Toshiba UK31 Review: 4K Budget Beast

Is upper-budget a factor? If it’s, the Toshiba UK31 suits the transient completely. This 4K style sits forward of the massive-selling UL20, with fuss-free smarts and a efficiency that doesn’t let down the aspect.

The display screen is well built-in with Amazon Alexa, so you’ll be able to ask the set for information and climate updates, in addition to keep watch over elementary capability. It has Dolby Vision HDR beef up, to benefit from Netflix streams, and it has got a low latency Game mode too, which will have to please console house owners.

It additionally may not even cost a fortune if you need the most important 65in style, and the smallest 43in possibility begins at simply £349. I’ve examined probably the most center choices, the 50in measurement at £429.

So what precisely do you get to your money, and the way does it stack up in opposition to different well-liked 4K price range buys.

Design & Build

When it involves design, the UK31 is the very definition of generic. The display screen is framed through a gloss black plastic bezel that’s no longer in particular skinny and has an identical central pedestal stand.

Build high quality is plasticky, however that is to be anticipated given the associated fee tag. On the plus aspect, it is mild and might be wall-mounted with out an excessive amount of tension. This direct LED backlit panel is not in particular skinny, however considered sq. on that is hardly ever going to be a subject.

As we have now observed on earlier Toshiba TVs, the facility LED glows an unsubtle purple or inexperienced, and will end up distracting in a darkened room. Connections contain 3 HDMI ports (one among which helps ARC – audio go back channel), USB and a virtual optical audio output.

The set has two tuners, one satellite tv for pc the opposite terrestrial Freeview Play. There’s additionally a headphone jack and CI card slot if required.

The UK31 ships with a large buttoned wand carrying devoted keys for Prime Video, Netflix and Freeview Play.

Specs & Features

The Toshiba UK31 is definitely served with streaming services and products. Freeview Play promises a complete supplement of mainstream catch-up avid gamers (BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, My5, UKTV Play and sundries), plus an in depth selection of field units.

The Toshiba good platform additionally gives a excellent vary of streaming apps, together with Netflix, Prime Video, Britbox, YouTube, Twitch, BBC Sounds, Deezer and Chilli. Disney+ is notable through its absence even though so different units just like the TCL RP620K Roku TV or Hisense Roku TV (A7200UK) will scratch that itch if it is a essential field to tick.

These are out there by the use of a dual-stacked shelf that runs around the backside of the display screen; you’ll be able to additionally browse settings, resources, and TV channels from right here, too.

The TV works with Amazon Alexa however no longer Google Assistant. Using a integrated a long way box microphone constructed into the TV, you’ll be able to use Alexa to modify the TV on or off, trade channel or supply, and alter quantity. Standard Alexa queries are visualised on display screen and Alexa will also be activated even if the TV is in standby mode

While missing some high-end gaming options, the set in fact acquits itself smartly in the case of latency. I measured enter lag at a good 10.7ms (1080p/60fps) with Game mode engaged.

Picture & Sound Quality

Crisp and color wealthy, the Toshiba UK31 makes a excellent vivid room flatscreen and appears its perfect with brightly lit sunlight hours TV, information and animation. It advantages from a complete set of Toshiba TRU symbol processing applied sciences, in particular TRU Flow symbol smoothing, TRU Micro Dimming and TRU answer upscaling.

The set’s upscaling is relatively efficient: usual definition DVD photos seems reassuringly easy, with jaggies on diagonals smoothed out, whilst HD Blu-ray content material is pixel dense, mapped to 2160p.

Picture presets contain Natural, Cinema, Sports, Game and Dynamic, with the primary two being the most obvious go-tos. However, to benefit from the panel it’s value a snappy tweak.

Out of the field, you’ll in finding the image seems just a little flat. By default, the Energy Saving mode is about to Maximum, which ends up in photographs taking a look in particular boring. For optimal efficiency, toggle this surroundings to Medium.

Inevitably there are obstacles relating to black stage – the letterbox bars of Star Wars The Force Awakens don’t relatively make the Dark Side, and element inside Kylo Ren’s all-black hoodie are beaten, however the display screen can nonetheless muster sufficient distinction to present photographs intensity, and when considered in a room with some ambient mild, glance pleasingly punchy.

HDR image efficiency is ready proper for this calibre of set. I measured HDR height brightness, the usage of a regular 10 according to cent window, at 400 nits.

In addition to HDR10 and HLG, there’s beef up for Dolby Vision, showed through the set’s Netflix streaming app. With Netflix content material, your symbol preset selection opens to incorporate Dolby Vision Bright and Dark. The Bright possibility could be our desire right here.

It’s value noting that the UK31 is best-watched sq. on. Off-axis viewing loses color intensity and distinction.

Audio is completely good enough for on a regular basis use and is in a position to cross loud with out sounding shrill. The set has a 20W downward-firing stereo sound device however helps Dolby Atmos, which is excellent news if you wish to spouse it with an Atmos soundbar or suitable sound device.

Price & Availability

The Toshiba UK31 is to be had in more than a few display screen sizes, particularly 43-, 50-, 58-, and 65in (43UK3163DB, 50UK3163DB, 58UK3163DB, 65UK3163DB). The units are indexed at £349, £429, £499, and £548, respectively in the case of RRP.

The fashions don’t have any an identical within the North American or Australian markets, as a result of those Toshiba branded units are produced below a pan-European licensing settlement with European maker Vestel.

You can purchase them in the United Kingdom from the likes of Amazon, Currys, AO, Argos, Laptops Direct and Very.

For extra choices, take a look at our perfect price range TV chart.

Verdict

The Toshiba UK31 is an above-average price range TV that manages to mix a good stage of efficiency with smart streaming provider beef up in addition to Alexa good capability.

It’s vivid sufficient for on a regular basis front room tasks and is a forged possibility for players, due to an enviably low enter lag.

I used to be inspired through its in large part benign symbol upscaling (so when you have a big selection of DVDs and Blu-ray discs, you’ll no longer be too discouraged giving them a spin), and 4K Dolby Vision symbol high quality terrific for the money.

Be certain to opt-out of the Maximum Energy Saving mode even though, as this in point of fact hobbles image efficiency. You’re additionally perfect off looking at directly on and the loss of Disney+ would possibly put some other people off.

Overall, the UK31 is a great worth 4K HDR small screen television with extra upsides than its low worth suggests.

Specs

Toshiba UK31: Specs

• Display era: LED LCD
• Resolution: 4K, 3840 x 2160
• HDMI: x3
• HDR beef up: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
• Toshiba Smart Platform
• Freeview Play tuner
• Dimensions:1129(w) x 655(h) x 81(d)mm
• Weight: 12.5kg

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