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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for a more affordable option that performs well for watching the news, talk shows, and reality TV, the Samsung AU8000 is a cost-effective choice, but its performance in dark rooms is not as strong. On the other hand, the TCL R648 comes at a premium price, but offers better overall picture quality and gaming experience. It's also superior for watching movies and series, and its performance in both dark and bright settings is impressive. The TCL R648 has better sound quality, with great speakers, which might be important if you don't plan to use an external sound system. 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 AU8000 (LCD)
- Good for upscaling
Advantages of the TCL R648 (LCD)
- Very good for bright room
- Good for dark room
- Very good for gaming
- Good for movies & TV
- Good for news, talk, & other TV
- Very good for cartoons & animation
- Good for use as monitor
- Very good reflections
Key differences
Picture Quality
6.6
7.7
6.71/10
CONTRAST
7.00/10
6.3/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.6/10
LED
PANEL TYPE
miniLED FALD
VA
PANEL SUB-TYPE
VA
The TCL R648 (LCD) has good picture quality, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) has only fair picture quality.
Movies & TV
5.9
7.6
6.71/10
CONTRAST
7.00/10
6.9/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
6.5/10
7.5/10
UPSCALING
5.9/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
No
No
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
Yes
The TCL R648 (LCD) is good for movies & TV, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung AU8000 struggles with movies and cinematic TV because it lacks local dimming and doesn't achieve the deep blacks and contrast needed for a rich viewing experience, whereas the TCL R648 boasts better contrast and superior black uniformity due to its effective local dimming, resulting in a more immersive and detailed picture quality for cinematic content. Viewing angles and color performance are also better on the TCL R648, which means more consistent and vibrant images from various seating positions.
Gaming
5.8
8.2
5.9/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
8.2/10
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
7.6/10
6.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
5.3/10
0.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
70.0/100
5.8/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.3/10
The TCL R648 (LCD) is very good for gaming, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung AU8000 has a poor response time which can lead to motion blur during fast-paced games, though its input lag performance is excellent, ensuring minimal delay between player actions and on-screen reaction. In contrast, the TCL R648 boasts a very good response time for clearer motion in games and a good input lag performance, making it a more responsive option for gaming despite slightly more delay than the AU8000.
Cartoons & Animation
6.9
8.6
6.1/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
7.8/10
6.3/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.6/10
7.1/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.0/10
7.2/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
9.0/10
6.8/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
7.0/10
The TCL R648 (LCD) is very good for cartoons & animation, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is only fair.
The TCL R648 displays cartoons and animation very well due to its excellent colors out of the box and good color gamut, which make the picture vibrant and lively, a perfect match for animated content. On the other hand, the Samsung AU8000 is just fair in these aspects, which means while it's capable, it's not as rich or vivid, thus being less suitable for content that relies heavily on bright, varied colors.
News, Talk, & Other TV
6.7
7.5
7.1/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.0/10
7.5/10
UPSCALING
5.9/10
The TCL R648 (LCD) is good for news, talk, & other TV, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung AU8000 has a better upscaling of lower resolution content which is crucial for news and other standard definition programs but has only 'Good' SDR brightness, suitable but not ideal for bright rooms. The TCL R648, on the other hand, offers 'Excellent' SDR brightness which is great for well-lit environments and richer colors out of the box, but its upscaling is not as fine-tuned as the Samsung's.
Bright Room
6.3
8.1
5.5/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.2/10
7.1/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.0/10
5.7/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.9/10
7.8/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
8.0/10
The TCL R648 (LCD) is very good for bright room, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is only fair.
The TCL R648 is more suited for viewing in a bright room due to its "very good" reflections handling which outperforms the Samsung AU8000's "good" reflections handling. Additionally, the TCL R648's "excellent" SDR brightness and "good" HDR brightness provide better visibility in well-lit environments, compared to the Samsung AU8000's "good" SDR and "poor" HDR brightness, which may result in a less optimal viewing experience in the same conditions.
Cost
$648
$2,000
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Samsung AU8000 (LCD) has a price of $648 and the TCL R648 (LCD) costs $2,000.
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Key similarities
Sports
6.5
6.5
6.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
5.3/10
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
7.6/10
7.5/10
UPSCALING
5.9/10
7.1/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.0/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The TCL R648 (LCD) and Samsung AU8000 (LCD) are both only fair for sports.
The Samsung AU8000 has a better reflections handling but a slower response time than the TCL R648, which may be more distracting during fast-moving sports scenes. Both TVs have limited viewing angles and fair motion processing capabilities, which could affect the clarity of sports content viewed from the side or during fast action.
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How the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) and the TCL R648 (LCD) compare to other TVs
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Samsung AU8000 (LCD) | TCL R648 (LCD) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$648 | $2,000 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Samsung | TCL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 4, 2021 | May 1, 2021 | |
Full name | |||
Full name | UN65AU8000 | 65R648 | |
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 65" | 65" | |
Screen Resolution | |||
Screen Resolution | 4K | 8K | |
TV FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Tizen | Roku TV | |
Sound Quality Score | |||
Sound Quality Score | 6/10 | 8/10 | |
NextGen Ready | |||
NextGen Ready | No | No | |
HDMI Ports | |||
HDMI Ports | 3 | 4 | |
Coax Ports | |||
Coax Ports | 1 | 1 | |
DISPLAY QUALITY SCORES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Picture Quality Score | |||
Picture Quality Score | 6.6/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Bright Room Score | |||
Bright Room Score | 6.4/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.8/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Movies & TV Score | |||
Movies & TV Score | 5.9/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Sports Score | |||
Sports Score | 6.5/10 | 6.6/10 | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D) | |||
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D) | 32.7" x 57.1" x 1" | 32.7" x 57" x 3" | |
Dimensions with Stand (H x W) | |||
Dimensions with Stand (H x W) | 34.4" x 57.1" | 35.1" x 57" | |
Weight without Stand | |||
Weight without Stand | 46.1 lbs | 70.1 lbs | |
VESA Mount | |||
VESA Mount | 400 x 300 | 400 x 400 | |
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 | 6.7/10 | 7/10 | |
Local Dimming | |||
Local Dimming | 2.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Speaker Setup | |||
Speaker Setup | 2.0 | 2.1 | |
Speaker Power | |||
Speaker Power | 20 W | 50 W | |
Dolby Atmos | |||
Dolby Atmos | Bypass only | Yes | |
DTS:X | |||
DTS:X | No | Yes, Bypass only | |
Shopping
Samsung AU8000 (LCD)
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Dig into reviews and images
USA Today
Michael Desjardin | April 2023
"To put it directly: you’d never see a mid-range 4K TV hitting this black levels half a decade ago. AU8000 plays the part of a higher-end TV thanks to its sleek design. If you’re upgrading to a smart TV for the first time, the software is a great way to dip your toes in the streaming water."
Get a great deal on the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) or the TCL R648 (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.
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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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