In the not-so-distant past, the number of TV brands available in the South African market was limited to a handful of more established brands like Samsung, LG, and Hisense. Fast forward to today, and the number of options available to consumers has increased significantly. One of these new entrants is TCL. Known for its affordable quality, the brand is expanding its offerings with more premium TVs.
I recently had the privilege of reviewing the 55-inch TCL C735 QLED, one of TCL’s higher-end models, and found the experience to be simple and intuitive. With an average price tag of R13,000, the TCL C735 QLED offers a product that undercuts its rivals.
Design:
Unboxing the TCL C735 QLED is easy and doesn’t involve a lot of maneuvering like TVs from other brands. It’s a lightweight panel that feels solid without any flexing and has a solid base that screws in quite easily to prop the TV up.
Like products from many other consumer tech manufacturers who use the term “bezel-less”, the TCL C735 QLED is not without a bezel no matter what the website tells you, however, the existing bezel is minimal compared to that of other TVs in the same price range.
In terms of I/O, the TV has:
- 1x HDMI2.1 (with ARC&EARC)
- 2x HDMI2.0
- USB 2.0
It also supports Bluetooth 5.0 and has an AV Input Adapter.
Included in the box is a standard remote control with buttons for popular streaming platforms like Netflix and Youtube as well as ‘Ok, Google’ voice capabilities.
All that colour:
Once switched on, it’s obvious where TCL spent its budget: the 55-inch QLED panel. Its pricepoint and positioning within the lineup would lead you to presume that the panel wouldn’t be as good as it is. Colour reproduction is punchy and vibrant and definitely gives more expensive models a run for their money. TCL opted for a direct-lit LED backlight array instead of a common edge-lit array resulting in the entire panel being evenly lit instead of bleeding light from the edges. While this results in a uniformly bright picture it also means that darker colours are lit when they shouldn’t be. Had the brand included full array local dimming you’d end up paying far more than R13 000 for this TV.
The TCL C735 QLED TV’s direct-lit LED backlight falls slightly short in terms of peak brightness, clocking in at 330 nits. While this may seem a tad dim for optimal HDR performance, fear not, as the C735 has a secret weapon up its sleeve: dynamic tone mapping. This nifty feature works its magic to compensate for the lower brightness, and for the most part, it manages to deliver a satisfying viewing experience.
TCL really pushed gaming with this TV and equipped it with a 144Hz variable refresh rate. This will come in handy when playing fast-paced games, smoothing out the visuals. They’ve also included auto low-latency mode that reduces the lag when gaming.
Though this TV proudly shows off its gaming prowess, it’s simply just a great TV to watch any CGI-heavy movie. Putting it to the test, I watched ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,’ and the TCL 55C735 QLED TV passed with flying colours.
Added extras:
These days a TV is more than just a TV, it’s also an interface for your favourite streaming channels, the internet, smart home connectivity, and in some cases, a means of conducting video calls. This means that the interface and operating system matters, a lot.
TCL opted for Google TV. Setup is easy, from signing into your Google account (if you have one) to setting up your Wi-Fi and voice, allowing you to activate Google’s voice system directly from the remote. With Google’s integration on the TCL C735 QLED, it will allow you to take advantage of other Google services, such as Google Play Movies, which will allow you to rent and purchase movies to stream directly on the TV.
In order to watch content, you will need to install different streaming apps such as Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify. This action is intuitive and will seem like an extension of your phone. Because of the Google TV interface, those with Android phones will find it familiar. iOS users fear not as the instructions pop up on the screen and are self-explanatory and easy to follow.
The only gripe I had was that changing core settings, such as display modes and hardware settings, were littered throughout a Google settings interface, which meant you had to go hunting for things. Granted, this issue is simply a learning curve that, after a short time of scratching around, will become second nature, but it shouldn’t have to be this convoluted.
Sound:
Proudly written on a corner of the TCL C735 QLED is the word Onkyo. A Japanese consumer electronics company, Onkyo is known for specialising in premium home cinema and audio equipment, which leads to high audio expectations. While the TV won’t deliver the outstanding audio quality of standalone Onkyo products, it’s certainly better than what you’d find on your average TV (I’d still recommend purchasing a sound bar).
Verdict:
A television purchase is an important one. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. It is meant to last for years, and you will experience moments when you’re screaming at the screen as if you’re on the pitch or a new Marvel epic is taking you to another universe or you’re using it at the central interface for your connected home. The TCL 55C735 QLED TV is a great companion for all these moments.
From using Apple AirDrop or Google Chromecast (casting content from your Android phone to the TV set) to watching your favourite show or gaming, content is immersive and a delight to your eyes.
The intuitive interface makes it easy to quickly set up the TV and get straight to watching.
While certain aspects could be improved, this is a TV that punches far above its weight and delivers more than others in this price category.
