The Thomson Oath Pro Max 55-inch TV: A Budget-Friendly Option With Compromises
In the ever-evolving world of television technology, prices have been steadily climbing, leaving budget-conscious buyers seeking affordability without sacrificing a large screen and essential features. Enter the Thomson Oath Pro Max 55-inch TV, a compelling contender priced at Rs. 36,999 on Flipkart. This TV boasts an Ultra-HD screen with HDR10+ support, and the user-friendly Android TV operating system. But does it deliver on its promises of value and performance, or are there trade-offs to be considered? This comprehensive review explores the TV’s design, specifications, software, and most importantly, its real-world performance to help you decide if this budget-friendly option is right for you.
Design and Specifications: A Familiar Formula
The Thomson Oath Pro Max 55-inch TV (55OPMAX9055) follows a common design pattern for televisions in its price range. Slim bezels surrounding the screen provide a modern look, while the overall build is reasonably thin and sleek. The most striking element is the prominent rose gold strip, positioned beneath the screen, featuring a grille-like texture, the Thomson logo, and a status indicator. Bottom-firing speakers provide a rated output of 40W.
This TV is available in multiple sizes – 43-inch (Rs. 27,999) and 50-inch (Rs. 34,999), catering to diverse space requirements. The inclusion of both table stands and a wall-mounting kit ensures flexibility in placement.
In terms of connectivity, the Thomson 55-inch TV offers a decent selection of ports. These include three HDMI ports (one with eARC support), two USB ports, an Ethernet port, an optical audio output, an antenna socket, and a composite AV input. However, the absence of a 3.5mm audio jack is a notable omission, despite being mentioned in the official specifications. You can connect Bluetooth headphones or speakers for audio output.
Powering this TV is a quad-core Mediatek processor, paired with 2GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. It features a rated peak brightness of 500nits, supports Dolby Audio and DTS TruSurround audio formats, but unfortunately only supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity.
Remote and Features: Well-Equipped and More
The Thomson Oath Pro Max 55-inch TV differentiates itself by offering an impressive remote. It features a well-organized layout with dedicated shortcut buttons for popular streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and Google Play, making content navigation convenient. This remote, with its intuitive button arrangement and good grip, elevates the overall user experience.
Built-in Google Assistant integration ensures voice control capabilities. The remote’s microphone enables voice commands, allowing you to search for content, set reminders, and even query general information. The seamless integration of Chromecast and Apple AirPlay provides versatile streaming options. AirPlay, though requiring an additional app like AirScreen to function, offers a seamless way to mirror your iOS or macOS device’s display.
Software and Interface: Android TV 10 Experience
The Thomson Oath Pro Max 55-inch TV runs on Android TV 10, the latest version of Google’s popular operating system for televisions. This provides a familiar experience for users accustomed to Android TV’s intuitive interface. The UI emphasizes content discovery and recommendations while retaining the core functionality users expect from the platform.
All major apps and streaming services are easily accessible through the Google Play Store. Popular streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube are pre-installed. Basic picture and sound settings are conveniently accessible from any point in the UI. A valuable feature is the native display of real-time streaming resolution and connection information by pressing the ‘i’ button on the remote, providing users with valuable insight into their viewing experience.
Performance: Value and Compromise
The Thomson Oath Pro Max 55-inch TV delivers a compelling feature set at an attractive price. However, its performance is where some compromises become noticeable. While the TV excels in sharpness and detail, HDR performance falls short of expectation. The HDR10+ support, expected to enhance contrast and color accuracy, falls flat. Content viewed in HDR, despite being sharp, appears dull and strangely gloomy, with colors lacking vibrancy. This is a significant drawback, as HDR content is becoming increasingly common.
Furthermore, the brightness level seems lower than the advertised 500nits, leading to a less immersive experience. Even SDR full-HD content, surprisingly, appeared brighter than HDR content. Black levels also struggle, with darker shades appearing grey. Nighttime scenes often lack depth and detail, making for a less engaging viewing experience.
However, the TV compensates slightly with smooth motion and sharp picture quality. Despite the lackluster HDR performance, the Ultra-HD resolution delivers a crisp and detailed picture for SDR content. Action scenes appear smooth with minimal artifacts. Full-HD content is acceptable, but the grey tones and lack of color vibrancy are evident.
Sound quality, on the other hand, is surprisingly good for the price. The 40W speaker system is capable of reaching high volume levels, with clear dialogue even at low volumes. While a soundbar or external speaker system is always recommended for enhanced audio immersion, the built-in speakers are adequate for casual viewing.
Verdict: Balancing Price and Performance
The Thomson Oath Pro Max 55-inch TV presents a unique proposition for budget-conscious buyers. Its attractive price point and comprehensive feature set, including a large Ultra-HD screen, HDR10+ support, a well-designed remote, Google Assistant, Chromecast, and AirPlay, are undeniably tempting. However, the performance compromises in terms of HDR, brightness, and black levels cannot be completely overlooked.
If your budget is strictly limited, and you prioritize a large screen and basic functionality over optimal picture quality, this TV can be a viable option. However, buyers willing to increase their budget slightly will find other televisions, such as the Xiaomi Mi TV 5X, offering similar features with significantly improved picture quality and HDR performance.
Ultimately, the Thomson Oath Pro Max 55-inch TV is a compelling value proposition, but its performance limitations make it a less appealing choice for users seeking a truly immersive and captivating viewing experience.
