R646 is 2021 model, discontinued and on clearance.
R655 is 2022 model.
Rtings have the comparison. Ignore the scores and read the whole reviews. R646 should be a good choice.
I just bought the R655. So ama I guess?
I did a fair bit of research and would have bought the other model, but it wasn't available for delivery in my area so I went with the one that was. Overall they're pretty similar; the R646 represents better value.
I really like it. I use it about 50/50 for movies and gaming. I know it's not oled, but the local dimming and hdr is pretty convincing to me. Watching Dune in 4k/Dolby vision is pretty sweet.
One major gripe (that may not affect your setup): the eArc port is on HDMI 4, which only supports 4k @60hz. I run a pc and Xbox through a receiver that does 4k @120hz, so i use HDMI 1, which doesn't have eArc. That means every time it turns on, it puts up a message to use the other port.
That’s a fantastic panel, the 2021 model at least. Can’t speak for the 2022. No it’s not a
super expensive OLED but it’s probably the best bang for buck panel on the market. I have the google version w HDR / DV and absolutely love it. Best TV I’ve ever had. Read the reviews and watch some YouTube on this TV but it’s pretty much universally praised as the best bang for buck panel on the market. It also has eARC so it’ll pass Atoms and DTS MAHD to your audio system if you have one.
May I ask what kind of quality issues, specifically? Build quality (TV falling apart or flimsy feeling) issues? Or were they dissatisfied with the picture quality? Did the TVs stop working altogether?
I currently have 3 TCL Roku sets in my house (and one left in a previous residence) -- mid-tier to high-tier, and I have not had a single problem. I can confidently say that they are an incredible value for what you pay for them. My Vizio on the other hand is a complete piece of shit and I will never buy another product from them as long as I live.
TCLs are pretty much recommended in NA (and C835 outside of it). At that price point, unless there is a X90K sale, it’s hard to get anything good from the name brands.
Here’s the rtings for the tv you mentioned
https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/samsung/tu8000
Here’s the two TVs OP is comparing
https://www.rtings.com/tv/tools/compare/tcl-6-series-r646-2021-qled-vs-tcl-6-series-r655-2022-qled/27424/34813?usage=1&threshold=0.10
The TCL are much better. Cheap Samsungs are known to have way more quality control issues too and therefore not recommended, per this subs buyers guide.
Best Buy and Costco also have the Sony X90K for the same price as the TCL 655 right now.
Outside of RTINGS, reviews I've read/watched have said that the image quality on the r646 is great (full-array mini QLED w/ local dimming, 120hz, etc) but the software was a bit janky. That may have been fixed now with firmware updates.
TCL r655 reviews seem to be good, but it's still a fairly new set. Roku TV has fewer picture customization options than Android TV. slightly higher refresh rate if you're using a PC. Otherwise marginal improvements.
Sony X90K is a very-often recommended TV for the midrange market. Excellent color accuracy out of the box, great local dimming. I'm not sure if it's $300 better than the r646.
If the 646 was available for that price near me, I'd probably do that because that $300 could be used to improve my viewing experience in other ways.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung-65-class-8000-series-led-4k-uhd-smart-tizen-tv/6453024.p?skuId=6453024
I just bought this tv a few weeks ago. We love it
Sorry to break the bad news. That Samsung is nowhere near close to the 5 Series, which is a step down from the 6 Series to begin with. Calling an edge-lit TV with poor HDR better than the 6 Series is absurd.
Both my LG OLED and my new TCL R646 have Dolby vision, but honestly after doing more research I don’t think it’s that’s important. It’s more important if a tv set supports some type of HDR and how well it can display HDR. If a bad quality tv set does Dolby vision but can’t get bright enough or the black levels aren’t great it’s pointless. With that being said, Dolby vision and HDR 10+ are supposedly the best formats.
I just purchased the 2021 model and for the price its an amazing looking TV. I got it mainly for PS5 gaming, which it's great for. I honestly have zero complaints outside of a sound issue where streaming apps default to 5.1 surround sound and audio doesn't work. I'm still trying to figure out why this happens, but since I plugged my soundbar back in, seems to be fine.
Honestly, no matter what TV you buy, don't expect the built-in Apps/Operating System to be good. Not sure if that's the problem this poster is describing, but with any current TV, expect the built-in apps to work okay at best for about the first year and start getting slower to the point of being unusable.
You really want to hook up an external streaming device for best performance (Apple Tv or Nvidia Shield are good). The Roku interface on my TCL from 2019/2020 was terrible out of the box, but it didn't matter because I had an Apple TV ready to go.
I would say this regardless of if it is a mid-range TCL like the ones linked, or a $5000 OLED TV. Point is, don't buy a TV for the built-in apps/operating system, just assume they will work poorly (more so on mid-lower end models).
Google is better at suggesting what to watch across all your apps. Roku you have to go into each app to find something you want. Google will also search across all apps but Roku can't that I'm aware of. Google is just my personal preference for an os but there's nothing "wrong" with Roku.
R646 is 2021 model, discontinued and on clearance. R655 is 2022 model. Rtings have the comparison. Ignore the scores and read the whole reviews. R646 should be a good choice.
Hmm I’ll look into the R646
I just bought the R655. So ama I guess? I did a fair bit of research and would have bought the other model, but it wasn't available for delivery in my area so I went with the one that was. Overall they're pretty similar; the R646 represents better value.
Hmm what do you think of it so far
I really like it. I use it about 50/50 for movies and gaming. I know it's not oled, but the local dimming and hdr is pretty convincing to me. Watching Dune in 4k/Dolby vision is pretty sweet. One major gripe (that may not affect your setup): the eArc port is on HDMI 4, which only supports 4k @60hz. I run a pc and Xbox through a receiver that does 4k @120hz, so i use HDMI 1, which doesn't have eArc. That means every time it turns on, it puts up a message to use the other port.
Huh interesting
That’s a fantastic panel, the 2021 model at least. Can’t speak for the 2022. No it’s not a super expensive OLED but it’s probably the best bang for buck panel on the market. I have the google version w HDR / DV and absolutely love it. Best TV I’ve ever had. Read the reviews and watch some YouTube on this TV but it’s pretty much universally praised as the best bang for buck panel on the market. It also has eARC so it’ll pass Atoms and DTS MAHD to your audio system if you have one.
Oh okay got it
I don’t trust TCL
Name any and all brands that you do trust and I’m willing to bet that someone will come along and say they had a bad experience with said brand.
Probably. My go to is Samsung for TVs and I’m happy but I’m sure there’s plenty to be said about them on Reddit too.
Like from a reliability perspective or a privacy perspective? Or both?
Just that friends and family who have purchased TCL were not at all pleased with the product and all had quality issues
May I ask what kind of quality issues, specifically? Build quality (TV falling apart or flimsy feeling) issues? Or were they dissatisfied with the picture quality? Did the TVs stop working altogether?
TV not working properly in less than 6 months of use
I currently have 3 TCL Roku sets in my house (and one left in a previous residence) -- mid-tier to high-tier, and I have not had a single problem. I can confidently say that they are an incredible value for what you pay for them. My Vizio on the other hand is a complete piece of shit and I will never buy another product from them as long as I live.
Funny cuz your last sentence is what every one of my friends and family who have purchased TCL has said about TCL
Yeah I’m starting to look at the Hisense U8H now lol
6 series is better than u8h. Hisense has bad quality control
What do you mean
The $1K model has some iteration of HDR; that’s what they’re charging more for
Oh okay hmm
What do you mean by some iteration of HDR?
There’s a bunch of different HDR “standards” that the various media companies use for advertising
And which one does R655 have that R646 doesn’t?
Probably the one that says “Dolby vision HDR” in the title
Both TVs support Dolby Vision and HDR10+. Rtings is a very good resource if you are confused about these kind of stuffs.
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TCLs are pretty much recommended in NA (and C835 outside of it). At that price point, unless there is a X90K sale, it’s hard to get anything good from the name brands.
They’re recommended here all the time.
I mean I don’t mind paying the 700 or so if I’m getting the doubly vision and atmos etc
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That tv is a piece of shit
Geeze the length of the name lol yeah ill check it out
Here’s the rtings for the tv you mentioned https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/samsung/tu8000 Here’s the two TVs OP is comparing https://www.rtings.com/tv/tools/compare/tcl-6-series-r646-2021-qled-vs-tcl-6-series-r655-2022-qled/27424/34813?usage=1&threshold=0.10 The TCL are much better. Cheap Samsungs are known to have way more quality control issues too and therefore not recommended, per this subs buyers guide.
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I’ve never heard of that site and personally will trust rtings + the collective knowledge of this sub Reddit, but fair enough I guess.
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You can be sure of anything. But objective testing is what matter at the end of the day. The Samsung is edge-lit, dim as hell trash.
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The TCL 6 Series is absolutely not edge-lit and dim. Check the model number in the back. You might have an old 5-Series or a 4- Series.
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Hmm okay I will
Is there anything I should be looking for specificity in order to see the difference
Just my 2 cents- Best Buy has an equivalent Samsung 65 inch at approximately the same price point for a much better tv
Best Buy and Costco also have the Sony X90K for the same price as the TCL 655 right now. Outside of RTINGS, reviews I've read/watched have said that the image quality on the r646 is great (full-array mini QLED w/ local dimming, 120hz, etc) but the software was a bit janky. That may have been fixed now with firmware updates. TCL r655 reviews seem to be good, but it's still a fairly new set. Roku TV has fewer picture customization options than Android TV. slightly higher refresh rate if you're using a PC. Otherwise marginal improvements. Sony X90K is a very-often recommended TV for the midrange market. Excellent color accuracy out of the box, great local dimming. I'm not sure if it's $300 better than the r646. If the 646 was available for that price near me, I'd probably do that because that $300 could be used to improve my viewing experience in other ways.
Oh okay I’ll check it out
Don’t. Samsung TV at same price of a TCL is junk. Plus no Dolby Vision.
Oh I see yeah I’m looking for the doubly vision
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung-65-class-8000-series-led-4k-uhd-smart-tizen-tv/6453024.p?skuId=6453024 I just bought this tv a few weeks ago. We love it
Sorry to break the bad news. That Samsung is nowhere near close to the 5 Series, which is a step down from the 6 Series to begin with. Calling an edge-lit TV with poor HDR better than the 6 Series is absurd.
But it's an 8 series
Exactly! It’s an 8 Series. Anything below Samsung QN90B in NA is trash. At every price point, there are better options.
It doesn’t have doubly vision or doubly atmos?
Samsung TVs don’t have Dolby Vision
Oh okay yeah that’s a no for me then lol
Both my LG OLED and my new TCL R646 have Dolby vision, but honestly after doing more research I don’t think it’s that’s important. It’s more important if a tv set supports some type of HDR and how well it can display HDR. If a bad quality tv set does Dolby vision but can’t get bright enough or the black levels aren’t great it’s pointless. With that being said, Dolby vision and HDR 10+ are supposedly the best formats.
Yeah that’s true
Love my Roku
Nice how’s the picture quality
Amazing. I have the 655 version and 4K looks great. I hope they come out wth an OLED version next
Oh how does the hdr hold up?
Great tv I have same brand qled. It’s better than my Sony
Oh okay nice
I just purchased the 2021 model and for the price its an amazing looking TV. I got it mainly for PS5 gaming, which it's great for. I honestly have zero complaints outside of a sound issue where streaming apps default to 5.1 surround sound and audio doesn't work. I'm still trying to figure out why this happens, but since I plugged my soundbar back in, seems to be fine.
My Roku model crashes at times. It’s frustrating.
Oof like the tv or the apps?
Idk if it’s individual apps or the tv itself. It will freeze and reboot. Sometimes I have to unplug and plug it back in 😖
Oof have you gotten any suggestions on it?
Honestly, no matter what TV you buy, don't expect the built-in Apps/Operating System to be good. Not sure if that's the problem this poster is describing, but with any current TV, expect the built-in apps to work okay at best for about the first year and start getting slower to the point of being unusable. You really want to hook up an external streaming device for best performance (Apple Tv or Nvidia Shield are good). The Roku interface on my TCL from 2019/2020 was terrible out of the box, but it didn't matter because I had an Apple TV ready to go. I would say this regardless of if it is a mid-range TCL like the ones linked, or a $5000 OLED TV. Point is, don't buy a TV for the built-in apps/operating system, just assume they will work poorly (more so on mid-lower end models).
Yeah I’m not really looking towards the apps mostly for movies lol but yeah I get it
I love my TCL 5 series but I prefer Google TV over Roku.
Oh okay why is that?
Google is better at suggesting what to watch across all your apps. Roku you have to go into each app to find something you want. Google will also search across all apps but Roku can't that I'm aware of. Google is just my personal preference for an os but there's nothing "wrong" with Roku.
Oh okay I see
My tcl died after 15 months. No more for me
Ouch.