If you're looking for a TV with better overall picture quality, particularly for gaming, the TCL Q7 would be a superior choice as it performs better in terms of response time and input lag, which are crucial for gaming. It offers a higher contrast and is brighter in both standard and high dynamic range (HDR) content, making it suitable for various lighting conditions. The Q7 also supports advanced HDR formats like Dolby Vision, which enhances the viewing experience for compatible content. However, it comes with a higher price tag.
On the other hand, the TCL S455 is a more budget-friendly option. While it doesn't quite match the performance of the Q7, it still provides satisfactory performance for general viewing and has a fantastic black uniformity for dark room viewing. It is adequate for bright rooms, but not as capable as the Q7. If you're not an avid gamer and are looking for a more cost-effective option for watching movies, news, or animations, the S455 could meet your needs without stretching your budget. However, expect some compromises in picture quality, motion handling, and overall feature set compared to the Q7. 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 TCL Q7 (LCD)
Good for bright room
Good for dark room
Very good for gaming
Good for movies & TV
Good for cartoons & animation
Good for use as monitor
Advantages of the TCL S455 (LCD)
Good for upscaling
Key differences
Picture Quality
7.8/10
6.5/10
7.88/10
CONTRAST
6.43/10
7.5/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
6.3/10
LED FALD
PANEL TYPE
LED
VA
PANEL SUB-TYPE
VA
The TCL Q7 (LCD) has good picture quality, while the TCL S455 (LCD) has only fair picture quality.
Movies & TV
7.7/10
6.0/10
7.88/10
CONTRAST
6.43/10
8.7/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
9.2/10
4.8/10
UPSCALING
7.5/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
No
Yes
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
No
The TCL Q7 (LCD) is good for movies & TV, while the TCL S455 (LCD) is only fair.
Gaming
8.2/10
5.7/10
8.0/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
6.0/10
7.3/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
4.6/10
MOTION PROCESSING
4.6/10
90.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
10.0/100
8.2/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
5.8/10
The TCL Q7 (LCD) is very good for gaming, while the TCL S455 (LCD) is poor.
The TCL Q7 excels in gaming due to its very good response time and good input lag, which ensure minimal motion blur and quick reaction to controls, while the TCL S455 has merely fair response time and best input lag, which could lead to more noticeable delays and blur in fast-paced games.
Cartoons & Animation
7.8/10
6.0/10
7.6/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
5.9/10
7.5/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
6.3/10
8.6/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.3/10
6.5/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
6.6/10
7.5/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
5.8/10
The TCL Q7 (LCD) is good for cartoons & animation, while the TCL S455 (LCD) is only fair.
The TCL Q7 is considered good for watching cartoons and animation because its out-of-the-box colors and color gamut are rated as good, ensuring vibrant and accurate colors which are crucial for animated content. In contrast, the TCL S455 is deemed fair in this regard due to its poorer performance in color gamut, indicating less vivid and accurate colors compared to the Q7, making it less ideal for content that relies heavily on color quality.
Bright Room
7.6/10
6.0/10
5.2/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.1/10
8.6/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.3/10
7.6/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
5.6/10
5.9/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
6.3/10
The TCL Q7 (LCD) is good for bright room, while the TCL S455 (LCD) is only fair.
The TCL Q7 excels in a bright room mainly due to its very good SDR brightness and good HDR brightness, allowing it to combat glare, even though its reflections handling is poor which can be a downside in very bright or well-lit environments. The TCL S455, on the other hand, has fair SDR brightness and poor HDR brightness, combined with fair reflections handling, making it less capable than the Q7 when it comes to maintaining picture quality in brightly lit rooms..
Cost
$798
$584
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The TCL Q7 (LCD) has a price of $798 and the TCL S455 (LCD) costs $584.
The TCL Q7 (LCD) and TCL S455 (LCD) are both only fair for sports.
The TCL Q7 has a better response time compared to the TCL S455, making it more suitable for fast-moving sports scenes, yet it struggles with reflections which could be a drawback in bright rooms. Both TVs have similar viewing angles that limit the quality of the picture from side seats; however, the Q7 has better motion processing which is key for smooth action, while the S455 is slightly worse in gray uniformity that affects how even the screen looks during panning shots in sports events.
News, Talk, & Other TV
6.3/10
6.4/10
8.6/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.3/10
4.8/10
UPSCALING
7.5/10
The TCL S455 (LCD) and TCL Q7 (LCD) are both only fair for news, talk, & other TV.
Both the TCL Q7 and TCL S455 offer fair performance when watching news, talk shows, and other TV programs, partly due to their satisfactory upscaling capabilities, which is crucial for enhancing lower resolution content. However, the S455 has better colors out of the box, whereas the Q7 shows better results in color gamut and local dimming, which contribute to improved contrast and color reproduction in various lighting conditions.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the TCL Q7 (LCD) and the TCL S455 (LCD) compare to other TVs
"A highly affordable but reliably kitted-out 4K Roku TV that, while far from perfect, still punches above its price and delivers a great user experience. If you want to soup up movie night for a bargain, the 4-Series won’t let you down. You may never need to plug in a set-top box or streaming device."
Get a great deal on the TCL Q7 (LCD) or the TCL S455 (LCD)
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
120,330
Recommendations made
18,050
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.