
The dimly lit interiors of House of the Dragon are a challenge to any TV, and my lineup the TCL handled them best. TV and movies: The TCL and the Hisense each showed their strengths and weaknesses, but overall I give the edge to the TCL in this category for its more theatrical presentation. For my side-by-side comparisons I lined up the TCL 6-Series next to the Hisense U8H, another mini-LED-equipped TV in the same price range, and the Vizio MQX, which lacks mini-LED, has fewer dimming zones and costs a bit less. The TCL 6-Series delivered excellent overall image quality. Other gaming extras are par for the midrange TV course, namely VRR, or variable refresh rate, and ALLM (auto game mode). The TV is actually capable of 144Hz input, according to TCL, but that extra bit of refresh isn't a big deal in my book, and is only available on select PC cards. The biggest step-up in connections compared to the earlier TCL 6-Series Roku TVs is the ability to accept 4K/120Hz input signals, from an Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5, for example. Four HDMI inputs (two with 4K/120Hz, one with eARC).Here's how the TCL's zone count stacks up with the 2022 Hisense and Vizio TVs I compare below. Smaller areas, or more dimming zones, mean more precise illumination - which ultimately increases contrast, the most important ingredient in a good picture - but they're not the only factor. It allows the screen to dim and brighten different areas simultaneously. Full-array local dimming is the best way to improve picture quality on LCD TVs. Mini-LEDs are, as you might have guessed, smaller than standard LEDs, allowing them to be grouped into more local dimming zones. The big difference between the 6-Series and cheaper LCD-based TVs is its mini-LED backlight. At one point while exploring the LIve TV section I clicked favorite channels and the whole TV froze and wouldn't respond to any commands. But for me, Roku's speed and simplicity win out. Google TV is my second-favorite and has its advantages, including better voice support, a convenient "Continue Watching" section and quick access to shows within apps. Roku allows numerous customizations, including theme packs like Western.
