Gadgetory

Amazon had its own TV now complete with Alexa voice control built-in but there's one big catch Alexa launch Netflix you have to talk into the remote while holding down a button launch Netflix even if you have an Amazon echo or dot in the same room I just finished reviewing Amazon's first Alexa powered TV and there's a lot of things about it that I liked it as a sleek easy to use interface that the same as Amazon's other fire TV devices like the $40 fire TV stick there are thousands of apps and games to choose from and the interface puts streaming front and center putting app tiles for Netflix and all your favorites right on the home page next to the inputs one downside of the interface however especially compared to competing Roku TVs is the prominent advertising for Amazon's own TV shows and movies although other apps like Netflix get rows of tiles to Amazon itself always seems to take precedence on this TV go figure boys control on this TV worked very well allowing me to search for content switch inputs and channels and even do Smart Home stuff like control lights just like an Amazon echo or dot turn on the light as I used it however I kept wishing I didn't have to pick up the remote to issue commands sure this TV has Alexa but without the always-on always listening feature found on the echo it just didn't feel the same people using over-the-air antenna to watch TV however might really appreciate this set your local broadcasts appear with full information and thumbnails right on the home page there's a 14-day grid style program guide you can search for shows and change channels with voice commands and you can even pause live TV the element has 4k resolution but at my test image quality was just okay and worse than similarly priced local dimming and HD are capable TVs from Vizio and TCL black levels were light leading to lower contrast and video processing and screen uniformity fell short of competitors all told I still prefer Roku TVs to this Amazon powered model but if you really like Alexa and don't mind talking into your remote it's worth a closer look check out my full review on CNET for more