TCL R617 Review

COMPLETE REVIEW

The 6 Series from TCL, also known as the R617 model, is a budget-friendly TV and among the best 4K TVs you can find under $1,000. There is also the R615, which is basically the same TV, only it is about $50 cheaper, because it comes with a standard remote control, instead of the smart one included with the R617, which also has a built-in mic for voice search.

The R617 comes in 2 sizes: 55-inch and 65-inch and although it was launched in 2017, it is still a good option in 2018. It has an improved design, a great picture quality and a really attractive price tag.

Here are the main specifications of the 55-inch version of the R617:

• Dimensions with stand (W x H x D): 48.5” x 30.6” x 10.7”
• Weight with stand: 38.2 lbs
• Resolution: UHD, 3840 x 2160
• Display colors: 1.07 billion
• Dolby Vision and HDR10
• Smart platform: Roku
• Dual-core processor
• WiFi (802.11ac 2x2 Dual Band, 2.4GHz, 5GHz support )
• Audio power: 8W + 8W
• 1 USB 2.0
• 3 HDMI inputs
• 1 Ethernet

Design

The design of the P Series is upgraded and the R617 has a more premium look. The black plastic was replaced with a more elegantly looking brushed metal finish, with a thin metal frame around it. The legs are also metal and they form a really wide angle.

There’s a round, backlit power button on the bottom-right and the connections in the back include 1USB port, 3 HDMI inputs, an Ethernet port, optical audio output, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a 3.5mm composite video input.

Overall, the TCL R617 is a bit thick, due to its full array panel, but it nevertheless looks like a high-end device, only for half the price.

The smart remote that comes with the R617 model has a built-in microphone for voice control and looks like any other Roku TV remote. It is relatively small, has volume and mute buttons, playback buttons and 4 dedicated buttons for Hulu, Netflix, DirectTV Now and Sling TV. What’s missing is the headphone jack, which would have been a very useful addition.

Features and performance

The Roku TV operating system is a very flexible one and doesn’t limit you in any way. Roku is a top favorite for many reasons: it is intuitive and very user-friendly, you get access to more apps than with any other system, the menus are really simple and fully customizable and there are regular updates which means constant improvement of the OS.

The R617 comes with built-in Chromecast, which means you can use your smartphone to cast content to your TV.

While voice command isn’t necessarily its strength, it can help you search content and Roku works great when you want to find a favorite show to watch, for instance. It will immediately tell you where you can watch it for free and how much you have to pay, if the case.

When it comes to picture quality, the R617 is really a bargain, considering its price. The 55-inch version has 96 zones of locally dimmed backlights. TCL calls the full array local dimming ‘contrast control zone’ technology, although it’s basically the same thing, and it is really effective. The R617 has a remarkable native contrast, supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision and has accurate colors. It does have WCG, although it is not that wide.

HDR performance is also impressive, with the R617 supporting both Dolby Vision and HDR10 and they both look great.

As for the 120Hz clear motion index TCL boasts on, it is like with many other competitors, just a fabrication, as the R617 has just a 60Hz panel. You’ve got only 3 motion settings: low, medium and high, which is better than nothing, but still not enough.

Gamers will be pleased to know though that when in Game mode, the R617 has a really low input lag, which is good news.

Sound is not the best quality of the R617. It is neither loud, nor does it have enough bass. The two 8W speakers just can’t pull it off on their own, so you’d be advised to invest some more money for this particular aspect.

Overall though, we consider the R617 a great value for the money. It offers way more than similar competitors, for a significant lower price.