Insignia™ - 55” Class LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV Edition TV

PROs: - Holy smokes--when did budget TVs start shipping with such premium picture quality under the hood--1080p streams and 4K UHD pictures were absolutely wonderful! - Simple setup with an informative, but not intrusive/laborious, intro video got me online and streaming in just a few minutes (after spending just a scant 3 minutes beforehand unboxing and assembling the TV--super-simple!) - Outstanding integration of Amazon, Netflix, Alexa, and a host of other installable streaming apps and games (!!!)...the homepage hub actually worked well to tie all content and services together in an informative and compelling way that made it easy to browse for new content or pick up where you left off in another stream or on another input - Simple remote with Alexa mic input was easy to operate and execute basic functions - Unequivocally the FASTEST TV input responsiveness I've ever seen...menu navigation and typing in login e-mails and passwords was blazingly quick and in a brilliant bit of usability engineering, the remote buttons served double-duty as shift/capitalization keys--who knew you could shave THAT much time off system setup just by not having to arrow over to an on-screen 'Shift' key all the time?! - Did I mention how good the picture looked (even out of the box)--very extensive picture controls include even esoteric adjustments like white balance and gamma sliders...not sure who would spring for a professional calibration on a budget TV set to dial all THOSE controls to perfection, but it's nice to know they're there if/when the mood and means strike - Side-by-side comparisons of 4K UHD and 1080p streams (we spun up discs and streams for Black Panther, Last Jedi, and Gravity) did reveal some differences in picture quality, but they were subtle enough, especially at more than 1-2 feet away, that you might be hard pressed to justify the investment in 4K UHD discs in the first place. Not a criticism of the format, but an endorsement of just how capable a TV this really is! - VESA mounting holes in the back mean you can easily attach this set to a wall-mount or just leave it sitting on the understated, but perfectly functional/stable, mounting legs CONs: - Forgoes the component input entirely--those with a Wii or other component-out devices may need to settle for lower-quality composite or look for HDMI up-conversion - Though your experience may vary, my Echo/Alexa integration was somewhat troublesome--Alexa per se worked as advertised, but I couldn't get it to remotely turn on the TV despite clearly seeing the TV in the list of attached/registered devices in the Alexa app - The built-in Alexa experience on the remote is great for personal assistant-type activities and tasks (find superhero movies, what's the weather like tomorrow, etc.), but using Alexa for simple tasks specifically linked to the TV's functionality, like input or volume changes, was actually bit cumbersome given that you already had to be holding the remote and pressing the mic button to use Alexa at the remote in the first place--a few more explicit function buttons for common tasks like settings adjustments or input switching would have been welcome - Speaking of which, there was no way to directly access the settings sub-menu from the remote, nor was there a way to do so conveniently on the TV itself to see the results of your picture adjustments because you first have to back out of the current operation by bringing up the home screen, then arrow over to settings, then arrow over again to Picture Settings before you can start further futzing with the various (and plentiful) picture adjustment options...though most people won't spend much time adjusting these settings once they're dialed in to their liking, getting there was more of a chore than it needed to be - Maybe it's just me, but I'd be okay with a [physically] bigger remote, even if it still had just a few buttons on it--this tiny wand just isn't very reassuring in my hand and it feels like it's just begging to get lost in our couch cushions Okay, this TV is proof-positive that you don't need to spend a mint to get a home theater experience that is highly enjoyable, highly functional, and achieves image quality that is more than perfectly serviceable...it is downright excellent. No, you won't get the inky blacks or spotlight-blindingly neon pop of an OLED screen that's 2-3x the price, but that's not the point here at all. For your money, what you WILL get is a set with a class-leading picture nice enough that you probably wouldn't even know what (if anything) you were missing unless it was side-by-side with another set that really was miles beyond it in price. As for features and functionality, the integrated Fire TV experience means you don't have to spring for an external streaming media box to get the benefits of all that streaming content/app functionality just waiting for you to pull down from the Amazon app store/ecosystem; that alone amps up the value proposition of this set even before you get it set up. Having both Fire TV and Roku boxes in our home, I can honestly say that you won't miss one for the other--and with the Fire TV built into this set, you arguably have even more functionality at your disposal because you can run Android-style apps and games natively on this TV in addition to the streaming apps/channels you would otherwise expect to find. Out of the box, there were no real glaring picture issues like overblown reds, ultra-cool blues, or weird greenish casts to flesh-tones to make you frustrated with the abundance of picture adjustment options required to fix the image. In fact, there weren't really any out-of-the-box picture modes that were particularly harsh or unwatchable in the first place--some exploration of the adjustment sliders with my Spears and Munsil calibration Blu-Ray made the already great picture quality even better. In a nice usability touch, the input label changes to "HDR" when an HDR signal is running on an HDMI connection--at the very least, it's nice to have that visual confirmation that you're getting the benefits of that next-gen TV picture quality enhancement (aside from the fact that you're...you know...getting the benefits of that next-gen TV picture quality enhancement). Speaking of picture quality...given that the Insignia provides such a compelling plug-and-play experience, I am grateful--as well as surprised--to find so many manual adjustment options for the picture at all, even though it's my guess that those looking at value-priced TVs like this one probably won't have invested in the additional measurement and calibration equipment necessary to really take advantage of these controls. But those content with simply picking a pleasing-to-the-eye color temperature setting and image quality scheme from the provided presets should still come away from this set very impressed. A few usability niggles aside, I simply can't recommend this TV enough...for the money. Sure, you CAN find a better picture out there...plenty of other TVs provide 5-star and better picture quality or integrated smart TV capabilities. But you'll be hard pressed to find THIS much capability accompanying a picture THIS good at a price point that is THIS reasonable. Bottom line, the Insignia is a great and incredibly capable way to get into 4K/streaming content or expand your 4K/streaming capabilities quickly and easily into other rooms of the house without breaking the bank to do it.

---- Summary ---- Pros: - Fire TV built-in - Voice remote with Alexa - Clear and vivid picture quality - Easy navigation menus - Fluid and quick responsiveness Cons: - None ---- Review ---- Design: Along with the TV, you will find a voice remote with Alexa, batteries, TV stand, screws to attach the stand, power cord, and the setup instructions. Setting up this TV was a breeze. The power cord just needs to be attached, then the two stand legs screwed in. Once powered on, there is a brief video overview of the Fire TV features, then you are prompted to set up a Wifi network and install an update. At a little over three inches thick, this TV is sleek, and the edge of the screen has a brushed metal finish, which is a nice touch. On the back, there are three HDMI inputs, an antenna/cable input, a composite video input, two analog audio inputs, a digital output (optical), an ethernet port, USB port, and a headphone jack. I am happy with the number of inputs and like their location. Overall, this is a well-designed TV. Picture Quality: With crystal clarity and vivid colors, the picture quality that this TV produces brings shows and movies to life, and video games look fantastic. The LED screen’s resolution is 2160p, and it has a 60Hz panel refresh rate. Whether it is movies, TV shows or video games, the 4K Ultra HD picture quality delivers an immersive and eye-opening viewing experience. Audio Quality: Although I use a soundbar most of the time, I decided to turn mine off to effectively review this TV’s audio quality. I am honestly quite impressed. I do not think it will blow you away, but for built-in TV speakers, the audio they produce exceeds my expectations. Performance: I am impressed by how fluid and quick navigation and streaming is on this TV. It is powered by a Quad-core CPU/Multi-core GPU, and I have not experienced long load times, lagging or app crashes. Before this TV, my streaming experience was subpar due to performance issues on another device, and I am happy that I no longer have performance issues. Features: This is my first TV with the Fire TV experience built in, and I am already a big fan. Upon powering on the TV, the home screen appears where you can choose from many different streaming channels or switch to another input. Everything is unified and well integrated for a seamless experience. The Alexa voice remote is an added convenience that allows you to use your voice to change channels or inputs, launch apps, search for TV shows or movies and more. Verdict: This TV has exceeded my expectations, and I believe it proves that a quality 4K smart TV can be affordable too. It is well designed, produces lifelike picture quality and impressive audio for a TV, performs fluidly, and the built-in Fire TV alongside the Alexa voice remote delivers a seamless navigation and viewing experience. If you are looking for a good 4K TV at a reasonable price, I would recommend this one.

I've been using a Samsung 52" Plasma flat screen TV for almost 5 years. It has been a great TV and I've never had any problems with it, aside from being a heat source (nice in the winter), and a significant consumer of electricity. For the past year, I've been starting to drool over the 4k LED TV's on display. So, when the Insignia 55" UHD TV became available, I had to take the dive. Installation Yeah, the box is big, but it's not nearly as heavy as the Plasma TV. The previous TV had a center mounted and rotatable pedestal as the base, which easily fit onto a small end-table on wheels. Unfortunately, the Insignia has cross-bar feet on each end, which required me to use a lengthly coffee table as a stand. A little less convenient, but it works. I have an Apple TV, a Sony Blue-ray player, and a Sony surround-sound speaker system. These were easy to attach via the HDMI ports and the audio output ports. Setup The prompted setup steps and a built-in video explaining the configuration, made this TV a breeze to set up. We went through the Wi-fi configuration, checked for and downloaded system updates, and enabled the Alexa voice control. Being able to control the channels and the TV via voice with Alexa works well. Very similar to what we were already used to with the Apple TV. Since I already have a Amazon Prime account, the configuration for the channels and movies was pretty easy. The Picture The picture quality of this TV is amazing. During the past few months we have watched a lot of HD movies and shows. Personally, I almost find the UHD resolution a little distracting as I’m checking out minute details in the scene instead of paying attention to the performance. The picture is very clear and crisp. I have noticed a couple times a very slight wavering of the scene refresh, but only during very rapid movement in the scene and it wasn’t enough to distract. With the plasma TV, there was no problem with being off to the side and enjoying the picture. With the Insignia, the best view of the screen is straight on and just slightly off of center. Viewing from a 45 degree angle is fairly poor since the colors seem to fade and darken. A few Minor Issues There does seem to be a slight processing delay with sound and video with the external devices. I first noticed this with the sound. We had a slight echo of the sound between the surround sound speakers and the built in TV speakers. This disappeared when we turned off the TV speakers (an easy to find setting). We also encountered a slight timing delay between sound and video when watching a movie from the blue-ray player. While I would have thought the sound would lag behind the video, it is actually the video lagging behind the sound. At first it was around a half second delay. After playing with the settings and switching the display settings to Dynamic, it seemed to improve, but it is still slightly off and perceivable. I plan on engaging technical support at Insignia to try and resolve. The Positives It’s a 55” UHD, smart TV, with Amazon Fire TV, and Alexa voice control, for only $400! The TV is very easy to control and the included apps Amazon Prime channels are enough for our needs. The Alexa control is a nice touch for controlling the TV AND for accessing any of the Alexa skills. “Alexa, what is the local weather report?”, or “Alexa, where can I get sushi?” I also like the simplicity of the remote control and the ability to configure it for controlling the other devices (Apple TV, external speakers, etc.) Oh, and did I mention how amazing the UHD picture is? Summary Overall, as a $400, UHD smart TV, this is a pretty good deal. It is perfect as a living-room or bed-room focused TV for general use. With the minor device delay issues and some of the refresh washing of the LEDs, I wouldn’t recommend this as a home theater TV. Thus the four stars. If the price was higher I would have dropped this to three, but for the crazy low pricing, this is a deal hard to beat.

This TV is well packaged. The legs are sturdy, but do require a phillips screw driver to assemble. The design is clean with a minimal bezel and a dim blue power light. I should point out that the legs are near the edges and so my old TV stand wasn't wide enough (my previous TV had a central base - not legs). The experience depends on the remote for navigating the menus and voice commands. The remote is well laid out with most of the buttons you need; it is a smart TV so there are no numbers for manual channel selection. The remote could be of more solid construction given how integrated it is, but it has survived a few drops from the couch. The picture quality and streaming experience are where this TV shines. Pictures are crisp, with good color and brightness. Most of the menu graphics and apps are beautiful. Mainstream applications like Amazon Prime video and Netflix look great. I had no issues with sound quality, but I am honestly not that picky. The loudness and clarity of the built-in speakers met my expectations. Alexa integration works well, but I did have a few issues. I never had a problem using the built in remote to control my smart switches and lights from my TV (exactly like my echo). I did have issues getting my other two Alexa devices (an echo and echo dot) to stay connected to the TV (Alexa would often ask me to check my TV's connection - this appears to be a common Fire TV issue on the forums - not just this TV). When they are talking to each other you can turn the TV on/off, control volume, and request shows for the TV without the remote (it is neat). This is my first experience with Fire TV and it does have a great selection of apps and shows. I don't like that you must search for some common apps like PBS (not included in the list of apps available on initial set up). And even after installing applications, voice search results still direct you to apps predefined by Amazon. Overall, I love this TV's picture quality and smart features.

After a week of using this TV it is definitely the go to station to view content. I don't watch too much TV, but I do, I binge. And with the hot buttons on the remote to go straight to HBO now, Amazon Prime, Playstation Vue and of course, Netflix, there's no reason to go to another room. I really do love this TV. It's wireless, so there's no problem with internet connectivity and it can stay updated. The remote is voice enabled with Alexa integrated so you can have that fun Alexa time that we've all indulged in. The sound is absolutely lovely The Dts Trusound makes for a great listening experience, without the need for the surround sound system. The only problem I have with this TV, is the fact that there are no buttons on the TV, itself. This means I need to take good care of my remote, buy a backup or use my echo devices to operate it until a replacement comes available. That's it only drawback to this thing. the setup was super simple and the picture is gorgeous. I totally recommend this TV to anyone ready to jump into the Smart TV and 4K world. It's hard to pass up at this price. Great work Insignia. Here's a link, as always to my online review. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oPHwvwyUC_WC5BivsW-jT6PuW3yp7h14KDBfubGUAdo/edit?usp=sharing Go get one or two of these things. It will make a great gift for that gamer or movie buff in your family.

I had a 39" Insignia TV with Roku that fitted within the Bookcase in my office. That TV was great and convinced me that the Insignia brand was great. But, I wanted a larger TV so I that the words on television were large enough for my 70 year old eyes to see. I modified my bookcase and purchased this 55" Insignia but with Fire TV. I wanted the Amazon Fire TV over the Roku because I have other Alexa items in the house. The picture is beautiful, the built in smart TV features work great and respond fast. I also liked that it has a built in Ethernet port allowing me to use direct connection or WiFi. Completely satisfied with its picture quality and performance.

I bought this TV in 2018 thanksgiving. For what I paid, this is an excellent TV. Some people here have complained about the black spots or change in color of the background on fire tv Home Screen. That’s actually how the fire tv Home Screen background looks like. At first I thought the same thing until I saw bought a fire stick for my other TV. Lol! I’m glad I didn’t return this tv because of that issue. Second thing I wanna mention is the sound. Most TVs now a days have very low volume, and requires the purchase of a sound bar if you want a decent volume. But not this TV. This unit has very good volume compared to some other major brands I’ve used. Lastly, this TV has a added bonus for Over-The-Air tv fans. You can pause live TV. Yes this TV has its own DVR. So while you are watching a show, if you have to answer a call or do something for a minute, you can simply pause the show until you come back. However this feature only work when watching Antenna TV (OTA). Hope my review is useful. I highly recommend this TV if you’re looking for a 4K tv on the budget.

Strolling thru bestbuy I discovered this TV with an integrated Amazon firestick? With a fairly easy on the eyes price tag attached to it? After checking out some specs it took less than a minute to decide, I had to have it. Bought it took it home...I've had it for almost a year now and extremely happy with my Insignia FireTv. For the price you can't do better than that.. high quality workmanship all the way around. Everyone should have one..