TCL 32S5400 review: a super-tempting cheap small TV, with some imperfections

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The 32-inch TCL S5400 is simply a temptingly inexpensive LED TV pinch an imperfect, yet pleasingly elaborate HDR picture. Although carrying a database value of £179 (this isn't disposable successful nan US), and often disposable for nether £150, it's an enticing fund option.

Otherwise, nan smart TV features are straightforward to entree and good laid-out. The TCL 32S5400 harnesses nan powerfulness of Android TV. This will beryllium a acquainted interface for galore – you get each of nan cardinal apps, for illustration Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, Apple TV and much correct astatine nan apical of nan location surface – nary request to trawl done cluttered sub-menus.

Anyway, let’s trim to nan main event. How does this TV really look pinch movies and TV? Well, it’s a beautiful mixed bag. Let’s commencement disconnected pinch thing of a disclaimer. As a inexpensive 32-inch LED TV, you can’t expect miracles for illustration perfectly true-to-life colour, gorgeous opposition aliases genuinely heavy blacks. What I was looking for was coagulated motion, vibrancy and clarity – and nan TCL was capable to present connected this to an capable degree.

Once I (eventually) managed to hop into Disney Plus and occurrence up Star Wars: The Last Jedi, I instantly loaded up nan throne room scene, which contains crimson reds, accelerated movements and close-ups connected characters' faces. When watching successful Movie mode, I was pleasantly amazed by nan reds, which came done successful a cutting, agleam shade. Sure, they weren’t perfectly meticulous and location were flimsy colour banding issues successful moments, but this isn’t nan extremity of nan world for a TV often disposable for nether £150.

When taking circumstantial colour gamut measurements, DCI-P3 (the colour abstraction utilized to maestro 4K movies and integer cinema releases) was 72.4% and BT.2020 was 52.6%. These are beautiful mean results for a fund LED TV and immoderate alternatives – for illustration nan LG 32LQ6300 (more connected this later) – execute considerably better.

Brightness levels were decent, too. When measuring highest brightness connected a 10% model trial pattern, nan results were 223 nits and 217 nits successful Standard and Movie mode respectively (in HDR). This is fundamentally balanced to LG's TV mentioned above, truthful is astir arsenic bully arsenic 32-inch TVs get.

Elsewhere, tegument tones and facial specifications were comparatively true-to-life – hairsbreadth didn’t look blocky, and elements specified arsenic sweat droplets were well-defined.

That really captures nan spot of nan TCL 32S5400. It is, pleasingly, rather bully astatine displaying ocular specifications for a TV successful its price-range. For example, erstwhile watching The Batman, buttons and stitching connected suits, facial particularities were evident – possibly not ultra-crisp, but clear.

It did struggle a small bit, however, pinch nan movie’s acheronian image – Batman’s suit appeared a small connected nan grey side, and a batch of achromatic specifications looked washed. When activating Dynamic Contrast, however, darker tones were a spot much meticulous and nan grey effect was constricted substantially, delivering a better-fitting, darker look for gritty scenes.

During higher-paced sequences, specified arsenic nan Batmobile pursuit scene, mobility was beautiful unimpressive. There was noticeable judder during crisp movements and location wasn’t really a magic solution for this. Subpar mobility was besides evident erstwhile watching Liverpool vs Crystal Palace highlights connected Discovery Plus, though switching into Game aliases Sport mode resulted successful a important betterment (but move disconnected Dyanamic Colour successful Sport mode, which is connected by default, because it looks excessively garish).

In reality, it’s beautiful emblematic for blacks to look underwhelming connected a show for illustration this – it’s nary OLED (or moreover mini-LED), and contempt imperfections, they weren’t painstakingly muddy aliases unclear anyway. What I recovered to beryllium much disappointing was nan inclination for this TV to nutrient oversaturated colours. When watching La La Land on Blu-ray, nan TCL struggled to replicate streetlights, which looked almost fake, moreover successful Movie mode. In a segment wherever a bunch of group were wearing otherwise coloured clothing, oversaturation was each excessively clear pinch yellows and whites erstwhile more.

On apical of that, a batch of textures looked a tad artificial, though specifications – for illustration creases successful shirts – looked comparatively authentic erstwhile again.

Let’s instrumentality pinch La La Land, because it's nan perfect trial taxable for our adjacent constituent of liking – sound quality. So, of course, wide TV audio is seldom thing to behold, fto unsocial from a 32-inch fund TV. And what I heard sound-wise was surely in-line pinch expectations. During nan capacity of A Lovely Night, nan double bass moving passim wasn’t each excessively audible and percussion sewage a spot tinny astatine higher volumes.

Similarly successful The Batman, gunshots sounded dulled and lacked nan wound audiophiles would perceive retired for. In fairness, however, sound had decent width and positioning during nan Batmobile pursuit segment and vocals were clear capable too, which is nan astir important thing.

Volume levels could besides climb considerably precocious contempt getting distorted nearer nan apical end. I would still say, though, that audio is noticeably constrictive and a touch muddied, moreover though this has Dolby Audio and a fistful of different sound modes. As a result, it whitethorn good beryllium worthy snapping up 1 of nan best inexpensive soundbars to travel this TV.

One area wherever this TV really excels, however, is successful nan features department, wherever you get plentifulness of bang for your buck. As I mentioned before, location are options for illustration Dynamic Contrast which tin thief adhd a spot of extent to achromatic details, but there’s more. For instance, successful immoderate image modes you tin prime Dynamic Colour, thing that only emboldened nan oversaturation rumor I mentioned successful La La Land, though it could besides assistance vibrancy levels successful much flat-looking video content.

And yes, location are a batch of image modes to take from – though these aren’t created equally. Movie was my go-to successful astir cases, though Game was rather well-fitting for much fast-paced motion. Options specified arsenic Dynamic and Standard, meanwhile, seemed to thin into oversaturation a spot excessively heavy and nutrient artificial-looking colours. On apical of each of that, you get Google Assistant sound controls for hands-free power – you really do get a reasonably broad package for a TV astatine this cost.

Design-wise this is simply a coagulated TV too. It’s kitted retired pinch 2 HDMI 1.4 ports (one for ARC) – which is wholly good for a 1080p 32-inch LED TV – arsenic good arsenic each nan accustomed suspects: deliberation USB 2.0, integer optical, audio out, headphone ports. The existent build of nan TV is thing to snort astatine either; you get a tidy bezel-less framework that’s supported by 4 integrative feet. These aren’t nan astir compact aliases premium-looking, but nan TV should still look pleasing capable and fresh pinch easiness connected a small-medium sized unit.

The TCL 32S5400 proved to beryllium tin for gaming, too. When playing a first-person shooter connected nan XBox Series X, mobility was really beautiful cleanable pinch nary noticeable lag astatine immoderate point. You’re not getting 4K solution aliases 120Hz/144Hz refresh rates here, truthful capacity will beryllium beautiful constricted for nan newest procreation of consoles, but fixed nan TV’s limitations it does well.

Given its ultra-low price, nan TCL 32S5400 is simply a fund action worthy considering if you want a secondary TV for your chamber aliases spare room. Is it suited to beryllium much than this? Perhaps not. If you request a surface for your family’s surviving room, for instance, you’d beryllium overmuch amended disconnected consulting our guideline to nan best TVs. However, if you’re a student successful a mini dorm room and conscionable want entree to streaming services aliases a show for gaming, this would astir surely do nan trick. There are, however, a fistful of different 32-inch options that could rival this – cheque retired nan ‘Also Consider’ conception for more.

TCL 32S5400 review: value & merchandise day

• £179 RRP
• Available for nether £150
• Launched successful 2023

I tested nan 2023 type of nan TCL 32S5400, nan TCL S5400AFK (bit of a mouthful, I know). This circumstantial exemplary is disposable successful nan UK, but unluckily not successful nan US. Having said that, there’s an highly akin replacement – some successful position of specs and value – nan 32-inch version of nan TCL S350G. However, we haven't trial that model.

Although nan TCL S5400 has a database value of £179, it’s often disposable for considerably less. At nan clip of writing, you tin drawback it for arsenic small arsenic £138 astatine Amazon UK and a fistful of competing retailers. That’s a beautiful debased value for a 32-inch LED TV and makes a batch of its flaws overmuch easier to forgive.

TCL 32S5400 review: specs

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TCL 32S5400 review: besides consider

TCL 32S5400 review: How I tested

• Tested successful our TV testing room successful various lighting conditions
• Measurements taken utilizing Portrait Displays' Calman software
• Tested done a assortment of sources, some SDR and HDR

I utilized a assortment of sources to trial image value connected nan TCL 32S5400 successful some HDR and SDR. This included Disney Plus, YouTube and a postulation of Blu-rays played utilizing nan Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player. It’s worthy noting, though, that I utilized modular Blu-ray discs to trial this TV (rather than a 4K UHD variant). I besides played games connected nan XBox Series X to screen gaming performance.

When watching nan TCL 32S5400 I selected video contented that would expose nan circumstantial strengths and weaknesses of nan TV. For instance, I watched The Batman and Star Wars: The Last Jedi predominantly to measure aspects specified arsenic colour fidelity, opposition and black-levels. I besides watched Top Gun: Maverick and Sky News mainly to judge competence successful nan sound section – these were perfect picks to trial nan quality, responsiveness and width of audio output.

Finally, I took due measurements pinch nan thief of Portrait Displays’ Calman calibration software. I measured highest brightness connected a 10% model and 100% model successful some SDR and HDR. I past recorded nan Delta-E values (which demonstrates nan separator of correction betwixt nan trial shape and what is displayed) for colour accuracy, grayscale and gamma. I besides measured nan colour abstraction looking astatine DCI-P3 and BT.2020 coverage. For each tests, I utilized nan Murideo Six 8K trial shape generator. You tin publication each astir how we trial TVs astatine that link.

• First reviewed: October 2024
• Read much astir how we test