Verdict
This mid - range marvel is a victor thanks to its choice of immense screen sizes , Mini lead backlight with thousands of independent zone , comprehensive HDR reenforcement , and cut - edge game play . It ’s local dimming and HDR tone mapping could be better , and the sound does n’t match the large blind painting , but you wo n’t find another 4 K HDR telecasting that offers this much for the same price .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The TCL 85C855 K is the stain ’s up-to-the-minute mid - rangeMini LEDTV , with a pick of projection screen sizes that pass from 65 - inches up to a massive 98 - inches .
Behind these huge panel are Mini LED backlights with thousands of local dimming zone , combine with quantum dot filters for wide colours , and support for every version of HDR . Other feature of speech admit an Onkyo sound system of rules , Google TV smarting , and support for all the latest gambling features .
If that was n’t enough the C855 is so competitively priced that you wo n’t get hold another4 K TVthat offers more for less .
Availability
The TCL C855 is wide available and comes in screen sizes ranging from 65- to 98 - inches At the time of reappraisal , the 85 - inch TCL 85C855 K I essay retails for £ 1,999 , although if you shop around you may be able-bodied to buy it for even less . All of which make this 4 K HDR TV unbelievable value for money .
Design
The TCL 85C855 K follows the standard design template of today ’s tv with minimalist styling , a black ending and bezel - less frame . The material body character is safe , and while the 85 - inch version is amazingly svelte at 36 mm from top to bottom , it weighs 45.3 kg so assume that in creative thinker if you contrive on rampart mounting .
If you ’d rather stand up mount there ’s a pair of ft that twin the styling and offer sufficient room to fit a decent - sized soundbar between them . While both 85- and 98 - in models come with these attachable feet , the 65- and 75 - inch versions of the C855 use a alloy fundamental tie-up instead .
The include remote control is finished in matte silver and has its volume ascendance locate on the side , which could be plaguey if you ’re left handed . All the other buttons are on the front but only describe with icons that are n’t always obvious , along with direct access keys forNetflix , Prime Video , YouTube , and TCL TV .
Operating System
The TCL 85C855 K employs theGoogle TVoperating system , which results in a reactive , well - designed , and intuitive user user interface . Unsurprisingly the weapons platform is very Google - centrical , but the full - projection screen rest home page provides mass of options for recommendations and customisation .
The initial frame-up of the TV is comparatively quick and easy , specially if you already have a Google invoice . just follow the instructions in the Google Home app , and the goggle box will automatically setup an internet connection , tune in the broadcast channel and load all your favourite apps .
All the primary video cyclosis services are on offer , with support for 4 K , HDR10,HDR10+,Dolby Vision , Dolby Atmos and DTS where uncommitted . Unfortunately due to ongoing Google publication , TCL tv set are still missing all the UK TV catch - up services – which is a shame but well addressed .
Naturally Google Assistant is built in , turning the C855 into a full - run impudent helper with vocalism ascendancy , plus the smart system includes approach to an EPG ( electronic programme template ) that ’s sensibly put out and easy to navigate , make it easy to get hold your pet lively goggle box shows .
Features
The TCL 85C855 K offers plenty of features , including a VA panel for deeper blacks , along with quantum dot filters for wider colours , and a Mini LED backlight with 2,304 independent zones . As a result , TCL claims the 85 - inch model has a top brightness level of 3,500nits on a 10 % windowpane .
The C855 supports every version of high dynamical range , with HDR10 , hybrid log - gamma ( HLG ) and HDR10 + Adaptive , andDolby Vision IQ . The latter two conflate dynamic metadata with a build - in swooning sensor to adjust the feeling mapping establish on the amount of ambient light in the room .
TCL ’s AiPQ Pro AI - enhance processor upscales low resolution content while also optimising the picture for line , clearness , and colour . There are also configurations design for film - ground move , along with skeleton interpellation modes for smoother movement with tight - paced sports subject .
The Onkyo sound system sports a 2.2.2 - TV channel system with full - compass speakers , including a couplet of upfirers , and 120W of powerful built - in amplification . There ’s also on - board Dolby Atmos decoding and DTS Virtual :X processing , with the latter still something of rarity on TVs these days .
The gaming features are second to none , withVRR supportfor consoles at up to 4K/120Hz , along with AMD Freesync Premium Pro for PC gaming at up to 4K/144Hz . There are multiple game modes include a Dolby Vision Game mode , so the input lag are kept to an absolute lower limit .
I measured the C855 K ’s stimulation slowdown at 15ms for 4K/60Hz , which is very good , and the stave will drop even lower when bet on at higher inning rates like 120 or 144Hz . Overall game play is pleasingly legato and responsive , with motility handling that shows no signs of rupture or other artefact .
TCL ’s Game Master Pro 2.0 adds all the recent gaming - specific features , while the toss off - up Game Bar ply selective information on the video ’s gaming status , such asALLM , VRR , HFR and HDR . you could also take screenshots , set the shadow detail in non-white areas , and pull up a useful aiming aid .
The connections are comprised of four HDMI input , a USB 2.0 port , terrestrial and satellite radio , a CI ( mutual interface ) slot , optical digital output , Ethernet port , an Ab adapter , and a earpiece jack . There ’s alsoWi - Fi 6 , Bluetooth 5.2 , and Chromecast for wireless connectivity .
While there are only two HDMI 2.1 inputs , the other two being 2.0b , all of them support 4K/60Hz , HDR10,HLG , HDR10 + , Dolby Vision , HDCP 2.3 , and CEC . In addition theHDMI 2.1inputs can also address up to 4K/144Hz , VRR ( Variable Refresh Rate ) , and ALLM ( Auto Low Latency Mode ) .
TCL has sensibly apportion one of the 2.0b inputs on the C855 K asthe eARC(enhanced audio return communication channel ) joining . This allows you to simultaneously connect two gambling consoles or a gaming console and PC for high skeleton rates , while also attachinga soundbaror AV receiver .
Picture Quality
The TCL 85C855 K generally proved very up to in testing , and got all the basic principle the right way in its more accurate Movie mode . SDR was especially telling , with all the greyscale , gamma and colours errors measuring well below the visible threshold . Unfortunately the HDR truth is n’t as good , with some visible errors especially when it comes to delivering an exact wide colour gamut .
The Mini lead backlight with its 2,304 sovereign zones generally deliver the goods , while the VA control board produces a aboriginal direct contrast ratio of 4,350:1 . While this is in effect for an LCD TV , the optimal viewing angles of the VA dialog box are unsurprisingly fairly narrow . However , in SDR it ’s certainly capable of delivering deep Negro and bright highlights that are largely liberal of any disquiet bloom .
The screen uniformness is patchy in places , but given the amount of real land on the C855 ’s 85 - inch panel that ’s barely surprising . Thankfully the filmdom filter is quite effective , rejecting most of the ambient luminosity in the room and assure the TCL is a solid performing artist regardless of whether you ’re watching your favourite video show and movies during the day or at night with the igniter on .
In HDR I measured the peak brightness at over 3,000 nits on a 10 % window and 750 nit on a full - field of study pattern . This is badly burnished , especially on a concealment this bounteous , and as answer watching flick or gambling both feel incredibly immersive . The TCL also handle 95 % of the DCI - P3 colour quad , which means that it ’s equal to of producing a massive colour loudness with HDR content .
TCL ’s AiPQ Pro AI - enhanced processor is more often than not effectual , and if you feed the C855 K a high timbre persona the outcome often seem splendid . However , with lower resolution or heavy contract images the upscaling and image processing are n’t as accomplished as more established stain , result in a number of visible artifact – especially on a screen this big .
The motion manipulation tends to fall into the same class as the image processing – capable but nothing special . While movement is generally unruffled and clean there are in spades signs of judder on certain depicted object , and in particular with sidelong movement and camera pans . As a upshot the overall movement handling suffers from occasional artefacts like stuttering , which can be distracting .
Despite the grand of independent zones at the 85C855 ’s garbage disposal , there ’s still some flower around brighter objects in HDR . This is partly due to the incredibly bright picture , but also a subprogram of TCL ’s less equal to local dim algorithms . Unfortunately the narrow viewing angles mean this blooming is more apparent off - axis vertebra , and there ’s also some loss of particular in shadows .
This craft - off between the flush brightness and the local dimming is most obvious during the nighttime scene in 1917 or the comer in lunar domain in First Man . In both cases there is some slight bloom around bright object against a dark backdrop . Conversely the sun - decolorise deserts of Dune or the snowy prospect of The Revenant look stunning on the C855 K ’s big covert .
The tone mathematical function tracks the target PQ curve very closely with mental object graded at 1,000 nits , resulting in an HDR image that ’s largely gratis of any black infatuation or loss of contingent in the highlights . However , there is clear clipping when watching HDR10 contentedness graded at 4,000 or 10,000 nit , and while this is obvious in specialist demo footage , it ’s also apparent in real world content .
Aquaman uses a 4,000 nits grade , and during the scene where he is chained up in Atlantis the environment is mostly white with smart lighting . Here the more aggressive tone chromosome mapping of the C855 results in clipping in the highlight . The same is true of Mad Max : Fury Road , which also utilise a 4,000 nit grade , and again detail is lost in the center of bright fire and explosions .
In reality most contentedness these day is graded at 1,000 nits , especially when it comes to cyclosis , and here the C855 K looks superb . Its inherent brightness means there really is no motive to tone map out most HDR content , and whether you ’re watch out your favourite moving-picture show or indulging in a marathon gambling session this monumental 85 - in screen present a visceral and immersive visual experience .
Sound Quality
The TCL 85C855 K voice good on paper , with its huge 85 - in board , 2.2.2 - channel Onkyo sound system , and 120W of built - in power . Despite this the sound sometimes miss presence , even if the full - range speakers and plentiful oink have in mind it could in reality go quite loud without distorting .
The width of the screen means there ’s some decent stereoscopic photograph legal separation , but the delivery lacks the scurf and depth to fully complement a dialog box this big . Bass in particular is miss despite the built - in woofers at the back , and I struggle to hear any overhead effects or even recover the verbalizer .
On the positive side the overall clarity remains in effect and dialog is always well-defined and focused on the filmdom . The C855 correctly detected and decoded Dolby Atmos racetrack , but the data formatting ca n’t work thaumaturgy and while it did supply more ambience to the soundstage the experience never feel immersive .
Dune Part Two might enjoy eye - popping visuals on the 85 - inch cover , but the soundscapes were far from larger-than-life , especially at the low end . if you require the form of sound that really complement this TV ’s big screen you owe it to yourself to invest in a comme il faut soundbar with a separate subwoofer .
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Should you buy it?
No matter what you ’re look out the 85C855 K has you covered with every version of high dynamic range – HDR10 , HLG , HDR10 + and Dolby Vision .
Despite an Onkyo strait system and 120W of build - in amplification , the 85C855 K lacks the sonic presence to do justice to its 85 - inch screen .
Final Thoughts
The TCL 85C855 K not only build up on the success of 2023 , but somehow get by to surpass it by extend larger filmdom sizes , more characteristic , practiced carrying into action , and very private-enterprise pricing .
The Mini precede backlight with its thou of zones combines with a VA panel and capable local dimming to deliver an image that boasts deep blacks and brilliant highlights that are largely free of flower . The inclusion of quantum back breaker filter also widens the colour gamut for added vibrancy .
The Google TV smart platform is well designed and responsive , although the want of UK telly snatch - up help remains disappointing . The cellular inclusion of two HDMI 2.1 inputs with support for 4K/144Hz , along with a horde of dedicated features also make this TV perfect for demanding gamers .
There ’s mild blooming on bright HDR substance , clipping when timber mapping material graded at 4,000 and 10,000 nits , plus the HDR color truth could also be better , but these are small niggles and when you factor in in the price you really wo n’t find a safe economic value TV at the moment .
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every television set we review thoroughly over an prolonged period of meter . We usePortrait Displays Calman colour standardization softwareand industry standard to liken feature right . We ’ll always say you what we come up . We never , ever , accept money to review a product .
Find out more about how we test in ourethics policy .
FAQs
Due to an on-going emergence with its Google boob tube operating system the UK TV catch - up apps are not include .
