Is this T.V. worth the extra $150 over the TCL 5 series? null

Absolutely. I purchased the TCL 5 series 55" and returned it after two weeks and purchased the TCL 6 series (55 inches). And right now, the difference in price between the TCL 5 and TCL 6 series at 55" is only $100. The difference is the screen. The 5 series sets - while good values- suffer a few significant shortcomings. First, the screen on the 5 series is lighted from the edges. You are never going to get really deep blacks with a screen that is backlighted from the edges. If you run a simple test (there are videos on YouTube) you will see a gray'ish background with areas that are brighter than others - usually at the corners. Running the same test on the six series you see a black screen. BLACK, not gray The other difference in brightness. And it ties in with black level. The five series can muster around 300 nits. The six series is 2-3x that, depending on how much of the screen. And finally - and perhaps biggest - is that the 6 series have local dimming (TCL calls it contrast control zones). This lets the TV adjust the brightness very specifically in small areas (I think it's 96 zones on the 55") Summing it up, for HDR (High Dynamic Range) to work effectively you need a screen that can get very dark and very bright in small, specific areas. The five series is a goof value for sure, but it simply can't get bright enough nor is it responsive enough to take advantage of HDR. It looks the same in HDR as SDR. Last - while TCL's sets (4, 5 and 6 series) all have a rather limited viewing angle, The 6 series is the best of the bunch on that score. My 5 series set if you moved away from directly in front of the TV even just a little bit the picture quickly degraded. This 6 series has a notably wider viewing angle sweet spot. It's not great. But it is certainly better.

It's only $100 more now. I have read a lot of comparison info. The 6 will be brighter and is rated by CNET as the best TV for the money on the market today. The 5 would be a great TV, but the 6 might be an improvement if you use the TV in a brighter room.

By all means, this TV takes TCL to the next level.

Yes, if you are picky about image. If not, no.

YES!! The 96 zone local dimming on the 6 series produces incredible contrast - inky blacks with detail, and bright whites and colors all at the same time. True Full Array Local Dimming (FALD) is a very high-end feature for a set at this price. A no-brainer and well worth the extra. Going cheap when the 6 series is within reach would be a big mistake.

“Is this T.V. worth the extra $150 over the TCL 5 series?”

Asked by CLH 6 years ago

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TCL - 55" Class - LED - 6 Series - 2160p - Smart - 4K UHD TV with HDR Roku TV-Front_Standard

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Absolutely. I purchased the TCL 5 series 55" and returned it after two weeks and purchased the TCL 6 series (55 inches). And right now, the difference in price between the TCL 5 and TCL 6 series at 55" is only $100. The difference is the screen. The 5 series sets - while good values- suffer a few significant shortcomings. First, the screen on the 5 series is lighted from the edges. You are never going to get really deep blacks with a screen that is backlighted from the edges. If you run a simple test (there are videos on YouTube) you will see a gray'ish background with areas that are brighter than others - usually at the corners. Running the same test on the six series you see a black screen. BLACK, not gray The other difference in brightness. And it ties in with black level. The five series can muster around 300 nits. The six series is 2-3x that, depending on how much of the screen. And finally - and perhaps biggest - is that the 6 series have local dimming (TCL calls it contrast control zones). This lets the TV adjust the brightness very specifically in small areas (I think it's 96 zones on the 55") Summing it up, for HDR (High Dynamic Range) to work effectively you need a screen that can get very dark and very bright in small, specific areas. The five series is a goof value for sure, but it simply can't get bright enough nor is it responsive enough to take advantage of HDR. It looks the same in HDR as SDR. Last - while TCL's sets (4, 5 and 6 series) all have a rather limited viewing angle, The 6 series is the best of the bunch on that score. My 5 series set if you moved away from directly in front of the TV even just a little bit the picture quickly degraded. This 6 series has a notably wider viewing angle sweet spot. It's not great. But it is certainly better.
Answered by Tony 6 years ago
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It's only $100 more now. I have read a lot of comparison info. The 6 will be brighter and is rated by CNET as the best TV for the money on the market today. The 5 would be a great TV, but the 6 might be an improvement if you use the TV in a brighter room.
Answered by Billybob407 6 years ago
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By all means, this TV takes TCL to the next level.
Answered by Ivan62 6 years ago
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Yes, if you are picky about image. If not, no.
Answered by Yuppers 6 years ago
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YES!! The 96 zone local dimming on the 6 series produces incredible contrast - inky blacks with detail, and bright whites and colors all at the same time. True Full Array Local Dimming (FALD) is a very high-end feature for a set at this price. A no-brainer and well worth the extra. Going cheap when the 6 series is within reach would be a big mistake.
Answered by DaveT1081 6 years ago
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