Coocaa isn’t exactly new at the TV game. The Shenzhen-based company is a subsidiary of Skyworth and has been in existence since 2006. Recently, Coocaa unveiled a line of affordable TVs to the Philippine market. A 40-inch Smart TV with Netflix 5.1 is the one I’m going to look into.
Talking design. The Coocaa 40S3N features a frameless Infinity View design in which the three sides of its 40-inch panel is bounded by very slim, almost imperceptible 6mm bezels. The lower edge is bordered by 60mm bar, finished in metallic gray. The face edges angle backwards sharply, giving the illusion that the chassis is slimmer than it is. The electronics are housed at the lower half of the set providing for greater stability. The television comes with screw-in table legs as well as a complete wall-mount kit.
Looking into I/O. A complement of input-output and connectivity options are available with the 40S3N. The TV offers two HDMI 1.4 support as well as two USB 2.0 ports. The USB ports may be used for streaming stored media—JPG, MP3, MP4, AAC, MKV, etc.—or to connect an external HDD as storage for the digital tuner’s PVR functions such as time-shifting or program recording. An RJ45 ethernet port offers a connection point for wired ethernet, while RF WiFi is also available for wireless connection. Digital audio may be sourced from the SPDIF link. The TV supports casting from external media devices.
The heart of the TV. The 40S3N sports a full 1,920 x 1,080 high definition IPS display. The panel delivers vivid images characterized by vibrant colors, bright whites, and deep blacks. Color shift and image distortion is virtually non-existent due to the screens wide viewing angles. Audio quality is satisfactory. The speakers can handle high volume with limited distortion and, when compatible, emulates a wider sound field through Dolby surround.
Record what you want. The set accepts ISDB-T (Philippine standard) on-air digital television signals as well as analog free-to-air TV and standard cable signals. The digital tuner supports PVR features expected from digital sets like time-shifting and on-demand recording (when paired with a suitable external hard drive).
Not-so-smart. The Coocaa 40S3N comes with Netflix, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter baked into its interface. The TV’s app market, Netrange, adds 10 more to the mix; to be honest though, those are rather uninspiring. Netrange also offers no facility for searching for or installing new applications. The built-in browser to has its share of shortcomings which I found insurmountable even after plugging in an external keyboard and mouse. Casting to the TV was also hit-and-miss.
HOW IT RATES
Form factor: 8.5
Build quality: 8.5
Ease of use: 8.75
Performance: 8.75
Value for money: 9.75
OVERALL RATING: 8.85
VERDICT
To say that the Coocaa 40S3N is a smart TV may be stretching the metrics quite a bit. Then again, my definition of a smart TV may be a bit stringent. Having said that, for the late adapter to smart televisions, the 40S3N is an affordable option to consider.
SPECIFICATIONS
Display: 40-inch Full HD, 1,920 x 1,080 resolution; Frameless design (Infinity View)
Audio: Dolby with Surround Sound
Connectivity & I/O ports: HDMI1.4, 2 xUSB2.0, 2 x AV-in, SPIDIF out, RF, Wi-Fi Digital TV, ScreenCast
App store: Netrange
Price: P18,990
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