TCL has unveiled its 2017 TV line-up for the US market and this year the Chinese brand will partner with Dolby to bring Dolby Vision to several of its new TVs, including the P2 series that will start at just $500. This is the cheapest Dolby Vision TV to date.

TCL Dolby Vision TVs
TCL has announced three new mid-range TV models: C2, P2, and S2. The two former come with Dolby Vision on board.

Let us start with the C2 series that will be available in spring in sizes ranging from 49 to 75 inches. Besides supporting the Dolby Vision HDR format, C2  supports the open HDR10 format. It is using LCD technologies to increase peak brightness levels and widen the color gamut. These two components make up the foundation in the improved HDR viewing experience.


- “TCL is taking the TV viewing experience to a whole new level with an array of models boasting leading technology like Dolby Vision for the best HDR experience in the market,” said Chris Larson, VP of Sales and Marketing, TCL North America. “Consumers consistently rank picture quality as one of the most critical factors when it comes to buying televisions and TCL is listening. We believe the importance of HDR will continue to intensify in 2017 and our new TCL Roku TVs will deliver on this technology, allowing us to maintain our rapid growth in the U.S.”

The 2017 P series is perhaps more interesting. It uses full-array local dimming with 72 individual zones to deliver HDR. As we have said many times in the past, LCDs need local dimming to deliver HDR faithfully so it is exciting to see TCL follow in Vizio’s footsteps to deliver FALD in mid-range models.

Of course, 72 zones is not a lot compared to some high-end LCDs but it is a lot more than you are getting in for example Samsung’s “QLED” LCDs that are all edge-lit. The P2 series also has a wide color gamut, says TCL, but the company did not offer a percentage figure.


The P2 series will be available in sizes from 50 to 65 inches and the best news is that it will start at just $500 dollars, which will make it the cheapest Dolby Vision TV on the market.

Lastly, TCL will launch an entry-level S series of 4K HDR TVs without support for Dolby Vision. These will be available in spring in sizes ranging from 43 to 65 inches.


Roku and Android TV
In 2017, TCL is continuing its partnership with Roku. At least in the US because in Europe TCL will be working exclusively with Google to integrate Android TV. There will be no Dolby Vision support in Europe either.

That is a strange discrepancy for an international brand like TCL but it goes on to underline some of the shortcomings that the current TV platforms suffer. Roku is still not widely available in Europe and Android TV is not the unifying platform for TV manufacturers that Google had hoped it would be.

Perhaps that will change in the future but for now, TCL is betting on two horses, Marek Maciejewski, Product Development Director Europe, told FlatpanelsHD.

 
TCL 2017 C2 series
  
49 to 75” sizes
 
 
4K Ultra HD resolution
 
 
 HDR10 and Dolby Vision 
 
 
Roku OS
 
 
 The C-Series smart TVs are equipped with TCL 4K Creative Pro up-scaling so viewers can enjoy their existing HD content with increased detail and realistic clarity, an enhanced Roku TV remote with headphone jack for private listening and voice search, high-speed 802.11ac wireless and Ethernet networking for faster streaming, and three HDMI® 2.0a ports with HDCP 2.2 so users can enjoy optimal functionality.
 
 
TCL 2017 P2 series:
  
 
50 to 65” sizes
 
 
 4K Ultra HD resolution
 
 
 HDR10 and Dolby Vision 
 
 
 FALD - 72 zones 
 
 
 Roku OS
 
 
 
 Furthermore, P-Series TVs come packed with TCL 4K Creative Pro up-scaling, an advanced remote offering voice search and a headphone jack for private listening, high-speed 802.11ac wireless and Ethernet networking, and three HDMI 2.0a ports with HDCP 2.2.
 
 
TCL 2017 S2 series:
  
 
43 to 65” sizes
 
 
 4K Ultra HD resolution
 
 
 Roku OS
 
 
 TCL brings together crisp 4K UHD picture performance, HDR and Creative Pro 4K upscaling for precise clarity and detail in the S-Series TCL Roku TVs. The television sets integrate a variety of innovative technologies and features to provide consumers with an exceptional viewing experience, including endless streaming entertainment, fast dual-band wireless connections and three HDMI ports for flexibility. Plus, the simple and intuitive user interface makes switching from streaming to cable and other devices a breeze.