Design

With its band of gradated silver/black along the bottom of the lower screen bezel, the mid-range TH-L32E3A has enough style to distinguish itself (just) from its lower-priced 32-inch siblings.

The menu system isn't the last word on ease of use, but it's easy enough to switch stations or inputs via the remote or the controls on the right side of the TV. If you elect not to scan for digital TV channels when you first set up the television, you may be scratching your head as to how to do this later on.

Features

Input-wise, the TH-L32E3A comes equipped with three HDMI, two composite, a component, a D-Sub monitor, an Ethernet and two USB ports, as well as an SD/SDHC/SDXC card reader. On the output ledger, there's stereo RCA ports and a digital audio out.

From the remote's Viera Tools button, you can view images and watch video files (DivX and MKV) stored on a USB stick or SD card. Navigation speed, slideshow smoothness and video playback quality aren't quite up there with external devices, such as, say, a WD TV or a Sony PS3, but then again, it's all very useable and doesn't cost you any extra.