After introducing mini-LED backlights on its Editors’ Selection-winning 6-Sequence Google TV from 2021, TCL is ultimately bringing the similar tech to its 6-Sequence 4K Roku TV lineup. That lights gadget is helping the 65-inch fashion we evaluated ($999.99) earn very best ratings in checking out and outclass its predecessor. The TV additionally works neatly for gaming as a result of its low enter lag and reinforce for AMD FreeSync Professional. That mentioned, it will possibly’t reasonably fit its sibling’s colour accuracy or get as shiny because the Hisense U8H ($1,399.99 for 65 inches), our present general Editors’ Selection winner. The ones slight weaknesses apart, the 6-Sequence remains to be the most efficient set you’ll get with Roku in-built.
Editors’ Be aware: This evaluate is in accordance with checking out carried out at the 65-inch 65R655. With the exception of the screen-size distinction, the $699.99 55-inch 55R655 is the same in options, and we predict an identical efficiency.
A Usual, Easy Design
Contents
In keeping with most modern TVs, the TCL R655 seems easy and unassuming. A slender steel band frames the display screen, whilst just a skinny gunmetal bezel defines the ground edge. The decrease bezel options the TCL brand within the heart, along side a trapezoidal protrusion beneath that homes the infrared sensor. It isn’t a in particular slim TV at 2.7 inches deep, however the curved plastic casing at the again guarantees that you just most likely received’t realize any chunkiness whilst you view the it from the entrance.
A flat, oblong steel base helps the TV. Two units of mounting holes help you alternate its top if had to accommodate a brief soundbar. Simply notice that the display screen sits most effective about 3 inches above your TV cupboard’s floor at its best surroundings. Then again, you’ll mount it on a wall.
The facility cable connects to the left facet at the again, whilst all different connections sit down at the proper. They come with 4 HDMI ports (two 144Hz, one eARC), one USB port, one Ethernet port, a three.5mm composite video enter, a three.5mm headphone jack, an optical audio output, and an antenna/cable connector.
(Photograph: Will Greenwald)
The field comprises a normal Roku TV voice far off. It is a easy, brief black wand with rounded corners and Roku’s signature massive, pink, plus-shaped navigation pad. House, again, and gear buttons sit down above the pad, along side a pinhole microphone. Playback controls and devoted provider buttons for Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, and Netflix are beneath the pad. The correct edge holds a quantity rocker and a mute button. The far off doesn’t have a headphone jack for personal listening or a mid-field microphone for controlling the TV with out fingers, however you’ll substitute it with the Roku Voice Faraway Professional if you wish to have the ones options.
Roku TV: Out there, However No Assistant
The R655 makes use of the Roku TV sensible TV interface similar to its predecessor. It’s a easy and out there platform that gives get entry to to maximum main video streaming services and products together with Amazon Top Video, Apple TV, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix, and YouTube, although Twitch stays absent. Roku TV additionally helps Apple AirPlay, because of this you’ll movement for your display screen at once from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
(Credit score: Will Greenwald)
You’ll seek for the rest to observe with the far off through urgent the microphone button and talking into the pinhole mic. Voice instructions additionally paintings for opening apps and controlling the TV. The voice seek function is speedy and helpful, but it surely doesn’t have the similar extensive capability as a complete voice assistant like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. In different phrases, it will possibly’t regulate sensible house units, test your agenda, or supply climate forecasts.
Prime Distinction and Broad Colour
The TCL 65R655 is a 4K TV with a 120Hz refresh price. It helps excessive dynamic vary (HDR) content material in Dolby Imaginative and prescient, HDR10, HDR10+, and hybrid log gamma (HLG). It does now not have an ATSC 3.0 tuner.
We take a look at TVs with a Klein Ok-80 colorimeter(Opens in a brand new window), a Murideo SIX-G sign generator(Opens in a brand new window), and Portrait Shows’ Calman device(Opens in a brand new window). Just like the TCL 6-Sequence 4K Google TV prior to it, the brand new 6-Sequence Roku TV makes use of a mini-LED backlight gadget that provides a lot better distinction efficiency for HDR content material than the former 6-Sequence Roku TV (which is set a 12 months older than the Google TV fashion).
We began our exams with an HDR sign: In HDR Commonplace mode and with colour temperature set to Heat, the 65R655 confirmed a top brightness of 523 nits with a full-screen white subject and a far brighter 1,297 nits with an 18% subject. Its 0.003cd/m^2 black degree ends up in an unbelievable distinction ratio of 432,333:1. The 6-Sequence Google TV has a better distinction ratio of 594,597:1 as a result of its rather decrease black degree (0.002cd/m^2), but it surely isn’t reasonably as shiny (1,189 nits). The Hisense U8H will get a lot brighter at 1,877 nits with an 18% white subject, although its distinction ratio is rather decrease at 187,730:1. While you get into distinction ratios of six digits, then again, the adaptation turns into nearly inconceivable to identify with the human eye. All 3 TVs use mini-LED backlights, however to this point most effective the way more pricey Samsung QN90B ($2,599.99 for a 65-inch fashion) has OLED-like distinction efficiency with successfully easiest blacks. That is as a result of the latter’s LED regulate and loss of any noticeable mild bloom.
Be aware that the full-screen top brightness of the 65R655 is a little bit less than each the 6-Sequence Google TV (923 nits) and the U8H (842 nits), although it’s nonetheless reasonably excellent. Oddly, in our exams, each the HDR Vibrant and HDR Darkish modes confirmed rather upper top brightness at round 600 nits for a full-screen white subject and 1,480 nits for an 18% white subject, however we suggest the HDR Commonplace mode between the 3 as it provides higher visible colour efficiency.
The more moderen 6-Sequence in truth confirmed a rather dimmer image in our exams with an SDR sign in Film mode than both of the opposite fashions, with a 310-nit full-screen top brightness and 755-nit top brightness with an 18% subject. That is nonetheless first rate efficiency for an SDR sign, which maximum TVs normally show a lot much less brightly than HDR indicators.
(Credit score: PCMag)
The above charts display the 6-Sequence’ colour efficiency as dots and goal colour ranges as squares. It compares an SDR sign in Film mode in opposition to Rec.709 broadcast requirements and an HDR sign in HDR Commonplace mode with colour temperature set to Heat when compared in opposition to DCI-P3 virtual cinema requirements. In each instances, whites run a little bit hotter than splendid, whilst cyans and magentas skew a little bit inexperienced and crimson respectively. Number one colours are most often reasonably correct. The TV’s inexperienced achieve with an HDR sign drifts a little bit, however now not considerably. The TCL 6-Sequence Google TV and the Hisense U8H each additionally skew colours rather, however now not reasonably to the level of the 65R655. Out of the 3, the 6-Sequence Google TV has essentially the most correct whites, whilst the U8H has the most efficient and most-balanced number one colour achieve.
The HDR Commonplace surroundings with the colour temperature set to Heat mode is your very best wager for many content material; even with the similar colour temperature settings, HDR Darkish and HDR Vibrant respectively have a tendency to seem subdued and oversaturated.
HDR Commonplace appeared on the subject of proper once we watched BBC’s Planet Earth II. The vegetables of vegetation glance shiny with out showing unnatural, whilst the blues and teals of water display enough tone permutations. Advantageous element like fur comes via neatly each beneath direct daylight and in color. Off-angle viewing is significantly more potent than at the Hisense U8H; we notice some slight desaturation from facet angles, however the panel displays excellent saturation ranges differently.
The crimson of Deadpool’s dress within the overcast opening scenes of Deadpool additionally seems colourful and balanced, now not light nor purplish. Later, within the burning lab battle, the flames glance shiny and a number of shadow main points come via with complete distinction.
Within the birthday party scenes of The Nice Gatsby, black fits glance correctly darkish, whilst cuts and features are nonetheless simple to discern. The whites of balloons and shirts stand out with a number of distinction and spotlight element.
(Photograph: Will Greenwald)
Low Lag for Players
Despite the fact that its panel is 120Hz, the 65R655 helps variable refresh price (VRR) at as much as 144Hz. It additionally options AMD FreeSync Top rate Professional, however now not Nvidia G-Sync.
The TV is reasonably responsive in our exams. The use of an HDFury Diva HDMI matrix(Opens in a brand new window), we measured an enter lag of four.2 milliseconds in Gaming mode, not up to part of the 10ms threshold we use to decide if a TV is one of the very best for gaming.
The Absolute best Roku TV But
TCL’s newest 6-Sequence Roku TV turns in very best efficiency general and must please avid gamers with its low enter lag. If you wish to have a TV with Roku in-built, that is lately our favourite. You simply need to forget about that TCL’s 6-Sequence Google TV ($1,299 for 65 inches) provides extra correct colours and that the Hisense U8H is brighter. If you’ll surrender the Roku platform, the ones are most likely higher possible choices, particularly as a result of reductions regularly deliver their worth down nearer to the Roku. For far much less, believe the Hisense U6H ($899.99 for 65 inches, however regularly to be had for nearer to $600). It will get most effective part as shiny because the 6-Sequence and displays a extra restricted vary of colours, however nonetheless has a number of finances enchantment. Another way, the LG C2 Evo OLED ($2499.99 retail for 65 inches, however lately $1,899.99) stays our high-end select as a result of its unbelievable colour efficiency and graceful design, although it doesn’t get as shiny as high-end LED TVs just like the 6-Sequence.
TCL 55-Inch 6-Sequence 4K Roku TV (55R655)
The Backside Line
TCL introduces mini-LED backlighting to its already-excellent 6-Sequence 4K Roku TV, bringing it in keeping with top-notch Google TV competition.
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