Blaupunkt Milkyway 65-inch TV Review: Mini LED Magic at a Budget Price
The Indian television market now bursts with choices for customers seeking quality TVs at reasonable prices. Gone are the days when only a few legacy players dominated with premium-priced devices. Today, aggressive specifications and competitive pricing define the battlefield.
Advanced technologies like Quantum Dot (QLED) and Mini LED rapidly trickle down into mid-range and budget segments. Blaupunkt emerges as one brand offering flagship quality at much lower prices. Their Milkyway Series 65-inch Ultra HD (4K) Mini LED Smart Google TV promises higher brightness, better contrast, and a powerful sound system that might eliminate the need for an external soundbar immediately.
Priced at Rs 58,999 on Amazon, this TV aims to disrupt its segment. It packs Mini LED technology, a massive 108W sound output, and gaming-centric features like a 120Hz refresh rate on a 65-inch canvas. This review examines the real-world performance of this ambitious television.
Design and Display: A Modern Visual Treat
Blaupunkt adopts a "frameless" design that helps the TV blend into its surroundings. Minimal bezels let the 65-inch screen dominate your visual field. The finish adds a touch of premium build quality, making it look more expensive than its price tag suggests.
The primary selling point is the display technology. Blaupunkt moves away from traditional Direct LED or Edge LED panels to Mini LED technology. This step significantly reduces the 'grey black' phenomenon, where dark scenes often look washed out due to ineffective backlight dimming. The result is a much more detailed, bright, and colourful output.
Mini LED technology shrinks the size of individual LEDs. This allows more LEDs in a smaller section, producing sharper and crisper images. The TV features 288 local dimming zones, a respectable number for this price point, though high-end flagships boast thousands. This setup achieves a contrast ratio of 100,000:1. In simple terms, it means dark scenes, like space vistas or night sequences, lose their greyish tone and appear truly black.
The panel delivers a peak brightness of 1500 nits. This ensures punchy visuals even in well-lit rooms, such as those near large windows with significant ambient light. However, the TV sometimes struggles to combat glare effectively. It supports all major HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG. A "Smart Eye Shield" feature also protects eyes from blue light emissions.
Performance, Audio, and Software: Power and Polish
A MediaTek AI-powered processor drives the Blaupunkt Milkyway. This chip handles UI smoothness and upscales low-resolution content. The company claims the built-in AI optimises frames in real-time, adjusting sharpness, colour, and motion handling.
Our testing revealed some issues. For instance, while watching the train assassination scene in "Gemini Man," the upscaled content appeared slightly pasty. Default picture settings looked eye-catching but proved too bright for our preference. We recommend users fine-tune the picture to their liking. Multiple picture modes are available, including HDR, HDR Movie, and HDR Sport.
Gamers will appreciate the 120Hz refresh rate, supported by HDMI 2.1 features like Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). These features are essential for console gamers using PS5 or Xbox Series X for a smooth experience.
We watched "Daredevil," "Stranger Things Season 5," and several football matches during our review. The overall display performance satisfied expectations for this price point. However, we advise finding the optimal picture mode, as the screen might appear too bright or colourful for some viewers.
The bright, smooth display pairs with an impressive audio setup. Modern affordable slim TVs often suffer from poor audio due to limited space for large drivers. Blaupunkt manages to fit a total six-speaker setup producing 108W sound output. This includes four dynamic speakers and two subwoofers placed on the back panel.
The inclusion of subwoofers adds a satisfying low-end thump. Their placement on the back makes the output fuller as sound bounces off the wall behind the TV. Supported by Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Plus, the TV attempts to create a 360-degree sound field.
While it cannot replace a dedicated soundbar setup, it significantly outperforms the stock audio of most premium market TVs. For example, the sonic roar of fighter jets in "Top Gun: Maverick" and action sequences in "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame" carried warmth and depth, enhancing the cinematic experience.
On the software front, the TV runs on Google TV. It comes with preinstalled apps like YouTube. The interface is clean, responsive, and easy to navigate. Built-in Chromecast and Google Assistant add convenience. The remote includes hotkeys for Netflix, YouTube, YouTube Music, and Amazon Prime Video.
Verdict: A Compelling Package with Minor Caveats
The Blaupunkt Milkyway Series 65-inch Mini QD TV delivers specifications typically reserved for much costlier models. Finding a 65-inch Mini LED panel with 1500 nits brightness and a 120Hz refresh rate under Rs 60,000 is rare and represents a good deal.
The inclusion of a 108W sound system with inbuilt subwoofers is the cherry on top. It addresses one of the biggest pain points of modern TV ownership—weak built-in audio. Consumers seeking a "cinema-in-a-box" solution without the hassle of external speakers and wires should explore Blaupunkt's Milkyway series.
Some caveats exist. The 288 dimming zones, while decent, fall short of flagship counts. Audio may exhibit slight crackling at higher volumes. The processor's long-term performance at the highest level remains to be seen.
At Rs 58,999, this TV offers strong value for money. It brings modern features like Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and next-gen gaming support to the budget segment. For those prioritising premium specs without the premium price, the Blaupunkt Milkyway is a compelling contender.
