If you enjoy gaming and watching movies or series, the TCL R655 would be an excellent choice, as it provides better overall picture quality and superior performance in a dark room. However, if you want a TV that performs well in bright rooms, the Samsung Q80C holds an edge. Both TVs are similarly priced and will not outperform each other significantly in sports content or general TV watching. Neither TV boasts great onboard speakers, so you may consider an external sound system for the best audio experience. Both models support various HDR formats but lack support for HDR10+. Keep in mind that the Samsung Q80C is newer, which may offer some benefits in terms of updated features or longer support down the line. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Samsung Q80C (LCD)
Good for upscaling
Very good motion processing
Good viewing angle
Advantages of the TCL R655 (LCD)
Best in class for bright room
Very good for dark room
Good for movies & TV
Very good for cartoons & animation
Very good reflections
Key differences
Picture Quality
7.0/10
8.0/10
5.55/10
CONTRAST
9.07/10
7.8/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
8.2/10
LED FALD
PANEL TYPE
miniLED FALD
IPS
PANEL SUB-TYPE
VA
The TCL R655 (LCD) has very good picture quality, while the Samsung Q80C (LCD) has good picture quality.
Movies & TV
6.1/10
7.9/10
5.55/10
CONTRAST
9.07/10
4.4/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
6.1/10
7.0/10
UPSCALING
5.4/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
Yes
No
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
Yes
The TCL R655 (LCD) is good for movies & TV, while the Samsung Q80C (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung Q80C is rated lower for movies and cinematic TV than the TCL R655 primarily because it has significantly lower contrast and black uniformity, which are crucial for a deep, immersive picture in darker scenes. Furthermore, despite the Samsung's better viewing angle, the TCL R655’s superior black uniformity and higher contrast make it more suited for watching movies in a dark room, allowing for more vivid and consistent color presentation from different angles.
Gaming
8.1/10
8.6/10
7.8/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
7.0/10
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
8.7/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
5.3/10
60.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
85.0/100
8.1/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.8/10
The TCL R655 (LCD) and Samsung Q80C (LCD) are both very good for gaming, though the TCL R655 (LCD) is somewhat better.
The Samsung Q80C and the TCL R655 both offer a superior gaming experience due to their excellent response times and low input lag, which is important for fast-paced gaming. Additionally, the Samsung Q80C has a refresh rate of 120Hz while the TCL R655 boasts an even higher refresh rate of 144Hz, ensuring smoother motion in games.
Cartoons & Animation
7.2/10
8.7/10
7.3/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
7.6/10
7.8/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
8.2/10
8.5/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.1/10
6.5/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
7.7/10
7.0/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
8.2/10
The TCL R655 (LCD) is very good for cartoons & animation, while the Samsung Q80C (LCD) is good.
The Samsung Q80C has fair colors out of the box, meaning it may not represent cartoon and animation colors as accurately without adjustment, while the TCL R655 is rated good in this aspect, offering better initial color accuracy for animated content. Both TVs have good color gamut and color volume, essential factors for vibrant and varied colors in cartoons and animations, but the TCL R655 has a very good color volume indicating a slightly wider range of colors at different brightness levels.
Bright Room
7.2/10
9.5/10
7.7/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.2/10
8.5/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.1/10
7.3/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.5/10
5.9/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
8.8/10
The TCL R655 (LCD) is best in class for bright room, while the Samsung Q80C (LCD) is good.
The TCL R655 is rated higher for handling reflections, which makes it superior for viewing in bright rooms, whereas the Samsung Q80C has a lower performance in this aspect. Additionally, both TVs have good SDR and HDR brightness, but the TCL R655 takes the edge in bright room performance due to its reflection handling and higher brightness, which are very important for such environments.
Cost
$1,298
$1,000
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Samsung Q80C (LCD) has a price of $1,298 and the TCL R655 (LCD) costs $1,000.
The Samsung Q80C (LCD) and TCL R655 (LCD) are both only fair for sports.
The Samsung Q80C has a higher response time, indicating it might be smoother for fast-moving sports, but poor handling of reflections which can be distracting in bright rooms. In contrast, the TCL R655 has a lower response time that could lead to more motion blur but very good reflections handling, making it a better choice for well-lit environments; however, both have a limited viewing angle that could affect the picture quality when viewed from the side.
News, Talk, & Other TV
7.2/10
7.2/10
8.5/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.1/10
7.0/10
UPSCALING
5.4/10
The Samsung Q80C (LCD) and TCL R655 (LCD) are both good for news, talk, & other TV.
The Samsung Q80C performs well for watching news and talk shows due to its strong upscaling capabilities and decent brightness for SDR content, which enhances the viewing experience for regular TV programs. In comparison, the TCL R655 offers very good out-of-the-box colors and excellent SDR brightness, making it a reliable choice for vivid and clear picture quality during day-to-day viewing.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Samsung Q80C (LCD) and the TCL R655 (LCD) compare to other TVs
"It has an excellent Roku interface, isn’t too expensive, has quantum dots and mini LED backlighting, and looks genuinely fantastic playing everything. If you’re in the market for a new TV, you should still start here. Gamers will like that it has a 120-Hz refresh rate at 4K, which is the maximum that a modern Xbox or Playstation 5 will put out—meaning the smoothest possible gaming and sports viewing in general. We’re no longer in the days of having to spend over $1,000 and spending a few hours on setup for decent black levels and great color accuracy and HDR"
Get a great deal on the Samsung Q80C (LCD) or the TCL R655 (LCD)
About Samsung
Samsung, a South Korean electronics manufacturer, holds the title of being the largest global TV vendor in terms of units sold. They offer a diverse lineup of TV products that cater to various budget ranges. A notable achievement in recent years is the development of Quantum Dots, a technology that enhances color reproduction, resulting in richer and more vibrant hues. Samsung TVs are well-regarded for their high manufacturing quality and user-friendly software, making them an excellent choice for consumers seeking an intuitive viewing experience.
About TCL
TCL, the highly recognizable TV brand from China, has firmly established itself as the second-largest manufacturer in terms of sales volume. Renowned for striking an impressive balance between affordability, picture quality, and design, TCL TVs deliver a compelling overall package. While they have traditionally excelled in the low-end and midrange TV segments, TCL has recently made remarkable strides in the realm of high-end televisions, introducing impressive models that rival top competitors. Most TCL TVs use Roku software which is very user friendly and easy to use, but they have a few other models that use Google TV which has the largest app selection, but is not as user friendly as Roku.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec TVs team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest TV information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
385
TVs evaluated
33,110
TVs stats compiled
21
Proprietary TVs ratings developed
122,430
Recommendations made
18,365
Consumer hours saved
About the TV team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and TVs Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Jaime Roldán
TVs Expert
Jaime is a Colombia-based TV expert. He is an electronics engineer with 8 years of experience in the telecom sector and has been making TV recommendations for 12 years.