How Bad Is Vidaa Actually? 50" TVs

Bought a Hisense TV at the end of 2020 on Takealot good deal and it had VIDAA ill honestly tell you its TRASH thankfully the TV had a dead pixel at the bottom of the screen so I returned it for full credit (Cant fault Takealot RMA it's great) and picked up the 55" variant of https://www.takealot.com/hisense-50...rt-tv-with-hdr-dolby-vision-blue/PLID69152498 with some tuning for DV, HDR, standard 4k and HD it's a really great TV, the picture is clear speaker sound is a bit tinny but I don't use them and you can always get a soundbar.

Picked up the Samsung https://www.takealot.com/samsung-43-au7000-uhd-crystal-processor-4k-smart-tv/PLID72476322 in June for my bedroom also good TV only flaw is 4k HDR buffers on plex as the bitrates are too high but netflix 4k and the like works 100s

I would suggest getting a TV with Android TV and even better look for a TV that has Google TV (Chromecast UI)

if you have time and are not in a rush for the TV I would suggest setting alerts on https://www.servaltracker.com/ I picked up that Samsung for R5500
 
capd said:
I'm buying a friend a 50" TV at around the R7k mark, and since Android is seemingly limited to Sinotec and TCL, I'm wondering how bad Vidaa from Hisense/Toshiba actually is? Does it support the usual BritBox/Netflix/Showmax? And will it/these be updatable for years to come? I feel Android is a safer bet but better TV specs are perhaps more appealing.
Click to expand...
I have a 70" Hisense with Vidaa, not sure if there's any difference between the sizes. Initially it's fine but overtime it slowed down noticeably. If you can ignore the slow / sluggish responsiveness of the display the rest is decent. Netflix has Atmos support which is a nice plus. Showmax / Plex is also supported, not sure about BritBox. Anything not in their app store I use on an android media player. If you're not interested in using a media box, look elsewhere.
 
I have a U6G 55" with VIDAA. I used it with just VIDAA for a while, and it works great for YouTube and Netflix. Then I set up a home media center Raspberry Pi, and initially used DLNA, which the TV picks up fine and can play anything you throw at it. I've played 150GB BluRay rips over WiFi and it works great.

But I wanted to use Plex (without transcode) and the Plex client on VIDAA is just awful. It would crash the entire OS and have to restart the TV.

I bought a Google TV Chromecast and now exclusively use that. 100% worth it. It doesn't play everything guaranteed as well as VIDAA (some issues with HDR content and H.265) but it will play anything using Kodi and its Plex addon.

The advantage of having Android TV built in is you're usually guaranteed to have a good experience with things like Dolby content detection. The disadvantage is the built-in hardware is usually garbage, sometimes the software doesn't get updates, and it's not worth spending an extra R2-3k just for the OS when you can choose a Chromecast and upgrade it later or switch to Roku if you wanted.

TLDR: great screen for the price, the base OS plays any file you throw at it, but get a Chromecast
 
Went to take a look at 50” TVs.

Hisense: VIDAA is not great and no BritBox on low-mid range models. Crap remote.

Samsung: AU7000 left a lot to be desired. Yes it guarantees support and BritBox but at R7,500 it feels expensive. The 55” is only R1,500 more with free sound bar.

Skyworth: Just crap, despite running Android. It was pretty slow. Crap remote.

No TCLs on display.

LG have a 50” at R9k but none on display. Presume it has a fairly good picture, and good OS and remote.

Looked at Samsung 50” QLED at R12,999 but it’s expensive.

Was offered a Samsung 50” QNED for R16,999. Nice TVs but expensive.

Forgot I had a LG C1 48” in the box in the garage so made a deal with friend on that. Lucky them. ;)

But it reminds me how lacklustre anything other than QLED/QNED/OLED really is. :crying:
 
capd said:
Trying to avoid a stand-alone TV box, so I guess Hisense and Toshiba are out. Pity.
Click to expand...
Of interest, why ?

I dreaded the thought of a standalone box - an extra remote / input / cable. I just preferred the simplicity of having an all-in-one solution - but eventually I did go external box and it's not bad. I hid the TV remote so no one can reach it though
 
Dolby said:
Of interest, why ?

I dreaded the thought of a standalone box - an extra remote / input / cable. I just preferred the simplicity of having an all-in-one solution - but eventually I did go external box and it's not bad. I hid the TV remote so no one can reach it though
Click to expand...
It’s their preference. They had a Mi Box before.
 
epah said:
I really don’t know why you choose to turn a blind eye with hisense, is it maybe because you have never seen other TVs so you have nothing to compare them with? I am genuinely curious because in most threads you seem to defend hisense. Vidaa ui is blurry on every hisense or is yours as crisp as other OS ?
Click to expand...
I have 3 Hisense TV’s and they are good quality - very happy with them - I agree with @Lupus on the brand (the 50” one is 4K by the way @epah )

The VIDAA-U os on the other hand SUCKS - @epah you are 100% correct
 
Lupus said:
If you want Android, the Sinotecs aren't actually that bad, they also have HDMI2.1 features like ALLM and such, was pleasantly surprised by the 58" my wife got.
Click to expand...

Sinotec at an excellent ‘under R100 per diagonal inch’ price-point at Everyshop today

28707632-704F-4383-AD52-737FDE66957B.jpeg
Sinotec @ R95 per diagonal inch



A3EF3CB7-D0DD-4F49-A847-677903A37F69.jpeg

Samsung @ R163 per diagonal inch
 
capd said:
Went to take a look at 50” TVs.

Hisense: VIDAA is not great and no BritBox on low-mid range models. Crap remote.

Samsung: AU7000 left a lot to be desired. Yes it guarantees support and BritBox but at R7,500 it feels expensive. The 55” is only R1,500 more with free sound bar.

Skyworth: Just crap, despite running Android. It was pretty slow. Crap remote.

No TCLs on display.

LG have a 50” at R9k but none on display. Presume it has a fairly good picture, and good OS and remote.

Looked at Samsung 50” QLED at R12,999 but it’s expensive.

Was offered a Samsung 50” QNED for R16,999. Nice TVs but expensive.

Forgot I had a LG C1 48” in the box in the garage so made a deal with friend on that. Lucky them. ;)

But it reminds me how lacklustre anything other than QLED/QNED/OLED really is. :crying:
Click to expand...
If you're in Gauteng you can get a 50" Q60A QLED for R7999.
 
Hisense is fine I have one and I also have a 42inch C2 LG. Definitely Hisense offers great value and I haven't had too many issues it.
 
I have a question for the guys complaining about the "blurry interface" of the Hisense TVs. (yes, I have a 58", is know it's not as good Clear as your high end TVs) BUT.......

Do you switch your TV on and stare at the interface, or do you watch content?
 
Piesang said:
I have a question for the guys complaining about the "blurry interface" of the Hisense TVs. (yes, I have a 58", is know it's not as good Clear as your high end TVs) BUT.......

Do you switch your TV on and stare at the interface, or do you watch content?
Click to expand...
There's only one person moaning
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X