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 a Good TV? (Quick Answer!)
If affordability is your number one priority, Insignia TVs can be a great choice, they offer 4K resolution, good contrast and decent colors. Plus, their smart platform, Fire TV, is feature-rich and fully compatible with Alexa ecosystem.
However, the TV isn’t what I’d call a great choice when it comes to overall picture quality, gaming performance, and build quality.
So, if you’re a movie enthusiast who wants the best quality out of their display device, or you’re a gamer, or just looking for a long-term investment, there are better options out there for you. Here’s a table that helps you review Insignia TVs at a glance, it is based on my review of my 65-inch Insignia F50 Series TV:
| Aspect | Summary | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 📺 Picture Quality | ✅ Good contrast (VA panel) and decent colors, but ❌ low HDR brightness and ❌ no local dimming. | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ |
| 🔊 Sound Quality | ❌ Weak built-in speakers, ✅ dialogue is clear at low volumes, but ❌ lacks bass and surround effect. | ⭐⭐☆☆☆ |
| 🛠️ Design & Build | ✅ Thin bezels on three sides, but ❌ plastic-heavy build and ❌ wobbly stand. | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ |
| 🔌 Port Configuration | ✅ 4 HDMI ports (including eARC), ✅ Ethernet, optical, and headphone jack, but ❌ no HDMI 2.1. | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ |
| 📡 Smart TV Features | ✅ Fire TV OS with Alexa integration, ✅ huge app library, but ❌ Amazon ads on the home screen. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| 🎮 Gaming Performance | ❌ No HDMI 2.1, ❌ no VRR, ❌ only 60Hz refresh rate, ✅ low input lag for casual gaming. | ⭐⭐☆☆☆ |
| ⚡ User Experience | ✅ Easy setup, ✅ intuitive navigation, ✅ voice control works well, but ❌ occasional lag. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| 🔧 Warranty | ✅ 1-year standard warranty (through Best Buy), ❌ questionable durability, ❌ backlight failures reported. | ⭐⭐☆☆☆ |
| 💰 Overall Value | ✅ Affordable price for a QLED Fire TV, ✅ good for casual viewing, but ❌ better alternatives exist in the same price range. | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ |
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.
Why Are Insignia TVs So Cheap?
If you’ve ever sat down and wondered, “why are Insignia TVs so cheap?!”, well the answer lies in some strategies that cut costs to prioritize those who want a decent smart TV without losing an arm or a leg. Let’s see what strategies are implemented that make Insignia TVs to be so cheap.
- Outsourced manufacturing
- Lower-quality manufacturing
- Limited smart features
1. Outsourced Manufacturing
The fact that Insignia TVs are manufactured by Chinese third-party companies is like a double-edged sword, while it cuts down on costs, especially due to lower labor costs in China, it also means that build quality isn’t consistent across Insignia TVs, while one TV has decent VA panel with good contrast, another can have poor brightness and motion handling.
2. Lower-Quality Panels and Components
You can’t cut down on costs without sacrificing quality; this is also true for Insignia, their TVs usually come with entry-level LED panels instead of premium QLED or Mini-LED technology. While newer models like Insignia F50 come with QLED panels, they still lack the quality you see on premium brands’ displays.
In addition, Insignia TVs often come with cheaper processors, slower refresh rates, and weaker backlights, these all make them to be cheaper, while also meaning their picture won’t be that impressive.
3. Limited Smart Features
Another major cause for low prices on Insignia TVs, is the fact that Insignia don’t have its own smart TV platform, unlike major brands that develop an OS specifically for their brand (Tizen, webOS, Google TV). Instead, Insignia relies on Amazon Fire TV OS; this platform, while is packed with features, suffers from too much ads, occasional sluggishness, and lack of advanced calibration options.
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Insignia TVs?
Pros
- Affordable pricing: Right now, you can buy a 65-inch Insignia F50 smart TV for only $300 at Best Buy; plus, with the 12-month financing, you get a big smart TV at a very low price.
- Fire TV OS: While Fire TV looks can sometimes be sluggish, it has built-in Alexa support for voice commands, along with thousands of streaming apps.
- Decent picture quality (For the Price): We’ll cover this thoroughly moving forward; but in short, I can say for such low prices, the picture quality is acceptable.
- Good contrast on VA panels: Some Insignia models, the F50 Series, in our case, that come with VA panels offer excellent contras and deep blacks which makes them great for movie watching in dark rooms.
Cons
- Inconsistent build and panel quality: While some models have acceptable contrast and color, other suffer from clouding, screen uniformity issues, and motion blur.
- Poor brightness and HDR performance: Most Insignia TVs suffer from low peak brightness (under 400 nits), meaning HDR content looks dull when comparing them to other budget brands like TCL, Hisense, or Vizio. Also, the lack of local dimming makes the dark scenes appear gray instead of true back, especially in rooms filled with ambient light.
- Weak gaming features: There’s no 120Hz refresh rate; no VRR (Variable Refresh Rate); and input lags aren’t the lowest you’d find in the market.
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.
Insignia TV Review: Sound Quality
Realistically, you can’t expect much from TV speakers, especially on a budget model like this. The Insignia F50’s audio isn’t too impressive; it gets loud enough for small rooms, and dialogue clarity is decent in quiet scenes. However, during action scenes, dialogues tend to get lost in the sound effects, and at higher volumes, the sound distorts noticeably.
While it’s fine for casual TV watching, don’t expect cinematic sound, deep bass, or immersive effects. As I always say, if you want truly immersive sound, investing in at least a good soundbar is a must.
Build Quality and Design
Design
This TV gives off a modern look when viewed from the front, thanks to its three thin bezels on the top, left, and right sides. However, the bottom bezel looks noticeably thicker than expected, which kind of kills its minimalistic vibe, but it isn’t the worst thing after all.
When looking at the TV from the side, you notice that it’s considerably thicker than the standard, measuring 3.79 inches at its thickest point. This gives the TV a bulky look from the side.
It’s good to note that the TV supports VESA 300×200 standard, so most universal mounts will fit. However, if you’re willing to mount the TV, you’ll need to tidy up the wires yourself due to the TV’s thicker profile and lack of built-in cable management.
Port Configuration
When it comes to ports, the Insignia F50 can offer a decent selection.
The TV has one downward-facing and three side-facing HDMI 2.0 ports. You can’t find any HDMI 2.1 ports, which was predictable since the TV says it doesn’t support a 120Hz refresh rate. The good news is that the TV supports ARC/eARC over HDMI, meaning that you can send Dolby Atmos audio to a compatible sound system.
Other than HDMI, you can find all the other usual ports expected to see on a modern-day TV, including one USB-1 2.0 port (no USB 3.0, unfortunately), one optical audio output, one 3.5mm jack, one Ethernet (LAN), one RF Antenna/Cable input, and one Composite AV input.
Build Quality
When I tried to handle this Insignia TV for the first time, I saw how its plastic body revealed its budget nature. While some metal is used, especially on the back panel, the frame and bezels are all plastic.
This does affect the feeling you get from your TV. Major plastic use means a less premium feel. Regarding durability, while I haven’t tested this Insignia TV in the long run, I should mention that metal components are better at heat dissipation and guarantee durability, while plastic materials tend to overheat more.
Insignia TV Review: User Experience
Smart TV Capabilities
One of Insignia TVs’ biggest points is their Fire TV OS. Unlike some other budget brands with weird names and outdated, slow platforms, Insignia TVs use Amazon’s Fire TV, which offers a vast library of apps, including Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Crunchyroll, and more!
However, while Fire TV has excellent app availability and is easy to use, the ad experience makes it less user-friendly than other platforms. Amazon pushes ads and recommendations on the home screen; there’s no way to fully disable them. Another problem is that the interface occasionally slows down, especially when switching between apps quickly.
If you prefer a cleaner interface, I suggest you go with Roku TV. Onn TVs could be an alternative that comes with the Roku platform.
A major advantage of Fire TV is its Alexa compatibility, which allows seamless voice control. With Alexa, you can search for content easily. For example, you can say, “Alexa, play The Night Agent on Netflix,” and let Alexa do the rest for you. You can also control TV settings, launch apps, and check the weather, news, or other stuff.
The Insignia F50 allows screen mirroring and casting. However, this is only limited to Amazon’s ecosystem. There’s no support for AirPlay or Chromecast. So, for someone deeply invested in Amazon’s ecosystem, like those who have Fire TV tablets and Echo devices, the TV works fine, but if you’re a Google or Apple user, you’ll be disappointed.
Final Verdict? Well, while the streaming experience is solid thanks to Fire TV OS and Alexa voice control, the ads and occasional lags, along with the lack of Chromecast support, might be drawbacks for some users.
While the streaming on Insignia TVs is reliable with Fire TV OS and Alexa, the intrusive ads, intermittent lags, and absence of Chromecast support could dampen the experience for some.
Initial Setup
I didn’t run into any trouble when setting up the F50. It is pretty lightweight for a 65-inch TV, and attaching the two plastic legs is quick and easy; just a screwdriver is needed.
Do I Need an Amazon Account for a Fire TV like Insignia?
Yes! Any Fire TV requires an Amazon account. The OS is locked down without it, restricting access to apps and settings. Here’s how the setup process goes for a Fire TV:
- Connect to Wi-Fi (or plug in an Ethernet cable).
- Log into (or create) an Amazon account.
- Download updates (this takes less than 5-10 minutes)
- Choose a picture mode (Movie, Standard, Dynamic, etc.).
- Customize privacy settings (disable data collection, targeted ads, etc.).
Ease of Use
Since I’ve already covered how the Fire TV interface and apps work on Insignia TVs, this section focuses on the remote control and customization features.
The TV comes with a basic Fire TV Alexa remote, similar to other Fire TV devices. Taking a look at the remote, you realize its minimalistic design, which is complemented with buttons that are easy to read. There are dedicated shortcuts to popular apps like Prime Video and Disney and an Alexa button for voice control. Unfortunately, the lack of backlight makes using the remote in the dark hard.
Unlike Google TV, Fire TV didn’t impress me with its settings and customization options. However, you can still change picture and audio settings and implement parental controls like locking certain apps.
So, Are Insignia TVs Good?
After testing the Insignia F50 TV, I can confidently say that Insignia is a solid budget-friendly brand. Still, it all comes down to your expectations. If affordability is your top priority, Insignia is a decent choice, especially with its good contrast and respectable color accuracy for the price.
However, remember that the TV has low peak brightness, isn’t the best option for gamers, and comes with an interface that’s not the smoothest. Plus, there are concerns about its long-term durability.
To save you from reading too many Insignia TV reviews online, here’s the deal:
Buy Insignia TVs if:
- You’re a casual viewer wanting a TV for Netflix, YouTube, and everyday streaming.
- Price is your main concern, and you’re an Alexa user who’ll benefit from the built-in Fire TV OS.
Don’t buy Insignia if:
- You’re a gamer expecting a 120Hz refresh rate, low input lag, or VRR support.
- Picture quality is a big deal for you—due to its low HDR brightness, lack of local dimming, and weak black levels.
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!
