Should I buy a TCL TV? This is a question that videophiles all over the world are asking.
If you’re also wondering whether you should splash out on one of the new 5 or 6-Series TCL TVs, the answer is a categorical “YES!!!” The latest models offered by the rapidly growing company are a cut above the competition.
If you are in a hurry, the TCL 6 Series is a groundbreaking TV with incredible picture quality and for the money, it’s easily the best 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV for those that are ready to cut the cord and jump over to ROKU TV.
Who is TCL?
TCL is dominating the mid-range TV market. It has been quietly creeping up on the top brands for about five years now and it has rightly earned its place among the world’s major TV makers.
TCL is now the third-largest manufacturer of LCD TVs (only being outsold by Samsung and LG).
This year, TCL has introduced brand-new additions to their line-up with the 5-Series and 6-Series Smart TVs.
Are TCL TVs any good?
TCL is America’s fastest-growing TV brand (at the time of writing). One of the major attractions of TCL TVs is their use of Roku TV.
By leaning on Roku’s strengths, TCL TVs come with an impressive library of video content as standard. And let’s not forget the massive library of subscription-based streaming services you can access including HBO GO, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video.
Aside from the TV’s software, the best thing about the TCL 6 Series is the number of Contrast Control Zones (CCZ) that are available. This means that the picture quality is truly stunning and a huge reason for movie buffs to opt for a 6 Series TCL.
CCZs are arrays of LED zones that you can individually turn on and off to improve the overall contrast of the image you are watching. Techies may appreciate that there are 96 of these zones in the 55-inch 6-Series TV and a whopping 120 zones in the 65-inch model.
While contrast isn’t the only thing you must consider with picture performance, color reproduction is very important, too. The TCL TVs are equipped with Wide Color NBP Photon technology. This means that the TVs can achieve 93% of the DCI-P3 color space and an impressive 74% of the BT.2020 color space (which is incredible when you take into account the price of these TVs).
The last aspect of picture performance is the TV’s HDR capability. The TCL 6-Series is equipped with HDR Pro Gamma technology that changes the tone map depending on where you have the TV located – whether it be in a brightly lit living area or a dark bedroom. Both the 5 and 6 Series support Dolby Vision, HLG, and the regular HDR10.
You can also check out our previous article about whether Roku is better than Firestick here.
Cutting the Cord
There’s no better feeling than cutting the cord from your cable company. It will save you a lot of money in the long run and a lot of the associated hassle with cable companies when things inevitably go wrong.
To celebrate “Cut the Cord Day” (July 7th, 2018), TCL gave away 103 TVs to celebrate this huge event.
With the TCL series, you can simply switch on your TV, go to the channel store, choose the specific channels that you want and just download them – a lot better than buying a complete package from a cable company.
TCL currently offers 4 different series of TVs and all of them are perfect for cutting the cord as they all have ROKU TV. This smart functionality offers access to thousands of streaming channels containing over 500, 000 movies and TV episodes!
Issues with TCL TVs
While very uncommon, we’ve seen a handful of customers on Amazon, reporting seeing vertical bands on their TV. This is not that unusual with LCD televisions as can have issues with their LCD panel and this is one of them. This problem varies from TV to TV, with the vast majority not suffering at all from this issue.
If you suffer from this problem or any others, you should send the set back to TCL as they all come with a 1-year guarantee.
Which TCL TV should I buy?
If picture quality is very important to you, the TCL 6 Series is the way to go. The CCZ (Contrast Control Zones) ensure that the blacks look really dark and the colors look really bright, and when seen next to a 5 Series, there really is no comparison.
The other reason to choose a Series 6 is the body of the unit. The Series 5 has a plastic frame and a plastic stand whereas the Series 6 has a brushed metal frame and a more modern stand giving it a more high-end look and feel.
TCL 5-Series
The TCL 5-Series is available in 43, 49, 55, and 65-inch models. It’s basically the baby brother to the 6 Series and has a lot of the same functions and features.
The 5 Series features HDR Pro Gamma, three types of HDR support, Roku TV, and Wide Color with NBP Photon technology.
TCL 6-Series
The TCL 6-Series is available in 55 and 65-inch models and is an update on the 2017 TCL P6-Series. It has three types of HDR support, Roku TV, and a ton of LED control zones.
The main differences between the 2017 and 2018 models are the Contrast Control zone feature and a much prettier aesthetic.
Best TCL TV – The 6 Series
TCL 55R617 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart LED TV (2018 Model)
- Your purchase includes One TCL 55R617 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart LED TV (2018 Model), One voice enabled remote control with batteries and One analog audio/video input adapter.
- TV dimensions without stand: 48.5" W x 28.1" H x 2.9" D. TV dimensions with stand: 48.5” W x 30.6” H x 10.7” D. Stand separation distance: 47.9” TV weight without stand: 37.1 lbs
- Your purchase includes One TCL 55R617 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart LED TV (2018 Model), One voice enabled remote control with batteries and One analog audio/video input adapter.
- TV dimensions without stand: 48.5" W x 28.1" H x 2.9" D. TV dimensions with stand: 48.5” W x 30.6” H x 10.7” D. Stand separation distance: 47.9” TV weight without stand: 37.1 lbs
- Our Contrast Control Zones (CCZ) is part of the powerful performance package available on our new six series TV. Simply put, and LED TV with Full array and contrast control zones is the only way in LED TV can have the blackest blacks and whitest whites on screen at the same time, delivering an amazing contrast, bright vibrant white, and deep rich blacks.
- The 120 Hz clear motion index uses a combination of the TVs need of 60 Hz panel and back like scanning to deliver clear fast action. This technology prevents the “soap opera effect”.
- While TCL Roku TVs do not include Bluetooth, you can connect this TV to external audio by using either HDMI ARC, a digital optical audio out, or an analog audio out in the form of a 3.5 mm Jack.
- Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant
Aesthetics
The 6 Series is a huge improvement over last year’s P Series. Most notably, the new model has a very attractive metal frame (instead of plastic). It also has improved feet for extra stability.
All of the inputs are located in a recessed bay on the side of the TV so everything is easy to access.
Regarding the included remote, you will notice that there is no headphone jack. Roku said that they removed this function because users can still listen with headphones by simply accessing the Roku app with their smartphone or tablet.
The Interface
This TV makes using ROKU simple. On-screen, all of your inputs are right next to your apps so everything you need is in one place.
You can also customize the names of the inputs so you don’t have to hunt around for your devices such as your Xbox or Blu-Ray Player.
In addition to your home titles, the screen displays your entire feed, a movie store, a TV store, news channels, and streaming channels and you also get the ability to search for movie titles, TV show titles, and even actors.
Live TV
The TCL Series 6 is great for watching Live (over the air) TV – Just click “Antenna TV” and the TV automatically tunes in to your TV antenna. The interface is top-notch with heaps of information about upcoming shows.
A new feature that TCL has added is the ability to pause Live TV – you just need a USB stick to use this cool feature and you can then pause anything you’re watching for up to 90 minutes.
The remote control
The remote is very responsive & snappy and has a lot of features. At the top, there is a power-up button, and the familiar back and home, and home buttons. Next are the arrow and home buttons, followed by play, pause, and skip.
At the base of the remote, you get 4 big buttons that allow you to jump straight into your streaming apps – Netflix, Hulu, Sling, and Direct TV Now. The new remote now has volume buttons on the side and a mute button (a real godsend).
You can also use your voice to find your favorite media. Use voice control to find movie titles, launch or change channels, and even switch inputs.
Conclusion
There is nothing like the TCL Series 6 4K TV in its price class. So if you’re looking at OLED TVs but the price is just a little too steep, it’s better to go with a LED LCD television, and the 6 series is by far the most sensible option.
Straight out of the box, the HDR is fantastic! The colors are great with the blacks being deep without any of the common “blueing” effects. It’s also super simple to set up – just put on the legs and you’re ready to go.
If you liked this article, you might also be interested in the smallest OLED TV from our tech section.
