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The TCL 65S555 is the 65-inch model in TCL’s 2022 5-Series, a quantum dot (QLED) Roku TV that earned a reputation as one of the best budget TVs of its year, but in 2026 it’s worth buying only at a steep discount. It combined full-array local dimming, a vertical alignment (VA) panel with deep blacks, and every major high dynamic range (HDR) format at a launch price of $699.99. This TCL 65S555 review explains what the TV does well, where it falls short, whether it’s still worth buying in 2026, and which newer 65-inch TVs on Amazon replace it.
Quick verdict: The TCL 65S555 delivers excellent contrast, accurate out-of-the-box color, low input lag, and the simple Roku interface for very little money. It’s limited to 60 hertz (Hz), though, and its brightness and dimming fall well behind today’s Mini LED TVs. Buy it only at a steep discount; otherwise, look at TCL’s QM6K or QM7K. Check the TCL 65S555 price on Amazon.
Key takeaways
- What it is: A 2022 65-inch 4K QLED Roku TV with a VA panel, full-array local dimming, and a native 60Hz refresh rate.
- Who it’s for: Roku fans who mostly stream movies and shows in a dim room and can find a unit for well under $400.
- Price: TCL launched it at $699.99 in 2022; as of November 2026, new stock has largely dried up, and open-box, refurbished, or used units make sense only well under $400. Prices change often.
- Main weaknesses: No 4K at 120Hz gaming, only 35 dimming zones on Reviewed’s 65-inch sample, narrow viewing angles, and no Bluetooth audio.
- Successor: TCL’s Google TV Mini LED models replace it, led by the QM6K, which adds a 144Hz panel and launched at $799 for 65 inches.
TCL 65S555 at a glance
| Spec | TCL 65S555 |
|---|---|
| Model year and launch price | 2022, $699.99 manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) |
| Panel | 65-inch 4K VA panel with quantum dots |
| Backlight | Full-array light-emitting diode (LED) backlight with local dimming (not Mini LED) |
| Refresh rate | Native 60Hz |
| HDR formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and hybrid log-gamma (HLG) |
| Measured HDR brightness | About 700 to 800 nits, according to Reviewed and Digital Trends |
| Gaming | Variable refresh rate (VRR) with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) FreeSync, auto low latency mode (ALLM), about 11 milliseconds (ms) input lag |
| Ports | Four High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) ports (one with enhanced Audio Return Channel, or eARC), optical audio, Universal Serial Bus (USB), Ethernet, composite video, and antenna |
| Smart platform | Roku TV with Apple AirPlay 2 and Apple HomeKit |
| Wall mount | Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) 300 x 300 millimeters |
Specs and measurements come from Reviewed’s TCL 5-Series S555 review and Digital Trends’ review.
Is the TCL 65S555 still available?
The S555 is a 2022 model, and TCL has since replaced it several times over. New stock has largely dried up, though you may still find open-box, refurbished, or used units. TCL’s current lineup runs on Google TV and centers on Mini LED models: the 2025 QM6K and QM7K and the 2026 QM7L and QM8L. If you want a cheaper TCL QLED, our TCL Q5 review covers the budget Q-series, and our TCL Q77K review looks at a step-up option.
If you specifically want Roku built in, note that TCL’s newest TVs use Google TV. Our smart TV vs. Roku TV guide explains the difference, and you can always add a Roku streaming stick to any TV.
Design and setup
The 65S555 has a plain, functional look: black plastic on the back, a thin metal frame, and slim bezels around the screen. At about 3.2 inches deep, it’s thicker than most current TVs, but it still sits reasonably close to the wall on a mount with the VESA 300 x 300 pattern. A VESA-compatible 65-inch wall mount is an easy upgrade; see our best wall mounts for 65-inch TVs for picks.
The feet attach in two positions. The wide position offers the most stability, while the narrower position fits on smaller furniture. The ports face sideways, which makes them easy to reach after mounting.
Picture quality
Contrast and local dimming
The VA panel gives the S555 a high native contrast ratio, so blacks look deep in a dark room. Local dimming improves this further by dimming zones of the backlight behind dark parts of the image. TCL advertised up to 80 contrast control zones on the largest size, but Reviewed counted 35 zones on its 65-inch sample. That’s few by today’s standards, so you’ll see some blooming (halos) around bright objects on dark backgrounds. Our local dimming explainer covers why zone count matters.
Brightness and HDR
Reviewed measured about 698 nits of sustained HDR brightness, and Digital Trends measured just under 800 nits in its brightest HDR mode. Standard dynamic range (SDR) brightness reached roughly 550 nits. That’s bright for a 2022 budget TV and good enough for most living rooms, but the panel doesn’t handle glare especially well. Current Mini LED TVs such as the TCL QM7K get much brighter, which makes HDR highlights pop far more.
Color
Reviewed measured 91.1% coverage of the Digital Cinema Initiatives P3 (DCI-P3) color space used for HDR content and praised the TV’s accurate out-of-the-box color. In practice, that means rich, natural colors without much tweaking. Movie mode gives the most accurate results.
Viewing angles and uniformity
Like most VA panels, the S555 has narrow viewing angles. Colors and contrast wash out as you move off-center, so it works best when most seats face the screen directly. Digital Trends also noted a visible dirty screen effect on its sample, which shows up as faint blotches during camera pans across sports fields or ice rinks.
Gaming performance
Digital Trends measured about 11 ms of input lag in game mode, which feels very responsive for casual and competitive play. The TV supports ALLM, so it switches to game mode automatically when you turn on a console, and VRR with AMD FreeSync smooths out frame rate dips between roughly 48Hz and 60Hz to reduce screen tearing.
The big limitation is the native 60Hz panel. None of the HDMI ports support 4K at 120Hz, so PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Xbox Series X games that run at 120 frames per second (fps) top out at 60fps. If high frame rate gaming matters, read our 60Hz vs. 120Hz TV guide and our best gaming TVs for PS5 and Xbox.
Roku TV smart features
Roku remains one of the easiest smart platforms to use. The home screen puts apps and inputs in a simple grid, and the interface stays responsive. The S555 supports Apple AirPlay 2 and Apple HomeKit, and it works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant devices.
The included remote is a basic Roku remote with no microphone, so you can’t use voice search out of the box. The free Roku mobile app adds voice control and private listening, which streams the TV’s audio to headphones connected to your phone. That’s handy because the TV doesn’t support Bluetooth audio.
The built-in speakers sound thin, according to Digital Trends, so a soundbar makes a big difference. A Roku-compatible soundbar connected to the eARC port lets you control volume with the TV remote.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Deep blacks and strong contrast for the price
- Accurate out-of-the-box color
- Supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG
- Low input lag with ALLM and FreeSync VRR
- Simple, fast Roku interface with AirPlay 2
Cons
- Native 60Hz panel with no 4K 120Hz gaming
- Few dimming zones, so some blooming
- Narrow viewing angles
- No microphone on the remote and no Bluetooth audio
- Weak built-in speakers
- Discontinued and outclassed by newer Mini LED TVs
TCL 65S555 vs. current 65-inch TVs
Prices for 65-inch Mini LED TVs have dropped so far that you can now get a much brighter, 120Hz or faster TV for about what the S555 cost new. Amazon is our main affiliate partner, and it carries most of the current 65-inch Mini LED and QLED models worth considering:
Compare similar 65-inch Mini LED and QLED TVs on Amazon
| TV | Backlight | Refresh rate | Smart platform | Best for | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCL 65S555 (2022) | Full-array LED | 60Hz | Roku TV | Bargain hunters who find a deep discount | Check price |
| TCL 65QM6K | Mini LED | Up to 144Hz | Google TV | Best value upgrade | Check price |
| TCL 65QM7K | Mini LED | Up to 144Hz | Google TV | Brighter HDR and bright rooms | Check price |
| TCL 65QM7L (2026) | Super quantum dot (SQD) Mini LED | Up to 144Hz | Google TV | TCL’s newest midrange model | Check price |
| Hisense U7 series 65-inch | Mini LED | 120Hz or higher | Google TV | Gamers and sports fans | Check price |
| Roku Pro Series 65-inch | Mini LED | 120Hz | Roku TV | Roku fans who want Mini LED | Check price |
- TCL QM6K: The natural successor for most shoppers. It adds Mini LED dimming and a 144Hz panel, and Tom’s Guide gave it four stars. It launched at $799 for 65 inches and often sells for less. See the TCL QM6K on Amazon.
- TCL QM7K: Brighter than the QM6K, with stronger HDR and better glare handling for sunny rooms. See the TCL QM7K on Amazon.
- Roku Pro Series: If you love the Roku interface, Roku’s own Mini LED TV keeps it while adding 120Hz and far more brightness than the S555. See the Roku Pro Series on Amazon.
For more options, see our guide to the best 65-inch TVs under $1,000 and our TCL vs. Hisense comparison. Prices change often, so check current listings before you buy.
Who should buy the TCL 65S555?
Buy the 65S555 if you find a new, open-box, or refurbished unit for well under $400, mostly watch movies and streaming shows in a dim room, and love Roku. It still offers strong contrast and color for casual viewing and 60fps gaming.
Skip it if you game on a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X and want 120Hz, watch in a bright room, or sit off to the side often. A TCL QM6K or Roku Pro Series costs a bit more and fixes all three problems.
Frequently asked questions
Is the TCL 65S555 a Mini LED TV?
No, the TCL 65S555 isn’t a Mini LED TV. It uses a full-array LED backlight with local dimming and a quantum dot layer. TCL reserved Mini LED for its 6-Series in 2022. The current QM6K and QM7K do use Mini LED.
Does the TCL 65S555 support 120Hz?
No, the TCL 65S555 doesn’t support 120Hz. It has a native 60Hz panel, so it tops out at 4K 60fps for gaming, though it does support VRR and ALLM.
Does the TCL 65S555 have Bluetooth?
The TCL 65S555 doesn’t support Bluetooth headphones directly. Use private listening in the Roku mobile app instead, or connect a soundbar through HDMI eARC or optical.
What replaced the TCL 5-Series S555?
TCL’s Mini LED Google TV models replaced the 5-Series S555. The QM6K and QM7K (2025) and the QM7L (2026) are the closest current equivalents, while the Q-series covers budget QLED models.
Final verdict
The TCL 65S555 earned its strong reviews in 2022 with deep contrast, accurate color, low input lag, and an easy Roku interface at a bargain price. In 2026, its 60Hz panel, modest brightness, and limited dimming zones make it hard to recommend over newer Mini LED TVs that cost about the same. Grab it only at a clearance price; otherwise, a TCL QM6K is the smarter buy. Check the current TCL 65S555 price on Amazon.