TCL 805 TV: Review, Specs, And Should You Buy?

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TCL 805 TV: Review, Specs, and Should You Buy?

Alright, guys, let's dive deep into the TCL 805 TV! If you're on the hunt for a new television, you've probably come across this model. We're going to break down everything you need to know: its features, performance, and whether it's the right choice for your living room. So, grab your popcorn (or your beverage of choice) and let's get started!

What is the TCL 805 TV?

The TCL 805 TV is a mid-range television designed to deliver a balance of performance and affordability. TCL has made a name for itself by offering TVs that pack a punch without breaking the bank, and the 805 series aims to continue that trend. It typically comes with features like 4K resolution, HDR support, smart TV capabilities, and various connectivity options. But what really sets it apart from the competition? Well, let's delve into the nitty-gritty details.

First off, the TCL 805 usually boasts a sleek design, which means it'll look good in your home theater setup. Appearance matters, right? It also incorporates smart features, allowing you to stream your favorite shows and movies from services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. This is a must-have in today's connected world. Additionally, it supports multiple HDR formats, ensuring vibrant colors and impressive contrast. HDR (High Dynamic Range) basically makes everything pop, giving you a more immersive viewing experience. You'll also find that it includes multiple HDMI ports, which is essential for connecting your gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, and other devices. Nobody wants to be swapping cables constantly!

Under the hood, the TCL 805 often uses a decent processor to handle the smart TV interface and image processing. While it might not be the fastest on the market, it usually gets the job done without too much lag. It often comes with built-in Wi-Fi, making it easy to connect to your home network. Plus, it typically includes voice control support, allowing you to control the TV with your voice via platforms like Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. This can be incredibly convenient for everyday use. TCL has also been known to use advanced panel technology in its TVs, which helps to improve picture quality and viewing angles. This means that the picture looks good even if you're not sitting directly in front of the TV. All these features combined make the TCL 805 a compelling option for those seeking a well-rounded TV experience without emptying their wallets.

Key Features and Specifications

When considering the key features of the TCL 805, it's essential to look at the specs that truly make a difference. Let's break down what you can generally expect from this TV.

  • 4K Ultra HD Resolution: This is pretty standard these days, but it's worth emphasizing. 4K resolution means you get four times the pixels of a regular Full HD TV, resulting in sharper, more detailed images. Whether you're watching movies, sports, or playing video games, the extra clarity is a noticeable upgrade. It brings out details you never knew existed, making your viewing experience much more immersive.

  • HDR Support (Dolby Vision, HDR10+): HDR is where things get interesting. The TCL 805 often supports multiple HDR formats, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+. These formats enhance the dynamic range of the picture, providing brighter highlights and deeper blacks. Dolby Vision, in particular, is a premium HDR format that optimizes the picture on a scene-by-scene basis, ensuring you're getting the best possible image quality. HDR10+ is another dynamic metadata format that improves the HDR experience. With these technologies, colors are more vibrant, and contrast is significantly improved.

  • Smart TV Platform (Roku TV, Android TV): The TCL 805 usually comes with either Roku TV or Android TV as its smart platform. Roku TV is known for its simplicity and vast app selection. It's easy to navigate, and you'll find virtually every streaming service you could want. Android TV, on the other hand, offers more customization options and integrates seamlessly with Google services. You can easily cast content from your phone or tablet to the TV, and it also supports Google Assistant for voice control. Both platforms are user-friendly and provide access to a wealth of content.

  • Motion Rate Technology: To keep fast-action scenes smooth, the TCL 805 typically includes motion rate technology. This reduces motion blur and ensures that sports and action movies look crisp and clear. While it might not be as advanced as the motion handling on high-end TVs, it's usually sufficient for most viewers. The motion rate technology helps to create a more enjoyable and immersive viewing experience, especially during fast-paced content.

  • Connectivity: The TCL 805 generally includes multiple HDMI ports (often with HDMI 2.1 support for next-gen gaming), USB ports, and an Ethernet port. This allows you to connect all your devices, from gaming consoles to Blu-ray players to soundbars. HDMI 2.1 is particularly important for gamers as it supports features like 4K at 120Hz, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). These features provide a smoother, more responsive gaming experience. The inclusion of multiple ports ensures that you can connect all your devices without having to constantly swap cables.

Picture Quality Analysis

Alright, let's talk about what really matters: picture quality. After all, no matter how many fancy features a TV has, it's all for naught if the picture doesn't deliver. Generally, the TCL 805 aims to provide a balanced picture that's suitable for a variety of content.

The color accuracy on the TCL 805 is generally quite good, especially after calibration. Out of the box, you might find that the colors are slightly oversaturated or inaccurate, but with a few tweaks in the settings menu, you can achieve a more natural and lifelike picture. The TV usually covers a wide color gamut, which means it can display a broad range of colors. This is especially noticeable in HDR content, where colors are more vibrant and nuanced. While it might not match the color accuracy of high-end OLED TVs, it's still impressive for its price range.

Contrast ratio is another crucial aspect of picture quality. The TCL 805 typically uses a VA panel, which provides excellent native contrast. This means that blacks are deep and inky, and whites are bright and clean. The high contrast ratio contributes to a more immersive viewing experience, especially in dark scenes. Local dimming is often included to further enhance contrast by dimming the backlight in dark areas of the screen. While the local dimming might not be perfect, it does improve the overall contrast performance. The combination of a VA panel and local dimming results in a picture with great depth and dimensionality.

Upscaling is also an important consideration, especially if you watch a lot of non-4K content. The TCL 805 generally does a decent job of upscaling lower-resolution content to 4K. While it can't magically add detail that isn't there, it does a good job of smoothing out edges and reducing artifacts. The upscaling engine works to improve the clarity and sharpness of non-4K content, making it more enjoyable to watch on a 4K screen. However, it's important to note that the quality of the upscaling will depend on the source material. Low-quality sources will still look soft and blurry, even after upscaling.

Motion handling is also an area where the TCL 805 performs reasonably well. The TV typically includes motion rate technology that reduces motion blur and judder. This helps to keep fast-action scenes smooth and clear. While it might not be as advanced as the motion handling on high-end TVs, it's usually sufficient for most viewers. The motion rate technology works to interpolate frames and reduce blurring, resulting in a more fluid and natural-looking picture. However, some users may notice a slight soap opera effect, which can be reduced by adjusting the motion settings.

Sound Quality Analysis

Okay, so the picture's great – but what about the sound? Let's be real, most built-in TV speakers aren't amazing, but how does the TCL 805 stack up? The sound quality of the TCL 805 is generally decent for everyday viewing. The TV typically includes two down-firing speakers that provide adequate sound for casual watching. However, audiophiles and those seeking a more immersive audio experience will likely want to invest in a separate sound system.

The bass response on the TCL 805 is often limited due to the small size of the built-in speakers. While the TV can produce some low-end frequencies, it's not particularly powerful or impactful. Bass-heavy content, such as action movies and music, may sound thin and lacking in depth. To improve the bass response, consider adding a subwoofer to your audio setup. A subwoofer will provide a much more powerful and immersive low-end experience.

Clarity and Dialogue are reasonably clear and understandable. The TV usually includes features like dialogue enhancement that boost the clarity of voices. This can be particularly helpful when watching movies or shows with complex soundtracks. However, the overall clarity may not be as pristine as what you would get from a dedicated sound system. The built-in speakers are often limited in their ability to reproduce fine details and nuances in the audio.

Soundstage is fairly narrow, which means that the sound doesn't extend far beyond the edges of the TV. This can make the audio experience feel less immersive and engaging. To expand the soundstage, consider adding a soundbar or a surround sound system. These external audio devices will create a wider and more enveloping soundstage, making you feel more like you're in the middle of the action.

Pros and Cons

To make things super clear, let's break down the pros and cons of the TCL 805.

Pros:

  • Affordable Price: One of the biggest draws of the TCL 805 is its affordability. You get a lot of features and performance for the price, making it a great value option.
  • Good Picture Quality: With 4K resolution, HDR support, and decent color accuracy, the picture quality is generally very good, especially for the price range.
  • Smart TV Features: Whether it's Roku TV or Android TV, the smart features are user-friendly and provide access to a vast library of content.
  • Multiple Connectivity Options: With multiple HDMI and USB ports, you can easily connect all your devices.

Cons:

  • Mediocre Sound Quality: The built-in speakers are adequate but not great. You'll likely want to invest in a separate sound system for a better audio experience.
  • Motion Handling: While decent, the motion handling isn't as advanced as on higher-end TVs. Some users may notice some motion blur or judder.
  • Upscaling Limitations: While the upscaling is decent, it's not perfect. Lower-resolution content may still look soft or blurry.

Who is This TV For?

So, who should consider buying the TCL 805? This TV is a great fit for:

  • Budget-conscious buyers: If you want a 4K HDR TV without breaking the bank, the TCL 805 is a solid choice.
  • Casual viewers: If you mostly watch streaming services and don't need the absolute best picture quality, this TV will serve you well.
  • Gamers: With HDMI 2.1 support, the TCL 805 is a decent option for next-gen gaming on a budget.

Alternatives to Consider

If the TCL 805 doesn't quite tickle your fancy, here are a few alternatives to consider:

  • Hisense U6/U7 Series: Hisense offers similar TVs in terms of price and features. They often provide comparable picture quality and smart TV capabilities.
  • Samsung TU/RU Series: Samsung's entry-level 4K TVs are another option to consider. They offer good picture quality and the Tizen smart TV platform.
  • Vizio V/M Series: Vizio TVs are known for their value and performance. They often offer good picture quality and a user-friendly smart TV platform.

Final Verdict: Should You Buy It?

Alright, guys, time for the big question: should you buy the TCL 805?

Overall, the TCL 805 is a solid mid-range TV that offers a great balance of features, performance, and price. It's a good choice for budget-conscious buyers who want a 4K HDR TV with smart features. While it's not perfect, its strengths outweigh its weaknesses, making it a worthwhile purchase for many users. If you're looking for an affordable TV that delivers a good viewing experience, the TCL 805 is definitely worth considering.