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TCL Wide Color 4K UHD Roku Smart TV, 55-Inch

Last updated: June 16, 2022


Our Best Value pick is the TCL 55-inch 4K UHD Roku Smart LED TV, thanks to its affordable price. You'll get deep blacks, vibrant colors and superb picture quality for a more reasonable price.

TCL Wide Color 4K UHD Roku Smart TV, 55-Inch
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We looked at the top 4K TVs and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best 4K TV you should buy.

TCL 55S517 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart LED TV (2018 Model)

TCL 55S517 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart LED TV (2018 Model)
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$889.98

Product Details

In our analysis of 80 expert reviews, the TCL Wide Color 4K UHD Roku Smart TV, 55-Inch placed 11th when we looked at the top 17 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

The 5-series 4K TCL Roku TV delivers stunning Ultra HD picture quality with four times the resolution of Full HD for enhanced clarity and detail, as well as the most streaming channels of any 4K TV. To make the most of all this content, Dolby Vision high dynamic range (HDR) technology delivers bright and accurate colors for a lifelike viewing experience. In addition, your favorite HD shows, movies, and sporting events are upscaled to near Ultra HD resolution with 4K upscaling. The simple, intuitive interface allows seamless access to over 500, 000 streaming movies and TV episodes, your cable box, Blu-ray player, gaming console, and other devices without flipping through inputs or complicated menus. HDMI Ports: 3 HDMI 2.0 w/HDCP 2.2 (1 ARC); Resolution: 3840 x 2160; USB Ports: 1 USB 2.0

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Our Expert Consultant

Patrick Ward 
Editor-in-chief of High Speed Experts

Patrick Ward is the editor-in-chief of High Speed Experts, a broadband connectivity-, search engine- and IT-industry education blog that empowers consumers by open-sourcing information about tech services. He earned his bachelor’s degree in commerce with an emphasis on communications at the University of Sydney. His expertise spans the digital, emerging tech and telecommunications fields.

Expert Reviews


What reviewers liked

The TCL 5-series has very thin borders that give it a sleek look.
- RTINGS.com
This TV is nevertheless sporting an impressive contrast ratio of around 5300:1, thanks to black levels that are surprisingly good for a mid-range LCD.
- Reviewed
The TCL 55S517 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart LED TV has 3 HDMI inputs so you can connect your favorite devices. It has Edge LED backlighting and dynamic contrast control so you have the best picture available. This TV also utilizes Dolby Vision high dynamic range to add to the picture quality for sports, movies, and TV shows. This TV from TCL has the following connection options: USB, RF, composite, headphone jack, optical audio out, and ethernet. The smart functionality gives you access to streaming channels for movies and TV episodes using Roku TV.
- The Consumer Guide
It features a sleek design and wide color range with good accuracy out of the box.
- PC Magazine
It delivers the goods wonderfully on vibrant HDR color. This is especially useful because this model also supports Dolby Vision HDR, thus letting it actually show you a decent flow of the color range and highlights that Dolby delivers to the right kinds of 4K TVs that it’s present in.
- 4K
It offers great performance, a versatile Roku interface, and a monster screen size for the money.
- Digital Trends
The TCL 5-Series has a wonderful contrast ratio for an LCD/LED TV that lacks local dimming, and it produces a bright, punchy image. The integrated Roku OS makes it one of the easiest TVs to use, and it supports every major streaming service. Gamers don’t have to worry, thanks to very low input lag that ensures the TV can quickly render the video in your favorite games with little delay. And if you watch over-the-air TV, you can even pause it with the use of a basic USB flash drive. The 5-Series also works with the Roku TV Wireless Speakers, making it easy to upgrade the audio without having to add any wires.
- New York Times Wirecutter
If you’re looking for a big screen on a budget, the TCL’s Roku-enabled LED TV fits the bill. Since Roku’s current catalog offers more than 500,00 movies and TV episodes, your viewing choices are extensive and easy to access through this TV’s built-in interface. Other apps like Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, and YouTube are also available to meet all your streaming needs. And if you’re tired of clicking through endless menus to find what you want, don’t worry — this TV comes with a voice control remote, so queuing up your favorite show is as simple as saying the word.
- Lifewire
The TCL 55S517 is capable of superb color coverage, reaching 94% of the DCI-P3 gamut which makes it ideal for HDR imagery. Accuracy out of the box hits an average of Delta E 2.3 which is fantastic for a TV, but you can tighten it down to DE .5 with a more ideal color temp setting via the TCL Android or iOS app. Frankly, this TV is one of the most user-friendly options out there when it comes to adjusting the screen, making it a suitable choice for the non-technically-inclined.
- Monitor Nerds

What reviewers didn't like

However, a pretty obvious gap between the border bezel and the first line of pixels on the screen.
- RTINGS.com
It doesn't get very bright—even during HDR content. Also, the internal speakers are kind of a bummer.
- Reviewed
It has relatively dim panel. Well-lit fine details like fur and bark look clear but become slightly muddy in shadows.
- PC Magazine
VA display creates poor image quality at angles and there is no local dimming (unlike its 6-Series cousin).
- 4K
The 5-Series supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision HDR, but its lack of local dimming means that we don’t consider it a true HDR TV.
- New York Times Wirecutter

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View our 4K TV buying guide for in-depth advice and recommendations.

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