After a day spent exploring, the idea of a relaxing evening in the caravan watching television or catching up on your latest series is a very appealing prospect. A key component here will be having the best caravan TV for your setup.
A good caravan television can be an important piece of kit to take on tour with you, whether you’re touring as a family and want to entertain the children, it’s a rainy day and you’re staying in your van, or you just want to watch your favourite shows in the evenings.
When you’re choosing the right model for your tourer, you’re going to want to buy one that will last you for several years, so it’s important to find the right model for you. That’s where this guide comes in, as we round up our pick of the standout caravan TVs currently on the market. The models we’ve selected all have 12v capabilities, so you can choose the setup that suits you when you’re planning a holiday and are out on tour.
This includes models from Avtex, Cello and Sharp, so you don’t miss out on your favourite television shows when you’re on tour.
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- Looking for an aerial instead? Our guide to the best TV aerials for a caravan will help you find the one for you.
What is the best TV for a caravan?
Avtex W215TS 21.5-inch Smart TV
Cello CS22WS01 22-inch Smart TV
Sharp 24-inch Smart TV 12V / 24V
Cello C1920FMTR 19-inch
Avtex W195TS 19-inch Smart TV
Sniper 22-inch Travel TV
The best caravan TVs:
Avtex W215TS
- Screen size: 21.5-inch
- Voltage: 12v / 24v DC or 240v AC
- Dimension: 491 x 288 x 46 (W x H x D in mm, without stand)
- Weight: 3.1kg
Reason to buy:
- Provides access to plenty of streaming services, Apple and Android compatible for wireless casting
Reason to avoid:
- Premium price
If you’re looking for a smart TV that allows you to log in to your favourite streaming services and is also relatively light in weight, we think this 21.5-inch Avtex could be the best caravan TV for you.
We like that it provides a clear picture – it’s a HD TV with an edge-to-edge display. It can also be connected to the internet to give you access to a variety of streaming services, including Netflix, Now TV, iPlayer, Sky Store, Disney+ and YouTube. It’s even Bluetooth compatible, as well as coming with Freesat.
There are plenty of sockets provided too, including two HDMI and two USB sockets.
We also appreciate the flexibility this Avtex model provides – not only can both Apple and Android devices be wirelessly cast to it, but it’s also 12v/24v DC and 240v AC compatible.
Thanks to its relatively light weight of 3.1kg, we reckon it shouldn’t be too tricky to manoeuvre, so you can achieve a picture-perfect setup in your tourer. If you like the sound of this model but want it in a bigger size, it’s also available as a 32-inch model.
Cello CS22WS01
- Screen size: 22-inch
- Voltage: 12v / 240v
- Dimension: 503 x 327 x 149 mm (W x H x D in mm, with stand)
- Weight: 2.6kg
Reason to buy:
- Comes with WebOS Hub, option of downloading plenty of apps, three HDMI and two USB ports
Reason to avoid:
- No built-in DVD player
This 22-inch HD smart TV from Cello is a model that we think provides enough features to keep the whole family entertained on tour.
What sets it apart from the other options in our guide is that it comes with WebOS Hub – this has seen the manufacturer partner with LG to let you download the entertainment apps you want, such as Disney+, Netflix, Apple TV, Paramount+ and more, as well as browse the web.
The caravan television also comes with a built-in satellite tuner with Freesat, offering access to over 170 channels (just make sure you have your satellite dish for this), while Freeview Play is also included.
Another feature we like is it’s Bluetooth compatible. This is ideal for hooking the TV up to speakers or syncing wireless headphones if you don’t want to disturb the rest of the family, without the worry of cables cluttering the confines of your van.
Weight and portability are two important factors when choosing the best caravan TV, and this model passes with flying colours, only weighing 2.6kg. This will make it easy to relocate it from the lounge to other parts of your tourer.
It also comes with plenty of connections, including three HDMI and two USB ports. If you’d rather have a bigger model, you can also buy a 32-inch version of the TV too.
Check the latest price on Amazon now.
Sharp 24-inch Smart TV 12V / 24V
- Screen size: 24-inch
- Dimensions: 552.1 x 353.6 x 141.6 ((W x H x D in mm)
- Voltage: 12V / 24V
- Weight: 3.2kg
Reasons to buy:
- 3 HDMI and 2 USB ports offer good flexibility, Active Motion 200 LCD Display prevents blurriness
Reasons to avoid:
- Comes with no built-in DVD player
This model from Sharp is a worthy addition to our best caravan TV guide, as it comes full of features to enhance any viewing experience.
It provides a clear HD picture, with the presence of the Active Motion 200 LCD Display preventing any blurriness.
Aquos Net+ also gives you the freedom to access your apps like Netflix and YouTube, as well as the internet, from the comfort of your caravan’s sofa too. As well as this, the TV includes DTS Virtual:X – this provides an enhanced listening experience, with clearer dialogue and bass sound.
We like the option of being able to wirelessly connect PC or Android devices to the TV too.
Cello C1920FMTR
- Screen size: 19-inch
- Dimension: 446 x 323 x 160 (W x H x D with stand, in mm)
- Weight: 2.9kg
- Voltage: 12v / 240v
Reasons to buy:
- Lightweight, perfect for caravanners who want a built-in DVD player
Reasons to avoid:
- Only one USB and HDMI input
This 19-inch model from Cello is a practical choice for a caravan TV, with the built-in DVD player and lightweight design just two of the plus points. The useful ability to be able to pause live TV is a handy feature, while being in an area with poor signal shouldn’t be a problem, thanks to the built-in satellite tuner.
In this case, all you would need is a satellite dish and you can then start watching your favourite shows. Something to bear in mind is that the TV only has one USB and one HDMI input, which could put off some caravanners. Its 19-inch screen size should be suitable for the majority of tourers, but if you’re looking for caravan TV with a built-in DVD player that has a bigger screen, the Sniper, listed further down, could be worth considering too.
Avtex W195TS
- Screen size: 19.5-inch
Dimensions: 448 x 257 x 46 (W x H x D in mm, without stand)
Weight: 2.5kg / 2.7kg (without stand / with stand)
Voltage: 12v / 24v DC or 240v AC
Reasons to buy:
- Apple and Android compatible for wireless casting, good selection of streaming apps available, most lightweight TV in our guide
Reasons to avoid:
- One of the more expensive options in our guide
If you have a small caravan, you’re not going to want one of the bigger models to feature in our round-up – instead, a caravan TV such as this Avtex model is worth considering. It’s a more compact and lightweight version of the Avtex W215TS that features above, yet it still comes packed full of features.
This 19.5-inch model will let you watch your favourite apps on tour, including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime and Now TV. We’re fans of its weight, which should make it easy to move to different parts of the tourer as well. There’s even the option of pausing and recording live TV to an external HDD, so you never miss a moment of your favourite shows.
We also like how you have the option of wirelessly casting your mobile phone to it – like its bigger counterpart, the caravan TV is compatible with both Apple and Android phones for some useful flexibility.
The edge-to-edge display will also allow you to enjoy the HD picture in a model that is 12v, 24v and 240v compatible.
Sniper 22-inch Travel TV
- Screen size: 22-inch
- Dimensions: 505 x 343 x 175mm with stand, 505 x 300 x 52mm without stand (W x H x D)
- Weight: 3.3kg / 3.1kg (with stand / without stand)
- Voltage: 12v / 24v / 240v
Reason to buy:
- Comes with built-in DVD player, two USB / HDMI sockets
Reason to avoid:
- Lighter options available with same screen size
Like the Cello C1920FMTR, this Sniper model is a caravan TV that comes with a built in DVD and CD player.
However, that’s not the only commendable feature on offer with this 22-inch TV. There’s the built-in DVB-S2 Digital Satellite TV receiver, which lets you access Freesat, while Freeview can be watched from the comfort of your tourer, courtesy of the DVB-T2 Digital Tuner.
We like the connectivity provided too, including two HDMI sockets. There are also two USB sockets, and if you set up a hard drive or USB stick, you’ll have the option of pausing and recording live television, ensuring you don’t miss that cliffhanger ending to your favourite shows.
If you’d rather have a bigger model, the Sniper is also available in the larger 24-inch size as well.
Check the latest price on Amazon now.
Do I need a special TV for my caravan?
Although you could simply unplug the flatscreen TV from your home and set it up in your caravan, there are a couple of key points to bear in mind here. First, these TV sets tend to be quite large (these days, 32-inch is considered positively tiny) and will take up a great deal of space in your van. In addition, if you can’t hide your TV away in a locker when it’s not in use, it’s simply going to be a theft magnet. Then there’s the question of how you’re going to power it.
Domestic TVs all tend to run on 230V mains power and can only be used when you’re on a mains hook-up. Assuming you are, that’s fine; but what if you’re at a festival or site with no hook-up?
You can get a small plug-in inverter to run these items, but this adds both complexity and cost, and will drain your 12V battery far faster than simply running a 12V TV (inverters take a lot of current and are not 100% efficient in conversion from DC to AC).
All TVs run on DC voltage that is stepped down from the mains, but not all TVs can be plugged directly into a 12V socket. You can buy all manner of adaptors online for this, so it’s well worth checking what is available for your brand of TV.
However, if you do frequently go off-grid, it’s a better option to purchase a dedicated caravan TV, because these tend to be more rugged, and they usually come boxed with their own 12V power adaptor.
How do I choose the best TV for my caravan?
One of the key considerations to help you choose the best caravan TV will be whether you stay at sites with a hook-up. If you do, you probably don’t need to get a specialist 12v television, and could instead look at getting a more standard 240v model to do the job. However, if you’re going off-grid or don’t have the guarantee of hook-up, a 12v TV is the answer.
You’ll also want to consider size too – after all, you’re not going to want a 40-inch TV dominating your caravan. In this guide, we’re looking at models that range from 19-24-inches, giving you a good picture without sticking out or dominating your living space.
Something else to think about – do you want your caravan TV to have a built-in DVD player? If so, we’ve included two options in our guide which ticks that box.
Find out more about how to choose the best TV for your caravan in our ultimate guide to watching television in your tourer.
After some more accessory ideas? Then be sure to check out our best caravan cleaners guide if you want to spruce up your tourer, while our best caravan gadgets guide will help you pick out the gizmos that could enhance your touring experience.
You can also visit our caravan reviews section, where we offer impartial reviews on the latest models on the market.
Written with contributions from Peter Rosenthal
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