The 5 BEST 12 Volt TVs – Ultimate RV Buyers Guide [2023]

We put the best 12 volt TV products to the test in this ultimate buyers guide to bring you our top recommended options! Want to know our expert choice for 12v TVs for your RV or motorhome? Let’s get into it…

No matter where the road takes you, the best trips allow for plenty of downtime. Especially when you live full-time in a van you’ll find it’s nice to unwind while binging a show or two.

Next time you feel like kicking back and flipping channels, the right 12-volt RV TV will have your camper feeling at home. 

Installing a TV in your RV has never been easier. Modern campers have loads of 12-volt televisions to choose from, and the technology is getting better every day. 

With a few screws and a mounting bracket (and of course one of our recommend RV batteries), you’ll find HDTV options with HDMI inputs, DVD players, and streaming abilities that will provide a similar viewing experience to your home theater.

EDITOR’S CHOICE:

Supersonic 1080p

Just want to know what our expert recommendation is? After personally testing all the options our top choice is the Supersonic 1080p.

This universally beloved RV TV ranks at the top of countless RV expert’s list thanks to its compatibility.

This 12 volt TV works in RVs of all shapes and sizes and provides a beautiful flat screen led HDTV picture at an affordable price.

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There are all sorts of size options and TV features that make the addition a worthy part of your RV’s living area and a great addition to your list of top campervan accessories.

The flip side of this freedom is the sheer amount of choice. With so many great RV TVs out there, it can be an exhausting process to find the perfect type of LED TV for your rig. 

Before you start scrolling through manufacturer reviews, start your search with us to get a great idea of what the five best 12-volt TV models have to offer.

We’ll cover all sorts of details you should look for in your camper TV so you can quit shopping and start enjoying the simple joy of watching your favorite shows from across the country. 

PRODUCT

WHAT WE LIKE

THINGS TO CONSIDER

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Supersonic 1080p

EDITOR'S CHOICE

  • Variety of screen sizes

  • Loads of input compatibility

  • 120 Hz refresh rate

  • Not a Smart TV

  • Only 1 HDMI port

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Axess TVD 1805

  • High max resolution

  • Noise reduction

  • TV and DVD combo

  • Not a Smart TV

  • Does not include wall mount

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LG LED HD TV

  • Best price on our list

  • Multiple mounting options

  • Direct-lit LED picture

  • Not full HD

  • No WiFi capabilities

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Jensen JTV19DC

  • Built for RV use

  • DC current ready

  • 16.7 million colors

  • Mounting hardware sold separately

  • Only small screen options

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Free Signal Transit TV

  • Largest screen

  • Lots of HDMI inputs

  • Can be converted to AC easily

  • No mounting hardware

  • Heavy

The Best 12 Volt TVs 

To be the best, our editors put each one of these TVs to the test. We took a look at the input options, power consumption, picture quality, sound quality, and the price range of 12-volt TVs of all shapes and sizes.

These 5 earned the crown as the best 12-volt tv for your RV by ranking highly in all categories while providing best-in-class extras.

Supersonic 1080p 

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The beloved Supersonic 1080p 12 volt RV TV comes with plenty of ports and inputs to make sure you’ll get a great picture no matter how you watch tv.

Supersonic went above and beyond the standard HDMI inputs by being compatible with surround sound speaker set-ups and USB connections.

Not many RV TVs are also a second monitor, but this bad boy does it all.

PROS

  • Variety of screen sizes
  • Loads of input compatibility
  • 120 Hz refresh rate

CONS

  • Not a Smart TV
  • Only 1 HDMI port

You’ll be sure to find your perfect companion with wide-ranging screen sizes that fit everything from a retrofitted work truck to the largest Class C campers. 

You can bring any household streaming service into the comfort of your RV, and rest easy knowing your Supersonic widescreen HDTV is compatible.

Hook up your computer, Roku, or fire stick and find the perfect relief for a rainy afternoon.

Wall-mount this 12-volt television or leave it free-standing with the included legs.

Regardless of your vision for your RV TV, this supersonic option will fit your budget and exceed your expectations.

Screen Size13-40
Power SourceAC and DC
InputsUSB, HDMI, VGA
Resolution1080p

Axess TVD 1805

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Axess went light on the perks to give more RV owners access to affordable TV DVD combo models that still provide 1920×1080 HDTV. 

Available in various screen sizes, small RV owners love that the Axess’ built-in DVD player doesn’t add on any space.

PROS

  • High max resolution
  • Noise reduction
  • TV and DVD combo

CONS

  • Not a Smart TV
  • Does not include wall mount

We recommend larger RVs to shop for at least the 22-inch screen size model, as the viewing angle on the smaller versions of this flatscreen TV won’t quite reach the entire living room of a Class C camper.

More miniature interiors will find USB, SD card, and HDMI inputs that work with the DVD player to provide entertainment options new and old.

If you aren’t planning on investing some serious coin into a cable subscription or Wifi for your RV, the DVD player built into this model will make sure you’ve always got something to watch.

Axess wasn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. Instead, they built an affordable 12 volt RV tv with a built-in DVD player that won’t quite meet the standard met by your TV at home but will provide hours of entertainment wherever else you like to watch TV.

Screen Size19″-24″
Power SourceAC and DC
InputsUSB, HDMI, SD, VGA
Resolution1080p

LG LED HD TV 

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This LG LED is the most affordable 12v TV on our list. We also think it’s the best budget 12-volt tv on the market.

If you’re not shopping for the latest technology, this sleek 24 inch RV tv has the simple installation and plug-and-play ability to be ready for your next weekend trip. 

The 12-volt television doesn’t come with many external attachments or wifi capability.

PROS

  • Best price on our list
  • Multiple mounting options
  • Direct-lit LED TV picture

CONS

  • Not full HD
  • No WiFi capabilities

It may not be the most innovative TV on the block, but it is passionate. The direct-lit flat screen provides terrific splashes of color, and the RV TV relies on a high refresh rate to keep things in focus.

With one HDMI and USB connection, you’ll be able to hook up your laptop or streaming stick and get straight into the action. 

There may be a few 12-volt TVs out there with more impressive features than this LG  television, but for ballers on a budget, the 24 inches of 720-pixel resolution will be all you need out of your camper TV.

Screen Size24 inches
Power SourceAC
InputsUSB, HDMI, ATSC
Resolution720p

JENSEN JTV19DC

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This Jensen RV TV carries on the traditions established by one of the most trusted names in 12-volt TV.

The brand has been building RV TVs for decades, and their latest rendition provides endless hours of entertainment at less than 6 pounds. 

Its lightweight stature makes the TVs perfect for RV’s with limited space.

PROS

  • Built for RV use
  • DC current ready
  • 16.7 million colors

CONS

  • Mounting hardware sold separately
  • Only small screen options

You can easily store the 12v TV when it’s not in use and move it from inside to outside your camper on starry nights. 

If you’re buying a Jensen RV TV, you’re receiving some of the best build quality in the business. 

Despite its lightweight nature, this 12v TV can handle movement and vibrations that are impossible to avoid in a mobile home.

It’s not just a television you can use in your RV. It was designed with recreational vehicles in mind, making it a bonafide 12-volt RV TV. 

Don’t take chances with expensive electronics. At a reasonable price, this 12 volt TV can last a decade.

Screen Size19 inch
Power SourceDC
InputsVGA. USB, HDMI
Resolution1080p

Free Signal Transit TV

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Best for family vacations and big rigs, this behemoth stretches out 32 inches to rank as the largest TV on our list and one of the market’s largest 12 volt RV TVs. 

Perfect for Hollywood dramas or live sports, you won’t find a flatscreen tv with a better viewing angle than the 178 x 178 degrees offered by these extreme screen sizes. 

PROS

  • Largest screen
  • Lots of HDMI inputs
  • Can be converted to AC easily

CONS

  • No mounting hardware
  • Heavy

To keep up with the widescreen, the transit television has dual speakers, one on each side of the television, that provide an unparalleled sound quality to all corners of your RV’s living room.

The TV has extra protection against shocks and vibrations felt so often while driving down National Forest Service roads to keep up with life in motion. 

The cherry on top is the TV’s efficient power adapter, which will ensure that you’ll never consume more than 6 watts while watching tele.

Screen Size32 inches
Power SourceDC
Inputs3 HDMI
Resolution720p

Choosing the Best 12 Volt TV

Now that we’ve seen some of the best 12 volt TVs on the market, one thing is getting clearer. 

While every TV on our list provides a quality picture and relies on 12-volt power, there are simply too many variables at play to declare one TV the best for every budget. 

Take a look at some of these deciding factors and gauge where your personal needs fall. 

Whether you’re shopping for one weekend or full-time living, one person or four will have a significant impact on what 12-volt TV will fit best in your rig. 

Understanding these essential facets of modern RV TV technology will have you well on your way to the perfect fit for your camper’s entertainment needs.

12 Volt TV RV Interior
A 12v TV will help make your RV just that little bit more homely.

Screen Size

Make sure you have enough space for your television before you choose your TV. Most 12v TVs will come in screen sizes from 19 to 24 inches, with some as large as 32! 

Larger TVs will take up more mounting space or valuable counter space than they are worth in some scenarios. And remember screen size measures width, but you’ll also need to take into account the depth and height of any new TV to make sure it fits in your rig. 

Don’t think you need to go for the biggest possible television. A 22 inch 12v TV will provide enough viewing angle to entertain most RV’s living areas adequately.  

It’s important to remember that a larger screen doesn’t necessarily mean the picture or sound quality will be better. Statistics like the aspect ratio and refresh rate also help determine the picture quality on your 12-volt tv. 

Refresh Rate

The refresh rate does a much better job of indicating a certain TV’s picture quality. Video has come a long way, but its fundamentals haven’t changed.

Your TV transmits thousands of images a second, and the refresh rate dictates how quickly your TV refreshes its image. 

Otherwise known as frames per second, a 12 volt TV should have a refresh rate of at least 60 hertz (Hz). Anything below this rate will bring with it motion blur and choppy high-paced scenes. 

Every single TV on our list has a refresh rate of at least 60 Hz. 

Anyone looking to play games on their 12 volt TV or a TV DVD combo ready for visually technical action movies may want to increase their rate and can find something that fits in their RV with refresh rates up to 120 Hz. 

Mounted RV TV
You can have your television professionally mounted inside your motorhome too.

AC or DC

You’ll frequently find Alternating Current (AC) used in household 120-volt AC outlets. Most household TVs draw their power from this current type, but not most RV TVs, which run primarily on Direct Current (DC) outlets. 

The RV standard is 12-volt DC outlets. If you are replacing an old RV TV, you’ll instantly be able to tell which outlet you need when you remove the old television.

If you’re starting from scratch, make sure you understand which type of outlet is close to where you plan to install your TV. 

Luckily, buying a DC TV with an AC outlet isn’t the end of the world. You find an AC or DC adapter, or better yet, install a trusty inverter that will allow your TV to run regardless of the outlets. 

Doing this will require extensive knowledge of your RV’s power system, as it can get complicated trying to pair your inverter’s wattage rating to your adapter. 

None of these currents provides better battery performance or picture quality than the other, so we recommend figuring out which type of outlet is near your planned TV installation site and using that information to narrow your search. 

Reception Options

What exactly do you want to watch on your RV TV? Are you hoping to plug in a laptop or gaming system, watch movies from the middle of nowhere, or have your TV possess the same capabilities as a household option? 

Answer these questions and understand which streaming and input options your TV must include making it happen. 

You should expect your TV to have HDMI and USB connections to fully take advantage of all the modern tools at your disposal in the contemporary era.

Also standard are the usual suspects – VGA, and Audio Left and Right Inputs. 

It’s best to buy a TV that already works with your preferred viewing option, rather than the other way around. 

Smart TVs can skip out the middle man and stream everything from Netflix to Live Sports, but only with Wi-Fi. Streaming movies in HD will take gigabytes off your data plan in hours, so only RVs with already established extensive wifi networks can rely on full-time streaming. 

Folks with a more barebones set-up may want to look towards a TV DVD combo or adding on DVD players to watch movies in the heart of the wilderness. 

A modern DVD option that works offline is to pair your phone’s Netflix account with a device like a Google Chromecast, which slides right into an HDMI port.

You can download your favorite movies on your phone as long as you have a wifi connection and broadcast the downloads to your TV even while offline. 

Mounted TV
Make sure you have a good power or battery system to keep your TV running as well.

Installation

The biggest and best in modern entertainment is useless in your RV TV if it doesn’t pack in versatile mounting options.

The best 12 volt RV TV will come with ways to mount to your wall, legs to stand on counter space, and durability to survive the rigamarole that comes with driving your house down the Interstate. 

Read the fine print of your purchase to find the truth of the installation process. Some manufacturers won’t ship their product with everything you need to get the TV mounted. Sometimes everything you need, including the screwdriver, comes in one box. 

It may seem easy and convenient enough to skip the mounting process of your RV TV DVD combo. That way, you can watch TV inside and outside your rig. 

However, there is a drawback to any lackluster installation. There is a much higher risk of damage if you choose to skip the permanent safety offered by screwing your TV into the walls of your RV. 

There is no better way to guarantee the safety of your investment than to buy a TV that you can easily mount in your RV. The right TV will simplify that process, and mounting your TV shouldn’t take more than one Sunday afternoon. 

If your preferred TV doesn’t come with anything necessary for installation, it might be best to look elsewhere.

But, if you’re one of those DIYers who would be whipping up your mounting system anyways, the installation tools your TV comes with may not matter. 

Conclusion 

Whether you’re shopping for the latest in TV tuner technology, a TV DVD combo, or a high-quality picture at an affordable price, this buying guide should have you well on your way to the perfect 12v fit in your rig. 

No matter what you pick, let your RV’s needs define your search instead of expecting to retrofit your interior to suit your TV.

If you follow that principle, any TV on this list will have you relaxing and enjoying your favorite entertainment in no time.

If you really want our opinion, we kept coming back to the same conclusion every way we looked at it. This Supersonic 1080p HDTV has the inputs, low power draw, and image quality necessary to be our editor’s choice for 12v TVs. 

This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you make a purchase a product we recommend using the links in this article, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. We promise to use this pocket money to buy lots of coffee and fuel for the campervan to keep us enjoying #VanLife for just a little longer. We appreciate your support, and only recommend products we know and trust. Thank you friends!

About the Author - Alesha and Jarryd - Van Life Theory

Hi! We're Alesha and Jarryd, the founders of Van Life Theory! We're currently travelling around Australia in our 2008 Mercedes Sprinter campervan and sharing our best experiences, stories, reviews and adventures as we go along. Make sure you follow along on our Instagram and YouTube!

2 thoughts on “The 5 BEST 12 Volt TVs – Ultimate RV Buyers Guide [2023]”

  1. Installed SuperSonic tv in my RV. I cut off the “cigarette lighter” 12-volt adapter after determining the + and – wires and hard-wired it into the electrical system. Incredibly light. Sitting 8 to 10 feet away, there is no quality issue with the image. If you want a great system at a great price for your RV or boat, this will work.

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