The TCL S450G and TCL S455 are both budget LCD TVs with similar price points. If you're particularly interested in movies or news, the TCL S455 offers better performance. It has higher quality sound and is also better for bright room situations compared to the S450G. However, for gaming, the difference between the two is minimal. The S455 also features one additional HDMI port, which may be useful if you have multiple devices to connect. If Dolby Vision support is important to you, the S450G includes this feature, but the S455 does not. Both TVs support HDR10 and HLG, with the S450G also supporting HDR10+ and having a feature for Dolby Atmos. If accessibility features, like voice commands, are a priority, you'll find them in the S450G. 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 S450G (LCD)
The TCL S450G (LCD) has no clear advantages over the TCL S455 (LCD).
Advantages of the TCL S455 (LCD)
Good for upscaling
Key differences
Picture Quality
5.9/10
6.5/10
5.64/10
CONTRAST
6.43/10
6.2/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
6.3/10
LED
PANEL TYPE
LED
VA
PANEL SUB-TYPE
VA
The TCL S455 (LCD) has only fair picture quality, while the TCL S450G (LCD) has poor picture quality.
News, Talk, & Other TV
5.6/10
6.4/10
5.5/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.3/10
6.0/10
UPSCALING
7.5/10
The TCL S455 (LCD) is only fair for news, talk, & other TV, while the TCL S450G (LCD) is poor.
The TCL S450G has a lower SDR brightness and lacks local dimming, which affects its ability to display news and talk shows clearly, especially in well-lit rooms. The TCL S455 performs slightly better due to its fair SDR brightness and local dimming, and both TVs have adequate upscaling for standard content, which is important for watching such programs.
Cost
$348
$584
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
The TCL S450G (LCD) has a price of $348 and the TCL S455 (LCD) costs $584.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers TCL S455 (LCD) to be only fair for movies & TV, while the TCL S450G (LCD) is poor.
Sports
6.1/10
6.1/10
4.6/10
MOTION PROCESSING
4.6/10
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
6.0/10
UPSCALING
7.5/10
5.5/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.3/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The TCL S455 (LCD) and TCL S450G (LCD) are both only fair for sports.
The TCL S450G and S455 both have a fair performance in sports viewing due to similar motion processing abilities and response times, which are crucial for fast action in sports. However, they differ in handling reflections and maintaining color accuracy at wide viewing angles, with the TCL S455 having a slight edge, though both are challenged by bright room conditions and exhibit only fair gray uniformity, which can affect the viewing experience..
Gaming
5.6/10
5.7/10
5.7/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
6.0/10
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
4.6/10
MOTION PROCESSING
4.6/10
18.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
10.0/100
5.7/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
5.8/10
The TCL S455 (LCD) and TCL S450G (LCD) are both poor for gaming.
The TCL S450G and TCL S455 are considered poor for gaming as they have response times and input lag that do not meet the demands of most gaming scenarios. Although both have a 'Best' score for input lag, their response time performance is rated 'Poor', which can lead to motion blur and is not ideal for fast-paced gaming.
Cartoons & Animation
5.8/10
6.0/10
5.9/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
5.9/10
6.2/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
6.3/10
5.5/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.3/10
6.2/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
6.6/10
6.6/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
5.8/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers TCL S455 (LCD) to be only fair for cartoons & animation, while the TCL S450G (LCD) is poor.
The TCL S450G is rated poorly for colors out of the box and has a poor color gamut, resulting in less vibrant and inaccurate colors which are not ideal for the rich and varied hues typically found in cartoons and animation. On the other hand, the TCL S455, while also having a poor color gamut, is rated fairly for colors out of the box, which implies it can produce slightly more accurate colors initially, making it a better but not ideal choice for such content.
Bright Room
5.7/10
6.0/10
5.0/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.1/10
5.5/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.3/10
5.5/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
5.6/10
6.6/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
6.3/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers TCL S455 (LCD) to be only fair for bright room, while the TCL S450G (LCD) is poor.
The TCL S450G is less suitable for bright rooms due to its poor SDR and HDR brightness, which means it can't get very bright, and fair reflection handling, indicating it might struggle with direct light sources. In contrast, the TCL S455 has fair SDR brightness, offering slightly better performance in bright conditions but shares the same poor HDR brightness, indicating it won't excel in displaying high dynamic range content in well-lit rooms, and the same fair reflection handling as the S450G.
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How the TCL S450G (LCD) and the TCL S455 (LCD) compare to other TVs
"TCL, though, has built much of its success on affordable sets, and the 2023 TCL S Class S4 with Google TV is a testament to just how good of a TV you can get for an affordable price tag"
"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 S450G (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.
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