If you’ve shopped for a new TV anytime in the past few years, you know that “OLED” is code for “expensive.” Actually, it stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode, techno-speak for “oh my god look how vibrant that picture is.” No question, OLED TVs beat the pants off traditional LED/LCD TVs, at least when you compare them side-by-side — and that’s why they carry a premium. But after all these years, where are the budget challengers to the pricey likes of LG and Sony?
Let’s get ready to RUMB-OOOOLED! Now stepping into the ring: a hungry, hard-punching newcomer, the 55-inch Sansui S55VOUG. It sells for $900 at Walmart — hundreds below most comparably sized OLEDs — and if you’re lucky enough to live near a Micro Center store, it’s just $700. (At this writing, various other stores have it for $800. Go figure.)
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In opposite corners: the 55-inch LG evo C4 Series and Sony Bravia 8, which are currently priced at $1,300 and $1,400, respectively. There’s little that needs to be said about these two; they’re glorious TVs, with dazzling color, amazingly wide viewing angles and some of the deepest blacks anywhere. (That said, take note of a few usability quibbles in my reviews below.)
The real question is how the Sansui compares. Is the picture just as good — or, at least, good enough?What, if anything, are you sacrificing by choosing the “cheap” OLED? Find out below, and be sure to look past the reviews for answers to frequently asked OLED questions.
Rick Broida/Yahoo
Tested size: 55-inch | Weight: 35.3 pounds | Operating System: webOS | HDMI ports: 4 | Voice controls: Hands-free LG, push-button Alexa | HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
There’s color and there’s color. LG’s evo C4 Series fully realizes OLED’s promise, with hues that burst off the screen, impressive brightness, amazing contrast and pitch-black blacks. I can’t think of one negative thing to say about image quality; it’s simply superb. The built-in speakers are above average, too.
I’m less enthusiastic about certain aspects of setup and operation, starting with the printed instructions: They’re among the more cryptic I’ve seen, a jumble of different diagrams for different TV sizes, and with nothing detailing actual TV operation.
Once I found the correct diagrams for this model, I had to figure out which of the two sets of nearly identical screws to use to affix the stand. They’re identified in the instructions, but the bags themselves aren’t labeled.
The first time I powered up the TV, I was greeted by a hilariously fast robotic greeting: “PresstheOKbuttononyourremote.” Turns out the Audio Guidance feature (designed for the visually impaired) was enabled by default. I was able to disable it a few steps further into setup, but remained puzzled over the highly compacted speech.
From there I had the option of continuing via the remote or LG’s ThinQ app on my phone. I chose the latter, as I already had it installed for use with my LG WashCombo washer/dryer, and app-based setups are typically the easier of those two options.
Even so, I encountered a few confusing screens along the way, like the one asking if I wanted to use a smart speaker for voice commands. Why, when the TV has Alexa built in? (It wasn’t clear that this would have given me the option to use an Apple HomeKit or Google Assistant speaker instead.)
A bit later, I was required to use the app as a remote in order to complete setup — and it wouldn’t let me out of the TV-remote screen even after setup was complete. In the end I had to go through the process a second time, which ended successfully.
Those were one-time speed bumps; the more challenging issue is LG’s Magic Remote. It’s large and comfortable to hold, but not backlit or rechargeable. It’s also overcrowded, with some questionable button layout choices (like Mute right above the voice-command button, where you’ll easily confuse the two in dim lighting).
What’s “magic” about the clicker? Its Wii game controller-like capability: When you wave it around, a cursor appears onscreen, allowing for point-and-click-style operation. Think of it as an “air mouse.”
Anecdotally, I know some people like this; I’m in the opposite camp. It can be difficult to get the cursor to land exactly where you want it and stay there while you press the select button, which is small and deeply recessed in the center of the direction pad. And that button is also a scroll wheel, so unless you press it straight-down-dead-center, you might accidentally scroll instead of click. I found I had to use the tip of my thumb, or even my thumbnail, to press that button, otherwise it was too easy to hit the surrounding direction-pad instead.
Meanwhile, while watching Netflix, I found that if the cursor was active, I couldn’t simply use the center button to pause or resume; I had to point and click. This got aggravating in a hurry. Unfortunately, there’s no way to permanently disable the pointer. Your only option is to click the left or right button on the direction pad, which makes it disappear — but only temporarily.
As for the user interface, LG employs webOS rather than the more common Fire TV, Google or Roku software. It probably comes closest to Google’s in terms of overall design, but I found it busy and clumsy — especially when the cursor appears while you’re trying to scroll around.
On the other hand, I do like the pop-up settings menu, which allows for easy on-the-fly changes to picture, sound and other modes. And you can see the results immediately, the better to decide if you like a specific change. Many TVs require more and deeper wading into menus, plus some “backing out” to see the results of your adjustments.
For the record, I wouldn’t let either the remote or the UI stop me from buying the LG evo C4 Series. What I would do is plug in one of my favorite streaming devices and use that instead. Then I can sit back and enjoy one of the most incredible TVs currently available.
- Dazzling picture
- Interface allows for quick picture-setting changes
- Good speakers
- Poor printed setup instructions
- Initial TV configuration confusing in places
- Non-backlit, often frustrating Magic Remote
$1,298 at Walmart
Rick Broida/Yahoo
Tested size: 55-inch | Weight: 52.9 pounds | Operating System: Google TV | HDMI ports: 4 | Voice controls: Push-button Google Assistant | HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10
“Budget” and “OLED” have never been part of the same sentence, until now. The Sansui S55VOUG sells for anywhere from $700-$900, depending on where you shop. Even at the higher end of that range, it’s hundreds below the regular prices of OLED TVs from the likes of LG, Samsung and Sony.
But how does the picture compare? Before I answer, take note: Sansui’s OLED panel is manufactured by LG, so in theory it should be at least as good as one of LG’s TVs — though the company has a lot of different variations in its OLED lineup, so it’s hard to draw a direct comparison.
Here’s the upshot: The S55VOUG’s picture is beautiful. It easily outshines an LCD, with eye-popping color and nearly perfect blacks. One look at this and it’s hard to go back to a non-OLED TV.
However, I did notice that when viewing Dolby Vision-enhanced source material (specifically Godzilla Minus One on Netflix), the Sansui picture wasn’t quite as bright or colorful as the LG C4’s. On the other hand, some 4K YouTube content (minus Dolby Vision) actually looked more vibrant on the Sansui.
Was either one necessarily “better” than the other? Or more “accurate”? It’s difficult to say. Spec-hounds should note that while the TV does support Dolby Vision and “regular” HDR, it doesn’t do HDR10+ (which is yet another variant of the previous two). Obviously if that’s something that matters to you, choose a different TV. (If you’re not sure whether it matters, see our FAQ section, below.)
Kudos to Sansui for including an admirably detailed instruction manual. The print and illustrations were a little smaller than I’d like, but I appreciated that they extended beyond just TV-stand installation and into things like Google TV setup and operation.
I was puzzled by the orientation of the power port, which faces the rear of the TV instead of the side. That means if you want to wall-mount it, that plug — even though it has a right-angle connector — could get in the way. It protrudes by about an inch. (All the other ports are side-facing and embedded in a recessed channel, as to be expected.)
Sansui’s remote is huge, over eight inches long, but with a mostly logical layout, high-contrast buttons and my favorite feature of all: backlighting. I do wish it had dedicated play/pause/shuttle controls — there’s certainly enough room — instead of relegating them to the direction pad, but that’s fairly common with modern TVs (and maybe even preferable to some users).
But check this: The remote can double as a microphone for use with the S55VOUG’s nifty karaoke mode. Just fire up YouTube, search for karaoke songs and start belting them out. I’m no singer, but I had a blast with this. (Once I figured it out, that is; this is one feature that’s not explained in the instructions, and the minimal onscreen tutorial has some decidedly fractured English.)
The Google TV interface is easy enough to learn and use; it’s probably my second favorite after Roku, and in fact it has a superior “continue watching” feature for resuming your recent shows and movies.
This is one TV that would definitely benefit from a soundbar; the built-in speakers are okay at lower volumes but start to sound pretty harsh the higher you go.
In the end, if you’re looking for that big step up in picture quality, you’ll get it here — as long as you’re okay with a 55-inch screen. For the moment, that’s the only size available. (A Sansui spokesperson indicated more sizes are slated for 2025.) I’m impressed by what the S55VOUG offers for hundreds less than the competition.
- Beautiful picture overall
- Priced hundreds less than competing OLED TVs
- Very good printed setup instructions
- Fun built-in karaoke feature
- Backlit remote
- Some content lacks brightness of competing models
- Currently available only in 55-inch size
- Mediocre built-in speakers
- Unusually heavy
$900 at Walmart
Rick Broida/Yahoo
Tested size: 65-inch | Weight: 39.7 pounds (55-inch model) | Operating System: Google TV | HDMI ports: 4 | Voice controls: Hands-free or push-button Google Assistant | HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
The Bravia 8 isn’t the flagship in Sony’s OLED lineup — that distinction belongs to the much more expensive A95 — but it’s still a very good TV. For the record, Sony sent us the 65-inch Bravia 8, but except for size, it’s identical to the 55-inch. Thus, we’re basing this review on the latter to better compare apples to apples (and prices to prices).
Sony’s print instructions aren’t great. While the diagram-heavy setup sheet is easier to understand than LG’s, the separate multi-language reference guide is a cumbersome fold-out poster with tiny, crowded print. Thankfully, once you’ve attached the feet and turned on the TV, it’s all pretty easy — thanks in part to a familiar, straightforward Google TV setup.
Where the other two TVs have center stands, the Bravia 8 includes two feet that can install in either of two sets of channels: near the edges or nearer the middle, the latter option to help the TV find footing on smaller furniture. Within each channel are two height options, which is nice; you might want the screen to sit a little higher to, say, accommodate a soundbar.
This is the only TV in the group to include an ATSC 3.0 tuner, meaning if you connect a compatible digital antenna, you’ll be able to enjoy 4K broadcasts from local channels (if they’re available in your area). It’s basically the latest version of tuner technology, a worthwhile bit of future-proofing to have.
Although it relies on the aforementioned Google TV operating system, the Bravia has a totally custom set of menus for sound and picture adjustments — and they’re superb. I’ve never seen such attractive, well-designed control panels. Equally commendable: The Bravia will, by default, automatically adjust picture settings to suit individual streaming services (though you can toggle this off if you like).
This made a great first impression when I started watching Mission: Impossible Fallout on Prime Video; motion-smoothing (which creates the dreaded soap-opera effect) had clearly been turned off, meaning I didn’t have to do it manually. However, the “calibrated” settings for Netflix had motion-smoothing turned on for some reason, so some manual tweaking was still necessary.
While the Bravia 8’s picture looked as richly colored (and deeply black) as I expected, it seemed a bit dim overall — at least in comparison with the LG and Sansui screens. But after poking further in the settings, I disabled the ambient-light sensor, which improved overall brightness considerably (and put it on par with the others). As for Sony’s speakers, they’re decent overall — but, trust me, if you’re investing in an OLED, you’ll want a soundbar.
I can’t say I loved Sony’s remote, which is smaller than the others and therefore has smaller buttons. It’s not backlit, either, which I find inexcusable in a premium TV. I don’t love the speckled-blue plastic casing, either, though I do admire Sony’s use of fully recycled materials.
If you’re trying to decide between this and LG’s evo C4 Series, it’s just about a wash; the Bravia 8 may be a little better on the feature and usability front, but it’s also priced about $100 higher.
- Gorgeous picture
- Calibrated picture modes for different streaming services
- Well-designed picture and audio settings menus
- Includes ATSC 3.0 tuner
- Width- and height-adjustable feet
- Supports hands-free Google Assistant
- Not as thin as most OLEDs
- Calibrated modes are of mixed value
- Small, crowded, non-backlit remote
$1,398 at Amazon
The verdict: Who wins the battle of the OLEDs?
If you thought an OLED TV was out of reach, think again. Sansui’s S55VOUG puts the tech in your living room for under $1,000 — possibly well under. I was surprised by how well it fared against the LG evo C4 Series and Sony Bravia 8, though, to be fair, I have a less critical eye than some. I’m dazzled by all OLEDs, which represent a major step up over the LCD TVs I’ve always owned.
Make no mistake, the LG and Sony screens are fantastic; I have no qualms about recommending either of them. But if your budget can’t stretch that far, I think you’ll be extremely pleased with the Sansui. The dazzling screen would be enough all by itself, but you also get unexpected benefits like Dolby Vision, a decent instruction manual and a backlit remote that doubles as a karaoke microphone. (In fact, this is the only backlit remote in the group, and it comes with the cheapest of the three, cough, cough.)
What about other OLED models?
Here’s hoping the Sansui is just the first in a new stream of affordable OLED TVs. Even if it’s not, this is a particularly good time to shop: Black Friday deals are already available for a variety of other OLEDs, including some perfectly good “last year” models:
How we tested
I tested these TVs in a bedroom, placing each on a stand near a window that lets in a lot of ambient light. (That was in order to gauge brightness, which can be a limitation with OLEDs.) I watched a variety of content: WALL-E on Disney Plus, Godzilla Minus One on Netflix, various YouTube videos and even some old Seinfeld episodes.
From left to right: The remotes for the LG evo C4 Series, Sansui S55VOUG and Sony Bravia 8. The one in the middle is my favorite: It’s backlit and doubles as a karaoke microphone! (Rick Broida/Yahoo)
However, just as important as picture and sound quality was usability: Did the TV come with easy-to-understand setup instructions? Was the remote comfortable and laid out in an intuitive way? Was the TV interface easy to navigate? And what kind of voice controls were available?
FAQs
How does an OLED TV compare to a more traditional LCD TV?
I’ll spare you the boring technical differences and just say that OLEDs deliver a noticeably better picture overall. Colors pop. Black areas look black instead of just “dark”. As a result, OLEDs also tend to have better contrast, though brightness can be a weak spot. If your TV room is very bright, an LED-backlit LCD may yield better results.
Take note, too, that OLEDs may have shorter lifespans than their LCD counterparts, and they’re susceptible to moisture and humidity. If you live in a very humid environment, an OLED might not be your best choice.
What is burn-in and should I be concerned about it?
There’s always a catch, right? OLED is unrivaled when it comes to color, but the technology has an Achilles’ heel: burn-in. This refers to an area that becomes permanently visible on the screen, the result of it appearing there for too long. Think: the ticker at the bottom of a news channel. If you leave that channel on for hours every day, at some point you might start to see a ghostly artifact of the ticker even when you’re watching something else.
Although some newer OLEDs have features designed to combat burn-in, the jury is out on whether this is still a problem. For the average viewer, probably not — unless you really do leave an unchanging image on the screen for long stretches of time.
What is Dolby Vision and why does it matter?
Vision is a Dolby-branded version of HDR (High Dynamic Range), a kind of image processing designed to boost color, brightness and other picture qualities. A growing amount of streaming content is encoded with Dolby Vision, so it’s definitely to your benefit to choose a TV that supports the technology. That said, to best cover your HDR bases, look for one that supports HDR10+ as well.
So what’s Dolby Atmos?
You could call it Dolby Vision’s audio counterpart. Atmos is a surround-sound technology that promises a more three-dimensional listening experience without actual surround speakers. All three of the TVs here support Dolby Atmos, but here’s the thing: It doesn’t add much value. You simply can’t get good 3D audio from a small pair of rear-facing speakers.
Instead, consider adding a Dolby Atmos soundbar, one that includes up-firing speakers that can more effectively “bounce” audio around your room. (Point of interest: Because the soundbar is going to handle the Atmos processing, it really doesn’t matter if Atmos is built into the TV or not.)
