Best Smart TVs in the UK

Now, if you're going to invest in a 55-inch Ultra HD television set, it would be fair to expect a certain level of quality when it comes to the colours as well, otherwise, you will have to experience an incredibly detailed picture that looks bland and lifeless. As you might imagine, people at LG weren't going to let that happen, which is why they equipped the LG 55UJ630V with a layer of features to ensure a truly spectacular colour reproduction.

First off, the model incorporates the last iteration of the High-Dynamic-Range imaging technology that utilises Hybrid Log-Gamma. And if that sounds a bit too techy for you, putting it in simpler terms, the model is capable of reproducing a greater dynamic range of luminosity, meaning that the lighting, the shadows, and the display contrast will be able to resemble the real-life imagery to a much closer extent. And as for the latest iteration of High Dynamic Range that is usually referred to as HDR10+, the technology's job is to set the boundaries of brightness at the start of the film and distribute the hundreds of millions of colours evenly across the entire brightness spectrum for the duration of the broadcast.

Admittedly, there's still a lot we haven't talked about when it comes to arguably the best 55-inch TV, but we're running out of space, so it's time for a lightning round. The quality of sound is not where the model had finally decided to drop the ball either, introducing an immersive sound technology that creates seven virtual channels which produce the multi-channel ULTRA Surround effect, allowing you to enjoy an outstanding audio experience that will make you think you're really there in the middle of the movie. The 4k upscaling feature is there and it could easily rival some of the best versions of it present on the market. Though we haven't talked about the "smart" part of this Smart TV yet, it isn't even remotely because that aspect is lacking. The LG Smart TV with webOS implements their award-winning Freeview Play feature and that will give you access to the BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, DEMAND 5, Netflix, Now TV, Amazon Prime, and so much more. To summarise, we don't really know if there is such a thing as objectively the best Smart TV on the market. But if any product comes close to it, it would have to be the Smart TV with Freeview Play in question. The kind of colour reproduction it offers in addition to the size of the display will surely convince you to spend a few extra pounds on one of the most exciting TV prospects out there.

The next logical step would be to take a closer look at the kind of picture that the Panasonic TX-50EX700B is capable of offering given that the aspect in question is the cornerstone of any television set and Smart TVs are no exception to this rule. On top of that, the kind of image the model is capable of offering and the sort of colours it can reproduce is where this product shines the most. Of course, plenty has already been said on the subject of Ultra HD resolution and the sort of details four times the pixels of your average full HD resolution can provide. But, in addition to that, the model also offers an exceptionally wide colour spectrum with the help of a special Wide Colour Phosphor technology that generates a broader colour range and gives you a more subtle, natural toned colour palette that looks much more authentic in a large variety of scenes compared to the majority of LCD displays on the market. And if you reckon that's the only thing the model offers in terms of colour reproduction, you might want to think twice, since the TV from Panasonic also provides an advanced colour processing system that delivers better colours and produces deeper blacks to make those dark scenes even more enigmatic.

Naturally, we're talking about a Smart TV, and that means you'll be able to enjoy browsing through your favourite Youtube channels or indulging in the next big thing from Netflix. By the way, if the video on demand has a 4K option, the latter will already appear in the Ultra HD resolution, so you won't have to waste your time switching it yourself.

Moving on, before wrapping this review up, we would like to mention that the model features a switch design with an adjustable stand, so you'll be able to change the look of your TV as often as you decorate or make space for the AV accessories under your new telly. In conclusion, the Panasonic TX-50EX700B has quite a lot going for it: the colours are exceptional, the viewing angles it provides will make the whole experience so much more comfortable, not to mention that the design of the whole thing makes the model look sleek and spectacular, all while offering some additional options in terms of placement.

Speaking of tricks, one of the most important and prominent ones is the use of the UHD Dimming technology that guarantees stunning and simply outstanding colours and incredible details in every scene. Without boring you with the tech terms, what the said technology does is precisely scans an impressive amount of zones across the entire image and adjusts the brightness in order to deliver deeper darks and brighter whites. This sort of approach, in turn, eliminates the so-called halo effect and image distortion, meaning you'll be able to enjoy a crystal clear image. Add to that the use of High Dynamic Range that is so prevalent in the majority of Ultra HD displays these days and what you're left with is impressive brightness, realistic colour reproduction, and the kind of attention to details that will make every scene burst from the screen. By the way, before we conclude the technical part of this review, we would like to bring up the fact that this particular Samsung 40-inch Smart TV also comes equipped with a unique 4-stage upscaling technology that will make any older video look as if it was shot in 4K.

Of course, technical specifications are all well and good, but any piece of information technology equipment requires some means of control, and that's one of the model's strongest points. First, there's the One Remote Control that will allow you to manage all of your compatible devices and the entirety of your content. All it takes is no more than three clicks to discover the most appealing sources of entertainment on the powerful Smart Hub, boost the audio, or surf the boundless world of the Internet on a big screen. Heck, you can even talk to your remote since the latter incorporates a fairly reliable voice recognition software. All things considered, the Samsung UE40MU6120KXXU will be a perfect fit for those customers that want to experience all of the benefits of the Ultra High Definition resolution and High Dynamic Range but do not wish to pay over 500 pounds for the kind of luxury that is a Smart TV.

Now, a Smart TV is still a television set, meaning that it wouldn't be worth much without a quality picture to back up some of those Smart technologies. Though the aspect of image quality was never really a question with Sony and this Sony BRAVIA TV certainly does not intend to be an unfortunate exception to an otherwise clean record. There are a few things that the device has going for it in terms of picture but the most notable one has to go to the X-Reality PRO, a technology that delivers a much cleaner and more refined look, so you get to enjoy exceptional clarity, outstanding sharpness, and remarkable picture quality for everything you watch. Obviously, this is a TV we're talking about, so it isn't just about the static image but how well the device is able to reproduce motion. That is where the MotionFlow™ XR comes in. One of the biggest advantages of this impressive technology is that it is able to produce and insert additional frames between the original ones and that results in a video that appears to move the frames at a much faster and smoother rate compared to your average TV.

It goes without saying that where is video there's almost always audio, and the audio aspect is also not the one where the model trails behind the competition. The particular TV from Sony utilises a powerful computer model in order to analyse and compensate for inaccuracies in speaker response and that, without going into some of the more technical details, results in a pure, natural audio with smooth, even reproduction of all frequencies. All in all, if you're looking for a model that truly deserves the title of a Smart TV and the one that delivers not just a spectacular image but also an exceptional audio quality to back up that image, the Sony KDL-32WD751 should easily prove to be right up your alley.

By the way, before moving on from the Smart features and applications, we would also like to add that this piece of entertainment equipment also comes equipped with an integrated Wi-Fi, meaning you won't have to waste your space and time with cables and could simply connect your television set to the Internet wirelessly.

In terms of the picture, there really isn't that much to say except for the fact that the product is HD Ready, meaning that it is capable of accepting and displaying a high-definition signal at 720p. On top of that, the model offers the 100Hz UMR (Ultra Motion Rate) feature that will allow you to experience your favourite movies at a noticeably smoother rate. Of course, none of that sounds that impressive if you compare it to high-end Smart TVs, but keep in mind that this is a model that costs just a smidge above 100 pounds, a price that is four times lower compared to even some of the more affordable premium models out there. Finally, this is a Vertical Alignment panel that we're talking about, and that means better colour reproduction, higher maximum brightness, and better viewing angles compared to IPS panels.

To sum the whole thing up, the Digihome 24273SFVPT2HD is definitely not the best option out there in terms of specifications and the quality of the picture. But given that we're talking about a model that costs slightly over 100 pounds, it should be able to satisfy anyone looking for an affordable solution that comes with Smart TV functions.