Verdict
The Toshiba 43UF3D pock the first time that the electronics brand has shipped a screen with the widespread Fire television platform , with an Alexa Voice Remote that offers a penetrating improvement over Toshiba ’s retiring attempts at vocalism mastery peripheral . And if you’re able to get past the clunky TV stand and basic audio , you may notice this a smart buy .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Toshiba 43UF3D offer a tempting marriage of ironware and software , with a low - cost Toshiba display that run Amazon ’s far-flung Fire television receiver platform .
This is the first time Toshiba has shipped concealment with the Fire TV OS in the UK , offering an acclivity from the Toshiba Smart Portal .
The UF3D launch at £ 349 for a 43 - column inch sizing , though it ’s as trashy as £ 279 at Amazon – and the stay 50 - in , 55 - inch and 65 - in sizing retailing for £ 329 , £ 369 and £ 449 respectively at the time of review .
For anyone who ’s used a Fire boob tube or Fire television set streaming stick before , you ’ll be veracious at domicile – though even this budget television has a few smart feature up its arm you might not gestate at this price compass .
I ’ve see some contradictory specifications for this television set out there at unlike retail merchant , but be assure that we ’ve take the correct item , lineal from Toshiba , all in this review .
Design
The Toshiba 43UF3D sports a comparatively simple design , with a chummy calamitous bezel and credit card casing that will be familiar to anyone who ’s gone shopping for a sub-£500 boob tube before .
The TV stand is what make this look like a Toshiba idiot box . The size and free weight of this 43 - inch screen really does n’t require a central stand , yet Toshiba has prefer for a rectangular greyness stand to keep things stable . It takes up a little more antagonistic space than a regular couple of foot , then – 24.9 cm thick , rather than the screen ’s miserly 8.1 centimeter depth – and nor does it raise the screen high above the ground for those looking to attach a soundbar to this concealment .
The rear of the TV is place up for bulwark - ride with a 100 x 100 mm VESA wall mount , though , if you ’d rather hedge the rejoinder and hang it up nigher to your eye layer .
Toshiba ’s trademark LED indicator is also on full show here – with a bright ring that ’s a little more spectacular , if not obtrusive , than you ’d expect . It can be a snatch of an eyesore , whether the TV is turned off ( blood-red ) or on ( greens ) .
Features
Ports admit a pair of USB input signal , and three HDMI input for connecting game solace orBlu - ray players . However , one of those HDMI inputs is the latestHDMI 2.1 criterion , supporting eARC ( raise Audio Return Channel ) for passing through lossless audio to acompatible soundbar , which is a nice fringe benefit at this price . There ’s no reinforcement for 4K/120Hz variable refresh rates though , in pillow slip you were wondering .
Other boast includeBluetooth connectivity , and a earphone socket for hooking up a twosome of wired earphone – something you may be more likely to do for a compact 43 - inch size .
The standout feature here is Amazon ’s Fire TV platform , though , this being the first time Toshiba has shipped a Fire TV display in the UK . It ’ll be familiar to anyone who ’s used aFire TV streaming stick , with a bare enough layout , greatAlexa integration , and a whole shipment of ads for Amazon Prime or affiliated message .
The Amazon Freevee service is boast quite conspicuously here , offering free advertizement - supported programming as well as a sample of the Amazon Prime Video subroutine library , for those who have n’t yet committed to a Prime subscription .
The Alexa Voice Remote is also a joyousness , feature a phonation control release that you hold down for cite the Alexa assistant . While you do n’t get ‘ hands - free ’ vocalism controller , per se , it ’s an intuitive and privacy - secure way to make use of representative bid – and a good answer than Toshiba Connect , a wad - in Alexa mic the fellowship previously trialled in a few TV models .
The remote also packs in a full numerical keypad , playback / volume restraint , and shortcuts for the likes ofNetflix , Amazon Prime , andFreeview Play .
Picture Quality
The Toshiba 43UF3D does n’t have too much to work with , given its price – this is a pretty canonical LED instrument panel , with a 50Hz frame pace , that does what it can with the part reach to it .
The direct backlight surely helps matters , allowing for a passably reproducible brightness output compared to what a cheaper edge - lit system would be able of . I found that peak smartness is more often than not set around 380 nit for most picture modes but can jump up to 460 nits on Vivid – you ’ll be give a little tonal truth , but the option is there if what you really want is a bright screen .
Toshiba ’s TRU Micro Dimming allow for a little luminance variation across the screen , and the tests I carried out demo that the UF3D has pretty good colour accuracy across the board – though no doubt a more advanced local dim feature would have assist intensify opprobrious feel , which often show up as Charles Grey .
But to the eye , the want of contrast stops any colours popping on their own – and tones can seem to blend a little together . When watch over the latest time of year of Stranger Things , the pale skin of a minor player and the clinical infirmary wall almost seem to merge into the same under the weather colour .
I have few big complaints about the picture , other than that the processor used here generally favors foreground object , and this means unrecorded - activity scenes often look like they ’re against a green screen , with actors reckon a little detached from their surroundings .
One notable feature is Dolby Vision – a dynamic HDR format affirm by Netflix and often found on4 K Blu - rays , which uses extra metadata to pull off your TV ’s brightness and colour output . You wo n’t be get a gamy - end HDR experience with the 43UF3D ’s panel and lighting raiment , butDolby Visionsupport will ameliorate the flavor mapping of compatible content to get a little closer to the film maker ’s spirit .
Sound Quality
Toshiba persist in its long - running collaboration with Onkyo , which supplies the build - in sound system here , with a duad of 8W stereophonic system speakers that offer the lower limit of what ’s carry for a TV of this cost . The sound is perfectly fine , if a small mat , and by nature miss in the variety of audio detail or immersion anticipate in more exchange premium screens .
Thankfully , there is a get - out clause : Dolby Atmos . The UF3D is technically compatible with the premium three - dimensional audio standard , meaning that if you link up a Dolby Atmos - capable speaker , you ’ll be able to hear its full force – just do n’t expect an Atmos experience from the built - in drivers here .
Despite a maximal 16W output , the screen can reach a decent volume . Just be warned that the deficiency of separation in a two - channel system like this is even more apparent at higher volumes , and audio aim can get a little muddied as a result . A number of impudent audio context can help , boosting either bass response or highlighting dialogue , though their relevancy will depend on the kind of content you ’re playing through your telly .
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Should you buy it?
If you have existing audio outfit that can make use of the UF3D ’s Atmos compatibility , and do n’t want to compensate a pretty penny for the filmdom , this could be a good buy for you .
This Toshiba screen does n’t have quite the color gamut or lighting control to push HDR images to their effective , though the presence of Dolby Vision helps matter slightly .
Final Thoughts
The Toshiba 43UF3D is a decently tinny sassy telly with a broadly consistent and acceptable ikon for the price – nonsuch for casual consumption in a bedroom or study . HDMI eARC and Dolby Atmos support makes it a impertinent choice for someone who already has some open audio equipment , too , and the Alexa Voice Remote is a far better appurtenance that the Toshiba Connect peripherals of previous .
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How we test
We test every television we review thoroughly over an extended period of time of time . We utilise industriousness received trial to compare feature film properly . We ’ll always tell you what we get hold . We never , ever , swallow money to retrospect a ware .
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FAQs
The Toshiba UF3D does not claim to indorse VRR , and thus would n’t be capable of refresh rate higher than 60Hz in any case .
