TCL 32SF540K: 32-Inch FHD Smart TV TCL - Review 🏆

The TCL 32SF540K is a 32-inch Full HD Smart LED TV that offers good features and performance at an affordable price point. Part of TCL's S series, it has a sleek, modern design with thin bezels and a metal finish.

This model provides a crisp 1080p viewing experience and supports HDR for enhanced color and contrast. It utilizes DTS audio decoding and Dolby Audio processing for improved sound quality. The TV runs on TCL's Fire OS platform, giving you access to popular streaming apps and services.

Some key aspects of the 32SF540K are its bezel-less metal design, Full HD resolution panel with HDR support, built-in Dolby Audio and DTS sound technologies, Fire OS smart platform, and dual band WiFi connectivity. Overall, the TCL 32SF540K aims to deliver a complete entertainment experience in an accessible package.

Design

The TCL 32SF540K has a stylish and modern design with narrow bezels and a metal body. Measuring 32 inches, the TV is ideal for smaller spaces like bedrooms or kitchens. It has a fairly compact footprint, with dimensions of 728 x 472 x 75 mm (W x H x D) including the stand. The stand itself has a minimalist design with two feet positioned on the edges.

The bezels surrounding the display are quite slim, giving the TV a sleek, contemporary look. TCL calls this a "bezel-less" design. The top and side bezels measure just 8.7mm while the bottom chin is slightly thicker at 18.5mm. Overall the thin bezels help draw attention to the screen.

The rear of the TV has a matte black finish which looks clean and understated. The back panel is fairly slim as well. There is a small TCL logo positioned in the center. The build quality feels sturdy with metal used for the body.

For larger spaces, TCL offers the TCL 65P638K: 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD LED Smart TV. This model boasts a 65-inch screen size with 4K Ultra HD resolution, providing stunning picture quality and vivid colors. It's a Smart TV, allowing users to stream content from popular platforms like Netflix and YouTube. The design includes narrow bezels and a sleek profile, making it a stylish centerpiece for any living room.

Display

The TCL 32SF540K comes with a 32-inch FHD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The screen has good color reproduction and decent viewing angles, making it suitable for viewing in a living room setting.

One of the highlights of the display is support for HDR (High Dynamic Range). HDR allows for richer colors and better contrast by expanding the range of brightness levels. This results in a more vibrant and realistic picture when watching HDR-enabled content from services like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. The TV supports both HDR10 and HLG HDR formats.

In terms of brightness, the 32SF540K can reach up to 250 nits which is fairly typical for TVs in this price range. The matte finish on the display helps minimize reflections and glare when placed in bright rooms. Overall, while not the brightest display, the 32-inch FHD screen provides a sharp and vibrant viewing experience especially considering its affordable price point.

Another excellent option in TCL's lineup is the TCL 65C645K: 65-Inch QLED 4K Ultra HD Smart TV. This model features a 65-inch QLED display with 4K Ultra HD resolution, providing an incredibly crisp and clear picture. The QLED technology enhances color accuracy and brightness while maintaining energy efficiency. With built-in smart TV features, it supports popular streaming services and offers extensive connectivity options. This combination makes the 65C645K a strong contender for anyone looking for an immersive and high-quality viewing experience.

Audio Quality

The TCL 32SF540K comes with impressive audio capabilities thanks to Dolby Audio support. It has two 8W built-in speakers that provide decent audio quality for everyday TV watching. While the speakers lack the fullness and bass of a dedicated soundbar, they can fill a small to medium-sized room without distortion at reasonable volumes.

Dolby Audio helps optimize the sound quality by providing presets for different types of content like movies, music, and voice. This allows the TV to adjust the equalizer to suit what you're watching. The result is a more immersive audio experience, especially for movies and shows where Dolby Audio can widen the soundstage.

For more demanding audio, the TV has an optical output to connect to a soundbar or home theater system. But the built-in speakers will be sufficient for casual TV viewing and streaming movies. Overall, the audio capabilities add to the value provided at this TV's affordable price point.

Smart TV Features

The TCL 32SF540K runs on Fire OS 7, TCL's own smart TV platform. It provides access to popular streaming apps and services right out of the box. The interface is simple and easy to navigate with the included remote.

Some of the key apps and services available include:

• Netflix - For streaming movies and TV shows. Provides access to Netflix originals and a large catalog of licensed content.

• YouTube - Watch videos and channels on the big screen. Sign in to access personalized recommendations and subscriptions.

• Prime Video - Amazon's video streaming service. Watch originals like The Boys as well as movies and TV shows.

• Disney+ Hotstar - Streaming service with Disney, Marvel, Star Wars and other content.

• Apple TV - Access Apple's original shows and movies like Ted Lasso.

• Google Play Movies & TV - Rent or purchase movies and shows to watch instantly.

• Supported apps like Spotify, Amazon Music, JioSaavn and Gaana for music streaming.

The Fire OS 7 interface is fluid and makes it easy to find content from the various apps and services. The TV comes with 8GB internal storage to install more apps if needed.

Connectivity

The TCL 32SF540K comes with a good selection of connectivity options that allow you to connect external devices and access streaming content.

HDMI

The TV has 2 HDMI ports, which is fairly standard for a TV of this size. The HDMI ports support HDMI 2.0, allowing you to connect 4K devices and game consoles. With HDMI ARC support, you can also connect a soundbar or AV receiver.

USB

There is 1 USB 2.0 port on the TV which allows you to play media files directly from a USB flash drive or hard drive. This port has enough power to charge mobile devices too.

WiFi and Bluetooth

For wireless connectivity, the TCL 32SF540K has built-in WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0. The dual band WiFi allows for a fast and stable internet connection. With Bluetooth, you can connect wireless headphones, speakers or other accessories.

Overall, the connectivity options on this TV should satisfy most users. The HDMI and USB ports cover the essentials, while WiFi and Bluetooth provide wireless convenience.

Remote Control

The TCL 32SF540K comes with a simple yet functional remote control that makes navigating the TV's menus and settings easy. The remote has a slim, lightweight design that fits comfortably in your hand.

At the top are power, input, and mute buttons for basic control of the TV. Below this is a directional pad for navigating menus and settings. In the center are buttons for quick access to Netflix, YouTube, Google Play and the main menu.

The bottom half of the remote has number buttons, volume controls, channel rockers, and shortcuts for settings and the electronic program guide. Everything is well laid out in an intuitive way. The buttons have a nice tactile feedback when pressed.

The remote uses Bluetooth connectivity rather than infrared, so you don't need direct line-of-sight to control the TV. This gives you more flexibility in where you place the TV in your room. The Bluetooth connection is reliable and responds quickly when buttons are pressed on the remote.

Overall, the remote included with the TCL 32SF540K gets the job done. It covers all the essential functions you need to control the TV and navigate its smart features. The design is understated yet comfortable to hold. For a TV in this price range, the remote offers good functionality.

Performance

The TCL 32SF540K delivers excellent picture quality for its price point. It has a 32-inch 1080p display panel with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. The images are sharp and detailed with accurate colors. It supports HDR and HLG high dynamic range formats which helps to produce a wider range of colors and more vivid images.

The TV has good motion handling. Fast moving scenes in movies or sports look smooth without much motion blur. The response time is decent for gaming.

In terms of audio, it has a 2-channel speaker system with Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual X sound processing. The sound output is fairly good for a slim TV. Dialogue is clear and it can get reasonably loud for a small room. The bass is lacking so a separate soundbar can help enhance the audio experience, especially for movies.

Overall the picture and audio quality is very good considering the budget price of this TV model. It can handle different types of content well.

Pros and Cons

The TCL 32SF540K 32-inch FHD Smart TV offers a lot of great features for the price, but also has some downsides to consider.

Pros

• Slim, bezel-less metal design looks modern and stylish
• 32-inch 1080p display provides good picture quality for most content
• Supports HDR and HLG for improved contrast and color
• Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual:X provide an immersive sound experience
• Runs on Fire OS 7 for easy access to apps and streaming services
• Built-in Google Assistant allows hands-free voice control
• Dual-band WiFi 5 connectivity for smooth streaming

Cons

• Picture quality isn't as sharp or vibrant as higher-end 4K models
• Limited HDR performance compared to TVs with wider color gamut
• Audio quality is decent but lacks richness and bass
• Fire OS isn't as refined or feature-packed as some other smart platforms
• Lacks advanced gaming features like 120Hz refresh rate or VRR
• Only has 2 HDMI ports, which could be limiting for some setups

Overall, the TCL 32SF540K provides very solid performance and features for its affordable price point. It's a great option for secondary rooms or budget-focused buyers. But it does make some compromises compared to more expensive models.

Conclusion

Overall, the TCL 32SF540K is a great budget 32-inch HD smart TV that offers good value for money. It has a sleek and minimalist design with thin bezels, making it look more premium than its price suggests.

The display quality is decent, with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, good color accuracy, and support for HDR and HLG formats. While brightness could be better, it's satisfactory for everyday viewing and gaming in a moderately lit room. The built-in audio with Dolby Audio processing provides clear and balanced sound.

For smart features, you get the Fire OS platform with access to popular streaming apps and Alexa voice controls. Connectivity options like dual-band Wi-Fi, HDMI ARC, and USB are present. The remote is simple and easy to use.

Performance is smooth overall, though the processor could be faster when launching apps. The TV handles upscaling of HD content well. Gaming is also decent thanks to low input lag.

Considering the affordable price point, the TCL 32SF540K punches above its weight in terms of design, features, and performance. If you're looking for a small 32-inch smart TV on a budget, it's easy to recommend the TCL 32SF540K.