An inexpensive Fire TV with a mediocre picture
Most TV manufacturers have chosen Roku TV or Android TV for their smart TV platforms, but Toshiba continues to stick with Amazon’s Fire TV. We don’t mind; Fire TV is a powerful system with lots of services and the useful presence of Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant. The C350 is Toshiba’s latest, and currently only, line of TVs, and it’s loaded with features for the price. The 50-inch 50C350 we tested has an MSRP of $469.99, and is often available for less. On paper it’s an attractive option for penny-pinchers, and it has surprisingly low input lag for gamers, but a dim panel and low contrast make it hard to wholeheartedly recommend. Editors’ Note: This review is based on testing performed on the 50C350KU, the 50-inch model in the series. Apart from the screen-size difference, the $519.99 55-inch 55C350KU is identical in features, and we expect similar performance. An Attractive Design With Confusingly Placed Ports The C350 looks surprisingly stylish for an inexpensive TV. The top and sides of the screen are bezel-free, framed only by a narrow black plastic band that wraps around the back. A thin, brushed-metal strip runs along the bottom edge of the screen, angled slightly forward. The infrared receiver and indicator LED sit in a small clear enclosure below the center of the band, with a small power/input button just behind it. Everything rests on two V-shaped metal legs, located near the edges of the screen (you can also mount it on the wall). All ports are located oddly around the center of the back of the TV, quite far from the edges where side-mounted ports would be convenient. Four HDMI ports (one eARC), two USB ports, an optical audio output, an Ethernet port, and an antenna/cable connector face left, but are so far from the sides of the TV that you have to reach very far in to change any connections. A power cable connector faces right, at a similarly awkward location. Finally, a set of RCA composite video inputs and a headphone jack face directly back in the middle of the back of the TV. The headphone jack is most baffling; facing back in the dead-center is just about the least convenient location possible if you want to use wired headphones. The included remote is very similar to the ones included with Fire TV media streamers. It’s a slim, black rectangular wand with slightly rounded top and bottom edges and a prominent circular navigation pad near the top. Power and microphone buttons, along with a pinhole microphone, sit above the navigation pad. Menu and playback controls; volume and channel rockers; and dedicated service buttons for Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, and Netflix all sit lower on the remote. Fire TV Features The C350 uses Amazon’s Fire TV platform for its interface and smart features, so it acts just like an Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, with input options available as well as apps. This is fine, because like Roku TV and Android/Google TV, Fire TV is a robust system filled with apps and services.
