Skip to main content
DEAL WATCH: Keurig K-Express | 22% off $69.99

Keurig has changed the face of coffee, and snagging one of these for less than $70 is a solid deal. Read Review

BUY NOW
  • Introduction

  • Design

  • Smart TV Features

  • Picture Quality

  • Conclusion

  • Science Introduction

  • Contrast Ratio

  • Color

  • Resolution Scaling

  • Other Tests

  • Introduction
  • Design
  • Smart TV Features
  • Picture Quality
  • Conclusion
  • Science Introduction
  • Contrast Ratio
  • Color
  • Resolution Scaling
  • Other Tests

Introduction

Design

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

Not too shabby for a budget TV, but it has none of the modern sleekness of many LCDs in a higher price bracket.

The Toshiba 32C110U has a rather thick black bezel made of glossy black that surrounds three sides of the screen. The bottom lip is a wider than the rest and transitions into a halftone grey pattern. The design is a little dated, but at least they’re trying something beyond the plain, black frame. The base is cheap plastic, which is frequently the dead giveaway that you’re looking at a cheap TV.

The design is a little dated, but at least they're trying.

We had mixed feelings about the remote control. It’s compact and lightweight, but the button placement is cramped and difficult to feel your way around without constantly looking down. The rear of the television also limits your options, as it houses just two HDMI ports, a VGA port, a single set of composite AV ports, and a single set of component AV ports. That's more than enough for a bedroom or a very small living room, but even $100 more will get you a television with more connectivity options.

{{photo_gallery "Design Landing Page Photo", "Front Tour Image", "Back Tour Image", "Sides Tour Image", "Connectivity Tour Image 1", "Connectivity Tour Image 2", "Connectivity Extra Photo", "Stand Photo", "Controls Photo", "Remote Control Photo"}}

Smart TV Features

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The menu is extremely simple, which is rarely a bad thing.

Load up the Toshiba 32C110U's menu and you'll see that all the options are clearly laid out. It’s certainly not a beautiful interface, but it gets the job done and keeps you from getting lost. We’ve seen a lot worse. Our only complaint is that the response time between hitting a button on the remote and getting a reaction from the TV can be a little laggy, so sometimes you may find yourself mashing a button multiple times in frustration. You also need to point the remote directly at the IR sensor for it to work, which can be annoying if you're splayed out on the couch and line of sight isn't perfect.

The Toshiba 32C110U features a single USB port on the side that can connect to USB mass storage devices to read photos and music files. Unfortunately, the range of compatible file types is extremely limited: JPEGs and MP3 files only. The interface is rudimentary but straightforward.

{{photo_gallery "Software and Internet Landing Page Photo", "Internet Features 1 Photo", "Internet Features 2 Photo", "Internet Features 3 Photo", "Browser 1 Photo", "Browser 2 Photo", "Browser 3 Photo", "Apps 1 Photo", "Apps 2 Photo", "Apps 3 Photo", "Local Media Playback 1 Photo", "Local Media Playback 2 Photo", "Menu Main Photo", "Menu 2 Photo"}}

Picture Quality

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

A very wide contrast ratio for this range, plus decent color accuracy

Like many other 2011 Toshiba models, the C110U features handsomely deep shadow tones and respectable highlights, giving it a contrast ratio that is much wider than we'd expect from a budget TV like this one. While detail in the shadows can be difficult to pick up, the picture has more natural depth as a result than other displays in this price range.

On the plus side, we didn't notice any motion artifacts like color trailing or halos.

The motion performance of the Toshiba 32C110U is also quite good. There are definitely issues with judder, however, wherein moving objects have a certain flicker to them. It’s especially noticeable if the object has vertical stripes. On the plus side, we didn’t notice any motion artifacts like color trailing or halos, which can occur in even the best of TVs. These drawbacks are distracting, but they're pretty much par for the course with budget televisions.

Conclusion

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

This Toshiba's performance inconsistencies prevent us from recommending it.

The Toshiba 32C110U ($349 MSRP) is a budget TV, so we try not to ask for too much. For instance, there are few special features and the design elements—both exterior and interface designs—range from drab to downright ugly. Those are normally small problems and easily forgiven, but they're also coupled with core performance issues.

In our performance tests the 32C110U offered generally solid color performance at the default settings. Unfortunately, those same default settings result in shadow detail being almost completely suppressed. The lack of detail was so alarming that we had to run the test a few times to be sure. Of course, you can go into the menu an up the gamma setting to bring some of that shadow detail up, but doing so throws color accuracy off.

There are always sacrifices when designing a $349 display. You can't ask for the world at this price, but you shouldn't have to settle this much, either. There's a lot of people looking for an affordable display at this size and in this price range. As a result, there are plenty of options and better performers than Toshiba's entry-level 32C110U.

Science Introduction

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The Toshiba 32C110U is a budget-buy, entry-level sort of television. When we hear that, we immediately expect certain trade-offs between performance areas, and of course, no aesthetic appeal whatsoever. On the performance side of things, the C110U tested with a very good overall contrast ratio, but flawed color performance and a complete lack of shadow detail. In likewise manner, its motion performance was above average, but its viewing angle tested well below average. There's nothing here that's truly outstanding, but for the price you get what you pay for.

Contrast Ratio

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

Even though it struggled elsewhere, the Toshiba 32C110U is a strong performer in this test.

The Toshiba 32C110U tested with a black level of 0.08 cd/m 2 which is quite good for an LCD and a peak brightness of 361.48 cd/m 2, which is plenty bright. To determine contrast ratio, you simply divide a television's peak brightness by its black level, and the C110U's result of 4519:1 is very good for an LCD in this price range, about four times the baseline "average" ratio that's acceptable for TV watching.

Contrast ratio width is an important factor in determining how well a television can convince and immerse its audience into what they're watching, as well as making everything on screen easier to watch for long periods of time. The Toshiba's strong performance in this area doesn't wipe away issues in other performance tests, but it is the one compelling reason to look at this display over similarly price televisions.

{{photo_gallery "Science Section 1 Images"}}

Color

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The Toshiba C110U's struggled to consistently reproduce accurate color temperatures

A color temperature test measures the consistency of a television light's temperature-based color across the range of its signal intensity—in other words, is it the same "temperature" at all 256 steps of the signal, from pitch black to pure white?

The Toshiba C110U struggled to maintain a consistent color temperature across the signal input. While most of its color results were decent, its color temperature ranges into overly cool as it decreases from its brightest to its darkest output, meaning the middle greys and colors you see will have a slightly blue tint to them. Needless to say, that isn't supposed to happen, and it can be distracting whenever you watch certain types of content.

{{photo_gallery "Science Section 2 Images"}}

Resolution Scaling

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The Toshiba 32C110U uses a panel with a native resolution of 1366 x 768, which is common for entry-level budget LCDs. It doesn't match up to any broadcast standard, so pretty much every piece of content you're ever going to watch on this television will have to be scaled to fit in or fill the screen. The result is a host of processing issues, jagged edges, and aliasing problems.

We've noticed this same problem with other entry-level LCDs, such as the LG 32LK330, which has the exact same native resolution. You don't produce a 32-inch television for under $400 without cutting corners, and it appears the quality of the panel is where both companies did some rounding.

{{photo_gallery "Science Section 3 Images"}}

Other Tests

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

{{photo_gallery "Other Tests Images"}}

Meet the tester

Lee Neikirk

Lee Neikirk

Former Editor, Home Theater

@Koanshark

Lee was Reviewed's point person for most television and home theater products from 2012 until early 2022. Lee received Level II certification in TV calibration from the Imaging Science Foundation in 2013. As Editor of the Home Theater vertical, Lee oversaw reviews of TVs, monitors, soundbars, and Bluetooth speakers. He also reviewed headphones, and has a background in music performance.

See all of Lee Neikirk's reviews

Checking our work.

Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.

Shoot us an email

Up next