In-depth review of the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (QL65F601): A treasure trove of features at a value price
Affordable excellence: The Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED dazzles with high-performance & feature-rich experience
Verdict
★ ★ ★ ★ ★Pros
- + Balanced visuals
- + Great value
- + Clear audio
Cons
- - Less shadow detail
- - Motion can blur
Amazon Fire TV devices have become incredibly popular, capturing audiences worldwide with over 200 million units sold. With the tech landscape constantly evolving, Amazon has made a strategic move. Understanding that the era of non-smart TVs is dwindling, they've introduced an innovative solution: televisions with the Fire OS platform directly integrated, eliminating the need for separate devices like the Fire Stick.
Introducing the Omni QLED, Amazon's premier offering in this new lineup. Facing us now is the 65-inch model that epitomizes the blend of high-quality performance and features, all while upholding Amazon's commitment to value. It's clear that the company has succeeded, delivering a product that exceeds expectations in both functionality and user experience.
Exploring the Value
Let's talk about finding great deals on smart TVs, focusing on the striking 65-inch Amazon Omni QLED. Officially, this beauty is tagged at £1000 / $800, which converts to roughly AU$1920 for those in Australia eagerly awaiting Amazon's TV lineup. However, savvy shoppers might not need to shell out that full amount. Thanks to Amazon's penchant for rolling out tempting discounts during major sale events like Prime Day and Black Friday, keeping your eyes peeled could save you up to 25%.
By comparison, diving into Samsung’s 2023 QLED collection, a similar 65-inch screen starts at £1299 / $1000. So, for those hungry for value without compromising on quality, keeping an eye on Amazon's offerings could lead to some delightful savings.
Design
The Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED may not boast the exquisite craftsmanship or cutting-edge design seen in the latest offerings from Samsung or LG, yet its appearance is anything but lackluster. A blend of silver plastic and metal gives it a remarkably smart look, especially from a distance, while the color-coordinated feet ensure a sleek, uncluttered base. The television's design is further complemented by relatively thin bezels surrounding the screen, along with a discreet compartment at the bottom bezel that houses the far-field microphones and ambient light sensor.
However, the design isn't without its limitations. The feet are only configurable at the very ends of the TV's lower edge, making for a footprint that might be too expansive for numerous TV stands. This setup does offer ample space for a soundbar, but the lack of a narrower feet positioning option seems like a missed opportunity for enhanced versatility.
Discover The Ultimate Viewing Experience with Omni QLED
Step into the future of television with the Omni QLED, seamlessly integrating the functionality of a Fire TV Stick to deliver an intuitive and comprehensive user experience. Dive into a world of entertainment with a home screen brimming with popular streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV, and Prime Video, alongside a treasure trove of other apps for all your viewing needs.
Embrace every detail with the Omni QLED's cutting-edge HDR support, including HLG, HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision. Enjoy HDR content exactly as intended, thanks to Adaptive versions that adjust to your room's ambient light, ensuring the perfect viewing experience at any time of day.
Command your entertainment universe with Alexa, the built-in voice assistant, allowing you to navigate effortlessly through voice commands. For those privacy-first viewers, rest assured, as the microphone's listening capabilities can be disabled with a simple switch.
Experience innovation with the 'Ambient Experience', transforming the Omni QLED into an artistic display or an informative dashboard when not streaming your favorite shows. It's a smart TV that stays relevant and engaging, even on standby.
Regarding visual performance, the Omni QLED stands tall with its Quantum Dot technology and an impressive array of 80 independent dimming zones, rivaling premium models like the Sony X90L. Enjoy a pristine viewing experience without the premium price tag.
Gamers, too, are in for a treat with the Omni QLED. Despite a refresh rate of 60Hz, features such as ALLM, VRR, and a unique Dolby Vision game mode position it as a formidable gaming companion, ensuring smooth and responsive gameplay.
The Omni QLED is not just a television; it's a gateway to the ultimate entertainment experience, boasting cutting-edge features without compromising on performance or value. Welcome to the new era of television viewing.
Discover the Visual Magic of the Omni QLED TV
Embarking on a cinematic journey with Rogue One in Dolby Vision, it becomes clear that selecting Dolby Vision Bright mode strikes a perfect balance for viewing pleasure. Although not competing at the pinnacle of the television market, the Omni QLED delivers a commendably vibrant and balanced viewing experience. This TV demonstrates thoughtful engineering, tuning vibrant colors for lively scenes and softer hues for the more subdued moments, creating a versatile viewing experience.
Striking a fine balance, the Omni QLED avoids the pitfalls of overt processing. Its approach to contrast and colors is refined and consistent, providing an immersive movie-watching experience. The detail and sharpness are solid, if not groundbreaking, avoiding the exaggeration common in some models, thus presenting an image that's insightful and engaging.
Transitioning to Blade Runner 2049 in HDR10, the Film Dark mode emerges as a standout, offering brightness and impact while staying true to the original material's contrast and color temperature. Despite its accessible price point, the Omni QLED impresses with its performance, maintaining the depth and evenness of backlit scenes and sidestepping the common budget TV issue of a washed-out display.
The Omni TV's off-axis viewing is surprisingly accommodating. While some loss in contrast and color vibrancy is inevitable, the quality drop-off is less severe compared to similar TVs, making it an ideal choice for family movie nights.
While the Omni QLED TV doesn't boast top-tier HDR brightness, its performance within its range is admirable, working smartly within its limitations to deliver quality viewing. Detail may sometimes fall short, especially in darker scenes where shadows can swallow up finer elements. However, the TV's motion handling is relatively smooth, keeping jarring effects at bay, although some minor smearing may occur in complex, fast-moving scenes. Despite its few shortcomings, the Omni QLED stands out as a solid budget-friendly option, offering a commendable viewing experience that caters to the needs of a diverse audience.
Sound Excellence Simplified
Amazon focuses on straightforward audio excellence, sidestepping advanced Dolby Atmos enhancements. This approach, emphasizing clarity and directness, smartly opts for quality over complexity. The outcome is a sound that, albeit less expansive than its high-end counterparts, remains precisely tuned for an optimal listening experience.
The sound profile is balanced, with both high and low frequencies subtly moderated. This measured approach prevents any unpleasant sharpness or muddle, common pitfalls in the luxury TV market. The result is sound that's easy on the ears, perfectly complementing everyday viewing.
While the Omni TV's dynamic range might not dazzle during explosive cinematic moments, its reliable audio consistency means you won't be reaching for the volume control. However, we suggest considering a soundbar addition. Timing your purchase with a discount on the Omni TV could free up budget for this worthwhile enhancement, further enriching your audio-visual experience.
Our Take
If you're considering an upgrade to your home entertainment setup, the Amazon Omni QLED might just surprise you. Despite its budget-friendly price, this TV stands out for its thoughtfully engineered performance that's both balanced and consistent, challenging what you'd typically expect from a more affordably priced option.
What's truly impressive is the unanimous nod of approval it's received from experts accustomed to the crème de la crème of displays, such as OLED TVs. The fact that they'd welcome the Omni QLED into their homes speaks volumes about its quality, distinguishing it as a rare gem among its price peers.