Recommend me a 43 inch TV

[Ross365]

I’m looking round to buy my first smart TV, probably 43in and at the cheaper end of the spectrum. My last two TV’s were easily chosen LG’s, but is LG still a prime choice??? I’ve also been looking at Samsungs.

Looking at buyer reviews (mostly on the John Lewis site), some models seem to get complaints about their operating systems, taking 7 clicks to get a station, and comments about small size remote controls with stiff buttons. These are not problems that anybody ever commented on in the past.

Any advice about specific models, or about what to look for in general, much appreciated (pref £400 abs max). Please be nice to me; I've reached an age where this is all one big pain, which adds to my other sundry other various pains.

Thanks

 

[Melvyn Best]

Don’t bother with the LG , from personal experience

 

[addjunkie]

Have you got an aerial signal, as well as free sat. If you rely on free sat only, some brands wont tune without an aerial signal, so youll need LG. I know this because we have no aerial signal.

Both LG and Samsung are decent brands in my opinion. They are all too dam complicated now, Im starting to dislike technology as I get older, its almost witchcraft I tell you.

 

[Ross365]

I've got an aerial and internet router; what's a Freesat?

Re witchcraft; seems like quite a few people want the old simplicity with the new range of choice.

 

[Seadog]

Freesat are the non-subscription satellite services. My Samsung has an input for a satellite dish.

 

[Melvyn Best]

I've got an aerial and internet router; what's a Freesat?

Re witchcraft; seems like quite a few people want the old simplicity with the new range of choice.

What’s wrong with simplicity? Even just turning our LG tv on isn’t straightforward. OK ,it has a great picture but navigating your way through it is a pain . Our previous LG was way easier !

 

[Robotstar5]

Happy with our Samsung, decent size remote, only connected to a TV aeriel but still tunes 100+ channels.

 

[Ross365]

Wow; it's ~30 years since I had a satellite dish.

I like simplicity, which is why I'm fed up with my Roku stick.

John Lewis seem keen on Samsung.

 

[ajlelectronics]

LG or Samsung are the only companies who still make their own sets. The rest are all bulk issue, badged according to who ordered them. Many are Vestel from Turkey, a few others are made in similar "pile 'em high" factories in China and Eastern Europe. I made a policy decision more than a decade ago, only to sell LG or Samsung. I don't recall having a single one back.

The result is that you WILL get exactly what you pay for and after sales service is likely not to be an option.

 

[mark roberts]

Asda do polaroid TV's cheap every so often, like £300 for 50". Not sure if it was just the one I had but the picture was weird

 

[ajlelectronics]

Asda do polaroid TV's cheap every so often, like £300 for 50". Not sure if it was just the one I had but the picture was weird

That's a Vestel. QED.

 

[ajlelectronics]

As a further helpful comment, don't be mesmerised by "extended warranties". The vast majority just duplicate your CRA entitlements, so read the small print to see if it actually offers anything else. Some offer accidental damage insurance, but again your home insurance can do that, often at far lower cost.

 

[voipio]

TV content in ultra HD (or 4K), is available on services like iPlayer, which will be "built-in" as standard on pretty much all modern TVs, and is great, especially for things like nature programmes. To make the most of 4K content, it may be surprising how much bigger the TV has to be. Here's a guide:

https://www.verywellhealth.com/ideal-distance-for-tv-viewing-4153791

 

[ajlelectronics]

For those interested, it's easy to identify a Vestel by the rating label on the back. Vestel always use a paper label and four characters of the serial number will be surrounded by a rectangle. It may also say "Made in Turkey".

 

[ajlelectronics]

Wow; it's ~30 years since I had a satellite dish.

You can't get much more straightforward than Freesat, although an older Humax receiver is preferred to a Freesat badged device which is all that you can buy now. They have carved themselves a nice little monopoly.

 

[Red'n'Black]

For what it's worth my LG (the last of the non Smart ones) is still working fine after 12 years. No idea if the build quality of their new offerings is the same.

I bought mine from Richer Sounds, you really need to have a play with one yourself to see if you're going to get on with it. Online reviews tend to gloss over things like slow laggy controls, software bugs and the like.

Don't know if it's even possible nowadays but I deliberately kept the display and the online streaming parts separate (I use an Amazon Fire stick). The first bit should last 30+ years, the second is likey to be obsolete and incompatible as soon as the streaming companies come up with their latest shiny new offering.

The Fire stick is bug-ridden shïte, I view devices like that as disposable nowadays, which is why I don't want them built into the TV.

 

[drjim]

I got my Son a 42 inch RCA off Amazon last year, Xbox in bedroom scenario. Felt a bit flimsy but you don't touch or move TV's much so who cares. Mounted on the wall, really good picture quality and speakers that aren't bad either. £169 but was a basic screen rather than smart.

They do them in many sizes and with built in smart functions too

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0CM8SKWBV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[ajlelectronics]

I got my Son a 42 inch RCA

Interesting, a manufacturer that I was previously unaware of.

Who makes RCA TVs?​

RCA has many electronic products manufactured by different companies.

For example, it uses Telefield to manufacture its projectors and Voxx to manufacture audio/visual equipment and electronics accessories.

However, RCA uses Curtis International Ltd to manufacture its television sets.

 

[drjim]

For the price I cannot fault it.

 

[Kram]

LG has great picture quality but the remote is irritating and the software is shockingly bad. It will often badger you to do updates when you turn it on or use any app. You also have to agree for your data to be sent. I do not like smart tv's..

For example, we have a bluetooth hearing aid that can connect to tv. The TV wants to connect to any paired device as soon as it sees it. You go into menu and disconnect it, then it will reconnect. Most BT devices are not as bad particually ones that are off when not in use, but this one is so irritating we have unpaired it - which is extra annoying for me as now the tv is at an extra loud level that my ears find uncomfortable.