The TCL Q5 looks pretty good for a budget TV. It’s a simple design, with thin bezels on all three sides and a slightly thicker bezel at the bottom. The V-shaped feet are very basic. They’re set near the ends of the TV, so you’ll need a large cabinet for the larger sizes if you’re not planning on wall-mounting the TV. Sadly, the feet have no alternative position to accommodate a smaller table. The feet only lift the TV about 2.8″, so most soundbars can’t fit in front of it without blocking a portion of the screen.
The TV has okay build quality. It wobbles a bit on its feet, but it’s nothing to worry about. There’s a bit of flex in the metallic upper section of the back, with more noticeable flex in the middle section of the back around the VESA mounts, but this is common and won’t cause any issues. The TCL Q6/Q650G QLED and the TCL Q5/Q550G QLED are very similar TVs, but the Q6 is slightly better in a few ways. The biggest advantage that the Q6 has is in peak brightness. It gets brighter in SDR, so it can fight off glare better. It also gets a bit brighter in HDR, so highlights will pop a little more, but it’s still not bright enough to fully take advantage of HDR content. The Q6 also has slightly better HDR gradient handling and PQ EOTF tracking, so there’s less banding, and it’s more accurate in HDR compared to the Q5.
The TCL 65Q550G presents itself as a commendable option within the realm of budget TVs, boasting a simplistic design characterized by thin bezels surrounding the screen. With V-shaped feet situated towards the TV’s ends, its placement necessitates a spacious cabinet unless opting for wall-mounting. However, the lack of alternative foot positions may pose a challenge for those with smaller tables. Moreover, with a modest elevation of about 2.8 inches, accommodating soundbars without obstructing the screen proves cumbersome.
In terms of build quality, the TV maintains a satisfactory standard despite minor wobbling on its feet. The metallic upper section exhibits a degree of flex, particularly around the VESA mounts, albeit without significant repercussions.
Comparatively, the TCL Q6/Q650G QLED closely resembles the Q5/Q550G, albeit with slight enhancements. Notably, the Q6 shines brighter in both SDR and HDR, making it adept at combating glare and enhancing highlight clarity. Additionally, its superior HDR gradient handling and PQ EOTF tracking translate to reduced banding and heightened accuracy, particularly in HDR scenarios, distinguishing it from its Q5 counterpart. Nevertheless, the Q6’s brightness levels may still fall short of fully leveraging HDR content.
The TCL Q5 TV emerges as a noteworthy contender for gaming and PC monitor usage, showcasing remarkable features alongside a few limitations. Its standout attribute lies in its remarkably low input lag, ensuring seamless responsiveness between user actions and on-screen feedback, making it a prime choice for gaming and PC applications.
However, the absence of a local dimming feature impacts its contrast performance, resulting in less-than-ideal black levels, particularly unsuitable for dimly lit environments. Additionally, while its SDR brightness is commendable, the HDR brightness may not fully deliver the immersive visual experience expected from HDR content.
For PC monitor usage, the Q5 shines with its low input lag and impressive response time, facilitating smooth cursor movements and minimal motion blur. The ‘PC’ Picture Mode optimally renders chroma 4:4:4 signals, ensuring clear text display crucial for productivity tasks. Nonetheless, its narrow viewing angle might present inconsistencies in image quality, especially at close proximity.
Gaming enthusiasts will appreciate the Q5’s excellent response time, minimizing motion blur during fast-paced gameplay. The combination of low input lag and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support enhances gaming responsiveness, although the absence of HDMI 2.1 ports restricts 4k @ 120Hz gaming. Nonetheless, native support for 1080p @ 120Hz and 1440p (through resolution halving) provides options for high frame rate gameplay.
The inclusion of eARC support enhances audio connectivity, enabling high-quality uncompressed audio transmission to compatible receivers. However, limitations in passing certain audio formats through eARC might disappoint users seeking comprehensive audio support.
While the TCL Q5 falls short in fully capitalizing on the capabilities of next-gen consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S due to HDMI 2.1 bandwidth limitations, its compatibility with 1440p @ 120Hz and support for VRR and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) ensure a decent gaming experience.
For those seeking an entry-level QLED experience, the TCL Q5 QLED TV offers a compelling option, although it comes with some caveats. Tailored for simplicity without compromising on essential features, this TV caters to users who prioritize core functionality over advanced capabilities.
Ideal for HDR movie viewing in dimly lit environments, the TCL Q5 exhibits adequate contrast, although the absence of local dimming results in less pronounced black levels. While it achieves decent brightness for minor highlights, the lack of brightness for specular highlights may slightly detract from the HDR experience. Nonetheless, the PQ EOTF tracking ensures fidelity to the content creator’s vision, contributing to an authentic viewing experience.
However, the TV’s performance with lower-quality content from streaming platforms may leave something to be desired, as its low-quality content smoothing fails to mitigate noticeable compression artifacts. Additionally, color accuracy out of the box is subpar, necessitating calibration for those who prioritize color fidelity.
In terms of features, the TCL Q5 QLED positions itself as a basic yet functional choice within TCL’s Q-series lineup. With three HDMI 2.0 bandwidth ports supporting Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), coupled with TCL’s Game Accelerator 120 feature (available on the 55-inch and 65-inch models), it offers a satisfactory gaming experience at 1440p @ 120Hz, albeit achieved through resolution halving. Supporting Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10+ formats, alongside pass-through capabilities for select Dolby and DTS advanced audio formats, it ensures compatibility with a range of content.
Powered by the intuitive Google TV operating system, navigation and content discovery are seamless, complemented by the convenience of integrated Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa functionality via the remote’s microphone. With built-in Chromecast, sharing and streaming content from your smartphone is effortless, enhancing the TV’s versatility.
Available in four sizes ranging from 43 to 65 inches, the TCL Q5 QLED caters to various space and viewing preferences, ensuring there’s a suitable option for every household.
In essence, while the TCL Q5 QLED may not boast the most advanced features, its blend of essential functionalities, decent performance, and affordability make it a compelling choice for those embarking on their QLED viewing journey. Price: from $399.99 to $699.99 for 65″ TV.
