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We published new results of an investigative study on the long-term durability of TVs, revealing significant durability issues with popular edge-lit models. Read the full details here.

TCL 6 Series 2018 TV Review

Tested using Methodology v1.5
Reviewed May 18, 2018 at 11:30 am
Latest change: Test bench update May 21, 2020 at 08:51 am
TCL 6 Series 2018 Picture
7.7
Mixed Usage
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
8.0
Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.6
TV Shows
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.4
Sports
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.7
Video Games
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
8.0
HDR Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.5
HDR Gaming
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.4
PC Monitor
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
This TV was replaced by the TCL 6 Series/R625 2019

The TCL 6 Series 2018 is a very good 4k TV for a wide range of usages. It has good dark scene performance due to the full-array local dimming and high native contrast so blacks appear deep even in a dark room. It's also great for HDR, as it has great brightness. Although it can produce a wider color gamut than Rec. 709, it isn't as wide as other great HDR TVs. It also has an excellent low input lag for gamers, and unlike the 2017 TCL P607 it can flicker the backlight to clear up fast motion and interpolate low frame rate content.

The TCL 6 Series 2018 is also known as the R615 or R617 depending on the manufacturer variant.

Our Verdict

7.7 Mixed Usage

Very good TV for mixed usage. The R617 is a versatile TV that's good for pretty much everything. There are some gray uniformity issues, which makes it a less good choice for sports due to the dirty screen effect, and the image degrades rapidly when viewed at an angle, which is bad for those with wide seating.

Pros
  • Very bright in HDR and SDR.
  • Excellent low input lag for gaming.
  • Good local dimming and native contrast produce deep blacks.
Cons
  • Picture quality degrades at an angle.
  • Uniformity could be better.
8.0 Movies

Great TV for watching movies in a dark room. The TCL 6 Series has an excellent native contrast ratio, and the local dimming feature is decent for dimming darker areas of the screen. There may be some issues with uniformity, depending on your specific panel.

7.6 TV Shows

Good TV for watching TV in a brightly lit room. The R617 is able to get very bright and can overcome most glare, but the reflection handling isn't as good as high-end TVs, so some direct glare might be bothersome. The picture quality also degrades rapidly when viewed at an angle, which is bad for those with wide seating.

7.4 Sports

The TCL R617 is a good TV for watching sports. It has a great response time that makes fast-moving motion look clear. This TV can get really bright and it does a decent job with reflection handling, so you can still place it in a bright room. The gray uniformity is mediocre, so there's visible dirty screen effect that you'll notice when watching sports. Additionally, the viewing angles are poor, so it's not a good TV to watch with a big group of people.

7.7 Video Games

The 55R617 is amazing for playing video games. Gamers will enjoy the incredibly low input lag and great response time, plus it has a black frame insertion feature to help reduce motion blur. This TV has a great contrast ratio, resulting in deep blacks if you game in the dark. Unfortunately, if you're looking for an immersive gaming experience, the sound quality is disappointing. However, this TV displays 1080p content, such as from older consoles, almost as well as 4k content.

8.0 HDR Movies

Great TV for watching HDR movies. The TCL 6 Series gets very bright in HDR, and the excellent native contrast and decent local dimming make for a good dark room viewing experience. It also has a good wide color gamut, but it isn't as wide as higher-end TVs.

7.5 HDR Gaming

Impressive TV for HDR gaming. The R617 has excellent low input lag in game mode, and it has a great response time so games are free of annoying trails. The native contrast and good color gamut help games look their best. It doesn't support a 120Hz input, so some gamers might be disappointed.

7.4 PC Monitor

Good TV for use as a PC monitor. The 6 Series 2018 supports chroma 4:4:4 when in PC mode, so text looks sharp and clear. It has low input lag and a good response time which keeps it responsive. The viewing angle is quite limited, so if sitting too close, the edges of the screen might fade and lose detail. There are also many reports of uniformity issues, so using it for web browsing might be a problem for some people.

  • 7.7 Mixed Usage
  • 8.0 Movies
  • 7.6 TV Shows
  • 7.4 Sports
  • 7.7 Video Games
  • 8.0 HDR Movies
  • 7.5 HDR Gaming
  • 7.4 PC Monitor
  1. Updated May 21, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
  2. Updated Feb 21, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
  3. Updated Feb 28, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
  4. Updated Jan 09, 2019: We retested the DTS passthrough with the new firmware and now it works properly. The corresponding review section has been updated.
  5. Updated Jan 07, 2019: Added a note about the 75R615.
  6. Updated May 18, 2018: Review published.
  7. Updated May 16, 2018: Our testers have started testing this product.
  8. Updated May 16, 2018: Early access published.
  9. Updated May 14, 2018: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  10. Updated Apr 26, 2018: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 55" (55R617). For the most part, we expect our review to be valid for the 65" version (65R617) as well. We have received wide reports of issues with gray uniformity. While we expect our results to be representative of most people's experience, results may vary.

If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their TCL R617 doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review.

The variant found at Bestbuy (55R615) is the same TV, but it has a simpler IR remote that requires line-of-sight and doesn't have the voice control feature.

Warehouse outlets will sell the R613, which is identical to the R617 including the voice remote, but still doesn't include the private listening feature of the P607.

Size Model Best Buy Variant Warehouse Variant
55" 55R617 55R615 55R613
65" 65R617 65R615 65R613
75" 75R617 75R615 -

In Europe, the TCL models are completely different and do not directly correspond with the U.S. models.

Update 01/07/2019: TCL has released a 75" model. It has more local dimming zones, but we expect it to perform about the same. Note that some initial reports indicated that it had a 120Hz panel, but we've received confirmation from multiple owners that this isn't the case. Some retailers incorrectly indicate that the 75" model is a 2019 model. It shouldn't be confused with the TCL 6 Series 2019 R625; they aren't the same model.

Compared To Other TVs

Comparison picture

Top left: TCL P607 (55P607). Bottom left: Sony X900F (XBR55X900F). Middle: TCL R617 (55R617). Top right: TCL S517 (55S517). Bottom right: Samsung NU7100 (UN55NU7100). 

The TCL 6 Series is a great, versatile TV that offers excellent value. It outperforms most of the competition in the same price bracket and is the best Roku TV we've tested so far. See also our recommendations for the best TVs under $1,000.

Samsung NU7100
40" 43" 50" 55" 58" 65" 75"

The TCL R617 6 Series is much better than the Samsung NU7100. The TCL R617 can deliver deeper blacks with its local dimming support, and this is great for watching movies in a dark room. The TCL 6 Series also has a faster response time and thus a smaller blur trail, and better HDR performance with highlights that pop. The Samsung NU7100, on the other hand, has a lower input lag which is great for fans of video games and better gray uniformity for an image without clouding.

LG SK8000
49" 55" 65"

These two TVs have different panel types, each with its advantages and disadvantages. The LG SK6300 has an IPS panel and is a better choice for a room with a wide seating arrangement, as the image remains accurate when viewed from the side. The TCL R617 has a VA panel and has a much better dark room performance with deep blacks, thanks to the high contrast ratio and better local dimming support. The R617 can get brighter and is more suitable if you have a bright room. The R617 has a wide color gamut and can deliver a much better HDR performance.

Samsung NU6900
43" 50" 55" 65" 75"

The TCL 6 Series R617 is much better than the Samsung NU6900. The R617 is much brighter, has a slightly faster response time, and can remove judder from all sources. The TCL also has a full array local dimming feature, which helps improve dark room performance, although it isn't very effective.

Vizio P Series Quantum 2018
65"

The Vizio P Series Quantum is significantly better than the TCL 6 Series/R617 2018. The Vizio has better dark room performance thanks to the higher contrast ratio, and more effective local dimming support. The Vizio has better reflection handling, a wider color gamut, and better color volume that enhances HDR performance. Finally, the Vizio has a faster response time and displays crisper motion. The TCL can display judder-free movies from any source.

Sony X750F
55" 65"

The TCL R617 is much better than the Sony X750F. The TCL has better blacks and better HDR performance due to the high native contrast ratio and local dimming support. It also has better brightness and a wide color gamut, and in HDR, it can make highlights pop. It has lower input lag which is important if you play games or use the TV as a PC monitor. On the other hand, the Sony has better viewing angles and is more suitable for wide seating arrangements.

Samsung Q60/Q60R QLED
43" 49" 55" 65" 75" 82"

The TCL 6 Series 2018 is slightly better than the Samsung Q60R. The R617 has a mediocre local dimming feature, whereas the Q60R has no local dimming. The TCL is much brighter in both SDR and HDR. The Samsung Q60R has a faster response time, great for fast action movies or gaming, and it supports FreeSync.

Samsung Q70/Q70R QLED
49" 55" 65" 75" 82" 85"

The Samsung Q70/Q70R QLED is better than the TCL 6 Series 2018. The Q70R has better reflection handling, great for a bright room, and a faster response time that delivers crisper motion. The Q70R has some nice gaming features including support for AMD's FreeSync and low input lag with motion interpolation. The R617 supports Dolby Vision, and the Q70R supports HDR10+.

Samsung RU7100
43" 50" 55" 58" 65" 75"

The TCL 6 Series R617 is much better than the Samsung RU7100. The TCL R617can get brighter, and also has better dark room performance thanks to the local dimming support. The R617 has a better HDR performance thanks to the better HDR peak brightness and better color volume, and it can deliver crisper motion thanks to the faster response time. The Samsung RU7100 has a lower input lag, which is great for games, and better gray uniformity, which can be important to sports fans.

Samsung RU8000
49" 55" 65" 75" 82"

The TCL 6 Series 2018 is slightly better than the Samsung RU8000. The TCL has a full array local dimming feature, although it's mediocre, and it can get a lot brighter. The Samsung, on the other hand, has better uniformity and a faster response time, so fast-moving objects in games and movies look better.

Samsung RU7300
55" 65"

The TCL 6 Series/R617 2018 is much better than the Samsung RU7300. The TCL has a full array local dimming feature and is significantly brighter than the Samsung. The TCL also has a much faster response time and can remove judder from all sources. The Samsung has a curved screen, which can make some reflections more noticeable.

TCL 4 Series 2019
43" 49" 50" 55" 65" 75"

The TCL 6 Series R617 is much better than the TCL 4 Series S425. The TCL R617 has better dark room performance, thanks to its local dimming feature, and better black uniformity. The TCL 6 Series can get brighter and has a better color leading to better HDR performance. The R617 can display judder-free movies, whereas the TCL S425 has a lower input lag, great for games, and a little faster response time, so motion looks slightly crisper.

LG UM7300
43" 49" 50" 55" 65"

The TCL R617 and the LG UM7300 use different panel technologies, each with their strengths and weaknesses. The R617 is better for watching movies or gaming in a dark room, as it has much better contrast, a full array local dimming feature, and an optional black frame insertion feature. The UM7300, on the other hand, is better suited for watching sports or TV shows in a bright room with wide seating.

Sony X800G
43" 49" 55" 65" 75"

The TCL 6 Series/R617 and the Sony X800G use different panel types, each with different advantages and disadvantages. The X800G is better for a bright room with wide seating, whereas the R617 is better suited for direct seating in a dark room. Beyond these differences, the R617 is a lot brighter, has lower input lag, and can remove judder from any source.

Hisense H8F
50" 55" 65"

The Hisense H8F and the TCL 6 Series/R617 are very similar overall. The R617 is a lot brighter than the H8F and has better motion handling. The H8F looks much better in a dark room and has better reflection handling.

Vizio M Series Quantum 2019
55" 65"

The Vizio M Series Quantum 2019 and the TCL R617 are very similar overall. The M Series has a better local dimming feature and much better black uniformity, so it's a better choice for a dark room. The R617 is a lot brighter, and has an optional motion interpolation feature.

Hisense H9F
55" 65"

The Hisense H9F is better than the TCL 6 Series/R617 2018. The H9F has better reflection handling and a much better response time. The H9F also has a slightly better local dimming feature, and it can interpolate motion up to 120Hz. On the other hand, the R617 has a more versatile black frame insertion feature.

TCL 5 Series/S525 2019
43" 50" 55" 65"

The TCL R617 is much better than the TCL S525. The R617 has an optional local dimming feature and an optional black frame insertion feature. The R617 is also significantly brighter, and has better reflection handling.

TCL 6 Series/R625 2019
55" 65"

The TCL 6 Series/R625 2019 is very similar to the TCL 6 Series/R617 2018. The R625 has a more premium design and a much better local dimming feature, but the R617 is brighter and has better reflection handling. The R625 has a higher backlight flicker frequency, but a slower response time, and motion doesn't look as good.

Hisense H6570F
43" 50" 55" 65"

The TCL 6 Series 2018 is a much better TV than the Hisense H6570F. The TCL is significantly better for movies and HDR content thanks to its local dimming feature, much higher peak brightness, better out-of-the-box color accuracy, better upscaling, and much wider color gamut. It's also better for sports thanks to its significantly better motion handling. On the other hand, the Hisense using Android TV for its smart features, which is a bit more difficult to use than Roku on the TCL, but is more customizable and has more available apps.

Hisense H9E Plus
55" 65"

The TCL 6 Series R617/R615/R613 is better than the Hisense H9E Plus. The TCL R617 is a lot brighter than the H9E Plus, so it's better able to overcome glare in a bright room. HDR performance is much better on the R617 as it features a full array local dimming feature, great for dark room viewing, and it's brighter, so bright highlights stand out in HDR. The R617 also has lower input lag and supports chroma 4:4:4, great for use as a PC monitor.

LeEco Super4
43" 55" 65"

The TCL 6 Series R617 is much better than the LeEco Super4. The TCL R617 is much brighter and has a local dimming feature that is great for dark room viewing. The R617 can consistently remove judder from all 24p sources, great for watching movies, and the R617 has a better black frame insertion feature that improves the clarity of motion. The R617 also has much lower input lag, which is great for gamers.

LG B8 OLED
55" 65"

These are two different types of TVs. However, the OLED LG B8 has a significantly better overall performance than the VA panel TCL R617 in almost all aspects. The TCL R617 doesn't have the risk of burn-in, can get bright enough to fight glare, and has a slightly lower input lag, which is great for video games. On the other hand, the LG B8 delivers an outstanding dark room performance thanks to its perfect blacks, has wider viewing angles, and has a faster response time which leaves almost no blur in fast-moving content like sports. Finally, the LG B8 has better gray uniformity for mixed usage.

LG UK7700
55" 65"

The TCL R617 is a better TV than the LG UK7700. The TCL617 has a VA-panel and can display deeper blacks and brighter highlights due to the better contrast ratio and better brightness, so you'll enjoy watching movies and HDR movies more on the TCL. On the contrary, the LG UK7700 has an IPS panel and is better for watching TV shows and sports, as it can better handle the reflections of a room with many light sources, has better gray uniformity, and has wide viewing angles to accommodate for wide seating arrangements.

Vizio E Series 2018
43" 50" 55" 65" 70" 75"

The TCL 6 Series R617 is better than the Vizio E Series 2018. The TCL R617 can get brighter and is more suitable if you have a bright room. The R617 can deliver better dark room performance thanks to its local dimming support and has an optional motion interpolation feature to please the Soap Opera Effect fans. Finally, the TCL R617 has a wide color gamut, so HDR content looks much better.

Vizio P Series 2018
55" 65" 75"

The Vizio P Series 2018 is better than the TCL 6 Series R617 (R613/R615). The Vizio P Series has better motion handling than the TCL R617, thanks to the higher refresh rate, and is nearly flicker-free. It also has a better local dimming feature that improves dark room viewing. The Vizio P's motion interpolation feature is more advanced thanks to the native 120 Hz panel, and it can interpolate 60 fps content up to 120Hz.

Vizio M Series 2018
55" 65" 70"

The TCL 6 Series R617 is slightly better than the Vizio M Series 2018. The TCL R617 can get brighter to fight glare in a bright room but can also display deeper blacks in a dark room since it has better native contrast ratio and support for local dimming. Also, the TCL R617 has a lower input lag which is great if you play video games. It has better HDR performance and better motion handling features as it has support motion interpolation. The Vizio M Series 2018, on the other hand, has better reflection handling and better gray uniformity which is great if you watch sports in a room with many lights.

Samsung Q6FN/Q6/Q6F QLED 2018
49" 55" 65" 75" 82"

The Samsung Q6FN is marginally better than the TCL R617. The Samsung Q6FN is packed with gaming features like lower input lag, even with motion interpolation, and FreeSync support. The TCL R617, on the other hand, can get brighter both in SDR and HDR and has better local dimming, which is great when watching movies in a dark room.

TCL 5 Series 2018
43" 49" 55" 65"

The TCL R617 (6 series) is significantly better than the TCL S517 (5 series). The TCL R617 incorporates local dimming support to improve blacks in a dark room, and at the same time, it can get brighter which is great for a bright room with glare. The TCL R617 has better response time so only a small blur trails the image when you watch sports and has an optional black frame insertion to introduce flicker and make the image crisper. Finally, the TCL R617 has much better HDR performance.

LG UK6300
43" 49" 50" 55" 65"

The two TVs have different panel types, each with its advantages and disadvantages. The LG UK6300 has an IPS panel, so the image remains accurate when viewed from the side, thanks to the wider viewing angles. The TCL R617 has a VA panel and delivers a much better dark room performance with deep blacks, thanks to the high contrast ratio and local dimming support. It can get much brighter in both SDR and HDR, and can easily fight the glare of a bright room. The R617 has a wide color gamut and can deliver a much better HDR performance.

Samsung NU8000
49" 55" 65" 75" 82"

The Samsung NU8000 and the TCL 6 Series (R617) have very similar performance. The TCL R617 has better local dimming performance, so blacks look deep in a dark room and better HDR peak brightness that makes highlights pop in HDR content. The Samsung NU8000, on the other hand, supports FreeSync variable refresh rate which can eliminate tearing if you play video games. Finally, the Samsung NU8000 has better gray uniformity, so the image is free from clouding or shadows in slow panning uniform-color shots like a hockey arena or a soccer field.

Sony X900F
49" 55" 65" 75" 85"

The Sony X900F is better than the TCL 6 Series (R617). The Sony X900F displays deeper blacks in a dark room due to better local dimming, and this is great if you watch movies. The Sony X900F can also handle reflections better and has a faster response time that leaves only a small blur trail. It also has better gray uniformity for an image without clouding or shadows. On the other hand, the TCL R617 has a lower input lag which is great if you play video games.

TCL C Series/C807 2017
55" 65" 75"

The TCL 6 Series R617 is much better than the TCL C807. The R617 is brighter, and also has better dark room performance thanks to the full array local dimming feature and better black uniformity. Motion looks crisper with less blur thanks to the faster response time, and the better black frame insertion feature can further improve motion clarity.

Vizio P Series XLED 2017
55" 65" 75"

The Vizio P Series 2017 is slightly better than the TCL 6 Series R617. The Vizio P Series 2017 is much better for watching movies as it has better local dimming and better black uniformity and also has better motion interpolation. The TCL R617 has better input lag which is great if you play video games or use the TV as a PC monitor. If you watch a lot of TV shows, the TCL has better upscaling and can handle reflections slightly better.

TCL P Series/P607 2017
55"

The TCL 6 Series R617 is somewhat better than the TCL P607. The TCL R617 has a motion interpolation feature which will please the soap opera effect fans and a slightly better SDR peak brightness which is great if you watch TV shows in a brighter room. The TCL R617 also has better black frame insertion (BFI) that clears the image blur in fast action. On the other hand, the TCL P607 has slightly better contrast, which is great if you watch movies in a dark room and a lower input lag to please those who play video games.

TCL S Series/S405 4k 2018
43" 49" 55" 65"

The TCL R617 is significantly better than the TCL S405. The TCL R617 can deliver deeper blacks thanks to the higher native contrast ratio, and has a local dimming feature to further enhance dark room performance. The R617 can remove 24p judder from older movies and can get much brighter. The R617 has a wide color gamut and can display more vivid colors. The TCL S405, on the other hand, has marginally lower input lag for video games.

+ Show more

Video

Test Results

Design
7.0
Design
Style
Curved No

The R617 has a simple design, but it looks a bit bulky mainly because of its thick bezels. It looks like other TCL TVs we've tested, and overall it feels like it has a solid build to it. The stand is very wide, so you'll need a big table to hold it, but it supports the TV well.

Design
Stand

Like most TCLs, the TCL 6 Series has a stand that is nearly the full width of the TV. You'll need a very wide table to put it on. It's made of metal and feels strong and sturdy. This change in material is a nice departure from the plastic feel of older TCL models.

Footprint of the 55" TV stand: 47.8" x 10.6"

The legs can also be reversed, in which case the stand measures 28.5" x 10.6".

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 200x200

The rear of the TV is simple. The top half is metallic and the body is plastic.

There's no cable management, so it can look a bit messy for those who enjoy clean setups with hidden cables.

Design
Borders
Borders 0.47" (1.2 cm)

The borders of the TCL 6 Series look decent. They're metallic and have the same finish as the stand legs.

Design
Thickness
Max Thickness 2.95" (7.5 cm)

The TCL 6 Series is comprised of two sections: the electronics compartment, and the panel section which is square and has a bulky feel to it. Even though the overall thickness isn't bad, it'll stick out a little if wall-mounted.

7.0
Design
Build Quality

Decent build quality that feels solid and the TV doesn't have any loose parts on it. Its successor, the TCL 6 Series/R625 2019 has improved build quality.

We have received many reports of varying gray uniformity issues between units, which may be indicative of the build quality or quality control.

Picture Quality
8.9
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
5,182 : 1
Contrast with local dimming
6,052 : 1

As is the case with most VA panels, the 6 Series 2018 has a fantastic contrast ratio. The R617 is able to produce deep, inky blacks when viewed in dark rooms.

The local dimming feature further improves the contrast ratio, making it a great choice for dark room viewing.

6.0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
Yes
Backlight
Full-Array

The local dimming on the TCL R615/617 series is decent, and it can produce deeper dark scenes which is very noticeable especially when viewed in a dark room.

On the other hand, there's some obvious clouding around the moving objects. This is because of the inherent limitations of FALD technology and should not worry most people.

Update: The text has been updated to better explain why we see some clouding.

8.9
Picture Quality
SDR Peak Brightness
SDR Real Scene Peak Brightness
701 cd/m²
SDR Peak 2% Window
881 cd/m²
SDR Peak 10% Window
984 cd/m²
SDR Peak 25% Window
1,161 cd/m²
SDR Peak 50% Window
876 cd/m²
SDR Peak 100% Window
676 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 2% Window
874 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 10% Window
979 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 25% Window
1,155 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 50% Window
874 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 100% Window
675 cd/m²
SDR ABL
0.027

Great SDR peak brightness; it performs well in a bright room. The TV boosts the bright sections of the screen when other areas are dimmer. This is shown by how the smaller window tests are brighter than the larger ones.

This is an improvement from 2017's TCL P605/607 and it's much better than the brightness of competing TVs like the Samsung NU7100 and Vizio M Series 2017. It's also a bit brighter than the newer TCL 6 Series 2019 R625.

8.5
Picture Quality
HDR Peak Brightness
HDR Real Scene Peak Brightness
840 cd/m²
HDR Peak 2% Window
908 cd/m²
HDR Peak 10% Window
1,009 cd/m²
HDR Peak 25% Window
1,173 cd/m²
HDR Peak 50% Window
879 cd/m²
HDR Peak 100% Window
674 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 2% Window
903 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 10% Window
1,006 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 25% Window
1,165 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 50% Window
871 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 100% Window
673 cd/m²
HDR ABL
0.027

The TCL 6 Series has great HDR peak brightness. Bright highlights in HDR content will be shown fairly bright, very close to the level of 1000-4000 cd/m² they're intended to be.

Overall, the HDR brightness is much better than the TCL P605/607 which is great.

6.3
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
4.670%
50% DSE
0.229%
5% Std. Dev.
1.797%
5% DSE
0.127%

Mediocre gray uniformity on the 55R617. There's clear darkening around all four corners and there's visible dirty screen effect, which is noticeable with fast-moving objects. Even during dark scenes, the black isn't uniform across the screen. However, this result varies between units.

5.1
Picture Quality
Viewing Angle
Color Washout
21°
Color Shift
32°
Brightness Loss
29°
Black Level Raise
15°
Gamma Shift
14°

The viewing angle is poor. Blacks and colors shift rapidly as you move away from the front, and the brightness drops quickly as the angle increases a few degrees.

As with most TCLs we've reviewed, it's most suitable for a narrow viewing environment.

The Sony X720E is a better choice for a wide viewing angle.

7.8
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
1.006%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
0.746%

The black uniformity of the TCL 6 Series is good. Although there's some clouding in the native black uniformity, the performance improves when local dimming is enabled. This only reduces clouding around the test cross.

7.1
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Semi-gloss
Total Reflections
5.7%
Indirect Reflections
0.7%
Calculated Direct Reflections
5.0%

The R617 has a semi-gloss finish that works well in diffusing reflections across the screen. However, when viewed in a bright room, the reflections may be somewhat distracting especially if the source is facing the TV.

This model has better reflection handling than the newer TCL R625.

7.6
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
White Balance dE
3.15
Color dE
2.33
Gamma
2.21
Color Temperature
5,979 K
Picture Mode
Movie
Color Temp Setting
Warm
Gamma Setting
2.2

Good color accuracy pre-calibration. Most of the colors on the TCL R617 still appear fairly accurate, but because the color temperature is below the target, most colors will be closer to red and yellow. The gamma curve follows the target really well, so most scenes should appear at their correct brightness.

9.6
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
White Balance dE
0.31
Color dE
0.62
Gamma
2.20
Color Temperature
6,484 K
White Balance Calibration
11 point
Color Calibration
Yes
Auto-Calibration Function
No

As is the case with most TVs, the R617 has near-perfect color accuracy post-calibration. With the exception of the color blue, most colors are extremely accurate. The gamma curve is exactly at the 2.2 target, but the color temperature wasn't able to fully reach its target, so some colors are still closer to red/yellow.

See our recommended settings here.

8.0
Picture Quality
480p Input

Lower resolution 480p content looks good and is displayed without any obvious issues.

8.0
Picture Quality
720p Input

720p content is displayed well, without any issues.

9.0
Picture Quality
1080p Input

1080p content like Blu-rays and non-4k games looks almost as good as native 4k.

9.5
Picture Quality
4k Input

There are some artifacts visible with 4k content due to the sub-pixel dimming. This performs similarly to the P607 (see here), but shouldn't be an issue for most people and is mostly noticeable when used as a PC monitor.

This type of dithering is uncommon, and is only seen on some TCL TVs, including the S517 and R617. Most people won't notice it much, but occasionally it causes artifacts when it interferes with spatial dithering in games such as this green or purple shadow. (Note: the images are from the S517, but we expect them to be the same on the 6 Series.)

Update 29/05/2018: We've received a report that the 49" S515/S517 has similar crosshatching to the S405, as seen here, and we expect this to be the same in the R615/R617. This will bother some people especially when used as a PC Monitor.

0
Picture Quality
8k Input

This is a 4k TV that can't display 8k content.

Picture Quality
Pixels
Type LED
Sub-Type
VA

The pixel structure is quite different from the P607, but there are still artifacts visible with native 4k content as seen in the 4k input box.

7.8
Picture Quality
Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI P3 xy
88.57%
DCI P3 uv
90.93%
Rec 2020 xy
64.25%
Rec 2020 uv
67.39%

The TCL 6 Series 2018 has a good color gamut, but it's slightly worse than the P607. It supports a wide color gamut, but it isn't as wide as other HDR TVs. HDR will look good, but bright outdoor scenes will lack some detail due to the TV's limited green reproduction.

Note that for this test, a PC was used as a pattern generator. Like many other TCL TVs, the TV detects the PC from the AVI infoframe and automatically switches to a PC mode which behaves a little bit differently. Using an HDFury Integral to mask the AVI infoframe results in a color gamut in the same ballpark, but slightly lower at around 65.8% Rec. 2020 uv.

The TV's Movie EOTF curve follows our input stimulus almost perfectly, but it rolls off sharply as it hits the TV's peak brightness. The PC and Game EOTFs are nearly identical, which is great.

7.4
Picture Quality
Color Volume
Normalized DCI P3 Coverage ITP
83.9%
10,000 cd/m² DCI P3 Coverage ITP
48.7%
Normalized Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
63.2%
10,000 cd/m² Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
36.5%

The 55R617 has decent color volume. In the P3 volume, it covers the gamut well; this is a great improvement over the TCL P607. In both color volumes, the darker colors aren't displayed very well, and blues don't get very bright.

7.8
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit
Red (Std. Dev.)
0.121
Green (Std. Dev.)
0.116
Blue (Std. Dev.)
0.099
Gray (Std. Dev.)
0.123

Good gradient performance on the TCL 6 Series 2018. There's some small banding in dark red, dark green, and dark gray, but nothing major and this shouldn't be a problem.

10
Picture Quality
Temporary Image Retention
IR after 0 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 2 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 4 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 6 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 8 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 10 min recovery
0.00%

There's no image retention on this TV. As always, this is good news for gamers and PC users who might use this TV as a monitor.

10
Picture Quality
Permanent Burn-In Risk
Permanent Burn-In Risk
No

We don't expect VA panels to experience permanent image retention, as the VA panel in our long-term test appears immune.

Motion
7.6
Motion
Response Time
80% Response Time
6.3 ms
100% Response Time
12.4 ms

Great response time with a minimal blur trail behind fast-moving objects. Most transitions won't have any visible overshoot.

7.9
Motion
Flicker-Free
Flicker-Free
No
PWM Dimming Frequency
480 Hz

There's a backlight flicker on the R617, but it flickers at 480Hz, which is barely noticeable. This is a significant improvement over the 120Hz flicker on the TCL P Series/P607 2017. The TV mainly dims the backlight through PWM, although there's some amplitude dimming as well.

10
Motion
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Optional BFI
Yes
Min Flicker for 60 fps
60 Hz
60 Hz for 60 fps
Yes
120 Hz for 120 fps
N/A
Min Flicker for 60 fps in Game Mode
60 Hz

The R617 has an optional black frame insertion feature that can adjust the backlight flicker to help clear up motion by introducing flicker.

This can be enabled by going to Options->Advanced Picture Settings and turning LED Motion Clarity On.

The TV can flicker as low as 60Hz, even in game mode, but there are some strange results. It appears to flicker each color individually, resulting in visible duplications of different colors, as seen here. This is also noticeable when moving around with BFI enabled.

Motion
Motion Interpolation
Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
Yes
Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
No

The TV can interpolate lower frame rate content as high as 60 fps. Motion can look a little strange to some people when enabled, this is commonly known as the Soap Opera Effect. This doesn't work when connected to a PC, and there's no way to bypass this as this TCL automatically detects when it's connected to a PC.

Motion interpolation is a new feature on the TCL R617, and it can be enabled by going to the Advanced Picture Settings menu, and setting Action Smoothing to either Off, Low, Medium, or High.

7.2
Motion
Stutter
Frame Hold Time @ 24 fps
29.3 ms
Frame Hold Time @ 60 fps
4.3 ms

The R617 can display most content without stutter, but there's some noticeable stutter when playing 24p content - like Blu-ray movies. This is mostly noticeable in wide-panning shots.

10
Motion
24p Judder
Judder-Free 24p
Yes
Judder-Free 24p via 60p
Yes
Judder-Free 24p via 60i
Yes
Judder-Free 24p via Native Apps
Yes

The TV is judder free when playing native 24p content from a Blu-ray player. To remove judder from other sources, Natural cinema must be enabled in the Advanced Picture Settings menu. This is a significant improvement over all other TCL TVs we've reviewed.

0
Motion
Variable Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
No
HDMI Forum VRR
No
FreeSync
No
G-SYNC Compatible
No
4k VRR Maximum
N/A
4k VRR Minimum
No VRR support
1080p VRR Maximum
N/A
1080p VRR Minimum
No VRR support
1440p VRR Maximum
N/A
1440p VRR Minimum
N/A
VRR Supported Connectors
No VRR support

The TCL 6 Series doesn't support any of the Variable Refresh Rate technologies like AMD FreeSync. We tested on a PC with an AMD Radeon RX 580.

Inputs
8.3
Inputs
Input Lag
1080p @ 60 Hz
17.6 ms
1080p @ 60 Hz Outside Game Mode
152.4 ms
1440p @ 60 Hz
17.6 ms
4k @ 60 Hz
19.2 ms
4k @ 60 Hz + 10 bit HDR
19.6 ms
4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4
19.2 ms
4k @ 60 Hz Outside Game Mode
122.8 ms
4k @ 60 Hz With Interpolation
148.1 ms
8k @ 60 Hz
N/A
1080p @ 120 Hz
N/A
1440p @ 120 Hz
N/A
4k @ 120 Hz
N/A
1080p with Variable Refresh Rate
N/A
1440p with VRR
N/A
4k with VRR
N/A
8k with VRR
N/A
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
No

Update 10/16/2020: We've received reports that Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) is now available on this TV. Unfortunately, we no longer have it, so we can't confirm this information.

The R617 has excellent low input lag, as long as Game Mode is enabled. With Game Mode disabled, input lag is extremely high. 1080p and 4k input lag are very similar. The TV is a 60Hz panel, as such 120Hz input is not supported.

For use as a PC monitor, the TV automatically detects when it's connected to a PC. If it doesn't automatically detect it, changing the input label to Computer will enable PC Mode. For the lowest input lag in PC mode, Game Mode must also be enabled.

8.3
Inputs
Supported Resolutions
Resolution 4k
1080p @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
1080p @ 120 Hz
No
1440p @ 60 Hz
Yes (forced resolution required)
1440p @ 120 Hz
No
4k @ 60 Hz
Yes
4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 120 Hz
No
8k @ 30 Hz or 24 Hz
No
8k @ 60 Hz
No

The TV supports most resolutions without issue. For use as a PC Monitor, PC mode must be enabled; either by the TV's auto-detection or by changing the input label to Computer. The TV must be in PC mode for chroma 4:4:4 to work.

Inputs
Input Photos

All of the inputs are directed out of the side. There's an included mini break out cable for composite input, but no component input.

Unlike the P607, there's no headphone output on the remote. To connect headphones, the audio output on the side of the TV is the only option.

Inputs
Total Inputs
HDMI 3
USB 1
Digital Optical Audio Out 1
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 1
Analog Audio Out RCA 0
Component In 0
Composite In 1 (incl. adapter)
Tuner (Cable/Ant) 1
Ethernet 1
DisplayPort 0
IR In 0
SD/SDHC 0
Inputs
Inputs Specifications
HDR10
Yes
HDR10+
No
Dolby Vision
Yes
HLG
No
3D
No
HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth
Yes (HDMI 1,2,3)
HDMI 2.1
No
CEC Yes
HDCP 2.2 Yes (HDMI 1,2,3)
USB 3.0
No
Variable Analog Audio Out Yes
Wi-Fi Support Yes (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)

Update 06/15/2020: We've received reports that this TV now supports HLG. Unfortunately, we're not able to confirm it, as we don't have it any more.

Update 06/05/2018: To support HDR on HDMI ports connected to an Xbox One, the HDMI ports must be manually set to HDMI 2.0 as the Auto setting won't automatically switch to HDMI 2.0 due to a detection issue.

Update 01/09/2019: We retested the DTS passthrough with the new firmware and now it works properly.

For the audio return channel to work, CEC must be enabled in Settings -> System -> Control other devices (CEC) -> ARC (HDMI 3).

For 5.1 passthrough on the ARC, the Audio Mode must be set to Auto in the Settings -> Audio menu, with S/PDIF and ARC set to "Dolby D, DTS". With other settings no sound was getting passed through to our receiver, not even stereo PCM.

Inputs
Audio Passthrough
ARC
Yes (HDMI 3)
eARC support
No
Dolby Atmos via TrueHD via eARC
No
DTS:X via DTS-HD MA via eARC
No
5.1 Dolby Digital via ARC
Yes
5.1 DTS via ARC
Yes
5.1 Dolby Digital via Optical
Yes
5.1 DTS via Optical
Yes

The R617 supports ARC audio passthrough with HDMI 3. You can connect 5.1 Dolby Digital or DTS through it. Unfortunately, it doesn't have eARC support.

Sound Quality
5.4
Sound Quality
Frequency Response
Low-Frequency Extension
142.54 Hz
Std. Dev. @ 70
6.43 dB
Std. Dev. @ 80
6.24 dB
Std. Dev. @ Max
5.37 dB
Max
87.2 dB SPL
Dynamic Range Compression
2.63 dB

The frequency response is sub-par. The LFE (Low-frequency extension) is at 143Hz, which means this TV won't produce any thump or rumble, and not a lot of body and punch either. The response above the TV's LFE is relatively well-balanced, which is important for producing clear dialogue. However, since this TV doesn't have a room correction system, it wasn't able to remove the mode of our test room around 200Hz. Additionally, it gets loud enough for most situations, and doesn't produce an excessive amount of compression artifacts under heavier loads.

6.7
Sound Quality
Distortion
Weighted THD @ 80
0.072
Weighted THD @ Max
0.396
IMD @ 80
11.36%
IMD @ Max
17.02%

The distortion performance is about average. The overall amount of harmonic distortion is within good limits at 80dB SPL, but slightly elevated at max volume. This TV also produces high amounts of intermodulation distortion, which could translate to a less transparent treble. Both the effect will be subtle and won't be noticeable to most users.

Smart Features
8.0
Smart Features
Interface
Smart OS Roku TV
Version 8.0
Ease of Use
Easy
Smoothness
Very Smooth
Time Taken to Select YouTube
3 s
Time Taken to Change Backlight
4 s
Advanced Options
Many

The interface is easy to use and smooth. There are no serious performance issues or dropped frames.

0
Smart Features
Ad-Free
Ads
Yes
Opt-out
No
Suggested Content in Home
Yes
Opt-out of Suggested Content
No

There are ads on the home menu, and there's no way to disable them. During our testing, we were presented with ads for other Roku devices compared to the suggested content ads that were present on previous TCL TVs.

8.0
Smart Features
Apps and Features
App Selection
Great
App Smoothness
Average
Cast Capable
Yes
USB Drive Playback
Yes
USB Drive HDR Playback
Yes
HDR in Netflix
Yes
HDR in YouTube
Yes

The R617 has a wide selection of available apps through the built-in Roku smart interface. There are also hundreds of streaming channels available, many of them free. The built-in apps are able to play pretty much everything. It's one of the best smart TVs we've tested in 2018.

7.0
Smart Features
Remote
Size
Small
Voice Control
Search, Some Other Features
CEC Menu Control
No
Other Smart Features
No
Remote App Roku

The remote included with the TV doesn't use IR, so it doesn't require line of sight. Unlike the enhanced remote included with the P607, the R617 doesn't have an audio output on the remote. With the removal of this feature, the remote is quite a bit lighter and thinner than the P607 remote.

The basic remote on the R615 requires line-of-sight to the TV, and doesn't have voice control options.

Smart Features
TV Controls

There's a single button at the front of the R617, and through it you can control the power or change inputs.

Smart Features
In The Box

  • 3.5mm Breakout Cable for Composite Input
  • Dust Covers
  • Batteries
  • R617: Enhanced RF Remote
  • R615: Basic IR Remote
  • Instruction Manual
Not Shown:
  • 60.5" Power Cable
To learn more about the different variants of the R617, click here.

Smart Features
Misc
Power Consumption 57 W
Power Consumption (Max) 131 W
Firmware 8.0.2 • build 4140-30