Cello 19 inch Smart Frameless TV Review: The Small-Space Smart TV That Punches Above Its Weight

For years, my kitchen counter has been a battleground of compromises. I’d be following a complex recipe, hands covered in flour, squinting at a tiny smartphone screen propped precariously against a jar of olive oil. One wrong move, and the phone would clatter onto the counter, the video pausing at the most critical moment. I tried a small, old-fashioned portable TV, but the picture was grainy, the sound tinny, and it lacked any smart features. It was just a screen, a relic from a bygone era. The problem is a common one: how do you get the rich, connected experience of a modern smart TV in a space—a kitchen, a bedroom, a home office—where a 55-inch behemoth is simply out of the question? The market for smaller TVs has often felt like an afterthought, a wasteland of stripped-down models with sluggish software and abysmal audio. Finding a compact TV that doesn’t compromise on intelligence has been a frustrating, long-standing challenge.

What to Consider Before Buying a Small Smart TV

A TV, especially a secondary one for a specific room, is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for entertainment, information, and even productivity in spaces that are often overlooked. It transforms a morning routine in the bedroom, a cooking session in the kitchen, or a workout in the spare room. The main benefit is bringing the full power of streaming services, catch-up TV, and seamless connectivity to the corners of your home where you might spend more time than your living room. A quality small smart TV eliminates the need for clumsy workarounds like tablets and phones, offering a superior viewing and audio experience in a permanent, integrated fixture.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the exact challenge I described: homeowners, apartment dwellers, or students looking to equip a smaller room like a kitchen, bedroom, caravan (if mains powered), or study with a modern entertainment hub. They value the convenience of smart features like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Freeview Play but don’t have the space for a large-screen television. Conversely, this type of TV might not be suitable for those seeking a primary, cinematic home theatre experience. If you’re a movie buff looking for 4K HDR and immersive surround sound for your main living area, a 19-inch screen will simply not suffice, and you should be looking at larger, more premium models.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Measure your intended space carefully. Consider not just the screen size (19 inches diagonally) but the TV’s overall footprint, including the stand and depth (44 x 30 x 16 cm for this model). Ensure there’s adequate ventilation around the unit and that it won’t obstruct cabinets or walkways. For wall mounting, check the VESA pattern compatibility, a detail often overlooked but critical for a clean installation.
• Performance & Operating System: The “smart” in Smart TV is powered by its operating system (OS). A slow, clunky OS can ruin the experience, regardless of picture quality. Look for reputable systems like LG’s WebOS, Android TV, or Roku TV, which ensure fast app loading, intuitive navigation, and long-term software support. Check for built-in features like Freeview Play for UK catch-up services and FreeSat if you plan to use a satellite dish.
• Connectivity & Ports: In a small space, you might still want to connect other devices. How many HDMI ports are there? Is there a USB port for playing media from a flash drive? The inclusion of Bluetooth is a massive advantage in this category, allowing you to connect wireless headphones for late-night viewing or a Bluetooth speaker for enhanced audio without running extra cables.
• Audio Quality: Small TVs are notorious for having weak, tinny speakers. This is a critical point for a kitchen TV, where ambient noise from cooking can easily drown out dialogue. Look for models that specifically mention enhanced audio features, like the “Pitch Perfect Speakers” on the Cello, or ensure it has Bluetooth or an optical out to connect to an external sound system.

Keeping these factors in mind, the Cello 19 inch Smart Frameless TV stands out in several areas, particularly with its advanced operating system and audio claims. You can explore its detailed specifications and features here.

While the Cello 19 inch Smart Frameless TV is an excellent choice for its niche, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition across all sizes. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: UK Craftsmanship Meets LG Intelligence

Unboxing the Cello 19 inch Smart Frameless TV, the first thing we noticed was its remarkable lightness. At just 2.6 kg, it’s incredibly easy to handle, a significant plus for anyone planning a solo installation on a wall bracket or a high shelf. The unit feels solidly built, a nod to its UK manufacturing origins, which Cello proudly advertises. Setting it up on its stand was a matter of minutes, requiring just a few screws.

Now, let’s address the “frameless” claim. In the world of marketing, this term can be flexible. While not truly edge-to-edge glass like a high-end smartphone, the bezels are indeed slim and modern-looking for a TV in this class. It presents a much cleaner, more contemporary aesthetic than older small TVs with chunky plastic borders. One user noted they were “Disappointed when I opened it to find there is a fairly large frame,” expecting something under 10mm. While we understand the sentiment, we found the frame to be unobtrusive and perfectly acceptable, giving the screen a defined presence without being distracting. The most unique design element is the speaker enclosure situated below the screen, a deliberate choice for its “Pitch Perfect Speakers,” which immediately sets it apart visually and hints at a focus on audio performance.

A Deep Dive into the Cello’s Performance

A small TV lives or dies by its performance. It has to be quick, responsive, and deliver a quality experience that makes you forget its diminutive size. We put the Cello 19 inch Smart Frameless TV through its paces, focusing on the core aspects that matter most in a secondary television: the smart interface, picture and sound quality, and its overall design and connectivity suite.

The WebOS Experience: A Full-Sized Brain in a Compact Body

This is, without a doubt, the standout feature of the Cello TV. Instead of developing a proprietary, and likely sluggish, operating system, Cello made the brilliant decision to partner with LG and use WebOS. This immediately elevates the television from a simple screen to a genuine smart hub. From the moment we first powered it on, the difference was palpable. The interface is clean, graphical, and responsive. Navigating with the included remote feels fluid, with none of the lag or stutter that plagues so many budget smart TVs.

The initial setup was a breeze. It guided us through connecting to our Wi-Fi network, tuning channels, and logging into our streaming accounts. The on-screen instructions are clear, and as one user happily noted, “I managed to set it up on my own without help, which I think is an achievement, due to my age.” We found both Freeview and FreeSat tuning to be quick and effective, pulling in a huge number of channels with a standard portable aerial that had struggled with an older set. All the essential streaming apps are present and accounted for: Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, and the full suite of UK catch-up services via Freeview Play (BBC iPlayer, ITVX, All 4, My5). Apps load quickly, and streaming in HD starts with minimal buffering, living up to the promise of high-speed operation. One user confirmed this, stating it “has all major streaming apps and has an app store.” Furthermore, the ability to control the TV using the LG ThinQ app on a smartphone is a fantastic modern touch, making it easy to launch apps or type in search terms without fumbling for the remote.

Picture and Sound: Exceeding Small-Screen Expectations

For a 19-inch screen, the primary goal is clarity and good colour, and the Cello 19 inch Smart Frameless TV delivers. The picture is crisp, bright, and vibrant right out of the box. Watching HD content from streaming services or Freeview HD channels revealed plenty of detail and accurate colours. Viewing angles are also surprisingly generous, which is crucial for a kitchen or bedroom where you might be watching from the side. We found the image remained consistent and watchable even when we were not sitting directly in front of it. Several users echoed our findings, with comments like “The picture is clear” and “really good picture” being common.

However, the real star of the show here is the audio. The patented “Pitch Perfect Speakers” are not just a marketing gimmick. By placing the speaker enclosure below the screen and firing the sound directly at the viewer, Cello has overcome the biggest weakness of small, thin TVs. The sound is remarkably full-bodied and clear. Dialogue is easy to understand, even over the noise of a boiling kettle, and music has a presence that you simply don’t get from tiny, rear-firing speakers. One user perfectly summarized it: “it has pitch perfect sound.” The addition of Bluetooth is another game-changer. In our tests, we effortlessly paired a set of wireless headphones for quiet, late-night viewing in the bedroom, and also connected a small Bluetooth speaker to fill the kitchen with even bigger sound while listening to a podcast. The TV can even output to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously, a feature usually reserved for premium models.

Design and Connectivity: Built for Tight Spaces (With a Few Caveats)

The physical design of the Cello 19 inch Smart Frameless TV is perfectly tailored for its mission. Its lightweight nature makes it a fantastic candidate for wall mounting, and its compact dimensions ensure it will fit on a narrow shelf or a crowded countertop without dominating the space. As we mentioned, while not truly “frameless,” the aesthetic is clean and modern. The build quality feels robust for a plastic chassis, and the overall impression is one of a well-made product designed to last.

When it comes to connectivity, Cello has provided the essentials, but with one limitation. You get one HDMI port, one USB port, an optical audio out, and an RF input for an aerial. For most secondary TV use cases—perhaps plugging in a games console or a Blu-ray player—one HDMI is sufficient. However, if you have multiple devices, you’ll need to invest in an HDMI switcher. The USB port worked perfectly in our tests, playing various video and photo files from a hard drive, though one user noted it struggled with the MKV file format. The inclusion of FreeSat is a huge bonus for anyone with a satellite dish, offering another avenue for subscription-free channels. The only significant caveat is the power source. This is a mains-powered TV only. Some users, seeing its small size, assumed it would have a 12V option for campervans or boats. The product description is clear on this, but it’s an important point to reiterate: this is for home use only.

What Other Users Are Saying

Our positive experience with the Cello 19 inch Smart Frameless TV is strongly reflected in the feedback from other buyers. The sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with users frequently praising it as the perfect solution for a bedroom or kitchen. One customer perfectly captured the general feeling, saying, “I wanted a small smart TV for my kitchen & this 19″ cello web os TV is a really good buy. The sound quality is great & picture quality also great.” Another was delighted with the signal reception, noting, “I have a portable aerial in my bedroom and it struggled to pick up some channels on my old TV. I am using the same aerial for this TV and have no signal issues.”

The most common piece of critical feedback, which we also identified, revolves around the “frameless” description. One user stated, “I bought this tv reading that it was frameless… Very Disappointed when I opened it to find there is a fairly large frame around it.” While the picture and sound were still praised, this highlights a slight mismatch between marketing language and reality. We also saw a couple of isolated reports of units being damaged in transit, which is an unfortunate reality of online shopping for electronics and more a reflection on logistics than the product itself.

How Does the Cello 19 inch Smart Frameless TV Compare to the Alternatives?

The Cello 19 inch Smart Frameless TV occupies a very specific niche. Comparing it to larger TVs isn’t about which is “better” overall, but about which is right for a particular space and purpose. The alternatives listed are for different rooms and different priorities entirely.

1. Samsung DU8070 75″ Crystal UHD 4K Smart TV

This Samsung is a cinematic giant designed to be the centerpiece of a living room or home theatre. At 75 inches with a 4K resolution, it’s in a completely different universe from the 19-inch Cello. It boasts advanced features like Object Tracking Sound Lite and a dedicated Gaming Hub. You would choose the Samsung for an immersive, primary viewing experience where space is no object and picture quality is the absolute priority. The Cello, in contrast, is the perfect companion device for rooms where the Samsung simply wouldn’t fit, providing smart functionality in a compact, convenient package.

2. Toshiba 50” UV2F53DBU 4K Smart TV

The 50-inch Toshiba represents a fantastic mid-point option, suitable for a master bedroom or a small-to-medium-sized living room. It offers a 4K picture, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos support, powered by the VIDAA smart OS. While VIDAA is a capable system, many users find LG’s WebOS on the Cello to be slightly more polished and intuitive. The choice here comes down to space and primary use. If you need a larger screen for a main room and want 4K capabilities at a great price, the Toshiba is a strong contender. If your priority is filling a very small space with the smartest, best-sounding TV possible, the Cello is the more specialized tool for the job.

3. Hisense 58A6KTUK 58 Inch Smart TV

Similar to the Toshiba, this 58-inch Hisense model is a large-screen value proposition. It brings a big 4K screen with Dolby Vision to your living room for a very competitive price. It also runs on the VIDAA platform and includes a voice remote, offering a great feature set for its cost. Someone would choose the Hisense over the Cello if they are shopping for a main family TV on a budget. The Cello is not designed to compete on size or 4K resolution; its entire purpose is to provide an excellent HD smart experience in a form factor that these larger TVs cannot match.

Our Final Verdict: A Niche Product Executed Brilliantly

After extensive testing, we can confidently say that the Cello 19 inch Smart Frameless TV is a triumph. It successfully solves the problem of finding a high-quality, fully-featured smart TV for the forgotten corners of our homes. For too long, consumers have had to choose between size and intelligence, but Cello, with its savvy inclusion of LG’s WebOS, has proven you can have both.

While the “frameless” marketing is a touch optimistic and the single HDMI port might be a minor inconvenience for some, these are small quibbles in an otherwise outstanding package. The snappy performance, excellent connectivity options including Bluetooth, and genuinely impressive sound quality from its unique speaker design make it a joy to use. It transforms a kitchen counter or a bedroom dresser into a modern entertainment hub. If you are looking for a compact television that doesn’t treat you like a second-class citizen, this is the one to get. It’s a specialized tool that performs its specific job exceptionally well.

If you’ve decided the Cello 19 inch Smart Frameless TV is the right fit for your small space, you can check its current price and availability here.