Toshiba 40E220U LCD TV Review

Introduction

For such a low price, you can't expect any smart features or 3D tech. This TV is stripped of those modern amenities, with the added caveat that most of its performance features are just average. Still, if all you're looking for is a cheap 40-inch workhorse with no huge drawbacks, the E220U isn't a bad choice.

Design

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Like most budget TVs, the Toshiba 40E220U isn't fancy or flashy in any way.

The E220U is coated in a cheap-feeling black plastic that causes it to be simultaneously bulky and lightweight. Its bezel is thick and deep, with an oval pedestal. The plain design is what you'd expect for a TV under $500.

The E220U's on-set controls are located on its left side, just above a USB input. They're plain tactile buttons and are clearly labeled and evenly spaced. You'll find all the connectivity options in a recessed cutout on the back, right-hand side of the TV. There's a basic, usable array here, including two HDMI inputs, a component/AV input, and standard PC connections.

{{photo_gallery "Design Landing Page Photo", "Front Tour Image", "Back Tour Image", "Sides Tour Image", "Connectivity Tour Image 1", "Connectivity Tour Image 2", "Connectivity Extra Photo", "Stand Photo", "Controls Photo", "Remote Control Photo"}}

Smart TV Features

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The E220U’s menu system is a lesson in simplicity.

We don’t want to say that Toshiba cut corners, but the company's lower-end TVs tend to have menus that lack style or an efficient layout. That said, the simple nature of the menu makes it easy to figure out.

Inserting a flash or external hard drive into the E220U’s left-side USB input allows you to use it as a playback device for photos and music files. While it can’t play videos from an external drive, it does an acceptable job of organizing and showcasing your files via onscreen thumbnails.

{{photo_gallery "Software and Internet Landing Page Photo", "Internet Features 1 Photo", "Internet Features 2 Photo", "Internet Features 3 Photo", "Browser 1 Photo", "Browser 2 Photo", "Browser 3 Photo", "Apps 1 Photo", "Apps 2 Photo", "Apps 3 Photo", "Local Media Playback 1 Photo", "Local Media Playback 2 Photo", "Menu Main Photo", "Menu 2 Photo"}}

Picture Quality

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The Toshiba E220U has decent picture quality.

It may not look like a $3000 flagship, but for the screen size and price, we think consumers that aren't overtly picky about picture quality will find the TV's performance adequate.

The 40E220U tested with a richness of color and decent accuracy that might be problematic on a larger screen, but at 40-inches (and with a modest contrast ratio) it looks just fine. The strangest thing about this television is its dimness, which is detailed further in the science section.

The E220U also showcased a surprisingly wide viewing angle and decent motion performance for a TV in this price range. The bottom line? It has no major drawbacks.

Conclusion

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An affordable HDTV that doesn't have many flaws

When we reviewed Toshiba’s flagship, the L7200U, we found an affordably priced HDTV of very high quality and usability. The E220U continues that tradition. It may be a “dumb,” non-3D version of the company's fancier models, but the quality we saw from Toshiba's flagship has trickled down and influenced core performance in these lower-end models. A 40-inch TV of this caliber, for an MSRP of $499, is a solid deal.

Science Introduction

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After testing, we can safely report that there's nothing show-stopping about the 40E220U's performance specs. The picture looks fine and the television's lack of strengths is matched by a lack of weaknesses. This is exactly what consumers should expect in a TV of this price and feature set. The only odd thing about the 40E220U is that it's quite dim for an LCD HDTV.

Contrast

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A surprisingly deep black level that's cut short by the E220U's dim whites

Contrast ratio is a measure of how dark and how bright a TV can get: the resulting number determines the realism and differentiation in appearance between, say, a night sky and the stars it contains.

The Toshiba 40E220U turned out to be very dark, measuring in at 0.03 cd/m² at its brightest. The E220U will have trouble competing with particularly bright ambient lighting and will be difficult to see if you set it up near a window on a sunny day.

This Toshiba's dim whites shouldn't be a huge problem if you're smart about ambient lighting, but it's also kind of a pain to have to worry about it at all. More on how we test contrast.

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Viewing Angle

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While it's nothing mind-blowing, the 40E220U's total viewing angle was larger than we were expecting.

Typically, wide viewing angles are left for the realm of plasmas, so finding a budget LCD with a total viewing angle of 71° is pretty wild.

You could comfortably watch this TV with three or four other people and spread out a bit without major loss in contrast performance. More on how we test viewing angle.

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Other Tests

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