TCL is a popular TV brand across countries like the USA, UK, and Canada.
Known for its budget-friendly offerings, TCL caters to consumers seeking top features without breaking the bank. However, competitors like Hisense compete for the same consumers.
So, is TCL a good TV brand? Should you opt for TCL TVs or explore alternatives? Let’s find it out.
About TCL
TCL is a Chinese electronics manufacturing company founded in 1981 and headquartered in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, China.
It manufactures and sells consumer electronics products such as TVs, air conditioners, smartphones, washing machines, refrigerators, and small electrical appliances.
The company invests significantly in research and development to bring the latest features to its products. Additionally, TCL emphasizes affordability, making its products accessible to a broad range of consumers.
Overall, TCL has established itself as a significant player in the consumer electronics industry, although its performance varies from country to country.
In some countries, the brand thrives, while in others, it faces stiff competition and struggles to make a significant impact.
How does it perform in North America? We are about to find that out.
Product Range
TCL covers a wide variety of products, including:
- Televisions
- Smartphones
- Home appliances (Refrigerators, Washing machines, Air conditioners, Kitchen appliances)
- Audio devices (Headphones, Soundbars, Accessories to complement entertainment setups)
While TCL manufactures multiple electronics products, it is mainly popular in the USA for TVs.
Quality and Durability
Because TCL is a budget-centric brand, their TVs often come with decent quality.
However, the display quality is not just decent but slightly better and falls into the good category.
We have noticed that most TCL TVs consistently deliver clear, vibrant images with deep contrasts, providing an immersive viewing experience. While you can’t compare it to premium brands, it surpasses the competition.
No matter if you buy a budget or premium TCL TV, you can expect a good viewing experience.
In budget TVs, you might encounter some issues like screen bleeding, noticeable only in dark screens, which could be a compromise you’ll need to make. Nevertheless, the overall picture quality on TCL TVs is good, though not mind-blowing.
As for durability, these TVs come with solid materials that feel mostly premium, alleviating any concerns in this regard.
One of the most impressive aspects is the design. Thanks to the bezel-less design, TCL TVs look amazing regardless of the price range. Whether you buy a $150 or $1000 TV, the slim bezels and premium form factor will leave you impressed.
You might also like the HP vs Acer laptop comparison.
Brand Reputation and Trustworthiness
TCL has managed to gain a good market reputation in the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, and other countries. However, this reputation varies depending on the region.
In some areas, TCL has established itself as a reputed brand, while in others, it is perceived as decent by consumers.
Notably, in the budget segment, TCL has made a significant impact because its TVs deliver great features without compromising much on picture quality.
However, as we move up in the price bracket, for example, to $1000, it’s natural for consumers to prefer more reputed brands like Sony, LG, or Samsung. Nonetheless, in the budget and mid-range segments, TCL maintains a strong reputation.
Considering every aspect, we can conclude that the overall reputation of TCL is good, though not on par with other premium brands.
Price Range and Value for Money
Pricing is the main reason for the popularity of TCL TVs, as most of them are rightly priced.
TCL has identified the market demand for budget-conscious users and has tailored its TVs to target this audience.
You can find a TCL TV for as low as $150, which is commendable considering these entry-level TVs still include features like Smart OS, Google Assistant, FHD resolution, and more. While you may not get all the features found in higher-end models, what these TVs offer is more than sufficient for most users.
TCL also offers premium TVs priced at over $1200, which come with premium features. Whether opting for such an expensive TV from a brand like TCL is worth it is entirely up to you, but we’re just highlighting TCL’s competitive pricing strategy.
We have also seen TCL TVs priced at $10,000 for a 98-inch model, but we don’t recommend investing this much money in a TV from the TCL brand.
Hisense is a direct competitor of TCL. Therefore, we recommend you check out the TCL vs Hisense comparison.
Customer Reviews and Satisfaction
We have carefully analyzed customer feedback and found that some TCL TVs hold impressive ratings, indicating higher satisfaction among users. However, for most models, user satisfaction ranges from decent to good.
For instance, the Class-4 series includes some impressive 55-inch 4K TVs priced under $400. These TVs also offer all the features, making them great value for money.
While we haven’t experienced any major issues with TCL TVs, we have come across some users who have encountered problems like screen bleeding, software glitches, and hardware failures. We acknowledge that these issues are genuine, as with any electronic product.
After careful analysis, we found that 70% of users are satisfied with their TCL TVs, while 30% have encountered some sort of issue, whether at the hardware or software level.
Also Read: Is Raycon a good brand?
Customer Support
To be honest, TCL’s customer support is a mixed bag, with some customers satisfied with their experiences and others feeling less so.
Like many companies, TCL faces challenges in consistently delivering high-quality customer support across all interactions.
We’ve noticed that some users are completely satisfied with TCL’s responsive service and helpful support representatives. They appreciate TCL’s efforts to address their concerns promptly and effectively.
However, we also noticed some users have expressed frustration with TCL’s customer support, mentioning long wait times, difficulty reaching representatives, or dissatisfaction with the resolution of their issues.
While TCL is making efforts to improve their service, it still falls behind premium brands like Sony, Samsung, or LG in terms of overall customer support quality.
So, TCL’s overall customer support can be considered decent at best.
Comparison with Other Brands
TCL doesn’t directly compete with premium brands, as it’s positioned as a budget-friendly brand. Therefore, it’s expected that TCL TVs won’t offer the same level of quality as big brands.
However, to our surprise, TCL TVs compete well with other similarly priced brands and even outperform some in this segment.
Hisense is a direct competitor to TCL, and we have found that TCL TVs perform slightly better than Hisense TVs in terms of picture quality. However, Hisense TVs often offer more features.
For instance, you might find built-in functionality like Chromecast on a $150 Hisense TV that you might not find on a TCL TV.
While features vary depending on the models, overall you will get slightly fewer features but slightly better screen quality with TCL TVs.
Moreover, TCL TVs compete well with similarly priced TVs from premium brands. For example, if you compare a $500 TCL TV with a Samsung TV in the same price range, you’ll find the TCL TV doing a commendable job.
While the Samsung TV will offer superior quality, it doesn’t mean TCL TVs are inferior.
Overall, while TCL TVs may not pose a significant challenge to premium brand TVs, they deliver satisfactory performance considering their price point.
Also Read: Are Acer Laptops Good?
Is TCL a Good Brand?
After analyzing every aspect, we can say that TCL is indeed a good brand, but it’s not the best.
What can you expect from a budget-conscious TV brand? Good picture quality, decent build quality, and great features. If you have these expectations, then TCL won’t disappoint you.
However, if you expect premium screen quality, the best build quality, and the most advanced technology, then you will be disappointed because TCL TVs may not offer that level of premium touch.
Overall, TCL is a good brand, but it simply can’t be compared to market-leading premium brands. If you set the right expectations, you’ll find TCL to be a satisfactory choice.
Are AirPods Pro 2 worth it? Click here to find out.
Are TCL TVs Good and Worth Buying?
Yes, TCL TVs are indeed good, but not the best. You can undoubtedly consider choosing one if your budget is anywhere between $150 to $600.
However, if you’re willing to spend around $1000, it’s advisable to opt for more premium brands like LG, Sony, or Samsung.
Premium brands generally offer better reliability, superior support, and overall higher quality. When making a substantial investment, these factors become particularly significant.
TCL is aware that many users perceive them as a budget-friendly brand, which is why most of their TVs are priced under $600. While they do have a few models priced above $1200, they are relatively limited, as the company’s primary focus remains on the budget segment.
It’s important to note that while we say TCL TVs are good, individual experiences may vary. If you’ve previously used a premium TV, transitioning to a TCL TV might feel like a significant downgrade.
So, when considering TCL TVs’ quality, it’s crucial to understand that our statement applies particularly to those who have never experienced a premium TV.
Additionally, we highly recommend choosing your TV wisely to ensure you select the right model that meets your needs and won’t disappoint you in the long run.
Also Read: Is RTX 4050 good for gaming, editing, and rendering?
Conclusion
TCL has indeed provided very good TVs in the US market, and we appreciate their efforts to offer quality products at a budget-friendly price.
However, we strongly advise making your buying decision wisely. We recommend thoroughly checking reviews, not only focusing on the positives but also paying attention to any common issues mentioned.
Additionally, we suggest comparing TCL TVs with those from other brands as well. If you find a better TV for the same price from a different and well-reputed brand, it may be worth considering them, too.
Ultimately, the choice of whether to buy a TCL TV is up to you. We’ve simply provided information to help you learn more about this brand.
Also Read: Are HP laptops good?
FAQ
1. Do TCL TV last long?
TCL TVs can last a good amount of time with proper care and usage. Like any electronic device, their lifespan can vary depending on factors such as usage patterns, maintenance, and manufacturing quality.
We have used a TCL TV for around five years without major issues, but we know some who have experienced problems sooner.
But overall, TCL TVs are designed to offer reliable performance over an extended period.
2. Why is TCL TV so cheap?
TCL TVs are cheap because of the company’s vertical integration, which streamlines manufacturing and reduces costs. It, combined with economies of scale from high production volumes, allows TCL to offer affordable TVs without compromising much on the quality.
Additionally, TCL’s focus on value-oriented products and cost-effective manufacturing processes ensures broad appeal and competitiveness in the market.
3. Is TCL a premium brand?
Frankly speaking, TCL is not typically considered a premium brand. While it offers quality products, its focus is more on providing affordable options with decent features rather than high-end luxury.
That said, TCL does have some higher-end models, but it’s generally known for offering good value rather than being at the top end of the market.
4. Is TCL TV good to buy?
Yes, TCL TVs are indeed worth considering, but we advise you to carefully examine reviews and overall quality. Visiting stores to see the TVs in person can provide a better understanding of their features and performance.
Additionally, it’s essential to set realistic expectations, as TCL TVs may not offer the absolute best quality on the market.
5. Does TCL have warranty?
TCL typically offers a standard one-year warranty on their TVs, but you have the option to purchase extended coverage for up to four years.
So, Is TCL a good TV brand? Should you buy TCL TVs?
We are sure you know the answer now. If you still have any doubts, feel free to ask us in the comment section.
Also, share your thoughts if you agree or disagree with the points mentioned here.
