Sinclair Radionics developed the world’s first pocket television set in 1966, which boasted a two inch screen and which could be bought for just under £50. A decade later this updated version was mass produced, differentiated from the original 'Microvision' by the code TV1A. These new sets were aimed at an executive market, and retailed at an average cost of $400, which made them ‘ounce-for-ounce, more costly than solid silver’. The TV1A was also the world’s first multi-band television, meaning it could be used in almost every country; the inclusion of three types of battery charger also demonstrates that it was intended for an international market. The small, black and white screen could be viewed comfortably from a distance of about 30cm.

Historically, the TV1A was a significant move for Sinclair, as it represented the first time they had developed their own hardware rather than adapting existing components. Sinclair again updated the design in 1978, launching the more streamlined TV1B.