Which smart TVs give you the best user experience, and how much does it actually matter?
in user experience and software updates compared to premium brands like Samsung, Sony, and LG, making it advisable to invest in a high-quality media player for better long-term performance. Picture: Patrick T. Fallon / AFP
Image: Patrick T. Fallon / AFP
Typically, the way you interact with a smart TV goes a long way in forming a first impression, and the fact of the matter is that many mid-to-premium brands don’t get this right.
For example, Skyworth TVs offer excellent picture quality at more affordable prices than many of their rivals like Samsung or LG. In fact, it may even be a bit of a stretch to say Skyworth is a direct competitor to those brands.
However, if you’re looking to save money, picture quality is the first thing you notice and will probably sway your purchase decision.
For this particular brand, though, Skyworth’s smart TV UX is better than almost all budget offerings but is way behind in usability compared to the top brands.
Skyworth Smart TVs: Budget-Friendly but Limited in Software Updates
Especially with the budget Skyworth models, there have been issues with older models of older versions of Android, which have limited updates. This equates to slower performance, glitches, and difficulty in using the system altogether at times.
It’s also been noted to seem less polished than what you would get from smart TV’s that have better integrated operating systems.
Samsung, Sony, and LG generally set a fairly high bar in terms of user experience that helps reinforce the ‘premium feel’ of their TVs.
However, as much as manufacturers improve their software, the main focus will always be on hardware and picture quality.
It’s for that reason, then, that it’s always probably a better idea to go for a decent media player (nothing less than R1,000 generally) like Xiaomi or even something much more expensive like an Apple TV.
Xiaomi and Apple TV media players receive much more frequent updates and have the hardware inside to handle new requirements for many years after purchase.
The OS of a smart TV almost always feels like an afterthought, and that’s why it’s probably best to spend the majority of your hard-earned cash on a TV with excellent picture quality and then pair that up with a more high-end media player.