I purchased a new 43" Finlux UHD smart TV last month during Amazon Prime Day, it was a bargain and having already owned an excellent 32" Finlux Full HD I was happy to stick with a brand I like and think provide high quality electronics at a reasonable price. I've not been disappointed with the quality of my purchase either, an outstanding picture, particularly from the BT Sport 4K channel and the 4K Netflix selections via my new UHD BT YouView box.

About a week after my purchase I received an email from Finlux telling me that my model was now ready for a software update to receive Freeview Play. However, after multiple attempts, the software wouldn't update, and when I contacted Finlux they said my TV needs a firmware update first. This has proved to be easier said than done, as Finlux need my models specific serial number, and with the telly wall mounted and the number being on the back, accessing that info was challenging to say the least! Finlux were unable to get the serial number for me from their warehouse records, the responsibility was mine if I want this update.

However, I managed to obtain the serial number with help from my phone's camera and a USB torch, and this morning Finlux said I will now receive an email on Monday containing the firmware patch, which needs to be added to a USB stick. Though this is of course the result I wanted, I'm still very slightly anxious about updating my TV's firmware myself, I don't want anything to go wrong and knacker my new purchase just for the sake of updating to Freeview Play,a service that I won't probably use very often as I already watch the majority of TV, catch up etc through my UHD BT box.

Has anyone here done a firmware update for similar reasons to mine on their TV or other devices recently? I'd be particularly interested to hear from other Finlux users. Have any of you encountered any problems with firmware updating, or has the process gone smoothly? I'd really like some feedback/advice/opinions on this before I definitely decide whether to update my TV.

Thanks!

Sorry if this comes over as a silly question but...

Have you connected the TV to your router (cable or WiFi)? Because if it isn't then I would question the value of upgrading as Freeview Play needs an internet connection to work.

Sorry, I didn't mention in my initial post, but yes, the TV is connected to broadband over Wifi.

Firmware upgrades usually are painless but any power interruption might brick the TV so if you have a UPS I'd plug the TV into that, power cuts probably aren't an issue unless you're in a village like me that often have power cuts!

Finlux is a Vestel brand so you probably want to cast the net further to include JVC (Currys), Polaroid (Asda), Toshiba (various), Hitachi (Argos), Celcus (Sainsbury's), and Techwood (AO.com)TVs as well.
Good that Vestel TVs are getting this update as their smart TVs are lacking in catch-up services except iPlayer and Netflix.

The Finlux Smart Hub is rather limited, yes, and assuming other Vestel smart platforms are essentially identical, I'd agree with you.

Something I forgot to mention in my o.p, I'm wondering if this firmware update will also allow Netflix to run via the Smart Hub, as currently it doesn't work. This isn't a major issue for me as I access Netflix from the YouView app, but I'd be interested to know how many Finlux customers have struggled to use Netflix on their new telly.

Hopefully this time tomorrow I'll have had at least the firmware email, if not having installed it too. May have to chase Finlux up about it, while they are very friendly and helpful on their sites live chat, they are very lax for follow ups.

There's not really any such 'company' as Finlux, it's actually a badge used directly by Vestel themselves - as opposed to all the third party Vestel badges.

So as far as updates go though, you're probably got a better chance with Finlux sets than any other Vestel made sets.

Well once again they are very prompt in responding in live chat, but still no firmware update! 🙄

They've assured me I'll have it "by the end of the day tomorrow" but this isn't the first assurance they've made. My telly works excellently though so I can't complain too much, would just like this firmware patch for futureproofing above all else.

After getting the firmware file leave it a few weeks until you update.

Thus letting other people be trailblazers...

Good point; if you purchase from the Finlux website, Vestel will have your details but if you purchase from a retailer it won't.

Still no firmware email. Chatting with them is starting to get a little tedious now...

I suspect the online chat is outsourced and so Vessel has agreed a level of service with the provider. Whereas the update is I in-house and will be sorted when they get around to it.