Skip to main content

TCL has priced its impressive 6-Series Roku TVs, and they’re unbelievably cheap

TCL’s 4K 6-Series Roku TVs wowed us at this year’s CES. The premium performance they appeared to offer rivaled premium TVs from big names like Samsung and LG, but were promised to come in at a fraction of the price. In March, we found out that the new TCL TV line would be out in May, but we were mostly left in the dark as to what they would cost. Now we finally know what the top-shelf 6-Series will be selling for, and the price of the large model is nothing short of astounding.

There are two sizes of the 6-Series available: a 65-inch model and a 55-inch model. TCL had previously said that the 55-inch version would cost $650 — the same price as the 55-inch model in last year’s P6-Series. TCL announced today that the 65-inch version will retail for $1,000, far less than you’ll see from a different manufacturer when discussing TV of this quality.

In addition to 4K resolution, the 6-Series TVs feature support for high dynamic range (HDR), including Dolby Vision, which used to be very rare in affordable TVs but is starting to become more common. HDR makes for brighter brights, deeper blacks, hence improved contrast and deeper color. Both models feature local dimming to endable that contrast, with 120 zones in the 65-inch model and 96 zones in the 55-inch model. The TVs also feature TCL’s HDR Pro Gamma, which automatically adjusts the picture to adapt to the lighting in your room, meaning you’ll have the ideal viewing situation no matter where you put your TV.

TCL says the 6-Series TVs use the latest version of the Roku OS, which was just updated this week with new features. In addition to the 5,000 plus streaming channels and more than 500,000 movies and TV episodes, the TV features the Dolby Access channel, which uses different trailers and short films to show off what Dolby Vision HDR is capable of. The new Roku TV Voice remote offers enhanced voice controls, with the ability to launch streaming channels, switch inputs, switch to local broadcast channels, search for movies and TV shows, and more.

Both of the 6-Series models are available for pre-order now, but if you’re interested, you might want to hurry up: TCL says that both models are currently offered at introductory prices, which means they may go up in the future, regardless of whether TV prices rise as a whole.

Kris Wouk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
TCL’s 8K 6-Series mini-LED TVs are shockingly affordable
A TCL 8K 6-Series TV showing THX's Certified Game Mode.

TCL has been teasing us for months, making us wait to hear how much the company will charge for its 8K resolution 6-Series mini-LED QLED TVs. Now we know, and boy, was it worth the wait. The 75-inch model is just $3,000, while the smaller, 65-inch version rings in at $2,200. They both go on sale today with limited availability at major retailers.

To put those prices in perspective, LG and Samsung -- the only other companies that have mini-LED-based 8K TVs in 2021 -- charge $3,500 for their most affordable 65-inch models and $4,800 for their 75-inch models.

Read more
TCL goes big with 85-inch XL Collection 4K and 8K Roku TVs
TCL 85s435 XL Collection 85-inch LED TV

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.

Read more
I tried Apple’s Color Balance on two TVs and I can’t decide if I like it
Apple TV 4K color balancing

Last week, Apple took the wraps off the second generation of the Apple TV 4K. Among the streaming media device’s new features, which include a completely revamped Siri remote control, Apple showed off a clever color balance calibration tool that lets you optimize the look of your TV using just your iPhone’s front-facing camera.

This raised many questions in the TV-reviewing community. Why would you want to calibrate the output of a single device like the Apple TV 4K when calibrating the TV would result in better image quality for all video sources? How accurate is the iPhone’s camera when compared to pro calibration tools that can cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars? And are the results as stark as Apple suggested in its launch video?

Read more