TCL S5 65-Inch Class S5 65" 2024 Review

The TCL S5 is a budget 65-inch 4K TV that punches above its weight in one area: 120Hz gaming. Picture quality is average and HDR is weak, but the Fire TV platform is great. At $550, it's a solid pick for a big screen on a budget, especially for casual gamers. Just plan on adding a soundbar.

The TCL S5 is a 65-inch 4K TV that's built for one thing: getting you a big screen for not a lot of cash. It's the kind of TV you buy for a basement rec room, a guest bedroom, or as a secondary set where you just want something that works without a ton of fuss. The headline feature here is the 120Hz refresh rate, which is a bit of a surprise at this price point and makes it a contender for casual gaming.

Who is this for? Honestly, it's for the budget-conscious buyer who wants a decently large TV and doesn't want to overthink it. If you're coming from an older 1080p set or a smaller screen, the jump to 4K on a 65-inch panel will feel huge. The built-in Fire TV platform is a big plus, too. It means you're getting a smart TV experience that's familiar, fast, and has access to pretty much every streaming app you'd want right out of the box.

What makes it interesting is that trade-off. TCL is giving you that 120Hz gaming spec, which is a solid feature, but in other areas like picture quality and HDR, you're getting what you pay for. It's a classic case of a manufacturer putting its chips on one or two things to stand out in a crowded market. For the right person, that's a perfectly fine deal.

Let's talk about that 120Hz refresh rate. In our testing and according to the data, this is the S5's strongest suit, landing it in the 74th percentile for gaming. That means it's well above average for handling motion in fast-paced games and sports. You'll get smoother panning in action scenes and less blur in racing games compared to a standard 60Hz TV. Just don't expect the full suite of high-end gaming features like variable refresh rate (VRR) or super low input lag you'd find on more expensive models. It's a great entry point for console gamers on a budget.

For everything else, the performance is, well, average. The picture quality scores in the 43rd percentile, which is right in the middle of the pack. Colors are fine, and 4K content looks sharp, but don't expect the deep blacks and incredible contrast of an OLED. HDR performance is a weak spot, sitting in the 22nd percentile. Bright highlights won't pop as much, and darker scenes can look a bit flat and murky. The built-in audio is also mediocre, scoring in the 30th percentile. You'll definitely want to budget for a soundbar, which is why the bundle with TCL's own S55H bar is a smart move.

At $550, the TCL S5 is squarely in the budget big-screen category. You're paying for inches and one key feature (120Hz), and you're making compromises elsewhere. That's the game. Compared to other 65-inch TVs at this price, you're often stuck with 60Hz panels, so the S5 has a clear edge for gamers. But if you step up just a couple hundred dollars, you can find models from Hisense or even TCL's own Q-series with much better picture quality and full-array local dimming.

The bundle with the S55H soundbar is where the value gets interesting. Since the TV's audio is a known weak spot, getting a decent 2.1 channel bar with Dolby Atmos support thrown in solves a real problem without you having to shop separately. It turns a 'meh' audio experience into a pretty good one for movies and TV shows.

The most direct competitor is probably the Hisense U6 series. For a similar price, you might find a Hisense with Mini-LED backlighting, which typically offers better contrast and HDR performance than the S5's standard LED panel. The trade-off is that the Hisense often uses its own, less polished smart TV platform, and you might not get that 120Hz refresh rate. It's a choice between better picture quality (Hisense) or better motion handling and a superior smart OS (TCL S5).

If you care more about smart features and have a bit more to spend, the Roku Pro Series is a compelling step-up. It uses a better Mini-LED panel, so picture quality and HDR will be noticeably superior, and Roku's platform is just as user-friendly as Fire TV. You'll pay more for it, though. On the absolute high end, comparing this to an LG OLED or Samsung Neo QLED isn't fair—they're in a different league (and price bracket) for picture quality. The S5 is for when those are simply not on the table.

Home theater enthusiasts should steer clear. If your weekend plan is to dim the lights and get lost in a 4K Blu-ray of Dune, the S5's mediocre HDR performance and average contrast will be a constant disappointment. You'll notice the lack of shadow detail and the overall flatness compared to even a mid-range TV with better local dimming. For you, saving up for a TCL Q-series, Hisense U7/U8, or an LG OLED is a much better investment.

Also, if you need a ton of ports for game consoles, sound systems, and streaming devices, check the specs carefully. The connectivity score is in the 13th percentile, which suggests it may have fewer HDMI ports than average. If you've got a PS5, Xbox, Apple TV, and a soundbar to plug in, you might find yourself needing an HDMI switch, which is an annoying extra cost and hassle.

Buy the TCL S5 65-inch if your priorities are, in this order: 1) A big screen on a tight budget, 2) Casual console gaming with smoother motion, and 3) The convenience of Fire TV. It's a perfect fit for a secondary room, a first apartment, or for parents buying a TV for their kids' game room. The value is real, especially if you snag the bundle with the soundbar.

Skip it and look elsewhere if your main activity is watching cinematic movies in a dark room, or if you're a serious gamer who needs VRR and ultra-low latency. The mediocre HDR and middling contrast will leave you wanting more. In that case, save up a little longer for a TV with a better panel, like a TCL Q6 or a Hisense U7.