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So I have one of these cheap TCL Rokus....one from last year I got for even cheaper. Personally I think Roku interface is the best, but here is the problem with these cheap Roku TVs (especially TCL):
The HDR is horrible. That wouldn't normally be an issue since hey it's still a good price for a 4k TV. But the HDR cannot be disabled! At least not for any of the built in apps.
This means if you use streaming services like Netflix, Prime, etc you can't turn off the HDR which makes a lot of content really hard to see. The brightness on these models can't get high enough to compensate for the poor HDR.
No joke, I find myself having to download non HDR (1080p) copies of many HDR movies and shows on the services I use so that they are bright enough to watch.
This is still my daily TV as I am a cheap bastard and won't upgrade for another couple of years, but if I had to do again i would probably spend the money and get one that either had better HDR, brightness, or the ability to disable it.
Some Rokus have a "hidden menu" that you are supposed to be able to use to disable the HDR, but it seems to be missing on the low end models. Presumably, you can disable it for the HDMI inputs, so possibly if you stream off another device to the TV that might work, but I haven't found those options either.
I'm going to try and get some screen shots to show the issue...
I go this TV on Black Friday. It works very well. Like someone else mentioned you can not turn off the HDR which I wish were an option on some movies. I have had a smaller TCL and it worked for 5 years and was passed on to someone. I am happy with my purchase so far. It has a 1 year warranty also.
So I have one of these cheap TCL Rokus....one from last year I got for even cheaper. Personally I think Roku interface is the best, but here is the problem with these cheap Roku TVs (especially TCL):
The HDR is horrible. That wouldn't normally be an issue since hey it's still a good price for a 4k TV. But the HDR cannot be disabled! At least not for any of the built in apps.
This means if you use streaming services like Netflix, Prime, etc you can't turn off the HDR which makes a lot of content really hard to see. The brightness on these models can't get high enough to compensate for the poor HDR.
No joke, I find myself having to download non HDR (1080p) copies of many HDR movies and shows on the services I use so that they are bright enough to watch.
This is still my daily TV as I am a cheap bastard and won't upgrade for another couple of years, but if I had to do again i would probably spend the money and get one that either had better HDR, brightness, or the ability to disable it.
Some Rokus have a "hidden menu" that you are supposed to be able to use to disable the HDR, but it seems to be missing on the low end models. Presumably, you can disable it for the HDMI inputs, so possibly if you stream off another device to the TV that might work, but I haven't found those options either.
I'm going to try and get some screen shots to show the issue...
These are all the hidden menus and while they mostly seemed to work on my older S421 model, I didn't see an entry for disabling HDR (as you said).
Note - some of these settings do not persist after a reboot.
"Menu D" is where you can mess with the LED brightness under "System Operations" and then "Display Menu" though.
Edit - better link with visual button sequences and some menu screenshots
TL;DR - To disable HDR, some say to try this but mine didn't have a setting for HDR here.
On Roku remote: Press Home button (X5), rewind, down, fast forward, down, rewind. Select Change HDR Mode > Disable HDR.
Im getting this model 55S435 for 300 incl tax from seller, unopened in box - https://www.walmart.com/ip/TCL-55.../755416980
Is it good deal on the 55S435 paying ~60 more since I missed out on this deal or should I wait for 55S21?
These are all the hidden menus and while they mostly seemed to work on my older S421 model, I didn't see an entry for disabling HDR (as you said).
Note - some of these settings do not persist after a reboot.
"Menu D" is where you can mess with the LED brightness under "System Operations" and then "Display Menu" though.
Edit - better link with visual button sequences and some menu screenshots
TL;DR - To disable HDR, some say to try this but mine didn't have a setting for HDR here.
On Roku remote: Press Home button (X5), rewind, down, fast forward, down, rewind. Select Change HDR Mode > Disable HDR.
Yeah, I've been through every hidden menu I could find online (probably a dozen different ones) and none of them work.
For the record, the model I have is the 55S20 which I got last BF (2020) for $148 at WM (door buster deal). This model is as far as I can tell basically identical.
Knowing what I know now, unfortunately I don't think I would pay $228 for this TV. For the $148 I paid, I guess I will live with it.
While I prefer Roku, I believe the android models do not have these issues (i.e. you can disable HDR). The other option if you want to get a cheap TV like this is to get the cheapest one you can (regardless of interface), and then just plug a Roku into one of the HDMI ports. Since, I believe that the settings will allow you to turn off a setting on an external port that will stop HDR from being used.
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The HDR is horrible. That wouldn't normally be an issue since hey it's still a good price for a 4k TV. But the HDR cannot be disabled! At least not for any of the built in apps.
This means if you use streaming services like Netflix, Prime, etc you can't turn off the HDR which makes a lot of content really hard to see. The brightness on these models can't get high enough to compensate for the poor HDR.
No joke, I find myself having to download non HDR (1080p) copies of many HDR movies and shows on the services I use so that they are bright enough to watch.
This is still my daily TV as I am a cheap bastard and won't upgrade for another couple of years, but if I had to do again i would probably spend the money and get one that either had better HDR, brightness, or the ability to disable it.
Some Rokus have a "hidden menu" that you are supposed to be able to use to disable the HDR, but it seems to be missing on the low end models. Presumably, you can disable it for the HDMI inputs, so possibly if you stream off another device to the TV that might work, but I haven't found those options either.
I'm going to try and get some screen shots to show the issue...
TCL 55" 4K UHD HDR Smart Roku TV - 55S21
$228.00/ea
Shipping only
Only 1 left
The HDR is horrible. That wouldn't normally be an issue since hey it's still a good price for a 4k TV. But the HDR cannot be disabled! At least not for any of the built in apps.
This means if you use streaming services like Netflix, Prime, etc you can't turn off the HDR which makes a lot of content really hard to see. The brightness on these models can't get high enough to compensate for the poor HDR.
No joke, I find myself having to download non HDR (1080p) copies of many HDR movies and shows on the services I use so that they are bright enough to watch.
This is still my daily TV as I am a cheap bastard and won't upgrade for another couple of years, but if I had to do again i would probably spend the money and get one that either had better HDR, brightness, or the ability to disable it.
Some Rokus have a "hidden menu" that you are supposed to be able to use to disable the HDR, but it seems to be missing on the low end models. Presumably, you can disable it for the HDMI inputs, so possibly if you stream off another device to the TV that might work, but I haven't found those options either.
I'm going to try and get some screen shots to show the issue...
Note - some of these settings do not persist after a reboot.
"Menu D" is where you can mess with the LED brightness under "System Operations" and then "Display Menu" though.
Edit - better link with visual button sequences and some menu screenshots
https://www.99mediasector.com/find-roku-secret-menu-all-the-roku-secret-commands-and-menus/
TL;DR - To disable HDR, some say to try this but mine didn't have a setting for HDR here.
On Roku remote: Press Home button (X5), rewind, down, fast forward, down, rewind. Select Change HDR Mode > Disable HDR.
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Is it good deal on the 55S435 paying ~60 more since I missed out on this deal or should I wait for 55S21?
Note - some of these settings do not persist after a reboot.
"Menu D" is where you can mess with the LED brightness under "System Operations" and then "Display Menu" though.
Edit - better link with visual button sequences and some menu screenshots
https://www.99mediasect
TL;DR - To disable HDR, some say to try this but mine didn't have a setting for HDR here.
On Roku remote: Press Home button (X5), rewind, down, fast forward, down, rewind. Select Change HDR Mode > Disable HDR.
For the record, the model I have is the 55S20 which I got last BF (2020) for $148 at WM (door buster deal). This model is as far as I can tell basically identical.
Knowing what I know now, unfortunately I don't think I would pay $228 for this TV. For the $148 I paid, I guess I will live with it.
While I prefer Roku, I believe the android models do not have these issues (i.e. you can disable HDR). The other option if you want to get a cheap TV like this is to get the cheapest one you can (regardless of interface), and then just plug a Roku into one of the HDMI ports. Since, I believe that the settings will allow you to turn off a setting on an external port that will stop HDR from being used.