I ordered the 50" TCL 5 S535 model on Amazon after having read up on reviews on RTings, a website that reviews TVs and Monitors. The first 50" arrived in multiple pieces, with the metal foot having been smashed into the TV after the box had been significantly damaged and the foot had broken loose from the damaged packing material. (Picture one, the glowing blue nightmare.) Amazon was aces with the replacement, which shipped immediately and arrived in a much better treated box. However, the second one had several dots on the screen, roughly the size of a dime, which were noticeably darker than the rest of the panel. I returned this one for a refund.
I ended up purchasing the 55" TCL 5 S535 version locally instead, so I could take it back same day and scream at people if need be. It is slightly bigger than I wanted, but still manageable.
The picture quality is great on both models, as they have the exact same panel and internal electronics. It is excellent for video gaming, and the Roku streaming services are amazing. I mounted the TV to a VESA compatible PERLESMITH Universal TV Stand Table Top TV Base (B07XLMQ39D) as I dislike the metal feet and do not have a very wide entertainment console, this worked perfectly.
I hooked a Mohu ReLeaf antenna to the TV and picked up ~35 local channels in rural Idaho, with several hundred free channels from the built in streaming services as well, all seamlessly integrated into the process. The device also hooked up to my Google Assistant enabled smart home, however the TV does NOT support Chromecasting, and will require a Google Chromecast at a later date.
The Roku Remote Control is easy and intuitive, with the only criticism I have being that the remote has 4 buttons dedicated to streaming services that I do not use, and they cannot be remapped (swapping Disney+ for Amazon Prime Video, for example.) But this is not a huge deal.
The big takeaway I would have with this experience is: 1. A non-zero number of these TVs are arriving in bad shape when they arrive. Open and test them immediately. 2. There is a "panel lottery" as the QA process on all TVs is not perfect. Even with the good 55", the 4 corners of the screen are slightly darker, but this is just a reality of this kind of display. 3. Amazon's return process was aces the entire time, although they will want photos handy; I suggest uploading them someplace like imgur or google photos or apple's icloud so they can be readily shared.
| Brand Name | TCL |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 26.7 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 11.6 x 43.9 x 27.5 inches |
| Item model number | 50S535 |
| Batteries | 3 AAA batteries required. (included) |
| Color Name | Black |
| Special Features | Wide Color powered by QLED Technology; HDR Pro Pack featuring Dolby Vision; Contrast Control Zone Technology; AiPQ Engine with Smart HDR, Smart 4K Upscaling and Smart Contrast, Auto Game Mode; Easy Voice Control works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant; Advanced Digital TV Tuner with Live TV Channel Guide |
| Item Weight | 26.7 Pounds |
| Standing screen display size | 50 Inches |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
