TCL C855 Review: Higher Contrast, More Zones & Lower Price vs Samsung & Sony Mini LED TVs

Summary

The TCL C855 is a highly spec'd 75-inch mini LED TV, boasting impressive contrast, with a native contrast ratio of 7,000:1 and 2,160 local dimming zones. Despite its strong performance in blacks and brightness, its local dimming algorithm sacrifices some picture accuracy and results in noticeable issues like shadow detail crushing. While it supports various HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, its HDR performance can sometimes deviate from creative intent. With a Pentonic 700 chipset, this model supports 4K 144Hz gaming and offers a great value, but its motion handling and upscaling are not as refined as competitors, earning it a recommendation for budget-conscious buyers seeking excellent contrast and gaming features.

Takeaways

• 😀 The TCL C855 is known for its exceptional contrast, boasting a native contrast ratio of 7,000:1, the highest recorded for a non-OLED mini LED TV.
• 😀 It utilizes a V-type LCD panel without a viewing angle compensation filter, which preserves contrast and avoids distracting rainbow reflections.
• 😀 The TV is equipped with 2,160 independently controlled dimming zones, providing a significant advantage in local dimming performance.
• 😀 TCL's local dimming algorithm prioritizes higher contrast over accuracy, which can lead to shadow detail loss and blooming artifacts.
• 😀 Calibration for HDR and color accuracy on the TCL C855 is challenging due to local dimming affecting luminance and color temperature across different window sizes.
• 😀 Even with a 10,000 nit adjustment, the C855 can display HDR scenes significantly brighter than the reference monitor, affecting creative intent.
• 😀 The C855 supports multiple HDR formats, including HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG, but the Dolby Vision mode presents brightness that exceeds reference levels.
• 😀 The TV's motion clarity and upscaling performance are good, but not as refined as premium brands, with slight micro stutter in fast-moving content.
• 😀 Input lag on the TCL C855 is low, with 15 ms at 60 Hz, dropping to 5.5 ms at 120 Hz, making it suitable for gaming, but local dimming can increase lag.
• 😀 The C855 delivers excellent native 10-bit gradation, outperforming even more expensive models in dark gradation and screen uniformity.

Q & A

What makes the TCL C855 stand out in terms of contrast performance?

The TCL C855 stands out due to its V-type LCD panel, which boasts a native contrast ratio of 7,000:1, the highest recorded on any non-CL mini LED TV. It also uses local dimming and avoids a viewing angle compensation filter, which improves contrast and reduces distracting reflections.

How does the TCL C855's local dimming system affect picture quality?

The TCL C855 features 2,160 independently controlled dimming zones, enhancing contrast by minimizing blooming and achieving inky blacks. However, this system can cause some shadow detail crushing and small bright elements to be toned down to prevent halation.

What challenges exist with color calibration on the TCL C855?

Despite support for 3D light calibration and working with calibration software providers, the TCL C855 faces issues with inconsistent luminance, gamma, and color temperature when local dimming is engaged. This can lead to inaccurate color representation across different content windows.

How does the HDR performance of the TCL C855 compare to other TVs?

The TCL C855's HDR performance is notably bright, with peak brightness hitting over 4,000 nits in boost mode, but it often deviates from reference levels, making HDR scenes appear brighter than intended. Calibration adjustments can help, but the TV still exhibits limitations in tone curve accuracy.

What is the impact of the TCL C855's local dimming on motion clarity and gaming?

Local dimming on the TCL C855 can introduce slight micro-stutter in motion clarity, particularly after scene cuts in 50Hz broadcasts. For gaming, local dimming increases input lag, making the TV less competitive for fast-action gaming if you prioritize picture quality.

What improvements have been made in the TCL C855 over the previous C845 model?

The TCL C855 includes hardware upgrades such as a new Beatch Pentonic 700 chipset, which enhances native 10-bit gradation, enables 4K 144Hz Dolby Vision gaming, and improves overall picture quality with more local dimming zones and higher peak brightness.

How does the TCL C855 perform in terms of upscaling and motion handling?

While the TCL C855 provides decent motion handling, it lacks the refinement seen in competitors, especially in upscaling. Upscaling of test patterns appeared softer and noisier compared to TVs from Japanese and South Korean brands.

What are the limitations of the TCL C855's HDR performance?

The TCL C855's HDR performance tends to deviate from creative intent due to aggressive local dimming and a tendency to over-brighten content. The TV also has trouble maintaining color accuracy in HDR10 and Dolby Vision, with brightness settings sometimes overshooting reference levels.

What issues were noted with TCL C855's software during testing?

There were some software quirks with the TCL C855, such as inconsistent application of picture modes across sources and occasional failure to remember the last input when powering on the TV. Additionally, the mute icon was slow to disappear after muting the volume.

What makes the TCL C855 a strong value proposition in the market?

The TCL C855 provides excellent value due to its impressive hardware, such as its high native contrast ratio, quantum dot colors, and multi-HDR support, all available at a price just over £1,500 in the UK. While its picture accuracy and video processing aren't perfect, it offers strong performance for the price.