Saying that TCL had a “good year” in 2017 is akin to saying that Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi made “a lot of money.” It’s a gross understatement. The China-based manufacturer made a splash with several excellent Roku TV models at astonishingly low price points, and the P-Series was ranked among the our Best TVs You Can Buy list for 2017.
This time around, TCL is no longer the scrappy underdog, but one of the market leaders when it comes to smart TV. Accordingly, the company has stepped up its game in response to raised expectations, introducing us to the new 5-Series and 6-Series, both of which boast models with 4K UHD resolution and Dolby VisionHDR support for wider color gamuts and expanded contrast.
The 6-Series, which will presumably act as TCL’s new flagship television line, features 55-inch and 65-inch models, each built with a unique “stealth metal design.” More importantly, they’re equipped with the HDR Performance Package Pro, which includes Contrast Control Zone lighting technology that automatically identifies bright and dark areas in individual frames of content and adjusts each of the 96 (55-inch) or 120 (65-inch) zones’ contrast levels to achieve ideal DCI-P3 color space coverage. It also features HDR Pro Gamma control, which is essentially a zone map that adjusts the picture based on the lighting in the room. The 6-Series also comes with a Roku TV voice remote, which is actually very useful (though your phone can always do the job if you’re stuck with a regular remote).
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The 5-Series will be available in sizes ranging from 43 inches to 65 inches, and will feature the HDR Performance Package, which includes HDR Dynamic Contrast and HDR Pro Gamma control (no Contrast Control Zone lighting, though). The 55-inch and 65-inch 5-series models are also outfitted with 240 Natural Motion Technology for smooth action and onscreen movement.
Both the 5-Series and 6-Series have Wide Color Gamut with NBP Photon technology, three HDMI 2.0a ports with HDCP 2.2, and high-speed 802.11ac wireless and Ethernet networking options. Both lines will go on sale this spring. TCL hasn’t released any pricing information, but we’re willing to bet that the prices will be excellent.
TCL goes big with 85-inch XL Collection 4K and 8K Roku TVs
Though not everyone will agree, when it comes to TVs, there's no such thing as too big. At least, that seems to be the guiding principle behind TCL's new 85-inch Roku TVs, which have been dubbed the XL Collection. Initially introduced at CES 2021, the XL Collection has been formally announced by TCL today. It consists of three models: The entry-level LED 4K HDR version, the step-up QLED-based 4K HDR version, and an OD Zero mini-LED 8K HDR version. All three will be available by the end of the year.
Though they're not the first 85-inch TVs you can buy -- Sony, Samsung, LG, and Vizio all make models that measure 85 inches or more -- they are the first to offer the Roku smart TV software.
At CES 2021, TCL put all other TV makers on notice: We’re just getting started
I'd like to take a moment, now that CES 2021 is heading into its final hours, to acknowledge TCL.
Ten years ago, I attended CES 2011. Among the enormous booths from TV titans like Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, and LG was a smaller booth from a brand I had never heard of. Yep, it was TCL. Looking around that booth and taking in the sights of the many TVs TCL was showing off, I had only one thought: Man, what bunch of junk.
TCL TVs at CES 2021: 6-Series goes 8K, 85-inch XL line debuts
TCL put itself on the map in the U.S. when it launched its first 6-series TV in 2018. Along came its 8K mini-LED series in 2019, then it dropped another bomb last year when it brought mini-LED to its 6-series -- meanwhile, other brands still hadn't come forward with their own mini-LED sets. I think it’s fair to say the stakes are pretty high for TCL this year at CES 2021. Can they score another first?
Spoiler alert: Yes
What's new for TCL 6-Series
Let’s start with the 6-Series. In case you don’t recall, TCL brought out the 6-Series in 2018 and it was a hit. In 2019 the 6-Series got quantum dots and performed even better. Then in 2020, TCL gave it mini-LED backlight technology and it took another big step up. All the while, prices for this hot TV series stayed low. So, what’s new for the 6-Series in 2021? One number followed by one letter: 8K
