What a time to upgrade your TV! Today’s technology provides insane value! We compare two great choices side by side. Let’s see which one is better for you:
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| Product | LG NanoCell 80-Series | TCL QLED 5-Series |
| Available Sizes | 50”, 55”, 65”, 75” | 50”, 55”, 65”, 75” |
| Design/Dimensions | Slim/ 44.1” x 10.1” x 28.3” (50-inch) | Slim/ 43.9″ x 11.6″ x 25.2″ (50-inch) |
| Processor | Quad Core Processor | AiPQ Engine |
| Home Cinema | Active HDR (HDR10, HLG) | Dolby Vision HDR Pro Pack |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz (advertised as Natural Motion 240) |
| Smart TV Software | LG ThinQ AI, WebOS | Roku |
| Built-In Voice Assistant | Google Assistant/ Alexa | None (available through 3rd party app and voice-enabled remotes purchased separately) |
| HDMI Ports | 4/2 | 4 |
| Check Price | Check Price |
NanoCell vs QLED – Similarities
Design Style and Size
Both the LG NanoCell 80-Series and TCL QLED 5-Series boast slim designs and identical screen sizes. Their dimensions differ in negligible amounts, with the most notable differences found in the TCL’s slightly larger width.
Whether you’re looking to wall-mount your new TV or place it on top of an entertainment center with the included stands, both models are guaranteed to look great in your home- turned on and off.
Refresh Rates
Refresh rate indicates how well your TV can reduce motion blur in an image. The higher the refresh rate, the “smoother” the picture will be. This matters most to video gamers. The LG NanoCell 80-Series has 60 Hz refresh rate, which is on the lower end of the current industry standards. However, don’t be fooled by TCL’s “Natural Motion 240” refresh rate. This is a proprietary presentation of the same 60 Hz the LG NanoCell 80-series sports.
TCL claims their Natural Motion 240 manages to improve the 60 Hz gaming experience, but some consumers report it having negative effects due to black frame-addition. However, this feature can be turned off, leaving you with the true 60 Hz capability.
HDMI Ports
The PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and Apple TV all use the same mode of input: HDMI. ports are more important than ever. Both the LG and TCL models offer up to 4 ports in their sets. There is nothing worse than having to pull yourself off your sofa to swap cables! It’s hard to imagine having to do so if you buy either of these products.
NanoCell vs QLED – Differences
The Picture
NanoCell is LG’s new proprietary technology that adds a filter of nano-particles over your traditional LCD to purify its display of colors. In contrast (no pun intended), QLED TV’s use the Quantum Dots system to enhance the picture. These “dots” are nano-crystals located behind the display, which is a newer approach.
Both utilize LED backlighting but in different ways, resulting in differences in picture quality, brightness and viewing angle. NanoCell’s approach produces a wider viewing angle, which is important if several people are watching at once. No more need to jockey for the best seat! However, QLED’s brightness and quality edge out NanoCell making it the better choice for most homes.
The Winner Is – TCL QLED 5-Series
Check Price of TCL QLED 5-Series on Amazon
Home Cinema
High Dynamic Range (HDR) is a measure of a TV’s ability to present authentic colors. The LG NanoCell 80-series employs the “open-standard” HDR 10 technology which displays 1.07 billion colors. That is one BIG box of crayons!
TCL has elected to license the Dolby Vision format which is capable of displaying a mind boggling 68.7 billion colors. However, today there is no content available that takes advantage of this capability. When such content becomes available then the TCL QLED will be able to serve it up. In this respect, the TCL QLED is better protected from becoming “obsolete”.
The Winner Is – TCL QLED 5-Series
Check Price of TCL QLED 5-Series on Amazon
Built-In Voice Assistant
The LG NanoCell 80-series offers your choice of the Google and Amazon/Alexa built-in voice assistant UI’s, allowing you to immerse yourself in a George Jetson fantasy after a long day at work. The TCL QLED 5-Series neglected to include this feature. A voice assistant function is available through third party apps or compatible voice-enhanced remotes, sold separately. If talking to your TV matters to you, then go with the the LG Nano.
The Winner Is – LG NanoCell 80-Series
Pros and Cons
LG Nanocell 80
Pros:
- Boasts a larger viewing angle
- Built in voice assistant
- Uses the standardized 60 Hz out of the box
- Little to no chance of burn-in damage
Cons:
- Brightness and color quality inferior to QLED
- Pricier than its QLED competitor
TCL QLED 5
Pros:
- Superior brightness and color quality
- Dolby Vision format ready for future 12-bit/68.7 billion color content
- Cheaper than its NanoCell competitor
Cons:
- No built-in voice assistant
- Small chance of burn-in damage
- Best advised to turn off the Natural Motion 240 feature as it is reported to negatively affect gaming experiences
The Final Verdict: Nanocell vs QLED
Both of these Smart TV’s offer entertainment experiences with incredible quality and sharp design. The LG NanoCell 80-series offers a built-in voice assistant and a wider viewing angle. The TCL QLED 5-series’s offers better image quality as well as preparedness for the next generation of content quality while costing a bit less, therefore we recommend the TCL QLED.
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