I dislike Google TV with a ardour; Google took a clear Android TV interface and riddled it with adverts and undesirable suggestions. That is why I nonetheless use the Defend TV Professional — it is the one Android TV field that really does an excellent job, and does not robotically lag in the event you use the TV for various minutes.
No matter whether or not it is high-end projectors just like the XGIMI Aura 2 or funds TVs, Google TV simply does not really feel nice to make use of. Indian model Lumio is trying to change that with the debut of its TVs; the model rolled out the QLED Imaginative and prescient 7 and the Mini-LED Imaginative and prescient 9 within the nation earlier this month, and each fashions have loads of differentiated options.
However what I like probably the most about Lumio is the software program; it is nonetheless utilizing Google TV, however the model outfitted all of its TVs — even the bottom mannequin — with 3GB of DDR4 reminiscence, and it made a number of tweaks to the interface to make it fluid. The result’s the one TV I’ve ever used that does not really feel sluggish; Lumio is looking its merchandise the quickest TVs in India, and that’s really true.
Lumio says that its TVs will proceed to be quick even after a number of years, and that is one thing I’ll put to the take a look at. Whereas Lumio itself is a brand new entity, it consists of Xiaomi India veterans, and it is clear that the model is aware of what it is doing on this class — and has the requisite manufacturing contacts and after-sales community to go up in opposition to established producers.
In truth, Lumio’s TVs are manufactured at Dixon — the identical as Xiaomi. What’s nice to see is that there is a commonplace two-year guarantee on all of Lumio’s TVs, and the model established an after-sales community within the nation.
I can not discuss a lot concerning the high quality of the {hardware} as I used to be despatched a pre-production unit for testing, however the image high quality itself is among the many finest in its phase. The Imaginative and prescient 9 specifically is an effective alternative, going as much as 550 nits in common use and 900 nits with HDR content material. It handles Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR content material properly, and it has a devoted quantum dot layer with 2,000 mini LEDs housed contained in the panel.
Lumio did a good job with its picture engine, and colours are calibrated out of the field. Sound high quality is fairly first rate as properly, and Lumio managed to ship a clear sound that does not distort even at excessive volumes. The Imaginative and prescient 7 is a good worth, delivering 400 nits and a devoted quantum dot layer. Clearly, Lumio is aiming to distinguish its gadgets with the image high quality, and being a brand new model taking up a lot larger rivals like Xiaomi, it wanted to do this.
The TVs get HDMI 2.1 ports as commonplace too, however the important thing omission is variable refresh — they’re locked to 60Hz. That is annoying as the remainder of the {hardware} is kind of first rate, and Lumio says it’s focusing on a mainstream viewers with the Imaginative and prescient 7 and Imaginative and prescient 9, so it did not embody VRR. That is additionally the rationale why the Imaginative and prescient 9 is simply out there in a 55-inch variant, with the Imaginative and prescient 7 retailing in 43 inch, 50 inch, and 55 inches.
It is completely possible we’ll get a 65-inch mannequin down the road with VRR, however at launch, the dimensions is restricted to 55 inches. That is not a lot of a draw back contemplating the supposed viewers, and actually, Lumio did an excellent job with the fundamentals. On that word, the model’s TVs are powered by a quad-core silicon that makes use of Cortex A75 cores, and it will get AV1 decode as commonplace — a necessity today.
Now, the largest differentiator with Lumio’s TVs is the software program; the Google TV interface is significantly better to make use of than simply about some other TV I used, and that is no exaggeration. I exploit Xiaomi’s 75-inch Mi QLED TV 75 in my lounge, and it has been a relentless supply of frustration. It commonly freezes with probably the most mundane of duties — powering on and switching sources to the Defend TV Professional — and I’ve to chilly reset the TV each different day.
The Android TV interface on that TV is so sluggish that it simply does not make sense to make use of Xiaomi’s software program, the panel high quality is sweet sufficient that I proceed to make use of it day by day. That is why I am enthusiastic about Lumio’s entry into this class; even Sony, Samsung, and LG mid-range TVs have points with stability and lag, and it is nice to see a model tackle that challenge.
One other standout addition is TL;DR, a customized hub that pulls sports activities scores right into a unified dashboard. It does a incredible job, and affords an unlimited overview of the motion throughout a number of leagues. Lumio is doing an identical factor with music as properly, collating numerous sources so you’ll be able to simply hearken to music with out having to muddle via numerous playlists and providers. The music tech plugs into YouTube Music as of now, however Lumio says it’s making an attempt to get different music suppliers onboard.
In the end, Lumio did all the best issues with the Imaginative and prescient 9. It is aimed toward a mainstream viewers, however the TV has nice image high quality, first rate sound, and the perfect software program of any TV round. What’s noteworthy is that it made a Google TV product I really need to use — now I simply want Lumio to construct a streamer to tackle the Defend TV Professional.
