TCL has announced a new batch of Android TVs to go on sale in Europe with prices starting at under 500 euros (under £450).
TCL’s Android TVs offer a unified TV platform based on the Android operating system that brings access to Google’s entire ecosystem of TV apps, including streaming services such as YouTube and Netflix, and an array of TV-based games.
Another useful advantage of Android TVs is that Google tends to update them fairly frequently, certainly more often than Samsung does with its Tizen OS, for example.
The new TCL P-series TVs sit below its mid-range C-series and its upper-end X-series models, but buyers should beware that they’re pretty basic LCD models. TCL also sells a P-series in the U.S., but unlike those models they lack the local zone dimming that helps to properly show off high dynamic range content, which brings an expanded range of colour and brightness to the screen.
On the other hand, the P-series TVs in Europe do at least offer 4K resolution, built-in Chromecast and other Google capabilities such as its digital assistant, which enables the TV to be controlled via voice.
The new range encompasses the TCL P815, P715 and P615 series TVs, which will be sold in sizes ranging from 43-inches up to 75-inches, so buyers can at least get a fairly big size screen on a lower budget. In addition, TCL said it will launch an even more affordable TV in the series, the P610, that comes with a Linux-based OS instead of Android, later this month.
The company said the new P-series would replace last year’s EP-series TVs in Europe. Prices are yet to be announced, but TCL said the 43-inch P715 would cost less than 470 euros (under £420).
TCL announced its new TVs at IFA 2020’s virtual online event, which has replaced the physical edition of the trade show. During that event, TCL also revealed a new chip that it has designed for its next batch of high-end TVs based on QLED and Mini-LED display technologies, that are set to launch in 2021.
The company also used IFA to showcase its current flagship X10 Mini-LED model TV, and launch a new range of soundbars.
