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(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
I recently had a chance to look at a bunch of pre-release TVs, includingtrying the first 42-inch OLED TVsand theSony A95K QD-OLED TV. But one of the TVs I saw that stuck with me most wasn’t pre-release at all. In fact, it’s been out for a full year – I just didn’t know about it until now, and I bet lots of other people didn’t either.
Maybe the single biggest stand-out feature is the Sony X1 image processor, which is what powers the likes of Sony X85J – and that comes inhugesizes, where impeccable processing is a must.
(Image credit: Sony)
(Image credit: Sony)
I happened to see it right at the same time as Sony’s 42-inch OLED TV, and there was an alarmingly small difference in the richness of the colours, consider that this is an edge-lit LED TV and is much less expensive.
And, again, this might not compare so well to the best big-screen TVs, but compared to other 32-inch models, it’s a noticeably step up.
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So why haven’t we heard about it?
The thing to know about the Sony FW-32BZ30J is that Sony officially calls it a pro monitor designed for business use – as signage, or in an office. That’s why it’s not pushed hard at most TV retailers. I saw it thanks to AWE Europe, which is a distributor for the custom installation market, which is far more likely to work with screen’s from Sony’s pro division – hence my chance meeting alongside all the more consumer-focused TVs coming this year.
But the actual specs are not all that pro focused. This isn’t a computer monitor pretending to be a TV – it’s a TV stuffed in a monitor’s suit, right down to having the same processing as many of thebest Sony TVs. The only think it’s lacking is a TV tuner, but this is 2022! Get a Roku stick or anApple TV4K or something!
The one thing it doesn’t seem to be especially geared up for is gaming, but neither are other 32-inch TVs, to be fair – at this size, it’s going to be competing with thebest gaming monitors, really. But those aren’t impressive as TVs, and based on the colours, motion handling and detail I saw from it… this is.
Naturally, all of this tech means it’s more expensive than other 32-inch TVs. Depending on where you order, you’ll need to pay £600-£800, or around $700. And as I mentioned, it’s not just sitting around in most stores – you’ll need to choose an online store, which may even end up putting in a special order.
But if you’re someone who loves great picture quality and but you’ve got a room that’s really tight on space, based on my admittedly brief time with it, the Sony FW-32BZ30J could be the hidden gem you’ve been waiting for.
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