OnePlus TV 55U1 review: Xiaomi should be worried – Android Central

Source: Harish Jonnalagadda/ Android Central

The Q series TVs had a number of issues at launch as well– the remote was unusable, there was no Netflix out of the box, and the chrome design wasnt to everyones tastes. OnePlus is repairing all of those issues with the U series, and the company is positioning stylish design as a standout feature on its newest TVs. So lets take a look at the OnePlus Television U1, and whether it can get an upper hand over Xiaomi.

OnePlus released its very first TVs in India under the Q series, and while the TVs had a lot choosing them, the fact that they were placed in the premium segment made them inaccessible to a bulk of clients in the nation. OnePlus is now fixing that with a follow-up design in the U series, the U1. With the television, OnePlus is squaring up against the likes of Xiaomi and Vu.

Alongside the U series, OnePlus is presenting an entry-level Y series of TVs that start off for simply 12,999 ($ 175). The Y series substantially decreases the barrier for entry for those seeking to get a smart TV, and ought to make OnePlus that far more competitive in this classification. The U1 is readily available for 49,999 ($ 660), and it provides the majority of the functions that made the Q series stand apart at a more budget-friendly cost point.

Over the last two years, Xiaomis Mi television series has been the line of product to beat in India, with the maker now the biggest gamer in the online classification. A lot of the momentum came down to the reality that the Mi TV series offered extraordinary worth, and OnePlus is now imitating that very same method.
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At a glance

OnePlus TV U1

Bottom line: The OnePlus Television U1 has it all: a vibrant 4K display screen that delivers HDR10+ and Dolby Vision material, Netflix and Prime Video out of the box, Android television with significant additions, and a premium style with a slim profile. If youre in the marketplace for a brand-new TV for 50,000, this is the one to get.

Premium design with thin bezels
Dynamic 4K panel with Dolby Vision and fantastic color precision
Android television with meaningful additions
Netflix and Prime Video included out of package
Usable remote

Wall installing is an inconvenience
On the costlier side

The Good

The Bad

OnePlus TV U1 Design

Source: Harish Jonnalagadda/ Android Central

The OnePlus TV U1 is just as classy as choices from Samsung and LG that expense two times as much.

That particular design came with a spinal column that held the whole weight of the TV, and the chrome base just didnt fit into the premium aesthetic. With the U1, however, OnePlus went back to basics and simply added feet on either side of the TV.

There are no visible screws on the television, and OnePlus notes that it integrated a great deal of the feedback from its user neighborhood over the style of the TV. That was among the factors for the carbon fiber pattern at the back and the slim chassis, and overall, there is a lot to like on the style front here. OnePlus doesnt provide the wall mounting package in the box, however the company has actually pointed out that customers will be able to ask for the set throughout setup and it would be offered without any included charge.

Design is a standout point for OnePlus with the U series– that much was clear when I engaged with OnePlus CEO Pete Lau earlier this month. The OnePlus TV U1 has a slim design with the thickness at just 6.9 mm. The bottom one-third is wider as it houses all the internal parts and the ports, but in general the television looks just as premium as options from Samsung and LG that cost twice as much.

The aluminum chassis along with that gunmetal finish makes the OnePlus TV U1 stick out in this classification. OnePlus nailed the style brief with the television, and for what youre paying here, you are getting a terrific item.

Another separating factor on the design front is the carbon fiber pattern at the back. The pattern covers the lower one-third at the back– where the internal hardware is housed– and theres a removable cover that hides the ports. It leads to a cleaner appearance, however if you want to plug in an HDMI cable television, you will need to eliminate the cover as theres no method to path cable televisions from beneath it.

OnePlus TV U1 Display

Source: Harish Jonnalagadda/ Android Central

The panel has 93% DCI-P3 color range, and OnePlus Gamma Engine comes with a host of tweaks that deliver a clearer image, consisting of incredibly resolution, dynamic contrast, anti-aliasing, and noise decrease. OnePlus is efficiently leveraging its Gamma Engine to provide more vibrant and clearer images, so that even if the source resolution isnt high, youll still get decent visuals.

The OnePlus TV U1 has a 55-inch 4K LED display with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. Building on the thin side profile, OnePlus has cut the bezels around the panel, and the outcome is a beautiful bezel-less style that looks great.

The OnePlus TV U1 has among the finest display screens youll discover in this classification.

Theres also motion estimation, motion payment (MEMC) for smooth video playback, with the mode being available in convenient for sports material in specific. The OnePlus TV U1 comes with a video gaming mode that reduces the latency to 22ms.

When it pertains to everyday usage, the OnePlus Television U1 is as fluid as any TV I have actually used to date. It has 3GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, and is powered by the very same MediaTek chipset thats on the Q1 series. The robust hardware means you wont see any lag at all when browsing the user interface, and while I normally change to a streaming box like the NVIDIA Shield with all the TVs I utilize, I didnt find the requirement to do so here.

Concerning the audio side of things, the OnePlus television U1 has four speakers– 2 high-frequency systems and two full-range speakers– that integrate to deliver 30W of output. OnePlus says it turned the speakers by 90 degrees and made a couple of style tweaks to deliver 50% better bass versus traditional designs, which appears in everyday use.

The OnePlus TV U1 holds up extremely well in real-world use. The panel has lively colors and fantastic contrast levels, and while it isnt rather as vibrant as the QLED panel on the Q1 series, it is one of the finest screens youll discover in this category. Seeing angles are great, and Dolby Vision material in particular looks wonderful. It is a guaranteed leg up over what Xiaomi and others need to provide in this sector.

You get Dolby Atmos, and like last year, theres a dedicated Bluetooth mode that essentially lets you use the TV as a soundbar. Onboard audio is serviceable, but you will wish to combine the TV with a decent soundbar or speaker system for a more immersive sound.

OnePlus TV U1 Remote

Source: Harish Jonnalagadda/ Android Central

Luckily, the remote thats bundled with the OnePlus TV U1 is far better. It is huge and large, and you get all the buttons: theres volume controls, a dedicated mute button, buttons for conjuring up Google Assistant and releasing Netflix and Prime Video, and back and home navigation buttons. You likewise get a direction pad at the top, and in general this is a much more well thought-out style.

One of the main problems I had with the Q1 series was the remote: it was unwieldy and too thin to be any excellent in daily use, and the reality that the volume buttons were found on the side made it doubly frustrating. I didnt comprehend why it had to charge over USB-C.

Theres likewise a OnePlus button for releasing Oxygen Play, the businesss curated material platform. The remote now deals with 2 AAA batteries, and yes, youll discover two batteries consisted of in the box. The one disadvantage is that the remote is constructed out of plastic, however I dont care about it at all. This is a much better remote than what Ive used on the Q1, and thats all you require to know.

OnePlus Television U1 Connectivity

Source: Harish Jonnalagadda/ Android Central

I didnt face any issues linking the TV over Wi-Fi, and I had a trusted signal throughout the 3 weeks I tested the U1. I didnt discover any buffering on Netflix or other streaming services, or any other connectivity-related issues.

In regards to ports, youll find three HDMI 2.0 ports– including one with ARC– along with one USB 2.0 port, a USB 3.0 port, optical out, Ethernet port, an AV Composite port, and an RF port. The ports are available, and theyre clearly identified, so even if you have the television wall-mounted, you ought to not have any problems when it pertains to linking an HDMI cable television or slotting a USB drive.

The OnePlus TV U1 has all the connectivity choices youre searching for. Theres Wi-Fi air conditioner, Bluetooth 5.0, Chromecast built-in, DLNA, and the aforementioned Bluetooth Stereo mode.

OnePlus Television U1 Android Television

Source: Harish Jonnalagadda/ Android Central

A new feature coming to Oxygen Play– OnePlus content curation platform– is Content Calendar. It lets you set pointers to make sure you dont miss an approaching episode of your favorite show, or make order of business of programs youre interested in streaming. OnePlus is also leveraging its cloud picture sharing service, and if you currently have pictures on the platform, youll be able to access them on the TV.

Theres Android TV out of the box, and OnePlus Connect continues to be a standout feature.

Theres likewise a Kids Mode that lets parents set time limits and whitelist content that kids can access on the TV. Among the standout includes on the software side of things is OnePlus Connect, with the function making it much easier to manage different functions on the TV with your phone. You can easily cast material, switch between apps, and much more.

As is the case with all TVs that run Android television, the U1 has Google Assistant baked in. You likewise get Chromecast built-in, and you can likewise install Alexa on the TV if youre invested in Amazons ecosystem. This time around, Netflix and Prime Video are readily available out of package, and you can always set up other streaming services from the Play Store.

Anyway, the U1 comes with a Data Saver mode, with Xiaomi being the very first brand to offer this function on a TV. Its clear that an information saver feature is something that customers in India are looking for, so its great to see that on the TV. The mode lets you restrict background use, lower the video resolution, and limitation network bandwidth.

All the brand-new software application features are concerning the Q1 series in the coming weeks. Overall, theres plenty to like on the software application front with the television U1, and with the likes of OnePlus Connect and Oxygen Play, you get a few get a couple of meaningful additions that use Android TV that far more exciting.

The OnePlus television U1 runs Android TV out of the box. Android television is still based upon Android 9.0, so thats what youll find here. I like the Android television user interface as its clean and doesnt get in the method of accessing your preferred streaming services– its telling that I have six TVs in the home now, and all of them run Android television natively or through a streaming box.

OnePlus TV U1 Competition

Source: Harish Jonnalagadda/ Android Central

There are a lot of choices if youre looking for a 4K Television for under 50,000 in India right now. It is terrific worth, however youre not getting Dolby Vision, and the panel quality isnt as good as the OnePlus Television U1.

TCL also has a good 55-inch 4K design that costs 44,999 ($ 595), however that specific variant is from 2019. That stated, you get a vibrant panel, HDR10, and Android TV with access to all the streaming services.

OnePlus Television U1 Should you buy it?

Source: Harish Jonnalagadda/ Android Central

Who its for

.

If youre interested in a 4K Television with Dolby Vision for 50,000.
If you desire a clean Android TV user interface with Netflix and Prime Video.
, if youre looking for a fluid interface without any lag and great onboard audio.
.
, if you want all the latest connection functions and an easy-to-use remote.

Who it isnt for

The aluminum chassis and slim profile with thin bezels make the OnePlus television U1 stick out, and the display screen is among the finest youll find in this category. It has lively colors and runs Netflix and Prime Video at 4K without any concerns, and Dolby Vision material likewise looked excellent on the TV. The 30W onboard audio is similarly fantastic, and it does a passable job in everyday usage.

If youre in the marketplace for a QLED or OLED display screen.

The OnePlus television U1 provides everything you want from a television in this category.

I wasnt especially crazy about the OnePlus television Q1 last year. Sure, the TV had a lively QLED panel, but it didnt deliver when it comes to value. Luckily, that isnt the case with the OnePlus 2020 launches. By turning its attention to the budget and mid-tier sections, OnePlus is making its TVs far more available, and with the OnePlus TV U1 in particular, the value on deal is far better than last year.

Then theres the truth that the TV runs Android TV out of package, and you get a couple of beneficial additions in the form of OnePlus Connect and Data Saver mode. Google Assistant is baked in and you get Chromecast built-in, and the remote lastly feels great in-hand. All of your favorite streaming services are also available out of package, and overall, the OnePlus TV U1 isnt actually doing not have in any area.

4
out of 5

Naturally, if you dont want to spend as much on a TV, theres the OnePlus television Y series. OnePlus is rolling out a 43-inch FHD option and an entry-level 32-inch 720p version. Both models have bezel-less styles, 20W onboard audio, Android TV, and a similar set of software application features.

Which, eventually, is what makes it a standout choice in this category. The OnePlus Television U1 is the default option if youre in the market for a 4K TV based on Android TV for 50,000. Sure, the Mi TV 4X uses a TV for 15,000 less, however the U1 is a better item overall, and youre simply getting a lot more in terms of the panel quality and the style.

Hitting the right notes

OnePlus TV U1

One of the very best TVs in this category

By turning its attention to the budget and mid-tier segments, OnePlus is making its TVs much more available, and with the OnePlus Television U1 in specific, the value on offer is much better than last year.

If youre in the market for a 4K TV based on Android TV for 50,000, the OnePlus Television U1 is the default choice.

The OnePlus Television U1 has everything: a vibrant 4K screen that provides HDR10+ and Dolby Vision material, Netflix and Prime Video out of the box, Android TV with significant additions, and a premium design with a slim profile. This is the one to get if youre in the market for a new TV for 50,000.

OnePlus released its first TVs in India under the Q series, and while the TVs had a lot going for them, the truth that they were placed in the premium sector made them inaccessible to a majority of customers in the country. The OnePlus TV U1 runs Android TV out of the box. I like the Android TV user interface as its clean and does not get in the way of accessing your preferred streaming services– its informing that I have six TVs in the house now, and all of them run Android Television natively or by means of a streaming box.

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