The Samsung CU8000 is a newer model with more smart features like voice commands and is typically more expensive. It performs better in bright rooms but not as well in dark rooms. If gaming, fast action sports, and smart capabilities are important to you, and you are willing to spend more, the Samsung CU8000 might be a better fit.
On the other hand, the TCL S435 is less expensive and offers good picture quality, particularly for watching movies and cartoons. It doesn't have voice control and might not be as bright as the Samsung in sunlit rooms, but if budget is a concern and you're looking for a solid all-around performer, consider the TCL S435. 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 CU8000 (LCD)
Very good motion processing
Advantages of the TCL S435 (LCD)
Good for cartoons & animation
Key differences
Picture Quality
5.8/10
6.6/10
4.92/10
CONTRAST
7.50/10
6.9/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
6.6/10
LED
PANEL TYPE
LED
VA
PANEL SUB-TYPE
VA
The TCL S435 (LCD) has only fair picture quality, while the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) has poor picture quality.
Movies & TV
5.3/10
6.1/10
4.92/10
CONTRAST
7.50/10
6.1/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
6.7/10
6.0/10
UPSCALING
5.9/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
No
No
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
No
The TCL S435 (LCD) is only fair for movies & TV, while the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) is poor.
Cartoons & Animation
5.9/10
7.0/10
7.3/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
6.0/10
6.9/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
6.6/10
6.7/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
5.2/10
6.2/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
9.0/10
6.6/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
5.9/10
The TCL S435 (LCD) is good for cartoons & animation, while the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The TCL S435 provides vibrant, accurate colors straight out of the box, which is essential for the lively and varied hues typically found in cartoons and animation, whereas the Samsung CU8000, despite offering a good color range, does not deliver those colors as well initially, and might require calibration for the best experience. Additionally, the TCL S435 excels in color volume, which means it can display a wide range of colors at different luminosities, making it suitable for animation that can have scenes with varied lighting and color intensity.
Cost
$578
$700
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Samsung CU8000 (LCD) has a price of $578 and the TCL S435 (LCD) costs $700.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Samsung CU8000 (LCD) to be only fair for sports, while the TCL S435 (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung CU8000 has a better motion processing capability and a more effective response time, which are crucial when watching fast-paced sports, offering a clearer and smoother viewing experience compared to the TCL S435. Additionally, the Samsung CU8000 handles reflections better and offers wider viewing angles, making it a more suitable choice for sports enthusiasts, especially in rooms with various seating positions and potential glare.
Gaming
5.5/10
5.5/10
4.9/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
6.2/10
8.7/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
5.8/10
8.2/10
MOTION PROCESSING
3.2/10
0.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
0.0/100
5.8/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
5.3/10
The TCL S435 (LCD) and Samsung CU8000 (LCD) are both poor for gaming.
The Samsung CU8000 has poor response time which affects the clarity of fast-moving content and may result in trailing images in games; however, it has very good input lag which means less delay between user actions and on-screen response. The TCL S435 also has poor response time and, unlike the Samsung, has poor input lag as well, leading to slower reactions to gaming inputs, which can be particularly noticeable in fast-paced games.
News, Talk, & Other TV
5.7/10
5.8/10
6.7/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
5.2/10
6.0/10
UPSCALING
5.9/10
The TCL S435 (LCD) and Samsung CU8000 (LCD) are both poor for news, talk, & other TV.
The Samsung CU8000 and the TCL S435 are both considered poor for news, talk shows, and TV programs because they lack effective upscaling for lower-resolution content, which is common in such programming, and their SDR brightness isn't ideal, resulting in less vivid picture quality. Additionally, both have shortcomings in color performance, such as accuracy out of the box and overall color gamut, which can lead to less natural and less consistent color representation.
Bright Room
5.9/10
5.6/10
5.2/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.0/10
6.7/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
5.2/10
5.5/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
5.1/10
5.9/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
5.9/10
The Samsung CU8000 (LCD) and TCL S435 (LCD) are both poor for bright room.
Both the Samsung CU8000 and the TCL S435 have low SDR and HDR brightness levels, which makes them less suitable for watching TV in bright rooms. Additionally, they both handle reflections poorly, which, combined with their brightness limitations and lower contrast, affects the viewing experience in well-lit environments.
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How the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) and the TCL S435 (LCD) compare to other TVs
"The TCL 4-Series is so inexpensive and capable you might start to question why there are any multithousand-dollar TVs at all. The 4-Series setup is intuitive and easy. If you're just looking for an easy-to-use TV with decent picture, this is an excellent place to start."
Get a great deal on the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) or the TCL S435 (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
121,830
Recommendations made
18,275
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
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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.