Until recently, I wasn't really familiar with the Chinese company Skyworth. Maybe I came across them here and there, but I hadn't had the chance to try out one of their models. In the past few weeks, I received the SUE9600 model. A 65-inch screen (there's also a 75-inch version) with Mini LED technology and the Android TV operating system from Google.
Design and Connections: SUE9600 - Standard Design
The appearance of this screen is relatively standard. It has a thin frame, a dull gray stand, and a slightly thick back. It's an design that resembles many other screens, so there is no particular surprise or disappointment here. The range of connections includes: 3 HDMI 2.1 inputs (including ARC/eARC connection), WiFi connectivity, Bluetooth, and also two USB 2.0 ports and an optical audio input.
Interface and Remote Control: SUE9600 - Google TV that Responds a Bit Slowly
This model comes with the Google TV operating system, which actually makes it convenient to use and, above all, provides access to a large repository of applications, including those of Israeli streaming services such as Yes Plus, Cellcom TV, as well as Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more.
The interface of Google is convenient and allows quick access to applications and recent content that was paused in the middle. This option is mainly supported by Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube. I haven't seen it work with Disney+ or Israeli services that I tried (Cellcom and Yes Plus). Despite the user-friendliness of the interface, it does not respond quickly enough, which doesn't significantly affect the experience, but it's good to know.
I had a strange occurrence on the screen, where sometimes when I turned it on, it would start from standby mode, as if its power was cut off. This means a kind of rebooting of the operating system, which takes time, instead of working immediately.
The remote control feels simple and plastic, but it includes everything you need, including shortcut buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, a customizable button, and Google Assistant (the voice assistant of Google that doesn't work in Hebrew but functions well in English).
Picture and sound: SUE9600 - Mini LED technology
Skyworth's screen works with Mini LED technology, which helps LED screens come closer in quality to expensive and successful OLED screens. Mini LED TVs pack more LED points in the backlight compared to other TVs of the same size, thus increasing brightness and improving dark areas in the picture. The black color obtained in this model is reasonable; it is not deep and tends to be washed out.
Generally speaking, this screen provides a good image. It's not difficult to get a clean and pleasant image here, especially with the support of a 120Hz refresh rate and MEMC image smoothing mechanism. Although it may not have the insane sharpness of more expensive screens, it still offers an enjoyable image. Additionally, it supports the Dolby Vision standard (a method that optimizes the image, which many streaming services support).
There is strong lighting here with 1000 nits, which often was too strong and needed to be reduced. For those with a well-lit living room, watching this screen should not be difficult (reflections still exist). As for sound, the audio is average and I didn't enjoy it as much. The screen also supports Dolby Atmos for richer sound reproduction.
Price: 5,000 shekels for the 65-inch size (official importer, S.G. Electronics).
In conclusion, this is the first model I've tested from Skyworth, and I was impressed with it. It offers a relatively affordable price for the 65-inch size, Mini LED technology, Google TV operating system, strong lighting, and good image quality for the price.