REVIEWED: GET SHARP WITH ROKU TV
The Swytch kit suits all makes and models, even foldable bikes
It doesn’t seem that long ago that having a flat screen TV was something to boast about – you’d find them listed as luxury items in hotel room ads, alongside tea – and coffee-making facilities and a Corby trouser-press.
These days, of course, all TVS are flat-screen and even that’s not enough to warrant a passing thought – they now have to be smart too.
Which brings us to our second review this week – we’ve been looking at Sharp’s new range of 4K TVS powered by the Roku OS.
So there’s two bits to it – how does the hardware stack up, and what is the device like to use?
The Sharp Roku 4K range has HDR10, Dolby Vision and HLG High Dynamic Range image technologies, as well as Dolby technology powering enhanced sound performance.
And that technology means sharp and clean visuals, with a special feature called Active Motion 400 rendering fast-moving action like sport much more clearly than TVS that don’t have it.
It’s an advantage you really can see if you’ve gone from one to the other.
The screen resolution is 3840 x 2160 on the 55in model I tested, so four times higher than standard HD, which makes for a spectacular viewing experience at the price.
Audio-wise, too, it is strong in the bass areas, with definition and clarity at the top end – loud enough for a large room also.
There is, of course, built-in wi-fi and that powers the superb Roku software that this TV runs on.
The very simple and easy to configure home screen means you can make it all your own with direct access to all the streaming services you could wish for – Netflix, Amazon Prime, Now, Apple TV+ and Disney+ are all here. You can also configure direct access through the Roku interface to games consoles and external set-top boxes if you need them.
Also built in, of course, is the free Roku channel, which is quietly building up an impressive roster of content, including the recent critically acclaimed Weird: The Al Yankovic Story starring Daniel Radcliffe.
Perhaps the best feature of these TVS, though, is the price – they’re great value, starting at £150 for a 24in full HD version, up to £450 for the 65in 4K UHD10 giant. The 55in set I tested comes in at £380.
The whole range is available widely at retailers like Currys and Amazon – you can find out more at Roku.com