Having access to a space that’s totally your own is a freeing feeling. Not only can you display your Sonny Angel collection in all its glory and buy a worryingly cheap electric stove from TikTok shop, but you can also start to invest in technology that will likely stay with you beyond your college experience and into your first home.
While it’s unlikely that all the decor and homeware you buy for college will last quite as long as your courses, a TV is an expensive piece of technology that can almost certainly go the distance. Our list of the best TVs for dorms and small rooms will run you through the best options on the market right now, whether you’re a gamer, budget buyer, or are simply looking to throw cash at the problem.TL;DR – These Are the Best TVs for Dorm Rooms:
Fitting your entire life into a box-shaped room doesn’t leave you with much space. That’s why the best TVs for dorm rooms deliver slim designs, ample ports, and high-quality resolutions. With these features, you can ensure your movie nights and FIFA sessions go off without a hitch. To save you the trouble of scrubbing the web, we’ve rounded up the best of the bunch so you can focus on the important parts of college life, like seminars, study sessions… and parties, of course.
Best Overall TV for Dorm Rooms
Best TV for Desks
Best Premium TV
Best TV for Gaming
What size TV do you need?
It can be very easy to walk into an electronics shop and find yourself awed by a mammoth 85-inch 4K TV. Look, Costco puts them up front for a reason. However, when it comes to finding a TV that works for your space, it’s important to consider details like your wall height, TV position, and room size first. Anywhere between 32–50 inches would be more than enough (and the top end would be pushing the limits of a comfortable viewing experience, depending on space). RTINGS has a good size-to-distance breakdown.
What features do you need?
Whatever TV you end up buying for your small space, you want to ensure it’s got essential details to future-proof the purchase. Features like smart TV capabilities, which eliminate the need for external streaming devices, and HDMI 2.1 ports, which allow for 4K streaming (amongst other important features like console connectivity), can be key to longevity and convenience. Additional considerations like cable length and screen brightness can be important too, though these features can be helped with extension cables or blackout curtains in a pinch. If you are someone who likes to relax and play games after a hard day, looking for TVs with dedicated gaming hubs with cloud gaming services built in may also be worth considering.
If you’re looking for a deeper look on essential TV features like screen size and design, be sure to check out our guide on how to buy a TV.
How much should you spend on a TV?
The amount of money you’d like to spend on a TV is a purely personal decision, but it’s worth remembering that a big price doesn’t always equate to a massive improvement in features or user experience. In the same token, whatever TV that’s cheapest you see on a run to Target might also do the trick for you if you don’t care much about picture quality or high refresh rates and just need a screen for your room. Regardless, make sure to check if sites offer a student discount on hardware that may reduce the overall cost.
Should you buy a TV or a monitor for your dorm?
If your space is small, or you only want one screen in your personal space, a monitor can be a fantastic alternative to a TV. Often boasting a slimmer design and high refresh rates, a monitor can be used with a PC tower, gaming console, or both to get the feel of a TV without the space or technical limitations. Still, if you are more concerned with streaming content conveniently and at higher fidelity, then a smart TV is still a viable, and likely more convenient, option.
Do all smart TVs come with streaming apps included?
Yes, but there are some caveats. To use smart TV features, you’ll have to connect it to the internet via a Wi-Fi connection or an Ethernet cable (depending on your TV). Once connected, you’ll then have to navigate the software to find and download your apps. Each TV will have its own proprietary software, such as Tizen for Samsung TVs or webOS for LG TVs.
Not all TV software is made equal, though, and while you’ll almost always find streaming titans like Disney+ or Netflix available, niche apps such as the Xbox Cloud Gaming app might not be accessible on your TV’s native platform. One way around this is to use an external streaming device, like the Fire Stick 4K, which, when used in tandem with your TV, can access the Xbox Cloud Gaming app.
Sarah Thwaites is a freelance tech writer at IGN, with bylines at GameInformer, TrustedReviews, NME and more.
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