Portable LCD TVs have come a long way in the past few years, as is evident in Roadstar’s recently released batch of stylish new handheld sets. So, we got our hands on the 8in screen model to test out.

The Roadstar LCD8082D is compact enough to fit into a bag (or even very large pockets), making it an ideal companion for holidaymakers, regardless of whether you go camping or on a charter holiday. The size of the screen means that, overall, the unit is just slightly bigger than an A5-size sheet of paper.

It has a digital tuner for accessing Freeview TV channels, along with a range of digital radio stations. After connecting the digital TV antenna, the automatic scan kicks in. Within a minute or so, it presented some 40 TV channels and 25 digital radio stations for us to explore.

A multi-analogue tuner is also built in, in case you’re out and about in an area that isn’t yet covered by Freeview, or abroad. You also get a range of built-in games.

The 8in LCD screen is crisp and clear. The 4:3 aspect ratio is a bit of a shame and means users will miss out on some of the benefits of Freeview and Teletext, while still viewing a miniature window of the TV programme currently tuned in. Still, overall the image is first class.

The sound is powerful but gets tinny when on max. We found that when watching or listening in a normal office or home environment, it is perfectly adequate to keep the volume settings to about a fifth of what the 8082D can actually churn out. The supplied earphones are decent, but not fantastic.

There are also useful functions, such as an electronic programme guide (EPG), so you can check out what programmes are due to be shown on a particular channel up to a week in advance. The built-in parental control function can be set so that certain channels can only be accessed by keying in a PIN.

Weighing in at just under a kilo, it can be operated from the mains, the supplied 12v in-car DC source, or batteries. It is easy to use, with intuitive menus and good reception.