TCL's latest 6-Series Roku TV has serious gaming chops - The Verge

TCL finally made a Roku TV with excellent gaming specs. The company is in a tick-tock release pattern of sorts with its popular 6-Series TV. One year, there’s a Roku version; the next year, we get a Google TV edition, and now, the company is upgrading the Roku model again. Like previous 6-Series TVs, the latest one features Mini LED backlighting, which utilizes thousands of tiny LEDs spread across hundreds of local dimming zones to create top-notch brightness, impressive contrast, and deep black levels. This panel has up to 360 dimming zones. And it uses quantum dot color, with “a measured 100 percent color volume in the DCI-P3 Hollywood reference color space,” according to TCL.

For the 2022 6-Series Roku TV, TCL is putting a big emphasis on gaming capabilities. The prior Roku model topped out at 1440p at 120Hz, but now — as you’d hope so far into the PS5 and Xbox Series X lifecycle — the 6-Series can do full 4K-resolution gaming at 120Hz. PC gamers can achieve an even higher peak variable refresh rate of 144Hz. Other TV makers like Samsung have also adopted 144Hz; Vizio has even hit 240Hz at 1080p resolution. These companies are doing their best to appeal to console and PC gamers alike, but I’m just glad TCL is offering true 4K resolution at those higher refresh rates this time around.

The new 6-Series has four total HDMI ports, and two of them support 4K / 120Hz. Wisely, TCL uses a different port than those two for eARC purposes, so you won’t have to waste a high-performance HDMI port on your soundbar. Every port having full HDMI 2.1 capabilities is ideal, but where that’s not possible, this is about the best layout you could ask for. The latest 6-Series supports AMD FreeSync in addition to the baseline, industry standard VRR spec.

TCL has switched to a center-positioned stand instead of putting legs at each side of the TV. There are two height levels in case you’ll have a soundbar sitting in front of the screen. You also gain some integrated cable management that runs through the stand. Supported HDR formats include Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10 Plus, and HLG. Stand aside, the 2022 6-Series Roku TV shares the usual brushed metal aesthetic and slim bezels.

At the bottom of the screen, there’s now an ambient light sensor, and this addition allowed TCL to include Dolby Vision IQ on the 2022 6-Series. When activated, HDR brightness should be optimized for your specific viewing conditions. The built-in voice microphones from the Google TV 6-Series aren’t present on the new Roku model, but you can still use the included remote for voice commands.

It’d be nice if TCL would release identically specced Roku and Google TV sets at the same time and simply let consumers choose their preferred software experience. After getting off to a rocky start, last year’s 6-Series Google TV (R646) is now a pretty excellent pick — even if Google TV itself can still be sluggish. But now, the latest Roku version has leapfrogged that set with the upgrade to 144Hz VRR; I can’t help but predict that general navigation on the Roku 6-Series will be more fluid and snappy than on Google TV.

The TCL Roku TV 6-Series is available immediately in the following sizes:

• 55-inch model (55R655): $699
• 65-inch model (65R655): $999
• 75-inch model (75R655): $1499

You’ll be able to place orders from retailers, including Amazon and Best Buy, beginning today.

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LG's MoodUP refrigerator comes with color-changing LED doors and a built-in speaker - Engadget

IFA 2022 (Europe's answer to CES) starts tomorrow, so you know what that means — some wacky new appliances and home products. LG is kicking off the proceedings with the MoodUP refrigerator that has color-changing LED door panels, offering something completely different for your kitchen than the usual white or brushed metal.

Using LG's ThinkQ app or tapping on the door, you can choose from 22 colors for the upper door panel and 19 colors for the lower one. Or, you can let it choose various color themes like 'Season,' 'Place,' 'Mood' and 'Pop,' that represent things like the colors of nature or "a feeling of wellbeing through the use of soft, soothing colors," LG wrote. 

LG

The panels will blink repeatedly if you leave the door open for too long, or flash a welcome when someone approaches. The freezer door will also glow brighter at night "to help midnight snackers find and open the door" (never stop, LG). With the LED panels switched off, it offers a combination of gray and white for a more traditional look.

It also comes with a built-in Bluetooth speaker that connects to mobile devices or PCs. You can get it to play songs from LG's Music Collection playlist that match the color theme, or have the LED panels change colors in sync with the music. The idea is to add "a sense of liveliness and fun" by apparently transforming your kitchen into a discotheque. 

LG

Details are scarce on the refrigerator itself, but it looks like LG has both a wide, four-door model and a regular single-door version with two freezer compartments. The top image appears to show both models side-by-side. 

It also offers upgraded voice recognition along with WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. Several PR photos appear to show the company's "InstaView" camera/display tech as well, but LG didn't mention that in the news release. There's no word on pricing, but LG will be showing off the "Dios Object Collection MoodUP" refrigerators at IFA 2022 in Berlin, starting tomorrow. 

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