Recommendations for 24" TV

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Original Poster:

41,593 posts

202 months

Wednesday 21st June 2023
quotequote all
Hi all

The TV in the spare bedroom (a 24" Polaroid we bought from Asda) has gone kaput. it was a fairly basic TV that was connected to a Virgin cable box.

ideally I'd like to get rid of the V2 box and save myself something like £10pcm. We have good wi-fi internet throughout the house so i was thinking to perhaps get a Smart TV which would replace most of the channels that we get through Virgin. My budget is £150. Any recommendations for a 24" smart TV?

Mr Pointy

11,685 posts

165 months

Wednesday 21st June 2023
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For £150 you have a choice of two but go into Richer Sounds & try them to see which UI you prefer. The LG is £189 but posters generally like the UI on them.

https://www.richersounds.com/tv-projectors/tvs-acc...

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Original Poster:

41,593 posts

202 months

Wednesday 21st June 2023
quotequote all
Mr Pointy said:
For £150 you have a choice of two but go into Richer Sounds & try them to see which UI you prefer. The LG is £189 but posters generally like the UI on them.

https://www.richersounds.com/tv-projectors/tvs-acc...
Thanks. That Toshiba looks good. Wondering if I should go up to 32" scratchchin

mmm-five

11,388 posts

290 months

Wednesday 21st June 2023
quotequote all
Don't know if you need proper HD or not, but be aware that 'HD' is not the same as 'Full HD' in most cases. You'll have to check the resolution in the specifications.

For example that 'Inflation-Busting Megadeal' Sharp 32" HD TV is actually closer to 720p than it is to 1080p. Won't matter much if you don't receive/watch/stream any 1080p HD stuff though. It also doesn't have any 'smart TV' features, so you'll need to pay for a streaming stick of some sort.

Cheapest 32" Full-HD smart TV seems to be a Philips one at £199.

Mr Pointy

11,685 posts

165 months

Wednesday 21st June 2023
quotequote all
That's a very good point. Even with a £300 budget there are only four 32" Full HD TVs in the list.

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Original Poster:

41,593 posts

202 months

Wednesday 21st June 2023
quotequote all
Im fine with not having full HD - my eyesight isn't the best smile

Are all "SMART TVs" equally SMART? I assume I should get Freeview?

mmm-five

11,388 posts

290 months

Wednesday 21st June 2023
quotequote all
Countdown said:
Im fine with not having full HD - my eyesight isn't the best smile

Are all "SMART TVs" equally SMART?
Nope...depends on the manufacturer, licences, processor, OS, etc.

No simple way of comparing them all...it's a case of researching one by one...or take the TV's smartness out of the equation and get a Firestick/NowTV Stick.
Countdown said:
I assume I should get Freeview?
Should be easier to check...should list if it has Freeview / Freeview Play / Freesat...but any digital TV will have Freeview at the least...otherwise it's a monitor, as it will have no way to receive a TV signal wink

clockworks

5,967 posts

151 months

Wednesday 21st June 2023
quotequote all
Have a look at TCL Roku TVs. Bought one for the spare room, and really wasn't expecting much at the price. Pleasantly surprised by the picture quality and the smart functions (basically a Roku stick inside the TV). Sound quality from the built in speakers isn't great though, but works fine with a cheap soundbar.

wyson

2,448 posts

110 months

Wednesday 21st June 2023
quotequote all
Don't really need full HD at 32 inches unless you are sitting right infront of the TV.

I got a 1080p 32 inch TV, can't notice the difference in quality displaying 720p or 1080p youtube videos.

It starts to become noticeable on my 40 inch TV, 1080p is a noticeable step up in quality.

I'm sure there is a distance to screen / no of pixels / screen size calculator somewhere.

Mr Pointy

11,685 posts

165 months

Wednesday 21st June 2023
quotequote all
The issue isn't just the 1366x768 panel resolution though; it's also the quality of the internal processing to convert incoming 1920x1080 signals to 1366x768. No £150 TV is going to have fantastic signal processing so I'd suggest it's better to avoid that step & get a Full HD TV. HD Ready was a marketing con to hide the lack of 1920x1080 panels.

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Original Poster:

41,593 posts

202 months

Wednesday 21st June 2023
quotequote all
mmm-five said:
Countdown said:
Im fine with not having full HD - my eyesight isn't the best smile

Are all "SMART TVs" equally SMART?
Nope...depends on the manufacturer, licences, processor, OS, etc.

No simple way of comparing them all...it's a case of researching one by one...or take the TV's smartness out of the equation and get a Firestick/NowTV Stick.
Countdown said:
I assume I should get Freeview?
Should be easier to check...should list if it has Freeview / Freeview Play / Freesat...but any digital TV will have Freeview at the least...otherwise it's a monitor, as it will have no way to receive a TV signal wink
Thanks all smile

megaphone

10,880 posts

257 months

Thursday 22nd June 2023
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Have you got an aerial? You'll need one for Freeview.

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Original Poster:

41,593 posts

202 months

Thursday 22nd June 2023
quotequote all
megaphone said:
Have you got an aerial? You'll need one for Freeview.
Will it not come through the WiFi? eek

OutInTheShed

8,818 posts

32 months

Thursday 22nd June 2023
quotequote all
Who's going to watch it?
What will they want?

We have an old 'HD ready TV' which we rarely use, it's the old aspect ratio which dates it.

Would a dumb monitor and a Firestick be an option?

We don't use Freeview at all, we do use Freesat and a Humax recorder box, but more and more, people, even dinosaurs like us, are moving to viewing stuff on the interweb.

With all the accounts and signing in and stuff, guests may just find it easier to use their own tablet or laptop on your Wifi.


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Original Poster:

41,593 posts

202 months

Thursday 22nd June 2023
quotequote all
Me and Mrs Countdown

Usually Netflix, Amazon Prime , Disney + and Family Guy

Hoping that we can get rid of the Virgin media box if we can get the above on freeview

OutInTheShed

8,818 posts

32 months

Thursday 22nd June 2023
quotequote all
Those are internet services.
Freeview is broadcast TV from those big aerial thingummies on the hills.
HTHBIDI.

Countdown

Original Poster:

41,593 posts

202 months

Thursday 22nd June 2023
quotequote all
OutInTheShed said:
Those are internet services.
Freeview is broadcast TV from those big aerial thingummies on the hills.
HTHBIDI.
Google says i can download a "Freeview Play" app and then access the channels through the internet so fingers crossed.

Tbh worst case scenario I'll just hang on to the VM box.

HustleRussell

25,143 posts

166 months

Thursday 22nd June 2023
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Recommendations for 24" TV? a 32" TV IMO

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Original Poster:

41,593 posts

202 months

Monday 28th August 2023
quotequote all
Ok, it's my own fault, I admit....

My Smart TV isn't as smart as I was expecting so I can't download the Disney+ App. Ergo I think my only option is to fork out for a streaming stick.

What's my best (ie cheapest) option? Am i right in thinking Amazon Firestick for £25?

Luke.

11,132 posts

256 months

Monday 28th August 2023
quotequote all
Countdown said:
Ok, it's my own fault, I admit....

My Smart TV isn't as smart as I was expecting so I can't download the Disney+ App. Ergo I think my only option is to fork out for a streaming stick.

What's my best (ie cheapest) option? Am i right in thinking Amazon Firestick for £25?
Yep. Though I think they're on offer at the mo.