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[Review] TCL 65R635: Excellent for Gamers and Everyone Else

 

TCL 65R635: analysis
Pros
  • 65-inch all-screen design
  • 4K UHD resolution HDR10 support
  • Integrated voice control function
  • Compatible with VESA mounts
Cons
  • Does not have Bluetooth
  • Sound quality could be improved
Although a few years back it was necessary to have a significant sum of money to enjoy the benefits of a quality smartTV, the truth is that brands like TCL, Hisense, and the likes have really shaken things up in that regard, by bringing smart TV's with high-end features to the masses. 

Thus, in this review of the recently released TCL 6 series model, the TCL 65R635 we can afford to review all the features of a brand new 65-inch 4K Smart TV that, from the outset, boasts a very reasonable price point when you realize everything it brings to the table.

It is also supported by numerous positive comments, where users highlight the sharpness, high contrast, and colors of its 4K screen, the ease of its interface powered by its Roku software as well as the elegance it delivers to the living room, thanks to its slim frame design.



Index


For whom is it?


The TCL 65R635 is perfect for you if you've got a spacious room and want a big TV set with superior quality to watch your content comfortably from every corner. It's also a great choice for you if you want a very big smart TV but doesn't want to pay the generally quite abusive prices we see around the high-end 65-inch smart TV's, more so when we include superior features such as HDX certification.

It's also an excellent TV set for gamers as this model guarantees a low input lag during each game session, as well as native support for the most common HDR formats and support for the main voice assistants (Google Assistant, Alexa, etc.), to simplify interaction with the content integrated within its platform.

Technical specifications


Make modelTCL 65R635
Dimensions without stand56.9 x 13.7 x 35.7 inches
Weight without stand83.3 pounds
PanelQLED (65 inch)
Resolution4K UHD (3840 x 2160 pixels)
Refresh rate48-120 Hz (Variable)
HDR supportYes (HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision)
OSRoku
Sound power2 x 8W (Dolby Atmos)
VESA supportYes (300 x 300 mm)
Voice controlYes (Roku Search)
ConnectivityAlexa | Google Assistant 
Roku APP 
Wi-Fi 5 
RJ-45 
AV | HDMI (x4) | eARC (x1) 
USB 2.0 
Optical audio output (S / PDIF) 
3.5mm headphone output 
RF connector 
Digital tuner (ATSC / NTSC / Clear QAM)


A Smart TV that focuses all your attention on the screen

TCL 65R635: 65 '' 4K Smart TV with Roku software, HDR technology and Alexa and Google Assistant support

Great example of quality, elegance, and unique style


At the design level, TCL has managed to do an excellent job with its latest Smart TVs, this model being a clear demonstration of sophistication and, above all, build quality. 

Specifically, its chassis boasts a silver-colored metallic brushed finish, present only on the lower bezel, as the other frames are so thin that they are practically invisible from the sofa. 

The logo of the firm is kept front and center on the lower bezel, and the pair of adjustable stand legs that support the TV set enjoy the solidity that a model of these dimensions needs, whose net weight is no less than 83 pounds. It's also possible to adjust the legs and place them more towards the center of the TV set, therefore adjusting to different furniture sizes.

Of course, you can also opt to mount it to the wall through the VESA mount, porting a 300 by 300 mm VESA mounting pattern, a model such as this one could do the job.

A screen that immerses you in every detail

As far as screen quality is concerned, this model does not feature the ink-blacks present on far more expensive OLED TV sets but it does feature mini LED backlight technology and QLED

Basically what this technology manages to do is offer a far more impressive contrast and nuances by creating 240 different areas of the picture that are lit and colored independently this also allows the TV set to offer a more nuanced picture, with richer colors and more depth to the image. 

It's also quite suitable for gaming, coming with a THX certification which is far from common within its price range, allowing for low latency pictures (no lag between joystick move and picture move) and a 120 Hz refresh rate.  And, of course, there's also the HDR Pro and the impressive Quantum Dot technology. 

So listen I can throw tech words around all day here when it comes to this TV set but ultimately what it comes down to is that the TCL 65R635 in review delivers an impressive picture quality with rich colors and solid contrast powered by Dolby Vision that far surpasses your standard Full HD LCD display and you don't have to take my word for it, there are numerous clients who can vouch for this.  

What's more, this TV is very bright, this might seem like a non-issue for most people but you'd be surprised at the amount of TV's on the market that aren't all that bright and therefore perform poorly when the sun is glaring over them, with this TV that is not an issue.

Is the image perfect?


There is one issue with the image that we would be remiss not to point out, specifically when it comes to viewing angles. 

Basically, when you're staring straight at the TV set picture quality is really good, colors look sharp, contrast is striking and all that but as soon as you start to look at your TV from the sides the color does start to wash out, this isn't exactly a new issue, and many affordable TV sets face this same issue, however it's definitely something that should be taken into account and also something that helps us plan where to place the device. 

Unlimited entertainment in the palm of your hand

Roku: A software with great possibilities


Powered by Roku TV, the multimedia section arrives prepared to open the doors to a complete catalog of content and streaming services, among which Disney +, Netflix, Sling TV and Hulu stand out . 

Something worth mentioning though is that Roku TV does not support neither Peacock nor HBO Max yet so it's possible that you might need to connect an external device such as an Apple TV or a chromecast to stream these platforms onto your TV set.

Likewise, it comes with a remote control of ergonomic design and small size, containing a microphone to search for content with your voice and 4 buttons that allow you to directly access the aforementioned applications and navigate through the interface. 

If you've never had a Roku powered smart TV you should know there's a reason why this is one of the most popular smart TV platforms as it's a very fluid and intuitive platform with an extremely easy to use interface. 

As mentioned previously, this TV set also features support for Google Assistant and Alexa, making it compatible with almost every digital assistant out there and making it very easy to pull up videos, music and pictures onto your TV Set through a compatible speaker. 

How does it sound?

As far as sound quality is concerned, we all know that it's hard to get a flat screen TV to deliver a superb sound, that's just the laws of physics, there's barely any space in there for a good set of speakers. However, the TCL 65R635 in review delivers two 8W speakers that will do for most users. 

Of course, if you want to take full advantage of this massive TV set and really immerse yourself onto the action of whatever you're watching then we'd seriously recommend getting a soundbar, more so when you can get some really nice ones under 100 dollars and it's something that really does make a difference.

Connectivity that does what it promised


Control your TV and connect your devices easily


The connectivity of this Smart TV allows you to turn your smartphone into a remote control and even listen to the audio directly from the headphones connected to the mobile, thanks to the free Roku App available for Android and iOS. 

To connect to the network, you have the typical RJ-45 (terrestrial) and Wi-Fi 5 (wireless) solutions while the AV and HDMI video outputs (x4) - with eARC support - make it easy to connect multiple home entertainment devices. 

Additionally, it has a USB 2.0 input, a 3.5 mm audio jack, an optical digital audio output, an RF connector and the most used digital TV tuners (ATSC / NTSC / Clear QAM).


Wrapping it up


Wrapping up this review of the TCL 65R635, it's quite clear that TCL has done it yet again. The company has delivered a stunning 65-inch TV set that's both suitable for people who just want the best option to watch movies at home as well as those looking for an impressive screen to game on thanks to the THX certification that will allow you to play 120 FPS games without breaking a sweat. 

Sure enough, the TV does have its caveats, such as the issue of color fading out when watching from the sides or the audio quality which is rarely what you'd call good on a flat screen, but these are relatively minor issues and compromises that TCL more than makes up for with a Roku Powered Mini LED TV Set with Quantum Dot technology and stunning image quality that will just blow you away. Ultimately, an excellent option if you're looking to buy a big TV set that will deliver the best value for your money.