PICTURE QUALITY This model's high-definition picture quality, though good, was below that of most other sets. It generally did an fine job reproducing HD image detail, but quality was diminished by very aggressive oversharpening and edge enhancement which ultimately marred image quality. Color accuracy was acceptable, but below that of most sets with the image color tending toward a teal, along with a cooler color temperature. Contrast--the difference between the darkest blacks and brightest whites--was good, so images had depth and dimension, typical of most models we test. The brightness level was good, making it a suitable choice for most rooms. Black levels were generally good, though not as dark as better performers on the darkest scenes. Turning on Sharp's "AquoDimming," a local dimming feature, seems to have no visible impact on black level so we left the feature off. (assumes the image is viewed directly from front and center; see viewing angle comments) Images had some enhancement that slightly diminished the realism of people and objects. In scenes with subtly shaded light-to-dark areas, such as a sky during sunset, the TV did an excellent job producing a smooth transition without distinct, coarse bands. There was slight display nonuniformity that created brighter cloudy areas most noticeable on very dark scenes (or in the black bars of a letterboxed movie). We routinely see this issue with LCDs and severity can vary from TV to TV. Check your model for this issue, and if present, see if you find it distracting. The deinterlacing and film mode operations were excellent on HD content; there was little or no trace of jaggies on the edges of objects for video and film-based 1080i video content, such as from cable.
VIEWING ANGLE This Sharp has a narrow viewing angle overall, below-average performance among LCD sets on this attribute. Only those seated directly in front of the screen will see the best picture quality. If your family is seated in chairs off to the sides of the TV, they will see increasing degradation of image quality the farther they sit from center.
When we moved off to the sides the horizontal viewing angle was fair; the picture showed a moderate loss of color so flesh tones looked washed out, along with a moderate color shift. Black levels visibly brightened, reducing contrast. When viewing the image from above or below eye level to the screen, the vertical viewing angle was very good. The picture showed minimal change in color, contrast, and black level.
ULTRA HD PERFORMANCE This Sharp UHD TV delivers excellent 4K picture detail, but only decent HD-to-UHD upconversion and streaming performance. All native 4K content we played on this model, including movies and test videos from our Sony FMPX10 player, was presented in full 4K detail with excellent fidelity when played back via the TV's HDMI input. This model also supports video streaming of 4K programs via both Netflix and YouTube (among other emerging sources), with generally finely detailed 4K images but we also noted that a motion smoothing feature was active which could not be turned off. Also referred to as a "soap-opera-effect," motion smoothing removes the natural judder (or jerky motion) that is normal for films shot at 24Hz. If you plan on streaming 4K and you're not crazy about this effect, this could be a deal breaker. No picture controls other than a picture mode selection are available while streaming. We chose the Movie mode. Using the TV's USB port, we were able to play back 4K videos stored on a flash drive which were encoded in the HEVC, MP4, and VP9 test file formats. Using the TV's USB port, we were able to play back 4K videos stored on a flash drive encoded in the HEVC, MP4, and VP9 formats. High resolution photos were displayed in 4K detail, taking full advantage of UHD's extra resolution. With regular HD content, the TV's HD-to-UHD up-conversion processing fell short, with only good performance revealing some visible jaggies along the edges of diagonals when playing HD content. All four of the TV's HDMI inputs comply with the latest HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 specifications that support play back for 4K video at 60Hz, and copy protection, a requirement for compatibility with emerging 4K movie play back devices such as a 4K Blu-ray player.
MOTION BLUR This Sharp TV has good motion performance, with some blurring on our motion tests. Though this model includes Motion Enhancement, a feature designed to reduce motion blur, we found it was only mildly effective.
SCREEN REFLECTIVITY Though not as mirror-like as on some LCDs, this screen surface is glossy and therefore susceptible to reflections from a nearby lamp or window. The screen is dark so it does a good job reducing glare from ambient light and maintains contrast even in a bright room.
SOUND QUALITY This TV has good sound quality; about average among the TVs we've tested. When watching a movie blockbuster, a concert, or TV show, it delivers decent performance but falls short of the better performers. With movies, dialog was generally clear sounding, though a bit muffled, while remaining well balanced with respect to background music and other sounds. Bass extension was decent, which added some fullness to the sound, and treble was nicely detailed, while the overall sound was a bit closed in. It has a good volume range, though sound quality degrades at the highest settings. Most will find this sound quality acceptable.
EASE OF USE Overall, we found the set easy to use. Setting up the TV for the first time was fairly straightforward, as was access to features and controls you'll probably adjust only once. Ease of access to features you typically use more often was very good. Also, the remote is very good, and the on-screen menu is moderately easy to navigate.
The black against black labeling of the connectors on the TV console is very difficult to read. The remote's major function buttons were sufficiently large and have high-contrast labeling, making them easier to see and navigate.
STAND ASSEMBLY Mounting the support stand to the TV is straightforward. The TV rests on a pair of feet which can be centrally mounted or placed at the far ends of the display, so you have some flexibility on the width of your table top.
INTERNET FEATURES This TV provides advanced Internet capability. Features include access to a library of applications via "Google Play." Movie streaming services include: Netflix, Hulu Plus, Vudu, YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, iHeart Radio, Pandora, TuneIn, Google Play Music, Sling TV, CBS All Access.
CONNECTIONS This TV includes four HDMI inputs, one shared connection between the component and composite inputs (which means you can only use one type or the other at a time), optical digital audio out, three USB ports, an Ethernet port, and Wi-Fi. Wireless connectivity includes: DLNA network file sharing. HDMI and analog cable connections made to the rear-facing panel will protrude beyond the panel's slim depth.
INCLUDED IN THE BOX The TV comes with: an electronic user manual accessible via the TV's menu (no printed manual is included), a quick start guide, a remote with batteries, and provided cables (1 USB IR Extender). ABOUT FIRMWARE VERSION: Our test results and picture settings are valid for the version of firmware indicated. If your TV's firmware differs from the one shown you either have an older or a newer version of firmware. Manufacturers may periodically upgrade the TV's firmware to enhance operation, fix bugs, or add features. Firmware upgrades may be downloadable directly to your TV via a wired or wireless network (if internet capable), USB port, or memory card, depending on your TV's capability. You can check your TV's firmware version, or upgrade to the latest firmware by pressing the menu button on your remote and navigating to the appropriate submenu, typically under settings. Consult the user manual or manufacturer's website if further guidance is needed.
