Hidden Content

We?ve got the Sharp Aquos UD20 4K Ultra HD TV on the testing bench today, which boasts four times the resolution of your standard full HD telly in a humungous 60-inch shell, but with 4K still not truly here, is it worth investing in a Ultra High Definition telly? Let?s take a look at Sharp?s latest effort and if it?s worth splashing the cash.

The good

If you?re after a gorgeous looking telly, the 60-inch Sharp Aquos UD20 4K Ultra HD TV is certainly a looker, as it?s been beautifully designed with practically zero bezel. Other than one small tray at the bottom of the TV brandished with the Sharp logo, it?s virtually all screen, bringing your attention directly to what you?re watching. It has plenty of smart TV functionality too via Sharp?s AquosNet+ platform, which lets you access apps, stream movies and play games, all through the TV?s built-in Wi-Fi.

It also has four HDMI input connections for you to hook up your Blu-ray players and games consoles, plus an SD card slot for your holiday snaps and Miracast capability for mirroring what?s on your phone or tablet. There?s a smartphone app available for you to control the TV, and the Android version even lets you shout commands, although it?s rather gimmicky.

When it comes to watching 4K itself, if you?ve got the content, it looks as glorious and detailed as you might expect, and Sharp?s THX-certified Aquos panel helps to make what you?re watching look even more punchy with warm details and tip-top rendering. If you thought your full HD set was detailed, the quality packed into the UD20 is staggeringly sharp, and if you can cram the 60-inch set into your living room you?ll benefit from seeing all the detail up close. Sharp?s UD20 is also capable of upscaling your favourite Blu-ray titles, and they actually look even better than before, and you?ll likely spot details you wouldn?t have seen on your full HD TV.

The price itself isn?t bad either, as it starts at around ?2,000, making Sharp?s latest 4K telly an affordable way to get next-gen Ultra High Definition in your living room, especially compared to the ridiculous curved screens the size of your house from the likes of Samsung and LG.

The bad

Of course, the biggest problem that all 4K TVs suffer from is that there?s still barely anything to watch in Ultra High Definition. Netflix 4K costs more, but it?s not supported yet on Sharp TVs, and you?ll likely need a hefty internet connection to make the most of it - we still see some buffering at times when watching full HD flicks via streams. What you?re going to want to do until 4K becomes more readily available is plug in a high end gaming rig and crank up the resolution up with your favourite games, which look glorious on Sharp?s set.

It also packs in 3D powers, but it?s still largely pointless, and support for the medium has dwindled since its debut. Of course you don?t have to use it, and it?s always there if you want to break it out on occasion.

The biggest problem we found with Sharp?s 4K telly is that the smart TV interface is a mess, and it?s just not that smart. It?s lacking in the app department and doesn?t compare to Samsung?s smart TV offerings, and you?re better off plugging a games console or a dedicated streaming puck such as a Roku or Apple TV.

The bottom line

It?s still early days for 4K but the Sharp Aquos UD20 4K Ultra HD TV seems like the best investment in ultra high definition tech to date, combining slick looks with incredible picture quality. Just don?t expect to watch too much on it yet.


Hidden Content