Price: $89.99
(as of Aug 07, 2026 23:35:21 UTC – Details)
Westinghouse 24-Inch Xumo Smart TV Review: Big Features in a Compact Package
In an era where smart televisions are increasingly defined by massive 65-inch-plus panels and premium price tags, the Westinghouse 24-inch HD Xumo TV arrives as a refreshing counterpoint. It is a purpose-built display designed for the spaces often overlooked by flagship models: bedrooms, college dormitories, kitchen nooks, home offices, and guest rooms. Priced aggressively at an MSRP of $89.99, this television does not merely aim to be a “cheap screen”; it attempts to deliver a fully featured smart experience—complete with voice control, extensive casting capabilities, and a modern operating system—inside a compact 24-inch chassis. After a thorough examination of its specifications and feature set, it is clear that Westinghouse has engineered a device that punches significantly above its weight class.
Design and Form Factor: Built for Small Spaces
The physical footprint of the 24-inch model (model series WM24) is dictated by its 1366 x 768 HD resolution panel. While Full HD (1080p) is standard on the larger 40-inch and 43-inch siblings in this lineup, the 24-inch variant sticks to HD resolution. At this screen size, however, the pixel density remains perfectly adequate for standard viewing distances—typically three to six feet—making it ideal for a bedside table or a desk setup. The “Flat Screen Television” designation translates to a slim, lightweight profile with minimal bezels, ensuring the display doesn’t dominate a small room aesthetically.
The included stand offers a stable, low-profile base, but the 178-degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles (a spec usually reserved for higher-end IPS-type panels) suggest flexibility in placement. Whether mounted on a wall via standard VESA patterns or sitting on a dresser, the picture integrity holds up well from off-center positions—a crucial factor for a TV often viewed from a bed or kitchen counter. The build quality feels functional and energy-efficient, aligning with the product description’s emphasis on an “energy-efficient design” suitable for prolonged use in dorms or bedrooms.
The Xumo TV Platform: Streaming Simplified
The defining feature of this Westinghouse lineup is the integration of the Xumo TV operating system. Unlike “dumb” TVs that require a separate Roku stick or Fire TV dongle to become smart, the intelligence here is native. The interface is designed around the concept of “Streaming Made Simple,” aggregating content from the major subscription services—Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, Hulu, HBO Max (now Max), ESPN+, YouTube TV, and more—into a single, navigable home screen.
The standout software feature is Xumo Play, a FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) service built directly into the OS. Without requiring a subscription, login, or even a download, users gain instant access to over 350 free live channels and a library exceeding 70,000 on-demand movies and shows. This spans sports, news, entertainment, and niche interest categories. For a secondary TV in a guest room or a student on a budget, this effectively provides a “cable-like” experience the moment the TV connects to Wi-Fi, zero dollars down.
Navigation is handled by a Universal Search function. Instead of “app-hopping”—opening Netflix, searching, exiting, opening Hulu, searching again—the user searches once by title, genre, actor, or keyword. The OS aggregates results across all installed apps and the free Xumo Play library, displaying where content is available for free, for rent, or via subscription. It is a significant quality-of-life improvement for casual viewers.
The Voice Remote: Hands-Free Control
The included Full Function Voice Remote is the primary interface for this search capability. It moves beyond simple playback controls. By pressing the dedicated microphone button, users can issue complex commands: “Find action movies with Tom Cruise,” “Launch Disney+,” “Turn up the volume,” or “Switch to HDMI 2.” This is particularly valuable on a 24-inch set where an on-screen keyboard is tedious to navigate with a D-pad. The remote also features dedicated hotkeys for major streaming providers (likely Netflix, Prime Video, and Xumo Play), allowing one-press access to the most used services. It effectively transforms the TV into a voice-first appliance, modernizing the user experience far beyond what is typically expected at this price point.
Audio: Dolby Digital+ and Wireless Expansion
The product title mentions “Dolby Atmos,” while the detailed specifications list Dolby Digital+ driving dual 3-watt speakers (2x3W). In the context of a 24-inch chassis, the internal speakers are understandably modest; they are tuned for dialogue clarity and sufficient volume for a small room, enhanced by Dolby Digital+ processing for dynamic range compression and virtualized surround cues. They will not shake the walls, but they are perfectly serviceable for late-night news, sitcoms, or podcasts.
Critically, Westinghouse has included Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity. This allows the TV to act as a transmitter for wireless headphones—essential for shared bedrooms or dorms where one person is sleeping while another watches TV—or for pairing a portable Bluetooth speaker or soundbar for a significant audio upgrade without running cables. For more permanent setups, an Optical Digital Audio Output (TOSLINK) provides a wired path to external soundbars or AV receivers, supporting the Dolby Digital+ bitstream passthrough.
Connectivity: The “Connectivity is King” Philosophy
For a budget compact TV, the port selection is surprisingly generous. The rear (or side) panel hosts three HDMI ports, all specified as HDMI 2.1 with ARC (Audio Return Channel) support. This is a notable inclusion. While the panel is only HD resolution and 60Hz (limiting high-frame-rate 4K gaming features like VRR or 120Hz), HDMI 2.1 bandwidth ensures maximum compatibility with modern streaming sticks (Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Roku Ultra, Chromecast with Google TV), current-gen game consoles (PS5, Xbox Series S/X), and laptops. The ARC support on one port simplifies soundbar connectivity, allowing audio to travel back down the HDMI cable to a compatible speaker system, reducing cable clutter.
Additional legacy and utility ports include:
- 1 x USB Port: For media playback (photos, music, video) from a thumb drive.
- 1 x Composite Video Input (AV): Supporting older devices like retro game consoles (NES, PS2, Wii) or legacy security cameras/DVD players.
- 1 x RF/Antenna Input: For connecting an over-the-air (OTA) digital antenna to receive free local broadcast channels (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS) in full HD quality, integrated directly into the Xumo TV channel guide.
Wireless connectivity is handled by Dual-Band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz & 5GHz), ensuring a stable connection for 4K streaming sticks plugged into the HDMI ports or for the native 720p/1080p streaming apps. The Bluetooth 5.1 module handles the aforementioned audio peripherals and potentially keyboards/mice for web browsing.
Apple Ecosystem Integration: AirPlay 2 and HomeKit
A major selling point for households invested in the Apple ecosystem is native Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support. This allows seamless streaming or mirroring from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac directly to the TV without an Apple TV box. Users can share vacation photos, mirror a Safari browsing session, stream Apple Music, or cast video from apps that don’t have a native TV version (like specific sports apps or fitness services). HomeKit integration allows the TV to be added to the Apple Home app, enabling Siri voice control (“Hey Siri, turn on the bedroom TV”) and inclusion in automation scenes (e.g., “Good Morning” scene turns on lights and TV to news).
Gaming and PC Use
While not marketed as a gaming monitor, the HDMI 2.1 ports and low-latency “progressive scan technology for reduced flicker and smoother motion” make it a viable candidate for casual gaming. The Xbox Series S or a gaming laptop can output 1080p/60Hz (downscaled to the panel’s native 1366×768) with minimal input lag. For a dorm room setup where desk space is at a premium, this TV can pull double duty as a console display and a streaming hub. The USB port also supports firmware updates, ensuring the Xumo OS remains current.
The Value Proposition
At $89.99, the Westinghouse 24-inch Xumo TV occupies a unique niche. Competitors at this price point often include:
- Non-smart “commercial” displays requiring external streamers.
- Older generation smart TVs with deprecated app stores (no Disney+, no Apple TV+).
- No-name brands with poor Wi-Fi radios, sluggish interfaces, and zero software support.
This Westinghouse unit avoids those pitfalls. It delivers a modern, supported OS (Xumo TV is backed by Comcast/Charter joint venture, ensuring longevity), a comprehensive app store, voice control, AirPlay 2, three modern HDMI ports, and Bluetooth audio. The trade-offs are the 720p-class resolution (HD, not Full HD) and the modest 6W audio system. However, for the intended use cases—secondary TV, dorm, kitchen, kids’ room, RV—these compromises are rational. The 24-inch size makes HD resolution visually acceptable, and the Bluetooth/Optical outputs solve the audio limitation instantly.
Final Verdict
The Westinghouse 24-inch HD Xumo TV is a masterclass in feature density per dollar. It refuses to be a “dumb” panel, packing the connectivity of a mid-range set (3x HDMI 2.1, Optical, Bluetooth 5.1, Dual-Band Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2) and a modern, content-rich smart OS into the smallest mainstream screen size available. The inclusion of the Xumo Play free streaming service adds immediate value out of the box, requiring zero subscription fatigue.
If you are shopping for a primary living room TV, look at the 40-inch or 43-inch FHD models in this same lineup. But for the specific buyer needing a smart, connected, voice-controllable display for a tight space and a tight budget, this 24-inch model is arguably the most competent option on the market today. It proves that “entry-level” no longer has to mean “feature-poor.”