TCL 55C655 Pro test: A 4K television to equip yourself at a low price

Looking closely at the image of the sub-pixels, we see a vertical arrangement, consistent with a VA-type LCD panel.

In the TCL, Film Maker mode is unfortunately missing, so you’ll have to choose the film mode that’s closest to it. Other methods (sports, games, etc.) should be avoided if you want to preserve accurate color measurements. Although the calibration in SDR is not completely perfect, it is barely noticeable to the naked eye with an average delta E of 2.5, which is below the threshold value of 3. Only a few shades of red and blue add up a bit.

With an average color temperature of 6290 K, this TV isn’t too far off the ideal 6500 K, which gives a picture that’s a bit warmer, but it’s still pretty good. Gamma is nearly perfect with an average of 2.4. Almost, because upon closer inspection, we see that dark tones are slightly darker and very light tones are slightly higher.

Dynamic contrast is excellent thanks to the VA panel and Local dimmingOver 5000:1 for very deep blacks. As is often the case with VA panels, viewing angles are unfortunately very poor. We noted an 83% brightness loss at a 45° angle, one of the worst results in our database.

HDR

Like most of the brand’s televisions, the C655 Pro is compatible with all HDR formats (HDR10, HLG, HDR10+, Dolby Vision).

With a full-array local dimming LCD panel, you shouldn’t expect miracles in front of brightness. The TCL 55C655 Pro reaches a maximum of 490 cd/m² at a 10% window, which remains relatively low compared to Mini-Led and Oled models available on the market, but better than some direct competitors such as the E7NQ Pro. For comparison, many high-end televisions display much higher values, with some Oleds reaching 1600 cd/m², while some Mini-Led models exceed 2000 cd/m².

With a signal at 10,000 cd/m², the EOTF curve is followed almost perfectly. However, there is a risk of being slightly overexposed in the highlights, as the TV only slightly smooths the curve between 60 and 80%. In HDR, colorimetry is unfortunately less accurate than in SDR with an average delta E of 4.1, thus exceeding a value of 3. That’s a bit sad, but not all that surprising on an entry-level model.

As is often the case with LCD panels, colorimetric coverage isn’t very wide. DCI-P3, a color space used primarily in cinema, covers 83%, but Rec. 2020 at only 61%. That said, the latter is still rarely used by studios, and only a few films really take advantage of it.

Clouding and blooming

Although we did not observe any. the cloud (light spots), opening up Surrounds bright objects on dark backgrounds, especially subtitles. This is unfortunately one of the disadvantages of classic LCD panels, which do not handle this phenomenon well, especially at the entry level. On the other hand, Mini-Led technology performs much better in this area, and Oled is absolutely flawless.

reflection

Entry-level TVs often struggle with glare, and the C655 Pro is no exception. With a reflectivity of 41%, it ranks among the least efficient in our competition. This can be annoying, especially in dark scenes, and even more so if interior lights are reflected directly into the screen. As an indication, high performance models show a reflection of less than 20%, or even less than 10%.

That’s one of the faults of this television: the panel is unfortunately limited to 60Hz and so you’ll have to step up to a slightly higher model to take advantage of the refresh at 120Hz. Measured. (Input interval) is 13.2 ms and therefore there is no delay between the action performed on the controller or mouse and its effect on the screen. The Game Bar can be activated for quick access to the appropriate settings, but it’s not the most successful on the market.

However, LCD panel residue is very high and so some may occur. Ghosting Behind moving objects. As you might have understood this TV is not really dedicated to experienced gamers, but it will be enough for TV enthusiasts. Mario Kart, Zelda And other RPGs that don’t require perfect fluidity. It also has three HDMI 2.1 inputs (including one eArc) compatible with ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate).

Game mode sometimes causes excessive color saturation on TVs. This isn’t usually the case with TCL on the latest models we’ve tested. Thus, the average delta E of 3.9 remains the same as film mode. Good news, although it’s practically too much, as we wrote a little above.

The feet of the TCL 55C655 Pro are easy to install: just attach them to the chassis with two screws. Made of plastic and located on each side of the device, they do not allow you to install a large soundbar. But if your furniture is wide enough, there shouldn’t be any problem.

The TV has three HDMI 2.1 ports as well as an optical digital audio output, a composite input, an Ethernet port, a headphone output and a CI+ common interface port. It is also equipped with TNT/cable socket and satellite antenna with tuner and USB-A 3.0 port. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are obviously included.

As usual with TCL, the Google TV interface is at the helm, offering a wide selection of apps such as Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, MyCanal, Molotov and many others. Although it is possible to connect to a Google Account to take advantage of personalized recommendations, this link is not required. Chromecast is integrated, allowing you to stream content from a smartphone or tablet, while Google Assistant lets you control the device directly by voice.

The remote control, not backlit and made entirely of plastic, offers a wide range of classic features with shortcuts to streaming applications. It runs on batteries and does not have a built-in battery, like the manufacturer’s higher-end models.