Which is the best (reasonably budget) TV?

Money_Grabber13579

I'm looking in the Black Friday slaes at the moment for a TV which I could use in my bedroom, primarily as something which I could connect to my laptop, to view catch up TV and DVDs etc on a larger screen but would also like it to have the capability of being a regular TV as well.

The two which I have identified are both 40in and the links to both are as follows:

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-and-home-entertainment/televisions/televisions/lg-40lf630v-smart-40-led-tv-10127500-pdt.html

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-and-home-entertainment/televisions/televisions/samsung-ue40j5200-smart-40-led-tv-10138424-pdt.html

Does anyone have any thoughts as to which would be the best buy? Alternatively, if there are better models for the similar price, does anyone have any thoughts on these? I'm only looking to spend around £300.

Thanks!

ballyblack

Both good as is Sony

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-KDL-40R453C-Full-Inch-Model/dp/B00TH5D0DS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1448656169&sr=8-1&keywords=sony+40+inch+tv

Moneymaker

You can't use "best" and "budget TV' in the same sentence.

All budget TVs are of poor quality and poor reliability. If you want a TV that might last a year and a day, go budget.

Money_Grabber13579

Moneymaker wrote: »

You can't use "best" and "budget TV' in the same sentence.

All budget TVs are of poor quality and poor reliability. If you want a TV that might last a year and a day, go budget.

Are these really that bad?! I guess there is only a 1 year warranty which probably says it all... So, neither would be your answer?

The Sony does look good as well, but Amazon don't deliver it to NI, which seems to be an increasing problem these days... I'll see if I can find it in any other retailers for the same or similar price.

windup

the samsung one doesn't appear to have a hd tuner, I'd expect a £300 40" tv to not be crippled with an sd tuner

richer sounds and john lewis do better warranties, and price matching, if you can get to one

A £300 tv should last far far longer than a year and a day.

Money_Grabber13579

How's this?

http://www.richersounds.com/product/tv---all/samsung/ue43j5500/sams-ue43j5500

I may ultimately get the 32in variant if this would be a decent model?

Also, I'm a bit clueless regarding TVs etc - could I plug my laptop in and play movies (legally of course) etc which I've downloaded to my laptop through the TV? If so, what cable would I need? Could I also download iPlayer programs etc directly to the TV?

windup

big difference between 43 and 32, bigger is a better viewing experience if it would suit the room

modern laptops usually connect with hdmi leads, don't spend too much on these, they are available from pound shops.

when they fix the iplayer app, the samsung smart tv should connect directly to the bbc site, without the need for a laptop

samsungs support mp4, so you could download from youtube for example, to a usb flash drive, plug it into the tv, and watch that, as well as mp3's and photos. you can also record to usb on that model.

and you can plug in dvd players that also have smart functionality, iplayer etc, instead of continually connecting a laptop. smart tv's can also receive video across the wireless network from certain network enabled appliances

Kendall80

Moneymaker wrote: »

You can't use "best" and "budget TV' in the same sentence.

All budget TVs are of poor quality and poor reliability. If you want a TV that might last a year and a day, go budget.

I disagree. My 50" Blaupunkt tv was obtained for the loss of just 250 of my hard-earned. That was 2 years ago. With freeview built in and 2 of my own 64Gb USB drives packed with films stuck in it all i've paid for tv since is the BBC licence fee. Contrast that with my work colleagues £1200 50" 3D supa-dupa 'smart' TV bought at the same time. Sure it still works but he rarely uses the 3D or 'smart' capabilities. So... he paid almost a £1000 more than me for what? He also pays £50 a month for Sky - because freeview being free must surely be rubbish? Flawed logic. Still I hope people keep throwing their money away like this. We need a good economy after all. Keep people in jobs, keep my investments growing etc.

Money_Grabber13579

Thanks all, I think I now know which route I'm going to take and now the only decision is whether to go 32in or 43in and that's all down to the available space. Better get measuring...

ballyblack

The Sony does look good as well, but Amazon don't deliver it to NI, which seems to be an increasing problem these days... I'll see if I can find it in any other retailers for the same or similar price.

The Sony Center in Ards Shopping Center (N. Ireland) try very hard to match Amazon price, plus you can bargain them to get a 5 yr warranty at a knock down price add on say £30(depending on screen size)




.

jcb208

How about http://www.johnlewis.com/samsung-ue40j5100-led-hd-1080p-tv-40-with-freeview-hd/p1951623 from John Lewis as you get 5 year guarantee as well for £279