Simply put, the TCL R646 has the best price-to-picture quality ratio I’ve seen to date. But once you do take its asking price into consideration, its value proposition is undeniable. There’s no need to mince words: The TCL R646 offers tremendously good picture quality, irrespective of its price. As one might expect from a Google TV, it supports Chromecast, but it also plays nicely with Apple devices thanks to AirPlay 2 and HomeKit compatibility. One of those two 4K 120Hz ports is an eARC port, capable of delivering Dolby Atmos audio to a connected soundbar or A/V receiver.Īll told, the R646 is a well-featured TV, with plenty of bells and whistles to enjoy.
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Unlike the Roku version of the 6-Series, which could only support 120Hz at 1440p resolution, the R646 Google TV offers two HDMI ports capable of supporting 4K 120Hz (useful for connecting next-gen game consoles like the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5). FeaturesĪside from all the functionality enabled by the Google TV platform, the TCL R646 offers support for HDR 10, HLG, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos. It’s important to point out here that the Google TV platform does allow users to opt-out of using Google TV and instead set up the R646 more or less as a “dumb TV.” This is an option I’d like to see other smart TV platforms pick up. You don’t have to do it this way, but it does eliminate several minutes of button-mashing on the remote.
While somewhat time-consuming, this relatively simple process is made easier using the Google Home app on a smartphone or tablet. It took about 14 minutes from the time I powered up the R646 until the TV’s setup wizard was complete. While we reviewed the 65-inch 65R646 model, our review also applies to the other screen sizes available in the series. Rather than cycle through inputs using a dedicated button on the remote, I had to click the settings button, navigate to and click the input selection menu, then navigate to and click the desired HDMI input. One button conspicuously missing from the remote, however, is an input select button. The remote also features a microphone and a Google Assitant button for on-demand use of voice search and voice control. (Which services are supported will vary by region). Included in the box with the TV, feet, screws, batteries, and requisite product literature is a Google TV remote that looks similar in some ways to a Chromecast with Google TV remote, though with the addition of hotkeys for select streaming services. The feet (or legs, if you prefer) also offer improved flexibility for cable management, allowing thicker HDMI cables to be routed away from the back of the TV through the top of the feet thanks to a flexible flap that replaces the hard plastic cap seen on previous TCL TV models. The 65-inch R646 I received for review allows for its feet to be installed either at the far ends of the TV or toward the center - the latter allowing for placement on smaller media stands. Don’t worry if that idea makes you nervous, though the TV’s built-in microphone can be disabled at the flip of a switch on the back of the TV, just below the input bay. This is the first hint that the S546 and R646 models come with the option to enable an always-listening Google Assistant. Fitbit Versa 3īoth TCL’s 5- and 6-Series Google TVs look very much like the Roku versions, save for one dead giveaway: A small bump-out underneath the bottom center of the TV covered in gray fabric, much like a Google Nest Mini speaker.