Cheapest high-quality 70-inch TV we've evaluated – not equipped with OLED technology
The Sharp GK4245K, a 70-inch TV, has made a splash in the market, offering an impressive value proposition for budget-conscious consumers. With its large screen, smart TV capabilities, and HDR support, this TV is a standout choice for those seeking an affordable large-screen viewing experience.
Advantages
Features
The Sharp GK4245K boasts a 70-inch 4K LCD screen with a VA-type panel and LED backlighting. It supports multiple HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG, and comes equipped with smart TV capabilities powered by TiVo/Freely platforms. All these features are available for an exceptionally low price of around £489.
Picture Quality
The VA panel enhances contrast compared to IPS panels, and while it lacks local dimming, a global dimming system is in place to deliver a high dynamic contrast ratio. The TV shows good detail retention in darker scenes and colour tone definition in brighter scenes, making 4K content look reasonably sharp and vivid for its budget range.
Audio
The TV is equipped with Harman Kardon-designed speakers that deliver sound projecting beyond the TV’s physical boundary. It supports Dolby Atmos, enabling an immersive audio experience better than typical two-channel systems on budget TVs.
Design
Despite a budget price, the size and feature set make it an attractive option for large-screen viewing needs. The design details are not extensively covered, but it is marketed as a large, affordable model with practical smart features.
Disadvantages
Picture Quality
The TV lacks local dimming, which limits black level depth and may cause issues like clouding especially near screen edges, likely due to edge-lit backlighting. Dark scenes sometimes show colour clumping and reduced subtle tonal gradations, typical for budget LCDs without advanced backlight control.
Design
The build may feel plasticky or less premium compared to more expensive TVs, a typical compromise in this price segment.
Audio
While Harman Kardon's audio solution is above average for the price, it is still limited by being essentially a two-channel system, which cannot fully replicate the surround sound experience.
Feature Limitations
The global dimming system cannot match the contrast precision of local dimming technology found in higher-end TVs, which is a technical limitation affecting the overall HDR experience.
In summary, the Sharp GK4245K 70-inch TV delivers excellent value for money given its large size, smart features, HDR support, and audio quality, but it compromises on picture nuance in dark scenes, backlight uniformity, and premium build quality, which are typical for a budget-focused 4K large TV.
The TV has some drawbacks, such as middling audio, backlight clouding issues during dark scenes, and a design that requires a giant stand due to its one configuration feet. However, it offers features like Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and can play games at 1080p/120Hz. It also supports HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision formats, making it a versatile choice for various content.
If you're in the market for a 70-inch TV that won't break the bank, the Sharp GK4245K is the one to get. However, a super-cheap soundbar like the Sony HT-SF150 might be necessary to improve the audio quality.
[1] Best Buy Review [2] What Hi-Fi Review [3] TechRadar Review [4] Sharp Website
- The Sharp GK4245K, a 70-inch TV, is a standout choice for budget-conscious consumers, offering an impressive value proposition with its large screen, smart TV capabilities, and HDR support.
- The TV's Harman Kardon-designed speakers deliver sound that projects beyond the TV's physical boundary, providing an immersive audio experience better than typical two-channel systems on budget TVs.
- The Sharp GK4245K's design details are not extensively covered, but it is marketed as a large, affordable model with practical smart features.
- For those seeking a 70-inch TV without breaking the bank, the Sharp GK4245K is a versatile choice, supporting HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision formats and offering features like Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM).
- While the Sharp GK4245K delivers good value for money, it compromises on picture nuance in dark scenes, backlight uniformity, and premium build quality, typical for a budget-focused 4K large TV.
- To improve the audio quality of the Sharp GK4245K, a super-cheap soundbar like the Sony HT-SF150 might be necessary.
