Blaupunkt BLA-40/138Q-GB-11B4-FEGPF-UK: 40 Inch 1080p HD Ready Smart LED TV Blaupunkt - Review 🏆

The Blaupunkt BLA-40/138Q-GB-11B4-FEGPF-UK is a value-oriented 40-inch LED TV that provides decent picture quality and smart features at an affordable price point. Blaupunkt is a German brand that has been manufacturing electronics since the 1920s. They are known for their history in car audio products and have recently expanded into the TV market.

The BLA-40/138Q model has an understated design with thin bezels surrounding the display. It features a 40-inch LED-backlit LCD panel with a 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution, which is fairly standard for this size. While it lacks some of the bells and whistles of higher-end 4K models, the 1080p resolution still provides good clarity and detail. The TV comes equipped with Freeview Play, providing access to over 85 digital channels and on-demand players from BBC, ITV, All 4, My5 and more. It also has integrated WiFi for streaming entertainment from services like Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video and others.

Overall, the Blaupunkt BLA-40/138Q aims to deliver core performance and streaming features at an affordable price point. This review will take a closer look at the display quality, audio, smart TV capabilities, connectivity and ease of use offered by this budget-friendly 40-inch 1080p LED TV.

Design

The Blaupunkt BLA-40/138Q-GB-11B4-FEGPF-UK has a simple yet modern design with slim bezels and sturdy stand. The TV has the following design features:

• Physical dimensions - With stand: 909.7 x 242.7 x 568.8mm (W x D x H). Without stand: 909.7 x 78.2 x 531.5mm (W x D x H)

• Weight - With stand: 5.3 kg. Without stand: 5 kg

• Stand design - The stand has an X-shaped metal base with plastic feet. It feels very sturdy and supports the TV well.

• Bezel thickness - The bezels around the display are quite slim at just 8mm. This gives the TV a sleek, contemporary look.

Overall, the design is fairly basic but functional. The slim bezels help maximize the screen real estate, while the stand provides a stable base for table-top placement. The TV has a nice, slim profile that should fit well in most rooms.

If you're looking for a smaller option, consider the Blaupunkt BLA-32/138Q-GB-11B4-EGPF-UK: 32 Inch HD Ready Smart LED TV. This 32-inch model offers HD Ready resolution and smart features, making it a great choice for bedrooms or smaller living rooms. The smart functionality allows access to popular streaming services, providing a rich entertainment experience at an affordable price point. Its compact design doesn't sacrifice performance, offering crisp visuals and reliable operation.

Display

The Blaupunkt BLA-40/138Q-GB-11B4-FEGPF-UK is equipped with a 40-inch LED display featuring 1080p full HD resolution. The 1080p resolution delivers crisp and detailed visuals on the large 40-inch screen.

The IPS panel provides wide 178° horizontal and vertical viewing angles, allowing you to view the screen clearly from various positions in the room without color shifting or degradation.

In terms of brightness, the TV has a typical brightness of 250 nits. This is decent and suitable for most indoor viewing environments. However, those looking for a very bright display may find it lacking.

The contrast ratio measures 3000:1 which is good for an entry-level LED TV. Dark scenes appear darker and highlights seem brighter. HDR is not supported on this TV.

Color accuracy is also satisfactory for everyday viewing. The display covers about 72% of the NTSC color gamut so colors will appear vibrant but not overly saturated. Overall, the picture quality is decent for the price but it's not comparable to more expensive 4K HDR TVs.

If you are looking for a smaller screen, the Blaupunkt 24: HD Ready LED TV might pique your interest. This model features a 24-inch display with HD Ready resolution, providing clear and vivid images for a compact size. It's ideal for small rooms or as a secondary TV.

Audio

The Blaupunkt BLA-40/138Q-GB-11B4-FEGPF-UK TV has decent audio performance for its price range. The built-in speakers deliver a total power output of 20W with DTS TruSurround and Dolby Digital sound technology.

The sound quality is fairly good, with clear vocals and a reasonable amount of bass. It has preset sound modes like Standard, Music, Movie, Sports, and User that allow you to optimize the audio based on what you're watching.

For connectivity, the TV has an optical digital audio output, allowing you to connect an external speaker system. There's also a 3.5mm headphone jack on the back panel. Overall, the audio is sufficient for everyday TV watching, but connecting a soundbar or speakers can take it to the next level.

Smart TV Features

The Blaupunkt BLA-40/138Q-GB-11B4-FEGPF-UK comes with a range of smart TV features that make it easy to access entertainment and apps. It runs on the Android TV operating system, giving you access to the Google Play store with thousands of apps to choose from.

Some of the key streaming apps that come pre-installed include Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and Google Play Movies & TV. This gives you access to a huge library of movies, TV shows, music and more. You can easily login to your accounts or subscribe to new services right from the TV.

For voice control, the TV is compatible with Google Assistant. You can use the microphone button on the remote to activate it. Ask Google Assistant to launch apps, search for content, get answers, control smart home devices and more, just using your voice.

Overall the smart TV capabilities are quite robust. Having Android TV and built-in Chromecast provides a lot of flexibility and options for streaming content and using apps. The voice control integration makes it easy to quickly launch apps and find content without having to type or click through menus.

Ports & Connectivity

The Blaupunkt BLA-40/138Q-GB-11B4-FEGPF-UK TV offers a good selection of ports and connectivity options. On the back of the TV you'll find:

• 3 x HDMI ports - For connecting devices like Blu-ray players, games consoles and set-top boxes. The HDMI ports support HDCP 2.2 and HDMI ARC on HDMI port 1.

• 2 x USB Ports - Allow you to connect USB devices like hard drives and flash drives to play media files or record live TV.

• 1 x Ethernet port - For connecting to your home network with a wired ethernet cable.

• Built-in WiFi - Provides wireless connectivity for smart features and streaming. Supports the latest WiFi standards.

• Bluetooth - Can pair wireless speakers, headphones and other Bluetooth devices to the TV. Makes it easy to listen privately or upgrade the audio.

The inclusion of 3 HDMI ports is very good for a budget 40" TV. USB recording is also handy. The TV covers all the essential wired and wireless connectivity options.

Remote Control

The Blaupunkt BLA-40/138Q comes with a sleek and minimalist remote control. Some of the key features include:

Buttons

The remote has all the usual buttons you'd expect - power, source, volume, channel up/down, mute, settings menu, directional pad, ok/enter, exit, etc. The buttons have a nice tactile feedback and are laid out in an intuitive way, making it easy to find the buttons you need.

There's also dedicated buttons for popular streaming apps like Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and Freeview Play. This makes it easy to launch these apps directly instead of having to navigate through the menus.

Voice Control

The remote supports voice control functionality when paired with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa devices. You can use your voice to change the channel, adjust the volume, launch apps, and more. This brings added convenience and hands-free control to your TV experience.

Batteries

The remote takes 2 AAA batteries, which are included in the box. Battery life is decent and you shouldn't have to replace them too frequently with moderate use. The remote will warn you when the batteries start running low so you can swap in fresh ones.

Overall, the remote that comes with the Blaupunkt 40" TV is responsive, easy to use, and has all the necessary controls along with voice command capabilities. The layout and build quality exceeds expectations for a budget TV in this price range.

Performance

The Blaupunkt BLA-40/138Q delivers decent overall performance for its price range.

Picture Quality

The 40-inch HD ready display produces reasonably good picture quality. Colors appear natural and well-saturated. Black levels are decent though not the deepest. Brightness is sufficient for most indoor viewing situations. The panel has a standard 60Hz refresh rate, so motion handling is average. Fast action scenes can exhibit some blurring and judder.

Upscaling from SD content to fill the 1080p screen is decent but lower quality sources will look soft. Highest quality HD content will look best on this set.

Motion Handling

Like most budget TVs, the BLA-40/138Q has a 60Hz native refresh rate panel. This means motion clarity for fast action content is limited. You'll likely notice some blurring and judder during sports and action movies. Gamers who play fast-paced first person shooters may find the motion handling less than ideal.

Enabling motion interpolation features can help improve motion clarity but often introduces soap opera effect. For most content, leaving these settings off produces the best results.

Input Lag

Input lag measures the time between an input on the remote or controller to display on the screen. Lower input lag is better, especially for gaming.

The BLA-40/138Q has reasonably low input lag that should satisfy most casual gamers. Serious competitive gamers may want a set with even lower input lag, but this Blaupunkt is certainly playable for gaming. Just don't expect the most responsive experience compared to higher-end gaming TVs.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Large 40-inch screen provides an immersive viewing experience
• 1080p HD resolution delivers sharp, detailed images
• Built-in Freeview Play provides access to catch-up TV services
• Easy to use smart TV interface with apps like Netflix, YouTube, etc.
• Multiple HDMI inputs for connecting devices
• USB port enables recording live TV to external drives
• Slim profile looks good in any room

Cons:

• Only 1080p resolution, not 4K
• Limited HDR support
• Audio quality could be better
• Smart TV interface can be a bit slow
• Remote control feels cheap and plasticky
• No advanced gaming features

Overall, the Blaupunkt BLA-40/138Q-GB-11B4-FEGPF-UK offers good value with its large screen and smart capabilities. But more demanding users may want higher resolution, HDR, and better sound quality. For casual TV viewing and streaming, it hits the main points at an affordable price.

Conclusion

Overall, the Blaupunkt BLA-40/138Q-GB is a decent budget 4K TV that offers good value for money. The TV has a simple yet modern design that will fit most interior decors. The display quality is decent for the price, with good color accuracy and deep blacks although viewing angles could be better. The built-in audio is average, so you may want to invest in a soundbar.

The smart TV platform is easy to use with a good selection of streaming apps. Connectivity options are sufficient for most needs. The remote is functional but feels cheap. Performance is generally good for daily TV watching and casual gaming although more demanding users may notice some lag.

At around £200, this Blaupunkt model provides good specifications considering its affordable price point. It makes a solid choice for secondary rooms or budget buyers who want a basic 4K TV with smart features. While it doesn't have any fancy extras, the core performance and streaming capabilities meet expectations. Overall, the Blaupunkt BLA-40/138Q-GB is one of the better options for a cheap 4K TV under £250.