TCL S4 S-Class 4K TV (65S450G) review

Summary

Over the last several years, TCL has produced a number of excellent televisions, the most notable of which is the TCL QM8 Mini-LED. To compete with the likes of Samsung and Hisense, TCL has introduced a brand of value televisions that include outstanding specifications.

That being said, the TCL S4 S-Series TV (2023) is not included in the list of available options. Because it has an LCD screen with direct LED backlighting, there is no local dimming or Mini-LEDs for increased black levels and contrast. This is a great disappointment because it would have been nice to have these capabilities.

While the S4 is not exactly among the greatest televisions (or even among the best televisions for the money), it does offer a few advantages that set it apart from other televisions. To be more specific, it is constructed on the Google TV interface, which provides it with a great deal of control and a huge number of entertainment apps to choose from. Not only does it have a great Delta-E color accuracy score, but it also has a very minimal input latency, which allows for quick gameplay.

TCL S4 S-Class 4K TV (65S450G) review

It is important to note that despite these impressive stats, the TCL S4 Series (2023) is not the most advanced product in its category. Although the S4 is priced at $529 for the 65-inch model, it suffers from very low brightness, glare problems, and a contrast performance that is just average. When you add to that the fact that its user interface is often sluggish and that its high dynamic range (HDR) color is on the verge of being inappropriate, you have a basic display that has very little to brag about.

Price and release date information about the TCL S4 S-Class 4K TV review

There are a variety of sizes available for the TCL S-Class 4K TV, which is part of TCL’s 2023 TV portfolio. It is designed to be among the LCD TVs that are priced in the lower price range. On April 5, 2023, it was originally announced.

Despite the fact that our review tests were conducted on the 65-inch model, there is not much of a difference between the sizes. This is because the S-Class 4K TV is an LCD screen, which means that there are no different local dimming zones to be concerned about.

The price of a 43-inch TCL S-Class 4K Google TV (43S450G) is $279, and the special price is $239.
The price of a 50-inch TCL S-Class 4K Google TV (50S450G) is $349, and the special price is $259.
The TCL S-Class 4K Google TV (55S450G) is priced at $379; however, it is now on sale for $279.
The TCL S-Class 4K Google TV (58S450G) is priced at $399; however, it is now on sale for $319.
The TCL S-Class 4K Google TV (65S450G) is priced at $529; however, it is now on sale for $399.
The TCL S-Class 4K Google TV (75S450G) is priced at $749; however, it is now on sale for $549.
The TCL S-Class 4K Google TV (85S450G) is priced at $1,399; however, it is now on sale for $899.

Given that the S4 is a display that is considered to be an entry-level model with a limited number of sophisticated capabilities, its price is unquestionably in line with its potential. In addition, prices have decreased dramatically in the year that has passed since it was first introduced, with the majority of stores offering the 65-inch model for only $380.

Review of the TCL S4 S-Class 4K Television: Design

Due to the fact that it is constructed on a thin flat screen, the S4 S-Class is remarkably lightweight, with the 65-inch model weighing only a little bit more than 40 pounds. There are no fancy specifications like Mini-LED technology under the hood, which would enable the display to have a little more control over its contrast and darks. Instead, it employs an LCD screen with direct LED backlighting, which means that there are currently no such technologies.

It is important to remember that this is a more affordable and entry-level alternative that does not provide a significant number of developments to the competition. In addition, it has a refresh rate of just 60Hz and does not have any local dimming zones, all of which contribute to its limited firepower. However, this is how TCL manages to keep the S4 inside that $500 price range.

There are legs that are included with the TCL S4 S-Class that are simple to install and screw into the base. However, you could always simply hang it on the wall by utilizing its VESA interface, which measures 200 x 200. Because the stand requires a surface that is big enough to accommodate more than 56 inches, it is possible that some homes may find it to be a little too wide.

Review of the TCL S4 S-Class 4K Television: Ports

In terms of its connection, the TCL S4 S-Class TV has three HDMI 2.0 ports, two USB ports (one 2.0 and one 3.0), one Ethernet RJ45 connector, and one F-type cable input. Additionally, it has a total of four USB ports. You will also discover a number of audio connectors, including a 3.5mm output jack, an AV composite port at 3.5mm, a S/PDIF port, and one HDMI port that is compatible with eARC.

Due to the fact that the S4 S-Class does not support HDMI 2.1, it is not possible to connect it to one of the top gaming PCs, such as the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, in order to get greater frame rates. However, considering that this is a 60Hz screen, the frame rate would be limited anyway. Although it is a disappointment, this television should be suitable for gamers who are still playing PlayStation 4 and Xbox One or who are OK with a frame rate of sixty frames per second.

Performance analysis of the TCL S4 S-Class 4K television

For the purpose of evaluating the TCL S4’s capabilities in terms of color accuracy, contrast, motion processing, and high dynamic range (HDR) output, I presented it with a wide variety of video. One thing to take into consideration is that the display has a limited capacity for brightness, which results in glare being a significant issue. This is a problem that becomes apparent very immediately after turning the display on during the middle of the day.

My experience with the last episode of “Tokyo Vice” demonstrated that the glare is quite evident even in situations with a higher level of brightness. According to the results of our testing, the TCL S4 was only capable of reaching a meager 192.8122 nits of brightness over a 10% window in SDR. Furthermore, HDR content did not perform well, producing just 231.987 nits of brightness. Because of this, even with HDR turned on, viewing during the day will be hindered by glare if the screen is not well covered.

However, the TCL S4 is not only limited by its worrisome contrast, but it also has glare restrictions that are cause for worry. You may attribute this to the fact that it does not come integrated with any local dimming zones. This implies that support in darker environments, or even black and white scenes, as shown in Netflix’s new “Ripley,” will not seem to be all that spectacular.

The motion processing capabilities of the TCL S4 were put to the test as I watched a collegiate basketball game between Seton Hall and Indiana State. I even gave professional basketball a go. As long as you make sure to avoid watching in high dynamic range (HDR), it was really fairly satisfactory, and the color fidelity was there.

One of the aspects of the TCL S4 that I found to be the most exciting was its color accuracy, which you can attribute to the fact that it has an unusually low Delta-E score. Although the color may not seem to be as vibrant in high-dynamic range (HDR) games, the usual quality of anime, as shown by the series finale of “Solo Leveling,” truly stood out. Additionally, I ventured back into “Invincible” on the S4 S-Series, and I was ecstatic with the way the material seemed. However, it seems to be most appealing when it is positioned in a darker atmosphere.

Review of the TCL S4 S-Class 4K Television: Results of the Tests

In order to get quantitative testing data, we used an X-Rite i1 Pro spectrophotometer, a SpectraCal VideoForge Pro pattern generator, and the Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. This allowed us to evaluate the Hisense U7K in comparison to its most formidable rivals:

The information demonstrates how the TCL S4 compares to other televisions that are priced in the same range as it is. The Hisense U6K is the most formidable rival of the TCL S4 owing, in large part, to the fact that it employs Mini-LEDs. Nevertheless, the S4 S-Series comes in with an outstanding degree of input latency for games, and the fact that it has a Delta-E of less than 2 is really fantastic. However, the fact that it has a relatively low brightness in comparison to its competitors is a problem for the cheap TCL entry.

When it comes to future-proofing, the fact that it has a lesser Rec2020 color gamut coverage means that it is not able to handle with new high-definition (HDR) movies and programs, particularly anything that was filmed in Dolby Vision. It is important to note that while it has built-in support for Dolby Vision, due to the limitations of its color saturation levels, you will not be able to see all of the colors that are available in Dolby Vision material.

Review of the TCL S4 S-Class 4K Television: Gaming

I played a variety of various experiences on the S4 S-Class TV; the majority of them were on the PS5. PC gaming would not exactly live up to its promise with those higher frame rates if there were no HDMI 2.1 connectors, as was discussed before; nonetheless, games on the PS5 still looked and played pleasantly enough at 60 frames per second.

I tried out the most current game that Team Ninja has released, Rise of the Ronin, to see how the S4 would render the world of Japan in the middle of the 1800s. Regrettably, the colors seemed to be uninteresting, and the fact that the game could not be played at 30 frames per second proved to be quite a drag. I also tried out some other more colorful experiences, such as Demon’s Souls and Elden Ring, in order to evaluate the color palette of the S4 in HDR gaming. However, I didn’t find any of these games to be very impressive when I played them on this television.

On the other hand, when it comes to gameplay that is more fast-paced, the S4 is unquestionably the winner because to its 9.0 input latency. Video games such as Call of Duty: Warzone and Cyberpunk 2077, in which twitchy gunplay and a quick response time are of the utmost importance, were satisfactory and delightfully fun.

However, the S4 is unable to achieve those higher frames per second (FPS) values, which is a limitation. In addition, the S4 is severely lacking in anti-screen-tearing technologies such as AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync, which are technologies that other televisions in the same price range have shown to be far more effective for the activity.

Review of the TCL S4 S-Class 4K Television: Audio

The audio quality on the TCL S4 S-Class is not nearly as good as it might be. The display makes use of a twin 10W speaker system that is capable of supporting all of the wonderful surround sound awesomeness, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual: X. You will also want these speakers, as having a choice among the finest Dolby Atmos soundbars will undoubtedly come in handy.

Loudness on the television was not as big of a problem as overall clarity was. Dialogue was a huge issue, and general audio proved to be much too tinny, as is the case with the majority of other choices available at this price. Due to the lack of clarity and depth in the sound delivered by the S4, it would not be my first choice for playing music.

A look at the TCL S4 S-Class 4K TV’s user interface and applications

As a brilliant entry on the TCL S4 TV, Google TV is no different from the other smart TV interfaces that are quickly becoming the poster child for well-rounded smart TV interfaces. Through the use of a For You rail that is located at the top of the screen, above all of your most preferred and often used applications, it simplifies the whole process of content curation, making it much simpler to locate programs and movies that are suitable for your preferences.

There aren’t many apps that are missing from the Google TV interface, in contrast to the Roku UI. In addition, the TCL S4 is furnished with its very own TCL Channels, which provides users with access to a large range of live entertainment at no additional cost. It is true that this provides the S4 with some more firepower for people who are trying to avoid using live TV applications that need a subscription, such as YouTube TV; nevertheless, this is not the primary selling point.

However, it’s possible that you favored Roku over Google TV. In order to avoid using Google TV, there is a Roku version of the identical S4 Series TV that is called the S450R. This has been designed just for those individuals.

A review of the TCL S4 S-Class 4K TV: the Remote

Despite its bigger size, I was pleasantly pleased to find that I genuinely like using the S4 remote. It does not have a bulky appearance, but it is rather long and thin, which allows it to fit properly in the hand and makes it simple for you to pick buttons without an excessive amount of effort. Although I would like something that is a little bit smaller, similar to the remote controls that Samsung offers, which are also powered by sunlight, the S4 alternative is still capable of meeting my needs.

A number of shortcut buttons to various applications, including as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and Apple TV, as well as TCL’s Home and Channel sites, are shown on the front of the device. Considering that there is a lengthy pause that consists of almost nothing at the bottom of the remote, I find myself wishing that other applications, such as Disney Plus or perhaps Crunchyroll, might have been included.

My only complaint about the remote is that it is too long; I wish it were a little shorter. Other than that, I absolutely love it. Aside from that, it is suitable for the majority of hands and requirements.

The conclusion of the TCL S4 S-Class 4K TV review

The purchase of the TCL S4 S-Class is difficult to rationalize. As a result of its excellent color accuracy in standard definition and its 9.0 input latency, it has the potential to be among the greatest gaming televisions; nonetheless, nobody is going to purchase this set only for the sake of watching animated material and playing console games at 60 frames per second.

On the surface, the S4 may seem to be a good deal at its current price of just under $400 for its 65-inch form, but the problems with glare and HDR color accuracy outweigh its attractive price point. Furthermore, the S4 is hampered in a significant way by its average brightness and contrast, which results in material that is characterized by a cluttered glare and a lack of resolution.

Because it does not include Mini-LEDs or even local dimming zones, it is inferior to more powerful rivals. The most notable of these competitors is the Hisense U6K Mini-LED TV, which measures 65 inches and costs just $500 for the 65-inch version. The Q6 QLED TV, which is a 60HZ HDMI 2.0-sporting display with outstanding performance and costs only $500 when it is on sale, is one example of a TCL product that offers much superior possibilities at a price point that is comparable to those of other similar products.

Therefore, if you are seeking for a substantial upgrade on your television, it is advisable to search elsewhere since the TCL S4 S-Class LCD TV is not worth the discount price that it is being offered at.