TCL RC630K QLED Roku TV review

TCL has partnered with Roku for the RC630K sequence, which mix TCL’s TV tech with Roku’s in style software program and interface.  

Greater than that although, these are the primary Roku TVs to launch within the UK utilizing QLED show know-how, netting you one of the best show tech but for Roku equipment whereas nonetheless staying reasonably priced. 

It makes this a TV with spectacular bang to your buck, combining that QLED show with a 4K decision, modern design, and clean software program, all at an attainable worth. 

Design and construct 

• Accessible in 43, 50, 55, and 65in sizes 
• Twin-legged stand 
• Slim and modern design 

The RC630K TVs look much more costly than they’re, with a premium design you may count on from a pricier mannequin. 

Sizes begin on the affordable 43in and go up as massive as 65in – an enormous TV, however removed from the biggest sizes available on the market today. I’ve been reviewing the 55in mannequin.

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Whichever dimension you go for, the display is surrounded by a skinny black bezel, with an solely barely thicker brushed steel chin on the underside, which boasts logos for each TCL and Roku – although they’re sufficiently subtle to disregard. 

The entire unit is skinny and light-weight for the scale, making this an amazing TV for wall-mounting, although it ships with a break up two-foot stand. On the 55in and 65in fashions you get the choice to set these toes at both a slim or wider place, to go well with the scale and form of your TV stand, which is a welcome little bit of added flexibility. 

It ships with a light-weight, plastic Roku distant. Alongside the same old controls you get devoted shortcuts for Freeview Play, Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, and Spotify.  

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The one draw back is that this isn’t the microphone-enabled Roku Voice distant, however for you could both join the TV to Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant, or simply use the free Roku app in your smartphone or pill.  

This permits voice search and easy spoken controls, together with letting you do all the conventional distant stuff together with your telephone – good in a pinch when the distant’s batteries have died or it’s gone lacking down the again of the couch cushions. 

Specs and options 

• 4 HDMI ports – together with eARC 
• Runs on RokuTV OS 10 
• All the same old apps 

The RC630K sequence offers a well-rounded sensible TV expertise, particularly contemplating the worth. 

First up, when it comes to bodily connections, you get a full suite of ports. The 4 HDMI ports embrace one with eARC assist for audio, they usually’re accompanied by Ethernet, USB-A, optical audio out, aerial enter, a CI card slot, an analogue enter and a headphone jack. 

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The one actual annoyance with the port choice is that each enter is on the right-hand aspect of the TV, so if a particular setup or quick cables, it’s possible you’ll must re-tool issues barely to go well with the set. The HDMI ports additionally don’t embrace HDMI 2.1 assist, however for the reason that TV is capped to 4K and 60Hz anyway, that basically shouldn’t be a problem. 

For ease, the 4 HDMI inputs will be renamed, with a spread of presets or the choice to choose your personal title and icon, so that you don’t must attempt to bear in mind which console is linked to which port. 

The entire TV’s software program and sensible options are dealt with by Roku, and in the event you’ve used any of their streaming sticks earlier than then you definitely’ll discover the expertise acquainted. It’s not the slickest trying interface on this planet, however it’s quick, responsive, and most significantly simple to make use of. 

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Loads of the most important streaming apps come pre-installed, and there are loads extra accessible to put in, together with the entire main ones. The most important headache for UK viewers might be that the variations of the ITVX and All4 apps don’t assist reside TV streaming because it stands, solely catch-up content material, so to observe both reside you’ll want both conventional TV entry or to stream the content material to the TV from a laptop computer. Luckily the BBC iPlayer app doesn’t undergo the identical restriction. 

Typically, settings are additionally cleanly and clearly laid out, so it shouldn’t ever take too lengthy to search out the choice you need and make tweaks as applicable. Image settings will be set for the TV as a complete, or tweaked for every particular person picture supply, and there’s a pleasant set of easy controls to undergo earlier than delving into extra complicated fine-tuning. 

Image and sound high quality 

• 4K 60Hz QLED show 
• Assist for a number of HDR requirements 
• Dolby Audio with first rate Onkyo audio system 

The spotlight of the RC630K is the assist for QLED. Regardless of the same initials, that is truly a completely totally different kind of tech to OLED. It stands for quantum dot LED, and is actually a sort of LED LCD show, fairly than OLED. 

All that’s simply a lot jargon although. How does this factor look? 

Dominic Preston / Foundry

Briefly: nice. Once more, particularly for the worth!

Deep colors and nice distinction assist each HD and 4K movies to pop off the display, even with out the deep, inky blacks you’d get by upgrading to OLED. Authentic 4K content material appears greatest in fact, however upscaled HD materials nonetheless impresses.

It appears nice for gaming too, particularly with the optionally available Recreation Mode that lowers latency, and does a greater job of it than most rivals. The TV is capped at 60Hz, so can’t fairly max out the upper body charge efficiency of the PS5 and Xbox Collection X, however for essentially the most half you’d must pay much more to make the leap to 120Hz. 

HDR brightness is sweet for the worth, although actually behind high units, however it actually helps that there’s assist for all 4 principal HDR codecs: HDR10, HDR 10+, HLG, and Dolby Imaginative and prescient. Loads of costlier units can’t supply that, forcing you to omit HDR on sure picture sources, so this can be a fairly massive win for TCL and Roku. 

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As for audio, Dolby Audio and Atmos assist drive stable sound all through, and the built-in audio system from Onkyo maintain their very own. They’re loud and deep sufficient to fill a mid-sized room, although there’s an inevitable lack of actual bass oomph, so separate audio system or a soundbar will nonetheless make for a severe step-up in the event you can afford them. 

Value and availability 

The RC630K units are priced aggressively, particularly in the event you follow the three smaller units: 43in (£319.99), 50in (£369.99), 55in (£419.99) and 65in (£699.99). All 4 fashions are available from Currys within the UK. 

The 55in mannequin I reviewed positively feels just like the candy spot: £420 for a QLED show at that dimension is an absolute steal, solely made higher by the straightforward Roku software program and glorious HDR assist. 

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If you happen to can afford to spend extra yow will discover higher image high quality in a number of the different TVs we’ve reviewed, whether or not that’s OLED panels, 8K resolutions, or 120Hz refresh charges, however most of us gained’t get sufficient profit from these upgrades to justify the steep will increase in worth level. 

TCL and Roku additionally make cheaper fashions with common LCD shows, however the massive leap in image high quality and small improve in worth make these QLED variations a greater purchase, and one of the best price range TVs round proper now.

Verdict 

The TCL RC630K is an absolute winner. It’s uncommon to get such robust specs at a worth this low, particularly in 50in+ display sizes, and to have it paired with robust software program feels actually particular. 

Image high quality obsessives and players chasing 120fps might be able to justify spending extra elsewhere, but when that’s not you then this actually offers you the whole lot you want from a contemporary TV set, and at far lower than you may suppose you’d must spend to get it. 

Specs

• Sizes: 43/50/55/65in
• Mannequin examined: 55in
• Show know-how: QLED
• Decision: 3840 x 2160 4K
• Refresh charge: 60Hz
• HDR assist: Dolby Imaginative and prescient, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
• HDMI: x4 (2.0b)
• Tuner: Freeview Play
• OS: RokuTV OS 10