When OnePlus launched its first televisions in 2019, there have been blended reactions from reviewers and fanatics alike. The OnePlus TV Q1 series is spectacular for quite a lot of causes, however with costs beginning at Rs. 69,999, it’s nonetheless far too costly for a lot of to even contemplate. The corporate’s new televisions for 2020 aren’t replacements for the OnePlus TV Q1 collection in any respect; these are extra reasonably priced TVs that can attraction to extra value-conscious patrons.
The corporate has now launched the OnePlus TV U series and Y series, with the latter being probably the most reasonably priced, meant for finances good TV patrons. The previous is what we’re reviewing at present. There is a single 55-inch mannequin on this collection for now – the OnePlus TV 55U1 4K LED Android TV. Priced at Rs. 49,999, this is not a finances choice by any means, however it’s considerably extra reasonably priced than the OnePlus TV 55Q1 due to the extra cost-efficient LED-backlit LCD display screen.
Aside from that, this tv guarantees every little thing else that you just’d get with the OnePlus TV Q1 collection, together with numerous software program tweaks and enhancements which were launched since that mannequin was first launched. Is the brand new OnePlus TV U Sequence (55U1) an excellent choice to think about for those who’re on the lookout for a not-so-expensive big-screen 4K HDR TV? Discover out in our evaluation.
OnePlus TV U Sequence (55U1) design and specs
The OnePlus TV Q1 collection is sort of radical when it comes to design, with its carbon-fibre-like texture on the again and considerably controversial stand. With the OnePlus TV 55U1, issues have modified a bit. The tv is simply 6.9mm thick on the high and sides, with an aluminium physique. The borders across the display screen are slim, with a small OnePlus brand just under the display screen that is barely noticeable except you are proper in entrance of it. The screen-to-body ratio is a formidable 95 p.c, and this makes the TV look unbelievable from all angles.
It is also fairly heavy for a 55-inch TV due to the premium supplies used. From the entrance, the 55U1 intently resembles the OnePlus TV Q1, and has rear-positioned audio system, whereas the facility button is on the backside close to the lower-right nook.
The marginally thicker backside part has a well-recognized carbon-fibre-like texture, with the wall mount sockets within the centre and all ports on the fitting, with a removable shroud. For those who’re table-mounting the TV, you may need to hold this on after plugging in any exterior units, to keep up the uniformity of the again of the TV.
The OnePlus TV 55U1 helps the 12-bit Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR normal
The TV has a good set of ports, together with three HDMI inputs (certainly one of which helps HDMI ARC), two USB ports, an AV-In socket that can be utilized with an adapter, an RF socket for an antenna, an optical audio output, and an Ethernet port for wired Web connectivity. A notable omission here’s a three.5mm audio jack, however there may be Bluetooth for wi-fi audio system or headphones.
For those who intend to table-mount the OnePlus TV U Sequence (55U1), it is a good bit simpler to put in, and extra steady than the OnePlus TV Q1 collection. The stands connect firmly and securely close to the corners of the TV, and you may due to this fact want a large sufficient desk to put the tv on. It has normal VESA sockets on the again for wall mounting, and may take just about any VESA-supported wall mount equipment for the scale.
Wall mounting was a bit difficult for me, since OnePlus would not embrace a equipment within the gross sales bundle. I used an ordinary VESA equipment, however due to the slanting again of the TV, this made it tilt barely upwards. This wasn’t a critical concern for me due to the peak and positioning of the TV at my house, nevertheless it may very well be an issue for some, and undoubtedly appeared awkward on my wall.
You get a number of helpful ports on the OnePlus TV U Sequence, however there is no three.5mm headphone jack
OnePlus states that an official wall mount equipment will probably be introduced alongside by the corporate’s set up technicians, might be fitted at no cost, and can right the lean subject. Nonetheless, the corporate wasn’t in a position to present any additional particulars on this, together with the design of the wall mount equipment, on the time of this evaluation. Nonetheless, the truth that customers may face this subject with something however the official wall mount equipment is a bit bothersome.
The OnePlus TV U Sequence (55U1) has a 55-inch Extremely-HD (3840×2160-pixel) LED-backlit VA panel, with help for HDR as much as the Dolby Imaginative and prescient format. There’s additionally MEMC for movement interpolation. The TV has a complete rated sound output of 30W, by means of a four-speaker configuration on the backside. Sound codecs as much as Dolby Atmos and DTS:HD are supported, and a Bluetooth Stereo mode allows you to use the tv as a Bluetooth speaker with supply units equivalent to smartphones or tablets.
OnePlus TV U Sequence (55U1) distant and options
OnePlus went with a minimalist distant for the Q1 collection, with a built-in battery and USB Sort-C charging. With the extra reasonably priced U collection, the corporate has gone again to a extra conventional design, whereas retaining some good concepts. The 55U1’s distant is plastic and runs on AAA batteries, however nonetheless appears to be like loads like that of the Q1 collection. It would not really feel pretty much as good within the hand, nevertheless it’s mild and extra practical than earlier than.
There’s a D-pad for navigation on the high, a Google Assistant button, Android navigation keys, hotkeys for Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, and common quantity and mute buttons on this Bluetooth and IR distant. There’s nonetheless no devoted energy button; the OnePlus button controls energy when the TV is in standby, and a long-press exhibits the restart, shut down, and standby choices. This button additionally prompts the Oxygen Play launcher with a brief press when the TV is on.
OnePlus appears to have taken suggestions critically, and there may be one important new button that makes utilizing the TV very straightforward. The multi-function button – signified by three squares and a circle – allows you to entry fast settings from wherever you’re on the TV, with out forcing you to return to the Android TV house display screen as was the case earlier than.
The distant is much more practical than the one which shipped with the OnePlus TV Q1
From this pop-up menu, it is potential to regulate community settings, select a special supply, regulate image and sound modes, toggle Bluetooth Stereo mode, and go into the complete Settings menu. All of this may be achieved even whereas one thing is enjoying on the TV, with out interrupting playback whatever the supply machine. This was a lot wanted, and fixes one thing that I thought of to be a serious disadvantage when utilizing the OnePlus Q1 collection.
As is to be anticipated on an Android TV-powered tv, there may be built-in Chromecast and help for Google Assistant on the OnePlus TV U Sequence (55U1). Moreover, it is potential to hyperlink the OnePlus TV U Sequence to Alexa, letting you utilize any Echo or different appropriate machine you may need at house with the TV for voice instructions.
OnePlus TV U Sequence (55U1) software program and interface
Not loads has modified on the software program entrance for the OnePlus TV U Sequence (55U1); the tv runs the acquainted Android TV 9 Pie with OnePlus’ personal Oxygen Play launcher. You get entry to apps and video games by means of the Google Play retailer for Android TV, and a handful of apps together with Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are preinstalled on the tv. There aren’t any notable app omissions right here, so that you’re getting the full-fledged Android TV expertise on this TV.
What I am pleased to report right here is that OnePlus has managed to iron out many of the early software program points that I encountered on the OnePlus TV Q1 Pro. This TV is quick, responsive, and a breeze to make use of. The one subject I did discover throughout my time with the TV was that the Dolby Imaginative and prescient brand was usually seen on display screen although the toggle was off. This can be a small subject although, and will simply be mounted by going into the settings and toggling it on and again off.
Moreover, the settings are detailed, and tweaking image and sound settings is far more responsive on the OnePlus TV 55U1. Variations in image high quality have been seen, and switching off movement interpolation and different image processing modes truly confirmed a distinction. It was straightforward to tune the TV to the fitting image settings for numerous forms of content material, whereas HDR and Dolby Imaginative and prescient content material took by itself particular settings that did not have to be adjusted a lot.
There’s additionally an AI image high quality mode that lets the TV regulate settings on the fly based on the content material on display screen, and this too labored fairly properly. The tv was fast in addition, beginning up from standby in nearly two seconds. On the entire, I am fairly impressed with how straightforward it’s to make use of the OnePlus TV U Sequence, and the way polished and hassle-free its software program is.
The OnePlus TV 55U1 runs Android TV 9 Pie, together with the Oxygen Play launcher
Oxygen Play was a little bit half-baked when it was launched with the OnePlus TV Q1 collection final 12 months, for my part, nevertheless it does appear to have improved fairly a bit since then. Varied streaming companies equivalent to Sony Liv, Hungama Play, and Zee5 are formally supported on the platform, supplying you with a content-centric strategy to the interface with fast entry to particular films and TV exhibits. Nonetheless, as earlier than, you do have to be subscribed to those companies, and hyperlink your accounts to have the ability to use Oxygen Play correctly.
One massive enchancment now’s the addition of Amazon Prime Video, however surprisingly this has its personal tab fairly than being part of the overall checklist of content material. This can be a bit foolish, for my part, since I might simply as simply use the Amazon Prime Video app to entry the identical content material with the native Prime Video consumer interface. Whereas I did not use Oxygen Play a lot, I do see the attraction for individuals who may desire the content-centric interface and the flexibility to find new films and TV exhibits with out a lot effort.
OnePlus Join returns on the OnePlus TV U Sequence (55U1), and can be largely freed from the bugs and points that have been prevalent final 12 months. This app allows you to use your smartphone as a distant, solid content material in your smartphone to the TV simply, and uncover content material based mostly on suggestions. Like earlier than, this is not a really elaborate app, nevertheless it does its job properly sufficient.
OnePlus TV U Sequence (55U1) efficiency
OnePlus has taken issues down a notch with the U Sequence utilizing an LED show in comparison with the Q collection’ QLED panels, however image efficiency remains to be largely good. The OnePlus TV U Sequence (55U1) is priced a bit larger than equally specified choices from Xiaomi and Vu, however is only a bit extra reasonably priced than the TCL 55C715 which has a QLED show. Curiously sufficient, the OnePlus TV 55U1 matches completely into what I really feel is the perfect center floor when it comes to efficiency for the value.
As could be anticipated, the OnePlus TV U Sequence (55U1) performs finest with Extremely-HD Dolby Imaginative and prescient content material, however I used to be additionally very impressed with how good full-HD content material appeared on it. Decrease-resolution content material naturally confirmed some flaws due to the scale of the display screen, however I discovered efficiency with 720p and SD content material to be higher than on a few of the barely extra reasonably priced choices I’ve used.
Beginning out with Dolby Imaginative and prescient content material on Netflix, I performed what I consider to be probably the most visually beautiful tv present ever made – Our Planet. The tv instantly confirmed the Dolby Imaginative and prescient notification within the high nook, and produced an image that was detailed, clear, and correct when it got here to color copy. I notably favored how easy and polished it appeared, avoiding a few of the sharp and jagged edges that some 4K TVs produce by over-processing the image.
Dolby Imaginative and prescient content material naturally appeared finest on the OnePlus TV 55U1
The LED show additionally meant that the OnePlus TV might push the brightness as much as ranges that do Dolby Imaginative and prescient justice. It was spectacular simply how properly the tv dealt with distinction, guaranteeing that brilliant zones have been brilliant whereas darkish zones appeared as they need to. Daylight particularly appeared as lifelike as a TV could make it look, and scenes shot in brilliant daylight have been spectacular.
Nonetheless, darker exhibits equivalent to Night On Earth and Snowpiercer revealed a serious shortcoming within the OnePlus TV U Sequence – unusual black ranges. The TV might by no means fairly produce something that even got here near a real black, with virtually all black components of scenes trying extra like darkish gray.
That is considerably to be anticipated from an LED-backlit TV due to the constraints of the know-how, however the OnePlus TV 55U1 performs a bit beneath expectations when in comparison with the competitors. Barely higher outcomes on the entire may very well be seen with my assortment of 4K and HDR pattern clips, than with streaming media, however this wasn’t a marked distinction.
Subsequent up was ‘Recreation Over, Man!’, additionally out there in Dolby Imaginative and prescient on Netflix. This action-comedy film was a bit too edgy for my tastes, however the viewing expertise itself was spectacular for one massive purpose – movement dealing with. The OnePlus TV U Sequence (55U1) makes use of MEMC (Movement Estimation, Movement Compensation) to glorious impact, making for a easy image (if that is what you want) that was largely freed from judder and artefacts.
Upscaling is great on the OnePlus TV 55U1; full-HD content material appeared virtually like 4K
That is to not say these weren’t seen – all movement interpolation produces some results – nevertheless it was all the way down to a minimal and was barely noticeable. Switching it off produced the movement blur that lots of people do need to see, but in addition appeared so as to add a little bit of judder to the image. I fairly favored the graceful movement, which helped hold the image sharp and made watching TV a bit simpler on the senses for me.
What maybe impressed me probably the most in regards to the OnePlus TV U Sequence 55U1 is how properly it handles full-HD content material. I watched your complete Matrix trilogy streaming in full-HD, and the TV upscaled it so properly that at instances it appeared like I used to be watching the films in Extremely-HD decision. The smoothness, element, and colors have been notably spectacular, whereas movement interpolation held up impressively even within the quick motion scenes. The enduring inexperienced tinge of the collection when the characters are within the Matrix was reproduced completely, as have been the remainder of the colors and pores and skin tones.
Upscaling on the OnePlus TV U collection is respectable even when working with lower-resolution content material, with 720p and SD video clips trying a good bit higher than we have seen on most reasonably priced big-screen TVs. The movement interpolation and smoothening capabilities of the TV do appear to be doing an enormous a part of the lifting right here, and there are nonetheless some anticipated artefacts and uninteresting edges to be seen. Nonetheless, for probably the most half, that is among the many higher large-screen TVs to think about for those who aren’t able to let go of your cable or DTH connection, or for those who watch a variety of content material on YouTube.
The OnePlus TV U Sequence (55U1) has a 30W box-speaker setup consisting of 4 drivers (two full-range audio system and two tweeters), and help for as much as the Dolby Atmos format. Whereas all of it appears good on paper, I used to be largely unimpressed with sound high quality on the TV. Aside from a scarcity of uniformity in quantity ranges, the sound was additionally oddly tuned and a bit too boomy for a tv.
Motion scenes have been loud and aggressive, whereas speech and mild background scores have been usually too smooth to listen to clearly. I normally needed to hold the distant in my hand and hold adjusting the quantity whereas watching the Matrix trilogy to maintain the wildly fluctuating quantity ranges in examine. Dolby Atmos content material did repair this barely and sound higher, however there is not an excessive amount of commercially out there content material on this format for now. With most streaming content material utilizing the decrease Dolby or DTS codecs, this TV would not fairly stay as much as expectations relating to sound high quality. I would suggest budgeting for an excellent soundbar or speaker system as properly, for those who’re planning to purchase the OnePlus TV U Sequence.
It’s kind of costly, however the OnePlus TV U Sequence does supply higher efficiency than finances 4K choices
Verdict
OnePlus’ first try at televisions was removed from preferrred, however the firm has labored on enhancing that product with software program updates over time. This new mannequin has benefited from that studying, and comes throughout as far more targeted, polished, and calculated. Priced extra affordably than final 12 months’s Q1 collection, the Rs. 49,999 OnePlus TV U Sequence (55U1) will get most issues proper, from the design and software program, to image high quality. The 55U1 comes throughout as a way more succesful product than the Q1 collection did on the time of its launch, providing precisely what it guarantees for the value, and doing an excellent job with the core expertise.
That is not to say this TV is with out its points. The potential incompatibility with aftermarket wall-mounts, poor black ranges, and inconsistent sound are price preserving in thoughts for those who intend to purchase the OnePlus TV. Nonetheless, the professionals far outweigh the cons right here, and the OnePlus TV U Sequence (55U1) is a formidable mid-range LED tv that makes a variety of sense for patrons who are usually not solely closely invested in streaming platforms, but in addition nonetheless considerably hooked up to good outdated cable or DTH.
That stated, you may additionally need to contemplate the TCL 55C715, which is priced only a bit larger however gives barely higher image and sound high quality. Alternatively, if Rs. 49,999 sounds a bit too excessive for you, choices such because the Vu Premium 4K Android TV and Xiaomi Mi TV 4X 55 are practically pretty much as good for a good bit much less.
Mi TV 4X vs Vu Cinema TV: Which is the perfect finances TV in India proper now? We mentioned this on Orbital, our weekly know-how podcast, which you’ll be able to subscribe to through Apple Podcasts or RSS, download the episode, or simply hit the play button beneath.
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