This 50-inch TCL 4K HDTV Can Be Yours for Only $270 at Best Buy (With a Catch)
The contrast ratio and black levels and uniformity are also above average, but be aware that the set does fall short in terms of wide-angle viewing.
As the little brother of TCL’s highly regarded 5 and 6 Series 4K HDTVs, the 4 Series often gets lost in the shuffle during conversations about 4K panels.
If you’re, however, adamant about not spending more than $300 on a 4K set, make sure to check out this solid 50-inch offering. Now retailing for $270 ($60 off the regular price) at Best Buy, this model, despite is ridiculously low price point, can hold its own against competing HDTV panels that cost hundreds more.
Boasting a minimalist and elegant design, TCL’s 4 Series packs enough punch for those who love action movies and today’s top video games. You’ll definitely get more picture quality for the price you’re paying, in addition to support for the must-have HDR 10 and low input lag and great response and processing time.
The contrast ratio and black levels and uniformity are also above average, but be aware that the set does fall short in terms of wide-angle viewing.
Know that if you can scrape together a few more bucks, going with TCL’s 5 or 6 Series might be the better option—in part that their more powerful internals will offer a bit more future-proofing protection.
Still, if you do go with the 4 Series, there really is little to complain about. Best of all, if you’re one of the millions who can’t live without Roku TV, you’re definitely in luck because it comes built in.
Because of its incredibly intuitive interface, it really is a breeze in quickly finding what you want to pick for family movie night. Toggling between apps and devices is also a snap, as you don’t have to physically deal with all of the buttons and switches of separate devices.
The streaming offerings in Roku are seemingly endless (likely more content than you can handle), and if a new one hits the market, you can bet that Roku will know that and you’ll quickly have access to it. Keep in mind that you’ll also have the option to connect to Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa for handy voice control.
As for the sound, you really should think about whether you want to upgrade. The set comes with two 8W speakers that do support Dolby Digital Plus, but that setup might only work in smaller spaces.
If you desire a more immersive, bass-driven audio experience, getting yourself a decent soundbar will probably help immensely.
Ethen Kim Lieser is a Minneapolis-based Science and Tech Editor who has held posts at Google, The Korea Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, AsianWeek and Arirang TV. Follow or contact him on LinkedIn.