TCL 6-Series Google TV evaluation: a fantastic Mini LED TV at a great value

TCL’s first Google TVs had been imagined to be a triumphant flex for the second hottest TV producer within the US. Long recognized for its easy-to-use Roku TVs, TCL has been making an attempt to push the message that it’s adopting a platform-agnostic method and can supply units with software program from both Roku or Google. (The firm has already launched many Android TV fashions internationally.)

So with the most recent replace to its 6-Series — mannequin identify R646 — TCL got down to mix its finest TV {hardware} with the Google TV expertise that debuted on the 2020 Chromecast. The 6-Series has Mini LED know-how, actually spectacular peak brightness ranges, vivid HDR colours, and even contains built-in mics for hands-free Google Assistant voice instructions. I reviewed the $1,299 65-inch mannequin. But at any measurement, the R646 improves upon the older, Roku TV version of the 6-Series by upgrading two of the 4 HDMI ports to assist full-fledged 4K gaming at 120Hz; the Roku mannequin was restricted to 1440p at that body charge.

TCL had all of the elements for essential TV, but it surely floundered on the execution — not less than initially. Soon after the R646 began delivery, patrons complained of sluggish software program and buggy efficiency that always led the TV to freeze or reset itself. The quantity of complaints grew so substantial that Best Buy briefly halted gross sales of the 6-Series and 5-Series Google TVs till TCL may clean issues over with software program updates. To the corporate’s credit score, that occurred pretty rapidly, and TCL has continued to launch new updates to handle lingering bugs. (This evaluation was revealed when the present TV firmware was model v97 and on the January safety replace.)

I’ve had the 6-Series Google TV for nicely over a month now. During my first weeks of testing, the software program was clearly too uncooked and in tough form. Google TV’s house display screen and content material suggestion carousels labored principally as anticipated, however citing and navigating the TV’s settings menus was noticeably laggy. Sometimes the TV would randomly reboot itself — or the display screen wouldn’t come on after the primary few instances I hit the distant’s energy button. My roommates reported frequent crashes of apps like HBO Max, and the Dolby Vision badge would often pop up repeatedly whereas watching a single film or present. In brief, TCL’s first Google TVs shipped with unfinished, undercooked software program. Their launch ought to’ve been pushed again by a number of weeks or a few months till the consumer expertise was extra secure, constant, and with fewer slowdowns.

Thankfully, the software program scenario on this TV is a lot better now. And when watching motion pictures and TV reveals, the R646 delivers phenomenal image high quality that will have you ever imagine it prices a whole lot extra. The set’s general brightness blows my LG CX OLED out of the water; PC Mag measured peak brightness at just below 1,200 nits. Even within the sunniest dwelling rooms, the TCL’s image would be capable to punch by way of and stay completely seen. This is aided by the panel’s semi-gloss end, which does a commendable job decreasing reflections.

TCL helps HDR10, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG for HDR codecs, which checks all of the packing containers you would ask for. Watching The Matrix Resurrections on HBO Max was enthralling, and it’s TVs like this that maintain me dedicated to sustaining a 4K Blu-ray assortment with latest standouts like Dune.

The audio system are merely sufficient, which may be stated of most TVs apart from high-end Sony and Samsung fashions that supply premium built-in audio. If you’re shopping for a TV on this value bracket, odds are you’re pairing a soundbar or speaker system with it. The TV helps Wi-Fi 6 and likewise has an ethernet jack for wired connectivity. Initial setup is far simpler if you happen to’ve obtained the Google Home app in your cellphone; you will get the TV up and working there as a substitute of clicking by way of a ton of on-screen prompts.

I used to be impressed by how little blooming I seen (when viewing regular content material and never take a look at patterns) whereas native distinction was set to “high” and the Mini LED backlighting was working its hardest. Contrast and black ranges weren’t fairly at OLED ranges, however the distinction is shrinking as corporations proceed to iterate upon their Mini LED algorithms and film efficiency. TCL contains a variety of “auto” choices in image settings — auto brightness, auto shade stability, and so forth — however I at all times go away these off for a constant expertise. Same goes for the dynamic tone mapping toggle, which might make HDR and video games look even brighter by continually optimizing the image, however I want leaving this off and letting content material come by way of precisely with out the TV continually adjusting ranges on the fly.

But some bugs and odd quirks nonetheless persist. Every so usually, the R646 will reset its image settings to “low power” mode, making me go into the choices and set the whole lot again the way in which it was. TCL tells me it thinks this “previously infrequent” bug has been eradicated after a latest replace. What’s extra annoying is that by default, the TV will show Dolby Vision content material in “Dolby Vision IQ” mode with a slight quantity of cleaning soap opera impact that can’t be disabled until you turn the image mode to “Dolby Vision Bright” or “Dolby Vision Dark,” which unlocks extra granular settings for movement.

Toggles for VRR and auto low-latency mode are buried too deep within the menu tree. When TV rivals like Samsung and LG are together with “game bars” that put key data in a central place, TCL is certainly lagging a little bit behind right here. Also baffling: the distant management lacks a button for switching inputs; this will solely be carried out by pulling up the fast panel, which does have a devoted button, after which scrolling over to inputs. I’d have tremendously most well-liked an enter shortcut on the distant as a substitute of the branded button for TCL’s Home app that I’ll by no means, ever use.

Some R646 owners on AVS Forum have seen an rare video slowdown or “slow motion” impact with the TV; I assume I briefly encountered this whereas watching Sling TV one night time and Peacock on one other, but it surely’s laborious to make sure if you’re speaking about streaming companies. It solely occurred a couple of times and corrected itself after about 15 seconds. Hopefully that is one other factor TCL can resolve with firmware.

With a number of updates beneath the TV’s belt, the Google TV software program expertise can also be now the place it must be. The interface does a fantastic job with customized suggestions — although it continues to sting that Netflix is unwilling to take part — and the built-in microphone array picked up my “Hey Google” voice queries with none struggles even when the TV was enjoying one thing. You can flip off the mics with a bodily swap if you happen to’re not a fan of the idea. Google’s OS gives just about each streaming app you would need, and likewise comes with Google Cast built-in. On the flip facet, TCL’s Roku TVs assist Apple’s AirPlay 2 and HomePackage protocols, however that’s not true of the Google TV fashions.

I examined the R646 with each my Xbox Series X and PS5, and that is one heck of a gaming TV. Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves assortment seems gorgeous in its 4K constancy mode — similar for Forza Horizon 5. Halo Infinite and Uncharted each performed nice of their 120Hz modes. Some house owners have puzzled whether or not TCL is perhaps adjusting or halving the decision of 4K video games when working at 120Hz, however the firm insists that the 6-Series Google TV maintains a full 4K output when that’s what it’s receiving from a sport. This is a key differentiator from the Roku TV version, which solely helps 1440p at 120Hz.

VRR appeared to work as anticipated on the Series X, serving to to smoothen out gameplay and keep away from any noticeable body charge stutters. But as I discussed earlier, the TV’s settings can get a little bit complicated in sport mode: the native dimming choice can generally disappear or show as “off” when VRR is enabled, but it surely’s truly nonetheless enabled and stays at no matter setting you had it at beforehand. Asked about, TCL spokesperson Rachelle Parks stated:

TCL constantly evaluates the usability of TVs, together with allow superior controls for the various highly effective options obtainable by way of high-performance TVs like 6-Series. Although we imagine that 6-Series that includes Google TV has the best stability between simple operation and superior customization, along with our sport console and graphics card companions that ship VRR video games, we’re finding out methods to make gaming even simpler for our prospects. And sure – native dimming is offered with the sport mode setting.

At the top of the day, TCL’s 6-Series Google TV is among the many absolute best 4K TVs you’ll discover in its value vary and the type of set that may maintain house owners happy for years to return. The firm made an unlucky mistake in delivery the R646 with half-baked software program, however has managed to right course in a good period of time. The Google TV 6-Series is technically superior to its older Roku sibling in a variety of methods — most significantly with that correct assist for 4K 120Hz gaming — and it’s a formidable showcase of TCL’s Mini LED developments. If you desire a vivid, daring TV and may discover a deal, there’s little purpose to hesitate. I wasn’t certain I’d be capable to say that again when the software program was laggy and bug-prone, however I’ve obtained no reservations now.

Photography by Chris Welch / The Verge