Toshiba 55UK4D63DB

Verdict

A good performer for the asking value with a better-looking design and respectable image high quality, however the smarts and have set is falling behind Toshiba’s rivals and the audio system is a misfire. It looks like Toshiba’s non-Fireplace/Android TV fashions are standing nonetheless, whereas others are shifting forwards.

Introduction

As the large manufacturers look like shying away from the finances reaches of the TV market, it’s left the likes of Toshiba with its UK4D mannequin in prime place to brush up.

The reasonably priced aspect of the market is one Toshiba has courted because it returned a number of years again, producing a gentle move of finances TVs that put in a great image efficiency and built-in smarts within the type of Alexa.

However with Fireplace TV launching in increasingly fashions and Roku flooding the market with new TVs, Toshiba received’t have a straightforward time securing your hard-earned money.

Design

• Reflective display
• Fast to assemble
• Higher aesthetics than earlier Toshiba TVs

I’ve moaned in regards to the design of Toshiba’s earlier TVs. The previous couple of generations have felt as in the event that they re-used the chassis from earlier than or simply exuded plastic.

Perform over kind is much less of a difficulty on the cheaper finish of the market, however not less than the UK4D tries in aesthetic phrases.

It’s nonetheless black and predominantly plastic, nevertheless it feels and appears of a better high quality than earlier than. Assembling the TV took me lower than three minutes as all it is advisable to do is screw within the ft supplied to actually “get it on its ft”. The ft are on both aspect of the TV, so you probably have small furnishings, you’ll have to take that under consideration.

The ft don’t elevate the TV as excessive as I anticipated, because the low-slung nature of the TV’s chassis doesn’t present room so as to add a soundbar with out blocking a few of the display.

Lastly, the display is one I discovered very reflective in a brilliant room. There isn’t any absorption of ambient gentle so every part is mirrored onto the display, which turns into very noticeable when watching content material that’s darkish. Viewing angles are additionally finest head on, as shifting to the aspect can result in a discount of colors and distinction.

Interface

• Linux interface
• Lacking Disney and Apple apps
• Simple to make use of

For Toshiba’s home-grown TVs they’re utilizing homebrew software program in Linux OS. A few of their different TVs have moved to Android or Fireplace TV, and it does really feel as if Toshiba’s personal fashions have been left behind by way of apps and options.

The Toshiba/Linux mixture remains to be a comparatively simple and neat one to make use of. It’s not full display, as calling it brings up a row on the backside of the display to scroll via Settings, Sources, Apps, and different choices. There’s nonetheless that bug (or not less than I used to be informed it was one) whereby urgent the Residence button in an app opens the Settings web page and never the app bar.

The distant stays the identical giant wand Toshiba has used with its TVs for a number of years, and I do want they’d stage it up because it appears just a little low cost and dated.

I’ve bought no issues with the way it feels to make use of, the buttons are well-spaced out and there’s respectable suggestions with presses. There are shortcuts stationed on the backside that embody Freeview Play, Prime Video, Netflix, and Twitch, in the event you’re into your gaming streams.

The app choice is nowhere close to as massive as what you’d discover on Toshiba’s Fireplace TV or Android fashions, lacking massive hitters in Disney+ and Apple TV+. In the event you subscribe to these apps, you’d want a streaming stick, however I wouldn’t advise a Fireplace TV Stick as that might simply double up on the Alexa assist.

Options

• Constructed-in Alexa integration
• Three HDMI 2.0 inputs
• Quick gaming efficiency

Alexa comes inbuilt, so that you received’t even want the distant for entry. Just like the UK31 mannequin I examined in 2022, you need to log in in any other case you’ll be bugged by a notification each time the TV is turned on. In the event you’re an Alexa consumer it is sensible, however in the event you’re not, a rival one which doesn’t have it could maintain extra attraction…

In apply, the combination of Alexa is great. She understood my queries and acted upon them rapidly, whether or not it was asking in regards to the climate or switching inputs. The one drawback I did have was that Alexa wasn’t capable of name up any of the Freeview Play apps or Freeview Discover, which appeared an odd restriction.

Connections are restricted to a few HDMI 2.0 inputs, two USB, Ethernet, digital audio output, headphone out and an aerial enter for stay TV. There’s Wi-Fi in addition to Bluetooth for streaming, and you’ll mirror a cellular display to the TV.

There isn’t a eARC to move via high-quality audio codecs resembling Dolby Atmos to a soundbar, however there’s auto low latency mode (ALLM) to place the TV into its most receptive state for gaming.

I measured latency at 10.7ms, which is speedy and definitely an enormous enchancment on the Sharp EQ3A’s 50ms. Nonetheless, whereas latency is quick, the color temperature of the sport mode skews to blue, and picture high quality is just a little blurry when dealing with movement in Gran Turismo 7. A change to the ‘low’ movement setting ends in fewer points nevertheless it nonetheless appears odd.

Image High quality

• Restricted brightness with HDR
• Good SDR colors
• Blended upscaling efficiency

The Toshiba UK4D received’t shatter any notions of efficiency within the finances TV market. I measured its HDR efficiency at 329 nits on 5 and 10% home windows in its Pure (i.e., normal) image mode, which was its highest peak brightness. Curiously, not even its Dynamic mode went brighter.

That stage of brightness isn’t sufficient to make a distinction and it reveals. Take Demise on the Nile in HDR10 on 4K Blu-ray, a wealthy and opulent trying movie on the fitting display, however on the UK4D colors simply lack that little bit of vim and vigour, such because the crimson gown Emma Mackey’s character wears close to the movie’s begin. The shortage of Broad Color Gamut (WCG) would clarify this because it impacts the vary of colors the Toshiba can painting.

Black ranges are portrayed solidly sufficient, however distinction is missing with out the brightness to help, giving the scene a flat look. Shadow element is missing too, the element on Poirot’s jacket makes it look all black when the jacket is definitely two-toned. The Dolby Imaginative and prescient model on Disney+ makes a greater fist of the steadiness between shade and lightweight, deepening the distinction and giving the highlights extra luminosity.

Soar to the Egypt-based a part of the movie and regardless of the orange tones and sun-dappled scenes, this a part of the movie doesn’t look all that brilliant; the orange tones lack the vibrancy to make the picture stand out. However by way of total readability and element, it’s strong.

The identical is true of Glass Onion on Netflix. The element and textures of Mile’s statues in his Greek hideaway are satisfactorily conveyed, and although the UK4D isn’t the sharpest trying picture, the tailoring on present is all effectively revealed, bringing out the finer element of Benoit Blanc’s fits to a tee.

With scenes which might be darker or set at night time time the Toshiba’s image can look just a little washed out, as blacks lose a facet of depth and power.

The 55UK4D63DB is a strong performer with the complexions of the Glass Onion forged, who look pure sufficient, although there was just a little discolouration – a inexperienced tinge of their faces I additionally observed with the UK31. It’s not as unhealthy because it was there, however nonetheless seen in moments.

With SDR colors the Toshiba is on extra strong floor. With a Blu-ray of The Power Awakens, the orange tones of the lettering within the opening crawl stand out higher in opposition to the blackness, as do the celebrities in house because the stormtroopers descend to the planet. The orange sands of Jedda and the blue hues of smoke and lights give that scene colors which have depth and solidity.

The set’s movement processing, often known as Tru Move, can look unreal at its medium setting however not too synthetic. There’s no noticeable noise or pixelation with the swift digital camera pans because the stormtroopers land, although I did spy some ghosting as Poe Dameron runs again to his ship.

Like many reasonably priced TVs, the Toshiba 55UK4D63DB can battle when upscaling lower-resolution content material. DVDs of Unbreakable and Mulholland Drive exhibit softness, noise and a scarcity of readability and element. With the previous DVD, the Toshiba notably struggled, as some scenes descended right into a smudgy mess, with edges that had been delicate and blurriness with motion even when the Tru Move processing was turned off.

Mulholland Drive fared just a little higher, partly as a result of the movie’s pictures takes on a delicate, dreamy look; nevertheless it was nonetheless missing in definition and a deficit of element in some scenes. Taking part in round with Noise Discount settings didn’t result in any advantages both. However even in gentle of the assorted issues I’ve highlighted, the color efficiency is pure, particularly in Cinema mode.

Sound High quality

• Flat, missing dynamics
• Good vocal readability

The Toshiba 55UK4D63DB’s audio system isn’t going to tug up any timber. The 20W down-firing system is made by Onkyo who’ve executed a great job in different finances TVs, however it is a feeble, flat efficiency.

There’s assist for Dolby Atmos however you wouldn’t actually comprehend it. Watching Netflix’s Wednesday in Atmos and the efficiency is hemmed in and lacks readability when coping with the boat race sequence. It sounded muddled at finest.

Glass Onion and Demise on the Nile sound higher, clearer, and extra detailed however dynamism was missing. Bass is punchy however I’m not speaking enormous quantities. Dialogue was clear and prioritised, however the soundstage is flatly conceived with no depth.

When the motion kicks off in The Power Awakens on Jedda as Rey and Finn are chased by stormtroopers all of it sounds… unexciting. John Williams’ wonderful rating is introduced with a level of dynamism however even that feels half-hearted. There’s no doubting a soundbar is required to liven issues up, however you’ll have a little bit of bother becoming it beneath the display.

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