For the last two years, TCL’s 6-Series Roku TV has earned my Editors’ Choice Award as the best TV for the money. The updated 2020 …
For the last two years, TCL’s 6-Series Roku TV has earned my Editors’ Choice Award as the best TV for the money. The updated 2020 version introduced on Tuesday adds mini-LED technology, an improvement to standard LED backlights that first appeared in the superb 8-Series, while keeping the same appealing midrange price. The new TCL 6-Series also adds gaming-friendly extras like 120Hz, variable refresh rate and THX game mode, and unlike last year it now comes in a 75-inch size. In short, it could be better than ever. At the same time TCL is also introducing the 2020 5-Series. It costs less than the 6-Series and lacks mini-LED, but does include enhancements like QLED and full-array local dimming in addition to being available in a smaller 50-inch size. Later this year, TCL will also release an 8K resolution version of the 8-Series, as well as 2020 versions of its popular budget 3-Series and 4-Series models. All of these new TCL TVs will continue to be powered by the Roku TV operating system, my favorite smart TV platform for its simplicity, frequent updates and breadth of apps (Peacock and HBO Max notwithstanding). The 6-Series is available in limited quantities starting today, while the 5-Series is in stores and online now. Normally I include this section at the end, but this is 2020 and you probably don’t have time to read all the detailed crap below, so I’m putting it right here: I won’t know for sure until I review them. TCL says I’ll be receiving a 6-Series review sample to check out in my basement soon. What’s that? You don’t want to wait till then? OK, here’s my best advice. As always Black Friday season in mid-November will mean steep discounts. I think TCL will drop the price of the new 2020 6-Series a hundred bucks at least, and more for the 75-incher. If you can, wait till then. If you want a new TV now, I’m guessing the 2019 TCLs — now available for $800 for the 65-incher, for example, and likely to fall back to $700 or less soon — will be a better deal than the new 6-Series. I honestly don’t think the 2020 improvements (detailed below) will be worth the extra $100 to $200 for most buyers, and the 2019 6-Series will likely perform better than the cheaper 2020 5-Series. And then there’s the 2019 8-Series. I’m sure it will be a better performer than the 2020 6-Series overall, and it’s been going on sale recently for steep discounts: as low as $1,000 for the 65-inch size and $1,500 for the 75-incher.
