Again in late summer time, TCL introduced an upgraded model of its high-end 6-Sequence TV. Except for some technical enhancements — the newer set absolutely helps HDMI 2.1 and 4K gaming at 120Hz — the largest change needed to do with software program, with the most recent 6-Sequence working Google TV as a substitute of the Roku OS that has shipped on a lot of TCL’s hottest units in america. The corporate has already launched TVs powered by Android TV internationally and on a couple of finances fashions in North America, however the 2021 6-Sequence was meant to be a mixed showcase for TCL {hardware} and Google software program.
Thus far, it’s not figuring out that manner, and issues aren’t going fairly in addition to TCL may’ve hoped. Finest Purchase — the unique US retailer of the TCL Google TVs — has abruptly eliminated each fashions from its retailer listings, and TCL confirms to The Verge that there are points being ironed out.
Some early consumers of the 6-Sequence with Google TV (mannequin R646) have complained about what they describe as a buggy, sluggish person interface. I personally have been reviewing a 65-inch mannequin over the previous couple weeks, and whereas the Google TV house display screen appears to work comparatively properly, it didn’t take lengthy for me to note some common slowness when pulling up and going by the settings menu. There may also be a lag earlier than the TV reacts to distant management instructions. My roommates have noticed crashing apps and some situations the place the TV itself froze and have become unresponsive. Some on-line evaluations cite extra annoying issues that require unplugging the TV altogether.
Comparable early criticisms have additionally been leveled on the 5-Sequence with Google TV; Caleb at Digital Tendencies discovered his assessment unit to be on the gradual aspect and bumped into a number of bugs.
TCL has already rolled out a number of software program updates meant to enhance efficiency and stability. “Our precedence is to ship an optimized person expertise with Google TV and have a cadence of deliberate software program updates for TCL units,” TCL spokesperson Rachelle Parks informed The Verge in late November. A few of these updates do appear to have made a optimistic distinction, and Parks informed us in a press release on Thursday that “clients will see marked enhancements within the weeks to return.”
However as of this week, Finest Purchase eliminated each of these fashions from its retailer listings. TCL’s personal web site has a hyperlink to Finest Purchase that now not works. Previous to the removing, the 65-inch 6-Sequence I’m testing had a mean assessment ranking of three.5 stars. Many evaluations reward the panel and Mini LED image high quality however go on to listing points encountered with the software program.
TCL confirmed to The Verge that it’s conscious “some are dealing with challenges with the steadiness of the person interface” and but, that the corporate expects these TVs to be “obtainable once more within the coming weeks.”
Whereas TCL is accustomed to Android TV, the Google TV software program expertise is new territory for the corporate, and clearly, it’s having a tough go at this early stage. I hope a number of the efficiency points will be ironed out with extra updates; this actually is a improbable TV, with terrific peak brightness and glorious distinction due to that Mini LED backlighting. But it surely’s not the place it must be proper now.
In actual fact, I’ve already gone forward and plugged an Apple TV 4K into one of many HDMI ports simply to keep away from the sluggishness and jank. Streaming units are an effective way to hurry up finances TVs, however they shouldn’t be a obligatory bandaid for a TV with an MSRP of over $1,000.
The Verge has reached out to Finest Purchase for extra particulars. This may very well be a provide scarcity scenario (although it’d be odd for the pages to fully vanish in that case), or perhaps TCL is taking a beat to evaluate subsequent steps for its new Google TVs to show round their buggy early repute.
Replace December ninth, 8:28PM ET: Added data from TCL about software program updates and availability.
