Toshiba’s newest range of QLED TVs are packed with premium features and come at an affordable price point, aiming to satisfy the legions of consumers in the market looking for a ‘decent’ rather than outstanding TV.
The Toshiba QF5D TVs come with Amazon’s Fire TV operating system, bringing smart TV streaming capabilities without the need for a streaming stick or media player. Fire TV brings a familiar interface that’s easy to navigate and all of the best streaming services, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer and Disney+. Meanwhile, the QLED display should ensure clear, colourful and bright images with decent HDR quality, too.
The most notable aspect of these new TVs is not the features, though, but rather the price tag. Toshiba has listed them for sale on Amazon and Argos for just £349 for the smallest 43-inch model. The 50-inch model costs £379, while the 55-inch and 65-inch versions are priced at £429 and £529, respectively.
That is a very low price for what looks to be a very capable mid-range TV set, with the QLED panel offering 4K resolution and a 50Hz motion rate, plus Dolby Vision HDR support. It also comes with an integrated Onkyo Dolby Atmos sound system that pairs two 10-watt speakers with a subwoofer on the larger models.
Those who want to experience true Dolby Atmos should probably invest in a soundbar, though. While Onkyo is a decent brand, twin down-firing speakers alone simply don’t cut it in terms of delivering a truly immersive Atmos experience. Buyers should also beware that while HDR is supported, the TV is likely equipped with one of the least brightest QLED panels available.
Other specifications to note include the obligatory Wi-Fi, Ethernet and Bluetooth connectivity, and there are three HDMI 2.0 and two USB ports for connecting other devices. Because it’s an official Amazon Fire TV, the Toshiba QF5D also offers Amazon Alexa voice controls.
Toshiba is well known for making decent-quality budget TVs, but one of the weakest aspects of its earlier models was the poor quality UI. So Fire TV could well prove to be a pleasant upgrade.
