You might not have heard of TCL, but it's one of the biggest players in the TV market, especially at the cheaper end – recent reports have it eating into Samsung's market share. But are its TVs actually any good? And are they worth buying, this Black Friday over a model made by Toshiba, Insignia, Amazon or Hisense?
TCL offers a wide range of TVs in both the UK and US, but even its higher-end models are usually cheaper than equivalent sets from the likes of Sony and LG. Its TVs come with a range of platforms and display technologies, which can make picking a set a confusing business.
But not any more. We've run down TCL's main TV ranges so you can see what they offer and how they compare to what else is available.
We’ve reviewed some TCL TVs, like the Award-winning C805K. But even the ones that we haven’t can tell us a lot from their spec sheets. So sit back – here's everything you need to know about TCL TVs and whether they're worth buying.
Should you buy a TCL TV? The short answer…
Across the US and the UK, TCL TVs are serious competitors in the budget TV space – especially during peak shopping periods. You’ll often find TCL TVs with competitive features and specs sold at some of the lowest prices around.
If you’re in the market for a reasonably cheap TV but don’t want to get stuck with a tiny display running at a low resolution, TCL is there for you, offering up a slew of 4K TVs that’ll get the job done when it comes to streaming whatever content you could want on a budget.
In general, premium TCL TVs that run up into the thousands and support Mini-LED tech or 8K might be harder to justify when up against sets from established brands like Sony, Samsung or LG. But the budget and mid-range TCL TVs on offer are usually tough to beat in terms of value.
Should you buy a TCL 4-Series?
- Sizes: 43-inch, 50-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, 85-inch
- Display type: LED
- Resolution: 4K
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
- Audio: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus
- HDMI: eARC
TCL’s 4-Series is the brand's mid-range US TV (though it's been succeeded by the 5 Series below). It spans almost every size of TV you can imagine, and it comes with LED panels, 4K support, and HDR.
You get HDR10, Dolby Vision and HLG alongside HDMI eARC instead of just ARC; plus, you’ll get the Google TV platform and virtual assistant support, too. All told, this is about what you’d expect from a relatively basic, modern 4K TV, but you might not expect the 4-Series’ pricing.
TCL’s 4-Series starts off at just $250 for the 43-inch model, $280 for the 50-inch model, and $300 for the 55-inch model, while it scales up to $1000 for the 85-inch model. In terms of the larger budget TV market, these are just about the best prices you can find on 4K TVs today without nabbing something on sale.
Accordingly, if you’re looking for a modern 4K smart TV that won’t either break the bank or sacrifice too many features, the TCL 4-Series is a good choice. Unless you find a strong sale on another similar TV, you probably won’t be beating this price, and unless you care a lot about image quality or gaming performance, you might not find spending more worth it.
Should you buy a TCL 5-Series?
- Sizes: 50-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch
- Display type: QLED
- Resolution: 4K
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- HDR: HDR10, HLG, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
- Audio: Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos
- HDMI: eARC
TCL’s 5-Series is a major step up over the 4-Series without too much of a price bump. These TVs come in four different sizes, and they all manage to pack in QLED displays – that should mean a substantial increase in image quality over the traditional LED displays of the 3-Series and 4-Series TCL TVs.
On top of QLED panels, the 5-Series also gets HDR10+ and Dolby Vision as well as Dolby Atmos support for spatial audio fans. For gamers, the 5-Series adds in VRR and ALLM support, too, though it’ll only do 4K/60Hz, not 4K/120Hz like pricier TVs. All told, the 5-Series upgrades image quality, audio, and gaming performance in key areas over the 4-Series.
The 5-Series starts off at $400 for the 50-inch and $430 for the 55-inch, while the 65-inch will run you $550 and the 75-inch goes for $1500. Very competitive.
Should you buy a TCL C64K Series?
- Sizes: 43-inch, 50-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, 85-inch
- Display type: QLED
- Resolution: 4K
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
- Audio: Dolby Atmos, DTS Virtual:X
TCL's C64K Series is one of its cheapest recent ranges – the 43-inch model starts at £330. It spans a huge range of sizes, going all the way up to 85 inches, and offers 4K visuals and the Android TV platform.
You get a lot of TV for your money. There are multiple HDR formats, Dolby Atmos audio, and the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice assistants for hands-free controls.
The 43-incher is very competitively priced, being £20 cheaper than a similar-specced Hisense at the same size. And that's before any discounts are applied – remember, TCL is usually front of the queue come sales time, so look out for a healthy discount.
And it's not even the cheapest decently-specced TV that TCL makes...
Should you buy a TCL RC630K Series?
- Sizes: 43-inch, 50-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch
- Display type: QLED
- Resolution: 4K
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- HDR: HDR Premium
- Audio: Dolby AC4
The RC630K is cheaper than the C645K – the 43-incher starts at £279. But it's similarly specced, and spans a similar range of sizes.
One of the biggest differences is that it runs the Roku OS operating system, which has a different layout to Android TV, but many of the same apps. It's another QLED TV – hardly surprising, given TCL's enthusiasm for the technology – but has more basic audio-visual technologies.
While it has a game mode, serious gamers will want to spring for the more expensive C745K below.
Again, the RC630K is competitively priced. It's again cheaper than a similarly specced Hisense equivalent at the same size, and gives you a lot of tech for not very much money. It doesn't go as big as some TCL TVs though, with the range topping out at a 65-incher that costs £549. Which is still very reasonable.
Should you buy a TCL C745K Series?
- Sizes: 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch
- Display type: QLED
- Resolution: 4K
- Refresh rate: 120Hz/144Hz
- HDR: HDR10, HLG, HDR10+, Dolby Vision IQ
- Audio: Dolby Atmos, DTS Virtual:X
TCL's C745K Series is one of the budget brand’s more premium TV offerings, and it's built with gamers in mind. As well as a refresh rate of 120Hz (or 144Hz for PC gamers), it has a wealth of gaming features built-in, like Gaming Master 2 aiming aid, shadow enhancement, gaming picture mode, VRR and ALLM.
It has other features we would only expect of a much pricier TV, too. IMAX Enhanced gives you cinema-style visuals, while Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X provide immersive audio.
And how much do you pay for all this? Not as much as you would think. The 55-inch model starts at £649 – certainly not cheap, but for a QLED TV of this size, with these specs, it's very reasonable. It's around £50 cheaper than Hisense's closest alternative, a Mini LED of the same size, and about £100 cheaper than the equivalent Amazon Omni Fire TV.
It earned four stars in our review, thanks to its exceptional value, very good contrast and colour and gaming chops.
Should you buy a TCL C845K Series?
- Sizes: 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, 85-inch
- Display type: Mini LED
- Resolution: 4K
- Refresh rate: 120Hz/144Hz
- HDR: HDR10, HLG, HDR10+, Dolby Vision IQ
- Audio: Dolby Atmos, DTS Virtual:X
TCL's flagship set, the Mini LED-powered C845K is a truly impressive TV. It's the brand's highest-end model, offering flagship screen tech and specs to match. Built for gamers and movie fans alike, it utilises a Mini LED panel to deliver a dazzlingly bright and punchy picture.
It won us over in our review, earning itself five stars and a 2023 What Hi-Fi? Award as a result, due to its sheer performance per pound proposition. Its contrast-rich and vivid colours secured it the win, making a case for opting for this cheaper model over the more expensive OLED sets on the market.
So how much is this TV exactly? Well, at £1049, it's a fair bit more expensive than some of TCL's other models, but that still undercuts many other brand's flagships. It's occasionally available with a decent discount, too. Though right now you'll struggle to find it, as it's been replaced by the C855.
Should you buy a TCL C805K Series?
- Sizes: 50-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, 85-inch, 98-inch
- Display type: Mini LED
- Resolution: 4K
- Refresh rate: 120Hz/144Hz
- HDR: HDR10, HLG, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
- Audio: Dolby Atmos, DTS Virtual:X
We recently reviewed the TCL 85C805K, calling it the home theatre bargain of the year, and giving it an Award for its trouble. It's quintessential TCL, packing phenomenal specs into a very affordable package.
You get all four types of HDR, a Mini LED panel, 120Hz refresh rate for console gaming (and 144Hz for high-end PCs), a dedicated game mode and the Google TV operating system. True, only two of its four HDMI ports are certified as 2.1 for full-fat gaming, but you can't have everything.
And while the picture isn't perfect, it is endlessly watchable, and far better than a screen this price has any right to be. The 85-inch model we tested comes in at just £1575, while the 98-incher is £3000. The smallest model in the range is 50 inches, and will set you back £699. But look out for discounts.
Should you buy a TCL C655K Series?
- Sizes: 43-inch, 50-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, 85-inch, 98-inch
- Display type: QLED
- Resolution: 4K
- Refresh rate: 60Hz/120Hz
- HDR: HDR10, HLG, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
- Audio: Dolby Atmos, DTS Virtual:X
We reviewed the 55-inch C655K recently. While it offers a lot of telly for a very reasonable price, it only scored three stars.
As we've come to expect from TCL, it offers a lot of features, including a Quantum Dot QLED screen, TCL’s AiPQ with AI processor, all four HDR formats and some very welcome gaming specs (including VRR at 120Hz).
Picture-wise, it's solid rather than compelling. The picture is marred by a bug that affects Dolby Vision sources over HDMI (the same issue as seen on the P755K). But if you're streaming, the image is sharp, brighter than we expected and with plenty of punch. The skin tones are a particular highlight for a TV of this price. It's just a shame the dark scenes are so grey and washed out.
Still, for the money, it's worth considering.
Should you buy a TCL P755K Series?
- Sizes: 43-inch, 50-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch
- Display type: LCD
- Resolution: 4K
- Refresh rate: 60Hz/120Hz
- HDR: HDR10, HLG, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
- Audio: Dolby Atmos, DTS Virtual:X
The P755K fared a little better than the P655K, earning four stars at the 65-inch size. "[W]hile it might not be a bona fide budget classic, the 65P755K is still good enough and, especially, richly featured enough to make it easily worth every penny of its eye-wideningly slight asking price," we noted in our review.
It has an IPS LCD panel (as opposed to the QLED of the C655K), and again supports all four formats of HDR. There's a Dolby Vision game mode, support for 120Hz refresh rates (even though the screen itself is only 60Hz) and a dedicated Game Bar menu. And it has the Android TV operating system with the Freeview Play app for all the UK terretrsial catch-up apps.
Despite the lack of Quantum Dots, colours are vibrant, while remaining balanced and natural. Dark scenes are a bit of a weak point, looking more grey than black, but there is more detail than you might expect from a TV at this price.
Should you buy a TCL F540K Series?
- Sizes: 32-inch
- Display type: LCD
- Resolution: HD
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- HDR: HDR10, HLG
- Audio: Dolby, DTS Virtual:X
A 32-inch TV for under £150? No wonder the F540K earned four stars in our review.
Amazon's Fire TV operating system has all the usual apps, and is pretty slick and usable. That also means Alexa voice controls. ALLM switching is also onboard, as well as HDMI’s eARC system for passing multi-channel sound on to connected and compatible soundbars and AVRs.
In terms of picture, it might not be outstanding in any one area, but then neither are there any real issues, making it a good all-rounder. Its shadow detailing is well judged and consistent, but because it uses an IPS panel, viewing angles are a little narrower than rival technologies. Skin tones are warm and natural, and the image remains clear even during fast motion. As a small set, it's a definite contender.
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