The TCL 65P639K features it, allowing you to display images or videos on the TV when it’s not in use. You can choose from various pre-loaded images or videos or upload your own to create a personalized display. Ambient Mode can also display useful information such as the weather, time, and news headlines, making it a useful feature. When I test TVs, my first step is to spend a few days using it for casual viewing for break-in and to assess the out-of-box picture presets. The next step is to select the most accurate-looking preset (typically labeled Movie or Cinema) and measure the white balance (grayscale), gamma, and color point accuracy using Portrait Displays’ Calman color calibration software. The resulting measurements provide Delta-E values (the margin of error between the test pattern source and what’s shown on-screen) for each category, and they allow for an assessment of the TV’s overall accuracy. Through our extensive suite of tests, our only complaint is that a bit of dark detail is missing when watching SDR content.

The TCL 6-Series is one of our favorite mid-range TV models – and has got a QLED upgrade too (Image credit: TCL) TCL features and formats 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.

Every Note is a Work of Art

Upscaling of HD sources is a touch disappointing given the promises of ‘Deep Learning’ intervention, leaving things looking a little soft and undetailed versus the sort of results we are now accustomed to getting from the likes of Samsung, LG and Sony. The C845K’s upscaling at least doesn’t look noisy or ‘rough’, though, so we would say it remains good enough for such an affordable TV capable of such heroics with native 4K. Usually, we'd expect a brand to unveil all its plans for the coming year at CES 2021 (the biggest tech expo of the year). However, TCL runs on a slightly different release schedule than many TV brands, which can mean CES was a bit light on concrete information. The TCL 65P639K is compatible with various devices and operating systems, including Android and iOS. This means you can easily connect your smartphone or tablet to the TV and stream content from your favorite apps. It also supports screen mirroring, which allows you to mirror the screen of your smartphone or tablet on the TV. This part is simpler than it first seems. When it comes to the jumble of numbers and letters TCL has applied to its 2023 TVs, we can actually break each code down in just a few steps. Let’s take one of the big guns from this year’s bunch, the 65C845K:

Google TV is the smart TV interface of choice here, and the set has a built-in mic that can be enabled for hands-free voice commands. TCL’s remote control also features a built-in mic that can be manually activated if you don’t want your TV always listening to you. Along with Google Assistant, the QM8 works with Alexa and Apple HomeKit, and it supports wireless streaming via Chromecast built-in and AirPlay 2. If you want a 65-inch TV but don’t fancy a separate sound bar or speaker system then the Panasonic TX-65LZ2000B is the one to get. While its giant speaker bar isn’t exactly subtle, we found its inbuilt audio system is one of the best we have experienced during our tests, with it offering truly impressive Atmos virtualisation. Witness precision redefined with TCL 65 Inch TVs. Our commitment to detail ensures that every image is a masterpiece of clarity, revealing intricacies that were once hidden. Immerse yourself in content that's presented with remarkable realism and depth.If you're a gamer, it's also worth considering the next-gen gaming features of your prospective new TV. Xbox Series X and PS5 gamers can gain a competitive advantage on certain games if their TV supports 4K 120Hz, while VRR support can result in a smoother gameplay experience. ALLM, meanwhile, simply ensures that you automatically get the best visual experience from both games and movies / TV shows. If you are a more casual gamer or not a gamer at all, you can pretty much disregard these features, and doing so will likely save you a lot of cash. How we test How we test TVs Perhaps we should conclude that while the TCL is a stellar TV, the rating is based on price and while the Sony and Hisense cost more, they are in fact better TVs. For the TCL QM8 I used the Calman ISF workflow, along with the TV’s advanced picture menu settings, to calibrate the image for best accuracy with SDR and HDR sources. Once done, I watched a range of reference scenes on 4K Blu-ray discs that I’ve gathered after years of TV and projector testing to assess the TV’s performance, as well as new Dolby Vision-encoded material streamed from sources like Netflix and HBO Max. As for cloud-based gaming, Google’s subscription-based Stadia service bit the dust in early 2023 after a three-year run, so there currently isn’t a gaming option with native support in the Google TV ecosystem. You can find the Nvidia Geforce Now app in the Google Play store, however, which presents a solid alternative. The TCL Q7/Q750G QLED is a good lower mid-range model. Unfortunately, the Hisense U8/U8K is just a bit more expensive but much better overall, so it's better if you can stretch your budget a bit.