TCL has unveiled what it says is the first-ever Roku-powered QLED TV in the U.K., and it’s available in four sizes, ranging from 43-inches to 65-inches. What’s more, from the specifications at least, it sounds pretty capable and its price tag is likely to be within many people’s budgets.
The TCL RC360K is a 4K model that combines Quantum Dot technology with a 60Hz panel to ensure sharp picture quality and realistically colourful pictures and a realistic experience overall. It supports various High Dynamic Range formats including Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG, and is compatible with the Dolby Audio surround sound format for immersive sound. The TV itself looks stylish, encased in a sleek, brushed metal body and sporting a fashionably slim bezel like most premium sets.
The main attraction of the TV though is that it’s powered by Roku, which is an excellent operating system that has, until now, only been available on lower quality sets. So Roku fans in the U.K. finally have something more capable to showcase a wealth of content that the operating system supports. The TCL RC360K is powered by a localised version of Roku which means it comes pre-installed with British applications such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX, All 4, My5 and Freeview Play, in addition to global services such as Spotify, Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. So there’s plenty to watch and it can all be accessed via Roku’s slick, customisable and user-friendly interface that’s certainly the equal of alternative TV platforms such as Android, Tizen and webOS. Users will also have exclusive access to The Roku Channel, which offers thousands of free movies and TV shows, including Roku Originals such as Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, which debuted just last month.
Other features include regular updates from Roku and a universal search function that allows users to find TV shows, live sports and movies from across all of their installed apps. For paid content, Roku even presents the results in order of price, so users can find the cheapest way to access it.
According to TCL, the RC360K will ship with the most up to date version of Roku. The new version, Roku OS 11.5, only rolled out in November and introduces new features such as a Save List for users to save their favourite movies and shows from across multiple channels and streaming services. Other new features include enhanced Entertainment Details that organise universal search results more efficiently, more visuals with Roku Voice search, and a Bluetooth enabled private listening feature that makes it easy to mute the TV and listen through a pair of compatible headphones.
Also worth mentioning is the extensive support for voice controls, with Apple Siri, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant all on board.
TCL’s U.K. Country Manager Sharing Xiao said the company is once again raising the bar with the RC360K QLED TVs. “Our newly launched series, paired with Roku’s operating system, has a host of advanced features that will elevate home theatres across the country and provide the best that entertainment tech has to offer,” Xiao said.
Roku’s International Vice President Arthur van Rest said his company has a history of working with TCL to produce award-winning TVs with excellent picture quality, ease-of-use and affordability. “We are pleased to build on this partnership to launch Roku’s first QLED TV in the U.K.,” he said. “These new TCL Roku TV models offer consumers a premium smart TV experience with all the Roku advantages.”
The TCL RC360K Roku QLED TVs are available to buy now at Curry’s and they’re priced pretty reasonably, with the 43-inch model retailing at just £319, or £12.25 per month for those who want to buy on credit. The 50-inch model costs £369 or £14.17 per month, while the 55-inch model retails at £419 or £16.09 per month. The largest, 65-inch model costs £670 or £26.89 per month.
