TCL S3 32S350G 32 inch TV: In-Depth Review and Customer Opinions

The TCL 32S350G is a 32-inch HD smart TV that was released in 2022. This budget-friendly model offers good picture quality and smart capabilities at an affordable price point.

TCL is becoming one of the fastest growing TV brands in the United States, known for offering high-value 4K and HD televisions. The 32S350G is part of TCL's S-Series lineup, which sits below the higher-end 4-Series.

This 32-inch set features an LED-backlit LCD panel with a max resolution of 720p, 60Hz refresh rate, and direct-lit backlighting. It comes equipped with Roku's streaming platform for access to popular apps and services. Key features include HDR compatibility, voice control via Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, and dual-band WiFi.

Overall, the TCL 32S350G provides solid performance and smart functions in a compact, budget-friendly package. It's a decent option for secondary rooms or shoppers seeking an entry-level HDTV.

Design

The TCL 32S350G has a sleek and modern design typical of TCL TVs. The bezels around the display are relatively thin, giving it a more premium look.

The TV has dimensions of 28.7 x 17.1 x 7.4 inches without the stand attached. It has a fairly compact footprint that doesn't take up too much space on most TV stands or tables. With the stand attached, the height increases to 18.1 inches.

It has a lightweight construction, weighing just 13.2 lbs without the stand. This makes it easy to wall mount or move the TV around.

The 32S350G comes in a dark charcoal gray color that has a matte finish, resisting fingerprints and smudges. The plastic construction doesn't feel overly cheap.

The TV has two foldable feet that act as a stand. They can be positioned inward or outward depending on the width of your TV cabinet. The feet feel quite sturdy and hold the TV firmly in place. There is no swivel adjustment however.

Overall, the design of the 32S350G is simple but attractive, with a slim form factor and decent build quality. The compact size and lightweight also makes placement flexible.

Another 32-inch TV worth considering is the TuTu TUB32D1HN. This budget-friendly model shares some design similarities with the TCL 32S350G, like a slim profile and compact footprint. It has a plastic construction with glossy black finishing around the edges and stand. The bezels are a bit thicker than the TCL model but still relatively slim.

The TuTu TUB32D1HN is lightweight at just 7.7 lbs without the stand. This allows for flexible placement options, either wall mounting or setting on a TV stand. It's easy to move around as needed. The included stand has a simple two-foot design similar to the TCL stand. There is no swivel function but the feet feel sturdy.

One difference in design is that the TuTu model has more connectivity ports on the side while the TCL ports are placed on the back. For some setups, side facing ports may be more convenient. The TuTu TV is a bit more compact at 25.2 x 17 x 3.2 inches without stand.

In terms of aesthetics, the TuTu TUB32D1HN has a more basic plastic design compared to the TCL model. It lacks some of the premium styling cues. But it still looks decent for a budget television and has a similar slim form factor.

Overall, the TuTu TUB32D1HN shares some of the same design strengths as the TCL 32S350G, like the slim profile, lightweight build, and flexible placement options. But the TCL model edges out in build quality and styling. Still, those looking for a compact 32-inch TV on a tight budget may want to consider the very affordable TuTu option.

Display

The 32-inch TCL S3 32S350G TV has a decent HD ready display with 1366 x 768 resolution. The TV uses an LED-backlit LCD panel, which provides good brightness and contrast levels.

• Resolution: With a resolution of 1366 x 768, the 32S3 provides HD ready viewing experience. While not full HD, the resolution is adequate for a 32-inch screen size. You'll get clear and detailed images for most non-HD content.

• Panel Type: The TCL 32S3 uses an LED-backlit LCD panel. The LED backlighting helps deliver vivid colors and deep blacks by improving the contrast ratio.

• Brightness: With a typical brightness of 250 nits, the 32S3 can get reasonably bright for normal viewing in indoor lighting conditions. The display shouldn't look washed out unless placed in a sunlit room.

• Viewing Angles: The LCD panel offers viewing angles of 178 degrees horizontally and vertically. You'll be able to watch the TV from wide angles in a room without the picture losing color or contrast significantly.

Overall, the display quality is decent for regular TV watching, streaming movies and shows. The HD resolution and LED-backlit LCD panel deliver vibrant colors and sufficient brightness for everyday usage. Another comparable 32-inch TV option is the VIZIO D32-D1 D-Series. The D32-D1 also has a 32-inch screen size with 720p HD resolution. It uses VIZIO's full array LED backlighting which provides better contrast and deeper blacks. The D-Series TVs from VIZIO deliver great picture quality for the price. Between the TCL 32S3 and VIZIO D32-D1, the VIZIO offers slightly better display performance thanks to the full array backlighting. But the TCL 32S3 is still a solid budget option if you're looking for an affordable 32-inch TV that can deliver good HD picture quality.

Audio Quality That Brings Entertainment to Life

The TCL 32S350G comes equipped with powerful 16W speakers that fill your room with crisp, clear audio. Whether you're watching action movies, sports, or listening to music, the integrated stereo speakers deliver immersive sound tuned by Onkyo.

There are also multiple sound modes to optimize audio for different content:

• Standard mode provides balanced sound across all frequencies. It's ideal for everyday TV watching and listening to music.

• Movie mode enhances bass, intensifies sound effects, and makes dialogue crisp and clear. It's optimized for getting the theater experience at home.

• Sports mode amplifies vocal frequencies so you can hear commentary clearly. It also expands the soundstage for a spacious live event feel.

• Music mode accentuates treble and bass for dynamic, detailed sound. Instruments and vocals come through with studio-like quality.

With a rated power output of 16W, the integrated speakers can easily fill a room with sound. Action scenes, concerts, and sports games feel thrilling and immersive. Quieter moments also come through with clarity and nuance thanks to Dolby Audio processing.

Overall, the TCL 32S350G delivers impressive audio performance for its compact size. Between the multiple sound modes and powerful speakers, entertainment comes to life with room-filling, detailed sound.

Smart TV Features

The TCL 32S350G comes with Roku TV, giving you access to hundreds of streaming channels. The simple home screen lets you access favorites like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Apple TV, HBO Max and more. It's easy to add new streaming services and manage subscriptions.

For voice control, the TCL 32S350G works with Alexa and Google Assistant. Use your voice to search for entertainment, control smart home devices, switch inputs, change volume and more. The TV has built-in microphones to detect voice commands.

Some of the popular streaming channels and apps available include:

• Netflix
• Hulu
• Disney+
• Apple TV
• HBO Max
• YouTube
• Prime Video
• Peacock
• Paramount+
• ESPN
• HGTV
• Discovery+
• PBS Kids

The Roku platform makes it simple to find free or paid content. Search across top streaming channels and live TV using the Roku mobile app or voice commands.

Ports & Connectivity

The TCL 32S350G comes equipped with a solid set of ports and connectivity options. On the back of the TV, you'll find:

• 3 HDMI ports - The HDMI ports allow you to connect devices like gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, streaming sticks, etc. Having 3 ports is great for connecting multiple devices without needing to constantly unplug and switch cables.

• 2 USB ports - The USB ports allow you to connect external devices like hard drives or flash drives to play media files directly on the TV. You can also use the USB ports to record shows onto a storage device or to view photos/videos stored on a USB stick.

• Ethernet port - The Ethernet port gives you the ability to connect the TV directly to your home network with a wired connection. This can provide faster, more reliable streaming compared to WiFi if your router is in another room.

• Dual-band WiFi - The TCL 32S350G has built-in WiFi support with dual-band connectivity (2.4GHz and 5GHz bands). This allows you to connect wirelessly to your home network and access smart TV features.

• Bluetooth - Bluetooth support allows you to pair wireless headphones, speakers or other accessories directly with the TV. This gives you an easy way to listen privately or enhance the audio.

Overall, the assortment of ports and wireless connectivity options on the TCL 32S350G provide you with plenty of flexibility for connecting external devices, accessing streaming content and expanding the TV's functionality. The inclusion of both Ethernet and WiFi is a nice touch at this price point.

Remote Control

The TCL 32S350G comes with a simple plastic remote that gets the job done. The remote is lightweight and easy to hold, though some may find it feels a bit cheap.

The remote has all the necessary buttons like power, volume, channel rocker, input selector, etc. The buttons have a nice tactile feedback and are laid out in a fairly intuitive manner. Voice control via Google Assistant is available by pressing the dedicated mic button on the remote.

The remote runs on 2 AAA batteries which are included in the box. A nice touch is that the remote has a dedicated button to make the remote start beeping which helps in finding it if you lose it in the sofa. The minimalist remote covers all the basics though it lacks any advanced controls or shortcuts.

Performance

The TCL 32S350G delivers good overall performance for its price range.

Picture Quality

The 32-inch HD display produces decent picture quality with accurate colors and fair contrast. It can't compete with 4K TVs, but HD content looks crisp and detailed. The VA panel provides wide viewing angles so the image retains fidelity even when viewed from the side.

Motion Handling

For fast motion scenes like sports, the 60Hz refresh rate results in some blurring and trailing artifacts. Enabling the Natural Motion setting helps reduce motion blur for smoother video. While not perfect, it's suitable for most content.

Upscaling

This TV upscales lower resolution content like DVDs to fit the HD screen well. The upscaling engine avoids jaggies and pixelation. Standard definition video looks clean and doesn't appear overly soft.

HDR

There is basic HDR support, but it's not true HDR. It can read and display HDR10 signals, yet lacks wide color gamut and high brightness to make HDR content really pop. HDR performance is limited compared to higher-end sets. Still, it's good to have for future-proofing.

Pros & Cons

The TCL S3 32S350G has quite a few pros but also some notable cons to consider:

Pros

• Good picture quality for the price - It delivers decent HD resolution and color accuracy. Not the best but good enough for most.

• Roku TV delivers a smooth streaming experience - The Roku smart platform is easy to use with quick access to popular apps. Navigation is snappy.

• Voice control with Google Assistant - You can use voice commands to launch apps, search for content, control smart home devices, and more.

• HDR support - It can display HDR content for improved contrast and color. Not the brightest for HDR but still a nice feature.

• Headphone jack on the remote - Plug in headphones to listen privately without disturbing others.

Cons

• Only 60Hz refresh rate - This can lead to motion blur, especially during fast action scenes in sports, movies, and gaming.

• Mediocre sound quality - The built-in speakers don't get very loud and lack bass. External speakers are recommended.

• Limited ports - It only has 2 HDMI ports, which may require frequently unplugging devices. An additional HDMI port would be better.

• No local dimming - Without local dimming zones, blacks appear more gray in a dark room. Contrast suffers as a result.

• Bulky design with large bezels - The thick plastic bezel detracts from the visual aesthetic. Wall mounting helps minimize this.

Conclusion

The TCL 32S350G is an affordable 32-inch HD TV that offers good value for the price. It has an attractive, minimalist design that will look nice in most rooms. The display quality is decent for regular TV watching and casual gaming, though it lacks more advanced features like local dimming.

The built-in Roku smart platform makes it easy to access popular streaming apps and content. Connectivity options are limited to the basics, but include 3 HDMI ports which should suffice for most buyers' needs. The remote is basic but functional for controlling the TV's features and navigation.

Overall performance is solid for the price range, though the speaker audio quality could be better. Still, it will suffice for everyday TV viewing in smaller rooms.

In summary, the TCL 32S350G is a budget-friendly option that gets the basics right. It's a good choice for secondary rooms, dorms, kitchens, and other casual viewing environments where you don't need top-tier display performance. The intuitive Roku platform and adequate connectivity make it suitable for streaming movies, shows, sports, and gaming casually. For shoppers looking for an affordable 32-inch smart HD TV, the TCL 32S350G is easy to recommend.