TEST-Xtreme MF-5500S

Xtremely effective entertainment machine

As I write this, it’s been barely two days since the President declared a Luzon-wide quarantine to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus.  People are to stay and work from home and go out only one at a time to buy food and other home essentials. Which means that there’s lots of time for family bonding, catching up on reading, cleaning out closets and all other accumulated junk, and of course, binge-watch Netflix.

And what better way to watch your favorite movies and TV series than with a stunning 4K Ultra-High Definition Smart TV like Xtreme’s MF-5500S.   

I can’t believe it’s been eight years since I first laid eyes on the first-generation 4K UHD Smart TVs. That was in 2012 as I strolled along the vast halls of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Various brands of 4K UHD TVs were all simultaneously making their worldwide debuts then. Needless to say, I was floored by their spectacularly vivid and life-like pictures and colors. 

Their prices? Anywhere in the US$20,000 to 25,000 range. That’s close to a million pesos to you and me, even in 2012 exchange rates. 

Now in 2020, my three 20-something kids and I stave off quarantine boredom by watching Netflix on a 55-inch 4K UHD Smart TV from Xtreme, a proudly Filipino electronics and home appliance brand. The TV’s price? An eminently affordable P26,995. That’s an incredible price drop from the seven-figure price tag a 4K TV would have commanded eight years ago.  

Xtreme, under Philippine-owned Suntouch Technology Corporation, makes state-of-the-art TVs at affordable prices—one of these being their 55-inch MF-5500S Smart TV, which slots in just below their flagship 65-inch TVs.

Streaming specialist

With Netflix and YouTube pre-installed (and with nifty Netflix and YouTube shortcut buttons on the remote), I was able to take advantage of the TV’s 4K UHD (3840 x 2160 resolution at 60Hz)IPS panel display right away as I streamed full HD movie trailers just seconds after powering it on—thanks also to its fast 1GB DDR+ processor. It was nothing short of what you’d expect from a 4K TV—visuals were crisp, colors were vibrant, and contrast was dynamic. Viewing angle is a generous 178 degrees. That’s almost a full 180!

Stunning sound

The MF-5500S also features High Dynamic Range (HDR) audio for its soundbar-like front-facing PureSound speakers. It can deliver perfectly balanced audio to fill a large living room with rich and well-distributed sound without using satellite speakers.

Sleek design

Xtreme’s 55-inch TV doesn’t have a borderless design, but it does have ultra-slim gloss black bezels that make it look cutting-edge enough to still make it a design centerpiece in one’s living room or bedroom—even with the TV off. Adding to the upscale design is the TV’s sleek yet sturdy textured silver metal base. 

Commendable connectivity

The MF-5500S isn’t only one of the best choices for online streaming with its size, design, and AV performance, it also serves well as a home entertainment center. With wireless LAN, three HDMI ports, one USB 2.0 port, an AV In, a Line Out, an Optical Out, and a coaxial antenna jack, it connects to your gaming consoles, sound bar, mouse, keyboard, and even your microphone so that you can host game and karaoke nights with family and friends. 

Verdict:

The Xtreme MF-5500S makes for a fabulous entertainment centerpiece for any living room or bedroom. It’s a superb UHD TV that delivers stunning motion pictures, crisp and brilliant audio, the convenience of pre-installed YouTube and Netflix (with shortcut buttons on the remote)—all at an affordable price.