Looking around the web for Insignia TV reviews can help you determine whether Best Buy’s budget-friendly TVs are the right choice for you. In this article, I’ve thoroughly reviewed the Insignia F50 QLED TV, covering picture quality, smart features, build quality, sound quality, and more. So, are Insignia TVs good? Let’s find out!
Insignia TVs: What Are They & How Long Have They Been Around?
I’m sure you’ve seen Insignia TVs sitting next to brands like Samsung, Sony, and LG when browsing Best Buy’s TVs section. However, unlike these big names, Insignia isn’t a standalone electronics company. It’s Best Buy’s in-house TV brand that offers TVs with 4K, LED, and QLED TVs with Fire TV OS built-in.
A Quick History of Insignia TVs
Insignia TVs were first introduced back in September 2005. Now, after nearly two decades, they’ve managed to remain in the market as one of the most popular budget TV brands.
Unlike major brands that manufacture their own displays, Insignia relies on third-party manufacturers, often using rebranded panels from other companies. This means panel quality can vary between different models.
The early Insignia TVs were basic 1080p LED models, but newer models now offer 4K, HDR, and QLED technology. For instance, the F50 Series, which we’re reviewing today, features Quantum Dot technology for better color accuracy.
While these new features are a step up for Insignia TVs, they are still a budget brand and can’t compete with LG, Samsung, or Sony. Instead, they compete in the same league as brands like Hisense, TCL, Toshiba, and Vizio. I’ve actually compared Insignia with these brands in separate articles, here are four I suggest you read:
Unlike industry giants, Insignia sources rebranded panels, yielding an unpredictable spectrum of quality.
Who Makes Insignia TVs?
As I mentioned earlier, Insignia isn’t a standalone manufacturer. Their TVs are assembled by Chinese companies like Hisense, TCL, and Vestel using outsourced components. This variety in manufacturers means panel quality, durability, and performance can differ—even within the same model lineup.
This explains why some Insignia models receive positive reviews, while some others are left in disgrace by users who complain about their inconsistencies in brightness, motion handling and uniformity issues. Since Best Buy is the owner of Insignia, warranty claims and repairs are handled through them rather than a traditional TV manufacturer.Who Makes Insignia TVs?
As I mentioned earlier, Insignia isn’t a standalone manufacturer. Their TVs are assembled by Chinese companies like Hisense, TCL, and Vestel using outsourced components. This variety in manufacturers means panel quality, durability, and performance can differ—even within the same model lineup.
This explains why some Insignia models receive positive reviews, while some others are left in disgrace by users who complain about their inconsistencies in brightness, motion handling and uniformity issues. Since Best Buy is the owner of Insignia, warranty claims and repairs are handled through them rather than a traditional TV manufacturer.
Review of my Insignia 65-inch F50 Series
Insignia TV Review: Picture Quality
Anyone reading Insignia TV reviews is most interested to learn about their picture quality. So, let’s get right into it! Here’s how F50 preforms in this area.
Contrast and Black Levels: Surprisingly Good for a Budget TV
One of the most important areas where the Insignia F50 shines, is its native contrast ration of 5,496:1. Thanks to the VA panel used in this model, the blacks appear deep and inky in dark rooms. Unlike IPS panels which make blacks appear grayish, this TV maintains strong contrast, giving dark scenes depth and realism.
However, the lack of local dimming is a big disappointment. While contrast is good, there’s no way to enhance it further in dark scenes. Bright objects in dark background, like stars in a night sky, don’t pop as much because the TV can’t dim specific zones like higher-end models from TCL or Hisense.
Color Accuracy and HDR Performance: Mediocre at Best
F50 is a QLED TV, meaning that it can enhance color accuracy and vibrancy, but the overall HDR experience isn’t great because peak brightness is considerably low. This limited brightness makes HDR look more like SDR. In bright scenes, highlights lack the intense brightness needed to make them standout.
The F50 looks noticeably dim when compared to models like TCL 5-Series or Hisense U6K that can reach 600+ nits.
Motion Handling and Refresh Rate: Just Average
While F50’s 60Hz refresh rate is fine for casual viewing, it’s not great for fast motion in sports and gaming. You can see motion blur and ghosting during fast-paced scenes, meaning you can’t see objects as clearly as you should.
Final Verdict on Picture Quality
The TV isn’t the best when it comes to picture quality, casual content like sitcoms or talk shows will look fine in a dimly lit room, but for those who are into fast-moving content like games or action movies, this TV falls short and there are much better options out there.
According to many Insignia TV reviews, including mine, their TVs are suited for leisurely viewing in dim light, but for swift action or gaming, they pale in comparison to better alternatives.
Conclusion
You can go through as many Insignia TV reviews as you want, but there’s nothing more to say than what I told you about this budget smart TV brand. The final decision to go with Best Buy’s in-house brand depends on what you expect from your smart TV. So, the answer to the question, “Are Insignia TVs good?” is personal. However, compared to other brands in the same range, I’d say no!
