Konka U5-sequence 4K tidy TV review: The (avenue) designate is set appropriate

Konka’s 50-depart U5-sequence tidy TV is an spectacular entry-level area. It’s now not a huge entry-level area, and there are seriously higher TVs at its $450 urged retail designate. Nonetheless this TV delivers an spectacular characterize as a rule, and we’re already seeing vital reductions that render it an spectacular accumulate as a secondary TV for a kitchen or a amount of room where it gained’t be the vital supply of leisure.

Have and aspects

The Konka mannequin 55U55A reviewed here is a 50-depart-class 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) TV with a 60Hz refresh fee. It has a truly slim bezel and appeared magnificent sitting on our take a look at bench. You’ll additionally bump into 43-, 55-, 65- and 75-depart iterations at retail. Our take a look at unit was once skinny and comparatively mild, so utilizing its 200mm x 200 mm VESA mount video display grasp it on the wall shouldn’t require sturdy hardware. The legs are standard V-shaped devices that connect by strategy of two bolts, a superior alternative to the screws you’ll bump into on many TVs on this designate fluctuate.

The port alternative contains four HDMI 2.0b ports (one supporting ARC—the audio return channel—however now not eARC). There are three USB ports, coax for cable and antenna connections, ethernet, and a headphone jack. Wi-fi home community connectivity is supplied by an 802.11ac Wi-Fi adapter, and Bluetooth 5.0 is onboard for wireless audio streaming. The latter aspects is a nice perquisite at this designate point. 

This review is an a part of TechHive’s protection of the most easy tidy TVs, where you’ll get reviews of the competition’s offerings, plus a purchaser’s e book to the aspects you would possibly want to nonetheless defend in mind when attempting to search out this diagram of product.

Konka

My one minor field with the ports is the reach they’re inset: This made it a miniature bit advanced to scramble in the oversized USB memory stick that shops about a of our take a look at photography and videos. It’s doable, correct now not as easy as it is a long way prone to be. 

Person interface and much away defend an eye on

The Konka U5 sequence uses the Android TV running gadget with the full total goodness that entails: Make stronger for Google Assistant, Chromecast, hundreds apps, and extra. Konka doesn’t add a amount of stuff to the default homepage, however it did provide a DLNA-conscious media participant, which is one thing I employ quite a miniature bit.

The a long way away rests conveniently on your hand, presents instruct defend an eye on by strategy of the aforementioned Google Assistant, and is usually successfully laid out. If I had a complaint, it’s that that possibilities are you’ll perchance perchance perchance doubtless also’t stray very a long way off axis of the TV’s infrared receiver or it gained’t work.

That’s a total complaint with much less-pricey TVs. You might perchance perchance shriek the onboard mic obviates the need for pointing the a long way away in any respect, however mature habits die laborious and likewise you don’t own to refer to your technology all the time. 

Konka

Efficiency

I wasn’t watching for image miracles, given the U5-sequence’ avenue prices, and I didn’t get any. This TV does then again, voice an total characterize that’s comparatively discontinuance to the 43-depart TCL 5-sequence Roku TV I defend in the mattress room, which was once promoting on Amazon for $230 at press time). 

The U5’s coloration in all fairness correct, even though it’s evident that quantum dots ought to now not in play here. That didn’t bother me, however I did get myself ruing the inability of total coloration saturation at times. Tweaking, and there are a alternative of tweaks on hand (hue, white stability, and a lot of others.), didn’t make stronger issues mighty. It’s usually in the style of backlighting fervent, which Konka says is corpulent array. 

The a amount of thing I neglected was once any construct of motion compensation. Snappily pans juddered and even unhurried pans stuttered quite a miniature bit. These forms of scenes are comparatively rare in proper-world boom material, however you’ll see when they happen. It’s one of my pet peeves, no matter what Hollywood thinks. 

Display screen uniformity, on the a amount of hand, is magnificent; difference is respectable; and there was once correct a miniature bit extra pop to HDR boom material than the an identical boom material viewed as SDR. Blacks are so-so, as they are with most lower-quit LED-backlit LCD TVs. Viewing angles are quite slim, however the sound was once surprisingly satisfactory—now not overly tinny and with a splash of bass. I was once watching for a long way worse. 

Be conscious: On 12/23/2020 Konka somehow despatched a second unit that did now not suffer the HDMI/HDR hand-shaking issues on the muse talked about here that caused a pinkish solid to white and gray tones. Peaceable, check to ensure HDR is dealt with nicely with external devices before ditching your reciept. 

Konka

Long tale immediate: With most cloth, watching the 50-depart U5 was once a nice if now not scintillating skills. Here’s hoping we get one of Konka’s higher-quit Q7 Pro quantum dot TVs in the discontinuance to future, so we can leer what the firm is ready to.

Conclusion

Brooding about it’s an Android TV, has a extra than respectable a long way away and an spectacular if now not stellar characterize, I’d defend in mind the 50-depart Konka U5 if you look it on sale. It’s grime cheap at discount and Bluetooth at this designate is a nice get. As a total rule, then again, we repeat that increased happiness ensues if you prioritize characterize quality. And there’s a lot of competition in the entry-level tidy TV market appropriate now.

Updated December 24, 2020 to document that Konka despatched a alternative evaluate unit that resolved our complaint about an HDMI handshake field that caused issues when displaying HDR boom material.

• Konka U5-sequence 4K UHD Android TV (50-depart class, mannequin 50U55A)

  It’s miles a budget TV that ticks the full technology bins, however with an image that’s strictly entry-level. That talked about, entry-level is seriously higher than it aged to be.

  Specialists

  • Correct characterize for the avenue designate
  • Uses the Android TV running gadget
  • Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless audio streaming

  Cons

  • So-so characterize total
  • No motion compensation

Jon is a Juilliard-trained musician, dilapidated x86/6800 programmer, and long-time (slack 70s) laptop enthusiast dwelling in the San Francisco bay command. [email protected]