If you often watch movies or play games, the TCL S546 could be a better fit as it has higher picture quality, better performance in dark rooms, and good responsiveness for gaming. However, keep in mind that the Samsung AU8000 costs more and has better sound quality and a more effective screen for viewing in well-lit rooms, making it a strong choice for daytime viewing or if audio performance is important to you without an external sound system. Both TVs support similar formats and features, with the Samsung AU8000 having a slight edge in usability as a monitor. 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
Good reflections
Advantages of the TCL S546 (LCD)
Good for bright room
Good for dark room
Good for movies & TV
Key differences
Picture Quality
6.6/10
7.4/10
6.71/10
CONTRAST
8.21/10
6.3/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
8.0/10
LED
PANEL TYPE
LED FALD
VA
PANEL SUB-TYPE
VA
The TCL S546 (LCD) has good picture quality, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) has only fair picture quality.
Movies & TV
5.9/10
7.0/10
6.71/10
CONTRAST
8.21/10
6.9/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
6.8/10
7.5/10
UPSCALING
5.9/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
Yes
No
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
Yes
The TCL S546 (LCD) is good for movies & TV, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung AU8000 lacks local dimming and has low contrast and poor black uniformity, which makes it less suitable for movies and cinematic TV where deep blacks and high contrast are preferred. On the other hand, the TCL S546 offers good local dimming, higher contrast, and better black uniformity, resulting in a more immersive viewing experience for the same content.
Gaming
5.8/10
6.6/10
5.9/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
7.6/10
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
8.0/10
6.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
4.6/10
0.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
60.0/100
5.8/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.9/10
The TCL S546 (LCD) is only fair for gaming, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung AU8000 is less suited for gaming due to its poor response time, while the TCL S546, with a good response time and very good input lag, performs better for gaming. However, both TVs have a standard refresh rate which is acceptable for casual gaming, but not optimal for high-frame-rate gaming experiences..
Bright Room
6.3/10
7.2/10
5.5/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.3/10
7.1/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.2/10
5.7/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.8/10
7.8/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
6.0/10
The TCL S546 (LCD) is good for bright room, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is only fair.
The TCL S546 outperforms the Samsung AU8000 in bright rooms primarily because the TCL has a higher SDR brightness, which makes it more suitable for well-lit environments, and although both TVs handle reflections only fairly, the superior brightness of the TCL gives it an edge. While the Samsung AU8000 has good SDR brightness, it's not as high as that of the TCL S546, and since both offer fair performance in handling reflections, the lower brightness of the Samsung makes it less ideal for bright rooms.
Cost
$648
$398
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
The Samsung AU8000 (LCD) has a price of $648 and the TCL S546 (LCD) costs $398.
The Samsung AU8000 (LCD) and TCL S546 (LCD) are both only fair for sports.
The Samsung AU8000 has subpar response time, which can cause motion blur during fast-paced sports, but it handles reflections well, making it suitable for rooms with some lights on. Comparatively, the TCL S546 offers good response time for clearer motion but struggles more with reflections, which could be distracting in well-lit environments. Both models have limited viewing angles, which may affect the viewing experience from the side, and fair gray uniformity, which can impact the look of sports fields or arenas.
Cartoons & Animation
6.9/10
6.6/10
6.1/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
7.8/10
6.3/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
8.0/10
7.1/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.2/10
7.2/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
4.4/10
6.8/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
7.0/10
The Samsung AU8000 (LCD) and TCL S546 (LCD) are both only fair for cartoons & animation.
The Samsung AU8000 displays colors well right out of the box, which is important for the vibrant hues typically found in cartoons, but its color gamut is only fair, limiting the range of colors available. In contrast, the TCL S546 has a poor out-of-the-box color accuracy meaning users will likely need to calibrate it for the best cartoon viewing, but it has a good color gamut offering a wider array of colors on screen.
News, Talk, & Other TV
6.7/10
6.4/10
7.1/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.2/10
7.5/10
UPSCALING
5.9/10
The Samsung AU8000 (LCD) and TCL S546 (LCD) are both only fair for news, talk, & other TV.
The Samsung AU8000 has good SDR brightness which is vital for viewing in well-lit rooms and it also offers decent upscaling for lower resolution content typically seen in news – two very important factors. However, the TCL S546, while having very good SDR brightness, indicating better performance in bright rooms, suffers from poorer upscaling and colors out of the box, which could result in less clarity and vibrance when watching standard TV programs.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) and the TCL S546 (LCD) compare to other TVs
"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 S546 (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
122,130
Recommendations made
18,320
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.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
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.