A high-quality 4K panel, Google TV, Dolby Vision, and reliable speakers that do not require a separate home theatre — these are some of the features that were previously exclusive to flagship TVs. But thanks to the highly competitive market, you can now find these features trickling down to mid-range TVs. Well, some brands are pushing the envelope even further and are following the smartphone market — offering high-end features such as 4K resolution in the budget segment. A prime example of the same is the Thomson OP Max Smart TV (2023). It appears to be an interesting offering on paper, but how well does it hold it hold up in day-to-day usage? Let’s find out in this review.
Thomson OP Max 4K TV
Rs 29,999What Is Good?
- Well priced
- Display produces good colours
- Decent design
- Smooth software experience
- Comes with installation kit
What Is Bad?
- Ports are tough to reach
Thomson OP MAX Review: Design and Build
The overall design approach of the Thomson OP MAX is keeping it simple and not too over-the-top. It comes in the traditional black colourway, and the entire silhouette of the TV reminded us of the Kodak CA Pro 65-inch TV (review). It is made up of good-quality plastic and will require a helping hand for mounting purposes. You also get a set of stands that are quite sturdy to entertain your tabletop adventures.
It comes with a healthy set of ports, but if you plan on mounting it, a bit of contortionist training might be required to reach them. The back has a solid metal chassis, that can support the weight of the TV well.
| Ports | 3x HDMI (one with ARC)
2x USB 2.0 ports AV Input 1 Ethernet Port |
Bezels on all three sides are thin, giving you a good and distraction-less experience. The bottom chin is slightly thicker and made out of metal. It is painted in rose, giving the whole TV a bit of contrast, that stands out in a room.
Thomson OP MAX Review: Remote
The remote connects to the TV using Bluetooth, giving you the flexibility to not aim the remote for it to work. The build quality is not the most impressive one we’ve experienced, but it’s comfortable to hold and does not feel cheap.
The remote is well-equipped with an array of useful buttons, all of which have been placed neatly for easier access. The D-Pad and dedicated Home button make it easier to navigate through the UI. On the bottom, you get buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube.
A customisable button is also placed on the bottom which can be mapped to any app. This was quite convenient in our usage. Not that this adds any functionality to the remote, but the Thomson branding below all the keys has started to disappear in a month’s usage.
Thomson OP MAX Review: Display and audio
| Display Size | 139 cm (55-inch) |
| Picture Engine | Dolby Vision |
| Resolution | 3840×2160 |
| Brightness | 550 nits |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| Number of Speakers | 2 |
| Speaker Type | Box Speaker with Dolby Atmos and DTS TruSurround |
| Speaker Output | 40W |
The Thomson OP Max uses a DirectLED (DLED) technology for its panel — a detailed explanation of what this panel entails can be found in the Kodak CA Pro 65-inch TV review. The display can output resolutions of up to 4K (3840×2160) with a refresh rate of 60Hz.
Watching shows such as Loki, Jack Reacher, and Marvel’s What If was a fun affair, as the 10-bit panel produced good colours. While the blacks are not very deep, darker scenes in horror movies still appear eerie.
The dynamic range is a bit limited, but the viewing angles and colour accuracy make up for it. The display also supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HDR10 formats. The TV gives you the freedom to switch between multiple colour presets, and tweak the values as per your preference.
The audio department of the TV left us impressed. The bottom-firing stereo speaker setup offers 40 watts of balanced sound output. You get a slew of presets here as well. The Standard preset was a good suit for us, as the increased bass was to our liking.
The Thomson OP MAX also offers DTS TruSurround support, but we preferred disabling it as it tended to shut down the mids a bit, making it tough to hear the dialogues. Overall, the speakers deliver impressive audio for movies, games, and music, reaching sufficient volume levels to fill a room.
Thomson OP MAX Review: Hardware and UI
| Processor | A53 x 4 – 1.5 GHz |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Storage | 16GB |
| Operating System | Google TV |
The Thomson OP Max’s hardware and UI are pretty solid and reliable for the price. It’s not the top-of-the-line by any means, but it can deliver good performance in day-to-day usage. The UI experience is smooth without any unnecessary stutters when navigating.
Since it runs on Google TV, the platform feels familiar to anyone who uses an Android phone. It offers a clean and clutter-free experience that is intuitive and easy to navigate. Almost all the streaming services come pre-loaded, and you get the freedom to download more from the vast Google Play Store library.
Thomson OP MAX Review: Verdict and Alternatives
All in all, the Thomson OP MAX can be a perfect choice for someone eyeing a 4K TV on a budget. If you’re upgrading from a 32-inch or 48-inch TV, the bigger 55-inch TV on a wall will look gigantic and elegant. The picture and sound quality, paired with the smooth software experience is a great offering at its asking price of Rs 32,999.
If you want alternatives in this price segment, you can check out TCL P635, and the Kodak Matrix QLED (review).
