Pros & Cons
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- Affordable.
- Solid performance with accurate colors for the price.
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- Not as many online services and apps as competitors.
- Can appear slightly oversaturated out of the box.
Sharp LC-48LE653U Specs
| Black Level | 234.36 |
| Contrast Ratio | 2930:1 |
| HDMI Ports | 3 |
| HDR | No |
| Panel Type | LED |
| Refresh Rate | 60 |
| Resolution | 1920 by 1080 |
| Screen Brightness | 0.08 |
| Screen Size | 48 |
| Streaming Services | 1 |
| Video Inputs | Component |
| Video Inputs | HDMI |
| Video Inputs | USB |
These days, you don't need to spend a lot of money for a good HDTV. Sharp's LE653U series includes models ranging from 32 to 55 inches, and they're all reasonably priced. The 43-inch LC-43LE653U we tested retails for $479.99, making it just a bit more expensive than our Editors' Choice for bargain televisions, the TCL FS4610R series. The Sharp set is a similarly solid performer, and offers a handful of integrated online services, but with relatively few apps and a slightly oversaturated picture, it's just shy of matching the value that TCL's Roku TV delivers.
Editors' Note: This review is based on tests performed on the Sharp LC-43LE653U, the 43-inch version of the series. Besides the screen-size difference, the $599.99 48-inch LC-48LE653U is otherwise identical in features, and while we didn't perform lab tests on this specific model, we expect similar performance.
Design
Very plain-looking, the 43LE653U has flat, glossy black plastic bezels measuring half an inch wide on the top and sides, and curving down an inch and a half on the bottom edge. The front of the display is distinguished only by an LED indicator and an infrared sensor on the bottom bezel, along with a painted gray Sharp logo, and HDMI, Dolby, and Wi-Fi logos you won't notice unless you squint. The screen sits on a glossy black plastic, trapezoidal stand that holds it up very securely, but doesn't let it pivot.
View All A set of physical controls sit along the right side of the screen, including Power, Volume Up/Down, Channel Up/Down, Menu, and Input buttons. The left side of the back of the screen holds an HDMI port, a USB port, and optical and analog stereo audio outputs facing left. Two more HDMI ports, a component video input, an Ethernet port, and an antenna/cable connector face downward. The layout is slightly awkward when compared with other HDTVs that group most of their HDMI ports facing one of the sides rather than straight down, but it's a minor inconvenience.
