Compare: TCL C855 vs TCL C75B

Once again, the manufacturer demonstrates that although it is a relatively young player in Poland (but not worldwide) in the RTV market, it certainly cannot be said that it is a second-tier choice. The television TCL C855 is an incredibly versatile device that performs well in various applications and excels in its price class. Thanks to the Mini LED backlighting, the results of contrast and blacks are very solid, allowing for a deep and vivid image. It is worth noting that the television's algorithm effectively manages to maintain black uniformity, and blooming effect is rarely noticeable. This backlighting is also a strong point of the television in HDR materials, although with some caveats. TCL C855 can achieve a brightness of up to 1800 nits, which is an impressive result; however, brightness can drastically drop to around 200 nits when a bright but small element appears on the screen. Another drawback is the boost in mid-tones, which can lead to a loss of contrast and a decrease in image fidelity with the director's vision. The television also performs excellently when connected to a console or powerful PC. In this category, TCL C855 truly showcases its power, offering incredibly low latency and high-quality gameplay, made possible by the full implementation of HDMI 2.1 features. The Google TV operating system is another advantage, providing users with nearly unlimited installation options for applications, even those from outside the official store, thanks to support for APK files.

In summary, TCL C855 is the ideal choice for those who know what they expect from a television. It is a good, versatile piece of equipment that, although not perfect, offers excellent picture quality, low gaming latency, and a flexible and robust operating system.

The mid-range TV segment is expanding rapidly, and the TCL C75B demonstrates that you can get really solid equipment in this price range. This model has been clearly designed with gamers in mind – the HDMI 2.1 port offers ample scope, providing VRR, ALLM, as well as impressive 144 Hz refresh rates in 4K (or 240 Hz in Full HD), which will surely satisfy both gaming and sports fans. Operating the TV is enjoyable and intuitive, mainly thanks to the Google TV system. Although you may encounter slight stutters, the wealth of available applications and features compensates for that – practically everything we need is at our fingertips or even accessible by voice if we wish to converse with the remote in Polish. As for picture quality, the TCL C75B also performs well. Thanks to its VA panel, it boasts quite good contrast, and the presence of Dolby Vision allows for enjoyable HDR effects, even if the brightness isn't groundbreaking. Of course, it is not equipment without flaws – despite the fast panel, there is some motion blur, and the lack of traditional features (like USB recording) may disappoint some users. Nevertheless, in its price category, the C75B is a very attractive option, especially for those looking for a screen designed for high-level gaming.

TCL C855 uses a high-contrast VA panel. The ANSI contrast (without dimming) was a very decent 5238:1, which allows for at least very good black levels. Additionally, the panel itself is equipped with multi-zone Mini LED backlighting, which is divided into 1344 independent dimming zones for the 65-inch model. Such a number allows for very good results in our tests. It is worth noting that TCL, as one of the few manufacturers, offers such a specification without spending excessively large amounts of money, unlike the classic quartet of manufacturers. As you can see, in the vast majority of scenes we prepared, the results are impressive, particularly in the first three, as even in the third one, with a score of 54,000:1, it cannot be said that the black levels and contrast are weak, as they are more than satisfactory. These deteriorate in two scenarios: scenes with film stripes and when there are many elements surrounded by black on the screen. And while the last of the test scenes still has excellent contrast, the final tested scenario shows some blooming in the blacks. The frame from the film "Oblivion" performed exceptionally well on the TCL C855, with the level of black comparable to OLED screens, which is quite an achievement. It is also worth noting the good separation of lights, which is not easy to achieve. Our flagship scene from "Sicario 2" performed equally well in terms of contrast, but it is clear that details in the blacks on the first, second, and third planes tend to disappear. The operation of the backlight control algorithm also deserves praise, which minimizes the halo/blooming effect to an absolute minimum. However, it is worth noting that very small elements, such as stars, the TCL C855 can sometimes completely dim.

The TCL C75B television tested by us in size X" is equipped with a VA panel, which naturally provides quite decent contrast results – and this was also observed during our tests. On each test pattern, the television achieved a contrast ratio of around 5500:1. This is a result that can be considered very good in this price range. The black levels on this model perform really well, although of course, they are far from perfect.

Due to the C75B's belonging to the mid-range segment, we do not find local dimming technology here. This is particularly noticeable in more demanding scenes, such as those from the film Sicario 2, where we observed that the black takes on a navy shade instead of a deep black. This limitation of panels without local dimming can be especially visible in evening screenings with the lights off, when the dark elements of the image are more prominent. It is worth remembering this when choosing a television in this category, especially if we care about the best quality of black while watching films at night.

TCL C855 delivers a highly varied HDR effect. On one hand, the television truly shines, while on the other, it resembles a lower model with FALD backlighting. This situation is, however, regularly observed in this brand, so it was not a surprise to us. The first and last scenes, featuring large elements of light, look almost phenomenal, "shining" with brightness levels of 1470 and 1820 nits respectively. Such effects will certainly cause more than one person to squint, while simultaneously feeling the extraordinary dynamism of the scene itself. You can truly feel as if you are inside the film. The situation changes dramatically when small or minor elements with high luminance surrounded by black appear on the screen. The TCL C855, in order to avoid the halo effect, significantly reduces brightness to a level of even 240 nits, which is a disappointing result, causing the film to not appear as if it was recorded in HDR. The HDR effect in the TCL C855 makes watching dynamic scenes more engaging, allowing the viewer to feel as though they are part of the action. Even with smaller elements of high luminance, the television manages to maintain details without excessive dimming. Moreover, the TCL C855 test shows that the brightness of the image is adjusted for scenes with a large amount of detail, which enhances viewing comfort.

During our test, the TCL C75B "spat out" around 380 nits of brightness. We recorded similar results while watching most of the films we tested. They can be considered average – the television does not perform poorly in this segment, but around 400 nits is definitely too low to fully experience the magic of HDR effects. Of course, these results are better than those of budget models, which can achieve almost half the brightness values. However, for HDR enthusiasts seeking stronger lighting effects and greater realism, the C75B may prove insufficient. On the positive side, it's worth mentioning the DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage of 95%. This is a very good result that easily suffices to enjoy a wide range of colours in content available on popular streaming platforms. Vivid and rich colours are definitely a strong point of this model.

The best factory mode for the TCL C855 is "Film," and it is on this mode that we conducted all our tests. Like any mode predefined by the manufacturer, it had its drawbacks that are worth correcting to achieve an image as close as possible to what the film producer intended. We will examine the colour characteristics in both SDR and HDR materials. Looking at the first, we see a noticeable dominance of green in the white balance, which, as you might imagine, resulted in an unpleasant greenish tint across the entire image. Observing the very important gamma chart, which is responsible for the image's contrast, we see a significant deviation from the reference line marked at 2.4. From the left, we can observe a strong spike in the measured value, which at this point caused the image to be overly contrasted, merging details into a dark blob. This situation persisted for quite some time, up to 20% of the chart's value, before then dipping below the reference. This, in turn, meant a brightening of the image and a significant drop in contrast. The factory mode performed slightly better in HDR materials, as the white balance looked quite good, except for the second half, where green once again took precedence. Looking at the EOTF curve, which, unlike gamma, shows the rate of brightness increase, we see primarily two errors: the darkest scenes were too dark, and the brightest ones were overexposed. This was something we could also observe in the scene from the film "Pan" in the paragraph checking the TV's HDR.

TCL C75B offers several picture modes, but in our opinion, the best choice is the “Film” mode. Although its settings are quite decent, the television struggles with some colour reproduction issues. In our tests, we noticed that the image had a noticeably pinkish tint compared to what could be considered accurate. This effect was particularly evident in skin tones, which appeared unnaturally flushed. The main culprit for this phenomenon turned out to be the white balance, characterised by an excessive amount of blue and red in both HD and 4K HDR materials.

An additional problem was the way brightness was rendered. The gamma, which is responsible for the visibility of details in darker materials, was definitely boosted, causing details in the darkest parts of the screen to be invisible, disappearing into complete blackness (e.g., the lower part of the screen in the comparison photo - around the actress's ear). Similarly, the situation was reflected in the EOTF curve, which was below the correct value, suggesting that we might encounter a similar problem in 4K HDR content.

Thanks to our experience and the right tools, we decided to take matters into our own hands and see how much we could extract from this model after professional calibration. We describe the details in the next section.

TCL, like the vast majority of manufacturers, provides advanced calibration tools in its televisions. Here we find 2- and 20-point adjustments for greyscale as well as an advanced colour management system. The results, as you can see, are very good, and in SDR materials we have significantly approached the reference image. We eliminated both the green tint and the gamma issue, although there is still a slight "kink" at the very beginning. The performance with HDR materials was somewhat poorer, as the TCL C855 did not allow us to model them adequately. We were only able to slightly adjust the EOTF curve and significantly improve the colours themselves.

After calibrating the TCL C75B, it has clearly improved in terms of colour reproduction. Although the television does not offer many options for adjusting the white balance, we managed to enhance its settings quite significantly. As a result, the image is no longer excessively pink, and the colours now look much more natural and harmonious.

The gamma jump, which was previously an issue, has not completely disappeared, but we have managed to reduce it considerably. This has made details in dark scenes more visible – both in HD and 4K HDR materials.

Unfortunately, the lack of local dimming is still noticeable. The "blooming black" effect remains, but that is a limitation of the display itself. Nevertheless, the colours after calibration look far better, and the image is much more enjoyable to watch.

Nevertheless, an important aspect in assessing image quality is tonal transitions. To obtain a clear image free from posterisation effects, the television must demonstrate very good algorithms for smoothing out colour gradations. We must admit that the one used in TCL C855, named "Gradual Smoothing," is among the best we have had the opportunity to test. Practically every scene performs very well here and there is nothing to criticise. The best example of this is the scene from "The Green Knight," which is the most demanding due to the vast amount of fine and subtle transitions in the mist. The C855 effectively smooths out everything contained in the scene and allows the full suspense to be felt. The only moment where a slight posterisation can be observed is in a shot from the film "The Green Knight," where the reds in the upper left section of the screen stand out from each other.

In terms of the smoothness of tonal transitions, the TCL C75B performs really well. The gradation of the darkest colours is particularly impressive – here the television does not disappoint and presents a high-quality image.

Some imperfections can be seen in the brightest areas of the screen, such as in a scene from the film Kingsman (the sun in the blue sky). Nevertheless, the final effect should satisfy the vast majority of users.

Once again, we will take a look at the function of smoothing tonal transitions, but this time also at image scaling. The latter is particularly important when watching lower-quality materials, such as certain television programmes or older films. We will focus on the function responsible for tonal transitions. Interestingly, just like in the scenes of the previous test, it performed excellently and smoothed out practically all the inconsistencies; however, here it had problems. Using the menu responsible for this function, we found that no setting - even the strongest - was of any help.

Image scaling in TCL C855 is described as one of the best we have had the opportunity to test so far. The image is sharp, but in a way that could be described as natural for our eyes. Even the small, fine branches do not have jagged edges, and there is no white halo around figures, which is characteristic of inferior scaling systems.

TCL C75B has a tone transition smoothing function, but unfortunately, we cannot commend it. Regardless of the selected level – low or high – tone transitions in older materials remained visible, as if the function wasn't working at all. It's hard to say anything positive about it, as in practice it seems completely useless.

The image scaling is better. The television performs quite decently, although on thinner elements, like branches in the background, you can notice slight jaggedness. However, this is not something that significantly interferes with daily viewing.

Unfortunately, a bigger problem turned out to be overscan, which is cutting off the edges of the image. In our tests, there were instances where news tickers or other elements near the edge of the screen were cut off. This is definitely something to pay attention to, especially if we use the television for watching news programmes or content with text on the screen.

The maximum refresh rate we can set on the TCL C855 is 144 Hz. Naturally, this is only possible by connecting the TCL C855 television to a very powerful PC. Otherwise, we will be operating at a maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz, which is recommended if we primarily want to watch sports or content with a lot of motion dynamics. For those requiring high image fluidity, the manufacturer has implemented a multi-stage motion smoother. This has been divided into two separate sliders regulating the sharpness of moving images (Motion Blur Reduction) and flicker (Flicker Reduction). Both sliders can be set in the range from 0 to 10, with each increment affecting the level of smoothing, so everyone can find their sweet spot. We present a setting that allows for slight smoothing without the soap opera effect.

The panel of the TCL C855 features a very good response time. This is particularly important as VA panels often have issues with so-called ghosting, which is the effect where a black halo can be seen behind a fast-moving object.

The TCL C75B definitely has something to offer gamers. The television is equipped with a panel that can display images with a refresh rate of 144 Hz in 4K, and even 240 Hz in Full HD. These are really impressive results, especially for a model from the entry-level range.

In addition, there are features for improving fluidity and reducing motion blur in films. The "Motion" option allows precise adjustment of the effect on a 10-point scale, which offers great personalisation possibilities - everyone can set the fluidity as they like.

The TCL C855 television is equipped with full HDMI 2.1 connectors with a full bandwidth of 48 Gb/s. During our tests, we confirmed the seamless operation of all functions that are part of this standard. As can be seen, all checkboxes light up green, which will certainly be appreciated by gamers, both console and those using the television as a monitor for their computer. Additionally, the TCL C855 supports both AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA's G-Sync, which can be easily activated in the graphics card settings. Those with a very powerful setup can send a 144 Hz signal to the C855, which this television handles effortlessly. It is also worth mentioning the implementation of the HGIG mode, which, however, due to the flaw of the “Game” mode, is overly brightened, making it difficult to configure properly on screen. Fortunately, the television performs excellently with the Dolby Vision format.

The TCL C855 is one of the first manufacturers to equip its televisions with a special GameBar, which allows for extensive setting changes on the fly, without the need to exit the game. It features functions such as an additional crosshair grid, black level correction, and settings for people with disabilities. In the picture, we can see the next generation of this solution.

In summary, the TCL C855 television will be an ideal solution for those seeking a screen for all sorts of electronic gaming. Thanks to all the features supporting such entertainment, it is incredibly engaging. It is also important to highlight the very low input lag, regardless of the selected settings, including with the HDR Dolby Vision format.

The TCL C75B is undoubtedly a television designed with gamers in mind. It offers nearly everything that even the most demanding console users could need. With the implementation of fully capable HDMI 2.1, the television supports features like ALLM (Automatic Low Latency Mode) and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) – operating within the full potential of the television, up to 240 Hz in Full HD resolution.

Additionally, the television supports advanced HDR technologies, including Dolby Vision and HGiG, allowing for even better detail reproduction in HDR-optimised games. The C75B is also equipped with a very convenient interface for gamers in the form of Game Bar, where all key parameters such as refresh rate, input lag, and image settings can be checked – all within a single click.

In a nutshell: the C75B is a great choice for gamers, offering a wide range of features that allow users to fully enjoy the capabilities of modern consoles and games.

The delay times of the TCL C855 are remarkably low in every scenario. Even the most avid gamers will surely appreciate the very low input lag of just 7 ms at demanding 4K 120 Hz settings with HDR. Furthermore, the delays at these same settings, but with Dolby Vision HDR enabled, remain at the same level, which is not so obvious in the case of competing models. Consequently, the TCL C855 deserves the highest rating and recommendation.

Input lag in the TCL C75B is something that really impresses. At a refresh rate of 144 Hz, the lag is only 9 ms, which makes the TV's response to our actions on the pad or keyboard practically instantaneous. For 60 Hz, the result is 19 ms – while not record-breakingly low, it still falls within the range where delays are practically unnoticeable during gaming. One could say that the difference would not be felt anyway, which makes this TV a good choice even for more demanding gamers.

TCL C855 when connected to a computer as a monitor performs very well. This is due to the very low latency between the mouse, eye, and screen, as well as excellent font clarity, which results from the correct implementation of chroma 4:4:4 at all resolutions, including 4K@144Hz. The subpixel layout is BGR, which does not negatively impact usage in Windows. However, the situation may change when using macOS or other software that cannot adapt fonts to this subpixel layout. Additionally, the television has minor issues with displaying fonts on a black background, which is why we deducted some points.

TCL C75B is quite a good choice for connecting to a computer. With high refresh rates, low input lag, and support for G-Sync, the television performs excellently in games – both dynamic ones and more demanding titles. The image is smooth, and the response to our actions is quick, which gamers will surely appreciate.

For office work, the television also does well. Text is readable, although on a dark background some imperfections can be noticed – certain fonts look as if there are missing pieces of vertical lines. This may be distracting if we work a lot with documents or text editing. However, if the computer is mainly used for gaming or watching films, the TCL C75B will easily fulfill its role as a monitor. It is a versatile piece of equipment that can handle most applications.

A widely known drawback of VA matrixes without an angular coating is their poor performance in terms of viewing angles. The same is true for TCL C855, where even a slight shift off-axis leads to significant image washout and colour degradation.

The viewing angles on the TCL C75B are, unfortunately, very poor. This is a typical compromise with VA panels – better blacks at the cost of side viewing visibility. The image quickly loses quality when viewed from an angle, which is the complete opposite of what IPS panel televisions offer. If we plan to watch the television mainly straight on, this won't be a major issue. However, with a larger number of viewers sitting at different angles, the image quality may disappoint.

The glossy finish of the panel in TCL C855 did not allow for the highest rating in terms of the television's performance during daytime viewing, although it is precisely because of this that the blacks during the day are very good. Thanks to the high brightness in SDR content, the actress's face stands out strongly against reflections. A downside of the panel, however, is that light falling directly on the television "spills" further rather than being contained in one place. Generally speaking, if sun rays do not hit the panel, TCL C855 will be a very good choice for brightly lit rooms.

The TCL C75B performs moderately during the day. The satin screen somewhat limits reflections, but it's not an ideal solution. The brightness is also an issue – 350 cd/m² is simply too low for comfortable viewing in a brightly lit room.

In less extreme conditions, such as in a moderately lit room, the television manages well. However, if the sun beams directly onto the screen in summer, watching may become tiring. It's worth keeping this in mind when choosing this model.

TCL C855 operates on the Google TV system, which is a significant advantage compared to televisions equipped with proprietary systems from manufacturers, where installing applications from a USB drive may be difficult or often downright impossible. Thanks to Google TV, we have the ability to install practically any application, both from the official store and directly from internet repositories via APK files.

This system also offers many conveniences in terms of control. We can connect a keyboard with a touchpad, which greatly facilitates inputting queries. Additionally, thanks to integration with Google, we can use voice control functions with the remote, which works very well, although there are occasional minor issues with the translation of functions and options. It is worth adding that Google TV regularly receives updates that improve functionality and introduce new options. We can also confirm that according to reports from users of older models, the software can have its bad days, and sometimes it experiences a "bad day".

In summary: Google TV is currently one of the most popular systems on the market. Thanks to an efficient CPU, it operates very smoothly, does not freeze, and does not have issues with lagging for a significant part of its usage. This is definitely the best option for those who want to make the most of the capabilities of the TCL C855 television and value the openness of the system.

TCL C75B is a television that is primarily based on the Google TV system. The platform offers access to most popular applications, such as Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video, which makes it great for watching content from the internet. However, it should be mentioned that the system can sometimes be slightly laggy, which may be noticeable during everyday use.

In terms of smart features, the C75B performs well. Voice control with the help of the built-in assistant works efficiently, and thanks to AirPlay and Miracast, it is easy to stream content from your phone or laptop. Bluetooth allows you to connect headphones, controllers, or other devices without any major issues.

However, if someone is counting on traditional television features, they may be disappointed. There is no option to record programmes onto a USB drive, nor is there a picture-in-picture (PiP) feature. TCL has been omitting such features for some time, which may not appeal to users who primarily use traditional television.

The default media player on the TCL C855 performs very well with practically all the content we have prepared for it. Virtually every video format is supported. However, a notable deficiency may be the lack of a feature to change the font colour. There are hardly any issues with photos and their maximum resolution. It is worth noting negatively the absence of support for Apple's HEIC and SVG files. On the other hand, audio files can be played without any problems, and we do not believe that a large portion of you uses AIFF or DSD64. However, an undeniable advantage of the C855 and its operating system is that we can download another player from the app store at any time, which will play everything.

The built-in media player in the TCL C75B works really well. It handles most popular photo and audio formats without any issues. Although there are some shortcomings in supporting certain formats, thanks to Google TV, you can easily install an alternative player that will resolve this issue.

When evaluating the sound on the TCL C855, we pay attention to several key aspects, such as whether the tones are clearly audible and do not clash with one another, as well as whether none of them dominates the others. In the case of the TCL C855, the sound is positively presented – it is balanced and does not evoke any negative feelings. Generally, the sound is simply good.

For those with a home cinema system, the TCL C855 offers a wide range of audio codecs, including the two most important: DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby Atmos. This ensures high audio quality that will satisfy users seeking better audio experiences.

The sound on the TCL C75B is really pleasant, especially at lower volume levels. The bass is noticeable and enhances the sound nicely, but only up to about 40% volume. At higher settings, problems start to arise – the bass causes unpleasant vibrations, and the speakers begin to crackle. If we plan to frequently use higher volume levels, it is worth considering purchasing a soundbar, as the built-in speakers may not cope with more demanding situations.

TCL C855 vs TCL C75B

Advantages

Disadvantages

Our verdict

TV appearance

Where to buy

Contrast and black detail

HDR effect quality

Factory color reproduction

Color reproduction after calibration

Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

Blur and motion smoothness

Console compatibility and gaming features

Input lag

Compatibility with PC

Viewing angles

TV efficiency during daytime

Details about the matrix

TV features

Playing files from USB

Apps

Sound