Nobody will buy a 4K television right now, they said. However, brands like LeEco did not believe the naysayers. LeEco is coming out with 4K LED TVs that cost much less than Rs. 1 lakh. The range comprises 55-inch and 65-inch models.
Xiaomi is another brand that offers 4K TVs at an affordable price, but they aren’t available in India as of now.
So, this gives LeEco the chance to build itself a consumer base that has been choosing amongst the likes of Samsung, Sony and LG all this while. With a price of Rs 60,000 does LeEco deserve a look-in with its Super X55 TV? We’ll know soon.
Pros:
- Bright and crisp 4K display
- TV feels bigger than the 55-inch size
- Smart TV features supported
- Host of connectivity options
- Bundled content offers promise
Cons:
- Placement of speaker offers flat music quality
- Smart remote is simple to use but misses out on some features
- Built-in webcam would have been nice
- Doesn’t offer Google Play store
What’s Good?
The first thing you notice is the simplicity and elegance of the Super3 X55 TV. Even though we would have loved to try out the 65-inch model, it is fair to say that the 55-inch variant is no miniature. The display panel covers the major part of the TV, leaving us with almost a bezel-less television.
What is also likeable about the X55 TV is its overall design aesthetics that clearly defies its price, making it look good in your living room. You can either mount the TV on the bundled stand (that comes in a separate box) or let it hang on the wall.
The TV’s no slouch on performance either. Eight GB RAM with a quad-core processor enables the 3860x1440 resolution of this TV to deliver top viewing results. Not only is the X55 a 4K TV, it also supports Smart TV features via internet. You can connect to internet via WiFi or Ethernet (LAN cable).
We tried out full-HD (1920x1080 pixels), as well as some 4K content (yet to find a library for it). The colours are fairly crisp, with no major loss in detail. You can tweak the settings of the display to suit your comfort as well.
The Super3 X55 TV runs on Android and along with LeEco’s own software, you get a user-friendly interface.
Also, we’d like to point out the number of connectivity options available with this Smart TV. You get 3 HDMI ports, 3 USB ports out of which 2 are USB 2.0, and there’s a VGA port also.
The TV comes with a Smart Remote that combines manual as well gesture-based use. LeEco claims to be offering a 4 year warranty on the display panel, and on-site service for any grievance calls. This should surely be seen as a positive on the service front.
What’s Bad?
While the Super3 X55 TV runs on Android, we fail to understand why LeEco not offering Google Play Store. This means Google apps cannot be used.
By making an almost bezel-less display, LeEco has been forced to place the audio speakers at the bottom of the panel. This majorly affects the audio output of the television which sounds flat, and nowhere close to the quality on offer from a Samsung or LG at this price.
The inclusion of Smart TV feature should have been ideally backed up with a built-in web camera. Instead, users are expected to buy them separately. We would have also liked to see more options on the smart remote that can make using the TV even better and easier.
Finally, the LeEco Super3 X55 TV is only available online, that too in the form of flash sale right now. Not many consumers in the country are comfortable buying large electronics items online. Will people buy the TV before experiencing it? Hard to say that right now.
Why Buy It?
The LeEco Super3 TV is probably the only 4K-powered TV in India that is selling for as low as Rs 60,000. For this price, you get an aesthetically pleasing model with a near bezel-less display, combined with Smart TV features and access to content via Eros Now.
The TV runs on Android, but doesn’t come with Google Play Store. LeEco is a new brand in the TV segment, so it would be interesting to see if buyers opt out of majors like Samsung or Sony and go for their television.
There’s much to like about this 4K television, and if brand loyalty doesn’t limit your buying options, then a pre-festive buy for the Super3 X55 TV is worth considering.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)