Birthday gift for my mother-in-law - she has mentioned getting a TV for her sitting/sun room during the christmas sales so we're going to surprise her for her birthday mid-Nov.
I did some research online earlier - let me know your feedback/reviews on the TVs below or if there are any other worthy models to consider & any available deals.
Budget is <$500 (increased cashback @ TGG atm hence the inclusion of the Samsung)
TCL 32" HD Smart LED TV 32S6800S $295
Unfortunately, yes as it needs to fit the bookcase which is only 84cm wide :(
with a budget of near 500 buy a 43" 4k TV and a new cabinet pretty much get both for that price if you shop around
The bookcase is vintage with sentimental value as it's been in my husband's family for at least a couple of generations. Plus it holds a whole bunch of photos and other stuff on the upper & lower shelves.
Samsung is the only one that's FHD… bit sad!
Yes, I noticed that - size certainly does matter here 😉
So hard to get a FHD 32" TV now. The cheap and cheerful AWA 32" FHD 100Hz TV I bought from Big W 4-5 years ago is still going okay, but they have nothing like it now.
The Samsung seems to be the pick on the market now. Have a listen to the sound before you buy because chances are it'll be pretty awful and you'll have to budget in a sound bar or external speakers as well.
On the upside it's a smart TV and the gift of a (shared) Netflix subscription is the gift that keeps on giving
Thanks uzz30 We're shopping in-store tonight after work to make a decision & will check out the sound as you recommended.
ps. I didn't even consider Big W … even Target sells TVs!
Try big W. They have had good deals recently. Seems to change every day, so worth a check. Got a $400 jvc 40 inch with DVD player for $250 a month ago.
Thanks roastchook
Perhaps not good manners for a present, but because the larger sizes are so cheap now, second hand 32" sets that are way better than all but that Samsung one can be had for $40-$200.
lol - I got a raised eyebrow from my husband when I relayed your comment!
We would probably consider 2nd hand/refurb if it was a spare TV for our home but not as a gift for my mother-in-law (wouldn't want to incur her silent wrath 😉)
How old is your in law? Are you sure they want a smart tv?
I’m only early 30s and I hate smart TVs, ux is slow and clunky, so many buttons on remote, etc.
I’d personally just go for a dumb tv like this
Turning 65.
Yes, you're right cloudy - dumb is good in this instance! Just prefer experiencing the TV (we don't know anyone with a Kogan TV) so that we know what we're getting and because my husband knows what his mother would like.
Thanks phunkydude
I have a three year old 32" TCL which has a generic UI unlike the oreo one you listed. No issues so far but the picture quantity isn't that great.
Thanks heaps for your review, DEBROS. My husband included the TCL as he was impressed with the 3 yr warranty vs 1 yr for the other brands.
Worth keeping in mind that Australian Consumer Law protects you long past that initial 1 year warranty in most cases.
Of course, explicitly having a 3-year warranty is nice for the peace of mind of knowing you won't have to fight anyone to get repairs.
Yes, I've read some of the rather robust ACL discussions here.
I'm not a fighter tho - who has the time? Altho, my in-laws have retired so may be up for battle but hoping it doesn't come to that!
If it's just for casual viewing, none of these. I also wouldn't buy anything 720p despite the size.
Soniq 40" Full HD $199 free delivery
https://soniq.com/au/shop/E40FV17A-NZ-detail
$10 cheaper if you sign up for their mailing list.
$10 cheaper again if you buy a refurb.
Thanks zeggie I thought Soniq was available in-store ??
Pretty sure JB Hifi were the exclusive retailer and one of them cancelled/ended the deal. They sell direct, via official eBay and Kogan now.
They're very crap to average TV's. But cheap. I like cheap.
I'd settle for an average TV … my in-laws still have a CRT TV in their main lounge that is 30 yrs old!
@[Deactivated]: If they are moving from a CRT to something in 2019, I would suggest a cheap tv, don’t read reviews of people who live off watching every tv for every detail, that is not your in laws. They wouldn’t appreciate the difference between 720 and 1080 p (for instance). Anything new should “wow” them.
@cloudy: You're so right! We ended up buying the Panasonic as it's a brand the in-laws know & rate plus the remote is the most user-friendly.
Spend was ~$300 with eBay TGG promo + cashback.
I noticed a Soniq TV when I was in Aus Post store today
Yay !! Great timing as we're heading out to the store after work tonight.
Need to use the eBay discount, but do C&C and pick it up tonight :)
My husband wants to see the TVs working live in-store in order to make an informed decision re: picture quality/sound and ease of use.
Hopefully, TGG will do quick turnaround if we buy online whilst in-store so that we can pick-up whilst we're there.
@[Deactivated]: No, please don't pass judgement on picture quality based on in-store setup!
It's a known fact that settings can be altered to make one look 'better'. Some have picture feeds going to 1 tv, some going to a bank of tvs.
All sorts of things to make the more expensive tv look 'better'.
@spackbace: They always make the brands they want to sell look better. Harvey Norman are the biggest culprits here - they usually get their best deals from Samsung. The Good Guys too - they love their "Linden" brand atm.
Are you set on the size? Most 42" TVs won't be significantly more expensive, and may sometimes even be cheaper…