Toshiba M550KU Smart Fire TV
I think that flat-panel TVs are one of the more competitive market segments in AV. Many manufacturers offer panels that range from ultra-budget to flagship, so there is sure to be a TV to fit your budget and needs. But how does one of the oldest electronics manufacturers in the world try and differentiate itself from the pack? How about adding Amazon’s Fire TV and Alexa and building them right into the panel? Oh, and let’s add 48 zones of local dimming. Wait, and it’s $1200 for a 75” panel? Interested? Well, Toshiba is hoping to have a holiday hit with their new M550KU Smart Fire TV. Available for the holidays at $800 for the 55”, $1000 for the 65” and $1200 for the 75”, it might be a great gift under the tree!
Toshiba M550KU Smart Fire TV Overview
So let’s get right into the specs. As I wrote earlier, the Toshiba M550KU Smart Fire TV comes with Amazon’s Fire TV and Alexa build-in. Fire TV is incredibly popular with consumers. By adding Fire TV right into the set, Toshiba has eliminated a device or dreaded dongle from your AV mess and is helping streamline your setup. It has the apps you love like Disney+, Netflix, Prime, HBO Max, YouTube, and Pandora to name a few. It also has Apple Airplay and content sharing all built-in. Sporting 16GB of flash memory should help you navigate your apps quickly and give you some space to add on.
Add Amazon Alexa voice assistant built-in and you get to add the convenience of a voice assistant without having to add another device to your system. Big kudos to Toshiba for building far-field microphones right into the set. Having it built-in allows you to have the convenience of Alexa without being tethered to your remote. Competitors, take note!
Offered in 55”, 65” and 75”, the Toshiba M550KU Smart Fire TV is a 4K LED panel, with 48 zones of local dimming. It is a 120hz panel (with ALLM comparability) and supports Dolby Atmos (plus a slew of other formats including DTS Virtual:X). Of course, it supports the latest High Dynamic Range features for the best color including HDR, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision. I truly appreciate the breadth of support that Toshiba has included. These features will appeal to enthusiasts who are looking for a new panel.
Toshiba has its proprietary Regza Engine to control all their processing and upscaling. This powerful engine ensures that users get one of the best on-screen experiences available.
Toshiba M550KU Smart Fire TV Specs
- Display Type LED
- Resolution 4K (2160p)
- Screen Size Class 55,65, 75 inches
- High Dynamic Range Format Dolby Vision, HDR 10, HDR 10+
- Full Array Local Dimming
- Refresh Rate120Hz
- Motion Enhancement Technology – Motion Rate 240
- Specific Manufacturer Technologies REGZA ENGINE 4K
- Smart Platform Fire TV (Build-in)
- Featured Streaming Services – Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube, Apple TV+, ESPN+, HBO Max, Pandora, Paramount+, Sling TV
- Number of HDMI Inputs 4
- Works With Amazon Alexa
- Voice Assistant Built-in Amazon Alexa
- Surround Sound Supported DTS Virtual:X, DTS-HD, Dolby Audio, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus
- Built-In Speakers – Downward firing
The Looks
Let’s face it, with so many competitors in the flat panel market; you need to have the looks to go with the performance. For example, the Toshiba M550KU Smart Fire TV features a near bezel-less design. This design should appeal to those who want a TV to have the latest features and blend into the background.
I think this panel will showcase it looks best when wall-mounted. Although the included feet are not a terrible design by any means, they don’t keep with the sleek and minimalist look that the Toshiba M550 Fire TV is seeking to achieve.
Missing
Missing is support for VRR at 120hz. While the Toshiba M550KU Smart Fire TV has 4 HDMI 2.1 ports, the panel only offers 4k60 gaming. While this won’t matter to the casual gamer, hardcore PC and next-gen console gamers may want 4k120 for the absolute best experience. But for those looking for a solid and affordable TV that can handle most 4k gaming, plus has support for all versions of HDR and Dolby Vision, the Toshiba M550KU Smart Fire TV checks a lot of boxes off.
Our Take
We think that the Toshiba M550KU Smart Fire TV does more right than wrong. With full support for most video and audio formats, 48 zones of local dimming to make your HDR experience more dynamic, plus some support for 4k gaming, this is an excellent choice for those looking for a budget-minded but feature-rich TV. With built-in Fire TV and Alexa support, I think this TV can streamline your setup and add voice assistant support without needing another device. Plus…that price is beyond attractive. We’ll see how the Toshiba M550KU Smart Fire TV performs once we get it in to review.
For more information, visit ToshibaTV-USA.com.
