Sharp UI7652 – budget LCD 4K 60-inch screen TV-Review

Sharp UI7652 is Sharp’s mid-level LCD TV that has a direct LED backlight and a VA panel, but there are no local dimming zones. It is a 4K resolution panel and Sharp also states that the UI7652 can handle static HDR10 metadata and wide color gamut (WCG) coverage with up to 79% BT2020.

The TV also features video processing for low-resolution content expansion, as well as a quick response panel and Dolby and DTS audio support, with a set-top box for DTS surround. The audio is operated by a Harman/Kardon sound system with speakers shooting down and a woofer on the back of the set.

The NET smart TV system is pretty simple in nature with only a handful of 4K apps available like YouTube and Netflix. BBC iPlayer is also available, but we had a real problem with uploading any player content over time testing the Sharp. There are much better systems available on competitive TVs from LG, Sony, Hisense, Samsung and Panasonic.
The UI7652 has been tested in isolation and also compared to the Panasonic GX800 LCD, which is a 58-inch LCD display with edge lighting that costs about the same price. Both assemblies have been calibrated to industry standards.

The first thing we noticed were the poor viewing angles on the Sharp that affect the contrast and colors of the image as soon as it starts to come off the axis, especially from 20 degrees. This means that any place in your living room that is not directly in front of the screen will not get the best picture possible. We also observed that black levels were also quite poor and more than a dark gray, with no shadow details visible in the almost black areas of the image. Instead, those areas were just lumps of dark gray that can be seen directly compared to the Panasonic. Sharp also has a tint that is too warm for the images, with a clearly yellow tint even after calibration in the correct white spot. This makes skin tones sometimes look too yellow and unnatural.

The magnification of the SD and HD images is decent, but there are signs of edge improvement that can’t be disabled and it also seemed that some noise reduction or filter was applied behind the scenes as well. This gave the images a slightly elaborate look and while with normal TV shows it wasn’t really a problem, it became more noticeable with the content of movies and movies. The movement was also decent with 50 Hz content and, at 24 fps, there were a small amount of induced joint and frame drops from time to time, which were remarkable if you’re looking for them. The uniformity of the panel was also rather poor for a direct LED backlit VA panel, with irregular spots all over the panel visible as Dirty Screen Effect (DSE) when displaying content, such as calcium, with large areas of a color during camera trays. There is no local attenuation on the Sharp so this is there at all times.

HDR performance is also a bit disappointing on the Sharp without a real dynamic range for images. Poor blacks are once again a problem with black bars that never reach a decent level of black and some thriving can also be seen from time to time. Also, if it is a black or dark scene, the black bars are the same level as the black ones within the image and the entire screen can sometimes become a gray mass with no visible image details, which are clearly seen on the Panasonic next to it. This lack of dynamics and contrast makes HDR content flat and challenging. Colors are also a struggle and the yellow tint seen after calibration with SDR images is also present here in HDR content. We also found that the images again had a false sharpness for them sometimes and there was no way to mark that in the settings, indicating the back door is added.
Sharp UI7652 is an inexpensive LCD TV designed to fit at a certain price. This is a 4K HDR TV with some Smart TV features from Sharp’s NET system. The construction quality is suitable with hard plastics used throughout and a larger bezel than contemporary televisions at this price. The gunmetal grey finish also looks budget in its appearance with feet standing at each end, meaning you’ll need a large mounting surface if you mount the table.

The remote control is a plastic problem that has all the buttons you would expect and, again, it fits the budget price in terms of materials and finish. We get three HDMI connections on the back that are HDMI 2.0 in nature with a compatible ARC.

Menus and calibration controls are also minimal, but again we doubt that those who buy this TV will calibrate it. The image quality in the best movie setting is pretty accurate when viewed directly in front of the TV, but other attributes affect that performance. The VA panel used has a different yellow tint, even when calibrated, which is noticeable when displayed in any of the image modes. The viewing angles are also very poor, with contrast and color variations as soon as you exit the axis. We also found that black levels and overall contrast performance, even seen directly, are poor compared to the Hisense and Panasonic competitors. The detail of the shadows on black is non-existent, and the processing of the background image adds noise reduction and edge enhancement that cannot be defeated. This is not a TV for those looking for standard image accuracy and a decent dynamic range for HDR content. Photo: SHARP

The Sharp UI7652 is a cheap TV built at a price and is displayed in shape and finish, along with low lulud image quality. You will find a market with consumers looking for the latest features and for a lot of real estate screen at a cheap price. Sharp UI7652 price: £499.