TCL redefines ‘bang for your buck’. Again
55in 4K TV | £629| whf.cm/TCL_C745K
With TCL having redefined expectations of the £1000 (ish) 65in TV market in both feature and performance terms with its current 65C845K model, hopes have to be high that it will be able to achieve the same trick with its step-down C745K range – as represented here by the 55in 55C745K.
This model loses the Mini LED lighting of the C845K, and reduces the brightness and dimming-zone count. Its full array with local dimming panel, Quantum Dot colours and eye-catching gaming features, though, mean that it still has more than enough goodies up its sleeve to make it another big bargain. Provided it actually performs well, of course.
The 55C745K costs just £629 – a price that puts it so much towards the lower end of the mid-range market that it almost qualifies as a budget set. And that is despite its specifications and feature list sounding more appropriate to the higher end of the mid-range market.
The C745K range also includes 65in and 75in models priced at just £749 and £978 respectively. If you want to step up to TCL’s spectacularly bright, Mini LED-toting 55in 55C845K, meanwhile, you will need to find £849 .
The 55C745K looks decent enough for its money, but at the same time probably won’t be seen sashaying down any TV catwalks. The metallic-looking frame around its screen is narrow enough to let pictures feel almost borderless, and it is nice to find such an affordable TV fixed to a fairly narrow stand that can fit easily onto even quite small bits of furniture. The stand raises the TV just enough to fit a fairly slim soundbar under the screen if you wish.
The rear panel is quite chunky by today’s standards – though, aside from it making the TV stick out if you are wall-hanging it, we don’t particularly mind a bit of rear bulk on a direct-lit LED TV, given that trying to make such screens ultra-slim has the potential to upset their picture quality. Build quality feels a bit lightweight and plasticky at first, but you can’t really notice this from a regular viewing distance.
Slim but fulsome
Shipped with the 55C745K is an unusually long and thin remote control that feels more comfortable to hold than you might expect from looking at it, despite being a pretty plasticky affair. It sports a fulsome array of buttons, including one for a mic so that you can control the TV by voice, as well as a decent sele
