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Content Breakdown
TCL TV reviews part 1: Introduction
If you want to enjoy great quality television at an affordable price, then the TCL 32S305 television is for you. TCL TV reviews reveal that this television has lots of useful features to enhance your viewing experience. The Roku Smart Television platform provides more than 4,000 channels for your viewing pleasure. This television is also cable, antenna and streaming friendly.
If the various TCL TV reviews are anything to go by, the 32S305 is definitely worth every cent you spend on it. To make things even better, you won’t really spend much, as this is one of the most affordable televisions in the market. This television has great features, superb quality, and a user-friendly interface. However, in order to deliver all these excellent features at a friendly price, the manufacturers had to compromise on aesthetics, resolution and a few connectivity options. Our TCL TV reviews are just getting started.
As far as smart televisions go, the TCL 32S305 is head and shoulders above other televisions in its price range. It does have a few negatives, such as the lack of Ethernet ports. However, the many advantages make it great value for money, especially if you do not have a lot of money to spend on a television set.
Who is the product designed for?
The inexpensive price makes this television ideal for anyone on a shoestring budget. The small size also makes it ideal for a small living room or as a second television for use in other rooms, such as the kitchen or guest room.
If you prefer streaming your shows, then this is the perfect television for you. The Roku television platform provides a wealth of channels and apps, as well as features such as Movies Anywhere that make it easier to access services such as iTunes movies. However, this television also allows you to watch cable and satellite television.
TCL 32 TV reviews praise the easy user interface and the basic remote. This television is very user-friendly, especially if you are not a tech-savvy consumer. The remote only has the very basic things you need to watch your favorite shows. If you need more functionality, you can download the powerful app on any of your smart devices. This television does not consume a lot of electricity, making it ideal for the energy-conscious buyer.
Product overview
TCL TV reviews unanimously agree that this is one of the best bedroom televisions in its price range. The small size makes it ideal for smaller rooms, and the simple design means that you do not buy it to impress anyone. It serves its purpose in guest rooms and kitchens, which is provide endless entertainment, courtesy of the Roku smart television platform.
The TCL 32S305 does not place any emphasis on its looks. The design is very simple and modes. The plastic bezel surrounding the screen is black and glossy. The sides feature slim-profile plastic piping to give it a bit of aesthetic flair. The television sits atop two U-shaped legs.
The back of the television features three HDMI ports, one USB port, and a standard cable or antenna connector. You will also find an optical audio output and a 3.5-millimeter composite video that you can use with the included adapter. The back of the television also features the reset button and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
The location of the ports is very convenient, as it makes it easier to hook up the set. However, with only three HDMI ports, you may need to get a splitter if you want to connect more than three devices. The television does not have an Ethernet port, and instead uses a dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi card.
My experience with the television has been satisfactory, especially for simple rom-coms or news channels. It is not the best television for horror movies due to the poor contrast ratio and lack of local dimming.
[Read what others are saying about the TCL 32S305 32-Inch TV]
TCL TV reviews Part 2: Important features
1. Smart television
Technology has advanced to a point where televisions can now stream movies and shows on demand, and TCL has embraced these advancements. TCL TV reviews reveal that one of the things that most consumers appreciate is the wide selection of channels at their disposal with this TV. Roku offers better coverage than its competitors, and users can enjoy Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, Sling TV, HBO Now, Plex and Google Play Movies. Other apps that this platform supports include Comedy Central, PBS Kids, Starz, ESPN and FX Now. Roku has all video apps, except iTunes. Fortunately, users can access iTunes movies as well, thanks to the Movies Anywhere feature.
The television also has the exclusive Roku channel, which offers various on-demand movies. The TCL 32S305 television can connect to the internet through both the 5 GHz and 2.5 GHz wireless network. Unfortunately, this television does not have an Ethernet port.
Since Roku television’s launch, consumers have received all the important software updates, including some really neat features. One of the updates that most reviewers appreciate is the ‘More ways to watch’ feature. When the user chooses a television program or movie, this feature shows them any other streaming service or channel that also carries that show or episode.
[Related: TCL 55-inch TV review]
2. Antenna and cable features
In addition to streaming shows online, users can also watch their favorite television shows via cable or satellite. The built-in tuner and an antenna make it easy to access local channels. Fortunately, this television has some antenna-friendly features, including the ability to pause live television. You can easily change the television settings so that the TV goes straight to antenna or cable mode instead of taking you to the Roku platform. Not done with our TCL TV reviews yet.
3. Remote control
The Roku television remote is very simple and basic, making it user-friendly. Most remotes have a lot of buttons, and consumers may not even know what some of these buttons do. Furthermore, some consumers stated that they never use half the buttons on normal remotes. The TCL 32S305 has simplified the whole process, leaving you with only 20 buttons for all your entertainment needs.
One of the main disadvantages of the Roku remote is that it is not a point-anywhere remote. You have to ensure that your remote points directly at the light that shines at the bottom of the television. Furthermore, unlike other TCL models, the television remote does not have a headphone jack for private listening, or voice search for easy browsing
4. Powerful mobile app
Most reviewers who are not tech-savvy love the simple remote, but other reviewers thought it was too basic. Fortunately, TCL 32S305 offers the best for all types of customers. If you want more functionality, you can download the Roku TV app for Android or iOS. The app turns your mobile device into a functional streaming companion. After installing the app, you can use your phone or tablet as a remote, ensuring you always have a way to control your television, even if you can’t find its remote control.
The mobile app allows you to plug in headphones for private listening, or to search for content using voice search or the mobile device’s keyboard. The app also makes it easier to share videos, photos, and music from your phone to your television. You can also cast movies and videos to your television using the YouTube and Netflix mobile apps.
[Related: TCL 49-inch TV review]
5. Performance
Reading the TCL TV reviews, it is clear that the TCL 32S305 is pretty basic. However, consumers can still expect very good picture quality for its price. This is an entry-level television with 720p resolution. This means that it does not offer Full-HD. It also does not have dimming features, which affects the screen’s contrast ratio. At 60 Hz, the refresh rate is also pretty low.
Fortunately, this television used direct-lit LED, which helps boost the quality of pictures. The input lag is very decent at 29.3 milliseconds. If you change the mode to Game mode, you can get reduced input lag, but this slightly reduces the quality of the pictures.
Viewed under normal conditions, the TCL 32S305 consumes about 28 watts of power. However, you adjust the settings low power mode, which reduces the power consumption to about 24 watts.
TCL TV reviews part 3: Pros vs. Cons
Pros
- Very affordable
- Roku platform for endless entertainment
- Simple user interface
- Powerful mobile app
- Low power consumption
Cons
- No local dimming
- Low contrast rate
- Low refresh rate
- Very basic design
- No Ethernet port
- Picture quality is not the best
TCL TV reviews part 4: FAQs
1. What is the difference between this television and the 2016 model?
The manufacturers improved the design of the 2017 model. They moved the cords around a little so that they are not too crammed in one place. Power is back on the right side of the television, and the HDMI and USB ports are on the left side.
2. Can this television power up in cable or antenna mode?
Yes. You can change the television settings so that it goes right to cable or antenna television. You can also set it to power up to the last user input. You can also choose a specific source, such as HDMI or USB. The remote has various shortcut buttons, such as Netflix and Hulu, which send you directly to that app.
3. Does this television have sleep mode?
One of the many cool things this television has to offer is the sleep mode. You can set the timer from 30 minutes to 3 hours. There is also a setting that turns the television off after about 4 hours of inactivity.
4. Can this television connect through a mobile phone hotspot?
Yes. This television can see your smartphone as a wireless network, and you will be able to connect to it as you would any other wireless network. If you have password protection, you will have to key in the password first before connecting through the mobile phone hotspot. However, note that the strength of your cellular connection will affect streaming speed and performance.
5. Does this television have Bluetooth?
Unfortunately, this television does not have any Bluetooth built in. If you want to use Bluetooth, you have to purchase an adapter and plug it into your television.
6. Can I program my television for a universal remote?
Yes. If you have an existing universal cable or satellite remote, you can go to the TV settings to program your television so that it can work with these remotes.
7. Do I need an antenna to watch local channels?
This television has a built-in tuner that helps you get local channels, but you have to purchase an antenna to receive them. Fortunately, this built-in tuner also works with the Pause Live TV feature, allowing you to pause and rewind live television.
Final verdict
From all the TCL TV reviews we’ve gone through, it is quite clear that most of the people who purchase this television already have a larger television for their living room and are looking for an inexpensive second television for other rooms. Others want a smart television, but do not have a lot of money to spend on top-shelf brands. If you fit in any of these groups, then the TCL 32S305 should be your first choice.
The TCL 32S305 does not have a lot of bells and whistles, and the manufacturers clearly had to make a few compromises in design and picture quality to reach its low price. However, it still has excellent features that make it very attractive for people who have very little money to spend on a television. However, the Roku TV feature makes it very appealing, making it one of the best televisions in the budget TV category.
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