SDR version. For secondary use or a genuinely tight budget, it remains the most straightforward pick of the group, helped by a Fire TV interface that anyone with Amazon Echo devices or a Fire TV Stick will instantly recognize.
LG 32LQ63006LA: the smoothest platform
The LG 32LQ63006LA bets everything on software quality: webOS 22 is among the smoothest, most intuitive smart platforms on the market, with a card-based interface that quickly organizes streaming apps and content suggestions, plus dual compatibility with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa that lets you pick your preferred voice assistant without locking into one ecosystem. Full HD (1920×1080) resolution beats the Xiaomi’s, delivering noticeably sharper detail at the same screen size, and DVB-T2 support with HEVC Main10 encoding makes it ready for Italy’s new digital terrestrial standard, worth considering for anyone wanting a purchase that lasts several years without an external decoder. The main limitation is just 2 HDMI ports, both version 1.4: enough for a console and a media player, but limiting for those with more sources to connect at once (a satellite decoder, a soundbar with passthrough, a second console).
TCL 32V4C: the highest refresh rate
The TCL 32V4C is the only one of the three with a QLED panel — so a Quantum Dot layer improving color accuracy over a traditional LED — and a 120Hz refresh rate, a rare combination on a 32” at this price, where the vast majority of competitors cap out at 60Hz. For those occasionally connecting a console, this translates into noticeably smoother motion in games that support high frame rates, though just 2 HDMI ports and 1 USB remain the most limited setup in this comparison: those needing to connect multiple devices at once will likely need an external HDMI switch. The Android TV platform is mature and full-featured, with direct access to the Play Store to install additional apps beyond the pre-installed ones — a real advantage over more closed platforms like Fire OS.
What you give up going entry-level
It’s worth being honest about what actually sets these three models apart from a €500-600 TV. The first factor is peak brightness: at this tier you rarely exceed 300-400 nits, versus 1,000+ nits on a good premium Mini-LED or QLED, which translates into a less “punchy” image in very bright rooms. The second is genuine HDR: even when declared, HDR on panels with such limited brightness stays more of a formal compatibility checkbox than a perceptible quality leap, as we explain in our full guide on how to choose a TV. The third is built-in audio quality, almost always the most obvious compromise: on all three of these models, adding a budget soundbar improves the overall experience more than spending the same amount extra on a slightly pricier TV would.
Conclusion
On a truly minimal budget, the Xiaomi TV F 32 remains the most straightforward choice, helped by AirPlay support that’s rare at this price. Those wanting the best day-to-day experience, between software smoothness and freedom to choose a voice assistant, should look at the LG 32LQ63006LA. Occasional gamers wanting a higher refresh rate without spending more will find the TCL 32V4C the best compromise, as long as they don’t have too many external sources to connect at once.