Updated January 12, 2024·Prices updated 24 hours ago
The Sony X90L offers a 120Hz refresh rate and full-array local dimming which delivers a better experience for fast-moving content like sports and gaming, and improves contrast for movies and general TV viewing, but it comes at a higher cost. On the other hand, the TCL S446 will be less expensive; however, its 60Hz refresh rate and lack of full-array local dimming mean it might not handle fast action as smoothly, and its contrast might not be as deep, especially in dark scenes. The Sony model may also perform better in bright rooms due to its better brightness capabilities. Give Feedback
This comparison is based on the 65" Sony X90L (LCD) and the 65" TCL S446 (LCD). At the time of writing the 65" Sony X90L (LCD) cost $1,198 and the 65" TCL S446 (LCD) cost $400. The Sony X90L (LCD) has dropped in price by $200.
Advantages of the Sony X90L (LCD)
Very good for bright room
Good for dark room
Very good for gaming
Good for movies & TV
Good for sports
Excellent for news, talk, & other TV
Very good for cartoons & animation
Good for use as monitor
Best in class for upscaling
Best in class motion processing
Advantages of the TCL S446 (LCD)
Good viewing angle
Good reflections
Key differences
Picture Quality
7.8/10
5.8/10
7.125/10
CONTRAST
5.37/10
8.8/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
6.0/10
LED FALD
PANEL TYPE
LED
VA
PANEL SUB-TYPE
IPS
The Sony X90L (LCD) has good picture quality, while the TCL S446 (LCD) has poor picture quality.
Movies & TV
7.6/10
5.4/10
7.125/10
CONTRAST
5.37/10
6.0/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
4.8/10
10.0/10
UPSCALING
7.5/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
No
HDR10+ SUPPORT
No
Yes
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
No
The Sony X90L (LCD) is good for movies & TV, while the TCL S446 (LCD) is poor.
The Sony X90L is better for movies and cinematic TV as it has a higher contrast ratio, more effective local dimming, and better black uniformity, which results in deeper blacks and more nuanced shadows, crucial for dark scenes. In contrast, the TCL S446 falls short in these aspects, with lower contrast, no local dimming, and poorer black uniformity, which can lead to grayer blacks and less detailed dark scenes.
Sports
7.2/10
6.4/10
10.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
4.6/10
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
7.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
8.0/10
10.0/10
UPSCALING
7.5/10
9.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.0/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The Sony X90L (LCD) is good for sports, while the TCL S446 (LCD) is only fair.
The Sony X90L stands out for sports viewing due to its excellent motion processing, ensuring fast-paced action appears smooth, while its response time is also very good, minimizing blur. In contrast, the TCL S446 has fair motion processing and response time, which may result in more motion blur and less clarity during fast movements, and although it handles reflections well and has good viewing angles, it falls short in delivering the crisp, smooth picture ideal for sports.
Gaming
8.1/10
5.8/10
8.0/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
6.2/10
7.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
8.0/10
10.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
4.6/10
73.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
0.0/100
8.6/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
5.6/10
The Sony X90L (LCD) is very good for gaming, while the TCL S446 (LCD) is poor.
The Sony X90L excels in gaming due to its higher refresh rate (capable of 120Hz) and superior motion processing, which provide a smoother visual experience and more responsive gameplay. In contrast, the TCL S446 has a lower refresh rate (60Hz) and less sophisticated motion processing, resulting in less fluid motion and potentially more noticeable delays during fast-paced gaming.
Cartoons & Animation
8.6/10
6.4/10
7.7/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
5.8/10
8.8/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
6.0/10
9.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.0/10
8.0/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
9.1/10
6.6/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
6.0/10
The Sony X90L (LCD) is very good for cartoons & animation, while the TCL S446 (LCD) is only fair.
The Sony X90L delivers better performance for watching cartoons and animation because it comes with very good colors out of the box and a good color gamut, ensuring vibrant and accurate hues. On the other hand, the TCL S446, while excellent with colors out of the box, falls short with a poor color gamut, leading to less vivid and diverse colors.
News, Talk, & Other TV
9.0/10
6.4/10
9.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.0/10
10.0/10
UPSCALING
7.5/10
The Sony X90L (LCD) is excellent for news, talk, & other TV, while the TCL S446 (LCD) is only fair.
The Sony X90L outperforms the TCL S446 in watching news and TV programs due to its excellent SDR brightness and upscaling qualities, allowing it to handle lower-resolution content with better clarity and brightness. In contrast, the TCL S446 is considered fair in these aspects, meaning it won't upscale lower-resolution content from news or talk shows as effectively and its screen doesn't get as bright, impacting its overall viewing experience for everyday TV programs.
Bright Room
8.6/10
5.8/10
5.5/10
VIEWING ANGLE
7.5/10
9.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.0/10
8.3/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
5.4/10
5.9/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
7.2/10
The Sony X90L (LCD) is very good for bright room, while the TCL S446 (LCD) is poor.
The Sony X90L displays a bright image that combats glare effectively, although it struggles to handle reflections, making it suitable for well-lit rooms but less ideal right opposite bright sources. In contrast, the TCL S446 has a relatively dimmer display and better reflection handling, which is less optimal for sunny environments where higher brightness is needed to maintain picture quality.
Cost
$998
$400
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Sony X90L (LCD) has a price of $998 and the TCL S446 (LCD) costs $400.
Get a great deal on the Sony X90L (LCD) or the TCL S446 (LCD)
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About Sony
Sony stands as a highly experienced and widely trusted TV manufacturer, earning a reputation that surpasses all others. A Japanese company, Sony has been making TVs for far longs than it has been making Playstation game consoles. Sony's high-end TVs are often regarded as the ultimate choice for videophiles, representing the epitome of quality, albeit at a premium price point. Renowned for their advanced and precise motion handling, as well as their cutting-edge local dimming algorithms, Sony consistently delivers unparalleled performance in these areas. They include Google TV software with all their TV sets, which grants access to the largest selection of apps available and they also include Bravia Core which is a movie streaming platform specifically for Sony TVs that offers higher picture quality by using more bandwidth.
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.
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