The new football season is here, at last! Anyone with a TV aerial or a local pub is watching and will be enveloped in the contagious football fever that will sweep the nation for the next couple of months… And just imagine if your team wins!
So how do you plan to experience these matches? The local spoons, a five-year-old LCD flat screen, a car radio as you take your kid to football practice?
Whatever it is, we’re not denying that it isn’t great. I mean, if there’s beer, people there who aren’t going to say ‘it’s only a game’ if you lose, and beer, then I’m sure it is a winner. But why settle for great, when you can experience exceptional?
That’s why we’ve carried out extensive research and found the very best products that you need in your life to watch the footy the way it’s meant to be enjoyed.
We’ve done all the hard work for you. All of the products featured on our shortlist have been specifically chosen based not on our opinions, but actual customer reviews and experiences. So rest assured we are only recommending the best of the best gear you’ll ever need to watch your football team sail to glory this season.
TVs
Getting the best TV to watch the football is undeniably the most important part of your setup. There’s no point in watching it on some 20-inch box from the 1950s where you have to squint to see the score. Nor is there point in watching it on some low-definition pixel-box where you won’t know your Paul Pogbas to your Jack Wilsheres. No! We’re talking 450-inch plasma screens in 6D and super-ultra-fabulous HD so you can clearly see the beads of sweat pour down Sergio Ramos’ head as he gets nutmegged by Deli Alli for the fourth time on the way to England’s eighth goal.
We fished out two beauties that stood out from the overcrowded sea that is the Smart TV ocean. Both happen to be from LG, and although are both quality items, they come in vastly different price tags. So there’s really no excuse to not watch football in glorious HD. You need, scratch that, DESERVE to give yourself this.
LG 55EG910V 55-Inch Full HD Curved TV
This is like something from the future. Except from the fact that it isn’t from the future, it is from the present. With a curved screen aimed to optimise viewing experience, LG really have gone to town with the thought process behind this device. Throw in exceptional sound and picture and you have yourself a winner.
What we like about the LG 55EG910V TV
- OLED technology which ensures a top quality picture rivalled by few others out there.
- Immense Ultra surround, which fills the round and gives great quality for all ranges of viewing.
- Slim design and neat look equipped with Freeview Play and all features of a smart TV.
What we don’t like about the LG 55EG910V TV
- The default picture settings might need tweaking for a perfect home viewing setup.
With this TV, LG concentrates on a few main aspects, and focuses all their technology on that. It gives you the very, very best of the simple aspect of a regular TV, taking conventional viewing to the next level.
Hisense 65-Inch Smart 4K TV
BOOM! Get instant hero status and free drinks for life down the pub, provided you let your mates round to watch it, with this 65-inch TV. YES, we did indeed say 65 inches. If you can fit it in your living room, this will be a magnificent centre-piece, and one which you can, most importantly, watch the football on.
What we like about the Hisense 4K TV
- Cheap price in comparison to other similar sets on the market.
- Screen contains a FALD, which is 85 LED lights that have individual dimming capacities which leads to unbelievable detail in the picture.
- Huge curved screen which is designed to give the best picture at a distance of 5-10 feet.
What we don’t like about the Hisense 4K TV
- Not as slim as other, more illustrious models, but does the job better.
So, if you have the balls to get this product, you will not regret it.
Laptops
Okay, so you can’t justify on splashing out on a new Smart TV, you prefer to watch the games without being restricted to the sofa or maybe you (minute of silence may be necessary) have to work. Whatever your situation, sometimes a laptop is the best option to get your footy fix.
Luckily, we have two options for you, again with opposing price tags so you can choose the laptop which best suits your budget.
Asus C201PA-FD0009 11.6 inch Chromebook laptop
This little gem really does seem perfect if you’re a busy person, always on the move but need to have access to a laptop. Not only will it fit in a handbag or rucksack, it is also very light. This means there really is no excuse for you to miss a game, even if you’re out of the house. Simply pack your Chromebook in your bag and you’re good to go. With the absence of a fan, it won’t be loud and still won’t get heated. Access to Google Drive and Play is also available, and the Chromebook also offers a large amount of memory.
What we like about the Asus C201PA-FD0009 Chromebook Laptop
- All-aluminium build which makes it sturdy but still light as a feather.
- Ridiculously long battery life in the days of infinitely declining battery length (13 hours).
- 4GB RAM.
What we don’t like about the Asus C201PA-FD0009 Chromebook Laptop
- Slightly poor screen resolution in relation to superior models (1289×800), but still good for the price paid compared to similar models.
Dave was travelling back from work on the train when the match was on. He had no alternative for TV of watching the match. Dave felt very left out down the pub the following weekend when all of his mates were talking about the match. Don’t be disconnected, don’t be like Dave. Get your Chromebook here.
Apple MMGF2B/A MacBook Air 13-Inch Laptop
This is the real big daddy, the Schwarzenegger of laptops. Yes, it may come at a price, but my God do you get your money’s worth with this. This isn’t just a quiet laptop, but silent. Be alone with your thoughts in complete tranquillity. That is of course, if you don’t want to take advantage of the exceptional speakers that come with the MacBook. Hear Glen Hoddle bore you to death or Michael Owen state something painfully obvious in beautifully clear transmission. What’s more, don’t worry about missing vital minutes of the match waiting for things to load, this is notorious for its immense speed.
What we like about the Apple MacBook Air Laptop
- Practically no waiting time when loading.
- 128GB storage and a huge 8GB of RAM.
- 1.6GHz dual-core processor with Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz.
What we don’t like about the Apple MacBook Air Laptop
- No retina screen display, but still produces a great and clear image.
Oh but don’t be silly, I can’t afford an Apple laptop! So you’re saying that you can’t afford a reliable and durable laptop which is state of the art and will not need replacing for a good few years? In the time you will have this MacBook, you will spend much more on numerous other laptops as they break, fail and combust. So why not do the smart thing now and save yourself the hassle of replacing a laptop yearly?
Tablets
For some of you, your lives are very busy, even inexplicable too busy to either pull a sickie with work or to slyly ditch the family day out. To you, we first say ‘boo’, but then we say not to worry, a tablet is your salvation!
These are much cheaper than laptops and TVs obviously, and are also much more portable, thus you can watch Kane, Vardy and co. bang them in on the go!
Fire 7-Inch tablet
What a price for such a little trooper! This is in all honesty one of the best deals out there for a tablet. Value for money is incredible, just check if you don’t believe us. It may only boast 5GB of storage, but it allows for a 128GB SD card, so space will be a thing of myth. It is very nifty and can easily be taken wherever you need. Also, it is waterproof, so on the odd chance that it may rain (as ridiculous as this sounds… Rain? In England?), no worries, no sweat.
What we like about the Fire 7-Inch tablet
- Excellent price considering performance and all features offered.
- Although not known for it, decent screen and performance for such a small model.
- Great battery life.
What we don’t like about the Fire 7-Inch tablet
- Cannot run the snapchat app. This is one of the only things that it can’t do that an iPad can.
So no need to splash out on a more expensive and complex model. Go for simplicity. Go for value with quality.
Microsoft Surface 3 10.8 Inch Tablet
Next on the bargain train to quality street, is a more expensive model from Microsoft which offers similar value for money. The Surface 3 features a stylus pen, which helps those who are not blessed with dexterity. An upgrade from the Surface Pro 3 is that this model is fan-less, with many customers claiming that noise was the past model’s only downfall. The 4GB of RAM is more than enough to get this machine running like the hero it is.
What we like about the Microsoft Surface 3 10.8 Inch Tablet
- Very fast performance speed.
- Easily connected to phones and laptops.
- Stylus pen which ensures that researching and surfing on the web is easy and quick.
What we don’t like about the Microsoft Surface 3 10.8 Inch Tablet
- Not suitable for gaming.
So the only real downside is that it is not suitable to play games on. But come on, we’re all adults here. Who, for one, plays games on anything other than an Xbox or PlayStation, and two who needs to play games on the move anyway. You’ll be far too busy getting updates of your football team’s victory.
Speakers
Okay, so you have a TV, laptop or tablet to watch the game on. But what’s that? Oh no, your sound quality is poor (*gasp*). The sound of a tackle cannot be distinguished from a kick of the ball, you can’t tweet your mate what happened because you didn’t hear clearly which player just scored and life is just not good. This is why you need to optimise your viewing experience with a decent set of speakers, so you can really engulf yourself into the match. I mean, a HD TV is good, but why not go all out and get the full works?
Bose ® SoundLink ® Mini Bluetooth Speaker II
Bose… Clap clap clap. Well done, we take our hat off to you. Want a speaker that will fill the, no any, room? Well this is the one for you. It is such a small device and yet has the capacity to transmit a huge amount of sound in a clear and sharp manner.
What we like about the Bose ® SoundLink ® Mini Bluetooth Speaker II
- Can connect to any device up to nine metres away.
- USB chargeable, meaning no need for plug sockets or a specific charger to give this a bit of juice.
- Very robust, due to its bulky design, meaning you can drop it at will (although we don’t recommend!).
What we don’t like about the Bose ® SoundLink ® Mini Bluetooth Speaker II
- Slightly heavy at 1.2kg, but still light enough to carry around.
Blast out Three Lions on this one and get the whole neighbourhood involved, whether they like it or not. This is guaranteed to get you absolutely pumped for any game, and game run a party single-handedly.
TaoTronics Bluetooth 4.0 Speaker
A cheaper alternative to the Bose, this speaker still possesses a lot of qualities. Very easy to pair with devices and has a good range. Like the Bose, it is durable (even more so) and is not easily scratched or damaged.
What we like about the TaoTronics Bluetooth 4.0 Speaker
- Will last a very long time, which ensures excellent value for money.
- Produces immense sound, rivalling the projection of the Bose.
- Rechargeable battery that can play up to six hours.
What we don’t like about the TaoTronics Bluetooth 4.0 Speaker
- Bordering on the bulky side so it’s best to find a spot for it to call home so it can settle in.
Again, why settle for pleasing just one of your senses? Treat your ears to sharp and potent sounds, so that every kick, header or tackle is heard perfectly. Enhance your experience.
Headphones
So maybe you’re in a public environment, and being the caring and heartless person that you are, you decide to not bother others with noise from your laptop/tablet/phone. But unless you have a set of headphones, you’re not going to be able to listen to the match with commentary. With all the distractions of being out and about, you cannot rely on your eyes to give you the full story. Headphones are an absolute must.
Bose QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones
Our buddies Bose are back again, this time killing it with the headphone scene. Unlike some company models in the past (cough cough Sony) the noise-cancelling technology really does work. In fact, it doesn’t just work, but it excels. You will be more gobsmacked at these than when you saw Harry Kane on corners for England.
What we like about the Bose QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones
- Impossibly comfy on the ears, and has little (if any) feel on top of the head.
- Hands free remote to fast-forward, pause, rewind etc. music, as well as alter volume.
- Stylish look to them and easy to move.
What we don’t like about the Bose QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones
Has been said by customers that it is too similar to previous models but we disagree, this offers so much more!
Plantronics BackBeat FIT Wireless Stereo Headphones with Armband for Smartphone
No more listening to your kids argue. Simply bang on these and be transported to heaven. This is a truly unique and revolutionary product. So easy to connect to multiple devices. Good connectivity to Bluetooth. Quick to charge and when fully charged lasts for days! Fit on your ear as opposed to in it, so no chance of falling out.
What we like about the Plantronics BackBeat FIT Wireless Stereo Headphones with Armband for Smartphone
- Flexible and very easy to travel with.
- No hassle with charging and lasts a long time.
- Comfortable headband and ear fit which doesn’t allow headset to move around and cause irritation.
What we don’t like about the Plantronics BackBeat FIT Wireless Stereo Headphones with Armband for Smartphone
- Doesn’t insert into ear so may pick up background sound more than other models.
For those who want to be amazed and try something new, this is definitely for you. Cheap as well, so there is nothing to complain about, apart from why you haven’t bought these sooner.
