Dor TV is India’s first subscription TV launched by Micromax-backed Streambox Media. It’s a 43-inch 4K HDR television that carries a nominal price of Rs 10,799 upfront (activation fee). This price includes the Rs 799 subscription fee that you keep paying to access the TV (for the first 12 months, followed by a customised plan starting at Rs 299) and its underlying software Dor OS, which comes with 24+ OTT apps built in. Although you can download more apps from the proprietary Dor app store, the library currently doesn’t include Netflix. So, there are some things you ought to know before you purchase this TV. This includes pros and cons (which I have listed at the bottom of this article). I have been using this TV for about a week now and the following writeup shares my experience. Keep reading to know how good this offering is for the asking price.
This is 91mobiles’ review of the Dor TV (43-inch model). First, let’s examine everything the package includes.
Table of Contents
Dor TV unboxing and setup
Dor TV came in cardboard packaging with Styrofoam frames protecting from the sides. Removing the TV from the box and setting it up on a table is easy. You have to screw in the two bundled inverted V-shaped stands on the bottom of the TV. Since the TV (as well as the entire package) is very light, you can easily lift it and place it on a table. Here’s everything you get in the box:
- TV with power cable
- Tabletop stands (One of the stands was a little wonky in my review unit but the TV seemed stable.)
- Wall mount brackets
- Required screws
- Remote
- User guide booklet
As part of the initial setup process, Dor TV will want you to log in using the mobile number used to purchase the TV. This number will be used to create and register your Dor account. Dor OS (Android 13-based) also asks for your content preferences to personalise your experience.
Besides the slight instability of the tabletop stand and the TV oddly asking me for my number upfront, the rest of the unboxing and setup experience was smooth.
Since we have already talked about the stand, let’s quickly get to the rest of the design review.
Dor TV design and connectivity
The TV has very narrow bezels and is slim from the side profile. As we said above, the TV is very lightweight too. The back is polycarbonate and consists of three HDMI (one of which has eARC support), two USB-A ports, a headphone jack, ethernet, digital audio output (coax) and analog audio input.
Wireless IO options include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The TV’s remote connects via the latter. Its 110mAh battery isn’t removable but charges via solar energy and a USB-C port at its bottom. That’s rather unique to see at this price. Although both indoor and outdoor light works for topping up the battery, the company advises against keeping the remote under direct sun for charging.
The remote is very handy and also has the necessary buttons and even some hotkeys to quickly access OTT apps like Amazon Prime Video and YouTube. You can also pair the remote with the TV via Bluetooth and use the mic to control the TV with voice.
So, design-wise, the TV looks and feels decent for the price.
Dor TV display and audio
So, we already talked about the slender bezels. What’s enclosed within is a 43-inch IPS LCD QLED screen with DLED dimming, 4K resolution, HDR10+ support, 178 degrees field of view, and 60Hz refresh rate. The company claims it will launch 55-inch and 65-inch models in the future.
The 4K HDR panel is the sales pitch here. Well, 4K HDR playback was available on YouTube but couldn’t get 4K on Prime Video, even with the relevant subscription. By the way, the bundle here only offer the basic version of Prime Video which doesn’t have 4K support.
But you can always play content from an external drive or cast through supported services (via Miracast). Netflix isn’t one of these services though, at the moment. The company says Netflix will be added in the coming months. The TV is also expected to be available in 55-inch and 65-inch models.
The picture quality is acceptable with some sacrifices in details and colour accuracy. The colours are saturated even in the Standard picture mode. However, if you like that, there is a vivid mode for more boosted colours.
The brightness and viewing angles aren’t a problem. To avoid reflections and have an overall better experience, use it with lights in the room off.
I didn’t notice blooming but there’s light bleeding on the edges of the TV, which is visible in darker visuals. Meanwhile, details are clipped in highlight portions resulting in visible noise in some cases. However if you don’t pixel peep or are a regular user, you may not see them.
As for the audio, the TV comes with a 40W (20Wx2) speaker setup aided by Dolby Audio. It is plenty loud. But the bass is tiny and channel separation is just passable. You can connect a soundbar if you have one, for a better full-res sound experience (via eARC).
Dor TV software and performance
Dor TV doesn’t take a lot of time to boot (save for the initial setup which of course has more steps). The UI feels responsive enough for the most part. The Live TV screen and thumbnails on other screens take a few seconds to load. I have a 200 Mbps Excitel broadband plan.
The TV is powered by an unnamed quad-core Cortex A55 processor with 1.1GHz clock speed, 1.5GB RAM and 8 gigs of storage. Out of this 8GB, only 5GB is available for user access.
If you are thinking of installing apps, note that there is no Play Store on Dor TV. What you get instead is the Dor app store which includes a curated bouquet of apps. I sideloaded Spotify and VLC. These apps and games are installed quickly.
Speaking of apps, you can install the Dor TV app from Google Play (Android) or Apple App Store (iOS) on your phone. It acts as a companion app to cast content. It also acts as a digital remote, which can be useful in the absence of the actual remote controller. But the app’s UI also loads the Live TV and other screens a little slowly.
You also have the aforementioned 24+ OTT apps. These apps come with basic plans. You get Prime Lite, not the full-fledged 4K supporting Prime Video subscription. Meanwhile, the most popular and pricey OTT of the lot, Netflix isn’t present, not even in the store, at the moment. You can’t sideload or cast it either. That’s a big miss. It is promised to be coming though.
The content from the rest of the platforms is showcased on Dor TV’s home screen. You can find content based on genres, release recency, and recommendations from Dor and its partner platforms. It’s an easy way to find content.
While the easy access is appreciated, the TV oddly restarted itself on two occasions while watching YouTube and Prime Video. Besides these instances, there were no other notable problems in my experience.
What’s worth noting though is the Dor TV’s terms of use. The company discloses many of these on the TV’s Flipkart page. Just take a look at the following T&Cs before we get into the concluding thoughts.
• You must return Dor TV to Streambox immediately upon disconnection or cancellation of the subscription. No claims, charges, or liens can be made on Dor TV, even in case of disputes.
• You agree not to make or share statements that harm the reputation of Streambox, its affiliates, or personnel, including on social media or other platforms.
• Dor TV remains the sole property of Streambox and is not sold to users. After the Initial Term, you may purchase Dor TV at a nominal price listed on the Streambox website, provided your subscription remains active during the Initial Term.
• If subscription fees are unpaid by the due date, access to Dor services will be suspended on both Dor TV and the app.
• Upon subscription cancellation or agreement termination, you must promptly return Dor TV. Streambox will guide you through the return process.
• Subscriptions cannot be cancelled during the Initial Term. After the Initial Term, you may choose to cancel your subscription.
• Cancellation automatically terminates the User Agreement, requiring the return of Dor TV. Refunds will follow Streambox’s policies, with assistance provided by customer service.
• After the Initial Term, Streambox may change subscription fees at its sole discretion without prior notice.
• Streambox may modify, add, or remove OTT apps, TV channels, or games in Dor without notice and without owing refunds, credits, or compensation.
Dor TV review verdict
Streambox Dor TV’s subscription model presents a mixed bag. On the one hand, it offers a low upfront cost (Rs 10,799), a discounted OTT app bundle (at Rs 799 for the first 12 months and then starting at Rs 299), and decent display and audio hardware, making it appealing to budget-conscious users. However, the absence of Netflix and Google Play Store, and limited 4K experience with the included OTT apps may leave some users feeling they’re paying more for less. Furthermore, concerns around the first-gen product’s after-sales support and restrictive terms of use could further limit its appeal.
Whether Dor TV solves subscription fatigue or adds to it ultimately depends on your viewing habits and preferences. While the initiative is appreciated as a novel attempt, its value may vary from user to user.
Editor’s rating: 6.5 / 10
Pros
- Decent QLED panel
- Serviceable sound with Dolby Audio
- Handy remote with solar and USB-C charging
- Discounted OTT bundle
- Low upfront cost
Cons
- No Netflix and Google Play Store
- Limited 4K with the included subscriptions
- Overbearing terms of use
