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TCL 4 Series S455 2022

TCL
4K Resolution
Budget TV
HDR Support
1957 words

The TCL 4 Series/S455 2022 TV is a budget-friendly 4K TV that was released in 2022. It replaces the TCL 4 Series/S435 2020 and runs on the latest Roku smart interface. However, it lacks advanced gaming features like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth or variable refresh rate support. In terms of picture quality, the TCL 4 Series/S455 performs decently. It has a high contrast ratio and excellent black uniformity, making it suitable for watching movies or shows in dark or moderately-lit rooms. However, it struggles in bright rooms due to its low peak brightness and narrow viewing angle. When it comes to watching movies, this TV is a good option for dark rooms. It has fantastic contrast and black uniformity, which results in deep blacks. It can remove judder from 24p sources and upscale lower-resolution content well. However, it lacks local dimming, which could improve the overall contrast. For watching TV shows during the day, the TCL 4 Series/S455 upscales lower-resolution content effectively and has a great selection of streaming apps with its built-in Roku interface.

However, it is not very bright and has a narrow viewing angle, limiting its suitability for wide seating arrangements. Regarding sports viewing, this TV does decently in bright rooms with its reflection handling. However, its low brightness and narrow viewing angle can be problematic. Additionally, the image can suffer from dirty screen effect in the center, which can be distracting when watching fast-moving sports action. As a gaming TV, the TCL 4 Series/S455 offers a responsive gaming experience with its low input lag and decent response time. However, it lacks advanced gaming features such as HDMI 2.1 or variable refresh rate support, making it more suitable for casual gamers rather than those seeking high-performance gaming. In terms of HDR content, the TCL 4 Series/S455 performs decently in dark rooms.

It has excellent contrast and black uniformity, but it lacks local dimming, which could enhance the appearance of bright highlights. However, its low peak brightness and limited color gamut make HDR content less impactful. When used as a PC monitor, this TV offers low input lag and decent response time, making it suitable for smooth and responsive cursor movements. However, its low peak brightness and BGR subpixel layout may limit its effectiveness as a PC monitor in brightly lit rooms or with certain programs. In terms of design, the TCL 4 Series/S455 has a basic but visually appealing look.

It has thin bezels on three sides, but there is some dead space between the side bezels and the first pixels. The V-shaped feet require a large table for stability, and if wall-mounted, the input ports can be difficult to access. Overall, the TCL 4 Series/S455 2022 TV is a decent entry-level option with good picture quality for dark room viewing. However, its limitations in brightness, viewing angles, and advanced gaming features may not make it suitable for more demanding users.

Preview
Preview of the official model TCL 4 Series S455 2022

Exploring the hardware specs of TCL 4 Series S455 2022

Specifications
Model TCL 4 Series/S455 2022 TV
Release Year 2022
Smart Interface Roku
Gaming Features No HDMI 2.1, No VRR
Picture Quality Decent
Contrast Ratio High
Black Uniformity Excellent
Peak Brightness Low
Viewing Angle Narrow
Movie Watching Good
Judder Removal Yes
Upscaling Yes
Local Dimming No
TV Show Watching Good
Upscaling Yes
Streaming Apps Built-in Roku Interface
Bright Room Viewing Limited
Sports Viewing Decent
Reflection Handling Decent
Dirty Screen Effect Yes
Gaming Responsive
Input Lag Low
Response Time Decent
HDR Content Decent
Contrast Excellent
Black Uniformity Excellent
Local Dimming No
Peak Brightness Low
Color Gamut Limited
PC Monitor Low Input Lag
Response Time Decent
Peak Brightness Low
BGR Subpixel Layout Yes
Design Basic, Visually Appealing
Bezel Thin
Feet V-shaped
Wall Mount Difficult to Access Ports
Overall Decent Entry-level Option
Picture Quality Good for Dark Rooms
Limitations Brightness, Viewing Angles, Gaming Features
HDR Performance Falls Short
Peak Brightness Struggles
HDR EOTF Tracking Accurate Midtones
Fine Details Clipped in Bright Scenes
Gradient Handling Good
Banding Noticeable
Color Gamut Good Coverage of DCI-P3
Rec. 2020 Disappointing
Color Volume Limited
Color Accuracy Subpar
Gray Uniformity Average
Vignetting Significant at Corners
Dirty Screen Effect Yes
Viewing Angles Disappointing
Color Washout Significant
Brightness Loss Significant
Reflection Handling Decent
Motion Handling Decent
Response Time Decent
Image Duplication Noticeable
Input Lag Low
Resolutions Limited to 60Hz
HDMI Support HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth
HDCP Support HDCP 2.2
HDR Formats HDR10, HLG
Audio Support eARC
DTS Audio Formats Not Supported
Sound Quality Average
Frequency Response Sub-par
Bass Impact Little
Dialogue Reproduction Muddy
Maximum Volume Not Very Loud
Smart Features Roku TV Platform
Interface Simple, Easy-to-use
Ads Large, Non-removable
App Selection Great
Remote Control Basic, No Microphone
Voice Control Through Roku App
Overall Affordable, Decent Picture Quality, User-friendly Interface

A quick breakdown of why you should consider TCL 4 Series S455 2022

The most important key feature of the TCL 4 Series/S455 2022 TV is its budget-friendly price.

  • High contrast ratio and excellent black uniformity: The TV delivers deep blacks and is suitable for watching movies or shows in dark or moderately-lit rooms.
  • Decent upscaling of lower-resolution content: The TV can effectively upscale lower-resolution content, resulting in a better viewing experience.
  • Built-in Roku interface with a great selection of streaming apps: The TV comes with the latest Roku smart interface, providing easy access to a wide range of streaming apps.
  • Responsive gaming experience: The TV offers low input lag and decent response time, making it suitable for casual gamers.
  • Good motion handling: The TV has a decent response time and no overshoot in transitions, resulting in smooth motion.

Overall, the TCL 4 Series/S455 2022 TV offers a budget-friendly option with good picture quality for dark room viewing, a great selection of streaming apps, and a responsive gaming experience.

A breakdown of what we didn't like

The main problem with purchasing the TCL 4 Series/S455 2022 TV is its limitations in terms of brightness, viewing angles, and advanced gaming features.

Potential downsides of purchasing this TV include:

  1. Limited brightness: The TCL 4 Series/S455 has a low peak brightness, which can be problematic in bright rooms or when watching HDR content. Bright highlights may not be as impactful, and the overall picture may appear dimmer than desired.

  2. Narrow viewing angles: This TV exhibits significant color washout and brightness loss when viewed off-center. It may not be suitable for wide seating arrangements or for those who frequently watch TV from different angles.

  3. Lack of advanced gaming features: While the TCL 4 Series/S455 offers a responsive gaming experience with low input lag and decent response time, it lacks advanced gaming features such as HDMI 2.1 bandwidth or variable refresh rate support. This may not meet the needs of gamers seeking high-performance gaming.

  4. Limited HDR performance: Although the TCL 4 Series/S455 performs decently in dark rooms with its excellent contrast and black uniformity, it lacks local dimming, which could enhance the appearance of bright highlights in HDR content. Additionally, its low peak brightness and limited color gamut result in a less impactful HDR experience.

  5. Subpar color accuracy: Out-of-the-box color accuracy on this TV is subpar, with noticeable issues in every color. While calibration can improve white balance and gamma, colors still remain noticeably off. This may affect the overall visual experience, especially for those who prioritize accurate color representation.

Wrapping up: Our conclusive thoughts on this model

The TCL 4 Series/S455 2022 TV is a budget-friendly option with decent picture quality for dark room viewing, making it suitable for watching movies or shows. However, its limitations in brightness and viewing angles may not make it suitable for bright rooms or wide seating arrangements. It also lacks advanced gaming features, which may disappoint serious gamers. While it offers a user-friendly interface with a good selection of streaming apps, its HDR performance and color accuracy fall short. Overall, if you're looking for an affordable TV for casual viewing and gaming, the TCL 4 Series/S455 could be a decent option, but it may not meet the needs of more demanding users.

31 likes
Rating: 7.6
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Tom Baker

Tom Baker is a technology writer with a wealth of experience in the field, having worked as a software engineer for many years. He has written dozens of articles on the latest technology trends, and his expertise has been sought out by major publications and tech companies.