Skip to main content

OnePlus TV: Everything you need to know about the brand new 4K TV

With a 55-inch QLED screen and a Pro model that features a motorized soundbar that drops down from the bottom of the 4K TV when it’s fired up, the OnePlus TV is an interesting proposition from smartphone maker OnePlus — as it looks to disrupt the television market, taking on the likes of LG and Samsung.

Announced in India on September 26, the OnePlus TV isn’t void of features. There’s Dolby Atmos, which is seen to be the gold standard of at-home surround sound, Dolby Vision HDR for extracting additional detail from scenes, and a 4K Upscale Engine for rendering HD content in 4K Ultra HD.

Related Videos

OnePlus has worked closely with the brands that produce the individual components that make up the OnePlus TV, creating a custom QLED screen that’s more vivid and vibrant than anything else on the market (its words, not ours) and a custom image-processing chipset to keep it in check.

As for the soundbar, it comprises of two woofers firing backward and four full-range speakers and two tweeters firing forward, with a combined output of 50W. When the television is turned on, the bar drops down from the bottom in no more than eight seconds, making for an interesting spectacle.

Best of all, the OnePlus TV ships running a modified build of Android TV out of the box. Strangely, OnePlus has decided to serve up all of the content itself through its Oxygen Play hub — and while it will support a range of different services at launch, Netflix is notably missing from the list.

It is not just the front of the television that looks fantastic, though. OnePlus has invested a lot of time and energy into making sure the rear is as simple, sleek, and elegant as can be, hiding the various connections (HDMI 2 with eARC, USB, etc.) behind a removable magnetic door on the rear.

The company even carried that same design philosophy over to the remote control that comes in the box. Made from aluminium, the remote features USB-C charging, a volume rocker, some basic function buttons, and a laptop-style trackpad for tracking down content and navigating the interface.

Other notable features include Google Assistant for controlling the OnePlus TV sans remote and support for Amazon Alexa, which can be called upon to turn on the television and alter basic system functions — the volume level, for example — from an Amazon Echo or a different Alexa-infused device.

Plus, there’s a neat little tool called OnePlus Connect that lets you control the 4K TV using your smartphone, taking advantage of the handset’s keyboard to input text. It lowers the volume level to 10% when you’re on a call, and lets you take a screenshot of the entire screen from your phone.

OnePlus is also working on a far-field microphone attachment that’ll see the OnePlus TV turn into a Google Home of sorts, introducing the option to communicate with the 4K TV using your voice, without having to reach for the bundled remote control or a connected smartphone.

There’s no word on whether the OnePlus TV will launch stateside. All we know is it will be available for pre-order in India from September 26, with pricing set at 69,900 rupees (about $985) for the base OnePlus TV Q1 and 99,900 rupees (about $1,400) for the flagship OnePlus TV Q1 Pro.

The difference? The OnePlus TV Q1 Pro comes with the motorized soundbar; the OnePlus TV Q1 does not.

Editors' Recommendations

Fire TV Stick vs. Fire TV Stick 4K Max vs. Fire TV Cube: Which to buy?
Amazon Fire TV Cube

If you've been looking for a fast, cheap, and user-friendly way to experience the growing world of streaming media, an Amazon Fire TV product is an excellent option for all your Netflix-adjacent needs. With most of Amazon's hardware requiring nothing more than a Wi-Fi connection and a TV to plug into, you'll be able to get connected to all that content in no time at all.

Some Fire TV devices even give you the ability to interact with Alexa, making voice control over your TV as easy as saying, "Alexa, open Netflix." But there are several kinds of Fire TV devices, each with a different price, design, and features. Which Amazon Fire TV product is right for you? We'll take an in-depth look at the five current Amazon Fire TV models -- the Fire TV Stick Lite, Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV Stick 4K Max, and the Fire TV Cube -- so you can get a feel for what each one offers.
Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick Lite
Alexa Voice Remote with TV controls

Read more
Philo: Everything to know about the live TV streaming service
Philo TV screenshot

Cutting the cable cord isn't necessarily cheaper than paying for cable anymore. Many top streaming services offer massive channel lineups compared to cable, but after paying for them (and your internet connection), you may just be breaking even.

But do cord cutters really need extensive channel offerings? Philo, a live TV streaming service that's a competitor to Sling TV and other live TV streamers, believes the answer is no.

Read more
How to get Disney+: Everything you need to know
Disney Plus Lifestyle

Are you ready to relive Simba’s journey to adulthood in The Lion King or witness the ongoing eternal battle between the light and dark sides of the Force? Disney Plus is here, and for the uninitiated, it will grant you access to the Magic Kingdom's most beloved properties.

Coming up on three years since its debut, Disney+ houses more than 500 films and thousands of TV episodes ranging from animated classics and Disney Channel favorites to everything that defines the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's an incredible value, especially if you have kids, and one that continues to roll out new content with each passing month. After all, The Mandalorian was only the beginning.

Read more