It’s been about nine years since the OnePlus brand debuted with its first smartphone. For the first few years since the launch of the OnePlus One, OnePlus was largely a smartphone brand. Now, the brand wants to change that perception. At it’s Cloud 11 launch event for India in February 2023, OnePlus didn’t just unveil its new flagship smartphones for 2023 – the OnePlus 11 and the 11R, but also showcased a whole bunch of products including the OnePlus TV 65 Q2 Pro. Brands like Samsung and OnePlus are now offering a ‘connected ecosystem’ and the new flagship TV Q2 Pro is part of that pitch. The last and only time OnePlus launched a premium TV was back in 2019. That’s not the only reason the Q2 Pro has our attention.
No fuss
The first thing that I noticed once I set up this TV was just how quickly it fires up and turns off. We’re used to Smart TVs taking a few extra seconds to come alive. The set up process itself was quite hassle free and typical of any Android TV. While you might be tempted to clamp this on your wall, just like its predecessor, this one looks much more elegant when it rests on the in-box stand. It’s one of the best looking TVs at this price point. You get a bezel-less design that’s almost a given for most Smart TVs in 2023. It’s the soundbar that sets this TV apart. While the first gen Q1 Pro boasted of a sliding, drop-down soundbar, OnePlus has opted to ditch that party trick for the 2023 version.
Party proof
While you may not be able to impress your neighbours with a drop-down soundbar, the in-built soundbar will blow them away with the sound output. I tend to test most TVs with one of my ‘go to’ music videos – Thunder by Imagine Dragons, and the Q2 Pro made a big impression. OnePlus leverages its partnership with Danish audio major Dynaudio for the 70W sound system in this TV. It combines a 40W output from OnePlus’ ‘Horizon’ soundbar and 30W from the subwoofer. The double side-facing tweeters add to the directional audio experience. It’s the acoustic experience that sets this TV apart from rivals at this price point
Immersive visuals
OnePlus’ Q Series has remained the brand’s flagship TV. OnePlus has launched multiple TVs in its more affordable Y Series but it’s taken a while for a Q series refresh. The display specs are impressive. This one’s a 4K QLED display (3840 x 2160 pixels) with a 120Hz refresh rate. The TV offers great visibility even when there’s sunlight in the room. OnePlus has increased the brightness to 1200 nits. Colours are terrific with support for high-dynamic imaging technologies like Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG. Gamers will appreciate the Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) that offers a fluid gaming experience.
Wrap up
Just like other TVs from the OnePlus brand stable, this Q series TV is easy to recommend if you already own OnePlus products. I got a prompt when I opened my OnePlus buds for a seamless connect; you can also control this TV with your OnePlus watch. It’s all part of the Connected ecosystem that brands are using to deliver a seamless experience as we move from gadget to gadget or screen to screen. You also get all the Google Smarts (like Google Assistant voice commands) that are an Android TV staple. It all adds to the appeal that complements the immersive visuals and terrific sound. The OnePlus Q2 Pro 65 delivers great value at its asking price. The challenge for OnePlus is to convince users who are used to the brand’s affordable Y series TVs to step up.
The OnePlus Q2 Pro 65 TV costs Rs 99,999.
