The Indian smart TV market has been witnessing fierce competition, especially in the sub-₹40,000 price segment, where brands are striving to deliver the best value-for-money products. With increasing demand for affordable yet feature-packed televisions, Indian consumers have shown a shift toward budget-friendly options without compromising on quality and performance. The market has evolved significantly over the years, with established and new players constantly raising the bar.
JVC 55 inch UHD Smart QLED TV
33,999
What Is Good?
- Affordable QLED Panel
- Preloaded OTT Subscription Offer
- Includes Wall Mount Kit
- Slim Bezels & Minimalist Design
What Is Bad?
- Lacks Dolby Vision
- Mediocre Wi-Fi Range
- No Dedicated Mute Button on Remote
JVC, while not a new name in India, is making a re-entry into the market. Super Plastronics Pvt Ltd (SPPL) has obtained licensing rights from JVCKenwood to manufacture, distribute, and service JVC smart TVs in India. SPPL, a ₹1000 crore company, already has brands like Thomson, Kodak, and Blaupunkt under its umbrella, offering products across budget and premium segments. With the launch of the JVC 55-inch AI Vision Series QLED TV, the brand aims to compete aggressively in the affordable TV category. We tested the TV, and here’s our take on its design, build, and connectivity features.
Price and Availability in India
At the time of launch, JVC announced its complete range of made-in-India smart QLED televisions. The series is available in seven display sizes—32-inch, 40-inch, 43-inch, 50-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch—with prices starting at ₹11,999. For this review, we have the 55-inch model and will focus on this.
| Model Name | Price on Amazon |
| LT-55NQ7165C | Rs 35,999 |
Design & Build
From the outset, the JVC 55-inch AI Vision Series QLED TV resembles many other budget smart TVs available in the market, such as Blaupunkt, Kodak, BLACK+DECKER, and Vu. It sports a minimalistic design with almost no bezels on three sides, while the bottom bezel is slightly thicker and prominently features the JVC branding at the center.
The TV’s construction is entirely plastic, which is expected at this price point. There is an option to either wall mount it or use the provided stand. Unlike some competing budget TVs, JVC includes the wall mount kit in the box, so you won’t have to spend extra if you choose that setup. We opted to use the stand, and while the quality of the legs seemed decent, they performed their function adequately, providing stable support to the TV.
Connectivity
The JVC 55-inch AI Vision Series QLED TV offers a standard set of connectivity options. It features three HDMI ports, one of which supports eARC, making it easy to connect a soundbar for enhanced audio output. Additionally, the TV includes two USB ports, an optical port, and an Ethernet port for wired internet connectivity. On the wireless front, it supports Bluetooth 5.0 and dual-band Wi-Fi.
| Ports |
| HDMI x3 – (one supports eARC/ARC) |
| Optical port |
| LAN (Ethernet port) |
| USB 2.0 ports x2 |
| Antenna/Cable In |
However, one noticeable omission is the lack of a USB 3.0 port, which some competing brands offer. This could impact users who rely on faster data transfer speeds for external media playback.
During our testing, we found the Wi-Fi range to be somewhat underwhelming. While the company claims a range of up to 9 feet, our experience suggested otherwise. Compared to TVs from brands like Sony and Mi, which maintained a stable connection, the JVC TV frequently disconnected every 15 to 30 minutes. This issue was particularly noticeable when the router was placed in another room. However, once we placed a Wi-Fi extender in the same room, the connectivity problem was resolved.
Display and Speaker Quality
| Display | Specs |
| Size | 55-inch |
| Type | QLED |
| Resolution | 3840×2160 (4K) |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| Other features | HDR 10, HLG, |
We tested the TV by watching a variety of content, including streaming services in HDR 10, and the short answer is that the performance was decent. The content included When the Phone Rings on Netflix, Paatal Lok‘s recent season on Prime Video, and a rerun of Daredevil on JioHotstar.
The QLED technology provides reasonably good color reproduction and display detail. Viewing angles are decent, but blacks lack depth—though this is not a major complaint, given the price. The contrast levels (4000:1) are solid compared to similarly priced LED TVs. However, the upscaling from SDR to HDR is not the best, so it is advisable to watch content in HDR or 4K for the best results.
The TV also features Dynamic Brightness, which adjusts the picture based on the lighting conditions. While it does make a slight difference, it’s not as impactful as similar features in Mini LED TVs. However, considering the substantial price gap between the two technologies, this is understandable. A notable omission is the lack of Dolby Vision support, which some users might miss.
For audio, the TV is equipped with 60W speakers. On paper, this seems like a great offering, especially compared to the Xiaomi X series, which comes with 30W speakers. However, in terms of real-world performance, there was no notable difference between the two. The sound output lacks bass, and while the TV does support Dolby Atmos, the experience isn’t particularly immersive.
The refresh rate is also limited to 60Hz, which is suitable for watching movies and web series but may not be the best for gaming enthusiasts.
Performance and Remote
The TV comes with 2GB RAM and 16GB ROM. The company also claims to offer a free four-month subscription to 24+ OTT platforms, but we were unable to verify this since we were already using an active subscription linked to our Google account.
Since it runs on Google TV, the interface is similar to that of other smart TVs, offering intuitive navigation and an easy-to-use UI.
The remote features large buttons, which some users may appreciate for their simplicity. While some may prefer a more minimalistic design, the layout is particularly user-friendly for the older generation, making it easy to use. It includes hotkeys for Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and other apps. However, like many budget TVs, it lacks a dedicated mute button, which we found to be a drawback.
Verdict
JVC’s re-entry into the Indian TV market with the 55-inch AI Vision Series QLED TV is a decent attempt at offering an affordable yet capable television. The QLED panel is a definite plus, offering good color reproduction and contrast compared to regular LED TVs. Watching content in HDR 10 brings out the best in this TV, though the absence of Dolby Vision is a letdown. The contrast ratio of 4000:1 is solid for this price range, but black levels lack depth. SDR to HDR upscaling is mediocre, so it’s best to stick with native 4K or HDR content.
On the audio front, the 60W speakers are loud but fail to deliver a rich, bass-heavy experience. While it supports Dolby Atmos, the difference in real-world performance isn’t significant. Connectivity is adequate, with three HDMI ports (one with eARC), Bluetooth, and dual-band Wi-Fi, though the latter’s range is weaker compared to competitors. The Google TV software ensures a smooth user experience, and the remote is functional, albeit lacking a mute button.
Ultimately, this JVC QLED TV is a viable option for budget-conscious buyers looking for a large-screen TV with smart features. It delivers decent visuals and sound but faces stiff competition from other brands offering better upscaling, stronger Wi-Fi performance, and Dolby Vision support. If your priority is an affordable QLED experience, this TV is worth considering, but be mindful of its limitations.
