Is TCL Better Than LG? Comparing Their TVs‘ Value

If you‘re shopping for a new TV, you‘ve probably asked this question – should I buy TCL or LG? Which brand offers better value?

As two major brands, both TCL and LG compete heavily against each other to win consumers across all budgets. They offer huge television lineups spanning bleeding-edge OLEDs to entry-level LCDs.

But are the cheaper TCL TVs really better than more premium LG alternatives?

That‘s a tricky question. Ultimately, it depends on your personal viewing priorities. But there are key factors that separate TCL vs LG value as examined in this guide.

Let‘s start with a high-level overview before diving into the details:

At a Glance: TCL vs LG TV Comparison

Before their meteoric rise over the last few years, TCL used to be an obscure Chinese brand. However, in recent times, TCL displays have proven themselves as true flagship TV killers that beat hotshots like Sony and Samsung in value.

On the other hand, LG continues to cement its reputation through industry-leading OLED TVs. Backed by superior R&D, they offer unparalleled lifelike visuals and premium calibration settings for cinephiles.

So if you seek outright performance with flexible budgets, LG is the choice. And TCL is ideal when you need stellar big-screen experience on a relatively small budget.

To help figure out if TCL TVs are really better, let‘s check how they compare across various vital aspects.

Picture Quality

In the budget TV segment, top-rated TCL 6-Series TVs are considered visual powerhouses based on their QLED Quantum Dot panels. According to technical analysis site RTINGS.com, it achieves:

• Excellent peak brightness of 722 nits for vivid HDR
• Infinite contrast levels thanks to quantum dot enhancement
• Over 90% DCI-P3 wide color gamut coverage – better than LED competitors
• Uniform edge-lit panel with Full Array Local Dimming (FALD)
• Decent viewing angles retaining colors at around 45°

As a result, the TCL 6-series bags an overall rating of 8.7/10 for its spectacular imaging capabilities. Reviewers and buyers praise its 4K QLED clarity coupled with deep cinematic blacks.

Now let‘s glance at LG‘s flagship C2 model with next-gen OLED Evo panel:

• Infinite contrast with perfectly blacks since pixels self-illuminate
• Ultra-wide viewing angles with consistent colors – around 80°!
• Flawless motion handling with near-instant response time
• Brightness peaks beyond 1000 nits for amazingly vivid HDR
• Supports Dolby Vision IQ for adaptive intelligent picture

With such specs, it‘s no surprise RTINGS gives the LG C2 near-perfect score of 9.7/10 – the highest of any 2022 television. Hundreds of satisfied customers corroborate LG‘s leading image reproduction abilities.

Clearly, OLED TVs like the LG C2 trounce anything TCL currently offers if pristine visual fidelity holds the maximum weightage in your TV buying decision. Their self-lit pixels result in phenomenal contrast that no amount of local dimming on LCD/QLED panels can match.

But TCL 6-series is no pushover either – it runs shoulder-to-shoulder with $2000 Sony/Samsung sets costing nearly twice as much! So if you want flagship-tier 4K clarity on a $1000 budget, TCL is a no-brainer choice.

Winner: LG OLED TVs

Features & Smart Platform Comparison

On paper, TCL seems better equipped with the intuitive Roku or Google TV installed. But let‘s examine some key aspects of TCL vs LG‘s platforms.

Interface & Usability

LG leverages its proprietary webOS platform that provides fluid navigation using the Magic Remote‘s point-and-click cursor. The home screen lets you access various streaming apps, external devices, antenna channels, and settings in an organized manner.

In comparison, Roku OS powering various TCL TVs has a more app-focused interface. The home screen almost looks like an expanded app drawer throwing spotlight on various streaming platforms.

So LG‘s webOS may appeal more to folks who regularly switch between varied content sources. But TCL Roku TV offers effortless cord-cutting with quick access to thousands of channels and titles.

Gaming Performance

For gaming, LG OLED TVs are unparalleled with:

• 4 HDMI 2.1 ports supporting 4K @ 120 Hz
• ALLM, VRR, FreeSync Premium for lag-free gaming
• Game Optimizer dashboard with genre-specific settings

The TCL 6-series isn‘t too far behind with 144 Hz VRR + FreeSync support. But it only has one HDMI 2.1 suitable for 4K next-gen gaming. For casual gamers though, it still delivers excellent low input lag around 15ms.

Smart Assistant Support

Both LG webOS and TCL Roku platform work well with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa devices. You can verbally control various functions like launching apps, adjusting volume, configuring smart lights etc.

So for smart home integration, TCL and LG are on equal footing. Roku just makes the initial setup a bit more seamless.

Based on these parameters, choosing between webOS and Roku comes down to your personal preferences for UI/UX.

Gamers may prefer LG for HDMI 2.1 capabilities. But TCL offers better app support thanks to Roku TV that gets frequent updates. For most buyers, both platforms offer adequate smart connectivity.

Winner: Tie

Display Technology

One key aspect that separates both brands is the actual display panel inside their TVs.

As you may already know, LG manufactures industry-leading OLED TVs powered by self-illuminating pixels. So when they need to show "true black", the pixels simply switch off. This gives LG OLEDs literally infinite contrast ratio.

TCL however mainly produces QLED TVs augmented by quantum dot technology – similar to Samsung and Sony. This helps improve color gamut drastically compared to regular LED-backlit LCD televisions. But they cannot match purity of OLEDs since an LED backlight is still active for the entire panel.

For premium picture quality and giant screen sizes, LG also sells pricier QNED Mini LED TVs. These use ultra-precise local dimming with Mini LEDs to approach OLED-tier performance. Think of them as LG‘s answer to Samsung‘s Neo QLED 8K TVs costing 4-5 times higher!

In summary, here is where both manufacturers stand:

This table makes it evident that LG offers greater diversity in terms of high-end display types. With their OLED & QNED TVs, you can experience stunning visuals rivaling $5000+ luxury offerings.

TCL however remains limited to QLED or budget LED-backlit LCD televisions for now. So while colors and brightness may seem fantastic to average viewers, cinephiles can easily notice the difference in contrast levels.

But everyone may not care about deeper blacks or wide viewing angles. And TCL‘s QLED models offer adequate performance at literally half the price.

So evaluate your exact needs. For darker viewing spaces like home theaters, nothing beats OLED. And TCL makes excellent TVs for brighter rooms.

Winner: LG for wider technology choices

Price & Size Variants

Here is where most buyers end up choosing TCL – their budget pricing is extremely competitive. For example:

As visible from this table, popular TCL models are significantly cheaper than LG counterparts with similar capabilities. Most sub-$1000 TCL 4K TVs outspec competitors with better contrast, brightness and gaming support.

However, LG has been aggressively discounting their OLEDs recently. For instance, you can currently buy the LG A2 48-inch OLED for just $569! Similarly, last year‘s award-winning LG C1 OLED TV is also available at all-time low prices in various sizes.

For display sizes too, LG takes the cake with options ranging from 42-inch to 82-inch 4K models. They are one of the few brands that make OLEDs both smaller than 50 inches and larger than 80 inches. TCL‘s range sticks to mainline 50 to 85-inch segment for its QLED series.

So if you want cheaper BIG screens, pick TCL 6-series or the 5-series. But for more size flexibility including petite models, LG is preferable.

Winner: TCL for better budget value

Build Quality & Reliability

There is a common perception that TCL TVs may not last as long as traditional brands like LG, Samsung, Sony etc. But times have changed and recent TCL models are built to last.

For one, they incorporate durable LED/QLED panels sourced from Samsung itself. So whether you pick a premium TCL 6-series QLED or an entry-level 4-Series LED model, it can easily run for over 5 years without issues.

We have several staff members at NewsNerd using 43-inch to 75-inch TCL TVs as daily drivers. Most 2017-2018 models are still going strong even with 18 hours of daily usage!

Similarly, LG OLEDs are designed to offer exceptional longevity of over 40000 hours or 7 years, even at max brightness levels. Their self-emissive pixels dissipate heat better without degrading imaging performance.

However, no tech product is perfect. LG and TCL TVs can both face sporadic issues like:

• Screen uniformity problems
• Backlight bleeding along the edges
• Audio board/power failures
• Image retention risk with OLEDs
• Component damage due to power surges

But such defects are rare and quality control is much better nowadays. Both TCL and LG TVs should run for 50000+ hours if used responsibly. So don‘t worry about breakdowns and focus on the experience instead!

For peace of mind though, investing in extended warranty isn‘t a bad idea especially for OLEDs. SquareTrade and Allstate provide TV protection plans starting around $100 for 3 years.

Winner: Tie

Which Brand Offers Better Value Overall?

We have conducted an extensive TCL vs LG comparison across all vital factors. Now based on your personal requirements, you can determine which brand fits the bill:

For buyers on tight budgets: Pick TCL hands down if you want best-in-class display quality without emptying your wallet. Their QLED and Mini-LED models massively overdeliver visuals for the pricing.

Snag their 65-inch 6-Series during discounts for just $899. Competing LG/Sony alternatives barely offer entry-level performance at this price point.

For buyers wanting top-notch picture: Invest in LG‘s self-lit OLED or QNED Mini LED TVs if budget permits. The infinite contrast and wider viewing angles are totally worth spending extra.

The LG A2 48-inch at $569 is a steal deal for experiencing OLED goodness on a petite screen. Among giants, the 65-inch LG G2 OLED with brighter Evo panel offers sublime performance worth its $1796 price tag.

For buyers wanting bigger screens: Choose TCL for better value 75-inch+ models. Their dual LED backlighting produces admirable brightness ideal for daylight viewing. If you still prefer LG for the prestige or reliability, wait for holiday pricing.

So that concludes our elaborate face-off between TCL vs LG TVs. Both make excellent televisions catering to slightly different buyer priorities. Keep optional extended warranty in mind and your new TCL or LG TV will serve well for 5+ years at the least!

Staff Pick: Best TCL & LG Models to Buy