The TCL 43Q651G is the 43-inch size of TCL's 2024 entry-level Q6 QLED, a 60Hz Google TV with Dolby Vision support and no local dimming. RTINGS, which bought and tested the 75-inch version and says its results are mostly valid for the 43-inch, rated the Q651G 5.8 out of 10 and called it sub-par for mixed usage: poor black levels in a dark room, unremarkable SDR brightness, inadequate HDR brightness and weak reflection handling. RTINGS judged it at its best in a moderately lit room, which is the case for it as a small bedroom or office set.
Full review
What RTINGS tested
RTINGS describes the Q6/Q651G as an entry-level TV released in 2024 that replaced the Q650G and sits below TCL's QM7 and QM8 lines. It bought and tested the 75-inch model and states that the results are mostly valid for the 43-, 50-, 55- and 65-inch sizes.
One difference matters for this size. RTINGS' size table shows that the 43- and 50-inch models do not have TCL's Game Accelerator 120 feature, which on the 55-inch and larger sets allows 1080p and 1440p at 120Hz with variable refresh rate. The only item in RTINGS' list of pros is that feature, so it does not apply to the 43Q651G.
Picture quality: a 5.8 out of 10
RTINGS' verdict is that the Q6 is sub-par for mixed usage. It calls the TV inadequate for a dark room because of poor black levels, and says the lack of local dimming leaves it with poor contrast. It is also not recommended for a room with all the lights on: SDR brightness is unremarkable and the screen struggles with reflections caused by glare.
HDR is the weakest area. RTINGS lists inadequate HDR brightness as a con and says the TV struggles to show both dark and bright colors, which limits how vibrant most content looks. Colors are described as okay overall, the viewing angle as mediocre, and pixel transitions as awfully slow, which makes motion blurry. RTINGS concludes that the TV is at its best in a moderately lit environment.
Features and how it compares
The set runs version 12 of Google TV with voice control and a wide range of streaming apps, and it supports Dolby Vision and DTS audio. It is a basic 60Hz panel without HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.
RTINGS compares it with the Hisense U6N, a similar budget TV that does have local dimming, and says the Hisense looks much better in a dark room, is brighter overall and delivers a more impactful HDR experience.
Strengths
- +One of the few 4K QLED sets sold in a 43-inch size
- +Supports Dolby Vision, per RTINGS
- +Runs Google TV (version 12) with voice control and a large app selection
Watch-outs
- −Awfully slow pixel transitions make motion blurry, per RTINGS
How it compares
The 43Q651G is the only 43-inch set on this page and by far the cheapest, but it is also the weakest performer: RTINGS scores it 5.8 out of 10, against 7.8 for the TCL QM7K and 8.6 for both the LG G4 and the Samsung S90D. Unlike the mini-LED TCL QM7K, it has no local dimming.
Rating sources
Our 3.1 score is the average of these published ratings, each adjusted for how strictly its publisher scores. More about methodology.
