55″ TCL Q7 4K QLED HDR Smart TV with Google TV Review: Affordable Entertainment with a Gorgeous Display

The 55″ TCL Q7 4K QLED HDR Smart TV with Google TV pairs cutting-edge technology with a remarkable viewing experience; it offers an array of impressive specifications that will cater to the most discerning tech enthusiasts and cinephiles. From its stunning 4K QLED HDR resolution to its smart features, the TCL Q7 truly elevates the home entertainment experience. Available in 55″, 65 “, 75″, and 85” models and with a list price starting at $749.99 (when not on sale), it’s a great QLED Smart TV for your money.

Coming from an older 47″ 1080p TV attached to an external Roku streaming device, my family was excited to upgrade to a 4K TV with built-in streaming services.

We were most looking forward to the upgrade picture; however, when we started playing with the Google TV operating system, we realized just how much our experience had been upgraded, and the fact that we didn’t need yet another remote to keep track of was a nice bonus.

We have other TCL TVs in our home, including those powered by Roku operating systems, but we were pleasantly surprised to see how much more modern the Google TV operating system felt in use. The fact that you could return to shows you were previously watching on all different streaming services from the home page is a nice touch.

TCL Q7 4K QLED HDR Smart TV with Google TV Features

• 4K Ultra HD Resolution
• QLED – Quantum Dot Technology with UltraWide Color Gamut
• High Brightness PRO LED Backlight with Up to 1,000 Peak Nits
• Full Array PRO Local Dimming with Up to 200+ Dimming Zones
• 120Hz Panel Refresh Rate
• Motion Rate 480 with MEMC Frame Insertion
• Auto Game Mode (ALLM) with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
• Game Accelerator 240 for Up to 240 VRR Gaming
• HDR ULTRA (Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, & HLG)
• TCL AIPQ Engine with Deep Learning AI
• Google TV Smart OS with Hands-Free Voice Control and Backlit Voice Remote
• IMAX Enhanced Certification
• FullView Metal Bezel-less Design with Adjustable Width Feet (Reversible Feet)
• Dolby Atmos
• DTS Virtual: X
• Bluetooth Personal Audio
• 4 HDMI Inputs (1 x eARC)
• Google TV Smart OS
• Chromecast Built-in
• Apple Airplay2
• Works with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit
• Dual-Band 802.11ac Wi-Fi
• USB Input

Straight out of the box.

Out of the box, the first thing we noticed was the Q7’s super slim bezel, which fit nicely into our home theater storage unit; at 48.2″ long by 30.2″ tall by 13.5″ wide with the stand installed, it is almost the same size as the old 47″ TV it replaced, which had a much larger bezel.

A look at the thin bezel

Inside the box was the TV itself, the two interchangeable stand legs, screws to install the legs, the remote, the power cord, and the user guide. The TV was well-packed and protected during shipping.

The stand legs are installed simply using the four included screws; they look nice, aesthetically; however, the kids used to like to turn our old TV slightly toward the dining room when eating, but the depth of the stand is slightly too deep to turn the TV without risk of the TV falling off of our entertainment center.

This is a purely personal situation, but it’s something to note before purchasing if you don’t plan on mounting the TV on a wall.

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The remote was a pleasant surprise. For our smart TV browsing on this television previously, we had been using a Roku remote, which is tiny; we’ve lost it so many times that we had to tape an AirTag to it.

But the TCL Q7’s remote is larger; it’s tall and skinny, measuring 8″ long by 1.5″ wide, with dedicated buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, Youtube, Apple TV, TCL Channel (a free streaming service from TCL), and TCL Home.

The remote has voice functionality, which allows you to very easily ask Google TV to open Netflix or search for a movie, for example. The remote is also backlit, which is a huge plus for those late-night movies.

The TCL Q7 4K QLED HDR Smart TV’s remote

The TCL Q7 includes several inputs and outputs that are great for families with many different setups. If you have DVD/BluRay players, video games, and more, you can use them all with the Q7, thanks to the 4 HDMI inputs. There are also USB, SPDIF Audio, Ethernet, and more.

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The TCL Q7 4K QLED HDR Smart TV’s Display

This TCL Q7 boasts a spacious 55″ display that immediately captures attention with its sleek, minimalistic design. The LED-backlit QLED panel technology produces vivid colors and deep blacks, creating an immersive cinematic experience at home.

With its 4K Ultra HD resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels), scenes come to life with beautiful clarity and detail. Whether watching the latest blockbuster or indulging in a nature documentary, the TV’s high resolution ensures a visually captivating experience.

One of the standout features of the TCL Q7 4K QLED HDR Smart TV is its use of Quantum Dot technology. This innovation enhances color reproduction and provides a wider color gamut, resulting in more lifelike and vibrant visuals. The colors on this TV pop with truly impressive realism, making it a great choice for movie nights and gaming sessions.

Integrating High Dynamic Range (HDR Pro) takes the TCL Q7’s visual prowess to the next level. HDR Pro enhances contrast and brightness, allowing for a broader range of luminance and colors. The result is strikingly realistic images with bright highlights and dark shadows, providing an immersive experience that draws you into the content on-screen.

For those who crave a cinematic audio experience to complement the stunning visuals, the TCL Q7 has you covered. With Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support, this TV delivers premium audio and visual quality.

Dolby Vision ensures the TV can accurately reproduce the creator’s intended vision, while Dolby Atmos offers a surround sound experience that engulfs you in rich, multidimensional audio.

Under the hood, the TCL Q7 is powered by a robust AIPQ Engine Gen 3 quad-core processor that ensures seamless navigation and fast response times. Switching between apps, streaming content, and browsing the web becomes a breeze, maintaining the fluidity of your entertainment experience.

Connectivity options are plentiful, featuring multiple HDMI ports, USB ports, and built-in Wi-Fi, making connecting your gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, soundbars, or other smart devices easy. The TV also supports voice control and is compatible with popular virtual assistants, providing a convenient hands-free operation.

The TCL Q7 runs on the user-friendly Google TV platform that offers a wide range of apps and streaming services. From popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu to music apps like Spotify, you’ll have a vast library of entertainment at your fingertips.

The TV also features a customizable home screen that lets you personalize your viewing experience with your preferred apps and channels.

Google TV setup was super easy.

We had a ton of fun trying out the 55″ TCL Q7 4K QLED HDR Smart TV. Our kids did a lot of testing since they use this TV the most, and they were really happy with the smart TV functionality of Google TV.

They very quickly got acquainted with the Google TV interface and could find all of their favorite streaming apps and shows, and the voice functionality really helped my 6-year-old get comfortable with it.

Google TV homepage provides easy access to a world of entertainment.

I loved the screensaver images that Google TV puts up when the TV is on, but it hasn’t been used recently. It’s a nice touch to have beautiful landscapes displayed in 4K in your living room. The images are crisp, the colors are bright and vibrant, and the blacks are nice and dark; I’ve been impressed with the entire experience.

Gorgeous screensaver, showing off the clarity of the display (and our messy entertainment center).

The 55″ TCL Q7 4K QLED HDR Smart TV delivers an extraordinary viewing experience that surpasses expectations. Its stunning 4K resolution, Quantum Dot technology, HDR Pro, Dolby Vision, and Atmos support combine to create nothing short of breathtaking visuals.

The TV’s impressive performance, easy connectivity, and GoogleTV-enabled features make it an excellent addition to any entertainment setup.

While I have no experience with other QLED TVs, based on my market research, I’m impressed with the quality of the picture and features built into the TCL Q7, especially when considering the price point.

You’d be looking at paying a higher retail price for similar (or even smaller) Samsung, Sony, or LG models. But unless you simply like a different brand’s style or want to stay in a particular brand’s ecosystem, I don’t think you’d notice any difference in picture quality.

For those seeking a top-tier TV that balances aesthetics, performance, and affordability, the 55″ TCL Q7 4K QLED HDR Smart TV is a standout choice that will transform your home entertainment to new heights.

You can learn more about the TCL Q7 by clicking here.

The 55″ TCL Q7 4K QLED HDR Smart TV has a retail price of $749.99; it is available from various retailers, including Amazon and Best Buy, where it is on sale for $549.99 at the time of this review. 

Source: Manufacturer Supplied review sample

What I Like: Beautiful, crisp picture with bright colors and true blacks; Excellent Google Smart TV functionality; A larger remote with dedicated streaming channel buttons; Affordable

What Needs Improvement: We don’t love the stand due to how our family likes to be able to move the TV for different viewing angles, but it’s a personal preference and not a deal breaker