Skyworth is one of the bigger TV brands in the world but you wouldn’t guess it if you were just checking out the brand’s TVs on the shelf. They don’t have the visibility afforded to the Korean giants but the Chinese tech-maker is hoping to change that. There are three new TV models headed to South Africa, with the first turning up next month. Also headed to market is the brand’s first soundbar, the Skyworth SS330.
The Skyworth is the limit
There are three TV variants on the cards — the Skyworth SUC9300, the SUC9300 Pro and then the SXC9800 lineup, representing seven different TVs in total. The 9300 has three models incoming, in 50, 55in and 65in sizes, the 9300 Pro will land in 55in and 65in sizes, as does the high-end OLED SXC9800 set.
The SUC9300 is the entry-level candidate here, with an OS-based around Android 10, a quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM along with 8GB of storage being the basic hardware specs. It’ll include Google Assistant, support for DTS audio and HDR+ and access to Google’s Play Store — technically speaking, you’ll be able to game on it without a console but that’s been true of the company’s sets for a while.
The Skyworth SUC9300 is the first TV bound for our shores, with a November arrival date. We’re not sure on the exact dating but we’ve got pricing for you. It’ll cost you R8,000 for the 50in version, climbing to R9,000 for the 55in model. If you want to go big enough to really see the sweat on your FIFA avatar, you can get the 65in 9300 for R13,000.
Then there is the other pair — the SUC9300 Pro and the SXC9800. Both of these are considerably more high-spec, featuring quad-core processors, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage each. Both use Skyworth’s thin-bezel Infinity Screen (as does the stock 9300) but both also support Dolby Vision Atmos and Google Assistant. But, unlike other Skyworth sets, you don’t need to bother your remote in order to issue voice commands. Both sets include a far-field microphone, meaning you can control them like you would a Google Home or Google Nest. In fact, that functionality is built-in, meaning you can use these sets as part of a smart home control scheme.
The major difference between the two? The SXC9800 has the better display, turning up in January 2021 with an OLED panel. If you’ve never used OLED, you don’t know what you’re missing. And if you have used it, you’ll know why they tend to cost a little more. Sadly, pricing for these two sets is a mystery for now. Both the SUC9300 Pro and the SXC9800 launch in January next year — we’ll have pricing a little closer to the time.
