specly

TCL 5-Series (S535) vs TCL 4-Series (S421)

TCL 5-Series (S535)

2020 · $349.99 today

7251
TCL 4-Series (S421)

2019 · $199.99 today

6239
Picture qualityBrightnessGamingSmart featuresSoundValue
TCL 5-Series (S535)TCL 4-Series (S421)

Dashed outline = score at launch

Why TCL 5-Series (S535) is better

  • Dimming Zones: Full-array (few zones) vs Edge-lit(8.0× more)
  • Peak Brightness: ~450 nits vs ~250 nits(1.8× more)
  • Input Lag: ~12 ms vs ~16 ms(33% less)
  • Screen Size: 55 in vs 50 in(10% more)

Why TCL 4-Series (S421) is better

No standout numeric advantages.

Verdict

TCL 5-Series (S535) leads outright in 6 of 6 dimensions today.

Spec by spec

SpecTCL 5-Series (S535)TCL 4-Series (S421)
Display
Screen Size55 in50 in
Resolution4K UHD4K UHD
Panel TypeQLEDLED
Peak Brightness~450 nits~250 nits
Dimming ZonesFull-array (few zones)Edge-lit
Gaming
Max Refresh Rate60 Hz60 Hz
Input Lag~12 ms~16 ms
HDMI 2.1 Ports00
Smart Platform
OSRoku TVRoku TV
Voice AssistantRoku Voice / AlexaRoku Voice / Alexa
Audio
Speaker Output10W10W
Dolby AtmosNoNo