ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Telly guarantees a free TV in return to your information and a few ads.
- The adverts weren’t almost as intrusive as I assumed they might be, and the audio and video high quality had been glorious.
- A built-in digital camera not solely provides helpful options but in addition provides some enjoyable, new methods to work together.
Once I first heard concerning the Telly program — which provides a very free 55-inch tv for those who’re prepared to view some adverts — I used to be decidedly uninterested. When an honest sufficient 55-inch good tv may be had for below $400, why hassle with one which’s going to drown me with adverts?
Additionally: I examined LG’s entry-level QNED80 TV and was not ready for it to be this good
The attract of a free TV and easy curiosity bought the higher of me although and I utilized for this system in June. I had largely forgotten about it till mid-December after I bought an e mail asking me to finish my order as a result of I would been accepted into the beta program.
And now, after greater than a month with Telly, I do not remorse signing up in any respect.
Earlier than we get into the technical half, I wish to level out that that is the heaviest TV I’ve encountered in a very long time. It was the one TV I’ve ever had delivered by two individuals. However, that is sensible given the addition of a second display screen. The underside display screen additionally means it is a good bit taller than all different TVs — virtually 40 inches — so you may want a decrease stand.
Once I first fired up my set, an advert for a credit score app performed on the principle display screen. The underside display screen confirmed the climate, NFL scores, a information article, a scrolling information ticker, and an commercial for an area hospital. The commercial took up a couple of fifth of the underside display screen.
My first thought was “That is it?”
Additionally: How “free” is Telly’s free TV?
The adverts weren’t almost as intrusive as I anticipated. The advert on the underside does sometimes stretch to replenish the entire second display screen, however it’s not usually. And Telly understands what you are watching — say, an NFL sport, and shows related adverts.
I used to be rapidly in a position to navigate to the place I wished to on the principle display screen, and the rotating advert on the underside display screen match properly beside the remainder of the knowledge… data I began to seek out helpful.
The underside display screen shows a number of widgets you can activate or off (I opted out of the inventory costs widget). On my setup, one widget displayed the native climate, one confirmed NFL scores, and one provided information headlines from the sources I selected. There’s additionally a scrolling information ticker on the underside after which a small advert to the appropriate.
Once I fired up my first content material, I discovered that the second display screen wasn’t distracting in any respect. In actual fact, I loved it. Seeing NFL scores with out checking my telephone was handy, and I noticed a number of information tales that induced me to hunt out extra data. Telly wasn’t inundating me with adverts like I assumed; as a substitute, it was offering helpful data tailor-made to my pursuits.
Additionally: Samsung’s S95D OLED is the most effective TV of CES 2024 and finest on the earth proper now
A small draw back is that Telly is not a sensible TV. It comes with some apps preinstalled like Zoom and Spotify, however you possibly can’t add any extra. Your whole streaming content material is accessed by an Android dongle that plugs into the HDMI port. It is nonetheless completely accessible; it simply requires an additional step and a second distant.
The TV has the same old inputs on the again — a pair of USBs, three HDMI 2.1 ports (certainly one of which is eARC for a sound bar), two audio out, and a cable/antenna in. There are additionally built-in LED lights on the again. The settings menu helps you to change them to certainly one of 9 colours, management the brightness, or disable them completely. I do have third-party LED backlights on my primary TV, and I appreciated the choice to manage Telly’s straight from the settings.
There’s a digital camera on Telly, which I attempted out with a Zoom name. The digital camera high quality the opposite particular person noticed wasn’t wonderful, however it was completely advantageous for that goal. There’s a promise of extra content material that makes use of the digital camera like health, gaming, and even watch events the place you see your mates on the second display screen as you all view the identical factor, however these aren’t accessible but. The digital camera is roofed by a bodily shutter when it isn’t in use.
Additionally: I noticed Samsung and LG’s new clear TVs at CES, and there is a clear winner
This TV additionally comes with a group of video games, together with some which are performed on the principle display screen and a few that may be performed on the decrease display screen whereas watching content material on the principle. The video games are managed by the TV distant and embody classics like Asteroids, Breakout, Centipede, Crossy Street, Deal or No Deal, Trivia Crack and extra. Telly guarantees that motion-controlled video games are on the way in which.
So how does this TV look and sound? Higher than I anticipated.
By way of precise specs, Telly has saved issues fairly secret relating to the show. It does have 4K functionality with 60Hz refresh charge and HDR and HDR10+ help, however no VRR help. Image settings embody your primary brightness and distinction sliders together with an “superior” menu that features a colour tuner plus a toggle for noise discount and movie mode.
I discovered the image high quality to be proper on par with most units I see, and whereas this set does not seem to have native dimming, the distinction was good. I watch TV in a vivid atmosphere with lots of pure gentle, however Telly dealt with it advantageous. The set brightness routinely adjusted to the room.
Additionally: Hisense unveils one of many brightest TVs you may ever see, and one of many thinnest
The audio on this set stunned me, as most value-oriented televisions have sound that is subpar. However not Telly. After all, the sound is not technically coming from the TV as there is a built-in Dolby soundbar that sits between the 2 screens. However the audio is loads loud, reaching a most stage I would by no means use, and the audio system offered a reasonably first rate bass rumble throughout motion scenes. Dialogue got here by crisp and clear, one thing I discover many TVs battle with.
A small disadvantage is that there are zero sound settings if you would like to fine-tune issues — not even sound profiles to select from. However I discovered the usual settings advantageous for all the pieces I attempted. Once I plugged in my PS5, I bought precisely what I anticipated — an honest show that dealt with each sport I attempted with no blurring or stuttering. There aren’t fancy gaming choices or settings like different TVs have, however I used to be completely content material gaming on this set.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
It is true {that a} portion of Telly’s options — a built-in digital camera, a voice assistant, and even the built-in backlights, aren’t distinctive. The second display screen is the novelty right here. Provided that Telly’s premise is actually “each tv is promoting your information, why should not the client get one thing in return?” I used to be anticipating that second display screen to be a barrage of blatant promoting. As an alternative, I bought a delicate nudge to verify my credit score rating and to purchase some footwear.
Additionally: The perfect TVs to purchase in 2024
Like all televisions, I am sure that Telly is taking information about what exhibits I watch and sending it to who is aware of the place. However, for those who’re prepared to take care of that truth (which you are for those who personal virtually any good TV), Telly is a fairly good probability to scoop up not simply an progressive TV, however a free one.
This set is not going to win any awards for its video high quality and it does not have fancy choices for avid gamers, however it’s completely advantageous for the overwhelming majority of customers — myself included.
