The Samsung QN90C is a higher-end TV with a premium price tag, offering better overall picture quality, great performance in bright rooms, and superior gaming capabilities due to its high response time and low input lag. It's equipped with features like miniLED technology and has a wider viewing angle, which is beneficial for larger rooms or groups.
On the other hand, the TCL S555 is more budget-friendly, providing decent overall picture with a focus on contrast and black uniformity, which is good for watching in dark environments. However, it has a 60Hz panel and poorer performance in terms of motion processing and gaming when compared to the Samsung.
If you prioritize gaming, have a light-filled room, or want the latest features and can afford the higher price, the Samsung QN90C is recommended. But if you're looking for a more affordable option that still offers solid performance in darker rooms for casual viewing, the TCL S555 could meet your needs. 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
Very good for gaming
Very good for movies & TV
Good for sports
Very good for news, talk, & other TV
Very good for use as monitor
Very good for upscaling
Very good motion processing
Excellent reflections
Advantages of the TCL S555 (LCD)
The TCL S555 (LCD) has no clear advantages over the Samsung QN90C (LCD).
Key differences
Sports
7.0/10
6.3/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
4.6/10
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
5.4/10
10.0/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.5/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) is good for sports, while the TCL S555 (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung QN90C has a superior response time and excellent handling of reflections which benefits fast-paced sports content, but it has a narrower viewing angle which could limit the viewing experience from off-center positions. On the other hand, the TCL S555, despite having good gray uniformity, falls short with a poorer reflections handling and motion processing, risking some blurriness and distractions during sports viewing.
Gaming
8.2/10
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
75.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
80.0/100
8.9/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.3/10
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) is very good for gaming, while the TCL S555 (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung QN90C offers a superior gaming experience with faster response time and lower input lag compared to the TCL S555, which is key for fast-paced gaming. Additionally, the Samsung QN90C has a higher refresh rate allowing for smoother motion in games, which are crucial factors for a very good gaming experience.
News, Talk, & Other TV
8.8/10
7.0/10
10.0/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.5/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
5.4/10
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) is very good for news, talk, & other TV, while the TCL S555 (LCD) is good.
The Samsung QN90C excels at upscaling low-resolution content and delivers high SDR brightness, making it very good for watching news and talk shows, particularly in bright viewing environments. The TCL S555, on the other hand, provides good performance with accurate colors out of the box and respectable upscaling, which is sufficient for enjoying general TV programming but might be less impressive in very bright rooms.
Bright Room
9.7/10
7.3/10
6.5/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.5/10
10.0/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.5/10
8.8/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.0/10
9.0/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
5.9/10
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) is best in class for bright room, while the TCL S555 (LCD) is good.
The Samsung QN90C is highly suited for watching TV in bright rooms because it provides stronger brightness in both SDR and HDR content along with excellent handling of reflections. Conversely, the TCL S555, while offering good SDR brightness, lacks in HDR brightness and reflections handling, making it a less optimal but still viable choice for brightly lit environments.
Cost
$1,299
$600
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) has a price of $1,299 and the TCL S555 (LCD) costs $600.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Samsung QN90C (LCD) to have very good picture quality, while the TCL S555 (LCD) has good picture quality.
Movies & TV
8.0/10
7.9/10
7.38/10
CONTRAST
9.07/10
6.8/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
7.0/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
5.4/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
Yes
No
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
Yes
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Samsung QN90C (LCD) to be very good for movies & TV, while the TCL S555 (LCD) is good.
The Samsung QN90C delivers a very good movie-watching experience due to its superior contrast, effective local dimming, and excellent black uniformity, ensuring deep blacks and vibrant picture quality. In comparison, the TCL S555, while good for movies, lacks the QN90C's level of contrast and local dimming, leading to less impressive dark scenes, but it still offers decent color performance and acceptable uniformity at a typically lower price point.
Cartoons & Animation
8.8/10
8.4/10
7.5/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
7.4/10
9.1/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.3/10
10.0/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.5/10
8.1/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
8.6/10
7.7/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
6.4/10
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) and TCL S555 (LCD) are both very good for cartoons & animation.
Give feedback
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How the Samsung QN90C (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 QN90C (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.
By the numbers
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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
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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.