I’ve tested quite a few budget TVs over the years, and 55-inch QLED models in this price range can be a mixed bag. One of the more recent ones I tested didn’t really leave a lasting impression, despite offering a similar combination of size, resolution and QLED branding. So when the Intex GQ5531 55-inch QLED TV came in, I wasn’t expecting too much from it either.
But the more time I spent with it, the more I realised that Intex has put together a fairly compelling package for the price. You get a 55-inch 4K QLED panel, Google TV, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and MEMC, along with the usual smart TV features. Some of these features work quite well in everyday use, while the TV also makes a few compromises that become apparent during longer-term testing.
After using it for OTT streaming, YouTube, sports, gaming, and regular TV viewing, I found the Intex QLED TV to be more interesting than I initially expected. Here’s what the experience is like.
The Intex GQ5531 QLED TV follows the familiar frameless design that has become common in this segment. Slim bezels keep the focus on the display, while the bottom chin gets a piano-black finish with Intex branding placed at the centre. It is a fairly simple design overall, but the finish on the chin gives it a slightly more polished appearance.
For the table-top setup, you get two stands that attach to either side of the TV. Their finish is quite basic, and a matching piano-black finish would have made them look more cohesive with the chin. Up close, I could also see manufacturing ring marks on the stands, which takes away from the overall finish a little.The stands also felt quite slippery on our table, and the TV did not feel particularly stable once placed on them.
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I would personally skip the table-top setup and use the wall mount that comes included in the box instead. It provides a more secure installation and, in my opinion, also suits the TV’s design better.
Overall build quality is fairly good for a TV in this price range. The panel feels reasonably well put together, and I did not notice any major issues with the construction during regular use. There is room for improvement in the finish and stability of the stands, but the TV itself feels appropriately built for its price.
You get three HDMI ports, with HDMI 1 supporting ARC, along with two USB ports, an AV input and optical audio output. Wireless connectivity includes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, while Ethernet is also available for a wired connection. There is enough here to connect a set-top box, gaming console, soundbar and other peripherals without constantly swapping cables.
I particularly liked the way Intex has arranged the ports. Instead of using an L-shaped layout with some connections facing downwards, the ports are placed linearly along one side. It makes a lot more sense for a wall-mounted TV, since accessing downward-facing ports after installation can be a bit of a hassle. With this layout, adding or removing a cable is much easier, and you don’t have to move the TV away from the wall just to reach a connection.
Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, while Ethernet is also available if you prefer a wired connection. Overall, the port selection is fairly well covered for a TV in this segment.
The Intex GQ5531 uses a 55-inch 4K QLED panel with support for HDR and Dolby Vision. It also gets MEMC for smoother motion, while the TV supports up to a 60Hz refresh rate. On paper, the display setup is fairly straightforward, but the real experience is a little more interesting.
Colour reproduction on the Intex TV is tilted towards the punchier side, although I wouldn’t call the colours oversaturated. I noticed the same character across different types of content. While watching Avatar: Fire and Ash and Tron: Ares, colours had a noticeable pop to them, which made the image look more lively, particularly in scenes with bright colours and strong contrast.
A similar thing can be seen with blacks. Dark areas generally have good depth for a TV in this segment, but darker scenes in films can occasionally show some greying around shadow-heavy areas. I noticed this during the submarine scene in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, where the darker portions of the frame didn’t always remain completely uniform and some shadow areas appeared slightly lifted.
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I also put the panel through our Calman tests. HDR brightness measured around 336 nits across the test windows, while BT.2020 coverage came in at around 69%. Colour accuracy wasn’t particularly strong in our testing, although I wouldn’t consider that a major surprise at this price point.
HDR support, including Dolby Vision, is useful when you’re watching compatible content, but the roughly 336-nit brightness does limit how impactful HDR highlights can look. Bright elements do stand out compared to SDR, but you don’t get the same intensity or contrast that you would from a significantly brighter Mini LED TV. Dolby Vision content can still look good, particularly when the scene has enough bright elements to work with.
Overall, the Intex’s picture quality works best when you want a lively, punchy image rather than strict colour accuracy. It produces a sharp 4K image and handles everyday OTT content well, with colours that generally have enough pop to keep things engaging. The slightly lifted blacks in darker scenes and limited HDR brightness become more apparent with demanding movie content, but they don’t take away from the fact that the panel can deliver an enjoyable viewing experience for regular use.
I connected my PS5 to the TV, and it automatically switched to Game Mode. One thing I noticed here was the change in picture tone. As soon as Game Mode was enabled, the display took on a noticeably warmer, yellowish tint. It reminded me of the Night Light mode you see on phones, where the screen gets a warmer tone to reduce the amount of blue light.
Game MEMC is set to 0 in this mode, which makes sense for gaming. However, the Game Mode toggle itself is greyed out, so there is no way to turn it off. The MEMC setting is locked as well, leaving no option to change it from the TV’s settings.
While playing Spider-Man 2 and Hogwarts Legacy at 60Hz, I noticed fine horizontal lines across the entire panel. They would flicker or shift during gameplay, and I could see them across the screen in both games. The issue wasn’t limited to a particular scene or one specific game.
The remote has a familiar layout with dedicated buttons for popular OTT apps and a voice assistant button. The button placement itself is easy to get used to, and voice search is useful when you don’t want to type using the on-screen keyboard.
However, I ran into a fairly annoying issue with the remote during regular use. A single press would often be detected as a continuous press, causing the selection to keep moving until it reached the end of a page or list. The same problem showed up while adjusting the volume. A short press on the volume up or down button would sometimes keep registering, resulting in the volume jumping much higher or lower than intended. Because of this, navigating through menus and adjusting settings became frustrating at times.
I discussed the issue with Intex, and a service representative visited and replaced the remote with a new one. I have been using the replacement remote and haven’t faced the same issue with it so far. The buttons are registering normally, including during navigation and volume adjustments. I believe Intex would provide a similar prompt resolution to customers who experience the same issue with their remote.
Importantly, I didn’t experience any noticeable lag with the TV’s software itself. Apps opened normally and navigation was responsive when the remote registered inputs correctly. The problems I faced were mainly related to the remote repeatedly registering a single button press.
For audio, the TV gets a pair of 15W speakers, giving you 30W of total output. It also supports Dolby Audio and Dolby Atmos. The speakers get loud enough for a regular-sized room, and dialogue remains clear across shows, news and YouTube videos. There is decent presence to the sound, although the built-in speakers don’t offer much low-end punch, which becomes more noticeable with movies and action-heavy content.
Dolby Atmos adds some processing to the audio, but the built-in speakers don’t deliver the kind of surround effect you’d get from a dedicated soundbar. For everyday viewing, they are usable on their own, while a soundbar would make more sense if movies, gaming or music are a major part of your usage.
Google TV is probably one of the more familiar parts of this TV. The Intex runs Android 14, and the interface will feel instantly recognisable if you have used Google TV on another television. You get the usual home screen with app recommendations, Play Store access and all the major streaming platforms.
In day-to-day use, I found the interface easy enough to navigate. Apps open without much fuss, and moving between the home screen, YouTube and streaming services doesn’t feel like a chore. There is also 32GB of internal storage, which is useful if you tend to install a lot of apps.
The remote’s voice button can be used for Google Assistant, so searching for a movie or opening an app is quicker than typing everything out. Built-in Chromecast is useful too, especially when you want to quickly send a video or other supported content from your phone to the TV.
There is, however, one software-related issue that Intex should address. During my testing, the TV was still running the October 2025 Android security patch, and I didn’t find any newer software update available. The interface itself didn’t give me any noticeable performance or lag issues, but having an older security patch with no newer update available is something I’d expect Intex to improve, especially on a TV that is running Android 14.
For regular use, the Google TV experience itself is straightforward and responsive. The bigger concern here is how regularly the software and security updates are being maintained, rather than the day-to-day performance of the interface.
The Intex GQ5531 turned out to be a pleasant surprise during my testing. The 55-inch QLED panel produces a lively picture, with punchy colours that make movies and shows look engaging without feeling excessively saturated. 4K content looks sharp, and Dolby Vision adds to the experience when you have compatible content.
Google TV also works well for everyday use, with a responsive interface and enough storage for apps. Add the 30W speakers, Dolby Atmos, Chromecast and a useful selection of ports, and you get a TV that covers most of the things you would want for regular home entertainment.
I went into this review with fairly modest expectations, but the GQ5531 changed my mind over the time I spent using it. It has a few areas that could be refined, but as an everyday TV, there is plenty here to like.
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