Living room television upgrades are no small feat. With endless options, technical specifications, and budget limitations, choosing the right big-screen TV can quickly become overwhelming. As someone who just went through the 65-inch TV buying process, let me tell you about my experience to help simplify your search!

Why I Needed a New 65-Inch TV

Our old 50-inch plasma was on its last legs after over a decade of loyal service. With the arrival of our new entertainment console, it was time to finally upgrade to a larger screen.

I had a few must-haves for our next TV:

• 65-inch screen: I wanted a truly cinematic experience for movies and gaming.
• 4K resolution: 1080p was no longer cutting it. I wanted the sharpest, most vibrant picture quality.
• Smart capabilities: Access to all our favorite streaming apps was a requirement.
• Affordable price: I didn’t want to spend more than $500 if possible.

After lots of research, I determined the Insignia NS-65DF710NA21 65-inch 4K UHD Smart TV checked all my boxes. Time to test it out!

Unboxing the Insignia 65-Inch TV

The TV arrived in a large, well-protected box. Inside, the TV itself was encased in protective foam and plastic. I was immediately impressed by its slim design and large 65-inch display.

After carefully removing the packaging, I assembled the two-pronged stand which screwed in tightly. The TV felt sturdy and stable on its base.

Overall, a smooth and stress-free unboxing experience! Now, onto the fun part – setting up and testing the Insignia 65-inch TV!

First Impressions After Setup

With help from my spouse, we easily wall-mounted the TV. I was pleased to find the instructions simple with labeled ports and inputs.

Turning it on for the first time, I was blown away by the vibrant 4K picture. The colors were rich and crisp. Just look at those blues!

The simple remote felt good in my hand and was easy to navigate. I breezed through the initial setup prompts to connect to Wi-Fi and link to my Amazon account.

Streaming Planet Earth II from Netflix, the level of detail was astounding. I could clearly make out individual mountain peaks and animal fur textures.

So far, so good! The Insignia was living up to my high expectations.

Putting the Insignia Through Its Paces

For the next few weeks, I tested the Insignia extensively across movie watching, gaming, and general TV viewing. Here are my impressions:

Movies: Watching films is like having a home theater. Explosions cause the room to rumble thanks to DTS Studio Sound. The colors stay vibrant even during night scenes. Truly an immersive experience!

Sports: Fast-paced sporting events play smoothly without any motion blur. The 60Hz refresh rate keeps the action crisp. Even in big moments, I don’t notice any lag or pixelation.

Gaming: Gaming in 4K is outstanding. Details like skin textures and environment reflections are shockingly realistic. Input lag is super low, so I can responsively control the on-screen action.

TV Shows: From nature documentaries to reality shows, TV series shine on this display. The 4K upscaling makes 1080p content look great. Dialogue is clear and intelligible.

Across all programming, the picture quality awed me with its colors, clarity, contrast – everything looked fantastic!

Additional Smart Features I Loved

Beyond excellent picture performance, the Insignia offered great smart functionality:

• Easy app access: I could log into Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video and more with just a few clicks. Chromecasting from my phone was a breeze.
• Voice control: Using the built-in Alexa support to change channels and search content with my voice was super convenient.
• Universal remote: I programmed the remote to control my soundbar, eliminating remote clutter.
• Auto low latency mode: This optimized gaming visuals and response time automatically when detecting a console. So cool!
• Energy savings: Options like auto power-off and brightness adjustment helped conserve energy when not actively watching.

These smart features added a lot of value on top of the amazing display. The Insignia delivered on all fronts!

How the Insignia 65-Inch TV Stacks Up to the Competition

Before purchasing, I compared the Insignia 65-inch closely to models from other top brands like Samsung, LG, Sony, and VIZIO.

Here’s how it held up:

• Picture quality: Competitive with TVs hundreds more in producing vibrant, ultra high-definition 4K images.
• Smart features: Packed with all the essential streaming apps and smart controls like Alexa at a fraction of the price.
• Gaming handling: Low input lag and auto low latency mode rivaled far more expensive gaming-optimized TVs.
• Sound: Nothing spectacular but delivered good audio with clear dialogue for most programming.
• Design: Looked remarkably premium with thin bezels and sturdy stand considering the reasonable cost.

While the audio left a bit to be desired, the picture quality blew me away. The Insignia clearly competed well above its price class!

Final Impressions After a Month of Use

It’s been over a month now of putting the Insignia NS-65DF710NA21 through its paces. How does it hold up as my everyday TV?

In short – phenomenally! This TV has become the stunning centerpiece of my living room. I’m blown away by the 4K picture every single time I turn it on. Movies and games have never looked or sounded better.

From bright, vivid HDR colors to deep contrast blacks, it consistently delivers jaw-dropping visuals. The smart features like hands-free voice control make it incredibly easy to use.

For the price, there is simply no better 65-inch 4K smart TV on the market. While I don’t expect budget TVs to last forever, this Insignia is extremely solid. I anticipate enjoying many years of mesmerizing 4K entertainment.

Final Recommendation

If you want a big-screen television with beautiful 4K performance, smart capabilities, and gaming features for under $500 – look no further than the Insignia NS-65DF710NA21 65-inch TV.

As a long-time movie and TV lover, I can’t recommend this TV enough. Don’t let the budget price fool you. After extensive testing, I’m blown away by the picture clarity, vibrant colors, smooth motion, and easy smart controls.

For incredible 65-inch 4K visuals at an affordable cost, the Insignia NS-65DF710NA21 is your best buy. I’m so glad I took the plunge. My home entertainment experience has been dramatically elevated. Shop with confidence and enjoy uncompromised cinematic immersion in your own living room!