The Samsung CU7000 performs slightly better for gaming and sports content, and it has better build quality. However, it doesn't perform as well in a bright room and its cost is marginally higher than the TCL S446. The TCL S446, whilst generally being less expensive, excels in news, talk, and reality TV, as well as cartoons and animation content. It also has a better viewing angle but falls short in dark room performance and gaming compared to the Samsung CU7000. If you prioritize sports and gaming, consider the Samsung, but for varied content and a tighter budget, the TCL might be your choice. 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 CU7000 (LCD)
Very good motion processing
Advantages of the TCL S446 (LCD)
Good for upscaling
Good viewing angle
Good reflections
Key differences
Cartoons & Animation
5.7/10
6.4/10
5.9/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
5.8/10
5.6/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
6.0/10
6.2/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.0/10
6.0/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
9.1/10
6.0/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
6.0/10
The TCL S446 (LCD) is only fair for cartoons & animation, while the Samsung CU7000 (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung CU7000 delivers colors that are only fair right out of the box and has a poor color gamut, which implies animations may not appear as vibrant or accurately colored as intended. The TCL S446, however, offers excellent colors out of the box but also struggles with a poor color gamut, meaning while the initial color presentation is better, it still falls short in representing a wide range of colors.
Cost
$258
$230
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Samsung CU7000 (LCD) has a price of $258 and the TCL S446 (LCD) costs $230.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Samsung CU7000 (LCD) to have only fair picture quality, while the TCL S446 (LCD) has poor picture quality.
Movies & TV
5.8/10
5.4/10
5.82/10
CONTRAST
5.37/10
6.6/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
4.8/10
6.6/10
UPSCALING
7.5/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
No
No
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
No
The Samsung CU7000 (LCD) and TCL S446 (LCD) are both poor for movies & TV.
The Samsung CU7000 has better black uniformity which is essential for darker scenes, but its contrast and local dimming capabilities are not ideal, leading to less distinct dark areas. Conversely, the TCL S446 struggles with poor black uniformity, resulting in grayer blacks that affect movie-watching, and has no local dimming feature to enhance contrast during dark scenes, both of which are pivotal for an authentic cinematic experience.
Sports
6.6/10
6.4/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
4.6/10
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
8.7/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
8.0/10
6.6/10
UPSCALING
7.5/10
6.2/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.0/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The Samsung CU7000 (LCD) and TCL S446 (LCD) are both only fair for sports.
The Samsung CU7000 and TCL S446 both have fair performance when watching sports, but with different strengths and weaknesses. The CU7000 struggles with reflections which can be problematic in bright rooms, and the TCL S446 has a better handling of reflections, however, it falls short in motion processing which is crucial for fast-moving sports content.
Gaming
6.0/10
5.8/10
6.5/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
6.2/10
8.7/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
8.0/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
4.6/10
30.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
0.0/100
5.9/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
5.6/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Samsung CU7000 (LCD) to be only fair for gaming, while the TCL S446 (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung CU7000 has a higher input lag and response time performance than the TCL S446, making it more suitable for gaming where fast reaction times are essential. The TCL S446, while still capable for general use, doesn't perform as well in these specific gaming parameters, leading to a less optimal experience during fast-paced gaming sessions.
News, Talk, & Other TV
6.0/10
6.4/10
6.2/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.0/10
6.6/10
UPSCALING
7.5/10
The TCL S446 (LCD) and Samsung CU7000 (LCD) are both only fair for news, talk, & other TV.
The Samsung CU7000 displays fair upscaling and SDR brightness, making it a suitable option for watching news and TV programs, especially when the source content is of lower resolution. On the other hand, while the TCL S446 also exhibits fair upscaling and SDR brightness, it stands out with excellent colors out of the box, which may enhance the experience of vibrant content, albeit both might not perform their best in very bright environments.
Bright Room
5.8/10
5.8/10
5.3/10
VIEWING ANGLE
7.5/10
6.2/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.0/10
5.4/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
5.4/10
5.9/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
7.2/10
The TCL S446 (LCD) and Samsung CU7000 (LCD) are both poor for bright room.
The Samsung CU7000 has fair SDR brightness and poor handling of reflections, making it less suitable for bright rooms, while the TCL S446, despite having good reflection handling, also has fair SDR brightness along with poor HDR brightness, which can reduce the viewing experience in well-lit environments. Both TVs might struggle with vivid displays under excessive ambient light due to their limitations in brightness and reflection handling.
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How the Samsung CU7000 (LCD) and the TCL S446 (LCD) compare to other TVs
Spec Comparison
Samsung CU7000 (LCD)
TCL S446 (LCD)
GENERAL
Price
Price
$258
$230
Brand
Brand
Samsung
TCL
Release Date
Release Date
April 1, 2023
September 1, 2021
Full name
Full name
UN43CU7000
43S446
Screen Size
Screen Size
43"
43"
Screen Resolution
Screen Resolution
4K
4K
Screen Type
Screen Type
LCD
LCD
Screen Sub-type
Screen Sub-type
LED VA
LED IPS
Smart TV
Smart TV
Yes
Yes
TV FEATURES
Operating System
Operating System
Tizen
Android TV
Sound Quality Score
Sound Quality Score
5.9/10
6/10
NextGen Ready
NextGen Ready
No
No
HDMI Ports
HDMI Ports
3
3
Coax Ports
Coax Ports
1
1
Refresh Rate
Refresh Rate
60Hz
60Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Variable Refresh Rate
No
No
HDR Supported formats
HDR Supported formats
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
HDR10, HLG
Accessibility
Accessibility
Voice Commands
None
DISPLAY QUALITY SCORES
Picture Quality Score
Picture Quality Score
6.2/10
5.8/10
Bright Room Score
Bright Room Score
5.8/10
5.8/10
Gaming Score
Gaming Score
6/10
5.9/10
Movies & TV Score
Movies & TV Score
5.9/10
5.5/10
Sports Score
Sports Score
6.6/10
6.4/10
News, Talk, & Other TV Score
News, Talk, & Other TV Score
6/10
6.4/10
Cartoons & Animation Score
Cartoons & Animation Score
5.8/10
6.5/10
Use as Monitor Score
Use as Monitor Score
6.3/10
6.6/10
PHYSICAL
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D)
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D)
22" x 38" x 2.4"
22.3" x 38.2" x 3.3"
Dimensions with Stand (H x W)
Dimensions with Stand (H x W)
24.7" x 38"
24.6" x 38.2"
Weight without Stand
Weight without Stand
17.9 lbs
15.4 lbs
VESA Mount
VESA Mount
200 x 200
200 x 200
DISPLAY
Color Depth
Color Depth
10 bit
10 bit
Black Frame Insertion
Black Frame Insertion
Yes
Yes
Auto Low Latency Mode
Auto Low Latency Mode
Yes
Yes
Contrast
Contrast
5.8/10
5.4/10
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
4.1/10
2.5/10
Gaming Local Dimming
Gaming Local Dimming
3/100
0/100
Game HDR Brightness Score
Game HDR Brightness Score
5.9/10
5.6/10
SDR Brightness Score
SDR Brightness Score
6.3/10
6/10
HDR Brightness Score
HDR Brightness Score
5.4/10
5.5/10
Gray Uniformity
Gray Uniformity
6/10
6/10
Black Uniformity
Black Uniformity
6.6/10
4.9/10
Viewing Angle
Viewing Angle
5.4/10
7.5/10
Reflections Score
Reflections Score
5.9/10
7.3/10
Upscaling
Upscaling
6.7/10
7.5/10
Motion Processing
Motion Processing
8/10
4.6/10
Color Gamut Score
Color Gamut Score
5.9/10
5.9/10
Color Volume Score
Color Volume Score
5.6/10
6/10
Response Time Score
Response Time Score
6.6/10
6.3/10
Input Lag Score
Input Lag Score
8.8/10
8/10
Colors Out of the Box Score
Colors Out of the Box Score
6/10
9.2/10
Quality Control
Quality Control
8/10
6/10
Chroma Subsampling Score
Chroma Subsampling Score
7/10
7/10
SOUND
Speaker Setup
Speaker Setup
2.0
2.0
Speaker Power
Speaker Power
20 W
16 W
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos
Yes
Bypass only
DTS:X
DTS:X
No
No
Get a great deal on the Samsung CU7000 (LCD) or the TCL S446 (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
121,530
Recommendations made
18,230
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.
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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.