The Insignia NS-43F301NA22 is a very simple, entry-level 4K TV released in 2022. It’s the small version of the Insignia F30 50-inch we reviewed last year, and offers good picture and a nice design at a very reasonable price. It runs the fire TV smart interface, which is very easy to use and has a robust selection of streaming apps, so you can easily find your favorite content.
On the new F30 Series, the best feature remains the robust and responsive implementation of Fire TV OS and all the versatility that comes with it. We’ve tested some impressive budget-friendly TVs before, but none have been quite this inexpensive, especially for a 55-inch set. The Insignia Fire TV line is simply great value for the money, but if you can spend just a bit more, you can get a superior model from Hisense and TCL.
Insignia NS-43F301NA22 Specs
- Model: NS-43F301NA22
- Screen size: 43 inches
- Resolution: 4K Ultra HD (2160p resolution)
- HDR: HDR 10
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- Ports: 3 HDMI (1 ARC), 1 USB
- Audio: 10 watts, 2.0 Channel
- Smart TV software: Fire TV
- Size: 44.4 x 27.8 x 3.3 [w/o stand]
- Weight: 25.3 pounds
The Insignia NS-43F301NA22 Fire TV isn’t necessarily the best-looking around, but it doesn’t look bad either. The screen is framed by a simple, half-inch black plastic bezel on the sides and top, but it widens toward the bottom. The bottom half of the tv widens up to 3.3 inches, to give it some stability and host extras like ports and built-in speakers. It’s supported by a pair of plain, flat feet – but you can mount it on the wall as well.
It’s a thoroughly simple design, with a minimalist design, only distinguished by a gray Insignia logo in the middle bottom bezel and a small. Trapezoidal bump on the lower left corner that indicates the position of the infrared remote receiver, and a power/input button on the bottom panel.
Port selection is just fine, with three HDMI ports, a USB port, and a 3mm headphone jack that sit at the back of the TV, facing the left. A little further inward, there’s an Ethernet port, a set of RCA composite video inputs, an optical audio output, and an antenna/cable connector facing down. For a modern TV, three HDMI ports are a bit scant, but we expected that at this price range.
Amazon TV features and Remote
As the name indicates, the Insignia Fire TV Edition uses the same smart interface as Amazon’s Fire TV media devices. As such, once you sign in with your Amazon account, you can access a wide array of apps and services, ranging from Amazon Prime Video(obviously), Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, Sling TV, Twitch, and YouTube. Also, you can mirror a compatible Windows PC or mobile device screen through WiDi/Miracast, but unlike current Android and Roku TVs, it’s neither Apple AirPlay nor Google Cast compatible.
You can as well use Amazon Alexa voice control by pressing and holding the voice assistant button on the remote and speaking into the microphone. Talking of the remote, the included remote takes its cues from Amazon’s Fire TV streamers, sharing a similarly narrow, rectangular black wand shape with a circular navigation pad near the top. The mentioned voice and power assistant buttons sit above the navigation pad, along with a pinhole microphone.
- 4K Ultra HD (2160p resolution) - Enjoy breathtaking 4K movies and TV shows at 4 times the...
- Alexa voice control - Speak commands into the voice remote with Alexa to control your Fire...
- Access thousands of shows with Fire TV - Watch over 1 million streaming movies and TV...
Performance
The All-New Insignia 43-inch NS-43F301NA22 is an LED-backlit LCD 4K television. It supports high dynamic range (HDR) content with HDR10 and supports DTS Studio sound. It produces a sharp picture, overall, and is very close to a great viewing experience with great contrast out of the box.
The modest color and contrast performance is manifested when watching BBC’s Planet Earth II. The sprawling greens of plants look natural, but not as vibrant as they do on TVs with wider color ranges, including the TCL 55R635 (6-Series, 2021 model) and the flagship LG OLED55C1PUB, though you’ll spend a premium for the crisp picture. Fine details like fur and bark are visible when it’s well-lit, but they tend to become muddy in shadows.
Gamers will likely be disappointed by the All-New Insignia Fire TV’s performance. Not only is the screen 60Hz without a variable refresh rate (VRR), but the input lag is rather high, even in the Game picture mode.
In movie mode, the input lag is an unbearable 109.6 milliseconds. In Game mode, the lag drops to a much more reasonable 41ms, but that’s still over twice the lag of the 20ms threshold we consider ideal for the best gaming TV.
Bottom Line
The Insignia F30 Fire TV is about as inexpensive as any new TV line gets, and it almost matches pricier models in performance. Its picture quality is good at best, with contrast that swallows detail, buts its input lag is high even in Game mode. It lacks Apple AirPlay, Dolby Vision, and Google Cast support, though.
Alternatives in this category include the Hisense H8G, or at least the Vizio M-Series Quantum, but you’ll spend a bit more. The Hisense has far superior picture quality across the board and a much brighter panel that displays a wider color gamut; while the less expensive Vizio offers even wider color, but not as nearly as bright.
Or, if you can consider spending a bit more than that, the Hisense H9G and TCL 6-Series remain our top picks for affordable – if not quite cheap – TVs. That said, if you’re shopping on a budget and need smart TV features on a bright 55-inch TV, the Insignia NS-43F301NA22 is one of the better bargains for one of the best 4K TVs.
Last update on 2024-06-30 at 14:40 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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