TCL 4 Series S425 Review 07/2020

The TCL 4 series S425 is the 2019 4K model of the Chinese company. While the S425 series has first surfaced in 2018, it has been revamped for the following year. It is one of the most affordable 4K TVs available to buy and boasts a lot of impressive features that make it a true bang for your buck.

Quality and workmanship of the TCL 4 series S425

Relative to its price point, the TCL 4 series S425 is manufactured well. It is mostly made of plastic while the top half is made of metal. The back is plain and entirely made of plastic. The stand is also plastic but supports the TV well. Alternatively, the S425 can be wall mounted with a VESAThe Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) defines standards for the TVs wall mounting measurements. mount, which has to be chosen relative to the TV size. If wall mounted, the TV will stick out moderately from the wall. It is available in 43, 50, 55, and 75 inches. Unfortunately, there are no cable management options.

Picture quality insufficient for HDRHigh Dynamic Range - image/video with more dynamic range (contrast range)

The TCL 4 series S425 has a VAVertical Alignment, type of LCD Panel panelThe panel is the actual screen of a television. There is different types of panels like OLED, LCD or Micro LED and different sub-types of LCD like VA or IPS. that delivers a refresh rateHertz is the derived SI-unit of frequency with 1Hz=1/s - When talking about TVs this means how many different pictures a TV can display in one second. of 60 HzHertz is the derived SI-unit of frequency with 1Hz=1/s - When talking about TVs this means how many different pictures a TV can display in one second.. It performs especially well in darker environments, as the VAVertical Alignment, type of LCD Panel panelThe panel is the actual screen of a television. There is different types of panels like OLED, LCD or Micro LED and different sub-types of LCD like VA or IPS. delivers uniform and deep blacks. For the same reason – just as all TVs with VAVertical Alignment, type of LCD Panel panels – the image quality degrades when viewed at an angle.

While the overall picture quality is decent, it is insufficient for HDRHigh Dynamic Range - image/video with more dynamic range (contrast range) content. The TCL 4 series S425 does not have a high enough peak brightness to reach a broad contrast ratio. For the same reason, it is not as suitable for very well lit rooms as other TVs. If your living room is especially bright, we recommend you a TV with an IPSIn-Plane Switching, type of LCD Panel panelThe panel is the actual screen of a television. There is different types of panels like OLED, LCD or Micro LED and different sub-types of LCD like VA or IPS. or a more expensive VAVertical Alignment, type of LCD Panel panelThe panel is the actual screen of a television. There is different types of panels like OLED, LCD or Micro LED and different sub-types of LCD like VA or IPS. TV with high peak brightness, such as the Samsung Q70R.

Great choice for gaming

One of the best qualities of the TCL 4 series S425 is its gaming capability. The input lagTime it takes for the input signal to appear on the screen (delay) is very low, which is great for fast and responsive gaming. First Person Shooters or other games that require fast reactions on the players’ part work well here. The TV will have its problems with HDRHigh Dynamic Range - image/video with more dynamic range (contrast range) gaming for the same reasons stated above.

The input lagTime it takes for the input signal to appear on the screen (delay) is 12 ms at 1080p @ 60 HzHertz is the derived SI-unit of frequency with 1Hz=1/s - When talking about TVs this means how many different pictures a TV can display in one second. and 13 ms at 4K @ 60 HzHertz is the derived SI-unit of frequency with 1Hz=1/s - When talking about TVs this means how many different pictures a TV can display in one second.. The achieve these values, you have to switch into the dedicated Game Mode manually. The S425 also has Auto Low Latency Mode to reduce latency between the controller and the TV. Unfortunately there is no VRRVariable Refresh Rate - synchronizes the display's refresh rate with the output refresh rate of the graphics card support.

If you’re planning to use it as a PC monitor, the TV fortunately supports native 1440p. Higher refresh rates are not possible, as the panelThe panel is the actual screen of a television. There is different types of panels like OLED, LCD or Micro LED and different sub-types of LCD like VA or IPS. only has 60 HzHertz is the derived SI-unit of frequency with 1Hz=1/s - When talking about TVs this means how many different pictures a TV can display in one second..

Mediocre sound quality

Unfortunately, the sound quality of the TCL 4 series S425 is lacking. This comes as no surprise, though, since flatscreen TVs don’t have enough to produce balanced sound. Especially bass frequencies are usually not very pronounced, as is the case with the S425. While dialogues are usually comprehensible, the TV cannot get very loud or produce near enough to display the sound of an action movie impressively. A counter measure would be the use of a dedicated soundbar.

Smart TV features of the TCL 4 series S425

The Smart features of the TCL 4 series are very good. It runs on Roku TV, which is very easy to use and runs extremely smoothly. Unfortunately, the smart OS is not ad-free. Targeted ads can be opted out of, however, this will not remove ads entirely. The app selection is very large and features all the most known apps that you would expect. The included remote is small and performs the basic functions. Additionally, there is a smartphone app that controls the TV. The Roku remote app is very versatile and works well, especially with voice control. As for this, the TV supports Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Roku Voice.

Compared to other TCL models

The TCL 4 series is a lower end TV model and we will compare its performance to the more advanced 5 and 6 series, as well as the lower 3 series.

Compared to TCL 3 series S325 2019

The TCL 3 series is set lower than the 4 series, as the name already suggests. Interestingly, this Smart TV does not have 4K resolution. Instead, it relies on Full HD resolution for the 32″, 40″, 43″, and 49″ model. The smaller 28″ and 30″ models even have 720p HD resolution. As expected, these TVs are even more affordable than the 4 series. If you are looking for the cheapest way to watch Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, this is the way to go. The 3 series is also equipped with the smart OS Roku TV and offers the same features.

Compared to TCL 5 series 2019

The 5 series is one step up from the S425. It offers a better picture and is more suited for HDRHigh Dynamic Range - image/video with more dynamic range (contrast range) content, since it supports Dolby VisionDynamic HDR-format with a color depth of up to 12 Bits and Mastering of up to 10,000 Nits, HDR10HDR10 Media Profile - HDR with a color depth of 10 Bit in the Rec. 2020 colorspace, and HLG formats. Compared to the 4 series, the S52 is only a smidge better and has some small features, that come in handy when needed. For example, it can switch into Game Mode automatically, has better backlighting for HDRHigh Dynamic Range - image/video with more dynamic range (contrast range) content and better motion handlingDisplaying fast moving objects.

Compared to TCL 6 series 2019

	
	
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