Our Verdict
If you have a tight budget, the Toshiba L1400U LED TV will fit the bill. Do not expect perfect picture quality, though. Fast-moving objects have a very long blur trail and the uniformity of the screen has a few problems.
- Great contrast ratio for the price.
- Low amount of reflection.
- Noticeable motion blur, so it isn't the best for sports or video games.
- Color calibration out of the box is very off. Even after spending quite some time adjusting it, it was still far from perfect.
- Uniformity issues with both dark and gray screens.
Check Price
We buy and test dozens of TVs yearly, taking an objective, data-driven approach to deliver results you can trust. Our testing process is complex, with hundreds of individual tests that take over a week to complete. Most of our tests are done with specially designed test patterns that mimic real content, but we also use the same sources you have at home to ensure our results match the real-world experience. We use two main tools for our testing: a Colorimetry Research CR-100 colorimeter and a CR-250 spectroradiometer.
Test Results
The design of the Toshiba L1400U is simple. The borders are thin and the depth is quite good for an LED.
With the wide base, the stand is pretty sturdy. It does not swivel. The 32" model has a different stand.
For the price, the contrast ratio is surprisingly good. However, the colors are a bit off. The 32" model also has a lower resolution of 720p instead of 1080p.
Some visible spots can be seen in a dark room when displaying a black picture, although it shouldn't be a major issue.
The gray uniformity is quite bad, with a lot of darker spots. The top left and bottom left parts of the screen are noticeably darker.
At about 25 °, the colors change and lose saturation. You can still see the picture, but it isn't as good.
The semi-matte screen has low reflection. You will not notice any indirect reflections; just the direct ones.
It doesn't get very bright for an LED, though. It should still be sufficient for most rooms, but it will be an issue in a veranda.
Fast-moving objects are blurry, leaving a very long trail behind them. Do not get this TV for gaming or for watching sports.
The input lag is low. Game mode didn't have a lower input lag than other modes.
