55" TCL 55S546 QLED 4K UHD Google Smart TV Expired

The TCL google TVs were pulled off shelves not the Roku versions.

The TCL Google TVs were buggy so they stopped selling them for like a week. TCL sent out a software update to fix the issues and they resumed sale of the tv.

I have both a series 6 (google) and series 4 (roku) set. I also purchased and returned the Series 5 (google) for the Series 6. There was an update to the series 6 in late December 2021. It fixed many of the bugs in the google interface. For the most part, the google interface is now quick and responsive. There are still times when it lags, but it only lags only for a few seconds -- then it's back to normal. I have a roku stick and Xbox Series X plugged into the series 6. When I compare the picture the from the roku stick to the native google, the picture from roku stick is more colorful - even using the same "mode". In other words, if I use Movie Mode to watch Avengers on Disney Plus from roku stick and google, the roku stick provides a more colorful picture. The other aspects of the picture (such as brightness and sharpness) seem very similar. The roku stick also is more colorful than watching the same movie from the same app on the Xbox Series X. The picture from the Xbox also is not as sharp as the picture from roku stick. The Dolby Vision doesn't seem to be as good as advertised. Regardless of whether watching Dolby Vision on roku, google or Xbox, Dolby Vision seem darker and less colorful than other modes - and there is not a lot of ability to modify the settings of Dolby Vision. I'm hoping a future upgrade fixes this.

Comparing the Series 4, 5 and 6.
The pictures from both the native google apps and Xbox Series X on the Series 6 are much better than the Series 4 (using native roku, roku stick or xbox). The difference is night and day. The picture from the Series 6 is so much clearer and brighter than the series 4. The picture quality and brightness are significantly better on the Series 5 than the Series 4. I would definitely recommend spending an extra $100-150 for the Series 5 over the Series 4. It is a little closer between the Series 5 and Series 6. The Series 6 is still brighter and clearer than the Series 5 but the gap is much less than as between the Series 4 and Series 5. The Series 6 is still definitely a good upgrade from the Series 5. Where the Series 6 really shines over the Series 5 is gaming. The Series 6 supports 4k 120hz and VRR. Series 5 supports VRR but only does 60 hz. There is a significant difference at gaming at 120hz than at 60hz. If you don't need 120hz, to play the latest games on PS5 or Xbox, the Series 5 is a great TV. After I purchased the 65 inch Series 5, I saw an Open Box (excellent) 65 inch Series 6 for $699. It was the around the same price as the Series 5 65. So I returned the Series 5 for the Series 6. When the Series 6 had the google bug, there were a lot of open box Series 6 available. If you can still get an open box Series 6 for the same price as a Series 5, it is definitely worth the open box risk.