Japan’s Sharp has announced a new range of decent-looking 4K QLED TVs for those who want premium picture quality without shelling out for a higher-end brand such as Samsung Electronics or Sony. 

Launching in early 2022 and running the new Android TV 11 platform with Google Assistant built-in, the Sharp EQ Series TVs will be available in 50-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch and 75-inch sizes. 

The TVs will be equipped with a 60Hz 4K QLED panel that should deliver more realistic, colourful and accurate pictures on-screen. They support Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG content and offer a display brightness that tops out at 400 nits. Google Stadia, which is Google's online gaming service, is supported too. 

In fact the Sharp EQ may not be an entirely useless option for gamers as it comes with capabilities such as Auto Low Latency Mode and Variable Refresh Rate built in. Of course, with the display only having a 60Hz frame rate, the EQ Series TVs will not be able to support 4K gaming at 120Hz. 

On the other hand, the Sharp EQ Series does have fairly punchy little sound system, with a pair of 12 watt two-way speakers designed by Harmon/Kardon. The speakers were apparently designed specifically for this TV, and come with a down-firing woofer for more powerful bass and a front-firing tweeter for better clarity in highs, Sharp said. 

The sound system will make audio capabilities such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X all the more enjoyable, enabling a more immersive, cinematic experience than most mid-range TVs can provide. The TV can of course, also be paired with a dedicated sound system to further elevate the audio experience. 

Sharp said the EQ Series TVs will go on sale in the first quarter of 2022 with prices starting at £649 for the 50-inch model. The three bigger models will cost £699, £949 and £1,299 respectively. 

Those prices aren’t too bad, but for those who want something even more budget friendly Sharp has an alternative in its forthcoming Frameless TVs, which have many of the same features, including Android TV, and a similar selection of sizes available, with just a couple of the most premium capabilities stripped out to reduce the price tag. 

Sharp’s 70-inch Frameless TV, for example, will launch in the fourth quarter with a price tag of just £899.