2 MONTHS USAGE REVIEW
=====================
First of all a warm welcome to the legendary brand 'ONIDA'. They are back in business with their TV's. And on top of that they have partnered with Amazon's Fire TV OS to bring a unique product in the market. Currently This is the 'ONLY' TV in the market that operates on this OS. This model excited me particularly because I have owned a fire stick and I have practically become a slave to this new way of watching content. If you are someone like me, you'll love this TV. You don't need a fire stick to use this TV as it is built inside of it and it functions like a Normal TV as well.
1. THE BUILD:
The GOOD:
The build is of plastic and it's sturdy on this one. Considering the price range, I was expecting compromises on build quality but it really amazed me on this one.
The BAD:
The stands are very minimalist and feel ONIDA could do better here. But they are sturdy and do there job of holding the TV in place as they should.
2. OS :
The GOOD:
THe OS is obviously a Fire OS and it is built right on to the TV and you can start using it the moment you plug it in. Initially it may take some time to update to the latest version but once that is done, it's a smooth sail from hereon. The navigation is smooth and lightning fast. Probably, it's faster than on Fire Stick. Apps load smoothly. It's identical to a Fire Stick with the only exception of a column called INPUTS which is useful to select devices that you want to use for e.g. Set-Top Box, DVD player etc.
The BAD:
Noticed a minor problem. When a new update is ready to install the TV logs itself out of the Internet connection and the content browser disappears. Then you have to manually connect to the network before you can start using it again. I don't understand why this happens.
3. PICTURE QUALITY
THe GOOD:
The picture quality is pristine and you will enjoy watching FullHD content to the fullest. They provide you with Custom Picture settings alongwith 4 other Picture presets. The Movie preset works for me. The colors are vibrant and full of life (Planet Earth:S2 looks much much better on this TV). Since this is a Full HD TV the highest quality supported is 1080p. 4K content is not supported. It has an IPS panel which allows you to view the TV perfectly from an angle too.
The BAD:
Somehow I am not satisfied with the white balance of the TV. The picture has a blue tint throughout. I have tried setting RGB intensity to the lowest setting but it doesn't seem to affect the color of the TV. The Warm preset is not as Warm as it should be. The whites sometime appears too white and no setting changes seems to affect it. Some of you may not find this a problem, but that's what I felt. It needs to be checked by ONIDA.
4. SOUND
The GOOD: Nothing good about the built-in speakers but it provides a stereo out and audio out that can be used to connect Sound Bar, External Speakers etc. Nevertheless to say that the sound output when connected to a HDMI supported sound system is extremely satisfying. If watching content on Amazon, Netflix etc it supports 5.1 and Dolby DTS and the sound through an HDMI sound system is pristine. Even if you use Headphones through headphone jack the sound output is Dolby processed which will give you a theater experience.
The BAD:
The built-in speakers are below par with zero bass response. So, you may have to opt-in for a sound bar which is what I did. One tip though, Invest in a good mid range sound bar probably with a woofer (built-in or external) and probably the one which supports HDMI ARC.
5. CONNECTIVITY
The GOOD:
Great connectivity with 3 HDMI ports that can be used to connect Set-Top Box, DVD PLayer, X-box, Playstation etc. You can use HDMI 1 port to connect an ARC sound bar or a Home Theater which will enable you to use one single remote for operating the volume and switching on/off the sound system. 1 USB2.0 port enables you to connect an external Hard Disk or a Pen drive from which you can play the content.
The BAD:
Generally current TV's come with 2 USB ports but this comes with only one. It doesnt matter to me, but if you are someone who would like to use another USB device along with a pen drive for e.g. a USB Keyboard then this may be a turn off for you.
6. MEDIA PLAYER
The most disappointing feature of this TV for me is the media player software. Though it supports most video formats including the latest x265 mp4 ans mkv encoded files (1080p), It takes forever to load a USB drive, takes much longer for a hard drive. The media player fails to detect subtitle file formats and is really worthless if you are watching a foreign language film with external subtitles. Thankfully, you can download VLC for Fire TV which is a great player and offers a much better option than the native media player.
7. REMOTE
The GOOD:
Remote is quiet handy and has all the basic buttons that are needed to operate this TV. It is similar to a Fire Stick Remote with an addition of Volume and Quickstart buttons for 4 popular apps, Netflix, Zee5, Sony Liv, Youtube. It gets automatically paired on first use and operates swiftly. Since it's a Bluetooth remote, You do not need to point it at the TV. The only time you have to point it is when you have to switch it On or Off. (Unlike other TV's pressing the On/Off button does not switch off the TV but puts this TV in sleep mode similar to Fire Stick) The Voice feature works seamlessly. You can play videos just by giving voice command to built-in Alexa. for e.g. if you say, "Alexa, Play The Joker Trailer on Youtube". It will open Youtube, find the Joker trailer and start playing it at once.
The BAD:
It feels a bit cheap to hold it and feels flimsy, feels it could break easily. The grip is not firm and it slips out of hand easily, so you'll need to take care till you get used to it. It would have been great if I could assign my favourite apps to the quickstart buttons.
8. BLUETOOTH
The GOOD:
It supports Bluetooth devices (Headphones, Keyboards, Game pads etc.) and they can be paired effortlessly from the settings.
The BAD:
I tried connecting Bluetooth Headphones, it worked seamlessly but the audio would start to drop out in between and the reason for this is it needs to be connected to a dual band router that does not interfere with Bluetooth frequency of your headphones.
OVERALL REVIEW
All in all this TV at this price range with a new OS is a win win situation if you are ready to overlook some minor problems mentioned above. Inspite of these issues I must say the TV performs seamlessly and gives you a wholesome experience. It's an Indian brand that is trying to breakthrough in the market that is dominated by Chinese brands and considering the track record they are doing pretty well. The sheer guts to partner with Amazon Fire OS when no one else is doing that is a brave move and I have nothing but respect. If an ONIDA executive is reading this kindly re-think about the points mentioned and if possible re-work on it. Excited to see what's next by ONIDA.
If you decide to buy this TV make sure you call ONIDA customer care as soon as you receive the TV to book an installation call.
| Brand | Onida |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | MIRC ELECTRONICS LTD, MiRC Electronics Ltd,Onida House,Mahakali Caves Road,Andheri East,Mumbai- 400093,7490955555 |
| Model | 42FIF |
| Model Name | 42FIF |
| Model Year | 2021 |
| Product Dimensions | 95.1 x 59.4 x 21.8 cm; 6.4 Kilograms |
| Batteries | 2 AAA batteries required. (included) |
| Item model number | 42FIF |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 1 GB |
| Operating System | FireOS |
| Hardware Interface | USB, HDMI |
| Graphics Coprocessor | MALI-450 |
| Tuner Technology | PAL |
| Response Time | 8 Milliseconds |
| Resolution | 1080p |
| Special Features | Chromecast |
| Mounting Hardware | 1 LED TV Unit, 2 Stand Base, 1 User Manual,1 Warranty Card, 1 Remote Control, 2 AAA Battery |
| Number of items | 1 |
| Remote Control Description | Hot keys for Amazon Prime, Netflix, Youtube, Alexa voice assistant |
| Display Technology | LED |
| Standing screen display size | 42 Inches |
| Display Type | VA |
| Viewing Angle | 178 Degrees |
| Image Aspect Ratio | 16:09 |
| Image contrast ratio | 3000:01 |
| Supported image types | JPEG |
| Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Resolution | 1920x1080 Pixels |
| Audio input compatible with the item | USB, HDMI |
| Supported audio formats | mp3_audio, wma |
| Speaker Surround Sound Channel Configuration | Dolby, DTS Surround |
| Audio Wattage | 20 Watts |
| Voltage | 230 Volts |
| Wattage | 80 Watts |
| Power Source | AC |
| Batteries Included | Yes |
| Batteries Required | Yes |
| Battery cell composition | Alkaline |
| GSM frequencies | 60 Hz |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Connector Type | Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet, HDMI |
| Includes Rechargeable Battery | No |
| Includes remote | Yes |
| Supports Bluetooth Technology | Yes |
| Manufacturer | MIRC ELECTRONICS LTD |
| Country of Origin | India |
| Item Weight | 6 kg 400 g |
