Home-grown Singapore TV brand PRISM+ offers the best screen bang-for-your-buck with the Q86-QE Pro, a massive 86-inch 4K TV that’s cheaper than many current-generation 65-inch OLED smart TVs.
In July 2021, PRISM+ updated its line-up with the QE Pro Android TVs, with three screen sizes: 55-inch, 65-inch and 86-inch. NXT Magazine was the first media in Singapore to review this 86-inch panel in our September 2021 edition.
To get to such an attractive price, PRISM+ had to reduce its manufacturing cost, and this could explain why the QE series TVs don’t come with a digital processor or a full-array backlight. If you tend to watch a lot of streaming services, you’ll hardly notice the ‘missing’ processor, but if, like my mum, you spent 10 hours a day watching the Tokyo Olympics on Free-to-Air (she only watches those channels, even though I have Disney+, Netflix and Apple TV+) then it’s quite obvious that the source is 720p, with a lack of definition to text and faces. Backlighting is also edge-lit, not full-array, which means that the screen doesn’t usually have a high contrast range, and can look ‘dark’ in a bright environment.
After I took delivery of this big 86-inch TV, which I had to leave standing on my floor as it was actually just a little too big for the TV bench in my living room. Setup was simple – apart from a digital antenna, the Q86-QE Pro is a WiFi-enabled Android TV, so that once you’ve logged into your network, simply access Google Play to download your streaming apps, and with this done, I took the opportunity to check out the television’s performance with various video formats.
I was actually quite surprised by the performance of the Q86-QE Pro. As I mentioned before, digital free-to-air programs look a little dark, even when the screen was in Vivid mode, but 1080p content looks quite ok. Switching to Jungle Cruise on Disney+ Premier Access, which is an additional cost, and the Q86-QE Pro automatically switched to Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos, delivering a much brighter, more vibrantly coloured image than standard mode, which is down to the Q86-QE Pro’s Quantum Color backlight technology, while surround sound from the TV’s 2x 10W speakers was decent – not perfect, but good enough, with excellent volume.
To tell you the truth, when I considered the Q86-QE Pro’s price for screen size, I figured that the main reason why you’d buy this TV was to get something big, with visual performance a secondary concern. I was really quite surprised by this TV’s Dolby Vision capabilities. Additionally, the UI is pretty easy to navigate, and there’s a ‘Google’ button on the remote to activate Google Assistant, so you can give the telly voice commands, while 3 HDMI 2.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, a digital optical port and a LAN port, plus Chromecast, Bluetooth and WiFi, let you hook up a host of peripherals to the telly – though if you have a next-generation gaming console, do note that this is a 4K@60hz panel.
The Q86-QE PRO is currently bundled with a free digital antenna, 12-month subscription to MeWatch and a 3-month subscription to Viu, and is available purchase on the PRISM+ Online Store or the PRISM+ Lazada Flagship Store.
S$3,199
Rating: 4.5 / 5
We say:
A very affordable big-screen telly that surprises with its Dolby Vision performance, making an excellent buy for streaming fans
Technical Specifications
Screen Size 86-inch (as reviewed)
Panel Technology Quantum IPS
Resolution 3,840 x 2,160 4K HDR10
Smart TV Android TV 10
Connectivity Google Assistant, Google Play, WiFi, Bluetooth 5, 3x HDMI 2.0, 2x USB 2.0, LAN, AV, SPDIF
Dimensions 1921 x 1215 x 435mm (with stand)
Weight 43kg (with stand)
First published in NXT Magazine September 2021. A digital edition can be purchased from Magzter.
