We've bought and tested more than 15 TCL TVs. TCL TVs have shown to offer great value over the past few years, and although they aren't as established in the United States as other brands, they've made a name for themselves. While they're traditionally known for their basic models with limited features, some of their recent releases feature the latest technology, including Mini LED backlighting and variable refresh rate (VRR) support. They're often available at a lower cost than competitors, and most people will be pleased with their higher-end models. They mainly compete with Hisense, but they release models to compete with brands like Sony and Samsung.
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Most brands have startedreleasing their 2023 lineups, so make sure to vote on which ones you want us to buy and test first. If you want to find out more about what TCL has planned for their2023 lineup, check out our 2023 TV lineup page.
Inexpensive. TCL is one of the more budget-friendly brands on the market, and their TVs offer great value for their cost. Great smart OS. TCL TVs either use Roku or Google TV smart platforms, which are user-friendly and have many apps you can download. Starting to include extra features. As of their 2021 lineup, TCL started to include extra gaming features like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and VRR support on their higher-end models. Low peak brightness. Besides the premium models, most TCL TVs we"ve tested have low brightness measurements. Not very polished. TCL TVs aren"t as polished as other brands, as there are often issues with upscaling and local dimming. Not good for wide seating areas. Except for a few entry-level models, their TVs usually have VA panels with narrow viewing angles, so they"re not good if you have a wide seating arrangement.
Hisense and TCL are direct competitors in the budget TV market. Their TVs usually offer the same features and similar performance, although some TCL TVs don't get as bright. They each have flaws, as TCL tends to have picture quality issues, while Hisense has motion problems.
Vizio and TCL aim to produce TVs in the budget market, although Vizio makes a few more high-end models. Vizio TVs tend to have better dark room performance and more gaming features, but the Roku platform on the TCLs is much better and easier to use than the Vizio SmartCast system.
Overall, TCL TVs offer good picture quality and great features at a low price. Although some models aren't as feature-packed or as well-built as more expensive options, their TVs typically offer great value compared to similarly-priced options. If you need a simple TV with a good smart system, you'll be happy with most of their offerings.
Lineup
TCL's lineup in the United States is usually smaller than other brands, and unlike other companies, their models are available for a few years. TCL is one of the few brands to announce a good mix of premium, high-end TVs and smaller budget models for their 2023 lineup. Their lineup is split in two this year, and they've changed their naming scheme to make it easier to differentiate between their entry-level models and their high-end models with Quantum Dot technology. They're advertising their flagship QM8 series to have an impressive Mini LED backlight with over 2300 local dimming zones. Like LG, TCL has abandoned 8k TVs at this point, with no new 8k models announced for 2023. Interestingly, TCL originally announced that their QD-OLED TV, which was originally announced for 2022, would finally be available towards the end of this year. They've since adjusted their press release, removing all mention of the QD-OLED TV, so it's now unclear if or when that TV will come out.
Learn more about the 2023 TCL lineup here.
TCL Smart Features
While the majority of TCL's TVs use Roku, there are a few from 2021 that use Google TV. They're both great smart platforms, and choosing one of the other comes down to personal preference. Generally speaking, Roku is easier to learn and feels quicker than Google TV, but Google is more customizable, and the Google Play Store has even more apps.
Interface
Roku's interface is very basic, with simple graphics and limited animations. It results in a very easy-to-use, fast interface that's relatively bug-free. It's also one of the few smart interfaces that support themes, meaning you can customize it a bit.
As for Google TV, it consists of multiple rows that you can customize to include which apps you see first and which apps you don't want to see. It's great if you're already used to it, but it can feel overwhelming if you aren't, so it takes a bit of time to learn.
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Ad-free
Unfortunately, both Roku and Google TV have large,intrusive ads in the main home menu and throughout the interface, and it's impossible to disable them completely.
Apps & Features
TCL TVs use a mix of Roku OS and Google TV, so the app store and channel lineup vary depending on which model you get. Roku-powered TVs give you access to the Roku Channel Store, and it offers a good selection of streaming channels.
Android and Google TV-powered TCL TVs both give you access to the Google Play Store, and if you've ever used an Android-powered phone, you'll find many of the same apps available. It's also easy to sideload unofficially supported apps on Google TV, so overall, the platform offers the widest selection of streaming apps available on any smart TV.
Voice Controls
Some TCL TVs support voice controls, either from the advanced remote or the remote app, but they only support basic commands. You can launch certain apps through voice control and search across multiple apps for content. Unlike some TVs, you can't control the TV's settings through voice controls.
This is where Google TV has an advantage because the remote supports voice control, and it's also compatible with other Google devices, so you can easily open apps and stream your favorite shows. Some of TCL's Google models even have a mic built into the TV.
Remote
The RokuTVs come with a small remote, which isn’t a bad thing since it's very comfortable and responsive. The TCL branding is impressively minimal, and much like the interface, it’s a carbon copy of the ones you can find with the Roku boxes.
There are different versions of the remote, and the differences are usually with the features. Some have better wireless capabilities, so you don't need to point directly at the TV for it to work. Usually, the higher-end models come with a built-in mic on the remote.
TCL's version of the Google remote is similar as it has quick-access buttons and a circular pad for navigation.
Remote App
One of the best features of the Roku platform is its remote app you can find on both iOS and Android. It can do everything the smart remote can and more, so it's fully featured. All the basic remote controls are available, even powering the TV on and off. You can plug in headphones to your device and listen to the TV privately through the app. Lastly, the app also allows you to access settings that aren't available on the TV, like the calibration settings. Roku is better than Google TV in this regard, mainly because Google TVs let you do everything you need to by just using the remote.
Conclusion
TCL's lineup is mostly budget-oriented, and they do very well in that area. Their smart platforms rivalthe very best, and TCL offers different smart platforms, which isn't something other brands do. Plus, their picture quality has been consistently good across their models. Overall, it's tough to beat them when it comes to budget TVs, and that makes them a pretty safe bet, but if you want a premium TV, you can find more options with other brands.