TCL S5 43S551F 43"

The TCL S5 43S551F nails HDR support at a budget price, landing in the 96th percentile. The bundled 2.1 channel soundbar is a nice touch. But the display quality is weak, and overall it scores 43.8 out of 100. Worth it if audio matters more than picture, skip it if you want a great panel.

The standout here is HDR. It lands in the 96th percentile, which means it's one of the best budget sets we've seen for handling Dolby Vision and HDR10+ content. The picture quality overall is mediocre at the 36th percentile, so don't expect deep blacks or super accurate colors. The 60Hz panel with VRR and ALLM puts gaming right at the 50th percentile, which is fine for casual play but won't impress anyone with a PS5 or Xbox Series X. Audio is a strong point at the 71st percentile, thanks to that included 2.1 channel soundbar with Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X. Connectivity is a weak spot at the 29th percentile, and the display itself is a real letdown at the 14th percentile.

Stacked against the Sony BRAVIA 3 II, LG QNED, or Hisense U7, the TCL S5 loses on picture quality and display tech. Those competitors have better panels and higher refresh rates. The Samsung S90H is in a completely different league, but it also costs way more. Where the TCL makes sense is the audio bundle. None of those competitors include a 2.1 channel soundbar in the box. The Roku Pro Series is probably the closest rival in terms of smart TV simplicity, but it doesn't match the TCL's HDR format support at this price point.

At $330 USD, the value proposition is tricky. You're getting a 43-inch 4K TV plus a soundbar, which would normally cost extra. The HDR support is genuinely good for this price. But the display itself is weak, and the overall score of 43.8 out of 100 reflects that. If you just need a small TV for a bedroom or kitchen and you'd buy a soundbar anyway, this is a reasonable deal. If picture quality matters more than audio, you can do better for the same money.

The TCL S5 43S551F is a 43-inch 4K TV that bundles in a 2.1 channel soundbar, which is a bit unusual. It runs Fire TV, supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+, and targets people who want a simple living room or bedroom setup without buying separate audio gear. At $330 USD, it's clearly aimed at the budget end of the market.

Our database puts its total score at 43.8 out of 100. That's not great, but it's not the whole story. The HDR support is genuinely impressive for the price, while the display itself and connectivity options drag the overall number down. It's a mixed bag, and whether it works for you depends on what you care about most.

Skip this if you care about picture quality or display tech. The display ranks in the 14th percentile, which is near the bottom of our database. If you're a serious gamer, the 60Hz panel will frustrate you. And if you already have a soundbar or home theater setup, you're paying for audio you don't need. Look at the Hisense U7 or Roku Pro Series instead.

Buy this if you want a small 4K TV with surprisingly good HDR support and you don't want to mess with separate speakers. It's a solid bedroom or secondary room TV. The Fire TV interface is easy to use, and the included soundbar is a real bonus. Just don't expect it to compete with mid-range or premium sets on picture quality.