This $550 TCL TV deal during Amazon’s October Prime Day is almost too hard to pass on

For fairly some time now, TCL has managed to do decently properly for itself with the budget-conscious market, offering televisions that normally punch above its class. The Q7 collection, nevertheless, could be its greatest try at profitable the mid-range market. With its newest providing, TCL has a set that gives unbelievable high quality, options normally solely discovered on greater fashions, and a value that is beneath $1,000 (save for the biggest mannequin).

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The 55″, which I examined right here, is currently priced right at $549, whereas the 65″ and 75″ are $649 and $949 respectively. This collection maxes out with the 85″ mannequin for $1,699.

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TCL Q7 TV

A formidable option for budget shoppers, with a 4K panel and a slew of smart TV features.

Proper out of the field, that is simply some of the spectacular units I’ve seen at this value level. The bezel across the edges is tremendous skinny, and the TV itself is pretty skinny. It isn’t as skinny as a few of its competitors, however it is going to nonetheless sit fairly flush in opposition to a wall in the event you select to mount it. On the again, you may discover 4 HDMI inputs, two of which assist HDMI 2.1 and one other helps eARC, that means it is potential to attach a number of next-gen consoles and a sound bar.

The distant is pretty customary in format, however a bit bigger than most I’ve seen. Except for the same old buttons, there have been six “direct to service” buttons which have turn out to be regular on the backside. Two of them had been TCL’s personal companies, after which there’s fairly a little bit of empty area beneath.

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Whereas TCL’s earlier TVs shipped with both the Roku or the Google TV working system, this yr’s fashions come solely with Google. I am used to Roku on my on a regular basis set, however I used to be capable of navigate simply within the new system.

The Q7 has full-array LED backlighting, which suggests you are not simply getting a brighter show, however one that may show extra colours and darker blacks. And with native dimming, the TV has the potential to dim a few of these backlit zones (there are as much as 200 on the larger fashions), making the distinction even higher.

The Q7 does assist a number of HDR codecs, together with Dolby Imaginative and prescient IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, & HLG.

My lounge has a good quantity of pure mild spilling in from the aspect, and if I wish to really watch TV on my primary set, I would like to shut the curtains. With the Q7 although, that wasn’t obligatory, although I did shut the curtains a number of occasions to really get a really feel for a way the show appeared and to look at content material I actually wished to get pleasure from. However for background viewing, it was completely high-quality even in vibrant mild. In a darker setting, this set is so vibrant I truly discovered myself decreasing the brightness only a tad to look at comfortably.

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To get an actual really feel for native dimming, I moved the setting to “excessive” and loaded up my favourite “let’s take a look at a TV’s darkish functionality” present, Stranger Issues. I used to be impressed immediately with how a lot element I noticed in darker scenes, even these with quick movement.

When it comes to gaming, the Q7 truly does fairly properly. It has a 144Hz variable refresh fee for 4K and 240Hz in the event you drop all the way down to 1080p. Like nearly all TVs recently, it has a devoted gaming menu (it is referred to as Sport Grasp right here) that permits you to fine-tune visible settings. I fired up Madden 24 on my PS5 to check issues out, and the visuals had been spectacular with out a lot tweaking. 

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The enter lag was examined at 6.7 milliseconds from on-line analysis I discovered, placing it squarely in keeping with most new units, and responses gave the impression to be fast throughout my take a look at time. When a gaming system is detected by the Q7, it routinely switches to its decrease latency mode, giving the very best efficiency.

On the sound entrance, the Q7 has a really good high quantity degree, sufficient that I did not want a sound bar to get pleasure from content material. Whereas I do use a sound bar with my on a regular basis tv, that is principally out of necessity. It is a Black Friday massive field model, and apparently sound high quality was one of many first sacrifices made because it’s powerful to listen to over the clatter of two children and a canine. 

Additionally: This $649 Hisense TV is in contrast to every other mid-range set I’ve examined

The Q7 helps Dolby Atmos plus DTS Digital: X in the event you’re including further sound gear and it does have a number of audio presets like most TVs. It would not do any of the flamboyant audio “methods” of a few of its competitors (Samsung’s Audio Monitoring and Sony’s Acoustic Floor for instance), however I used to be nonetheless capable of hear dialogue and motion for something I watched.

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

Whereas this technically is a mid-range set, you’d by no means realize it. For the worth level, you are not going to seek out many televisions that do what this one does, and also you’d must improve to a high-end set to seek out one that appears nearly as good as this one. If you happen to’re on the lookout for a strong on a regular basis tv that handles exhibits, motion pictures, and video games higher than it ought to, look to TCL’s Q7.