Pros
- 55-inch 4K Mini LED panel
- Integrated Roku TV multimedia software
- Compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa
- Wi-Fi 5 , HDMI, and USB
Cons
- Tight viewing angles
- Does not have Bluetooth
However, thanks to the rising of some very interesting low-cost brands such as TCL and Hisense we're seeing more and more incredible Smart TV's at really competitive prices.
The TCL 55R635 is ideal for you if you are looking to acquire a 4K Smart TV that delivers deep blacks, vibrant colors, and excellent brightness levels which only help improve the HDR Pro present within this model.
It's also very much for you if you're looking for a TV set that allows you to play games fluidly thanks to its THX certification which combined with auto game mode and a variable refresh rate that can reach 480 fps thanks to the Natural Motion Technology.
Basically, if you're looking for a 55-inch TV set and you're not looking to rob a bank to be able to afford its OLED equivalent, this is definitely one of the better options in the market.
Starting off with the design, the TCL 55R635 maintains the same elegant and refined aesthetic we've already seen in its 65-inch and 75-inch pairs of the TCL 6 Series TVs, with its biggest draw being its brushed silver finish.
The audio experience on the TCL 55R635 is defined by a pair of 8W speakers, whose power may or may not be sufficient, depending on how demanding you are in terms of sound quality, it is a TV's speaker after all.
That said, these results can be easily optimized by coupling a soundbar - you can get a lot of good ones for less than 100 bucks - , to take advantage of the benefits of Dolby Atmos technology, known for delivering an immersive sound experience when playing content of a diverse nature.
Gaming, on the other hand, has not been neglected as we mentioned previously. Specifically the THX certification essentially guarantees us that this smart TV delivers that much desired cinematic sound quality when playing the most recent titles, though a soundbar is encouraged to be able to take full advantage of this.
Connectivity-wise, the TCL 55R635 provides us with the standard set of options we're used to seeing. Specifically, it has Wi-Fi 5 technology -operating at 5 GHz-, an RJ-45 terrestrial port - great for downloading truly heavy video files - and a USB 2.0 type input.
It also features four HDMI inputs and one conventional video (AV), digital optical audio outputs and the typical 3.5 mm, an RF connector, ATSC, NTSC, and Clear QAM digital tuners and compatibility with the Roku app to control the TV from the mobile.
We can't hide it, we love the TCL 55R635 reviewed today and believe it to be one of the better options the market has to offer in terms of bang for your buck. Seriously, you'd be hard pressed to find a 55-inch TV with such superb picture quality within its price range, we've tried, so it's hardly a surprise that this model is often amongst Amazon's top selling TV sets.
Today, we're here to talk in-depth about one such TV sets; the TCL 55R635 of the TCL Series 6 family. We've recently reviewed this series's slightly bigger model (65-inches), the TCL 65R635, but the 55-inch set we're going to cover today arrives at a significantly more competitive price point yet it brings to the table the same outstanding features and image quality you get from its older sibling making it one of the few good things that 2020 has brought us.
Without further ado, let's find out why this smart TV has managed to amass such stellar reviews and climb through the charts and top the 100 best-selling TV's more times than we can count.
Index
- For whom is it?
- Technical specifications
- Design and Panel
- Main features
- Connectivity and Extras
- Conclusion, opinions and where we can buy it cheaper
For whom is it?
The TCL 55R635 is ideal for you if you are looking to acquire a 4K Smart TV that delivers deep blacks, vibrant colors, and excellent brightness levels which only help improve the HDR Pro present within this model.
It's also very much for you if you're looking for a TV set that allows you to play games fluidly thanks to its THX certification which combined with auto game mode and a variable refresh rate that can reach 480 fps thanks to the Natural Motion Technology.
Basically, if you're looking for a 55-inch TV set and you're not looking to rob a bank to be able to afford its OLED equivalent, this is definitely one of the better options in the market.
Technical specifications
| Make model | TCL 55R635 |
| Dimensions without stand | 122.68 x 71.37 x 7.11 cm |
| Weight without stand | 19 kilograms |
| Panel | QLED (55 inch) |
| Resolution | 4K UHD (3840 x 2160 pixels) |
| Refresh rate | 48 - 120 Hz (Variable) |
| HDR support | Yes (HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision) |
| OS | Roku TV |
| Sound power | 2 x 8W (Dolby Atmos) |
| VESA support | Yes (300 x 300 mm) |
| Voice control | Yes (Roku Search) |
| Connectivity | Alexa | Google Assistant Roku APP Wi-Fi 5 RJ-45 AV | HDMI (x4) | eARC (x1) USB 2.0 Optical audio output (S / PDIF) 3.5mm headphone output RF connector Digital tuner (ATSC / NTSC / Clear QAM) |
A design that avoids distracting you from what is most important
Undeniable definition of elegance and durability
Starting off with the design, the TCL 55R635 maintains the same elegant and refined aesthetic we've already seen in its 65-inch and 75-inch pairs of the TCL 6 Series TVs, with its biggest draw being its brushed silver finish.
It's not as thin as its most expensive counterparts but honestly that's hardly an issue for us. That said, keeping in line with modern design, the side and top bezels have been reduced to a minimum, in order to make the most of every inch of its 4K screen - that's double the Full HD resolution by the way - .
Another design feature we're quite fond of is the ability to move the stand legs closer together, which really opens up the possibilities in terms of where we can place this TV within our home.
You can also turn this TV into a permanent fixture of your wall, thanks to its VESA mounting pattern of 300 by 300 mm, something that's also quite affordable these days thanks to the low price of the wall mounts within themselves.
In regards to the picture quality, TCL has really put everything out there on this mini LED TV set. Basically, you've got a stunning 4K resolution with Quantum Dot technology and over a hundred individually lit sections of the TV to deliver the best possible detail and nuance to every image.
You can also turn this TV into a permanent fixture of your wall, thanks to its VESA mounting pattern of 300 by 300 mm, something that's also quite affordable these days thanks to the low price of the wall mounts within themselves.
Let's talk about the screen
In regards to the picture quality, TCL has really put everything out there on this mini LED TV set. Basically, you've got a stunning 4K resolution with Quantum Dot technology and over a hundred individually lit sections of the TV to deliver the best possible detail and nuance to every image.
Add to that a very high brightness which allows us to continue watching the TV even when the sunlight is hitting the screen and an HDR Pro support which can only benefit from said brightness and you've got yourself a formula for guaranteed success.
Seriously, picture quality on this TV set easily rivals that of far more expensive smart TV's, but don't take our word for it, numerous clients have pointed out the impressive picture quality on this TV to be its main feature.
It's also a great TV set for gamers thanks to its THX certification and natural motion technology which can deliver a dynamic refresh rate so you don't drop any frames whilst playing your favorite games. Add to that the aforementioned HDR Pro and vibrant colors courtesy of Dolby Vision and you've got yourself an excellent gaming TV set.
So, what's the catch?
So, what's the catch?
But is it perfect? No. It had to have a catch and in this case its the fact that visibility from the sides of the TV isn't as great, with colors getting slightly washed out when you're not sitting directly in front of the TV, this is a very common issue with QLED TV's so it's not as if it's exclusive to TCL but we thought it's something you should take into account when positioning this TV within the space.
Powering this Smart TV we've got Roku TV. For those unfamiliar with the platform, it's basically one of the most popular platforms for smart TV's where you can easily manage your multimedia apps through an easy and intuitive interface.
A platform optimized for everyday entertainment
Amongst the apps supported by Roku TV we've got Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO and even Airplay 2, at the moment of writing this review neither peacock nor HBO Max are supported.
The TV also comes with a very minimalistic remote control (though there's also an app for that). Said remote also includes a microphone option which allows you to manage Roku through voice commands. The TCL 55R635 also supports Google Assistant and Alexa through their respective smart speakers.
A sound that will immerse you in your content
The audio experience on the TCL 55R635 is defined by a pair of 8W speakers, whose power may or may not be sufficient, depending on how demanding you are in terms of sound quality, it is a TV's speaker after all.
That said, these results can be easily optimized by coupling a soundbar - you can get a lot of good ones for less than 100 bucks - , to take advantage of the benefits of Dolby Atmos technology, known for delivering an immersive sound experience when playing content of a diverse nature.
Gaming, on the other hand, has not been neglected as we mentioned previously. Specifically the THX certification essentially guarantees us that this smart TV delivers that much desired cinematic sound quality when playing the most recent titles, though a soundbar is encouraged to be able to take full advantage of this.
A balanced and functional connectivity
It also features four HDMI inputs and one conventional video (AV), digital optical audio outputs and the typical 3.5 mm, an RF connector, ATSC, NTSC, and Clear QAM digital tuners and compatibility with the Roku app to control the TV from the mobile.
Wraping it up: Should you buy it?
Ultimately, its a bright and vibrant 55-inch 4K TV with Mini LED technology, a QLED panel, and a THX certification operating under the seamless Roku TV Platform with natural motion technology for fluid gaming and a decent enough audio you don't need to buy a soundbar immediately - though we truly advise you to get it out of the way now and experience this TV as it was meant to be experienced -.