TCL S4 85S450G 85"

The TCL S4 85S450G is an 85-inch 4K TV that prioritizes size and price over picture perfection. It supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG, runs Google TV, and has a 4.7-star rating from 378 reviews. Prices range from USD 595 to USD 1,300, so shop around. It's a great buy for casual viewing if you find it at the lower end, but gamers and videophiles should look elsewhere.

Let's talk about what this panel actually does. The display sits in the 41st percentile overall, which is middle of the pack. That's not a knock, it's just reality. You're getting a 60Hz native refresh rate, and TCL's Motion Rate 240 is really just marketing speak for backlight scanning and frame insertion. It helps with motion blur in sports and action scenes, but it's not the same as a true 120Hz panel. If you're a serious gamer, you'll notice the difference. The gaming score lands at the 52nd percentile, so it's average. You do get ALLM and a Game Mode, plus HDMI 2.1 on one port, but the 60Hz cap means no 4K at 120fps. For casual console gaming, it's fine. For competitive play, look elsewhere.

HDR is where this TV surprises a bit. It scores in the 87th percentile for HDR support, which is impressive for a budget set. Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG are all here, and that's more than some pricier TVs offer. But remember, support doesn't equal performance. The picture quality score is only in the 36th percentile, which tells you the panel itself isn't pushing enough brightness or contrast to make HDR truly pop. You'll get the metadata and the format compatibility, but don't expect the same visual punch as a Mini-LED or OLED. It's like having a sports car engine in a sedan body. The capability is there, but the hardware holds it back.

Stack this up against the competition and the trade-offs become clear. The LG OLED evo OLED55C5PUA is a 55-inch OLED that will absolutely destroy the TCL in picture quality, contrast, and gaming performance. But it's also much smaller and likely more expensive. If you're sitting close to the screen or care about perfect blacks, the LG is the better TV. If you want sheer size for a big room, the TCL wins.

The Hisense U8 Series 65U8QG is probably the most direct competitor in spirit. It's a Mini-LED set that offers better brightness and contrast than the TCL, but at 65 inches, you're giving up 20 inches of diagonal screen space. The Sony BRAVIA 5 K65XR50 is another 65-inch option with superior processing and motion handling, but again, smaller and pricier. The Samsung The Frame Pro LS03HW is a lifestyle product, designed to look like art on your wall. It's not really competing on the same terms. The Roku Pro Series 55R8C5 is a solid budget option, but at 55 inches, it's not even in the same size class. For pure inches per dollar, the TCL S4 85S450G is hard to touch.

Here's where things get interesting. The price spread on this TV is wild. We're seeing listings from USD 595 to USD 1,300 across US retailers. That's a USD 705 gap for the same 85-inch panel. If you're paying the high end of that range, you're getting ripped off. At USD 595, this is a steal. At USD 1,300, you're in territory where you could start looking at better-performing 75-inch sets or even some 65-inch OLEDs on sale.

The value proposition really depends on which listing you find. Our database shows two US listings, and the lower-priced one is the obvious choice. For an 85-inch TV with Dolby Vision and Google TV, anything under USD 700 is hard to beat. You're getting a lot of screen real estate for the money. Just don't expect flagship picture quality. This is a quantity over quality play, and for a lot of living rooms, that's exactly the right call.

The TCL S4 85S450G is the TV equivalent of ordering the extra-large pizza when you're only kinda hungry. It's an 85-inch 4K panel that costs less than some 55-inch OLEDs, and for a lot of people, that's the entire pitch. You want a massive screen for movie nights, sports, or just making your living room feel like a mini theater, and you don't want to take out a second mortgage. This thing delivers on that promise, mostly.

Who's this for? Someone who prioritizes size and price over pixel-perfect accuracy. It's a Direct LED panel, not Mini-LED or OLED, so you're not getting the inky blacks or eye-searing highlights of the premium sets. But you are getting Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG support, plus Google TV built in. That's a solid feature set for a budget-friendly giant.

The interesting part is how TCL managed to hit this price point. The S4 series is their value line, and the 85-inch version is the biggest they offer. It's got a metal bezel-less design that looks more expensive than it is, and the smart features are genuinely good. But there are trade-offs, and we'll get into those. The customer rating is a strong 4.7 out of 5 from 378 reviews, which puts it in the 94th percentile for social proof. People who buy this TV tend to like it, with a few notable exceptions.

If you're a serious gamer, skip this. The 60Hz panel is a hard limit, and no amount of Motion Rate marketing changes that. You'll want something with a true 120Hz refresh rate and better gaming features. Look at the Hisense U8 Series or a dedicated gaming monitor instead.

Home theater enthusiasts should also pass. The Direct LED backlight means no local dimming, so black levels are going to be gray-ish in dark scenes. If you watch a lot of movies in a dark room, an OLED like the LG C5 or even a good Mini-LED will be a much better experience. And if you're buying this for a bright room with lots of windows, the outdoor score of 36.8 out of 100 suggests it struggles with glare and brightness. A brighter panel like the Hisense U8 would handle that better.

If you want the biggest screen possible for the least amount of money, and you're mostly watching streaming content, sports, or casual TV, this is a great buy. The Google TV interface is snappy, the HDR format support is comprehensive, and the customer satisfaction is genuinely high. At the lower end of the price range, it's one of the best value propositions in the 85-inch category.

But if you're a gamer who wants 120Hz, or a cinephile who cares about contrast and black levels, this isn't your TV. The 60Hz panel and Direct LED backlight are the compromises you make for the price. Same goes for anyone who cares about audio. The 10W speakers are weak, and you'll want a soundbar. For a bedroom or secondary TV, the smaller S4 models might make more sense. For a main living room TV where size is king, this delivers.