There is nothing more satisfying than playing a game with excellent graphics, high frame rates, and HDR-support. However, these graphics can only be rendered as intended by a high-quality display. For most of gaming history, PCs and laptop monitors were the only displays that could do these games justice. Now, however, TV screens are finally starting to catch up.
But how good are these TVs? How do they perform when it comes to rendering flawless pictures and allowing static content like the static effects of most games which PC interfaces hand effortlessly?
Fortunately for gamers, modern TVs have come a long way, with many now offering better input lag, better response time, and HDR Support.
In fact, one of the best available brands for budget-conscious gamers who still rely on performance is TCL. While TCL may not be as popular as some of the bigger brands, the company’s 4K TVs offer crystal clear pictures and flawless gaming interface. These gaming TVs also come with a number of extras, which makes them perfect for non-gaming uses as well.
Best TCL 4K TVs for Gaming: Our Top 5 Picks
In the following article, we’ll take a close look at five of the best TCL 4K TVs for gaming, highlighting the pros, cons, and features of each one. These few have been carefully selected based on their gaming-friendly features.
1. TCL 55″ Class 5-Series 4K UHD
The TCL 55S525 4K UHD TV has a lot of potential thanks to features HDR, 4K resolution, low latency, and full view design. Of course, while these features are impressive, it’s important to understand how they actually affect gamers. As most gamers know, a lower latency (or better lag time) makes for faster responsiveness while playing. The ability to instantly affect changes in the game while having it displayed in stunning 4K resolution can, ultimately, make the entire experience much more thrilling.
Design
The TCL 55S525 4K UHD features an almost bezel-less full-view design, providing a clean “edge-to-edge” glass display. When measured diagonally, the TV screen comes out at precisely 55 inches. That said, you would only need 49 inches of space to hang or set this in your room, as it is only 48.4 inches wide.
Features
This TV comes with loads of features for both game playing and normal viewing. It includes a good number of input methods as well, including 4 HDMI, 1 USB, RF, Headphone Jack, Ethernet, Composite, and Optical Audio Out. It also allows for easy voice control and is compatible with both Google Assistant and Alexa.
Display & Performance
The TCL 55S525 is a 4K UHD TV, so you should expect nothing short of the best in terms of display. Another striking feature of this TV is its wide viewing angle. This means that even if you’re viewing it from the edge, you should still get crystal clear images.
For gamers, there is an auto-game mode that reduces latency and improves the overall picture settings of the TV. Whether you’re running high-end or regular games, this TV is sure to deliver clear, smooth-motion pictures with minimal blur behind fast-moving objects. What’s more, the TV also supports HDR. This particular model features Dolby Vision HDR for incredibly lifelike images.
In the end, regardless of whether or not you’re planning to play games that offer HDR-support and 4K resolution on the TCL 55S525, you will still enjoy the fantastic image quality, low input lag, and motion handling features.
Sound
Like most modern TVs, the TCL 55″ Class 5-Series 4K UHD comes with small speakers that, while they offer great sound quality, are not powerful enough to fill up an entire room. So while the bass is decent and the dialogue is intelligible, you will have to be relatively close to hear them properly. Attaching a soundbar would really help you make the best out of this TV, especially if you’re not planning to sit too close to it.
Pros
- Good budget TV for gaming
- Fantastic overall picture quality
- Good response time for smooth content motion
- Superb gaming performance
Cons
- Motion handling issues in some games
2. TCL 49S325 49-Inch 1080p Smart Roku LED TV
Money-conscious gamers who still want a superb TV with excellent gaming performance often find the TCL 49S325 49 Inch 1080p LED TV to be just the device to fit the bill. Though it doesn’t come with 4K resolution, this smart TV still has features that make it perfect for gaming.
Design
The TCL 49S325 49 Inch 1080p LED TV features thin bezels around the edge, which allows for a full-view design. The device is a compact 43.5 x 25.4 x 3.1 inches, which makes it much more versatile as far as space goes. You might call the TCL 49S325 a “medium-sized TV for large-sized viewing.”
Features
Though this TV has several impressive features, including Smart TV features, we first have to consider its viability as a gaming device. As with any high-end gaming TV, it comes with several ports options, including three HDMI 2.0 ports.
One of the HDMI ports supports an audio return channel (ARC), which lets you send a Dolby Audio signal to your soundbar or any home-theater hardware with a single cable connection. Other ports on this TV include an Optical Audio Out, 1 USB, an RF, a Headphone Jack, and a Composite.
Display & Performance
The TCL 49S325 has a refresh rate of 120Hz and a 1080p HD resolution, which admittedly doesn’t make for the crispest of pictures. Even so, for a low-budget television, this is pretty impressive. Furthermore, while this unit doesn’t support HDR10, it still offers excellent picture quality with clear, bright colors.
Of course, motion handling, lag time, and response rate are big deciding factors in whether or not a gamer invests in a TV. Fortunately, this model performs well in all these areas, offering an immersive experience and fast-paced gameplay despite its lower cost.
While the viewing angles are a bit disappointing, as is the case with most LED TVs, gamers who plan on sitting directly in front of the TV won’t have any problem.
Sound
Like the 32-inch version, this unit features dual 5-watt speakers. Unfortunately, there isn’t much to rave about here. You should be able to make out words, but you might not get that rich sound quality you’d expect from high-end models.
Pros
- Budget-friendly gaming TV
- Excellent picture quality
- Great for gaming
Cons
- The sound quality needs improvement
3. TCL 50S425 50-inch 4K Smart LED Roku TV
4K resolution is quickly becoming one of the best ways to measure the quality of a gaming television, and the TCL 50S425 doesn’t disappoint. With its 4K resolution UHD feature allowing for crystal clear images, this unit could rank among the best medium-sized gaming TVs on the market today.
Design
The TCL 50S425 features the same design as the TCL 55″ Class 5-Series in the sense that their front and back panels look precisely the same. This unit, however, features dimensions of 44. 1 X 25.7 X 3.2 inches.
Features
This unit still features the same number of ports and port options as with the versions above. You get 3 HDMI ports (one with HDMI ARC support) 1 USB, a Composite, an RF, an Optical Audio Out, a Headphone Jack, and an Ethernet.
Display & Performance
When it comes to display and performance, the TCL 50S425 holds up pretty well against the competition. First, it comes with 4K Ultra HD resolution, which allows it to produce crystal-clear images at many viewing angles.
The input lag, motion handling, and responsiveness are nothing short of impressive. Add these together with its outstanding picture quality, and you have one of the best 4K TVs for gaming.
Unfortunately, it’s possible to experience slight vignetting at the corners of the TV when playing demanding games. This might affect your gaming experience, particularly if you want to use this TV for multiplayer gaming.
Sound
Replacing the dual 5-watt speakers in other models, the TCL 50S425 features dual 8-watt speakers, which are much better in all aspects. You should be able to hear dialogue quite clearly, even when sitting far away from this TV.
Pros
- Great for gaming
- Affordable
Cons
- Not as bright as many high-end models
4. TCL 55R617 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV
Despite the fact that this model is a bit older (2018), its picture quality is nothing short of outstanding. At 55 inches, it is wide enough for multiplayer gaming and family viewing, and it still packs tons of features. Though many of these features are similar to the TCL 55S525 55″ Class 5-Series listed above, this model offers that outstanding picture quality and excellent gaming experience at a more affordable price.
Design
As part of the Class 6-series, the TCL 55R617 is slim, lightweight, and portable, even though it has a 49-inch-wide screen. Its stylish gunmetal frame is sturdy and durable and doesn’t bulge at the back as much as some previous models. This gives the TV a high-quality look, especially when you mount it on your wall or place it on a shelf. On the back of the TV, you will find all the port options on the right side, excluding its power cable connector.
Features
The port options on this TV are almost the same as most 49-inch, 50-inch, and 55-inch models of other series produced by TCL, with a few exceptions. In the case of this model, you get 4 HDMI ports, 1 USB, a Composite, an Ethernet, an Optical Audio Out, an RF, and a Headphone Jack. It also supports easy voice control with Google Assistant compatibility.
Display & Performance
The TCL 55R617 is a very powerful TV. It renders 4K HDR pictures and supports Dolby Vision, which delivers higher levels of brightness and contrast. All these factors combine to make for a truly remarkable visual experience.
Picture quality is one thing, but gaming compatibility is another. For gamers, this TV offers several outstanding features, including a clean motion index (refresh rate) of 120Hz, which makes for a better input lag and response time during the most demanding of games. There is also an auto-game mode which automatically enhances performance during gaming sessions. Once you plug in your PS or Xbox, you can expect nothing but the smoothest action, best picture settings, and lowest latency.
Sound
Like other high-end models by TCL, this unit features dual 8-watt speakers. For a unit this size, these speakers are big and loud enough for up-close use. However, if you want the best possible viewing experience, you would have to hook up some home theater hardware to the device.
Pros
- Outstanding 4K resolution display
- Delivers excellent gaming performance
- Cost-effective despite its size
Cons
- As with most LED TVs, the picture quality fluctuates at certain viewing angles
- Bezels look thicker than in pictures
5. TCL 65S425 65-inch 4-Series 4K Ultra HD
The TCL 65S425 is the right TV for those who want a large display size for multiplayer gaming and family viewing. The best thing about this Class 4-series TV is that it offers many high-end features, including 4K viewing, at an insanely affordable price.
Design
The TCL 65S425 doesn’t deviate much from the design of the other models in its class. While you still get super-thin bezels, these are actually thicker than advertised (though they won’t cause you any viewing problem). All of this model’s ports are on the right-hand side of the back panel except for its power connector. Overall, the design of the TCL 65S425 is pretty standard with what we’ve discussed so far.
Features
Like other models in its class, this unit comes with 3 HDMI ports, 1 USB, RF, a Composite, an Optical Audio Output, and a Headphone Jack. It is also compatible with both Google Assistant and Alexa.
Display & Performance
With this model, you should expect nothing short of outstanding picture performance. With features like smooth motion handling, low latency, and 4K UHD resolution, most users report an overall thrilling gaming experience. Though it lacks other top features like Dolby Vision, its HDR10 capability allows for more colors and other visual enhancements.
Also, like all TCL 4K TVs, this unit will perform even up to par even when displaying the most demanding games.
Sound
The TCL 65S425 features dual 8-watt speakers, something that is common with the top models in any TCL series. Though the sound quality is pretty decent at all levels, it is recommended that you attach a sound system in order to get the most out of your experience.
Pros
- Excellent input lag and response time
- Superb for gaming
- High dynamic range (HDR) technology
Cons
- Picture quality reduces at certain viewing angles
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Image Credit: Tom’s Guide