The Samsung Q80C offers higher performance, sporting a better picture for different kinds of content, including movies, sports, and gaming, compared to the TCL S555. This is due to its superior contrast and color accuracy, and it features a faster refresh rate which is especially beneficial for gaming. Additionally, the Q80C is fitted with technology that gives it a leg up in handling reflections and providing wide viewing angles, making it suitable for bright rooms and larger groups. Conversely, the TCL S555, while not matching the Samsung in performance, is much less expensive and still offers a good viewing experience overall. It also has a decent picture quality that caters well to movies and general TV watching; however, it may struggle with fast-moving content and in brightly lit environments. Therefore, if budget is a constraint and you prioritize value over peak performance, the TCL S555 is a sensible choice. However, if you're willing to invest more for superior visual quality and a better experience in various conditions, the Samsung Q80C would be the better option. 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)
Very good for gaming
Good for use as monitor
Good for upscaling
Very good motion processing
Good viewing angle
Advantages of the TCL S555 (LCD)
Good for dark room
Good for movies & TV
Very good for cartoons & animation
Key differences
Picture Quality
7.0/10
7.8/10
5.55/10
CONTRAST
9.07/10
7.8/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.3/10
LED FALD
PANEL TYPE
LED FALD
IPS
PANEL SUB-TYPE
VA
The TCL S555 (LCD) and Samsung Q80C (LCD) both have good picture quality, though the TCL S555 (LCD) has somewhat better picture quality.
Movies & TV
6.1/10
7.9/10
5.55/10
CONTRAST
9.07/10
4.4/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
7.0/10
7.0/10
UPSCALING
5.4/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
Yes
No
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
Yes
The TCL S555 (LCD) is good for movies & TV, while the Samsung Q80C (LCD) is only fair.
The TCL S555 boasts superior contrast, better black uniformity, and very good colors out of the box, which enhances movie and cinematic TV viewing in dark rooms, but its viewing angles are more limited than the Samsung Q80C, meaning the image quality decreases more when seen from the side. The Samsung Q80C offers a fair experience for the same content due to its lower contrast and black uniformity, which affects the depth of black scenes, but it has better viewing angles, making it more suitable for wider seating arrangements.
Sports
6.8/10
6.3/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
4.6/10
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
7.0/10
UPSCALING
5.4/10
8.5/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.5/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The Samsung Q80C (LCD) and TCL S555 (LCD) are both only fair for sports, though the Samsung Q80C (LCD) is somewhat better.
The Samsung Q80C is fair for watching sports due to its good response time and wide viewing angles, but it is hampered by poor reflection handling which can be problematic in bright rooms. The TCL S555, while also offering fair performance with good response time and black uniformity, falls short with a narrower viewing angle and equally poor reflections handling, which could be an issue when watching with a group or in a well-lit environment.
Gaming
8.1/10
6.7/10
7.8/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
7.0/10
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
4.6/10
60.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
80.0/100
8.1/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.3/10
The Samsung Q80C (LCD) is very good for gaming, while the TCL S555 (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung Q80C excels in gaming due to its superior response time and input lag performance, which is crucial for fast-paced games and competitive play. On the other hand, the TCL S555, while offering fair gaming capabilities, falls behind the Samsung model in these critical areas, resulting in a less responsive gaming experience.
Cartoons & Animation
7.2/10
8.4/10
7.3/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
7.4/10
7.8/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.3/10
8.5/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.5/10
6.5/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
8.6/10
7.0/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
6.4/10
The TCL S555 (LCD) is very good for cartoons & animation, while the Samsung Q80C (LCD) is good.
The TCL S555 displays colors better out of the box, making it very suitable for cartoons and animation without needing adjustments, whereas the Samsung Q80C performs just fairly in this aspect. Both TVs have good color gamuts, ensuring a wide range of colors, critical for vivid animation viewing, but the TCL S555 also has superior gray uniformity and contrast, which can help in delivering consistent colors and deeper blacks.
Cost
$1,298
$600
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Samsung Q80C (LCD) has a price of $1,298 and the TCL S555 (LCD) costs $600.
The Samsung Q80C (LCD) and TCL S555 (LCD) are both good for news, talk, & other TV.
The Samsung Q80C's better upscaling ensures that lower-resolution content, such as standard TV broadcasts or DVDs, looks sharper, which is great for watching news and talk shows where image clarity is important. The TCL S555, however, offers very good colors out of the box, providing vibrant and accurate hues without the need for much tweaking, enhancing the viewing experience for diverse TV programs.
Bright Room
7.2/10
7.3/10
7.7/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.5/10
8.5/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.5/10
7.3/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.0/10
5.9/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
5.9/10
The TCL S555 (LCD) and Samsung Q80C (LCD) are both good for bright room.
The Samsung Q80C and TCL S555 both perform well in bright rooms due to their high SDR and HDR brightness, ensuring a clear picture even when there's a lot of ambient light. However, the Samsung Q80C has lower reflection handling, which suggests it might not cope as well with direct light on the screen compared to the TCL S555 which has better contrast and color volume that can provide deeper blacks and more vibrant colors in bright settings.
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How the Samsung Q80C (LCD) and the TCL S555 (LCD) compare to other TVs
"It looks great out of the box and the picture quality it is rock-solid for the price. (...) What really makes this a decent gaming TV, though, is the very low input lag. (...) But if you want to save a little money, the TCL S555 strikes a great balance between cost and performance – the kind of performance that’s impressive enough to deliver some wow to your eyes. (...)"
Get a great deal on the Samsung Q80C (LCD) or the TCL S555 (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.
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