The Amazon Fire Tv Omni Qled Is Great For Gaming, But Works Just As Well With Alexa

Amazon Fire TV Omni Series QLED

pros and cons

Pros

• Great image and sound
• Dedicated crippled mode
• Alexa features are optional
• Easy to group up
• Great for gaming

Cons

• A spot overpriced
• No easy measurement to entree app room
• Somewhat invasive ads connected location surface
• Lots of cool features locked down Alexa functions
• No Dolby Atmos support

The Amazon Fire TV Omni Series QLED is nan adjacent improvement of Amazon's TV offerings, pinch an all-new QLED screen for bolder colors, sharper detailing, and enhanced contrast.

The Amazon Fire TV Omni Series QLED intends to present a awesome streaming acquisition pinch rich, cleanable audio from copy 12W speakers and entree to thousands of shows and movies. It moreover useful arsenic a gaming TV pinch a dedicated gaming image mode to heighten colour and detailing truthful that characters and landscapes pop. 

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However, nan biggest onslaught against nan Omni QLED is that overmuch of its cool functionality is locked down Alexa. To get galore of nan Omni QLED's cool features -- for illustration making sound aliases video calls, playing trivia, aliases checking nan upwind -- you'll person to bargain an Echo device and group up an Alexa floor plan if you don't person 1 already. 

Pricing 

As awesome arsenic nan caller Omni Series QLED models are, value is simply a large sticking constituent for me, particularly since I personally don't usage Alexa aliases want an Amazon-centric streaming experience. However, Amazon is presently moving a waste connected nan 55-inch Omni Series QLED, bringing nan value down to $410 -- which is overmuch much successful statement pinch what I deliberation this TV should beryllium retailing for -- making it a great, budget-friendly action if you're looking to upgrade.  

Picture and sound

I person to admit that I wasn't expecting to beryllium arsenic impressed arsenic I was pinch nan image and sound value of nan Omni Series QLED. Since Amazon is truthful caller to manufacturing, I was expecting a bare-bones TV pinch basal features and passable image and sound. And I americium very gladsome to beryllium proven wrong.

The QLED sheet decidedly seems for illustration an betterment complete nan erstwhile iteration, producing much colors, amended contrast, and sharper detailing. It besides supports Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ for enhanced settings erstwhile you request it, which is awesome news for movie and TV show buffs. And it is perfectly worthy going done nan HDR calibration process (which only takes a fewer minutes) to fine-tune your images to get nan champion image possible.

Also: OLED vs QLED: Which is better?

The TV besides has a dedicated gaming image mode. This gives your games a much-needed ocular boost -- particularly if you're playing an older console aliases integer transcript of an older game. 

The adaptive HDR10+ settings automatically set brightness, contrast, and colour to make scenes look sharper and much eye-catching.

The TV besides has integrated ambient ray sensors, which automatically make nan surface brighter aliases dimmer based connected your environment. A batch of newer smart TVs person this feature. I'm gladsome that Amazon included it successful this exemplary upgrade. Our location catches a batch of greeting sun, which tin make watching nan greeting news a spot difficult connected our Samsung TU-8000 (which doesn't person adaptive surface brightness). 

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Another mini gripe I person pinch nan Omni Series QLED is nan 60Hz refresh rate. While this is perfectly good for astir streaming and broadcast entertainment, if you're an avid console gamer aliases sports fan, it leaves a batch to beryllium desired. And while I understand location are licensing fees for supporting AMD FreeSync aliases Nvidia G-Sync specifically for gaming, wide VRR support would person gone a agelong measurement toward providing smoother on-screen action. 

The integrated speakers connected nan TV are a in installments to nan redesign, however, providing rich, clear audio that doesn't sound tinny aliases muffled for illustration immoderate banal TV speakers can. Dolby Digital Plus audio support besides ensures that you'll get heavy bass notes, arsenic good arsenic clear mid and precocious tones, truthful you ne'er miss a statement of speech aliases a spot of music.

If you want a much elaborate audio setup, you tin link your TV to Echo speakers to create a civilization location audio solution aliases supply whole-home audio for streaming music. This is an fantabulous characteristic that I wish Amazon hadn't shackled to its ain brand. 

I would overmuch alternatively spot multi-device support for generic Bluetooth speakers and soundbars, since users mightiness person audio instrumentality from different brands alternatively than a location afloat of Amazon-branded devices. You tin group up non-Amazon speakers and soundbars pinch nan TV but won't get that whole-home audio experience, which is simply a shame.

Alexa and Amazon features

As it's meant to beryllium nan centerpiece of your Amazon aliases Alexa-centered smart location network. nan Omni QLED features autochthonal Alexa support via a voice-enabled remote, arsenic good arsenic a four-microphone array built into nan portion itself. If you don't person an Alexa relationship already, you tin usage basal sound commands for turning nan TV connected and disconnected aliases launching definite apps. And if you want expanded, hands-free controls arsenic good arsenic nan expertise to adhd Skills, you tin either link to an Echo instrumentality aliases nan Alexa companion app. Though you will request an Amazon relationship to motion into nan Alexa app arsenic good arsenic nan TV itself to entree galore enhanced features. 

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If you determine to download Alexa Skills, you tin play music, games, cheque nan weather, get regular trivia, aliases moreover make and person video calls. Skills are what really group nan Omni QLED isolated from akin smart TVs from competitors for illustration TCL and Hisense. Without entree to these features, nan Omni QLED is reduced to a beautiful bog-standard smart TV pinch better-than-expected image and audio capabilities.  

Gaming

Where I was nan astir amazed pinch nan Omni QLED is conscionable really good it does pinch console gaming. I group up some my PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch and ran this TV done each trial and situation I could deliberation of. And nan Omni Series QLED is much than tin of delivering a value console gaming experience. 

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The dedicated gaming mode is automatically enabled arsenic soon arsenic nan TV detects that your console is powered connected and connected, which is awesome because you don't person to navigate done immoderate confusing menus to get nan champion image imaginable for your games. This image mode automatically boosts opposition and colour to springiness you sharp, cleanable images that make characters and landscapes really pop.

Taylor Clemons/ZDNET

I was astir impressed pinch conscionable really awesome Ghost of Tsushima looks, pinch its cinematic landscapes, rich | characteristic modeling, and nan sheer magnitude of worldly connected surface astatine immoderate fixed point. And moreover pinch nan Omni QLED's somewhat lackluster 60Hz refresh rate, I ne'er had immoderate issues pinch surface tearing aliases artifacting; and I ne'er had immoderate issues pinch mobility blur emotion excessive aliases for illustration an annoyance. 

It does get a spot tricky erstwhile playing hit games, arsenic it tin propulsion you for a loop erstwhile trying to deed analyzable hit combos, but it doesn't detract from astir games.

Taylor Clemons/ZDNET

Taylor Clemons/ZDNET

The Switch looks bully connected this TV arsenic well, particularly since galore Nintendo titles person bold colors and absorbing creation guidance that activity really good pinch nan QLED panel. The original Paper Mario looks clean, if clunky successful comparison pinch later entries to nan series, and Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is simply a delight. 

Taylor Clemons/ZDNET

I usually play console games pinch a headset truthful I tin amended prime up connected audio cues and dialogue, but nan integrated speakers of nan Omni QLED supply large and clear audio that doesn't make you miss retired connected good specifications for illustration upwind done trees, subtle music, and quiet characteristic conversations. 

If you're successful nan marketplace for a TV strictly for console gaming, I'd highly urge nan Omni QLED. Even astatine nan afloat $800, it's still a coagulated action against competitors from brands for illustration Sony and LG erstwhile it comes to image value and a smoother, much enjoyable gameplay experience.

Streaming

This TV was built from nan crushed up to beryllium a one-stop-shop not only for streaming Amazon Originals and Prime Video offerings, but streaming from each 1 of your favourite apps. Upon startup, nan Omni QLED drops you correct into nan FireOS location screen, which puts Prime shows and movies beforehand and center. You tin besides entree Amazon's different video streaming partners for illustration Freevee from nan location surface arsenic good to watch free movies and shows pinch ads. 

The Omni QLED comes pinch a mini suite of preloaded apps to get you started, but you'll person to manually download celebrated options for illustration Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ if you want them. This process is nary large deal, arsenic galore caller smart TVs only connection a mini action of preloaded streaming options. But to not astatine slightest person different Amazon-owned apps for illustration Twitch preloaded and fresh to spell is an overseas prime to me. 

Taylor Clemons/ZDNET

Another location surface rumor I person is nan ads. They're not rather arsenic invasive aliases annoying arsenic what you'd spot connected a Kindle, but a bully information of nan location surface is taken up by ads for various Amazon-produced shows and movies, streaming partners, and moreover tips for mounting up and configuring your caller TV. 

While these are mostly adjuvant for uncovering caller things to watch, if you're perfectly against ads, it's thing to support successful mind. Especially since they don't ever load connected startup, leaving your TV surface a void of various shades of gray.

Taylor Clemons/ZDNET

Once you person each of your apps downloaded, you past person to configure your quick-selection menu. It's not a peculiarly difficult aliases time-consuming task, but it's a mini annoyance that precocious utilized apps don't show up connected nan location surface automatically. You person to entree your afloat room by going to nan settings menu, wherever you tin past adhd your favourite streaming services to your quick-access menu. 

Thankfully, you only person to do this erstwhile -- if you're for illustration maine and you instrumentality to conscionable a fistful of streaming apps; but if you for illustration to move things up a lot, you're going to walk a batch of clip tweaking your quick-access list.

Taylor Clemons/ZDNET

Along pinch apps, you tin besides stock your mobile instrumentality screens via AirPlay aliases Chromecast. I will opportunity that erstwhile nan Omni QLED arrived astatine my house, I had rather a spot of problem getting AirPlay to activity properly. I ended up contacting Amazon for troubleshooting help. One mill reset and respective firmware updates later, we were capable to get nan rumor fixed.

So if you're having issues sharing thing via AirPlay aliases Chromecast, I propose checking nan settings paper for nan latest firmware update. And if that doesn't work, a bully old-fashioned reset usually takes attraction of immoderate package aliases connectivity weirdness. Which unluckily intends you'll person to spell done your setup and location surface configuration process again.

Also: How to AirPlay to a TV 

Once I sewage AirPlay to activity properly, it was reasonably easy to watercourse Twitch broadcasts, TikTok videos, and YouTube clips to nan TV. A fewer image value issues cropped up, for illustration weird achromatic balancing and washed-out colors, but I chalk this up to nan measurement surface mirroring useful alternatively than immoderate responsibility pinch nan TV. And unless you scheme connected scrolling done your TikTok FYP for hours, you're not going to announcement overmuch of a quality anyway. 

Taylor Clemons/ZDNET

Animation is different area wherever this TV comes into its own. Whether you're watching brand-new shows aliases puerility favorites, nan Omni QLED tin nutrient bright, vivid colors that make each framework consciousness cleaner and much exciting. Overall image value varies rather a bit, depending connected nan property of nan animated show aliases movie you're trying to watch. But moreover original episodes of Dexter's Laboratory look cleanable and sharp; there's a small "fuzziness" astatine times pinch older shows and movies successful general, owed to nan solution limitations of nan time. But nan 4K upscaling does a awesome occupation of bringing retired good specifications without ruining nan charm. 

Bottom line 

At nan extremity of nan day, nan Amazon Fire TV Omni Series QLED is simply a run-of-the-mill smart, 4K TV that intends to supply a coagulated streaming acquisition for Amazon and Alexa users. If you're not an avid Alexa aliases Amazon fan, you tin still get a batch of mileage retired of this TV, particularly if you're looking for a much affordable TV for console gaming. 

The dedicated gaming image mode lets colors and specifications popular while nan integrated speakers supply clean, clear audio. And moreover older cartoons and films look astonishing pinch upscaled 4K resolution, letting you revisit puerility favorites.

Many of nan cool features are inextricably linked to Alexa functionality, truthful if you want to return afloat advantage of nan Omni QLED, you'll person to put successful an Echo instrumentality and group up an Alexa account. And this logic unsocial is why I deliberation nan $800 value tag is conscionable a touch connected nan precocious broadside for this TV, since without Alexa Skills, it's conscionable a basal QLED model. 

Alternatives to consider 

Editor's Note: We had primitively stated that users request to person Alexa-enabled devices for illustration nan Echo Show aliases Echo Dot to return afloat advantage of nan Fire TV Omni QLED's afloat suite of features. We person recovered that nan Alexa app allows users to entree these features, though users still request an Amazon relationship to usage Alexa done nan app. The reappraisal has been updated to bespeak updated accusation from further testing and spec sheets provided by Amazon.