Small-screen televisions were the gadgets of their day, from 5-inch black-and-white portables for the kitchen to the pocket-sized Sony Watchman. They are fun, inexpensive and easy to display. Since analog broadcasts have ended, the key question with any of them is how you will get a picture into it.
What to Look For
- Powers on with a bright, stable picture or raster
- Has a composite video input, or an antenna input you can feed from a converter
- Correct power adapter is included, since many use unusual voltages or plugs
- Battery compartment is clean
- Antenna, stand, knobs and any detachable sun hood are present
Popular Models Worth Seeking Out
These are the small sets collectors look for most.
- Sony Watchman FD series (FD-210, FD-10A) — pocket black-and-white televisions built around a flat picture tube. Mainly display pieces today.
- Sony Mega Watchman — larger portable models that combine a small screen with a radio.
- Sony Trinitron color portables (KV-8AD10 and similar) — small color sets with video inputs, good for retro gaming.
- 5-inch black-and-white portables from Panasonic, Sony and others — the cheapest way in, often powered by 12 volts for use in a car or camper.
- JVC Videosphere — the 1970 space-helmet television on a chain. A design icon, and priced like one.
Our Pick: A Tested Small CRT with a Composite Video Input
Choose a set with a video input if you want to use it. It will connect straight to a console, VCR or DVD player, and it avoids the adapters and converters that tuner-only sets need.
THE VERDICT
- Picture: Bright and stable
- Input: Composite video
- Power: Adapter included
- Controls: All working
Best for: collectors and retro gamers who want a small CRT for a desk or shelf.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Small and light, so cheaper and safer to ship than a full-size CRT
- Charming designs that display well
- Sets with video inputs work with consoles and VCRs
Cons
- Tuner-only sets need a converter box or RF modulator to show anything
- Tiny screens make text in games hard to read
Common Problems to Watch For
- No video input — common on pocket and older sets, which limits them to the antenna socket.
- Missing power adapter — replacements must match the voltage and polarity exactly.
- Dim or blurry tube — the picture tube is worn and cannot be economically replaced.
- Dried capacitors — a rolling picture, a shrunken image or no sound.
- Battery leakage — corrosion in the battery bay that can spread to the circuit board.
How Much Should You Expect to Pay
- $20–$50: Untested 5-inch black-and-white portables
- $40–$90: Working Watchman models and portables
- $90–$200: Color portables with video inputs
- $200+: JVC Videosphere and boxed Watchman sets
Quick Questions, Answered
Can it still receive television?
Not by itself. Analog broadcasting has ended, so you need a digital converter box connected to the antenna input.
Can I connect a game console?
Yes, through a composite input if the set has one, or through the antenna socket using the console’s RF adapter.
Is a Sony Watchman usable today?
Most are best enjoyed as display pieces, because many pocket models have no video input.
Before you buy, search for the exact model number and check whether it has a video input. Two sets that look almost identical can differ on that one feature.