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TCL Contrast Control Zones 4K TV, 55-Inch

Last updated: June 2, 2022


TCL Contrast Control Zones 4K TV, 55-Inch
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We looked at the top 4K TVs and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best 4K TV you should buy.

TCL 55R617 - 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart LED TV (2018 Model)

TCL 55R617 - 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart LED TV (2018 Model)
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$899.00

Product Details

In our analysis of 80 expert reviews, the TCL Contrast Control Zones 4K TV, 55-Inch placed 14th when we looked at the top 17 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

TCL’s 6-Series combines stunning 4K HDR picture performance and the award-winning Roku TV smart platform in a bold, brushed metal design for a superior TV experience. Dolby Vision delivers greater brightness and contrast, as well as a fuller palette of rich colors. TCL’s Contrast Control Zone technology individually optimizes the image across up to 120 zones to yield striking contrast between light and dark areas. The 6-Series models’ iPQ Engine provides precise color replication while HDR Pro Gamma significantly improves HDR performance in any setting. Powerful picture performance is complemented by the Roku OS, providing seamless access your cable box, Blu-ray player, gaming console, and other devices without flipping through inputs or complicated menus. An enhanced remote makes it easy to find movie titles, launch or change channels, and even switch inputs, all with your voice.

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Our Expert Consultant

Patrick Ward 
Editor-in-chief of High Speed Experts

Patrick Ward is the editor-in-chief of High Speed Experts, a broadband connectivity-, search engine- and IT-industry education blog that empowers consumers by open-sourcing information about tech services. He earned his bachelor’s degree in commerce with an emphasis on communications at the University of Sydney. His expertise spans the digital, emerging tech and telecommunications fields.

Expert Reviews


What reviewers liked

4K/HDR Performance TL;DR: A perfect companion for games and movies (especially those in Dolby Vision) the 6-Series punches well above its weight.
- Tech Radar
The TCL remote is essentially a Roku remote (it’s basically the same remote you’d get if you bought one of Roku’s higher-end set-top boxes). It has a minimal number of buttons and is quite efficient. The remote supports voice commands and has a headphone output for private listening via headphones or earbuds.
- TechHive
The TCL 6-Series supports both HDR10 and Dolby Vision, and it displays both of them extremely well.
- Digital Trends
Dim lighting: The TCL punched far above its weight in my dark-room comparison with the TVs calibrated to the same light output.
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This 55-inch 4K UHD smart TV from TCL, a Roku TV model in TCL's step-up 6-series sets for 2018, delivers excellent high-definition picture quality and excellent UHD performance. The TV's HDR performance was very effective, up there with the very best sets. (The TV supports both the HDR10 and Dolby Vision HDR formats.)
- Consumer Reports
It makes few significant changes besides a slightly more attractive physical design, keeping the excellent contrast and color range of the previous version intact.
- PG Magazine - SE Asia
The TV provides better than average performance and offers deep black levels thanks to its individual lighting zones.
- Tom's Guide
Has built-in Roku that makes it easy to stream numerous popular apps.
- BestReviews
The TCL 6 Series (R617/R615) is a very good 4k TV for a wide range of usages. It has good dark scene performance due to the full-array local dimming and high native contrast so blacks appear deep even in a dark room.
- RTINGS.com

What reviewers didn't like

Where there’s room for improvement here is with how the TV handles motion. For the most part, it’s surprisingly good - even if you’re watching fast-paced content - but the way Roku TV is implemented here, you don’t have much control over how motion is handled. There are just three settings - high, medium, low - or it can be turned off entirely.
- Tech Radar
Note that this is a 60Hz panel, so forget TCL’s 120Hz Clear Motion malarky. Generally speaking, 60Hz TVs suffer more severe motion issues because, yes, they don’t have as many dead frames per second to play with, and compensation for this generally requires more processing power than is provided.
- TechHive
In the case of the 6-Series, we witnessed and documented some vertical banding which brings about an anomaly called dirty screen effect – so called because it can make the screen appear as if it has smudges on the surface. Now to be clear, this vertical banding and the resulting effect it has on images is difficult to detect in most typical viewing cases – in fact, we had to display solid color screens to show the problems our panel had with uniformity.
- Digital Trends
Blooming is often an issue in HDR with its extra brightness, but the TCL controlled it well, even in difficult sequences like the white-on-black credits at the end of Showman.
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The optimal seating position for best picture quality is directly in front of this model. When we viewed the TV from the sides, image quality got worse. The picture showed a moderate loss of color, so flesh tones looked a bit washed out. Black levels visibly brightened, reducing contrast especially on dark scenes. When viewing the image from above or below eye level to the screen, the vertical viewing angle was very good. The picture showed minimal change in color, contrast, and black level.
- Consumer Reports
It lacks the headphone jack we've become very fond of on Roku's Enhanced remotes, which enables private listening. The headphone jack is present on the Roku Ultra, and was on last year's TCL 55P607, but you won't find it on this remote.
- PG Magazine - SE Asia
The sound isn't as impressive as the picture quality.
- BestReviews
Gray uniformity is decent, but we have received reports from many people with much worse uniformity. Like the P607, the viewing angle is bad.
- RTINGS.com

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View our 4K TV buying guide for in-depth advice and recommendations.

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