The best value of TCL, now with Google TV

Compared with the Roku-based 6 series, the TCL 4K 6 series with Google TV offers more features and better performance, and all you give up is Apple AirPlay.

Editor's note: In response to reports of software instability, TCL has removed its Google TV models from retail channels. According to the company: "We have noticed that some people face challenges in the stability of the user interface on TCL TVs using Google TV. Our high-performance TVs are constantly evolving, and recent software updates have allowed us to make significant progress."

We did not encounter this problem in our tests, but given that the TV is unavailable, we have removed our original 4.5-star rating and editor’s choice title from this review. TCL expects that its Google TV model will be available again in the next few weeks, at which time we will re-evaluate our rating.

This review is based on testing performed on 55R646 (the 55-inch model in the series). Except for the difference in screen size, the 75-inch 75R646, which costs $1,799.99, has the same functions, and we expect similar performance.

TCL's 6 series TVs have always impressed us, and they provide powerful performance at a reasonable price. These TVs run exclusively on the Roku TV platform, which is an easy-to-access and simple interface, but not the most feature-rich one. Now, TCL offers another option in the form of its Google TV 4K 6 series of TVs. They are roughly the same price as the Roku TV 4K 6 series models (the 55-inch 55R646 we tested retails for $949.99), and they offer powerful application and service support, Google Cast screen mirroring, and hands-free Google Assistant (although they give up Apple AirPlay support included in Roku TV). They seem to have made some engineering improvements to the Roku model, with stronger contrast performance and lower input delay. Hisense U8G series is brighter, but other than that, TCL’s Google TV 6 series offers the same excellent features at roughly the same price, and together with Hisense models won our Editor’s Choice Award.

Physically, the Google-based 55R646 is almost the same as the Roku-based 55R635. The screen is composed of the same thin brushed metal strips extending along the sides and top, with the same strips on the bottom edge and a chrome-plated TCL logo in the middle. It is also located on very similar V-shaped bronze legs, although they are slightly lower and have protruding rubber feet. This is the important sign of the Google TV model, not the Roku model, is the rectangular, dark gray, fabric-covered protrusion at the bottom of the TV. This is a far-field microphone array for hands-free access to Google Assistant.

The power cord is plugged into the left side of the back of the TV, and all other connectors are located on the right side, facing the right side. They include four HDMI ports (two 4K120, one eARC), two USB ports, a 3.5 mm composite video input, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, an optical audio output, an Ethernet port and an antenna/cable connector . Below the port is a combined power/input button and a switch to turn off the far-field microphone.

The remote control is a long and thin rectangular black wand with rounded and pleasant edges. Placed near the top is a large circular gray navigation board with power, settings and Google Assistant buttons, as well as a pinhole microphone. The menu button is located below the keyboard, below which are dedicated application buttons for Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, TCL channels and YouTube. There is a volume rocker and mute button on the right edge of the remote control.

Most of TCL's smart TVs use the Roku TV platform, while 55R646 uses Google TV as its interface. Google TV is a streamlined version of the Android TV platform on Hisense TV. It retains all its functions. Its menu system focuses more on content, rather than being driven by application selection. All the big names in streaming are available, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix, Twitch and YouTube. Google TV also supports Google Cast for mirroring your Android smartphone or tablet from your computer, or Chrome browser tab, although it does not support Apple AirPlay like Roku TV (however, Roku TV does not support Google Cast).

With the 55R646's built-in far-field microphone array, Google TV also provides full access to the Google Assistant voice assistant, you just need to say "Hey Google" to use it. This is a popular trend promoted by Hisense and Sony TV in the past few years. Prior to this, the integration of voice assistants almost completely required speaking to the remote control. And, if you are uncomfortable with the microphone that is always listening to the wake-up phrase, you can simply disable the microphone using the switch on the back.

Google Assistant is still a very powerful voice assistant, able to answer general questions such as weather and sports scores, search for content to watch, and directly control the TV itself and any compatible smart home devices. It is very useful, especially when using hands-free voice control.

TCL 55R646 is a 4K TV with a refresh rate of 120Hz. It supports high dynamic range (HDR) content in HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) formats.

We use a method based on the calibration technology of the Imaging Science Foundation to test the TV with Klein K-80 colorimeter, Murideo SIX-G signal generator and Portrait Displays' Calman software.

Like many TVs, 55R646 has an adaptive mode that can try to automatically adjust the image settings based on the display content. This mode is automatically enabled and applies to any picture mode you use. We recommend turning off this feature when watching movies to get the most accurate pictures according to the director's intentions, and disable them when performing tests.

The mini LED backlight array of 55R646 seems to be better than 55R635 and can become brighter and darker. In movie mode, using SDR signal, we measured the peak brightness of 750.469cd/m^2 in the full-screen white field, and measured the peak brightness of 969.671cd/m^2 when the white field was 18%, and the black level was only It is 0.002cd/m ^2. The HDR signal can make the TV brighter, displaying 922.681cd/m^2 and 1,189.194cd/m^2 in the full-screen field, maintaining the same 0.002cd/m^2 black level while maintaining 18% of the field. For a contrast ratio of 594,597: 1.

At this point, a black level of about 0.002cd/m^2 and below can be regarded as recording any nearby ambient light, rather than the black part of the screen under test, which means that LED TVs that can reach these numbers are actually Almost as dark as OLED TVs like LG C1P. This is mainly due to the advancement of LED backlight arrays, which use more and more LED areas, which can be dimmed and brightened individually, provide high contrast levels, and in the process are brighter than OLED panels. However, this does not mean that the technology completely surpasses OLED. Since the LED area lights up a part of the screen instead of a single pixel, when a very bright object is displayed next to a very dark object, a halo may appear. We noticed that there is almost no halo on the 55R646, but as long as the number of pixels on the screen greatly exceeds the single LED that illuminates them, this is still a factor in the winning of OLED TVs.

Hisense U8G series becomes brighter at 1,763.368cd/m^2 under HDR signal and 18% white field, but due to its 0.02cd/m^2, its contrast level is low (still very impressive) 88,168: 1 Black level. The TCL Roku TV 6 series lags behind the two with a peak brightness of 1,114.897cd/m^2, a black level of 0.015cd/m^2 and a contrast ratio of 74,326:1. OLED TVs like LG C1P do not have a technically measurable contrast ratio because their panel technology can display perfect black levels.

The figure above shows the color level of 55R646 in film mode, the comparison of SDR signal with Rec.709 broadcast standard, and the comparison of HDR signal with DCI-P3 digital film standard. The 55R646 performs well here, with accurate white and balanced colors in both SDR and HDR. The out-of-the-box SDR image is almost perfect, green is slightly unsaturated, yellow and magenta are just a bit warm, which is the only (very slight) complaint. HDR images are also very good, although green and yellow are somewhat under-saturated, they almost cover the entire DCI-P3 color space. Except for cyan, which is slightly green, blue, magenta, red, and yellow are just right, all colors are properly balanced, and there is no obvious deviation in any direction.

BBC's Planet Earth II looks great on 55R646. The green of the plants and the blue of the water look vivid and natural, with many subtle changes in color. Fine details such as fur and tree bark appear exceptionally clear in direct sunlight and shadows.

Deadpool is equally impressive on 55R646. The red of Deadpool's clothing looks vibrant and accurate in the cloudy early scenes of the movie. The flames in the Combustion Lab battle appear bright and prominent, while the shadow details in the same frame are still visible and look unfaded.

The party scene in "The Great Gatsby" shows the excellent contrast of the 55R646. The cut and silhouette of the black suit are clearly visible, even if the balloons, lights, and the bright white of the shirt are in the same frame, they still look dark. Against the vivid black and white, the skin tone looks very natural, and the various color splashes in the scene are well highlighted.

55R646 is a 120Hz TV that supports variable refresh rate (VRR) and automatic low latency mode (ALLM), which should satisfy gamers. However, it does not have AMD FreeSync like Hisense U7G and U8G, nor Nvidia G-Sync like LG C1P (and FreeSync). If you want to connect a PC to it, please keep this in mind.

Using the HDFury Diva HDMI matrix, we measured an input delay of 8.1 milliseconds in game mode. This means that 55R646 is faster than the 10 millisecond threshold where we consider TV the best for gaming. The TCL Roku TV 4K 6 series is slower at 21.4 milliseconds, while Hisense U8G is slightly faster at 7.9 milliseconds. However, when you want to play any game, make sure that the TV is in game mode; in movie mode, the input delay jumps to 119.1 milliseconds.

The TCL 4K Google TV 6 series is an excellent TV series. Compared with the mature 4K Roku TV 6 series, it offers more features and slightly improved performance, with higher contrast, lower input delay and hands-free Google Assistant. The only thing you really give up is Apple AirPlay. Hisense U8G has a brighter panel, but in the final analysis, all these TVs are value for money, offering incredible performance at a value for money price. TCL 55R646 and Hisense U8G share our Editors’ Choice Award. If you want to save more, Hisense U7G offers more moderate (but still powerful) performance, with the same Android TV features as U8G.

Compared with the Roku-based 6 series, the TCL 4K 6 series with Google TV offers more features and better performance, and all you give up is Apple AirPlay.

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Will Greenwald (Will Greenwald) has been in the consumer technology field for ten years and has served as an editor for CNET.com, Sound & Vision, and Maximum PC. His work and analysis have been seen in GamePro, Tested.com, Geek.com and other publications. He is currently responsible for consumer electronics in the PC Lab as an in-house home entertainment expert, reviewing TVs, media hubs, speakers, headphones, and gaming accessories. Will is also a THX Class I home theater expert and an ISF Class III certified TV calibrator, ensuring the thoroughness and accuracy of all PCMag TV reviews.

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