For the very first time, mini-LED tech is available in TVs under $1,000.
TCL
For the last two years, TCLs 6-Series Roku Television has actually earned my Editors Choice Award as the best Television for the money. In short, it might be better than ever.
At the exact same time TCL is likewise presenting the 2020 5-Series. It costs less than the 6-Series and lacks mini-LED, but does include enhancements like QLED and full-array local dimming in addition to being readily available in a smaller sized 50-inch size. Later this year, TCL will also release an 8K resolution variation of the 8-Series, as well as 2020 versions of its popular budget 3-Series and 4-Series models.
For more like this
Register for the TVs, Streaming and Audio newsletter, receive alerts and see related stories on CNET.
Size (inches).
Design.
Revitalize rate.
All of these new TCL TVs will continue to be powered by the Roku television os, my preferred smart television platform for its simpleness, frequent updates and breadth of apps (Peacock and HBO Max regardless of).
The 6-Series is offered in minimal quantities beginning today, while the 5-Series is in shops and online now..
TCL 2020 6-Series, 5-Series Roku TVs.
Mini-LED.
Cost.
Regional dimming zones.
75R635.
75.
240.
Yes.
120Hz.
$ 1,400.
65R635.
65.
160.
Yes.
120Hz.
$ 900.
55R635.
55.
128.
Yes.
120Hz.
$ 650.
75S535.
75.
80.
No.
60Hz.
$ 1,100.
65S535.
65.
56.
No.
60Hz.
$ 630.
55S535.
55.
48.
No.
60Hz.
$ 450.
50S535.
50.
40.
No.
60Hz.
Now playing:.
See this:.
See me establish a television review laboratory in my basement.
$ 400.
What do you think, Katzmaier?
Typically I include this area at the end, however this is 2020 and you most likely do not have time to read all the in-depth crap below, so Im putting it right here: I will not understand for sure until I review them. TCL says Ill be getting a 6-Series review sample to take a look at in my basement quickly.
6:17.
Whats that? You do not want to wait till then? OK, heres my best recommendations..
As always Black Friday season in mid-November will imply high discounts. I believe TCL will drop the cost of the brand-new 2020 6-Series a hundred bucks at least, and more for the 75-incher. If you can, wait till then..
If you desire a new television now, Im guessing the 2019 TCLs– now readily available for $800 for the 65-incher, for instance, and likely to fall back to $700 or less quickly– will be a better offer than the new 6-Series. I honestly dont believe the 2020 improvements (detailed below) will be worth the additional $100 to $200 for most buyers, and the 2019 6-Series will likely perform better than the less expensive 2020 5-Series..
And then theres the 2019 8-Series. Im sure it will be a much better entertainer than the 2020 6-Series overall, and its been going on sale just recently for high discount rates: as low as $1,000 for the 65-inch size and $1,500 for the 75-incher. Perhaps those sales will disappear for the next month or 2 so TCL does not cannibalize 2020 6-Series sales, but if they reappear, for Black Friday or sooner, they make the “old” 8 a much better buy than the new 6.
Now without more ado, heres what else you need to understand about the brand-new TCL Roku TVs.
Roku is CNETs preferred clever television system.
TCL.
Mini-LED concerns less expensive TVs.
Mini-LEDs are, as you may have guessed, smaller sized than standard LEDs, permitting them to be grouped into more regional dimming zones. Full-array regional dimming is the best way to enhance image quality on LCD TVs. It enables the backlight– the part behind the LCD screen that provides lighting– to dim and illuminate various areas all at once. Smaller sized areas, or dimming zones, imply more precise lighting, which eventually increases contrast, the most important component in an excellent picture.
Find out more: Mini-LED is here: How smaller sized lights might result in huge TV improvements.
TCL is still the only TV maker to utilize mini-LED innovation, first in the 8-Series and now in the 6-Series, but specifications on the 6-Series arent almost as impressive. The cheaper 6 has around 1,000 LEDs and as much as 240 zones, while the more expensive 8 has 10,000 mini-LEDs and 1,000 zones. Because of that I do not anticipate the 6-Series to carry out in addition to the 8-Series.
TCL states the advantages of mini-LED in the 6-Series include much better harmony, “more powerful” brightness and “higher contrast precision” compared to last years design, but didnt supply anymore specifics. How it compares to 2020 competitors such as the Vizio P-Series and Sony X900H stays to be seen. The Vizio in fact has more local dimming zones than the TCL– 200 on the 65-inch size– and Sony doesnt disclose its number of zones, however both cost more than the 6-Series and neither use mini-LED. Well need to wait on the reviews to see for sure.
65-inch and larger sizes in the 5- and 6-Series use 2 options in stand leg position: the extreme edge or more towards the middle..
TCL.
Enhanced video gaming? Thanks, THX.
The other big function addition is something called “THX accredited game mode.” Its a special picture mode for computer game that integrates low input lag (TCL doesnt say how low, nevertheless) with features like Auto Game Mode, which turns on video game mode automatically when linked to a suitable device, and Variable Refresh Rate, which minimizes tearing and other artifacts in some video games. The 2019 6-Series had AGM however did not have VRR..
TCL says the new 6-Series can accept inputs of up to 4K/120Hz and variable refresh rates from 48 to 120 frames per second. Unlike some TVs, it doesnt support exclusive VRR systems like Nvidia G-Sync (LG TVs just) and AMD Freesync. Of present video game consoles, the Xbox One X and One S assistance VRR and must work with the brand-new 6-Series; the approaching Xbox Series X and PS5 will also support VRR.
Its tough to state how much of an useful enhancement THXs special sauce will supply, but the video gaming specs of the new 6-Series bring it a minimum of up to par with those of rivals such as Vizio..
In addition to THX game vrr, mini-led and mode, the 6-Series has a couple other features not readily available on the 5-Series:.
TCLs 5-Series does not have mini-LED however now includes regional dimming and QLED color.
TCL.
5-Series gets a bump too.
Since it lacked full-array regional dimming, I disregarded the step-down 5-Series last year. For 2020, TCL includes that function in addition to quantum dot color, making the 5 a serious on-paper competitor to models such as the Vizio M-Series..
Both the 5- and 6-Series share a new dual-position stand leg arrangement on the 65- and 75-inch sizes that let you place the legs either out towards the edge of the panel or more towards the center. Both likewise include a cable comfortable in the legs that let you kinda hide HDMI, power and other ports.
Other functions common to both series include:.
8K 8-Series coming this year.
In 2019, TCL said an 8K TV would be coming later in the year, however it ultimately stopped working to provide one for the US market. This year it states the exact same thing. The 8K model will show up “around the exact same time” as the new video game consoles, stated Aaron Dew, TCLs director of brand-new item development on a conference call with press reporters. That pegs the TVs release date at some point before the holiday season, potentially November.
Dew explained the 8K TV as an 8K variation of the present 8-Series, so it will likely consist of mini-LED, high brightness and all of those TVs extras a minimum of. The current, 4K variation of the 8-Series will stay on sale throughout the year.
3- and 4-Series budget plan TVs: practically the same for 2020.
TCL likewise occurs to make some of our preferred spending plan (read: dirt-cheap) TVs in the kind of the 3-Series and 4-Series. For 2020 the company is not changing much. Heres what TCLs rep told CNET:.
We will be transitioning much of 3- and 4-Series in the coming months. The changes will be small updates and timing differs by-model. All other efficiency and specs will remain similar although cosmetics will be somewhat different.
Its worth pointing out that TCL is presently offering a 2020 variation of the 3-Series in 32- and 40-inch sizes that runs the Android TV os rather of Roku. It did not reveal any additional Android-powered TVs for the United States market.
I look forward to examining the new TCL TVs quickly. In the meantime, let me understand if you have any concerns in the remark area.
TCL is still the only TV maker to use mini-LED technology, first in the 8-Series and now in the 6-Series, however specifications on the 6-Series arent nearly as excellent. Unlike some TVs, it does not support proprietary VRR systems like Nvidia G-Sync (LG TVs just) and AMD Freesync. In 2019, TCL said an 8K TV would be coming later on in the year, however it ultimately failed to deliver one for the US market. That pegs the TVs release date at some point before the vacation season, perhaps November.
TCL also happens to make some of our preferred budget plan (read: dirt-cheap) TVs in the type of the 4-Series and 3-series.
