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Here we did experience a downside to handing setup over to Google Home: it rarely works perfectly. When it got to the Wi-Fi connection, for example, the TV announced it was connected. But the Google Home app said it had failed and we should try again. We had no choice – we had to keep using the app to get through the setup, so we had to do it again. Happily, the second time it worked and we could move on. Google TV makes for a familiar and well-organized interface, with easy access to all the key video services and catch-up channels. It aims to be smart at filling its home screen with content from your selected services and did so here with a minimum of the YouTube promotion that has seemed prevalent in the earlier days of Android TV. That said, it didn’t include content from all available services, notably omitting TCL’s own channel of live and on-demand content. You also want a set that handles all the available HDR formats, Dolby and dts audio as well as at least two HDMI 2.1 ports, gaming features like VRR, eARC for use with a soundbar and decent Smarts. TCL’s televisions can differ by market, especially between UK/Europe and the models that appear in the US and Australia. This year we gather that the European and UK versions of the C835 will be technically identical (the previous C825 had a key difference in the UK), while Australia got to meet the new range first, with the C835 range officially available from 1 June 2022.
The speakers are able to handle the volume comfortably enough to retain plenty of clean, well placed details, too, as well as pretty much always retaining enough headroom to keep expanding to accommodate swelling action scenes.
The overly bright tone mapping and oversaturated colours were also apparent with HDR10 material, although this was less of an issue with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision content thanks to the additional tone mapping information offered by both formats’ dynamic metadata.
The real competitors here are the two Hisense sets we used in the comparisons above. The U7K and U8K offer almost exactly the same features and sound solutions, covering all the available HDR formats and with good gaming credentials that match the TCL. The differences are with the peak brightness and tone mapping and it is here where the C845 betters both of the Hisense models for image detail and brightness. But none of these three models would be suitable for image purists and film fans. However, for gamers and mass market users with bright rooms, all three are worth a demo.There are no real shortages of LCD TVs for sale, but MiniLED tech is still fairly new and at the higher end of the market.
When comparing the TCL C641K QLED television to other brands in the market, it has impressive features and competitive performance. While other brands may offer similar technologies and features, TCL stands out for its reputation as a reliable and innovative manufacturer. The TCL C641K delivers vibrant colors, sharp image quality, and immersive audio, comparable to many high-end televisions from other brands. Additionally, TCL often offers its televisions at a more affordable price than some of the more well-established brands, making it a compelling choice for those seeking value for money. Value for Money When first detecting an HDR10 signal, the TV defaults to IMAX for some reason, but we’d recommend switching to the more accurate Movie picture mode, which offers an extensive choice of picture controls. One of these settings is Dynamic Tone Mapping, and while there’s a choice of options, the default balance setting appears to deliver the best overall performance. When it comes to upscaling HD sources to 4K, the C81 QLED delivers pretty solid results. Noise is gently massaged away without leaving the picture looking processed, although the results look more like good HD than 4K. The TCL C641K offers calibration options to fine-tune the picture and audio settings according to your preferences. It provides various picture presets, such as Standard, Cinema, Sports, and Game, allowing you to choose the mode that best suits your content and viewing environment. Additionally, the television offers advanced picture settings, including brightness, contrast, color, and sharpness adjustments, enabling you to customize the picture quality to your liking. This calibration feature ensures you can optimize the visuals to match your preferences and the content you’re watching. Software Updates The TCL C641K offers a wide viewing angle, allowing for a consistent and enjoyable viewing experience from various seating positions. Its advanced panel technology minimizes color distortion and loss of contrast when viewed from the side. This means that even if you’re sitting off the screen, you can still enjoy accurate colors and sharp images without significantly degrading picture quality. The wide viewing angle makes the television suitable for larger living rooms or spaces with multiple viewers. Voice ControlThe C845 covers the majority of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, reaching 95%. However, the colours aren’t as accurate as we’d like, with red, blue and magenta (which is composed of red and blue) all oversaturated compared to their target points. This is probably due to the C845 pushing its brightness to such a high degree, although many will probably like the added pop.
Putting together the stand was fairly old-school in terms of requiring 10 screws in all – six to put the base together, four to put the base onto the TV. Some TVs are almost screw-free these days, but no problem here – TCL’s diagrams were clear and the process straightforward, with the TV dropped flat onto its box, still in its protective sheetings, and the stand extending forward of the TV. It’s a flat folding shiny steel central stand here, rather than the little twin-end legs that TCL uses elsewhere. The C805 (C755 outside of Europe) is another QD-mini LED TV announced during the Global Flagship Product Launch event and will be available in 50, 55, 65, 75, 85, and 98-inch models. This model is slated to feature 500+ mini LED dimming zones and 1300 nits peak brightness. It takes about a nanosecond watching the 65C845K – especially with HDR sources – to see that TCL’s boasts about its TV being incredibly bright for its money were much more than idle marketing speak. Its pictures really do jump off the screen with an intensity far beyond anything else we have seen at anything like the same price. In fact, they leave the vast majority of much more expensive mid-range and even a few really premium TVs looking dull by comparison. Including, as TCL would want it to, OLED models, with even the latest MLA and QD-OLED sets falling some way short of the sort of brightness the C845K can achieve, particularly when it comes to full-screen bright imagery. This TV is even great for those of you who love to game with Game Mode. The built-in FreeSync technology enhances the gaming experience by providing smoother visuals, reducing screen tearing, and improving responsiveness, resulting in a more enjoyable and immersive gaming session.
Aiming Aid
TCL has brought its largest-ever Mini LED TV to market in 2023. Its Mini LED flagship, the C845 series, is now available in a whopping 98in as well as 55in, 65in, 75in and 85in, and delivers the brightest, most consistent picture TCL has produced to date according to the manufacturer. so good for its money that it pretty much redefines the whole TV market in a single blaze of ultra-bright glory." The TCL C64 Series hits UK shelves soon, with a release scheduled for later this month. You can find a full breakdown of sizes and UK pricing here – stay posted for international availability and pricing. TCL C645K (C64 Series) sizes and pricing
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