TCL C805 review: an affordable mini-LED 4K TV that gives you real value for money

TCL C805 review: Two minute review

The TCL C805 offers brilliant picture quality, a good stock of gaming features and great overall performance for an incredibly affordable price. It’s outperformed in all areas by more premium examples of the best TVs, but it’s hard to argue against the C805's serious value for money. 

Despite being an entry-level mini-LED TV with fewer dimming zones compared to step-up mini-LEDs such as its TCL C855 sibling and the Hisense U8N, the C805 delivers good contrast with rich black levels and refined shadow detail. It also displays bold, dynamic colours and surprisingly lifelike and crisp textures. The C805's motion handling for the most part is strong but it does require some tweaking in the settings. Viewing angles are limited and backlight blooming is present in darker scenes, but at this price range, it’s tough to be disappointed with the C805’s picture. It really is a strong contender for best budget TV.

Sound quality on the C805 is acceptable for everyday use, with strong bass levels and clear dialogue throughout, but it will fall somewhat short for anyone looking for the full movie experience. Despite supporting Dolby Atmos, surround effects are limited and the sound is confined to the screen. Directional effects are placed well enough, but the C805 doesn’t match up to the best TVs for sound like the Sony A80L or Panasonic MZ2000. For those looking for a punchier sound, one of the best soundbars is recommended. 

At this price point, the C805 is a very well-equipped TV for gaming. It supports 4K 120Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium Pro included), ALLM and even Dolby Vision gaming. Graphically, it doesn’t quite top more premium sets, but games still look very good on the C805. It won’t quite beat the best TVs for gaming overall, but, it’s worth considering for gamers on a budget. 

The C805 carries a basic, straightforward design and is surprisingly sturdy given its light weight. Visually, its central stand is appealing enough and although made of cheap plastic, it feels more than adequate for this TV. There’s lots to like about the C805’s Google TV smart interface, too, as the home screen provides useful recommendations, albeit under large ads. There are also plenty of settings for those who like to tweak picture and sound. 

Value is one of the C805’s strongest points. With competition from the likes of the Hisense U6N, Hisense U7N and Samsung QN85D in the affordable mini-LED market, the C805 delivers stronger picture quality and more gaming features than those models for less. The 55-inch model I reviewed costs £649 / AU$1,395 on average, which is exceptionally low for what the C805 offers. 

TCL C805 review: Prices & release date

• Released: July 2024 (UK) 
• 50-inch:  £579 / AU$1,095 
• 55-inch:  £649 / AU$1,395
• 65-inch:  £799 / AU$1,695  
• 75-inch:  £1,199 / AU$2,195 
• 85-inch:  £1,499 / AU$2,995 
• 98-inch:  £2,499 / AU$6,995 

The TCL C805 is the entry-level mini-LED TV in the company’s 2024 lineup, sitting below the TCL C855 and the flagship 115-inch X955. It is available in a wide range of sizes, from 50 to 98 inches, in both the UK and Australia, where it is known as the C755.

The C805 sits firmly in the budget mini-LED TV category and is priced similarly to the Hisense U6N (which costs roughly £699 for the 55-inch model). Prices for the C805 have already been discounted on varying online retailers, with up to £500 off the 98-inch model’s release price of £2,999. 

TCL C805 review: Specs

TCL C805 review: Benchmark results

TCL C805 review: Features

• Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ HDR support 
• 4K 144Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro  
• QD mini-LED panel 

The C805 features a mini-LED backlight that produces improved local dimming over LED and QLED TVs, while also delivering higher brightness than OLED TVs. More local dimming zones come with each step-up in screen size, with 384 zones in the 55-inch model I tested, and 512 zones in the 65-inch model – over half the 1,344 local dimming zones found in the step-up 65-inch TCL C855. 

HDR formats are well supported, with both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ featured. The C805 also supports IMAX Enhanced. 

Gaming support includes 4K 120Hz (up to 144Hz for PC gaming), Dolby Vision gaming, VRR (including AMD FreeSync Premium Pro) and ALLM. The C805  also features a Game Bar to alter settings during gameplay. Unlike some of the best gaming TVs, it is limited to two HDMI 2.1 ports compared to the four you’ll find on TVs from LG and Samsung.

For audio, the C805 features a 2.0 speaker array in the 50-85-inch models and a 2.1 speaker array in the 98-inch model. Both are designed in partnership with Onkyo and support the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio formats. 

The C805 uses the Google TV smart TV platform, which offers access to a wide variety of streaming apps including Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney Plus. It also provides access to UK-based Freeview Play apps including BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 and more. A sign-in to a Google account is required to use these apps, but once that’s done movie and TV show recommendations on the home page are using your viewing and web browsing history. 

• Features score: 4.5/5

TCL C805 review: Picture quality

• Vibrant colour  
• Surprisingly good shadow detail and black levels 
• Some backlight blooming present 

The C805 is a budget mini-LED TV with a more limited number of backlight local dimming zones, so it doesn't hit the high brightness levels of more premium mini-LED models. Measured on a 10% HDR white window pattern, it yielded 1,066 nits and 854 nits in its Standard and Movie modes, respectively. For comparison, the more premium 65-inch TCL C855 hit 2,919 nits and 1,891 nits on the same tests. 

Those results do beat the rival Hisense U6N, which achieved 612 nits and 651 nits on the same tests in its Standard and Filmmaker Modes, respectively. They also put it in line with the more premium-priced Hisense U7N, which hit 809 nits and 1,074 nits in Standard and Filmmaker Modes, respectively. 

The C805 delivered respectable full-screen brightness, measuring 682 nits and 554 nits in the same Standard and Movie picture modes on a 100% HDR white window pattern, This means it will generally succeed in brighter viewing environments, although in our testing lab with overhead lighting, it was subject to mirror-like screen reflections. 

Moving onto real-world viewing, standard-definition pictures, while watchable, generally had fuzzy textures. But viewing a high-definition stream of Fight Club via Disney Plus, skin tones and detail looked more refined than expected. 

Colours on the C805 were satisfyingly punchy. Watching a 4K/Dolby Vision stream of Star Wars: The Last Jedi via Disney Plus, the vibrant reds in the throne room fight scene were well controlled, maintaining a natural but bold appearance. In La La Land, Mia’s bright yellow dress during the A Lovely Night scene shone against the dark backdrop of the street, again maintaining an accurate look. 

When I measured both the C805’s BT.2020 and UHDA-P3 HDR color gamut coverage, it gave results of 70.9% and 93%, respectively. Those are good results for a TV in this price range and match those of the Hisense U6N and, surprisingly, the much more premium 8K Samsung QN800D. 

To evaluate  black levels, contrast and shadow detail, I primarily used The Batman, which, due to its low mastered brightness (400 nits as opposed to the more typical 1,000 nits), can prove to be a challenge for many TVs. During the opening crime scene investigation, the C805 displayed strong contrast with deeper black levels than anticipated. There were also no signs of black crush, meaning details in clothing and Batman’s armour were still visible. The balance between light from the lamps and the dimly lit surroundings was also accurate, again highlighting the C805’s effective contrast. 

This balance between light and dark tones held up during black-and-white scenes. with the C805 showing good contrast and a solid amount of grey tones in Oppenheimer, though white highlights did sometimes look a little overblown.

The C805's detail and textures were surprisingly refined and carried a sharp but lifelike appearance – particularly with Dolby Vision movies. In Top Gun: Maverick, closeup shots of people’s faces revealed accurate skin textures. The same was also true in The Batman and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The texture rendition wasn’t as crisp as what I saw on the TCL C855 when I tested that model, but it was still excellent given the C805's price. 

When watching sports, I found that setting blur and judder reduction to roughly 3-5 out of 10 made games look smooth without adding the dreaded soap opera effect.

With movies, the C805 did an admirable job processing fast-moving scenes such as the training and Darkstar flight sequences in Top Gun: Maverick. There was some judder present, but the Movie motion preset did a good job of reducing it. 

When viewed off-centre, the C805 displayed obvious backlight blooming and its contrast faded. The C805’s picture overall won’t beat more premium sets, but it more than outperforms its price.

• Picture quality score: 4/5

TCL C805 review: Sound quality

• Weighty bass 
• Good speech clarity 
• Limited soundstage  

The C805’s built-in audio system features 2 x 15W down-firing speakers and supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X formats. 

Hefty bass was demonstrated during the Batmobile chase in The Batman, with the crunching crashes and rumble of the Batmobile’s engine given plenty of power. Dialogue was also clear in most scenes and vocals were accurate during loud and hushed singing in La La Land. The C805 also delivered a good balance between the instruments in La La Land’s bright score. 

Despite supporting Dolby Atmos, the C805’s limited speaker array meant Atmos and surround effects were lost in the mix. For instance, in The Batman, rainfall was non-existent whereas one of the best TVs for sound would be able to distinguish it better. The TV’s sound also was very direct and contained to the screen, never extending beyond it. 

I generally found Movie to be the most accurate sound mode, though Music did work for the likes of La La Land. Still, for those looking for the full cinema package, you’re better off adding a soundbar.  

• Sound quality score: 3.5/5

TCL C805 review: Design

• Exceptionally light for a 55-inch TV
• Basic, but solid design
• Central stand (50-85 inch models)     

The C805 has a fairly basic design with no real standout features. One thing I did note was just how light it is compared to other 55-inch sets I’ve tested, almost feeling weightless. 

Thankfully, that doesn’t mean the C805 is any less sturdy or solidly built. Its central stand, which carries an appealing navy colour, is on the cheap plasticky side, but still feels like it won’t move anytime soon. It’s a little deep compared to the razor-thin profile of more premium sets such as the LG G4 OLED TV, but it carries a slim bezel that allows maximum space for the picture. 

TCL’s supplied remote is very cheap feeling and outdated looking, especially compared to the one supplied with the step-up C855. On the plus side, it has plenty of buttons with shortcuts to popular apps such as Netflix, Prime Video and YouTube.  

• Design score: 4/5

TCL C805 review: Smart TV & menus

• Google TV smart TV platform 
• A good number of calibration controls  
• Large banner ad on the homescreen  

Google TV is the C805’s built-in smart TV platform and while not perfect, there are things to like about it. After signing in with a Google account, which is required to use apps, the home screen serves up recommendations tailored to your viewing history across different apps. It also offers Continue Watching options – a very useful feature. Apps on the home screen get coloured highlights, which may not be major, but it does set Google TV apart from other home screens. 

Speaking of the home screen, banner ads advertising various TV shows and movies take up a large portion at the top. These are based solely on new releases and are not recommendations based on your viewing history, so having to see them at all is a bit frustrating.

There are plenty of menu settings to experiment with for both picture and sound. For those who like to calibrate settings, there are even 2- and 20-point grayscale and colour point adjustments. Menu navigation felt smooth enough, and even though there was occasional lag, it was minimal. 

• Smart TV & menus score: 4/5

TCL C805 review: Gaming

• 4K 144Hz refresh rate and VRR 
• Dolby Vision gaming   
• 13.5ms input lag time  

The C805 has an extensive list of gaming features given its budget price – significantly more than competitors such as the Hisense U6N. It supports 4K 120Hz (and up to 144Hz for PC gamers), Dolby Vision gaming, ALLM and VRR (including AMD FreeSync Premium Pro). It only has two HDMI 2.1 ports compared to the four found on more premium sets although that’s the case for all TVs that aren’t made by LG or Samsung. 

Gaming performance is relatively smooth on the C805. Playing Battlefield V, during a chaotic battle on an airfield I found quickly moving the camera and scanning the environment to be judder-free. It didn’t feel as smooth as on the best gaming TVs, but was still smooth enough. When I measured the C805’s input lag time, it gave a result of 13.5ms at 4K 60Hz – a perfectly decent result, and below the 15ms most gamers look for. 

Graphics on the C805 carry the same crisp textures, bold colours and rich contrast as with movie and TV show viewing. It isn’t going to beat the C855 or other more premium sets, but the C805 still has a very impressive picture when gaming.

• Gaming score: 4.5/5

TCL C805 review: Value

• Extremely good value
• Great performance for the price    
• Features outweigh price  

In a competitive mini-LED market, the C805 falls into the budget end against the likes of the Hisense U6N. For the 55-inch model I tested, the C805 (or C755 in Australia) costs £649 / AU$1,395 on average compared with the U6N’s £749 / AU$1,295. At that price, you’re getting better picture quality and more gaming features (the C805 supports up to 144Hz whereas the U6N is capped at 60Hz). 

Overall, the C805 is exceptional value for money, delivering maximum mini-LED bang for your buck. To get a significant improvement in picture quality, you’ll be looking at the step-up TCL C855, which costs £1,299 / AU$2,295 for a 65-inch model, or the Hisense U8N, which is priced at £1,799 / AU$2,699.99, also for 65-inch – the two smallest sizes available in the UK and Australia. The LG B4 OLED would be considered an upgrade, but a 55-inch B4 costs £999 / AU$1,995.  

• Value score: 5/5

Should you buy the TCL C805?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the TCL C805

• Tested using SDR and HDR sources 
• Tested in a lab room in varying lighting conditions 
• Measurements taken using Portrait Displays' Calman calibration software

I began my tests of the TCL C805 with some casual viewing to establish its most effective and accurate picture and sound modes – in this case a combination of Standard and Movie and Movie for sound. 

For my subjective tests, I analyzed the C805's picture quality, looking at contrast, black levels, detail, color, and motion using SDR sources such as broadcast TV and HD streaming, and HDR ones such as 4K Blu-ray and 4K streaming. During these tests, I use reference scenes from movies and TV shows. 

For my 4K Blu-ray testing, I use the Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player, one of the best 4K Blu-ray players available. 

I also tested the C805's gaming features and performance using an Xbox Series X with the C805 in Game mode. 

For objective testing, I take measurements using specialized equipment including a test pattern generator and colorimeter, with Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software recording the measurements. I also use a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Input Lag Tester to measure input lag with the TV is in Game mode. 

For a full explanation of how we test TVs at TechRadar, check out the link.  

• First reviewed: September 2024
• Read TechRadar's review guarantee