Avtex AV24DS Review: A Purpose-Built Caravan TV with Smart Features and Genuine Flexibility

Product Category: Caravan Television

Brand: Avtex

Prices Usually Range From: £450 to £490

Best For: Caravanners who tour a mix of hook-up and off-grid pitches and want a single device covering all viewing options

Where to Buy: Available direct from Avtex or through specialist leisure retailers such as Towsure, Leisure Shop Direct, and A&E Leisure

Avtex AV24DS Caravan TV - Introduction

Finding a TV that genuinely suits caravan life is harder than it looks. A standard home set might handle the picture well enough, but it was never designed to run from a 12V leisure battery, survive being packed away every weekend, or tune into satellite without a separate decoder. The Avtex AV24DS addresses all of that in one unit, and in a market where purpose-built options are limited, it sits near the top of the shortlist for good reason.

The AV24DS is a 23.8-inch Full HD smart TV with a built-in DVD player, satellite decoder, and Freely integration, built specifically for the mobile leisure market. It runs on the VIDAA smart platform and operates from 12V or 24V DC as well as 240V mains, making it equally at home whether you are on a full hook-up pitch or camping off-grid from a leisure battery. At 3.3kg and just 44mm deep, it is light and slim enough for most caravan TV brackets and locker spaces.

Avtex has been producing leisure TVs for over three decades and the AV24DS reflects that experience. The spec list is genuinely comprehensive, and the three-year warranty puts it well ahead of most domestic equivalents. That said, it comes at a premium price, and whether that premium is justified depends entirely on how and where you tour.

Key Features

The standout addition on the AV24DS versus the standard AV24TS is the integrated DVD player. This might feel like a throwback, but it is a practical backup on pitches with no Wi-Fi and patchy 4G coverage. A handful of DVDs takes up very little space in a caravan, and the option to watch something without any internet connection at all is genuinely useful on quiet rural sites.

Beyond the DVD player, the AV24DS includes Freely, which is the UK's newer Wi-Fi-based TV service. When you are connected to a site Wi-Fi or a mobile router, Freely delivers live and on-demand content from all the major UK broadcasters including BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, without needing an aerial or satellite dish. This is a real convenience on modern, well-equipped sites where a physical aerial connection is not always straightforward to set up.

When you do not have Wi-Fi, the built-in DVB-T2 and DVB-S2 tuners with FASTSCAN technology handle Freeview and satellite reception respectively. FASTSCAN significantly speeds up the channel-finding process, which is a meaningful improvement if you are moving pitches frequently. The AQT (Avtex Quick Tuning) system makes switching between sources quick and straightforward.

The VIDAA smart platform provides access to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, All4 and My5 when connected to the internet. Dual-band Wi-Fi at 2.4GHz and 5GHz supports both older and newer router standards, and Apple AirPlay 2 and MirrorCast allow direct streaming from a phone or tablet. Bluetooth connectivity means you can pair wireless headphones or an external speaker if the built-in audio is not up to the job in your particular setup.

The power management system includes an on-screen battery meter, accessible through a dedicated hot button on the remote. For anyone running off a leisure battery, knowing the current draw and battery state without going outside to check is a useful feature. Power consumption in 12V mode is low, which helps extend available viewing time between charges.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Triple power supply (12V, 24V, 240V) covers every touring scenario

• Freely integration means live TV over Wi-Fi with no aerial or dish required

• Built-in DVD player provides a reliable fallback when there is no internet

• DVB-S2 satellite tuner included as standard, no separate decoder needed

• Ultra-slim at 44mm and lightweight at 3.3kg

• Wide 178-degree viewing angles suit the varied seating layouts in most caravans

• Full streaming app suite including Netflix, Disney+ and BBC iPlayer

• Apple AirPlay 2 and MirrorCast for wireless casting from mobile devices

• On-screen battery meter for off-grid power monitoring

• Three-year manufacturer warranty with a well-regarded after-sales service

• FASTSCAN and AQT tuning speed up channel setup between pitches

Cons

• Built-in speaker output is modest and may require a separate soundbar for satisfying audio

• Price sits significantly above a comparable domestic smart TV of the same screen size

• Freely streaming requires a Wi-Fi connection, so you still need an aerial or satellite dish on pitches without internet

• App availability on the VIDAA platform is controlled by third-party providers and can change over time, and is not covered by the warranty

• The 24-inch screen, while practical for most caravans, will feel compact if you are coming from a larger home TV

Performance

Picture quality is solid for the screen size and price point. The Full HD 1920 x 1080 panel delivers clear, detailed images across both Freeview HD and satellite HD channels, and the wide viewing angles mean you get consistent picture quality from most positions within a caravan lounge, even from more acute angles to the side of the TV. Colour reproduction is accurate rather than artificially vivid, which suits natural-looking broadcast content well.

The FASTSCAN tuner performs as intended and channel scanning is noticeably quicker than older non-FASTSCAN sets. Moving between satellite and terrestrial input is handled cleanly, and switching over to Freely when you connect to Wi-Fi is straightforward through the AQT system. Setup from a cold start is manageable and the menus are laid out clearly enough that you do not need the manual to get going.

Streaming performance over Wi-Fi is dependent on connection quality, as it would be with any smart TV. On a reliable site Wi-Fi or a 4G mobile router, Netflix, iPlayer and Freely all run well. On congested or weak site Wi-Fi, performance can drop, but this is a network issue rather than a limitation of the TV itself. The 5GHz Wi-Fi band helps in environments with heavy 2.4GHz congestion.

Audio is the one area where the AV24DS reflects its compact design. The built-in speakers produce acceptable sound for spoken dialogue but lack bass and can feel thin during music or action sequences. This is common with flat, slim TVs at this depth, and Avtex offer their own soundbar (the SB195BT) as an accessory. Alternatively, the optical audio output and Bluetooth allow you to connect other wireless speakers. This is worth factoring into the budget if audio quality matters to you.

The 12V power system draws modestly from a leisure battery, which is an important practical consideration. The on-screen battery meter gives you a reasonable indication of remaining capacity, and the intelligent power supply manages the transition between 12V and 240V cleanly when you switch from off-grid to hook-up.

Specifications

Specification	Detail
Screen Size	23.8 inches (Full HD 1920 x 1080)
Smart Platform	VIDAA
Tuners	DVB-T2 (Freeview), DVB-S2 (satellite), Freely (Wi-Fi)
Power Supply	12V DC / 24V DC / 240V AC
Weight	3.3kg (including stand)
Depth	44mm
Wi-Fi	Dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz
Bluetooth	Yes
Streaming Apps	Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, All4, My5
Casting	Apple AirPlay 2, MirrorCast
USB Recording	Yes
HDMI	ARC x1
Audio Output	Optical, headphone socket
Wall Mount	VESA 100 x 100mm
Warranty	3 years
Viewing Angle	178 degrees horizontal and vertical

Why It's Recommended

The Avtex AV24DS earns its place on a caravan TV shortlist because of what it replaces rather than what it adds. A domestic smart TV of the same size will typically need a separate satellite decoder, a 12V power converter, and either a Fire Stick or similar device to match the streaming app suite. Factor in the purchase and installation costs, the additional wiring, and the extra devices to store and pack away, and the price gap between the AV24DS and a cheaper domestic set narrows considerably.

For caravanners who want a clean, single-unit setup that works across every scenario, the AV24DS is a practical choice. Freely is a particularly useful addition for anyone touring regularly at parks with reliable Wi-Fi, as it removes the need to set up an aerial each time. The built-in satellite decoder covers you when you are on a park with a satellite connection point, and the terrestrial tuner handles Freeview on sites with good signal. The DVD player rounds out the options for the rare occasion when none of those work.

The three-year warranty and Avtex's track record for responsive after-sales support are worth noting. Caravan equipment takes more physical stress than home appliances, and knowing that a warranty issue will be handled quickly and without unnecessary hassle has genuine value.

It is not a TV for everyone. If you always tour on EHU-equipped, Wi-Fi-capable sites and already own a Fire Stick, a cheaper domestic set might serve you just as well at lower cost. But if you want one unit that handles every touring scenario without compromise, the AV24DS is well worth considering.

Rating

Overall Score: 4.2 / 5

Score Breakdown

Design: 4.5 / 5

Durability: 4.0 / 5

Ease of Use: 4.5 / 5

Value for Money: 3.8 / 5

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Disclaimer

This review reflects our genuine opinions and experiences. Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This means we may receive a small commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.

Product details, availability, and prices were accurate at the time of writing but may change without notice. Please check with the retailer for the latest information before making a purchase. Caravan Coach cannot be held responsible for differences between this review and the actual product or service you receive.