Thomson UD9 40 Inch First Impressions

The Thomson UD9 40-inch TV delivers a no-frills 4K experience at a budget price, with decent picture quality for the money but notable weaknesses in smart features and sound. If you are considering this model, expect a basic, functional television that is best for casual viewing in a well-lit room, not for cinematic or gaming use.

Formula

The calculator above works out your average pace and speed for a given distance and finish time. The formula for pace is:

Pace (min/km) = Finish Time (min) / Distance (km)

And for speed:

Speed (km/h) = Distance (km) / (Finish Time (min) / 60)

Where:

• Finish Time (t) – total time taken, in minutes.
• Distance (d) – total distance covered, in kilometres.
• Pace – minutes per kilometre, the time it takes to cover one kilometre.
• Speed – kilometres per hour, the average speed over the whole distance.

This is the standard way runners and cyclists measure their performance. The calculator uses minutes for time, so if you have hours and minutes, convert them to minutes first (e.g., 1h30m = 90 minutes).

Worked Example

Using the default values from the calculator: finish time = 50 minutes, distance = 10 km.

Step 1: Calculate pace.

Pace = 50 min / 10 km = 5.0 min/km

Step 2: Calculate speed.

Speed = 10 km / (50 min / 60) = 10 / 0.8333 = 12.0 km/h

So the average pace is 5:00 min/km and the average speed is 12.0 km/h.

Background

The Thomson brand has a long history in consumer electronics, but in recent years it has become a budget label, often licensed to different manufacturers across Europe. The UD9 series is one of their entry-level 4K offerings, typically sold at discount retailers and online marketplaces. The 40-inch model is aimed at buyers who want a large screen without spending a fortune, often as a second TV for a bedroom or a first TV for a small living room.

What you get with the UD9 is a 40-inch VA panel with 3840 x 2160 resolution, HDR10 support (though not true HDR brightness), and a basic smart platform. The design is plain: thin bezels on three sides, a slightly thicker bottom edge, and two plastic feet that require a table at least 70 cm wide. There is no premium build quality, but it feels solid enough for the price.

Picture and Sound Quality

The UD9’s picture quality is the most important aspect, and here it is a mixed bag. In a dark room, the VA panel produces deep blacks and good contrast, which makes movies and TV shows look respectable. However, the peak brightness is low (around 250-300 nits), so HDR content looks dim and lacks the punch you get on more expensive TVs. Colours are acceptable out of the box, though skin tones can look slightly off, and there is no local dimming, so blooming around bright objects on dark backgrounds can be noticeable.

Viewing angles are narrow, as is typical for VA panels. If you sit more than 30 degrees off-centre, the picture washes out and colours shift. The built-in speakers are weak, with a thin sound and almost no bass. At moderate volume, dialogue is clear, but for action films or music, an external soundbar is almost essential. There is no headphone jack, but you can use Bluetooth headphones or a soundbar via the optical output or HDMI ARC.

Smart Features and Connectivity

The UD9 runs a custom smart platform (not Android TV or Roku). It includes a few pre-installed apps like YouTube and Netflix, but the selection is limited, and the app store has very few options. The interface is slow and occasionally stutters, and there are reports of apps crashing or not updating. If you rely on streaming services, you are better off using an external device like a Chromecast, Fire Stick, or a games console.

In terms of ports, the UD9 offers three HDMI inputs, two USB ports, a CI+ slot, an Ethernet port, and a digital optical audio output. All HDMI ports support ARC, but only one supports HDMI 2.0 with 4K at 60Hz; the other two are limited to 4K at 30Hz. This is important if you plan to connect a modern games console or a 4K Blu-ray player – make sure you use the correct HDMI port.

Gaming and Input Lag

For gamers, the UD9 is not a great choice. The input lag is around 30-40ms in game mode, which is acceptable for casual play but not for competitive shooters. More critically, the TV only supports 4K at 60Hz, not 120Hz, so it cannot take advantage of the high refresh rates on PS5 or Xbox Series X. There is no VRR (variable refresh rate) or ALLM (auto low latency mode), so you may notice screen tearing in fast-paced games.

If you are a casual gamer playing slower titles, the UD9 will work fine. But if you are serious about gaming, look for a TV that explicitly supports 120Hz and VRR.

Common Problems and How to Avoid Them

Owners of the UD9 report a few recurring issues. The most common is that the TV sometimes fails to wake from standby, requiring a power cycle. This is often fixed by a firmware update, so check for updates periodically. Another issue is that the smart platform can become unresponsive; a simple restart (unplug for 30 seconds) usually solves it.

There is also a known quirk with the remote control – it uses Bluetooth and can occasionally lose pairing. To re-pair, hold the ‘OK’ and ‘Back’ buttons for 5 seconds. Finally, some users notice backlight bleeding in the corners, especially on dark scenes. This is a common issue with budget VA panels, and it is not a defect unless it is severe.

How to Choose the Right 40-Inch TV

If you are considering the UD9, it is worth comparing it to a few alternatives. The main competitors are the TCL 40S350, the Hisense 40A6G, and the Samsung TU8000 (if you can find it). All are similar in price and specs, but there are differences:

• Smart platform: TCL uses Roku (excellent), Hisense uses VIDAA (decent), Samsung uses Tizen (good). The Thomson’s platform is the weakest.
• Picture quality: The Thomson has good contrast, but the TCL and Hisense are often slightly brighter. The Samsung has better upscaling for non-4K content.
• Sound: All are poor, but the Hisense has a slightly better speaker system.
• Price: The Thomson is often the cheapest, but not always.

If you can stretch your budget by 20-30%, you could get a 43-inch model from a more reputable brand with better smart features and higher brightness. The UD9 makes sense only if you get it at a significant discount and plan to use it with an external streaming device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Thomson UD9 good for watching sports?
It is acceptable, but not ideal. The VA panel has good contrast, so the pitch looks vivid, but the low brightness and narrow viewing angles mean it is best watched directly in front of the TV. Motion handling is average, so fast-moving balls may leave a slight trail.

Does the Thomson UD9 support HDR?
It supports HDR10, but the low peak brightness means HDR content will not look significantly better than standard SDR. It is not a true HDR experience, so do not buy it for that feature.

Can I use the Thomson UD9 as a computer monitor?
Yes, it works as a monitor, but with caveats. The 40-inch size is large for a desk, and the text may look soft because of the VA pixel layout. It supports 4K at 60Hz, which is fine for productivity, but input lag is noticeable for mouse use. It is better to sit at least 1.5 meters away.

Why is my Thomson UD9 not connecting to Wi-Fi?
This is a common issue. First, restart the TV and your router. Then go to Settings > Network > Wi-Fi, and forget the network, then re-enter the password. If that fails, try using an Ethernet cable or a Wi-Fi extender, as the TV’s Wi-Fi antenna is weak.

How do I update the firmware on the Thomson UD9?
Go to Settings > Support > Software Update > Update Now. The TV will check for updates and download them automatically. If you have problems, you can download the firmware from the Thomson support website to a USB stick and install it via the USB port.

Final Thoughts

The Thomson UD9 40-inch is a budget TV that does the basics well: it shows a sharp 4K picture with decent contrast, and it has enough inputs for your devices. But it falls short in smart features, sound, and gaming capabilities. If you are looking for a cheap secondary TV for a bedroom or a guest room, and you plan to use a streaming stick, the UD9 is a reasonable choice. For a main living room TV, you will likely be disappointed. Consider spending a little more for a model with a better smart platform and higher brightness.

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in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2