The Samsung QN90C is a premium-priced option that offers significantly better overall picture quality and performance, especially in brighter rooms due to its higher bright room score. It has superior gaming features, making it a great choice if gaming is important to you. It also has excellent sound quality with great speakers. On the other hand, the TCL S455 is more budget-friendly and will cost you much less. While it still offers good dark room performance, it won't match the Samsung in most viewing situations. The TCL has a simpler sound system without the high-end features of the Samsung. If you prefer saving money and don't need top-tier performance, the TCL S455 is a solid choice. However, if you're willing to invest more for better picture quality, gaming experience, and superior sound, the Samsung QN90C is advisable. 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 QN90C (LCD)
Best in class for bright room
Good for dark room
Very good for gaming
Very good for movies & TV
Good for sports
Very good for news, talk, & other TV
Very good for cartoons & animation
Very good for use as monitor
Very good for upscaling
Very good motion processing
Excellent reflections
Advantages of the TCL S455 (LCD)
The TCL S455 (LCD) has no clear advantages over the Samsung QN90C (LCD).
Key differences
Picture Quality
8.1/10
6.5/10
7.38/10
CONTRAST
6.43/10
9.1/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
6.3/10
miniLED FALD
PANEL TYPE
LED
ADS / IPS
PANEL SUB-TYPE
VA
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) has very good picture quality, while the TCL S455 (LCD) has only fair picture quality.
Movies & TV
8.0/10
6.0/10
7.38/10
CONTRAST
6.43/10
6.8/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
9.2/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
7.5/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
No
No
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
No
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) is very good for movies & TV, while the TCL S455 (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung QN90C delivers a very good movie-watching experience due to its higher contrast, effective local dimming, and superior black uniformity, which are critical for deep blacks and revealing details in dark scenes, while the TCL S455 offers fair performance with lower contrast, minimal local dimming effect, and worse black uniformity, affecting its ability to display crisp and intense dark scenes.
Sports
7.0/10
6.1/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
4.6/10
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
7.5/10
10.0/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.3/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) is good for sports, while the TCL S455 (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung QN90C outperforms the TCL S455 in key areas for sports viewing with its faster response time and superior motion processing, meaning it displays fast action with less blur and smoother movement. Furthermore, the Samsung has better performance in handling reflections and maintaining color accuracy at wide angles, as well as a more uniform gray display, which is essential when watching sports in bright rooms with wide seating arrangements.
Gaming
8.2/10
5.7/10
7.8/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
6.0/10
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
4.6/10
75.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
10.0/100
8.9/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
5.8/10
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) is very good for gaming, while the TCL S455 (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung QN90C offers a superior gaming experience due to its higher response time and much lower input lag, in contrast to the TCL S455 which scores lower in these crucial gaming metrics; this is significant for fast-paced gaming where quick reactions are vital.
Cartoons & Animation
8.8/10
6.0/10
7.5/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
5.9/10
9.1/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
6.3/10
10.0/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.3/10
8.1/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
6.6/10
7.7/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
5.8/10
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) is very good for cartoons & animation, while the TCL S455 (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung QN90C offers a more vibrant and accurate color experience right out of the box, with a good color gamut that enhances animated content, making it very appealing for cartoons and animation. In contrast, the TCL S455 displays colors less accurately and has a poorer color gamut, leading to a fair performance for animated content, which might not be as immersive.
News, Talk, & Other TV
8.8/10
6.4/10
10.0/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.3/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
7.5/10
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) is very good for news, talk, & other TV, while the TCL S455 (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung QN90C excels in upscaling and SDR brightness, ensuring clarity and visibility for news and TV programs even in brighter rooms, and it offers more accurate colors out of the box which requires less fiddling with settings. In contrast, the TCL S455 is fair in these areas, which means that while it is capable, it may not seem as crisp and may not handle room brightness or display colors as vibrantly as the Samsung.
Bright Room
9.7/10
6.0/10
6.5/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.1/10
10.0/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.3/10
8.8/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
5.6/10
9.0/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
6.3/10
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) is best in class for bright room, while the TCL S455 (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung QN90C outshines the TCL S455 for viewing in a bright room due to its superior SDR and HDR brightness levels and better reflections handling, making it more capable of combating glare and providing a vibrant image even in well-lit environments. While both televisions have their strengths, the QN90C's higher color volume and color gamut also contribute to more vivid and nuanced colors, especially important for HDR content.
Cost
$1,347
$584
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) has a price of $1,347 and the TCL S455 (LCD) costs $584.
"A highly affordable but reliably kitted-out 4K Roku TV that, while far from perfect, still punches above its price and delivers a great user experience. If you want to soup up movie night for a bargain, the 4-Series won’t let you down. You may never need to plug in a set-top box or streaming device."
Get a great deal on the Samsung QN90C (LCD) or the TCL S455 (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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