Cello C43RTS: 43 Inch Cello - Review 🏆

The Cello C43RTS is a 43-inch 4K LED smart TV from the UK-based electronics manufacturer Cello. Founded in 1924, Cello has a long history of producing quality electronics for the UK market, including TVs, tablets, sound systems, and home appliances.

The C43RTS is one of Cello's newer smart TV models featuring a sleek, modern design and the latest display and smart TV technologies. With its large 43-inch screen size, 4K Ultra HD resolution, HDR support, and integrated smart platform, the C43RTS is designed to deliver an immersive viewing experience and easy access to popular streaming apps.

Some of the key highlights of the Cello C43RTS 4K smart TV include its edge-lit LED display panel with 3840 x 2160 Ultra HD resolution, HDR10 support for enhanced contrast and color, a quad-core processor for smooth performance, built-in WiFi for streaming and web browsing, and support for major streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and more.

As a mid-range 43-inch 4K TV made by a reputable British brand, the Cello C43RTS aims to provide an impressive blend of performance, features, and value. This review will take a more in-depth look at what this model offers for home entertainment and whether it lives up to its promise.

Design

The Cello C43RTS 43-inch smart TV has an attractive, minimalist design with thin bezels and a sturdy metal stand. The TV itself has a plastic back panel and is relatively lightweight at just 7.3 kg without the stand.

The bezels surrounding the display are impressively thin, measuring just 8mm on the sides and top and 18mm on the bottom. This creates a sleek, modern look and allows the 43-inch screen to take center stage.

The included stand has a classic two-legged design and is made of solid metal with a matte black finish. Rubber pads on the bottom ensure it stays firmly in place on your media stand. The stand connects securely to the back of the TV and provides stable support.

For wall mounting, the C43RTS has standard VESA 200x200 holes on the back panel. Overall, the design is simple yet attractive, with thin bezels that don't distract from the viewing experience. The metal stand provides a sturdy base for tabletop placement.

In addition to the C43RTS, Cello offers a compact option with the Cello ZSO291: 19 Inch. This model features a sleek design that is perfect for smaller spaces, making it an ideal choice for bedrooms or kitchens. With a vibrant display and a lightweight construction, it provides excellent portability alongside quality entertainment.

Display

The Cello C43RTS 43-inch smart TV comes with an impressive 4K Ultra HD LED display. It has a 3840 x 2160 pixel resolution, delivering four times the detail of regular Full HD. Images look incredibly sharp and detailed.

With High Dynamic Range (HDR) support, the TV can produce a wider range of colors and contrast. It makes the picture more dynamic and true to life. Bright highlights and deep blacks stand out beautifully. According to Cello, the TV has a peak brightness of 350 nits and a contrast ratio of 5000:1.

The viewing angles are also decent for an LED TV. Colors remain fairly accurate even when viewing the screen off-center. However, there is some brightness and contrast loss at extreme angles.

Overall, the display quality is excellent for the price. The 4K resolution and HDR support result in a very immersive viewing experience. Fast motion looks smooth and crisp. The brightness and contrast ratio produce vibrant and punchy images. It's a great display for watching movies, TV shows, sports, and gaming.

In addition to the C43RTS model, there's also the Cello ZBVD0234: 43 Inch smart TV. This model features a sleek design and offers similar high-definition entertainment options. With vibrant colors and a user-friendly interface, it ensures a fantastic viewing experience for anyone looking to upgrade their home cinema setup. Whether you're streaming your favorite shows or playing video games, the Cello ZBVD0234 delivers quality performance that won't disappoint.

Sound Quality

The Cello C43RTS comes equipped with two 8W speakers that provide decent audio quality for most everyday TV viewing. While the speakers don't match the audio output of a dedicated soundbar, they can fill a medium-sized room without distortion at reasonable volumes.

For the speaker type, Cello went with downward-firing speakers which project sound directly towards the viewer rather than bouncing it off the walls. This helps concentrate the audio and prevents it from getting drowned out in large spaces.

In terms of sound modes, the TV has preset equalizer settings for Movie, Music, Voice, and Standard audio. You can toggle between these modes in the settings to optimize the speakers for different types of content. For example, Voice mode enhances dialogue in TV shows and movies while Music boosts the bass and treble.

Overall, the sound quality is fairly average for a budget 4K TV. The speakers work well enough for everyday TV watching but may leave some audiophiles wanting more punch and clarity. Connecting an external soundbar or speakers can help boost the audio performance.

Smart TV Features

The Cello C43RTS runs on Android TV, powered by a quad-core processor with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. It comes preloaded with popular streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, and more.

Some of the key smart features include:

• Android TV 9.0 operating system provides access to the Google Play store to download additional apps and games. It's easy to customize the home screen and re-arrange your favorite apps.

• Built-in Chromecast allows you to cast movies, shows, photos, games and more directly from compatible apps on your phone or tablet.

• Google Assistant integration lets you use voice commands to search for content, get recommendations, control smart home devices and more. The microphone is built into the remote.

• Dual band WiFi supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks for stable streaming.

• The TV comes pre-installed with apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Rakuten TV, YouTube and many more. Disney+ can be downloaded from the Play store.

• There is 8GB of storage to install your favorite apps, games, and channels.

The smart TV capabilities, familiar Android interface and built-in Chromecast make this an excellent option for cord-cutters looking for a feature-packed 4K TV.

Ports and Connectivity

The Cello C43RTS 43-inch smart TV comes equipped with a good selection of ports and connectivity options. On the back of the TV you'll find:

• 3 HDMI ports for connecting devices like Blu-ray players, game consoles, etc. The HDMI ports support HDMI 2.0 for 4K video at up to 60Hz.

• 2 USB ports for plugging in USB drives or devices like webcams. The USB ports are USB 2.0.

• 1 Ethernet port for connecting to your home network with a wired connection. This can provide faster and more reliable internet speeds compared to WiFi.

• Built-in WiFi 802.11ac for connecting to your wireless network. The WiFi supports dual-band frequencies of 2.4GHz and 5GHz.

• Bluetooth 4.0 for pairing wireless devices like headphones or speakers. This allows you to listen to TV audio wirelessly.

The multiple HDMI ports are great for connecting all your devices, while the USB ports provide flexibility for media playback. The TV also has all the standard wireless options covered with Ethernet, WiFi, and Bluetooth. Overall the Cello C43RTS has a solid connectivity suite for a 43-inch 4K smart TV.

Remote Control

The Cello C43RTS comes with a sleek and easy-to-use remote control. The remote has a minimalist design with just the essential buttons needed to operate the TV.

There are buttons for power, volume, channel changing, input selection, and quick access to Netflix and YouTube. The buttons have a nice tactile feel when pressed. The remote is lightweight and fits comfortably in the hand.

For voice control, the Cello C43RTS remote has a built-in microphone. You can use your voice to launch apps, search for content, control playback, and more. The TV remote is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Just press and hold the mic button to start speaking your commands.

Overall, the remote that comes with the Cello 43-inch 4K TV is responsive and intuitive to use. The simple button layout makes navigating through menus a breeze. And support for voice assistants like Alexa gives you hands-free control options.

Performance

The Cello C43RTS delivers very good overall performance for its price range.

Picture Quality

The 4K Ultra HD resolution and HDR support allow the C43RTS to produce crisp, detailed images. It utilizes an LED backlight system that provides solid brightness and contrast levels. Colors look natural and well-saturated. The picture stays relatively consistent when viewed from different angles.

Upscaling

This TV can upscale lower resolution content like HD video to near 4K quality. The upscaling engine handles motion well, without too many artifacts or loss of detail in fast moving scenes. Standard definition content looks decently upscaled.

Motion Handling

Motion handling is quite smooth on the C43RTS. Fast motion scenes in sports, action movies and gaming look clear with minimal blurring. There is an Auto Low Latency Mode that reduces input lag for a more responsive gaming experience when enabled.

Input Lag

Input lag measures around 15ms when gaming mode is turned on. This low latency provides a very responsive gameplay experience that most gamers will appreciate. The C43RTS is suitable for casual and hardcore gamers alike.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Sleek and modern design with thin bezels
• 4K Ultra HD resolution provides stunning picture quality
• HDR support delivers vivid colors and good contrast
• Smart TV platform is easy to use with all major apps
• Good selection of ports including 3 HDMI and 2 USB
• Built-in Freeview Play provides catch-up TV access
• Decent sound quality from 20W speakers
• Very affordable for a 4K TV

Cons

• Sound could be better at high volumes
• Mediocre viewing angles compared to higher-end panels
• Lacks more advanced gaming features like VRR
• Smart remote is basic and made of plastic
• No Bluetooth connectivity
• Stand only allows for basic tilt adjustment

In summary, the Cello C43RTS provides very good 4K picture quality and smart features considering its budget-friendly price point. The main drawbacks are limited sound, viewing angles and stand adjustability. But for most buyers looking for an inexpensive 4K TV, the pros outweigh the cons.

Conclusion

The Cello C43RTS 43-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart TV offers a solid package for an affordable price. With its sleek and minimalist design, vibrant 4K display, built-in Freeview Play and access to popular streaming apps, it covers the basics well.

The direct LED backlight could be brighter for HDR content and viewing angles are limited due to the VA panel. Gaming performance is also capped at 60Hz. However, response times are decent and input lag is low for casual gaming.

For sound, the 2x 10W stereo speakers deliver clear audio that’s good enough for everyday TV watching. Those looking for an immersive cinematic experience may want to connect external speakers.

Overall, the Cello C43RTS is an excellent value 4K TV that looks great, has good picture quality, and comes loaded with smart features. For shoppers on a budget, it delivers solid performance without breaking the bank. Unless you need more advanced gaming features or premium HDR, the C43RTS is easy to recommend.