The largest of black slabs have become numerous in options – and each household making a decision about a TV should consider a few things: a) what kind of quality/experience are you looking for, and b) how much you’re prepared to pay for it. Recently more affordable smart TVs have made their way to South African shores, including those from TCL.
We recently spent some time with the Chinese brand’s first 4K TV to land in SA, named the P615. It’s got full Android TV 11 functionality, comes in at 55in (as well as 65in and 50in), and features HDR 10 capability.
4K 4 everyone
The 4K (3840×2160 pixels) resolution has become commonplace across many streaming platforms. It’s just never been entirely affordable for the broader public. The TCL P615 brings 4K UHD content to the masses, at R7,800. Downscale slightly and you can grab the 50in for R7,000.
Android TV 11 is such a joy to navigate. If you’re comfortably nestled in the Google ecosystem, you won’t have any issue setting up the P615, locating and downloading your favourite streaming apps. The controller holds all of the essential inputs, including dedicated Netflix and YouTube buttons, while dedicated Google Assistant voice input’s also accessible via the top of the device. That’s a nice-to-have on a sub-R8k TV for sure.
It stands tall on two plastic feet that are easily attached. Expect that plastic trend all around the device too – no metal frame found here. Around back you get 3 HDMI 2.0 ports, an ARC connection, 2 USB 2.0 ports, an ethernet option and AV connections. ARC compatibility is a nice feature on a budget TV, no doubt. There’s no Dolby Atmos though, you’ll have to settle for Dolby Audio.
And it’s not bad. If you’re gonna use onboard speakers, the TCL’s offer decent onboard audio output. They’re balanced, and don’t overdo the bass or the higher range.
TCL 4K TV Verdict
The display is also an utter joy to experience at this price range. Its UHD feature will automatically upscale HD content, making it clearer, with bright colours and solid blacks. Don’t expect OLED-quality here though – this is just an LCD panel pretending to be something more. And at this price, we’ll gladly play along.