TCL 5-Series (S535) Review: A Budget-Friendly 4K HDR TV That Delivers

In the ever-expanding universe of 4K HDR televisions, finding the perfect balance between affordability and performance can feel like navigating a cosmic maze. The TCL 5-Series (S535), however, aims to be your guiding star, promising a compelling viewing experience without breaking the bank. This television positions itself as a budget-friendly option, catering to consumers who crave impressive picture quality and smart features without the hefty price tag often associated with high-end models. Let’s delve into the specifics of the TCL 5-Series (S535) and explore whether it truly lives up to its promise of delivering exceptional value.

Design and Build Quality

The TCL 5-Series (S535) sports a minimalist design that prioritizes function over form. Its aesthetic is understated and straightforward, making it suitable for various living room setups without drawing undue attention. The bezels surrounding the screen are relatively thin, contributing to a more immersive viewing experience. While the materials used are primarily plastic, the overall build quality feels reasonably solid for a TV in this price range. It’s not going to win any awards for industrial design, but it’s certainly not an eyesore.

Stand Design

The stand consists of two V-shaped feet that attach near the edges of the TV. These provide adequate stability, preventing excessive wobbling. However, keep in mind that the wide stance of the feet might require a wider TV stand or entertainment center. If you plan to wall-mount the TV, it’s compatible with standard VESA mounts, offering flexibility in placement.

Connectivity

In terms of connectivity, the TCL 5-Series (S535) offers a decent selection of ports to accommodate various devices. You’ll find:

• Four HDMI ports (one with ARC support)
• One USB port
• Ethernet port
• Composite input
• Optical audio output
• Headphone jack

The inclusion of four HDMI ports is particularly welcome, allowing you to connect multiple gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, and streaming devices simultaneously without constantly swapping cables. The HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) support simplifies audio setup when connecting to a soundbar or AV receiver.

Picture Quality

The picture quality is where the TCL 5-Series (S535) truly shines, exceeding expectations for its price point. It leverages several key technologies to deliver a vibrant and engaging viewing experience. The combination of 4K resolution, HDR support, and Dolby Vision compatibility results in images that are sharp, colorful, and dynamic.

4K Resolution and HDR Support

The 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels) ensures that images are incredibly detailed, especially when viewing content specifically mastered in 4K. Text appears crisp, and fine textures are rendered with impressive clarity. The HDR (High Dynamic Range) support expands the range of colors and contrast, resulting in a more realistic and immersive picture. Highlights are brighter, shadows are deeper, and the overall image has a greater sense of depth.

Dolby Vision

The inclusion of Dolby Vision is a significant advantage, as it is a more advanced HDR format than standard HDR10; Dolby Vision uses dynamic metadata to optimize the HDR picture on a scene-by-scene basis, resulting in even greater accuracy and detail. This can lead to a noticeable improvement in picture quality, particularly in scenes with challenging lighting conditions.

Color Accuracy and Contrast

The TCL 5-Series (S535) offers surprisingly good color accuracy out of the box, especially after some basic calibration. Colors are vibrant and natural-looking, without appearing overly saturated or artificial. The contrast ratio is also commendable, thanks to the TV’s ability to produce relatively deep blacks. This contributes to a more immersive and engaging viewing experience, especially in dark scenes.

Motion Handling

Motion handling is adequate for most viewing scenarios. The TV’s native refresh rate is 60Hz, which is standard for televisions in this price range. It does a decent job of reducing motion blur during fast-paced action sequences, although it’s not as smooth as TVs with higher refresh rates. For serious gamers, it may be beneficial to enable the TV’s motion smoothing features, but be aware that this can sometimes introduce the “soap opera effect,” which can make movies and TV shows look unnatural.

Gaming Performance

The TCL 5-Series (S535) is a decent option for casual gamers, offering a relatively low input lag. Input lag is the delay between pressing a button on your controller and seeing the corresponding action on the screen. A lower input lag results in a more responsive and enjoyable gaming experience. While it’s not the absolute lowest input lag on the market, it’s still quite respectable for a TV in this price range. The HDR support also enhances the visual experience in games that support it, making colors more vibrant and details more noticeable.

Smart Features

The TCL 5-Series (S535) comes equipped with the Roku TV smart platform, which is widely regarded as one of the best smart TV operating systems available. Roku TV is known for its intuitive interface, vast app selection, and ease of use.

Roku TV Interface

The Roku TV interface is clean, simple, and easy to navigate. The home screen consists of a grid of app tiles, which can be customized to your liking. Adding and removing apps is a breeze, and the search function is incredibly powerful, allowing you to quickly find content across multiple streaming services.

App Selection

Roku TV boasts an extensive app library, offering access to virtually every major streaming service, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, and many more. You’ll also find a wide variety of niche apps and channels, catering to a diverse range of interests. Here are some examples:

• Streaming services: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, Peacock, Paramount+
• Live TV streaming: Sling TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV
• Music streaming: Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music
• News and sports: CNN, ESPN, Fox News

Voice Control

The TCL 5-Series (S535) supports voice control via the included Roku remote, which features a built-in microphone. You can use voice commands to search for content, launch apps, control playback, and even adjust the volume. The voice control functionality is generally accurate and responsive, making it a convenient way to interact with the TV.

Roku Mobile App

The Roku mobile app, available for both iOS and Android devices, enhances the smart TV experience. The app allows you to control the TV from your smartphone or tablet, search for content using your device’s keyboard, and even stream media from your phone to the TV. It also includes a private listening mode, which allows you to listen to the TV audio through headphones connected to your mobile device.

Audio Quality

The audio quality of the TCL 5-Series (S535) is adequate for casual viewing, but it’s not exceptional. The built-in speakers deliver clear dialogue and sufficient volume for most living room environments. However, the bass response is somewhat lacking, and the overall soundstage is rather narrow. For a more immersive and cinematic audio experience, it’s highly recommended to connect the TV to a soundbar or external speaker system.

Speaker Configuration

The TV typically features two down-firing speakers, each with a power output of around 8 watts. This configuration is common for TVs in this price range, and it provides a decent level of clarity and detail. However, the lack of a dedicated subwoofer or larger drivers limits the TV’s ability to reproduce deep bass frequencies.

Sound Settings

The Roku TV operating system offers a variety of sound settings that allow you to customize the audio output to your liking. You can choose from several preset sound modes, such as Movie, Music, and Sports, each of which is optimized for different types of content. You can also adjust the bass and treble levels to fine-tune the sound to your preferences.

External Audio Solutions

If you’re serious about audio quality, you’ll definitely want to consider adding an external audio solution to the TCL 5-Series (S535). A soundbar is a popular option, as it provides a significant upgrade in sound quality without taking up too much space. A more comprehensive surround sound system, consisting of multiple speakers and a receiver, will deliver an even more immersive and cinematic audio experience. Here’s a summary of external audio options:

• Soundbar: A convenient and affordable way to improve audio quality.
• 2;1 System: Includes two speakers and a subwoofer for enhanced bass.
• 5.1 System: A surround sound system with five speakers and a subwoofer.
• AV Receiver with multiple speakers: Offers the most immersive and customizable audio experience.

Pros and Cons

Before making a final decision, let’s summarize the key pros and cons of the TCL 5-Series (S535):

Pros

• Excellent picture quality for the price
• Dolby Vision support
• Roku TV smart platform
• Low input lag for gaming
• Affordable price

Cons

• Underwhelming audio quality
• Basic design
• Motion handling could be better

Overall Value

The TCL 5-Series (S535) offers exceptional value for money. It delivers impressive picture quality, a user-friendly smart platform, and decent gaming performance at a price point that is hard to beat. While the audio quality and design are not top-of-the-line, these shortcomings are easily overlooked given the TV’s overall strengths. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly 4K HDR TV that doesn’t compromise on picture quality or features, the TCL 5-Series (S535) is definitely worth considering.