Buying a new smart TV

[Big Boy]

Yes, that was from Lazada - a bit more if you purchase locally.

[pharvey]

To add for reference, TV is Samsung Crystal LED 65". About £700. Well worth it for me, maybe not for others.

Sounds like a good deal - especially for a Samsung, but have to agree with some of the comments above - would be a waste on me due to crappy eyesight, something you'll no doubt discover in future years . Also from what you are saying, movie file sizes are simply immense. Is there any benefit when streaming sports etc?

As to comments regarding the OS of the Samsung TV's, I have a simple Amazon Firestick which I use for a multitude of Apps - one of my TV's is an aging Samsung +/- 47" and +/- 8 years old, still with a perfect picture/definition. I also agree that the Hisense is a great product for the money - I have a 55" screen which I've had less than a year which from memory was well under £500, so far so good! Whether or not it'll last as long or as well as the Samsung is yet to be seen of course.

[404cameljockey]

I wish I hadn't bought Samsung as they use a proprietary version of Android, which makes it hard/impossible to load some Android apps. I knew they didn't use vanilla Android at the time, but didn't understand that would be a problem. Some other brands also don't use plain Android.

Get an Android box and plug it into the TV. It will totally bypass wherever restrictions built into the TV.
Side note: most smart TVs have an expiration date of the installed software; I found this out with the Sony, the apps just disappeared one day and it took a bit of Googling around to find out. And I would suspect the software providers have similar arrangements with the other brands too.

Yep I've used an Android box for many years, it's a bit ancient now, plugged into the TV HDMI port. Also a Firestick the same, into another HDMI port. There are apps I wanted on the TV though.

[Lost]

To add for reference, TV is Samsung Crystal LED 65". About £700. Well worth it for me, maybe not for others.

Sounds like a good deal - especially for a Samsung, but have to agree with some of the comments above - would be a waste on me due to crappy eyesight, something you'll no doubt discover in future years . Also from what you are saying, movie file sizes are simply immense. Is there any benefit when streaming sports etc?

The streaming quality, I'm guessing, will be restricted to whatever the source is offering. Buffstreams.sx has been absolutely cack recently but others not so bad. Nowhere near the quality a legal stream would offer. Watching match of the day compared to the dodgy footy stream is a big, big difference. Other bonus of the telly is it supports Xbox gamepass. Don't need to mess about plugging or mirroring my laptop to telly anymore. Bluetooth controller, turn on telly, away we go.

I doubt the gaming aspect of the tv will appeal to many on here.

Was an upgrade from a 50" 4k Toshiba (£300) and absolutely delighted with it. Worth every penny for me.

[pharvey]

The streaming quality, I'm guessing, will be restricted to whatever the source is offering. Buffstreams.sx has been absolutely cack recently but others not so bad. Nowhere near the quality a legal stream would offer. Watching match of the day compared to the dodgy footy stream is a big, big difference. Other bonus of the telly is it supports Xbox gamepass. Don't need to mess about plugging or mirroring my laptop to telly anymore. Bluetooth controller, turn on telly, away we go.

I doubt the gaming aspect of the tv will appeal to many on here.

Was an upgrade from a 50" 4k Toshiba (£300) and absolutely delighted with it. Worth every penny for me.

When you're paying for viewing quality, "Freebie Links" negate the benefits really IMHO - what's the point of a cracking TV and then getting low quality streams?
The streams I get from legal sources let alone those from slightly borderline sources are very good, but not to the quality you are talking. Surely to take full advantage of that TV, you need to have access to costly services and or links for massive movie files?

I get what you are saying mate and as mentioned £700 seems a great deal - obviously you're happy with it and fair play to you. I struggle to read subtitles these days!!

The latter comment has probably opened me up for abuse..

[Big Boy]

I would also imagine if any kind of streaming at that quality were available, your average Internet package would struggle to keep up - especially if a 2nd person in your street also bought a monster TV.

[pharvey]

I would also imagine if any kind of streaming at that quality were available, your average Internet package would struggle to keep up - especially if a 2nd person in your street also bought a monster TV.

It's an interesting comment - watching a full Wend Football or Rugby match or Boxing in 1080, what would that need? Let alone the quality that "lost" is talking.

[dtaai-maai]

The latter comment has probably opened me up for abuse..

Oh come now, old chap, please don't worry [your pretty little head] yourself. We all know how vulnerable you are; I can't think of anyone on this forum who would be cruel enough to fling abuse your way...

[pharvey]

The latter comment has probably opened me up for abuse..

Oh come now, old chap, please don't worry [your pretty little head] yourself. We all know how vulnerable you are; I can't think of anyone on this forum who would be cruel enough to fling abuse your way...

Aren't your 'Queens playing soon...?

[Lost]

Surely to take full advantage of that TV, you need to have access to costly services and or links for massive movie files?

Unfortunately, yes. Fortunately I can 'borrow' a few premium subscription services from a wealthier-than-me family member which offer the full UHD with hdr10+ . The game pass I have to fork out for.

I would also imagine if any kind of streaming at that quality were available, your average Internet package would struggle to keep up - especially if a 2nd person in your street also bought a monster TV.

I'd assume most internet packages can handle the more data heavy streaming these days, depending on how many in your household are streaming at the same time. I might be wrong mind, my internet is nothing super speedy.

[Lost]

The latter comment has probably opened me up for abuse..

Oh come now, old chap, please don't worry [your pretty little head] yourself. We all know how vulnerable you are; I can't think of anyone on this forum who would be cruel enough to fling abuse your way...