TCL S4 Class 85S450G 85"

The TCL S4 85S450G is an 85-inch 4K TV with Dolby Vision and Google TV at a budget price. It's not a gaming powerhouse with its 60Hz panel and HDMI 2.0, but it's a great value for streaming and sports. Prices range from USD 595 to USD 1,300, so shop around. If you want the biggest screen for the least money, this is a strong pick.

Let's talk about what you're actually getting on the performance front. The S4 uses a Direct LED backlight, which is a step up from edge-lit panels in terms of uniformity, but it's not local dimming. That means blacks won't get as deep as they would on a mini-LED or OLED set. HDR support is solid on paper, with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG all covered. In our database, HDR capability lands in the 77th percentile, which is well above average for this price class. Bright colors and decent contrast are achievable, but don't expect the eye-searing highlights you'd get from a higher-end QLED or OLED.

Motion Rate 240 is TCL's marketing term, and it's a bit of a fib. The panel itself is 60Hz. The 240 number comes from MEMC frame insertion, which smooths out motion by inserting interpolated frames. For sports and action movies, this can help reduce judder, but it can also introduce the dreaded soap opera effect. You'll want to play with the settings to find what looks natural to you. Gaming performance is where this TV shows its budget roots. With a 60Hz panel and HDMI 2.0, you're capped at 4K 60fps. ALLM and Game Mode are there to keep input lag low, but the gaming score sits in the 39th percentile. If you have a PS5 or Xbox Series X and want 120fps, this isn't the panel for you.

Compared to the LG C5 OLED55C5PUA, the TCL S4 is a completely different animal. The LG is a 55-inch OLED with perfect blacks, infinite contrast, and a 120Hz panel. It's also going to cost you significantly more. If picture quality is your top priority and you don't need an 85-inch screen, the LG is the obvious choice. The Sony BRAVIA XR XR77A95L is another OLED, this time at 77 inches, and it's in a different league for HDR and motion handling. But again, the price difference is enormous.

The Samsung Neo QLED QN70F and Hisense U8 Series 65U8QG are more direct competitors in terms of price. Both offer better picture quality, with mini-LED backlights and higher refresh rates. The Hisense U8, in particular, is a standout for HDR brightness and gaming features. But neither of them is 85 inches. The Roku Plus Series 55R6C7 is a budget option with a simpler smart platform, but it's much smaller. If you want the biggest screen possible for the least money, the TCL S4 wins. If you want better picture quality and can live with a smaller screen, the Hisense U8 is the smarter buy.

Here's where things get interesting. The S4 85S450G is listed at USD 595 to USD 1,300 across two US listings. That's a USD 705 spread, which is wild. If you can find it at the lower end of that range, you're getting an 85-inch 4K TV for less than many 55-inch models from premium brands. At the higher end, the value proposition gets murkier, and you'd be better off looking at a Hisense U8 or even a smaller OLED.

For the money, the S4 delivers a lot of screen. The picture quality score sits in the 36th percentile overall, which sounds bad until you remember that this is an 85-inch TV at a budget price. You're trading picture refinement for sheer size. If your priority is a big screen for a big room and you're not obsessed with black levels or gaming specs, this is a compelling deal. Just make sure you're paying closer to USD 595 than USD 1,300.

The TCL S4 85S450G is the kind of TV that makes you do a double take when you see the price tag. An 85-inch 4K screen with Dolby Vision for under a grand? That's a lot of real estate for the money. TCL has been quietly eating everyone's lunch in the budget TV space, and this S4 is aimed squarely at people who want a massive screen for movies, sports, and casual streaming without taking out a second mortgage.

This isn't a TV for pixel peepers or competitive gamers. It's a 60Hz panel with HDMI 2.0, so you're not getting 4K at 120fps here. But for the average living room, where the TV gets used for Netflix, YouTube, and the occasional Blu-ray, the S4 covers the basics well. Google TV is built in, which means a clean interface and solid app support. You also get Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X processing, though the built-in speakers are just 10W total, so don't expect miracles.

What makes this interesting is the sheer size-to-price ratio. An 85-inch screen for this kind of money used to be unheard of. The customer rating sits at 4.7 out of 5 across 378 reviews, which puts it in the 94th percentile for social proof. People who buy this TV tend to be happy with it. But there are some caveats hiding in those reviews, and we'll get into those below.

If you're a serious gamer with a PS5 or Xbox Series X, skip this TV. The 60Hz panel and HDMI 2.0 mean no 4K 120fps, no VRR, and no ALLM beyond basic game mode. You'd be leaving performance on the table. Look at the Hisense U8 Series 65U8QG or a Samsung Neo QLED instead, both of which offer HDMI 2.1 and higher refresh rates.

Movie buffs who care about black levels and contrast should also look elsewhere. The lack of local dimming means dark scenes won't have the depth you'd get from an OLED or mini-LED set. The LG C5 OLED55C5PUA or Sony BRAVIA XR XR77A95L are much better for critical viewing, though they cost significantly more. And if you're buying this for a small room, the 85-inch size might be overkill. A smaller, higher-quality panel would serve you better.

If you're looking for a massive screen for a living room or basement theater and you're not a hardcore gamer or videophile, the TCL S4 85S450G is a solid choice. It's not going to blow you away with contrast or motion handling, but it delivers a huge 4K picture with good HDR support at a price that's hard to beat. The Google TV interface is easy to live with, and the customer satisfaction numbers suggest most buyers are happy with their purchase.

For gamers, this is a pass. The 60Hz panel and HDMI 2.0 limit you to 4K 60fps, and there's no VRR support. If you have a PS5 or Xbox Series X, you'll want a TV with HDMI 2.1 and a 120Hz panel. For movie buffs who care about black levels and contrast, an OLED or mini-LED set is worth the extra money. But for the average family that wants a big screen for streaming and sports, the S4 is a smart buy, especially if you can snag it at the lower end of the price range.