If you're looking for a TV that performs well in a bright room and offers better overall picture quality, especially for watching movies and sports, the TCL S555 is a suitable choice. However, it is more expensive compared to the TCL S450G. On the other hand, if you are on a budget and are looking for a generally inexpensive option, the TCL S450G could be appealing, but keep in mind that it won't perform as well in bright conditions and the picture quality won't be as good as the more costly TCL S555. Both TVs have a 65-inch screen and support for HDR content, although neither has standout speaker quality. 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 S555 (LCD).
Advantages of the TCL S555 (LCD)
Good for bright room
Good for dark room
Good for movies & TV
Good for news, talk, & other TV
Very good for cartoons & animation
Key differences
Picture Quality
5.9/10
7.8/10
5.64/10
CONTRAST
9.07/10
6.2/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.3/10
LED
PANEL TYPE
LED FALD
VA
PANEL SUB-TYPE
VA
The TCL S555 (LCD) has good picture quality, while the TCL S450G (LCD) has poor picture quality.
Movies & TV
5.6/10
7.9/10
5.64/10
CONTRAST
9.07/10
6.1/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
7.0/10
6.0/10
UPSCALING
5.4/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
No
HDR10+ SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
Yes
The TCL S555 (LCD) is good for movies & TV, while the TCL S450G (LCD) is poor.
The TCL S450G has a lower contrast and poor local dimming which leads to less impressive dark scenes and a less cinematic experience, whereas the TCL S555 features significantly better contrast, effective local dimming, and good black uniformity, enhancing movie and cinematic TV viewing with deeper blacks and better shadow detail. Additionally, the S555 offers more vibrant colors right out of the box and a better color volume, which contribute to a richer and more immersive viewing experience compared to the more washed-out appearance of the S450G.
Gaming
5.6/10
6.7/10
5.7/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
7.0/10
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
4.6/10
MOTION PROCESSING
4.6/10
18.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
80.0/100
5.7/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.3/10
The TCL S555 (LCD) is only fair for gaming, while the TCL S450G (LCD) is poor.
The TCL S450G has a poor response time, affecting motion clarity during gaming, while the TCL S555 shows good response time, ensuring smoother motion. Additionally, both TVs have low input lag, suitable for gaming, but the TCL S555's better response time will provide a more responsive gaming experience.
Cartoons & Animation
5.8/10
8.4/10
5.9/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
7.4/10
6.2/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.3/10
5.5/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.5/10
6.2/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
8.6/10
6.6/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
6.4/10
The TCL S555 (LCD) is very good for cartoons & animation, while the TCL S450G (LCD) is poor.
The TCL S450G is rated poorly for cartoons and animation viewing primarily due to underwhelming colors straight out of the box and a limited color gamut, which are crucial for vibrant and varied animations. In contrast, the TCL S555 performs very well, thanks to its excellent color rendition after initial setup and a wider color gamut that brings animated features to life with better range and depth of colors.
News, Talk, & Other TV
5.6/10
7.0/10
5.5/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.5/10
6.0/10
UPSCALING
5.4/10
The TCL S555 (LCD) is good for news, talk, & other TV, while the TCL S450G (LCD) is poor.
The TCL S450G's SDR brightness is poor and its colors out of the box are just fair, leading to a less ideal experience for watching news and TV programs. In contrast, the TCL S555 has very good SDR brightness and very good colors out of the box, providing a clearer and more vibrant viewing experience for the same content.
Bright Room
5.7/10
7.3/10
5.0/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.5/10
5.5/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.5/10
5.5/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.0/10
6.6/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
5.9/10
The TCL S555 (LCD) is good for bright room, while the TCL S450G (LCD) is poor.
The TCL S450G struggles in bright rooms because it has poor SDR and HDR brightness and only a fair reflection handling, which makes it less suitable for environments with lots of light. On the other hand, the TCL S555 performs well in bright rooms due to its very good SDR brightness, good HDR brightness, and despite having poor reflection handling, its higher brightness levels compensate for glares.
Cost
$398
$600
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The TCL S450G (LCD) has a price of $398 and the TCL S555 (LCD) costs $600.
The TCL S555 (LCD) and TCL S450G (LCD) are both only fair for sports.
The TCL S450G has a superior response time which is essential for watching fast-moving sports but struggles with reflections which can be distracting in well-lit rooms. Meanwhile, the TCL S555, while offering a good response time, has a wider viewing angle which is beneficial for group watching, but like the S450G, it doesn't handle reflections well, possibly affecting daytime sports viewing.
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How the TCL S450G (LCD) and the TCL S555 (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"
"It looks great out of the box and the picture quality it is rock-solid for the price. (...) What really makes this a decent gaming TV, though, is the very low input lag. (...) But if you want to save a little money, the TCL S555 strikes a great balance between cost and performance – the kind of performance that’s impressive enough to deliver some wow to your eyes. (...)"
Get a great deal on the TCL S450G (LCD) or the TCL S555 (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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