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To try to better understand how long a TV should last, we're running 100 TVs through an accelerated longevity test for the next two years. We've just posted our 1-year video update with our latest findings on temporary image retention, burn-in, and more!

TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED TV Review

Tested using Methodology v1.6
Review updated Jan 18, 2024 at 04:00 pm
Latest change: Retest Feb 13, 2024 at 11:44 am
TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED Picture
7.8
Mixed Usage
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.9
Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.7
TV Shows
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.7
Sports
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
8.0
Video Games
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.9
HDR Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
8.0
HDR Gaming
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.7
PC Monitor
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
This TV was replaced by the TCL 6 Series/R655 2022 QLED

The TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED is TCL's flagship 4k LED TV for 2020. It's part of TCL's 6 Series lineup that includes the TCL 6 Series/R646 2021 QLED and the TCL 6 Series/R648 2021 8k QLED, and this model has Roku TV as its built-in smart interface. It's user-friendly and has a ton of apps available to download. It features Mini LED backlighting that allows the screen to get bright and is meant to provide greater control over the local dimming zones. It has most advanced features people are looking for in a high-end TV in 2020, like a 120Hz panel and variable refresh rate (VRR) support, but it doesn't have HDMI 2.1 bandwidth. It's been replaced in 2022 by the TCL 6 Series/R655 2022 QLED.

Our Verdict

7.8 Mixed Usage

The TCL R635 is a very good TV overall. It's great for watching movies in dark rooms thanks to its fantastic contrast ratio, but sadly, its local dimming feature causes blooming around bright objects. HDR content looks great as the TV displays a wide color gamut, and it gets bright enough to make highlights pop. It also has great gaming features like a quick response time and VRR support, but it doesn't have HDMI 2.1 bandwidth. It's good for watching sports and shows in bright rooms thanks to its high SDR peak brightness and decent reflection handling. Unfortunately, it has a narrow viewing angle, so it's not a good choice if you have a wide seating arrangement, as anyone sitting to the sides of the screen sees a degraded image.

Pros
  • Fantastic contrast ratio.
  • Excellent SDR peak brightness.
  • Easy-to-use Roku interface.
  • Displays wide color gamut for HDR content.
Cons
  • Mini LED local dimming is mediocre.
  • Narrow viewing angle.
  • Uniformity issues.
7.9 Movies

The TCL R635 is very good for watching movies in a dark room. It has a VA panel that displays deep blacks, thanks to its fantastic contrast ratio. Sadly, the local dimming feature is mediocre, as there's noticeable blooming around bright objects. It also has some uniformity issues that are distracting in dark scenes. Fortunately, the TV automatically removes 24p judder from any source.

Pros
  • Fantastic contrast ratio.
  • Automatically removes judder from any source.
  • Upscales lower-resolution content without any issues.
Cons
  • Mini LED local dimming is mediocre.
7.7 TV Shows

The TCL R635 is good for watching TV shows in a bright room. It gets very bright and has decent reflection handling, so it combats glare very well. The built-in Roku OS is easy to use, and you can download a great selection of apps. Unfortunately, the TV has a narrow viewing angle, so it's not ideal for wide seating arrangements, as the image looks washed out from the sides.

Pros
  • Excellent SDR peak brightness.
  • Easy-to-use Roku interface.
  • Upscales lower-resolution content without any issues.
Cons
  • Narrow viewing angle.
7.7 Sports

The TCL R635 is good for watching sports in a bright room. It has a quick response time, so fast-moving content has minimal motion blur. It performs well in bright rooms because it gets bright enough to combat glare and handles reflections decently. Unfortunately, it has a narrow viewing angle, so it's not a good choice if you have a wide seating arrangement, as anyone sitting to the sides of the screen sees a degraded image. There's also some dirty screen effect in the center, which is distracting during sports with large areas of the same color, like hockey.

Pros
  • Great response time.
  • Excellent SDR peak brightness.
  • Upscales lower-resolution content without any issues.
Cons
  • Narrow viewing angle.
  • Uniformity issues.
8.0 Video Games

The TCL R635 is great for video games. It has a great response time, resulting in minimal motion blur, and there's a backlight strobing feature to improve the appearance of motion. It has low input lag for a responsive experience, but it's higher than other TVs, especially when gaming in 4k. The TV supports VRR for minimal screen-tearing and is capable of 120Hz, but since it lacks HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, you have to choose between 4k @ 60Hz or up to 1440p @ 120Hz. It's a great TV for dark-room gaming because it has a fantastic contrast ratio, but its local dimming feature is mediocre as it causes blooming.

Pros
  • Fantastic contrast ratio.
  • Great response time.
  • VRR support.
  • 120Hz panel.
Cons
  • Mini LED local dimming is mediocre.
  • No HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.
7.9 HDR Movies

The TCL R635 is very good for HDR movies. It has a fantastic contrast ratio, resulting in deep blacks when viewed in the dark. Unfortunately, its local dimming feature is mediocre and causes blooming around bright objects when they're against a dark background. Fortunately, it displays a great wide color gamut for HDR content and gets bright enough to truly bring out highlights.

Pros
  • Fantastic contrast ratio.
  • Displays wide color gamut for HDR content.
  • Gets bright enough to make highlights pop in HDR.
Cons
  • Mini LED local dimming is mediocre.
8.0 HDR Gaming

The TCL R635 is great for HDR gaming. It has a quick response time, low input lag, and a 120Hz refresh rate with VRR support for a smooth and responsive gaming experience. Unfortunately, it lacks HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, so you have to choose between 4k @ 60Hz or up to 1440p @ 120Hz. HDR content looks great because it displays a wide color gamut, and it gets bright enough to make highlights pop. It also can display deep blacks, but sadly, its local dimming feature is mediocre and there's blooming around bright objects when they're against a dark background.

Pros
  • Fantastic contrast ratio.
  • Great response time.
  • Displays wide color gamut for HDR content.
  • Gets bright enough to make highlights pop in HDR.
Cons
  • Mini LED local dimming is mediocre.
  • No HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.
7.7 PC Monitor

The TCL R635 is a good choice to use as a PC monitor. It displays chroma 4:4:4, which helps render text clearly, but only with a 4k resolution and not at 1080p or 1440p. It has a low input lag that delivers a responsive desktop experience and a quick response time for minimal blur behind quick cursor movements. Sadly, it has a narrow viewing angle, so the image looks washed out at the sides if you sit too close to the screen.

Pros
  • Displays chroma 4:4:4 with a 4k resolution.
  • Excellent SDR peak brightness.
Cons
  • Narrow viewing angle.
  • Uniformity issues.
  • 7.8 Mixed Usage
  • 7.9 Movies
  • 7.7 TV Shows
  • 7.7 Sports
  • 8.0 Video Games
  • 7.9 HDR Movies
  • 8.0 HDR Gaming
  • 7.7 PC Monitor
  1. Updated Feb 13, 2024: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  2. Updated Jan 23, 2024: We retested for HDMI Forum VRR support in the Variable Refresh Rate section and the PS5's 1440p and VRR compatibility in the Advanced Console Compatibility section. We've updated the text in the review to reflect these changes.
  3. Updated Jan 18, 2024: We've updated the text in the review for clarity and added text about the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  4. Updated Dec 05, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  5. Updated Oct 12, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  6. Updated Aug 09, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  7. Updated Jun 07, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  8. Updated Apr 03, 2023: We uploaded the brightness measurements and uniformity photos after running the TV for four months in our Accelerated Longevity Test.
  9. Updated Feb 06, 2023: We uploaded the brightness measurements and uniformity photos after running the TV for two months in our Accelerated Longevity Test.
  10. Updated Nov 24, 2022: We bought and tested the TCL 6 Series/R655 2022 QLED, and added a few relevant comparisons to this review.
  11. Updated Nov 17, 2022: We uploaded the initial brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  12. Updated Nov 23, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
  13. Updated Aug 16, 2021: We rechecked the local dimming feature on the latest firmware to see if it's still crushing blacks.
  14. Updated Jul 13, 2021: Uploaded the real content local dimming videos.
  15. Updated Mar 01, 2021: Retested HDR peak brightness and reshot local dimming video.
  16. Updated Mar 01, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.6.
  17. Updated Nov 04, 2020: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
  18. Updated Sep 09, 2020: We remeasured the pre-calibration in a few different picture modes.
  19. Updated Sep 04, 2020: Review published.
  20. Updated Aug 28, 2020: Early access published.
  21. Updated Aug 20, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  22. Updated Aug 20, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  23. Updated Aug 15, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We bought and tested the 55-inch TCL R635 (55R635), but our results are also valid for the 65-inch (65R635) and the 75-inch (75R635) sizes. The 55-inch unit we tested has about 220 local dimming zones, and it's advertised to have up to 240 on the larger sizes, so local dimming should perform the same between each size. TCL's lineup outside North America is very different, so we're not aware of any equivalents outside Canada and the United States.

Size US Canada Adjustable Stand
55" 55R635 55R635-CA No
65" 65R635 65R635-CA Yes
75" 75R635 75R635-CA Yes

If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their TCL R635 doesn't correspond to our review, let us know, and we will update the review. Note that some tests, such as gray uniformity, may vary between individual units.

You can see the label for our unit here.

Compared To Other TVs

The TCL R635 offers good performance for its price, and most people should enjoy this TV. However, it's not nearly as good as its main competitor, the Hisense H9G, as it has too many uniformity issues, and the local dimming feature doesn't perform as well as some other higher-end TVs in 2020.

Also, see our recommendations for the best budget TVs, the best TCL TVs, and the best 4k TVs.

TCL 6 Series/R646 2021 QLED
55" 65" 75"

The TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED and the TCL 6 Series/R646 2021 QLED sit alongside each other in the TCL 6 Series lineup. The R646 was released a year after the R635, so it improves in a few areas. The main difference is that the R646 has much better local dimming as there's less blooming around bright objects, but it doesn't deliver as deep blacks with local dimming enabled. The R646 also has two HDMI 2.1 inputs, which the R635 doesn't have, meaning you can use it for 4k gaming up to 120 fps. They each have different smart systems, with the R646 using Google TV and the R635 using Roku.

TCL Q7/Q750G QLED
55" 65" 75" 85"

The TCL Q7/Q750G QLED is better than the TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED. The Q750G has much better black uniformity and contrast due to its highly effective local dimming feature, so it’s better suited for a dark room. The Q750G is also much better for gaming due to its HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, up to 4k @ 144Hz support, and lower input lag.

TCL QM8/QM850G QLED
65" 75" 85" 98"

The TCL QM8/QM850G QLED is better than the TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED. The QM8 has much better black uniformity and contrast due to its highly effective local dimming feature, so it’s better suited for a dark room. The QM8 is also much better for gaming due to its HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, up to 4k @ 144Hz support, and lower input lag.

Hisense U8G
55" 65"

The Hisense U8G is significantly better than the TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED. The Hisense has a much better local dimming feature, and the unit we tested has significantly better black uniformity, so it looks better overall in a dark room. The Hisense also has much better reflection handling, and although minor for most people, it's a bit more future-proof, with two HDMI 2.1 ports.

Hisense U7K [U7, U75K]
55" 65" 75" 85"

The Hisense U7K is better than the TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED. The Hisense has better black uniformity and a much better local dimming feature for deeper blacks than the TCL, so it’s the better option for a dark room. The Hisense is also much better for gaming due to its HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, up to 4k @ 144Hz support, and lower input lag.

LG C3 OLED
42" 48" 55" 65" 77" 83"

The LG C3 OLED is better than the TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED. The C3 has a much better picture quality due to its perfect contrast and the ability to display much deeper blacks, so it’s the better choice for a dark room. The C3 is significantly better for gaming due to its much faster response time, HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, and 4k @ 120Hz support. The C3 is also better for watching shows or sports as a group because of its much wider viewing angle.

TCL R745 QLED
85"

The TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED and the TCL R745 QLED are both very good TVs. While the R635 is available from 55 to 75 inch sizes, the R745 is only available in an 85 inch model. They're similar overall, but the R745 is slightly better in a few areas, such as HDR peak brightness, gradient handling, and response time. However, the R635 has much better speakers, so sound is better without needing a receiver.

TCL 5 Series/S535 2020 QLED
50" 55" 65" 75"

The TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED is better overall than the TCL 5 Series/S535 2020 QLED. The 6 Series gets significantly brighter, so highlights pop the way they should in HDR. It also has a 120Hz refresh rate, VRR support, and a quicker response time. However, the 5 Series has better out-of-the-box color accuracy, gradient handling, and it has much lower input lag.

TCL 6 Series/R625 2019
55" 65"

The TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 is slightly better overall than the TCL 6 Series/R625 2019. The 2020 model performs much better in well-lit rooms because it has improved reflection handling and it gets much brighter, so it combats glare easily. It also has a faster response time that makes motion look smoother in video games or when you watch sports. However, the 2019 version is a better choice for dark room viewing since the local dimming feature is much better; there's a lot less blooming, and it has significantly better black uniformity, but this may vary between units.

Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED
32" 43" 50" 55" 60" 65" 70" 75" 85"

The TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED is much better than the Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED. While they both use VA panels, the TCL has a higher contrast ratio and a full-array local dimming feature to further improve black level. It delivers a better HDR experience overall because it has a wider color gamut and gets significantly brighter, but its gradient handling is mediocre, much worse than the Samsung. The TCL has better response times but higher input lag, and even though it has a 120Hz panel, it lacks HDMI 2.1 ports and can only display a 4k @ 60Hz signal. That said, it supports VRR, whereas the Samsung doesn't.

TCL 6 Series/R648 2021 8k QLED
65" 75"

The TCL 6 Series/R648 2021 8k QLED and the TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED are part of the same lineup, but they have different features. The R648 has an 8k resolution, while the R635 is 4k. The 8k resolution is supposed to deliver clear images, but the R635 still does a better job at displaying 480 and native 4k content. The R648 improves in a few ways, like the better local dimming, HDMI 2.1 inputs, and better reflection handling, but the R635 still gets brighter in HDR.

Samsung Q60/Q60T QLED
43" 50" 55" 58" 65" 75" 82" 85"

The TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 is much better than the Samsung Q60/Q60T QLED. The TCL has a 120Hz refresh rate, a much quicker response time, a wider color gamut, and gets much better. On the other hand, the Samsung has much better out-of-the-box color accuracy and lower input lag.

Sony X900H
55" 65" 75" 85"

The Sony X900H is a bit better than the TCL 6 Series/R635 2020. The Sony has much more accurate colors, handles gradients a lot better, and has a lower input lag. However, the TCL displays deeper blacks, gets brighter, and displays a wider color gamut.

Hisense U6G
50" 55" 65" 75"

The Hisense U6G is a bit better than the TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED. The Hisense has much better black uniformity, slightly better reflection handling, and a better local dimming feature. On the other hand, the TCL has better contrast, although this isn't a very noticeable difference, and the TCL can remove judder from more sources, including 60Hz sources like a cable box.

Hisense U7G
55" 65" 75"

The Hisense U7G is a bit better than the TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED. The Hisense has a better local dimming feature, better black uniformity, and slightly better reflection handling. The TCL is a bit brighter overall in HDR, but small highlights stand out better on the Hisense. The Hisense is a bit more future-proof, with two HDMI 2.1 ports, and a bit better for next-gen gaming as it supports 4k @ 120Hz.

Samsung Q80/Q80T QLED
49" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85"

The Samsung Q80/Q80T QLED is better for most uses than the TCL 6 Series/R635 QLED, but they both offer very good picture quality. The Samsung has HDMI 2.1 support, so it supports 4k @ 120Hz games, and its quick response time results in smoother motion. The Samsung also has wider viewing angles, but the TCL has a better contrast ratio. The TCL is slightly better for watching HDR movies because it gets much brighter, allowing it to make highlights pop in HDR.

TCL 5 Series/S546 2021 QLED
50" 55" 65" 75"

The TCL 5 Series/S546 2021 QLED and the TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED are both very good TVs. The R635 is a higher-end than the TCL, so it has a 120Hz panel with a quicker response time, but both TVs have HDMI 2.0 inputs. The R635 also gets brighter and doesn't have issues upscaling lower-resolution content from DVDs, so it's a better choice for watching shows. The R635 uses Roku TV as its smart system, which is user-friendly, while the S546 has Android TV, which has a bigger app store.

TCL 8 Series 2019/Q825 QLED
65" 75"

The TCL 8 Series 2019/Q825 QLED and the TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED are similarly performing TVs. That said, the 6 Series has more advanced features, like VRR support and eARC capability. It also has a lower input lag and a faster response time, so it's a better option for gaming. On the other hand, there's a lot more backlight bleed with the 6 series, causing issues with black uniformity; however, this can vary between units. 

LG C1 OLED
48" 55" 65" 77" 83"

The LG C1 OLED and the TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED are different types of TVs. The LG has an OLED panel with a near-infinite contrast, perfect black uniformity, and wider viewing angles. It also has HDMI 2.1 inputs, allowing you to play 4k games up to 120 fps, while the TCL is limited to 4k @ 60 fps gaming. However, the TCL has an LED panel that gets brighter, and it doesn't suffer from the risk of permanent burn-in like the LG.

Samsung Q70/Q70T QLED
55" 65" 75" 82" 85"

The TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED is better overall than the Samsung Q70/Q70T QLED. The TCL is a flagship model that gets much brighter than the Samsung, delivering a much better HDR experience. It also has a local dimming feature, which the Samsung doesn't have, but it doesn't perform very well on the TCL. They each have a 120Hz panel with VRR support, but with HDMI 2.1 support on the Samsung, it allows for 4k @ 120Hz gaming with both the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

Vizio P Series Quantum 2020
65" 75"

The Vizio P Series Quantum 2020 is a bit better than the TCL 6 Series/635 2020. The Vizio has better reflection handling and color accuracy, as well as lower input lag and faster response time. On the flip side, the TCL can remove judder from all sources, its internal speakers sound better, and its backlight's high flickering frequency causes less motion duplication in fast-moving scenes.

LG CX OLED
48" 55" 65" 77"

The LG CX OLED performs much better than the TCL 6 Series/R635 2020. The LG uses an OLED panel that results in an infinite contrast ratio, perfect black uniformity, and wide viewing angles. It also has better reflection handling, color accuracy, and gradient handling. However, the TCL doesn't have the risk of permanent burn-in and it gets much brighter.

Hisense H8G
50" 55" 65" 75"

The TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 is somewhat better than the Hisense H8G. The TCL gets much brighter, displays a much wider color gamut, has a quicker response time, and has VRR support. However, the Hisense has a much lower input lag, better gradient handling, better reflection handling, and the local dimming feature performs better.

Hisense H9G
55" 65"

The Hisense H9G is much better than the TCL 6 Series/R635 2020. The Hisense has a better local dimming feature, handles reflections much better, has a quicker response time, and has a lower input lag. However, the TCL displays a wider color gamut and has better built-in speakers.

Vizio M8 Series Quantum 2020
55" 65"

The TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED is a bit better than the Vizio M8 Series Quantum 2020. The TCL gets a lot brighter, it has faster response time, and it can remove judder from all sources. On the other hand, the Vizio has better color accuracy and lower input lag.

Samsung TU6980
70" 82"

The TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED is much better than the Samsung TU6980. The TCL has a full-array local dimming feature, gets significantly brighter, displays a wide color gamut, and has a quicker response time. On the other hand, the Samsung has slightly better reflection handling and much lower input lag.

+ Show more

Video

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Curved No

The TCL R635 has a great design that's very similar to the TCL 6 Series/R625 2019. The main frame holding the panel is made out of metal and plastic, and it looks like glass, giving the TV a more premium feel. It has new feet compared to the 2019 model, as they're set at an angle instead of being straight.

Design
Accelerated Longevity Test
Uniformity Pictures

The TV's brightness has fluctuated a bit but has remained roughly the same after 12 months, and there has been no noticeable shift in the uniformity of the panel.

Design
Stand

The stand is fairly wide, so you need a large table to place the TV on.

Footprint of the 55-inch stand: 42.1" x 13.6"

Note: You can move the position of the feet towards the center on the 65 and 75-inch TVs, but you can't do that with the 55-inch model.

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 300x300

The back of the TCL 55R635 looks a bit different from that of the TCL 6 Series/R625 2019. The top half is made from a shiny, glossy plastic that feels solid. The bottom half, where the inputs are, is made from matte plastic that feels a bit cheap. Cable management is serviced through the feet.

Design
Borders
Borders 0.35" (0.9 cm)
Design
Thickness
Max Thickness 3.66" (9.3 cm)

The TCL 6 Series Mini LED QLED is a bit thick, mainly because of the bottom part where the inputs stick out, which can be an issue if you wall-mount it.

7.5
Design
Build Quality

The TCL 6 Series Mini LED has good build quality. The stand is solid, and the TV doesn't wobble all that much. The TV is mainly plastic, which feels a bit cheap on the back. However, it's well-built overall, and there aren't any obvious issues.

Picture Quality
9.0
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
5,560 : 1
Contrast with local dimming
10,537 : 1

The TCL 55R635 has a fantastic contrast ratio, even better than the TCL 6 Series/R625 2019. It produces deep blacks, which is expected from a VA panel, and the local dimming feature significantly improves the contrast.

8.8
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene Peak Brightness
679 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
568 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
907 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
988 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
869 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
596 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
567 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
902 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
982 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
865 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
594 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.034

This TV has excellent SDR peak brightness. It gets bright enough to combat glare, but it's not the most consistent across varied content, as extremely small and extremely large areas aren't as bright, as seen in the 2% and 100% window tests. These are caused by frame dimming and the Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL).

These measurements are after calibration with the following settings:

  • Picture Mode: Movie
  • Backlight: Max
  • Local Dimming: High
  • Gamma: 2.2

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

The TV has mediocre local dimming. There's visible blooming around bright objects, and due to that blooming, if there are light sources near people's faces, it causes bright spots near or on faces. Lights pop a bit, but when the light sources are extremely small, they don't pop as much, and there's some black crush.

Subtitles don't get very bright either, and there's blooming around them too, as you can see in this photo. Fast-moving objects have visible transitions between the dimming zones, which is distracting. Overall, the local dimming improves the contrast because it helps the TV deepen blacks, but it also causes bright highlights to be more dim.

We tested local dimming with Local Contrast set to 'High'.

6.0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming In Game Mode
Local Dimming
Yes
Backlight
Full-Array

The local dimming feature looks the same in Game Mode as outside of it. There's still too much black crush and blooming.

8.4
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
Real Scene Highlight
885 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
599 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
986 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
1,080 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
790 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
662 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
597 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
980 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
1,072 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
788 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
660 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.033

The TV has impressive peak brightness in HDR. It gets bright in most scenes, but really small highlights are dimmer due to the black crush. Even large areas of bright colors are dimmer than the rest, but other scenes are more consistent. The EOTF follows the target curve fairly well, but some dark scenes are a bit too dark.

These measurements are after calibrating the HDR white point with the following settings:

  • HDR Picture Mode: Dark HDR
  • Brightness: Max
  • Contrast: Max
  • Local Dimming: High

If you want the brightest image possible, use these same settings but with the Picture Mode set to 'Bright HDR'.

8.4
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness In Game Mode
Real Scene Highlight
863 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
603 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
1,003 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
1,096 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
796 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
665 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
600 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
999 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
1,081 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
793 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
664 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.034

There is no noticeable difference with HDR peak brightness when the TV is set to Game Mode.

7.1
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
2.489%
50% DSE
0.189%
5% Std. Dev.
2.053%
5% DSE
0.135%

The TV has decent gray uniformity. The edges of the screen are slightly darker, and there's some dirty screen effect in the center that can be distracting during sports or when using the TV as a PC monitor. The uniformity is a bit better in near-dark scenes, but there's backlight bleed along the edges.

6.7
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
1.889%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
0.831%

The black uniformity on the TCL 6 Series 2020 is just okay. There's noticeable backlight bleed near the corners that creates a strange halo effect. However, local dimming improves the contrast and removes the halo but also causes blooming around bright objects.

5.4
Picture Quality
Viewing Angle
Color Washout
25°
Color Shift
24°
Brightness Loss
34°
Black Level Raise
19°
Gamma Shift
16°

The TV has a poor viewing angle, which is expected from a VA panel. The image looks washed out when viewing off-center, so it's not suggested for wide seating arrangements.

7.0
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Semi-gloss
Total Reflections
6.0%
Indirect Reflections
1.1%
Calculated Direct Reflections
4.9%

The TCL R635 has decent reflection handling. It performs well in moderately lit rooms, but reflections are distracting in rooms with direct sunlight. The replacement model, the TCL 6 Series/R655 2022 QLED, has much better reflection handling and looks better in a bright room.

6.1
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
White Balance dE
4.48
Color dE
3.65
Gamma
2.28
Color Temperature
5,753 K
Picture Mode
Movie
Color Temp Setting
Warm
Gamma Setting
2.2

The TV has mediocre color accuracy pre-calibration. Most colors are inaccurate, and the white balance is off. The color temperature is slightly warm, giving the image a red/yellow tint. Lastly, the gamma doesn't follow the curve well, so most scenes are darker than they should be.

9.4
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
White Balance dE
0.23
Color dE
1.55
Gamma
2.20
Color Temperature
6,478 K
White Balance Calibration
11 point
Color Calibration
Yes

After calibration, color accuracy is exceptional. The light blues are still a bit off, but any remaining inaccuracies are very difficult to spot. Gamma is perfect, and the color temperature is very close to the 6500K target.

See our recommended settings here.

8.0
Picture Quality
480p Input

480p content looks great, with no obvious issues.

8.0
Picture Quality
720p Input

The TV has no trouble upscaling 720p content from cable boxes or streaming services.

9.0
Picture Quality
1080p Input

1080p content looks excellent and is almost as good as native 4k content.

10
Picture Quality
4k Input

The TV displays 4k content perfectly, and unlike the TCL 6 Series/R625 2019, there aren't any issues with dithering or crosshatching.

0
Picture Quality
8k Input

The TCL 55R635 is a 4k TV that doesn't display an 8k image. The replacement to this TV, the TCL 6 Series/R648 2021 8k QLED, supports an 8k resolution.

Picture Quality
Pixels
Type LED
Sub-Type
VA

The TV uses a BGR subpixel layout, which affects the way text is displayed when using the TV as a PC monitor. You can read about it here.

8.4
Picture Quality
Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI P3 xy
91.01%
DCI P3 uv
94.57%
Rec 2020 xy
69.72%
Rec 2020 uv
78.81%

The TV has an impressive color gamut. It supports a wide color gamut and has outstanding coverage of the commonly used DCI P3 color space used in most HDR content. It also has decent coverage of the wider Rec. 2020 color space that is increasing in popularity with content creators.

8.0
Picture Quality
Color Volume
Normalized DCI P3 Coverage ITP
86.8%
10,000 cd/m² DCI P3 Coverage ITP
45.0%
Normalized Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
71.9%
10,000 cd/m² Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
37.3%

The TV's color volume is very good. This TV displays dark, saturated colors well due to the fantastic contrast ratio, but like most LED TVs, it can't display extremely bright blues.

6.2
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit
Red (Std. Dev.)
0.204
Green (Std. Dev.)
0.176
Blue (Std. Dev.)
0.184
Gray (Std. Dev.)
0.152

The TCL R635 has mediocre gradient handling. There's banding with most colors, especially darker shades. It's most noticeable with dark grays and blues. The Noise Reduction setting doesn't improve the gradient handling. It has much worse gradient handling than the lower-end TCL 5 Series/S535 2020 QLED.

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%

The TCL R635 shows no signs of temporary image retention.

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
8.4
Motion
Response Time
80% Response Time
3.8 ms
100% Response Time
11.1 ms

The TV has a great response time. Most fast-moving content has minimal motion blur, but there's noticeable overshoot with dark transitions, which causes motion artifacts in dark scenes.

9.9
Motion
Flicker-Free
Flicker-Free
No
PWM Dimming Frequency
960 Hz

The TV uses pulse width modulation (PWM) to dim its backlight at all brightness levels. It flickers no matter which picture mode or backlight level, but the high flicker frequency shouldn't bother most people.

8.7
Motion
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Optional BFI
Yes
Min Flicker For 60 fps
60 Hz
60Hz For 60 fps
Yes
120Hz For 120 fps
No
Min Flicker for 60 fps in Game Mode
60 Hz

The TV has a backlight strobing feature, known as black frame insertion (BFI), to help reduce motion blur. It only flickers at 60Hz, even for 120Hz content, and it doesn't dim the screen like the BFI feature on most other TVs does. However, the timing is off, resulting in noticeable crosstalk that creates the image duplication you see with the letter R in the photo. The BFI score is based on the flicker frequency and not the actual performance.

Motion
Motion Interpolation
Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
Yes
Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
Yes

The TV can interpolate lower frame rate content up to 120 fps. It works well but doesn't stop interpolating in busy scenes, so there are noticeable artifacts.

7.0
Motion
Stutter
Frame Hold Time @ 24 fps
30.6 ms
Frame Hold Time @ 60 fps
5.6 ms

Due to the TV's quick response time, there's visible stutter with lower-frame rate content because each frame is held on longer.

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

This TV automatically removes judder from any source, which helps with the appearance of motion in movies, and you don't need to turn on any setting for it to work.

8.2
Motion
Variable Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
120 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
HDMI Forum VRR
Yes
FreeSync
Yes
G-SYNC Compatible
Yes
4k VRR Maximum
60 Hz
4k VRR Minimum
48 Hz
1080p VRR Maximum
120 Hz
1080p VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
1440p VRR Maximum
120 Hz
1440p VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors
HDMI

The TCL R635 supports variable refresh rate technology to reduce screen tearing. The manufacturer doesn't advertise it as supporting FreeSync, but strangely, when connected to a PC with a Radeon graphics card, FreeSync is enabled in the Radeon settings. However, FreeSync doesn't work because there's still screen tearing.

Inputs
9.2
Inputs
Input Lag
1080p @ 60Hz
18.4 ms
1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
144.0 ms
1440p @ 60Hz
17.9 ms
4k @ 60Hz
17.8 ms
4k @ 60Hz + 10-Bit HDR
18.0 ms
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
17.8 ms
4k @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
143.7 ms
4k @ 60Hz With Interpolation
151.5 ms
8k @ 60Hz
N/A
1080p @ 120Hz
8.8 ms
1440p @ 120Hz
9.3 ms
4k @ 120Hz
N/A
1080p with Variable Refresh Rate
N/A
1440p with VRR
N/A
4k with VRR
N/A
8k with VRR
N/A

The TCL R635 has low input lag in Game Mode, although it's not as low as the lag on the TCL 6 Series/R625 2019, and it's a bit higher than many other TVs on the market.

7.9
Inputs
Supported Resolutions
Resolution 4k
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
No
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes (native support)
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes (forced resolution required)
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes (native support)
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
No
8k @ 30Hz or 24Hz
No
8k @ 60Hz
No

The TV displays proper chroma 4:4:4, which is important for reading text if you use it as a PC monitor. However, it only displays 4:4:4 with a 4k resolution, so text doesn't look clear if you use the TV with a 1080p or 1440p resolution.

Inputs
Advanced Console Compatibility
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
Yes
PS5, 4k @ 120Hz + HDR
No
PS5, 4k @ 120Hz
No
PS5, 4k @ 60Hz + HDR
Yes
PS5, 1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
PS5, 1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
PS5, Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Xbox Series X, 4k @ 120Hz + HDR
No
Xbox Series X, 4k @ 120Hz
No
Xbox Series X, 4k @ 60Hz + HDR
Yes
Xbox Series X, 1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
Xbox Series X, 1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
Xbox Series X, Variable Refresh Rate
Yes

The TV supports up to 4k @ 60Hz from the Xbox Series X and PS5. Since it lacks HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, 4k @ 120Hz isn't possible, but because it has a 120Hz panel, it also supports up to 1440p @ 120Hz on both the Xbox Series X and the PS5. It has an Auto Low Latency Mode that automatically switches the TV into Game Mode when launching a game from a compatible device.

Inputs
Inputs Specifications
HDR10
Yes
HDR10+
No
Dolby Vision
Yes
HLG
Yes
HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth
Yes (HDMI 1,2,3,4)
HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth
No
CEC Yes
HDCP 2.2 Yes (HDMI 1,2,3,4)
USB 3.0
No
Variable Analog Audio Out Yes
Wi-Fi Support Yes (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)

Unfortunately, the TV is limited to HDMI 2.0 bandwidth.

Inputs
Input Photos
Inputs
Total Inputs
HDMI 4
USB 1
Digital Optical Audio Out 1
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 1
Analog Audio Out RCA 0
Component In 0
Composite In 1 (adapter required, not incl.)
Tuner (Cable/Ant) 1
Ethernet 1
DisplayPort 0
IR In 0
SD/SDHC 0

The Composite In input needs an adapter. Unlike the TCL 6 Series/R625 2019, the TV doesn't come with one.

Inputs
Audio Passthrough
ARC
Yes (HDMI 4)
eARC support
Yes
Dolby Atmos via TrueHD via eARC
Yes
DTS:X via DTS-HD MA via eARC
Yes
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

This TV has eARC support, which allows you to send high-quality Dolby Atmos via TrueHD or DTS:X via DTS-HD MA through an HDMI connection.

Sound Quality
7.7
Sound Quality
Frequency Response
Low-Frequency Extension
80.00 Hz
Std. Dev. @ 70
3.25 dB
Std. Dev. @ 80
3.31 dB
Std. Dev. @ Max
3.84 dB
Max
90.3 dB SPL
Dynamic Range Compression
1.56 dB

The built-in speakers have a good frequency response. The bass gets fairly low, but like most TVs, it doesn't get low enough for any rumble or thump. The sound profile is well-balanced overall, resulting in clear dialogue. It also gets loud, which is great if you want to place it in a noisy environment.

8.1
Sound Quality
Distortion
Weighted THD @ 80
0.033
Weighted THD @ Max
0.340
IMD @ 80
0.60%
IMD @ Max
1.95%

This TV has great distortion performance. There's minimal harmonic distortion at moderate listening levels, and even though there's a bit at its max volume, most people won't hear it.

Smart Features
8.0
Smart Features
Interface
Smart OS Roku TV
Version 9.3.2
Ease of Use
Easy
Smoothness
Very Smooth
Time Taken to Select YouTube
4 s
Time Taken to Change Backlight
3 s
Advanced Options
Many

This TV has built-in Roku OS, which is user-friendly and runs very smoothly. If you're not a fan of Roku and prefer Google TV, check out the TCL 6 Series/R646 2021 QLED.

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

Unfortunately, like all Roku TVs we've tested, there are large ads on the home screen, and you can't disable them.

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

Roku's app store has a great selection of apps you can download.

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

This TV has the same Roku remote as the TCL 6 Series/R625 2019. It's small and simple, with shortcut buttons to popular streaming services. The voice control can be a hit or miss at times, as we could search for specific content in apps, but when we asked it to change the backlight setting, it changed the volume instead.

Smart Features
TV Controls

The TV has a single button located on the right back side. It allows you to turn the unit on/off and change inputs.

Smart Features
In The Box

  • User guide
  • Remote control (with 2x AAA batteries)
  • Power cord

Smart Features
Misc
Power Consumption 71 W
Power Consumption (Max) 219 W
Firmware 9.3.2 build 5006-88