Let’s talk about the TCL C655 — a 4K QLED Google TV that promises (and actually delivers) a lot for its price. On paper, it looks like a solid mid-range option for anyone trying to get good features without emptying their wallet. However, there’s a problem. A pretty big one if you’re a gamer or tech-savvy buyer. Despite what TCL claims on their marketing material, the TCL C655 HDMI 2.1 support is more of a misdirection than a fact.
Before we begin, I’ll like to stress the fact that the TCL 55″ C655 is a great television that offers stunning visuals, features and functionalities. This is especially telling when you consider the asking price. Here at Inquisitive Universe, it only cost us around $422 in total to get one of these (most likely the Indian version).
On the this TV, TCL are offering three HDMI ports, two of these are standard ports and the third supports ARC/eARC. From the initial marketing, we were led to believe that this ARC/eARC HDMI port was HDMI 2.1 enabled. This is not entirely true.
The HDMI 2.1 Claim That Doesn’t Hold Up
There’s no native 4K 120Hz support
TCL boldly advertises the C655 as having a HDMI 2.1 port. This sounds great, especially if you’re planning to hook up a PS5 or Xbox Series X and want smooth 4K 120Hz gaming. The thing is that you’re not going to get that.
When tested with a PlayStation 5, the TV caps out at 4K 60Hz. If you want 120Hz, you’ll have to drop the resolution to 1440p. That’s a major red flag. HDMI 2.1 is supposed to handle 4K at 120Hz easily. The fact that this TV doesn’t means you’re not dealing with true HDMI 2.1 — more like a dressed-up HDMI 2.0b port with some optional features tacked on.
So what you’ve actually got on the TCL C655 is DLG enabled 120Hz and not true 120Hz. DLG or Dual Line Gate is a combination of hardware and software processes that result in the TV producing images that could be perceived to be 120Hz.
Bandwidth
Let’s get technical for a second. HDMI 2.0b maxes out at 18Gbps, while HDMI 2.1 can push 48Gbps. That massive bandwidth boost is what allows higher resolutions, frame rates, better HDR, and improved audio. The TCL C655 HDMI 2.1 port doesn’t come close to that — it behaves exactly like HDMI 2.0b.
My PS5 even confirms it. It easily detected that transmission speeds to this TV were capped at HDMI 2.0 speeds. That’s not just a nitpick — that’s misleading hardware labeling. Please zoom into the image below.
The Other Corners Cut
It doesn’t stop there. HDR support is also trimmed down. TCL promises HDR10+, but what you get is just standard HDR10. It’s still HDR, but not the more dynamic, scene-by-scene adjusted version you’d expect from HDR10+.
Color range? Limited to YUV 4:2:2, instead of full-bandwidth RGB. Again, this matters for gamers and enthusiasts who care about image quality and signal integrity.
What about VRR and ALLM? They’re optional on HDMI 2.0, but standard on HDMI 2.1. On the TCL C655, these features exist, but they’re not natively supported. What we are getting are software workarounds — not the real deal.
And then there’s eARC. TCL says the TV supports it, but in reality, you’re more likely getting just regular ARC. That means slightly compressed Dolby Atmos, not full uncompressed passthrough.
So, What Are You Really Getting?
To be clear, the TCL C655 isn’t a bad TV. You’re getting:
- A decent QLED panel
- Good 4K upscaling
- Google TV support
- Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos
It’s actually a great buy if you know what you’re getting. But that’s the issue — TCL wasn’t upfront.
The TCL C655 HDMI 2.1 label simply sets expectations the hardware doesn’t meet. For casual users, it might not matter. But for anyone hoping to unlock the full potential of their next-gen console or enjoy premium features, this is a letdown.
Final Verdict
TCL needs to do better. Marketing enhanced HDMI 2.0b as HDMI 2.1 is misleading. Consumers shouldn’t need to read HDMI specs with a magnifying glass to find the truth. If you already bought the TCL C655, enjoy it for what it is. But if you haven’t, and HDMI 2.1 truly matters to you, you might want to up your budget, look elsewhere or at least wait for a more honest spec sheet.
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