Table of Contents
The first 8k Roku TV made by TCL is the 6 Series/R648 2021 QLED. It is a brand-new model that is a part of the premium 6 Series portfolio, along with the 4k TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED and the TCL 6 Series/R646 2021 QLED, which features Google TV in its place. Mini LED backlighting on this TV gives the full-array local dimming more control.
Although the 8k content is still scarce and doesn’t display 4k content as well as a native 4k TV, the 8k resolution does help to improve image clarity. Because it has two HDMI 2.1 inputs, you can use it for 4k @ 120Hz or 8k @ 60Hz gaming with the PS5 and Xbox Series X, making it future-proof for gaming. The TCL 6-Series has established itself as the best TV for the money over the last five years by fusing excellent image quality with a price that most TV buyers can afford.
The most recent version accomplishes the same goal essentially perfectly. The TCL 6-Series Roku TV, which costs about $1000 for a 65-inch model, continues to be my top pick in the midrange price range despite the fact that its rivals are even more fierce this time around. Last but not least, if you don’t want to spend money on additional streaming devices, the built-in Roku is fantastic because it’s user-friendly and has a tone of apps available through the app store. also you will learn our article on TCL Roku TV 6-Series 8K R648 review.
Design
The TCL 6-Series 8K is a huge, hefty TV by the standards of modern flat-panel displays. The panel is one inch thick overall, but it expands to almost three inches in some places to provide room for the electronics and sound system at the back. The 65-inch set weighs more than 70 pounds, not that we’re trying to shame it or anything. It follows that you shouldn’t attempt to carry it up stairs by yourself and that you should use a sturdy piece of furniture to support it if you intend to place it atop a credenza.
The TCL 6-Series 8K is supported by a 12-inch deep, center-mounted wedge stand, similar to the one used by LG for their B1 OLED TVs. The stylish and solid support prevents you from discretely stowing a sound bar or cable box underneath the set. The Roku streaming channels software is one of the friendliest and most well-known smart TV user interfaces, and it is used by the TCL set. It hasn’t changed much over time because it supports thousands of streaming online channels and is simple to learn.
The integrated voice search offers still another degree of convenience and functions well in a number of contexts while browsing for titles across all channels and searching for YouTube videos. Siri, Alexa, and Google integration with voice control is also possible. You also receive a premium remote with this premium television. The typical Roku controls, including a 4-way directional pad and an “Ok” button in the middle, are displayed on its silver exterior. On the right side of the remote, there are volume controls and four buttons specifically designated for Netflix, Apple TV, Hulu, and Disney +.
TCL Roku TV 6-Series 8K R648 review: Features
For streaming services, the TCL 6-Series 8K uses Roku’s smart TV platform. The set contains four HDMI ports for establishing the necessary connections, one of which is eArc to detect compatible soundbars and receivers automatically. A mini analogue output jack and a digital optical output are available for audio. A USB port and a coaxial port for an antenna are located on the TV’s back as well.
To connect to your home network, you can use dual-band Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Outside of the US, this model is not accessible. The X925 from TCL Australia does come in 8K, but since it’s a Google TV, its performance may vary. The R648 employs the well-known Roku TV user interface, as suggested by its full name. The options are highlighted in a scrolling menu on the side, and they include “Featured Free” (free TV shows and movies), “My Feed” (your customizable video stream), “Movie, TV, and channel stores,” “Search,” and “Home,” which gives you immediate access to your installed content channels, live TV (if you use it), and any other HDMI-connected devices.
At the time of writing, another choice was “2020 Tokyo Olympics,” which featured a link to watch daily highlights or live coverage with the appropriate subscription and a quick look at the medal totals. Although Roku TV is simple to use and easy to pick up quickly, it lacks the depth and breadth of functionality found in the top smart TV platforms, like Google TV. There aren’t many issues with it now that its app selection has grown to include essentials like Apple TV+ and Disney+, but it’s starting to feel clunky and out-of-date in comparison to other sets’ more cutting-edge options.
Picture quality
The TCL 6-Series will astound you if you’ve never seen an 8K TV before. It particularly shines when fed 4K material, especially anything shot in HDR or Dolby Vision. With no haloing, light leakage, or oversaturation, the 6-Series manages to achieve the ideal balance of vibrant colors, startling contrast, and excellent black levels.
The Mini LED lighting on the TV is the key to its success because it can precisely control how much light is directed to each area of the screen at any given time and how much of the LED zones on the screen need to be turned off. This improves an LED-LCD TV’s ability to control contrast to an almost OLED level and lessens problems like blooming. The new 6-Series is equipped with all the necessary color and contrast tools.
In fact, the motion processing (a little judder on medium settings) and upscaling are the only issues we’ve had with the TV’s performance, especially when feeding it HD or sub-HD content. While HD shows like Kim’s Convenience appeared more like a passable 4K image than a beautifully upscaled 8K image, watching the new Masters of the Universe animated show on Netflix had significant motion issues that we were only able to fix by turning off the motion processing from the menu.
You can read our article on TCL Roku TV 6-Series 8K R648 review. The problems with the TV are evident in both scenarios. Motion artifacting can cause movement to appear janky in animated shows or leave a blur in fast-motion live-action video. If you’re viewing an upscaled HD show, you might notice some background grain where the processor didn’t have enough data to deal with.
Many people would argue that this is a flaw that all 8K TVs have in common, specifically the dearth of 8K content. That argument, however, is only valid when content on the enormous screens looks subpar due to poor upscaling algorithms. It hasn’t quite lived up to the high bar set by other 8K TVs, though even the worst HD upscaling to 8K looks better than some TVs’ 4K upscaling performance.
TCL Roku TV 6-Series 8K R648 review: Sound quality
The TCL 6-Series 8K set’s Roku sound options keep things straightforward. The six preset modes, titled Music, Theater, Speech, Big Bass, Normal, and High Treble, are all self-explanatory. The set has two 15-watt speakers and a 30-watt subwoofer built in to crank up the volume.
This set doesn’t need require a sound bar unless you want additional bass for frantic soundtracks. On Aha’s “Take On Me,” a passive radiator on the back of the TV produced bass that was considerably better than what we typically hear on a TV. Additionally, it allowed Martin Sheen to narrate Apocalypse Now in an appropriately gravelly voice. With the TCL 6-Series, we were able to reach party-level, neighbor-annoying volumes at just 75% of its output without noticeably introducing distortion.
However, you can think about looking into sound bar options if you want more focused sound. The 6-Series’ music mode audio seemed a little jumbled to us, with midrange instruments mixed together. Jeff Baxter’s guitar got lost in the mix on Steely Dan’s popular song “Reelin’ in the Years,” while the bass guitar merged with the electric keyboards.
The TCL 6-Series 8K, on the other hand, performed admirably with movies. The pre-set theatre setting delivered a distinct and clear Centre channel and didn’t muffle the conversation. Although the Theater mode setting emphasizes higher notes, it has the ability to give the impression of a larger sound stage and directionality, which can be used to track the sound of an aircraft moving across the screen.
Gaming
Let us add this small nugget on top to emphasize that the R648 delivers much more than simply an 8K screen. Two independent HDMI 2.1 ports are provided by the R648 in addition to the TV’s eARC port. We were able to verify that the R648 can deliver 4K/120Hz and 8K/60Hz gameplay with a variable refresh rate (VRR), auto low latency mode (ALLM), and HDR all at once using an Xbox Series X dashboard. Gaming in 4K/20Hz Dolby Vision is not supported, much like on other TVs. also you can check our article on TCL Roku TV 6-Series 8K R648 review.
One of the greatest gaming TVs you can buy combines these characteristics of picture performance with the respectably minimal input lag and image enhancements offered by THX Game Mode. The fact that the eARC port is still available to individuals who have sophisticated home theatre systems without limiting one of the HDMI 2.1 connectors is a major plus. Due to the inclusion of four HDMI 2.1 ports in some models, only LG can boast of having TVs that are more conducive to gaming.
TCL Roku TV 6-Series 8K R648 review: Ports
Due to their side positioning, all of the ports are simple to access. The Ethernet port, the pinhole Reset button, four HDMI ports, the coaxial cable connector, one USB 2.0 port, the headphone jack, and the optical audio out port are all on the right. The power port is on the left. Below them, in the lower-right corner, is the sizable hardware Power button.
Only two of the HDMI ports are compatible with the HDMI 2.1 standard, which enables cutting-edge features like 120 Hz refresh rates at 4K resolution, Variable Refresh Rate, and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), which switches your console’s settings into gaming mode when you turn it on. It takes some trial and error to determine which ports use which standard because they are not labelled. The port that supports eARC and ARC is at least identified as such. Hopefully TCL will follow the example of businesses like LG, which has recently equipped all of its HDMI ports with the newer, more potent standard on its models, as HDMI 2.1 becomes more common in the industry.
Price and availability
The 65R648, a 65-inch TCL Roku TV 6-Series 8K, was evaluated for this study. We anticipate the performance of the 65R648 and the 75R648 to be comparable, if not necessarily in terms of the viewing experience, as these two models, the 75-inch 75R648 and the other available model, share the same fundamental characteristics and underlying technology. (For more information, see the Performance section.)
Conclusion
For most purposes, the TCL R648 works great. It displays deep blacks and has a respectable local dimming capability, making it ideal for watching SDR and HDR movies in a dark room, however it crushes blacks excessively.
It has excellent peak brightness and handling of reflections, making it great for watching movies or sporting events, but it has limited viewing angles. For a great gaming experience, gamers should also appreciate the low input lag, quick response time, HDMI 2.1 inputs, and support for variable refresh rate.