The accelerated TV market demand gives top manufacturers like TCL and LG a chance to innovate better products. However, their numerous offerings also meant bottomless selections that could confuse new homeowners like you. Fortunately, our home theater experts are here to test each model depending on your budget to determine which one is worth buying.
TCL or LG?
Origins and Track Record
Although both TV brands are now known as reliable providers of home appliances, these companies came from completely different origins. LG Electronics is a South Korean company that entered the scene in 1958 and made a mark worldwide. Meanwhile, TCL hailed from China and was established in 1981.
It’s no secret that LG is considered a dominant player in the TV industry with premium smart TVs yearly releases. However, TCL found its place on the top-tier list for offering affordable selections and high ratings on their products offered all around the world.
Comparing TCL and LG
TCL and LG: Up to $200
- Dual-band Wi-Fi
- Voice Command
- 720p HD Resolution
- Roku TV Interface
- LED Display
- WebOS Platform
- LCD Display
- USB & HDMI Connectivity
- Wide Viewing Angle
- HD Resolution
Size and Design
During the close-up comparison of TCL vs. LG TV designs, our team noticed that TCL 32S335 features a more modern construction than LG 24LM530S-PU. Despite being at the same price tag, you’ll notice that TCL offers a wider display screen measuring 32 inches, whereas LG only has 24 inches.
Image Quality and Technology
Considering that TCL is equipped with an LED VA panel, our resident cinephiles were impressed with its top-notch contrast that displays deeper and richer colors.
On the other hand, the 24-inch LG unit is constructed with an LED-backlit LCD panel that delivers pretty decent image quality. However, it still fades in comparison with TCL’s great reflection-handling capabilities and native contrast ratio.
Connectivity Options
While setting up, our TV testers didn’t have much problem setting up both units. In fact, these selections under $200 have Wi-Fi connectivity that ensures seamless content browsing. Both brands also have enough HDMI ports to accommodate wired integrations.
Although both TVs belong to a lower price range, TCL 32S335 provides a wider content selection than its alternative. On top of that, it also delivers superior picture quality that heavily adds value to your viewing experience.
More reading:
TCL and LG: Up to $500
- Screen size: 50 inches
- Roku TV Platform
- Direct-lit LED Display
- 4k Ultra HD Resolution
- Wi-Fi Connectivity
- Real 4k UHD Display
- Wi-Fi Certified
- TruMotion 120
- webOS 6.0
- 300 IP Channels
Size and Design
Once again, the 50-inch TCL unit in this price range towers over LG’s 43-inch TV. This time, both models have minimalistic designs fit for a modern home theater setup. Although our testers found them similar at first glance, TCL has thinner borders and construction than LG.
During the exterior design evaluation, we noticed that the TVs have plastic material construction as well. Despite that, LG 43UP7000PUA has very minimal wobbles compared to its competition.
Image Quality and Technology
As expected for an IPS panel, our team already expected the LG unit to have wider viewing angles and more consistent brightness than TCL. On the contrary, 50S435 has impressive contrast levels, all thanks to its VA panel technology. It also delivers consistent deep blacks despite being played in dark rooms.
Smart Features and Connectivity
Unlike conventional TVs, modern smart TV selections should have advanced features to accommodate streaming needs[1]. Lucky for us, these two options have reliable content platforms and smooth interfaces. LG appears faster in some apps, but they’re generally the same in the level of convenience.
Both TVs from these top brands have Wi-Fi connectivity, making them suitable for a smart home setup. However, TCL has more HDMI and USB ports dedicated for external audio and visual devices.
This round of evaluation was a close fight, but TCL 50S435 won the round with its wider screen size and better contrast levels. In addition to that, it accommodates more HDMI connections than its alternative.
(Do you have connectivity issues with your Roku TV? Well, here is a quick guide on how to fix TCL Roku TV that won’t to wifi)
Overall Winner: TCL
After comparing LG vs. TCL TV models, our resident cinephiles picked TCL as the better option under the $200 and $500 price range. Despite LG being the dominant player, TCL TVs are more suitable for tight-budget shopping for consistent image quality, reliable connectivity, and up-to-date smart features.
For more TV comparisons, we also compared these brands for you:
