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Review: Devant 50iTV630 Smart 3D TV

Devant is a brand that actually needs no introduction.  The electronics company has been around for quite some time and chances are, you have already seen Devant-branded products in stores the Philippines or heard about it in commercials over the radio.  The company manufactures DVD players, Blu-ray players, audio speakers, portable players, and TVs, among others.  

Admittedly, the brand is not yet as big as Samsung or Sony but its products tell you that Devant is up there with the big boys when it comes to features and quality.

One of its current offerings in the TV category is the 50-inch Devant 50iTV630 Smart 3D TV.  The product carries all known features of the latest TV models, and some other features you never thought possible on a TV.   I had the chance to review the Devant 50iTV630 Smart 3D TV and honestly, I was blown away by this baby.

Design, Hardware and Features

When it comes to TVs, I like the design simple and classy.  Devant’s 50iTV630 is exactly this, so as far as I’m concerned, it’s easily one of the best-looking and least-assuming Smart 3D TVs in the market today.  The sheer size of the TV is imposing, all 50 inches of it, but the design should easily blend well with any kind of living room or bedroom setup that you may have.  The Devant 50iTV630 uses clean lines and minimalist elements, making it decidedly hip, yet classy at the same time.

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There are no strange or off-putting design accents, just black edges and straightforward overall design.  What acts as the main, and actually the only, accent is the clear plastic trimming at the bottom of the display which works perfectly well with the overall look of the TV.  The Devant logo at the bottom of the screen is the other only visible deviation from an otherwise all-black affair.  There is nothing else to be seen on the front, except for the small power indicator at the lower right corner that is flanked by an almost invisible  remote receiver.

Holding the TV is a flat, rectangular base that’s surprisingly easy to install using the supplied screws.  It attaches to the TV panel like they have been joined at production, which basically means that when in use, the TV panel should be safely held in place.  You have an option of installing or mounting it on a wall and Devant even threw in a free wall bracket in the package.

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When you look at the Devant 50iTV630 Smart 3D TV from the side, you immediately wonder if there is an actual working TV inside the contraption.  The TV it’s so thin you can’t help but be amazed at how quickly technology has advanced.  My very first LCD TV was about 5 inches thick, so seeing how thin TVs are nowadays make me shake my head in disbelief.

At its thinnest point, the Devant 50iTV630 Smart 3D TV is less than an inch thick, and with a TV the huge  display size of 50 inches, the thinness of this TV is greatly enhanced.  The thickest point of the TV is at the base where the speakers are located but even with the speakers, the base is still noticeably thin.

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Move to the back of the panel and you will be greeted by a myriad of ports and terminals, but despite their abundance, it doesn’t look cramped.  On the contrary, the ports and terminals are neatly arranged in one side so the rest of the space on the back is uncluttered.  The Devant 50iTV630 Smart 3D TV has 3 HDMI ports, 3 USB ports, a LAN port, a VGA port with VGA audio in jack, two antenna ports (1 for cable and 1 for air antenna), a cluster of AV out ports, a headphone jack, a coaxial port, and a component/AV1/AV2 port.   This means, among other things, that you can use the TV practically any way you want.

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The package not only gets you the TV and the mounting accessories, it also includes two pieces of 3D glasses, which is really cool since you don’t need to buy a separate set of 3D glasses.  There box also includes a manual, a remote control (battery included), cables, and a Wi-Fi receiver.

The Devant 50iTV630 Smart 3D TV offers a host of amazing features.  For starters, it has a full HD 1080p (1920×1080 resolution) clear panel display with 16:9 aspect ratio and a 3,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio.  Imagine full HD on a 50-inch screen with that resolution and contrast ratio and you know it’s nothing short of pure visual pleasure.  There are other useful features some of which are self-explanatory like LEDTech Superior Color Performance, Visual Care and 120Hz Vivid Motion.  One of the main features of this TV is a built-in ISDB-T (Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting – Terrestrial) receiver.  This feature will allow users to view digital, HD content, and free TV without the need for set-top or converter boxes.  ISDB-T is said to be the Japanese broadcasting standard now and soon, it will also be adapted by TV stations in the Philippines.

Being an internet TV as well, the Devant 50iTV630 has Wi-Fi capability through the USB-mounted Wi-Fi receiver.   To take advantage of the Wi-Fi capability, Devant loaded the TV with apps for YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Picasa, as well as an app for web browsing.

Performance, 3D and Internet Features

The Devant 50iTV630 Smart 3D TV offers practically all features that are possible under the most current TV technology.   But does it deliver in areas that really matter, like picture quality and overall viewing experience?  The answer is yes, and I should say that this TV delivers on what is promised, and more.

My previous television sets are of different brands.  I have tried TVs from Sony and Samsung, two of the most respected brands in the market.  From the performance I got from the Devant 50iTV630 Smart 3D TV, I should say that it equals the more established brands in terms of picture quality and features.

Before firing up the Devant 50iTV630 Smart 3D TV for the first time, I wondered if the TV was worth the price, although compared to other known brands, it’s still considerably cheaper.  I didn’t know what to expect, not having owned a Devant television set before.  Honestly, I was expecting a performance that’s something inferior compared to a Sony or a Samsung TV.   When I used the Devant 50iTV630, I was instantly blown away by the picture quality.

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I tried playing all kinds of videos on the Devant 50iTV630, including 1080p videos, and all the time, the TV delivered.  The videos look so sharp they are almost real.  Colors are rendered nicely, without having over-saturation problems, something that’s a common issue with Samsung TVs.   The colors on the Devant 50iTV630 are just right, but with a pop that enhances the viewing experience.

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I tried the 3D feature of the Devant 50iTV630 Smart 3D TV and what I have are only good impressions.  When playing 3D videos, the interface gives you several options like left-to-right or right-to-left swaps and adjustments on the level of convergence and the depth of the 3D effect.  There’s also an option to view a 3D video in 2D, and surprisingly, an option to view 2D video in 3D.

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My first try on 3D viewing immediately brought me to an ultra-realistic viewing experience.   I tried the 3D versions of the movies Brave and Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter.   The viewing experience was too immersive I did not stand up for breaks.  If only for the 3D feature, the Devant 50iTV630 Smart 3D TV is already a worthy purchase.

As previously mentioned, there are two 3D glasses included in the package, so two persons can enjoy 3D viewing at a time.  The 3D glasses are excellently designed, like they came out of a Rudy Project or Oakley factory.   There are two buttons for operation, one for power and pairing, and another for mode selection (left and right modes).   In 3D viewing, the glasses are very comfortable to use.  They are too comfortable sometimes you don’t realize they’re there.  The glasses don’t use batteries.  Instead, they are charged via microSD slot hidden on top through an almost undetectable latch.

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Using the internet on the Devant 50iTV630 Smart 3D TV gave me mixed feelings, not because of anything the TV does or doesn’t do, but because I am not accustomed to using the internet  without a keyboard and a mouse.  Navigation without a keyboard and a mouse is a hard task for anyone and if I had a choice, I would still use a computer if I’d want a perfectly acceptable internet experience.  But judged based on features and ease of use, the Devant 50iTV630 Smart 3D TV should give users a decent internet use experience on the same level as that offered by internet TVs of other brands.

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To use the internet, you’ll need the Wi-Fi USB Adapter included in the package. It’s like a USB drive in size and you simply plug it into one of the USB ports at the back of the TV.  Once the adapter is plugged in, you navigate the settings and the TV detects the available Wi-Fi networks just like any other computer.  Connecting the Devant 50iTV630 to my home internet system was a breeze.  While connected to the internet, I tried all the available apps and I also browsed a few sites.  The YouTube app was easy to use and navigate, and if you’re always on YouTube, this TV will quickly become your best friend.  YouTube videos, especially the HD versions, look great on the Devant 50iTV630.  I can imagine someone spending countless hours viewing YouTube videos.  Facebook was quite hard to navigate, only because you use the remote to do it.  The built-in Facebook app is also not that polished but it still works.  You have access to your newsfeed and even the option to view only photos or videos.  With a 50-inch TV, viewing photos and watching videos is the main point for browsing Facebook.

Browsing websites is nice on a huge TV, but again, if I had the choice, I would rather use the TV as a display and browse using my laptop.  But internet on a TV is not intended for long use, but for those quick browsing sessions when you are so lazy to open your laptop.  So for quick internet sessions, browsing was quite effective with the use of the TV remote.  You move the cursor using the remote’s directional keys, then for letters, an on-screen keyboard pops up.

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Everything works well with the Devant 50iTV630 Smart 3D TV but it’s not perfect, like no TV is perfect.  My only issue with this TV, and it’s actually not that serious an issue, is sound quality.  They are not bad, mind you, but compared to my other TVs, I noticed a lack in bass in the audio output.  It can of course be improved by adjusting the TV’s audio settings, that’s why I said it’s not that serious an issue.  Moreover, with current home entertainment setups, people use a separate audio systems for that boomy audio output.  And with a TV as excellent as the Devant 50iTV630 Smart 3D TV, it won’t make sense not to get a separate audio system.

Wrap-Up

The Devant 50iTV630 Smart 3D TV is quite a revelation.  The brand Devant has been present in the Philippines for quite some time now but this is the first time I have used a Devant-branded product.  First impressions are said to last and with the Devant 50iTV630 Smart 3D TV, I will forever associate the brand with good quality.  The Devant 50iTV630 delivers excellent picture quality, be it in 2D or 3D, and delivers a good overall performance.  As a TV with both 3D and internet features, your home will definitely be transformed into an entertainment haven.

The Devant 50iTV630 Smart 3D TV is priced at P94,950, which makes it a cheaper option for those looking to buy their first Smart 3D TV.  Other brands with comparable specs are priced way higher but in terms of performance, there is practically no difference.  What makes the Devant 50iTV630 a really good proposition, apart from its solid performance, is that it comes with a free items.   Buyers have the option of getting either (1) a Devant 32Mel250 LED TV or (2) a set of BR 51 (5.1 Channel, 3D Blu-Ray Player)  and DV 5270 (5.1 channel speaker system).

Rating: 8.9/10

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18 Comments

  1. cosine1989 Reply

    Internet is not working…wifi is connected but it doesnt connect to internet..please help

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