TCL 65P638K: 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD LED Smart TV TCL - Review 🏆

TCL is a Chinese consumer electronics company that has grown rapidly in recent years to become one of the world's largest TV manufacturers. The company is known for producing affordable TVs with good specifications.

The 65P638K is a 2022 model from TCL's P series, which sits towards the upper-mid range of their lineup. This 65-inch 4K LED TV comes with TCL's latest AI-powered 6th generation image engine and several smart TV features powered by Android TV.

In this review, we will take an in-depth look at the 65P638K's design, display quality, smart TV platform, audio performance, connectivity, remote control, overall viewing experience, and pros and cons. Our goal is to provide an objective assessment to help you determine if this TCL TV is the right fit for your needs and budget.

Design and Build Quality

The TCL 65P638K has an attractive and modern design with an aluminum frame and slim bezels around the display. The bezels are quite thin, measuring just 10mm along the sides and top. This gives the TV a sleek, contemporary look and allows more of the front to be taken up by the large 65-inch screen.

The stand has an elegant Y-shaped metal base with brushed finish. It feels very sturdy and supports the TV well without any wobble. The stand is centered and provides good stability. The TV weighs 36.3 kg total including the stand, so the solid metal stand prevents it from tipping over easily.

Overall, the build quality is excellent. The TV has a premium look and feel, with sturdy construction from quality materials like aluminum and metal. The slim bezels, stable stand, and robust frame give it an aesthetically pleasing and structurally sound design.

Another excellent option to consider is the TCL 32SF540K: 32-Inch FHD Smart TV. This model features a 32-inch full HD display, offering vivid and crisp picture quality. It is equipped with smart capabilities, allowing you to stream your favorite shows and movies effortlessly. The design is compact and ideal for smaller spaces, yet it doesn't compromise on performance. The build quality is sturdy, ensuring durability and longevity, making it a solid choice for those in need of a smaller, high-quality smart TV.

Display Quality

The TCL 65P638K features an excellent 65-inch 4K Ultra HD VA panel display with 3840 x 2160 resolution and support for HDR10 and HLG high dynamic range formats. The 4K resolution ensures sharp, highly-detailed images, while HDR allows for greater brightness, wider color gamut, and improved contrast.

The VA panel provides good color reproduction and deep blacks but viewing angles are limited compared to IPS panels. Still, it offers strong picture performance for most viewing positions directly in front of the screen.

In terms of brightness, the 65P638K produces around 300 nits which is fairly standard for most 4K TVs in this price range. The high native contrast ratio of over 4000:1 helps deliver deep blacks and good shadow detail. Overall the display can produce bright, vivid and dynamic images with excellent 4K clarity while also handling dark scenes very well.

For a smaller alternative, the TCL 55P639K: 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart TV offers many of the same excellent features as its larger counterpart. With a 55-inch display, this model also supports 4K resolution, HDR10, and HLG for dynamic picture quality. The slightly smaller size makes it a great option for rooms where a 65-inch television might be too large, while still offering rich colors, deep blacks, and sharp details.

Smart TV Features

The TCL 65P638K runs on the Android TV platform, giving you access to a wide selection of apps and smart capabilities. The interface is smooth and intuitive, with rows of app icons and personalized recommendations based on your viewing habits.

The Google Play store provides access to all the major streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Disney+ and more. Support for HDR and Dolby formats means you get the best quality streaming from compatible apps. There's also Chromecast built-in, allowing you to cast content from your mobile device to the TV.

For voice controls, the TV has Google Assistant integration. You can use voice commands via the remote to launch apps, search for content, get answers from Google and control smart home devices. This makes navigation faster and hands-free.

Additional smart features include Google Play Games support for casual gaming, built-in Google Chrome web browser and Google Kids Space with parental controls for child-friendly content. Overall the Android TV platform offers an excellent smart TV experience on the TCL 65P638K.

Audio Quality

The TCL 65P638K comes with a decent audio setup considering its affordable price point. It has a 2.0 channel speaker configuration with 2 x 10W speakers.

The maximum volume is reasonably good but don't expect room-filling or powerful sound. The sound is clear for regular TV watching and dialogue comes through crisp and intelligible. However, the speakers lack bass which is typical of flat panel TVs.

The sound quality is decent for TV shows and news broadcasting. But for movies, you'll notice that action sequences and sound effects lack punch and immersion. Explosions and low rumbles don't have much impact.

The speakers can handle high volumes fairly well without much distortion. But for a truly cinematic experience, connecting a soundbar or speaker system is highly recommended. The built-in speakers get the job done for everyday TV viewing but fall short for an immersive movie night.

Overall, the audio capabilities are about average for the price range. The speakers produce clear sound suitable for different content types. But bass is lacking due to the small driver size. If audio quality is a priority, investing in a separate sound system will provide a significant upgrade.

Ports and Connectivity

The TCL 65P638K comes with a good selection of ports and connectivity options. On the back of the TV you'll find:

• 3 HDMI ports, with HDMI 2.1 support on one port. This allows for 4K video at up to 120Hz refresh rate.

• 2 USB ports for connecting external devices like hard drives.

• Ethernet port for wired internet connectivity.

• Optical audio out to connect an external sound system.

• Dual band WiFi and Bluetooth support for wireless connectivity. You can stream content wirelessly or connect wireless peripherals like headphones.

The HDMI 2.1 port is great for gaming with the latest consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X. You'll be able to game in 4K resolution at up to 120fps. The TV also supports advanced gaming features like Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR).

Overall the connectivity options are quite good for a TV in this price range. The inclusion of HDMI 2.1 and WiFi 6 makes it reasonably future proof.

Remote Control

The TCL 65P638K comes with a sleek and ergonomic remote control that feels comfortable in the hand. The remote has a minimalist design with only the most essential buttons, keeping it uncluttered while still providing full control.

The buttons have a nice tactile feedback and are laid out intuitively. You get all the standard buttons like power, volume, channel change, input selection, etc. There are also dedicated buttons for popular streaming apps like Netflix, YouTube and Prime Video. The remote can even control your external devices like a soundbar or set-top box that are connected via HDMI.

A major highlight is the remote's voice control capabilities. You can press the microphone button and speak into the remote to launch apps, search for content, adjust settings, and more. It worked quite reliably in my testing and adds a lot of convenience. The remote also has Bluetooth connectivity, so you don't need to point it directly at the TV for it to work.

Overall, the streamlined design and smart remote features make controlling the TV a breeze. The minimal button layout prevents any clutter while retaining full functionality. If you want quick access to popular apps and the convenience of voice control, the bundled remote gets the job done very well.

Performance and Viewing Experience

The TCL 65P638K delivers an excellent viewing experience thanks to its good motion handling, low input lag, and solid upscaling capabilities.

Motion handling is very good on this TV, with fast pixel response times that reduce motion blur. This results in clear, smooth playback for fast-moving scenes in sports, action movies, and video games. The TV also has a native 120Hz refresh rate which further improves motion clarity.

Input lag measures around 14ms in game mode, which is very low and should satisfy most gamers. This quick response time means you'll experience minimal delay between controller input and on-screen actions. Fast-paced competitive games play smoothly without any noticeable lag.

For upscaling HD content to 4K, the 65P638K uses TCL's AiPQ engine which does an admirable job at reducing noise and artifacts. Images look sharp and detailed when upscaled, without too many jagged edges. While native 4K content looks best, upscaled HD still appears crisp and enjoyable on the large 65-inch screen.

The TV supports all major formats including HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos. It can play 4K video files smoothly and renders HDR content with good brightness and wide color gamut for impactful, immersive viewing. Overall the format support is extensive which allows you to enjoy your movies and shows as intended.

Pros and Cons

The TCL 65P638K has several pros that make it a compelling option in its price range. Here are some of the main positives:

• Good picture quality with 4K resolution, HDR support and decent color accuracy. The VA panel delivers deep blacks and good contrast.

• Smooth performance thanks to the quad-core processor. Apps and menus are responsive.

• Built-in Google Assistant allows for handy voice control.

• Lots of connectivity options including 4 HDMI ports and 3 USB ports.

• Smart TV platform includes most major streaming apps.

• Eye-catching thin bezel design.

However, there are some downsides to consider:

• Only 60Hz refresh rate, so motion could look blurry with fast action scenes.

• Sound quality from the built-in speakers is just average. External speakers may be needed for an immersive experience.

• Limited viewing angles compared to IPS panels.

• No support for some advanced gaming features like VRR.

Overall, the TCL 65P638K provides very good value given its large 4K screen, smart capabilities and solid performance. For the price, the positives generally outweigh the negatives for most consumers looking for a budget-friendly big screen TV.

Conclusion

The TCL 65P638K is an impressive mid-range 65-inch 4K TV that delivers strong overall performance for the price.

The design and build quality are decent but not the most premium. The 4K LED display produces vibrant and accurate colors with good contrast and black levels. Motion handling is also quite smooth.

For smart features, it runs Android TV for easy access to apps and services. Gaming connectivity is good with HDMI 2.1 ports and ALLM support. The audio quality is just average though and could use an external sound system.

Overall, the TCL 65P638K provides great value with its large 4K screen, HDR support, smooth performance and Android smart platform. If you're looking for an affordable big-screen TV for movies, streaming and gaming, it's easy to recommend the 65P638K.

Some downsides are the basic remote and mediocre audio. But for the price, this TCL model delivers impressive display quality and features that matter most in an entertainment 4K TV. It's a great option that outperforms other TVs in its price range.