The TCL 55S551F is TCL’s entry-level 4K model in 2024, replacing last year’s TCL S4/S450G. It sits above lower-tier S-class models like the TCL 55S555 carried over from previous years and below Q-class models, like the TCL Q6/Q551G QLED. Despite being part of the budget S class, the S551F is an advanced S class model yet almost matching the S551G, which offers features like VRR and Dolby Vision support.
It’s a fresh take on an old favorite, trading the Roku software of TCL’s previous 5-Series TVs for Amazon Fire TV while improving the overall picture quality and throwing some enticing gaming features. Do I miss the Roku experience? No. The all-new 5-Series is better than ever – and Fire TV is a fine stand-in.
About the TCL S5-Series with Fire TV
The TCL S5-Series with Fire TV is available in five sizes. Our review unit is the 55-inch model.
Here’s how each size stacks up in the TCL S5-Series (2024)
- 43-inch (43S551F)
- 50-inch (50S551F)
- 55-inch (55S551F)
- 65-inch (65S551F)
- 75-inch (75S551F)
While we don’t expect much difference in performance between each size, it’s worth noting that the number of local dimming zones (clusters of backlight LEDs that can be directly dimmed or brightened) varies depending on panel size. This means there may be slight variations in contrast from one size to another.
Here’s a rundown of features shared by every size in the lineup:
- Resolution: 4K (3,840 x 2,160)
- Display type: LED
- HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR12, HDR10+, HLG
- Dolby Atmos: Yes (native decoding, eARC support)
- eARC support: Yes
- Native refresh rate: 60Hz
- Smart platform: Fire TV
- Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM): Yes
- Other features: Amazon Alexa, AirPlay 2
The TCL S5-Series with Fire TV ships with a flat, ultra-slim remote control with a built-in microphone and a collection of dedicated app buttons. It might take a few days to get used to the other buttons, as Fire TV iconography is a bit difficult to interpret at first, but once you get the hang of it, using the remote is quite easy.
Design & Features
TCL’s mid-range TVs aren’t trying to compete with LG’s C3 OLED TVs on design, and we just appreciate the basic black plastic construction used here. It still makes for sturdy housing for the 4K Fire TV despite not being flashy or the slimmest piece of equipment in the TV category. The chassis includes holes for a 200mm by 200 mm VESA bracket, meaning you can easily hang it on the wall using one of the best TV mounts available out there.
The TCL 55S551F we’re reviewing measures 48.3 x 28.0 X 2.8 inches and weighs 19.3 pounds. That’s light enough that you can set up without an extra hand, but being a 55-inch, we still recommend a second pair of hands, especially when working with a wall mount.
As mentioned, the TV features a two-position stand, which lets you adjust the included feet, choosing between 22.7 and 42.3 inches apart. The basic boomerang-shaped feet are made of sturdy plastic and don’t include any extras, like built-in cable routing.
The most noticeable visual upgrade over last year’s TCL 5-Series Roku TV (S535) is a small, fabric-covered sound bar under the bottom bezel, located at the center, just below the TCL logo. This small gray bar houses the TV’s far-field microphones, which pick up the TV’s hands-free voice controls through Amazon Alexa. It also has an indicator light that turns on to let you know that voice input has been triggered.
Picture Quality
The performance improvements we’ve seen on LED TVs over the past few years have been nothing less spectacular, and that couldn’t be clearer than with the TCL 5-Series. Out of the box, without any adjustment, the TCL 55S551F delivers great color accuracy with deep blacks, with both SDR and HDR content. Except for some slightly oversaturated reds and magentas, the Movie picture mode looks impressive.
The image quality is dependent on the low black levels that are around 0.1 nits and below, depending on the overall backlight setting and how much light is on the screen. HDR is strong, too. With 698 nits of brightness, that marks an increase of more than 235 nits over the two previous 5-series models – the TCL 55S535 (Roku TV) and TCL 55S546 (Google TV).
The extra brightness culminates in an image that pops even in well-lit rooms. The color accuracy doesn’t match that of SDR, but HDR images still look vibrant and immersive. The TV does a good job of displaying reds and blues in Spider-Man, and while the colors look a little oversaturated, the TV’s local dimming boosts the shadows around the characters. It’s also among the few midrange TVs in the market to support both Dolby Vision, Atmos, and HDR10 Plus.
When watching BBC’s Planet Earth II, the scenes look great, though you can easily notice the TV’s dimmer screen and smaller color range as compared to the TCL Q-Series or more expensive sets like LG’s OLED55C9PUA or the Samsung QN55Q70RAFXZA. Still, the trees and blue-greens in the “Islands” episode look clear and natural, though fine textures like fur and bark are crisp when well-lit. That said, shadows become a bit blurry, and the fairly dim screen doesn’t look quite as lifelike as they do on brighter panels.
For gamers, the TCL 55S555 offers a bunch of features for solid gaming performance, especially at its price. We’re talking of Auto Low Latency mode that switches into the best settings when it senses a gaming console, but VRR is only available in the TCL S551G Series and other high-end models.
The panel has a refresh rate of 60Hz, but we’d have wished for at least 4K/120Hz gaming on the latest S5-Series, which is available on the Sony X90K and LG C2 OLED – both top-tier models; it’s also available on the Hisense U8H at a much fair price. Beyond that, you’re getting smooth and responsive game control with a dedicated Game Mode within the menu as opposed to its picture mode.
Fire TV Smart Platform
TCL’s TVs come in multiple flavors of smart software (Fire TV, Roku, Android TV, and Google TV), and your experience may vary a bit. However, the model in our review is a Fore TV, and we can confirm that it remains a great choice for most users.
Unless you’re a Google TV or Android TV diehard, the fluency of Amazon’s Fire TV software is sure to appeal to the majority of users. Setup requires connecting the S5-Series to your Amazon account (or creating a new one) and choosing which streaming apps you’d like to install. From there, it’s almost as simple as pointing and clicking. The included remote is easy to use and includes Dolby Atmos support, Apple Airplay, and Alexa built-in.
TCL 55S551F Review: Verdict
Between its excellent HDR performance, its terrific incorporation of Fire TV, and its picture quality, the TCL 55S551F is a fantastic TV for its price range.
You could certainly spend a bit less on a competitively priced entry-level TV (the Insignia F30 comes to mind) – but you won’t be spending that much less, and what you’d leave on the table is probably worth the extra bucks.
Alternatively, if you can add more dollars to your budget, TVs like the TCL QM7 QLED and the Hisense U8N deliver a better picture and more gaming chops, but casual viewers will most likely notice the price hike more than they notice the added benefits that come with it.
However, if all you need is a great 4K TV that’s a step or two above the baseline models, the TCL 55S551F with Fire TV is an excellent choice -especially in a marketplace where TVs like this are hard to come by.
Recommended Configuration
TCL 55-Inch Class S5 UHD 4K LED Smart TV with Fire TV (55S551F, 2024 Model), Dolby Vision, HDR PRO+, Dolby Atmos, Alexa Built-in with Voice Remote, Apple AirPlay 2 Compatibility, Streaming Television
$249.99 in stock
1 used from $237.49
The Review
TCL 55S551F Fire TV
The TCL 55S551F Fire TV improves on a value-priced favorite, adding some premium smart features to an already excellent affordable 4K TV.
PROS
- Great color quality and smooth motion
- Fire TV is a solid, smart platform
- Affordably priced
CONS
- No local dimming to improve contrast
- Limited to 60Hz
Review Breakdown
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ARS SCORE
