TCL A300W NXTVision

A300W / A300W PRO / NXTVision

Available screen sizes: 55”65”75”

Complete the survey to find out the result

Go to survey

Panel type: LCD VA | Brand: TCL | Resolution: 3840x2160 | System: Google TV | Model year: 2024

Our verdict

6.6

Overall rating

At first glance, it’s clear that the TCL A300 NXTVision aims to be more than just an ordinary television. It offers a picture display mode that – unlike competitors from Korea, Samsung The Frame – is completely free. Additionally, just like its rivals, extras are included at no charge. In the packaging, alongside the television, we find extra frames that mimic light wood and a flat wall mount, allowing the television to truly resemble a gallery piece. When it comes to everyday use, the standout feature is the Google TV system – comprehensive, fast and offering access to a massive number of apps. And if we feel like stepping out of the digital museum and jumping straight into the gaming world, the A300 can surprise us. With two HDMI 2.1 ports, 144 Hz, VRR, ALLM, and a very low input lag, even demanding gamers can feel at home here. Well... perhaps except for those sensitive to motion blur – as this remains one of the bigger issues with this model. There are also downsides. While the picture mode is free – which is commendable – the actual quality of the available graphics falls noticeably short compared to what Samsung offers in its paid ART Store. The displayed images resemble photos rather than realistic reproductions of artworks. Unfortunately, the A300 – much like the competing Hisense S7NQ – performs poorly here and additionally has some software issues. The brightness of the television itself also leaves much to be desired – it’s the dimmest of the “framed trio,” which translates to average daytime viewing and limited HDR effect. Nevertheless, the TCL A300 NXTVision is a reasonably sensible alternative to Samsung The Frame or S7NQ – especially if we are looking for a cheaper solution without additional charges for access to the “gallery” mode and with an operating system that doesn’t limit us in any way regarding the number of apps. However, it’s important to remember that this is a proposal with a lot of compromises. If we want to save a bit and don’t expect top-notch picture quality, the A300 can hit the visual bullseye. Otherwise, it’s worth looking at its competition.

Advantages

Frames styled like a picture in the set
Bracket included
VA matrix with decent contrast
Supports all popular HDR formats, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+
Great for gamers: VRR, G-Sync, ALLM, low input lag
High refresh rate - 144Hz
Free "picture mode"
Supports DTS:X and Dolby Atmos
GoogleTV operating system with the largest app base

Disadvantages

Low brightness
Motion blur issues
No recording function on USB or PiP
Inferior image quality in "art mode" compared to Samsung The Frame
Colours and blacks fade significantly in sunlight
No VESA standard
Software bugs

Movies and series in UHD quality

6.2
Classic TV, YouTube

6.0
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

5.9
Gaming on console

8.2
TV as a computer monitor

8.2
Watching in bright light

4.7
Utility functions

7.7
Apps

10.0
Sound quality

6.0

TV appearance

HDMI inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps

Review TCL A300W NXTVision Appearance of the TV

Buy in the best price

Select size:

No links

Contrast and black detail

Viewing mode Game mode

5.5/10

Viewing mode Game mode

Local dimming function: No

Review TCL A300W NXTVision Contrast and black detail

Contrast between the black background and the bright spotlight illuminating Jack. Scene from the movie Oblivion (Universal Pictures).

Result

5,000:1

Contrast between the glare on the chameleon's skin and the black near the edge of the screen below. Scene from the Spears&Munsil test disc.

Result

5,450:1

Contrast between the reflection on the helmet and the black on the black film strip. Scene from the movie Arrival (Paramount Pictures).

Result

3,800:1

Contrast between the actress's face and the black film strip at the top edge of the TV. Scene from the movie Gravity (Warner Bros. Pictures).

Result

4,000:1

Contrast between the colorful balloon and the black slice between the falling objects. Scene from the Pioneer Kuro test disc (2008).

Result

3,950:1

Visibility of details in the lights:

TCL A300, also known as NXTVision, uses a VA panel, so from the outset, decent contrast could be expected. On our test screens, the television indeed showed typical results for this type of panel – in the best case, the contrast reached around 5000:1, which is not a bad result for this segment.

However, it should be noted that the model is not equipped with any local dimming technology, which unfortunately is evident in practice. Black, although at times quite deep, often turns into navy blue or grey – especially in darker scenes. In short: for a television without local dimming, it’s not bad, but it shouldn't be compared to models that already have such a feature on board.

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

HDR effect quality

Viewing mode Game mode

4.9/10

Viewing mode Game mode

Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 94.2%, Bt.2020: 71.0%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review TCL A300W NXTVision Brightness measurement

The measured point is the setting sun against a bright sky. Scene from the movie Life of Pi (20th Century Fox).

Result

357 nit

The measured point is the moon against a dark, starry sky. Scene from the movie Life of Pi (20th Century Fox).

Result

348 nit

The measured point is the flashlight on the rifle, which shines directly at the camera. Scene from the movie Gemini Man (Paramount Pictures).

Result

338 nit

The measured point is the tail light of a helicopter flying at night. This is a very small light point, the essence of the HDR effect. Scene from the movie Sicario 2: Soldado (Lionsgate).

Result

350 nit

The measured point is the sun visible directly between the clouds. The scene is very bright and should blind the viewer as in nature. Scene from the movie The Meg (Warner Bros. Pictures).

Result

389 nit

When it comes to brightness, the TCL A300W is definitely the dimmest TV among all frame-style models, such as Samsung The Frame or Hisense CanvasTV – and unfortunately, you can see that right away. In our measurements, peak luminance reached only around 400 nits, and on test movie screens, this value dropped to 350 nits. That’s definitely too little to feel the real "magic" of bright HDR effects. As a consolation – the TV is equipped with a PFS LED coating (which is something like QLED), which provides very good coverage of a wide colour gamut, both DCI-P3 and BT.2020. In addition, there is full support for all popular HDR formats – HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision – which somewhat compensates for the shortcomings in brightness and helps improve the overall experience of materials in this quality.

Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)

Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)

Now that we know the TCL A300 has limited capabilities in displaying bright scenes, we checked how it performs in actual film clips. In a scene from the movie Pan (high-quality material, known from Blu-ray discs), the television had noticeable issues adapting to very bright parts of the image. The sun merged into one bright spot, making it difficult to see any details.

The scene from the movie Billy Lynn (typical quality for streaming platforms) performed significantly better. In this case, the colours looked natural, and the background maintained an appropriate level of detail. However, returning to the scene from Pan – the situation might have looked a bit better if the television had a well-functioning dynamic tone mapping feature. Unfortunately, when it was turned on, the image actually showed more details, but the overall appearance seemed even darker than it should have. Therefore, we do not recommend using this option on the TCL A300.

HDR luminance chart:

As we mentioned earlier, the TCL A300 NXTVision supports all popular HDR formats. However, it’s important to note that the differences between them can be huge in practice – and this is clearly visible on our test screen with horses. Dolby Vision literally saves this TV – the amount of detail, background visibility, and overall image depth perform significantly better than with standard HDR10, where the image appears flat and washed out. That’s why the presence of dynamic metadata is so important – such as Dolby Vision or HDR10+, especially in darker TVs. They can significantly enhance the viewing experience where the panel's brightness alone doesn't suffice.

On paper, the Dolby Vision IQ feature also looks interesting, meaning an HDR mode that should adjust the picture according to the room's lighting. Unfortunately, in the case of the A300, this doesn't work very well – when this option is enabled, the picture resembles dynamic mode, with distorted colours and excessive brightness, which severely detracts from the overall effect. Therefore, we do not recommend using this mode.

Static HDR10

Dynamic: Dolby Vision

Smoothness of tonal transitions

8.6/10

TCL A300 NXTVision is another frame-style television that really manages well with the smoothness of tonal transitions. It's hard to find distinct bands or sharp transitions between shades of one colour – it all looks natural and smooth.

However, it's fair to say that among the three tested models (The Frame and S7NQ), TCL performs the weakest in this category. In darker and lighter scenes, you can notice slight imperfections. Nevertheless, looking at it as a whole, for a television in this range – it really presents itself solidly. It might not be the best of the bunch, but it holds a very good standard.

Review TCL A300W NXTVision Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

5.5/10

Smooth transition function

Image without overscan on the SD signal

TCL A300 handles tonal transitions in high-quality films very well, but the question arises – how does it perform with weaker materials? The TV is equipped with a tonal smoothing feature; however, its effectiveness can be described in one word: “random”. In one scene, it may work and improve the gradation, but when turned off… the effect remains the same. There is a lack of consistency and predictability here.

Image scaling is also not one of A300's strong points. On the test pattern, the main character actually looked better than on the raw signal, but with thin lines – like fonts or background details – there was noticeable jaggedness and aliasing. On the plus side, the TV does not cut off the image and has no issues with overscan, but the overall quality of scaling is rather average.

Blur and motion smoothness

6.4/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 144Hz

Film motion smoothing option: Yes

Blur reduction option: Yes

BFI function 60Hz: No

BFI function 120Hz: No

Brightness drop with BFI: 0%

TCL A300 is equipped with a 144 Hz panel, which should instantly satisfy virtually everyone - both gamers and sports fans. Motion is fluid and the image is clear even during fast scenes. Additionally, the television offers a motion enhancement feature called "Motion," where we find two sliders on a 10-point scale. These allow you to adjust the effect to your own preferences - from a classic, filmic look with visible frames to a very smooth (though already unnatural) image reminiscent of a soap opera effect. This way, everyone can find a setting that suits them.

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

We have to put it bluntly – the ghosting on the TCL A300 is noticeable and unfortunately ranks the lowest among all the frame-style TVs we tested. In the test with the flying “Ufo” character, there is a distinct trail following the object, and the alien itself looks quite blurry and unclear. This ghosting is indeed one of the weakest points of this model. Unfortunately, TCL still has a lot of room for improvement here – especially if someone pays attention to motion clarity in dynamic scenes.

Console compatibility and gaming features

9.8/10

ALLM: Yes
VRR: Yes
VRR range: 48 - 144Hz
Dolby Vision Game Mode: Yes
Correct implementation of HGIG: Yes
1080p@120Hz: Yes
1440p@120Hz: Yes
4K@120Hz: Yes
Game bar: Yes

The TCL A300 is a television designed not only to transport us to a digital art museum but also into the full-fledged world of gaming. It offers practically everything you can expect from gaming hardware: two full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports, 144 Hz refresh rate, support for VRR and ALLM.

It also deserves credit for the proper implementation of the HGIG mode – something that competing Hisense sometimes struggles with. The television handles lower resolutions (e.g., Full HD) with ease while maintaining high refresh rates, which will be appreciated by owners of older consoles or PCs.

Additionally, there's an attractive and clear GameBar that facilitates quick access to settings for gamers. The A300 is indeed well-prepared for gaming at the highest level – it’s just a shame that issues with ghosting somewhat detract from its overall appeal as a gaming device.

Input lag

9.7/10

In terms of input lag, the TCL A300 performs really well. Values below 10 ms at a refresh rate of 120 Hz are something many gamers dream of – such low lag is practically unnoticeable, both during everyday gaming and in more demanding esports titles. One could nitpick about the result of 23 ms in Dolby Vision mode at 60 frames, but it's still low enough that serious objections are hard to come by. In this category, the A300 truly excels.

SDR	HDR	Dolby Vision
1080p60: 18 ms	2160p60: 18 ms	2160p60 DV: 23 ms
1080p120: 9 ms	2160p120: 9 ms	2160p120 DV: 12 ms
2160p60: 18 ms
2160p120: 9 ms

Compatibility with PC

8.2/10

Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes

Font clarity: Good

Readability of dark text and shapes: Average

Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 11ms

Matrix subpixel arrangement: BGR

Max refresh rate: 144Hz

G-Sync: Yes

If we plan to use the TCL A300 as a computer monitor, we may be pleasantly surprised. The television performs really well in this role. It is equipped with a 144 Hz panel, supports G-Sync, and, as we mentioned, offers very low input lag, so gaming on it with a connected PC is pure enjoyment.

Working with text is also possible, although with some limitations. The TCL A300 has slight issues displaying dark fonts and thin lines – this is due to the construction of the subpixels, which in everyday use can be a bit annoying, even though it looks better in photos than in reality.

The television supports chroma 4:4:4, but only up to 120 Hz. Therefore, we noted that this feature is available, but with a limitation – if we care about perfectly readable fonts, it's worth sticking with the refresh rate of 120 Hz. At 144 Hz, the clarity of the text may suffer somewhat.

Viewing angles

3.2/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 79%

The viewing angles on the TCL A300 NXTVision are, let’s be honest, average. The TV is equipped with a VA panel, which inherently has quite limited angles, and unfortunately, this is evident here. The video below speaks for itself – even a slight deviation from the centre results in a noticeable drop in contrast and colour saturation. It’s a shame that this is yet another frame-style TV that has done absolutely nothing about it. After all, we don't always have the option to sit perfectly straight on – especially if the device is also meant to serve a decorative function in the living room.

TV efficiency during daytime

4.7/10

Matrix coating: Matte

Reflection suppression: Good

Black levels during daytime: Poor

The TCL A300 NXTVision is equipped with a matte panel very similar to the one found in one of its Chinese competitors – the Hisense S7NQ. This type of surface does quite well in reducing reflections, although it must be admitted that it performs worse than Samsung's The Frame, which offers a significantly higher level in this regard. As is usually the case with matte displays, blacks during the day lose depth and appear more grey than black – and this is no different here. Unfortunately, the fact that the A300 is the darkest TV of the three tested doesn’t help either. This gives it a real problem in breaking through in heavily sunlit rooms.

Matrix brightness

Average luminance SDR

TCL A300W NXTVision: 388 cd/m2

Details about the matrix

Software version during testing: TVM6.0.1_549fe6714_240813

Image processor: mt5896 2,5GB RAM

Panel uniformity:

Backlight Type: PFS LED

TV features

7.7/10

System operacyjny: Google TV
TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
Recording to USB (terrestrial TV): No
Recording programming: No
Picture in Picture (PiP): No
Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast): Yes
AirPlay: Yes
Voice search in native language: Yes
Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse: Yes
Possibility to connect Bluetooth headphones to the TV: Yes
Possibility to simultaneously use Bluetooth headphones and the TV speaker: Yes
Audio only mode: Yes
RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen): RF
Backlit remote control: No
Teletext: Yes

TCL A300 is a television styled as a painting, which in everyday use can successfully pretend to be a work of art hanging on the wall. It is equipped with a special image display mode, additional frames in a light wood tone, and a flat wall mount that allows you to hang the television like a real painting – without any gap from the wall.

A significant advantage of the image mode is that it is completely free. We have access to several dozen works from which we can choose one to be displayed while in standby – instead of a black screen, the image we selected remains on the wall. The quality of graphic reproduction is okay, but it must be admitted that it clearly falls short of that from Samsung's ART Store. Although access to images there is paid, the quality of the scans is significantly better – you can see the texture of the paint, canvas, and details. In the TCL A300, it resembles high-quality photos rather than realistic reproductions of artworks. Additionally, the implementation of the image mode in the system leaves a lot to be desired. For example – if we set the brightness to 10% in image mode, that same value automatically transfers to the regular viewing mode, where we could easily set the brightness to 50% or even 100%. It also works the other way around – when we set the brightness to 100% in regular mode, after switching to gallery mode, the images are displayed with the same maximum brightness, shining too intensely and losing the whole effect of a “picture on the wall.” These are minor but irritating errors that can spoil the experience of what was supposed to be visually subtle and elegant.

Moving on to more classic functions – the A300 runs on the Google TV system, which currently offers by far the largest selection of applications (full list available below). The responsive voice assistant with support for the Polish language also deserves a big plus. As standard – as with most TCL televisions – the USB recording function or picture-in-picture (PiP) mode was missing.

Playing files from USB

Video Photos Audio

8.9/10

Video Photos Audio

Maximum photo resolution:	Supported photo formats:
4 Mpix	JPEG
6 Mpix	HEIC
8 Mpix	PNG
10 Mpix	GIF
12 Mpix	WebP
16 Mpix	TIFF
20 Mpix	BMP
24 Mpix	SVG
28 Mpix
32 Mpix

The built-in player on the TCL A300 works as it should – most popular video and photo files play without any problems. It lacks support for Apple's HEIC format (which is quite common in many TVs), but most users still use AirPlay, so it shouldn't be a major issue. If someone isn't satisfied with the default player, the Google TV system offers plenty of options – you can easily install an alternative app that better suits your tastes. Nevertheless, it's worth noting that the factory solution is completely sufficient for everyday use.

Apps

10/10

Sound

6/10

Subjective sound quality

Dolby Digital Plus 7.1

Dolby True HD 7.1

Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)

Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD

DTS:X in DTS-HD MA

DTS-HD Master Audio

When it comes to sound, the TCL A300W – like its competitors – sounds quite... flat, after all, we are talking about a super slim television. For everyday watching of news or series, this level is more than sufficient, but during movie screenings, we might noticeably miss depth and space. On a positive note, it’s worth mentioning that the television supports both Dolby Atmos and the increasingly rare DTS:X – which provides more options when connecting an external audio system. It’s also worth noting that the A300 PRO model is equipped with a dedicated, flat soundbar. And it’s no ordinary soundbar – it sounds better than most of the televisions we’ve tested.

Comfortable canvas. Higher image quality Art images come to life on the screen without reflections! The matte display absorbs reflections, even in bright lighting conditions. Enjoy excellent image quality without seeing your reflection!
Ultra-saturated QLED colours Experience realistic image quality and an ultra-wide colour gamut with vivid colours and striking contrast.
Vibrant, accurate colours and the finest details The best standard for UHD 4K content is High Dynamic Range. HDR PRO delivers outstanding High Dynamic Range experiences with excellent contrast, detail in shadows, and vibrant, accurate colours. Experience stunning image details as the filmmakers intended. The image you see is as detailed as the real world. Dive even deeper into the details!
Instant image response at 144Hz. Enjoy the fluidity and sharpness of fast-moving images, such as sports or action films, with our native 144Hz display. Nothing compares to native 144Hz refresh rates. 144Hz is the highest refresh rate for television screens. With this 144Hz refresh rate, the signal will be processed in the best way, regardless of whether the signal is 50Hz, 60Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz, or 144Hz.
Stunning HDR regardless of the source Maximise the potential of your HDR TV: whether you're watching Dolby Vision content on Netflix, Disney+ or HDR 10+ on Amazon Prime Video, this 4K HDR TCL TV will always support the best format. Additionally, HDR Dolby Vision IQ optimises image quality by adjusting it to the lighting conditions of the room. Using a light sensor, Dolby Vision IQ intelligently adjusts your TV to ensure exceptional images in your room at any time. There are many ways to achieve the best HDR image quality on your TV: HDR10, HDR HLG, HDR10+ on Amazon Prime, HDR DOLBY VISION on Netflix, and DOLBY VISION IQ. This TCL TV supports them all!
Play like a pro For gamers, a responsive TV is just as important as one with fluid and clear images. With HDMI 2.1, ALLM, support for 144Hz VRR and 120Hz VRR, with a gaming bar, FreeSync Premium, and Game Accelerator 240Hz, you'll experience the smoothest action, the lowest latency, and the best gaming picture settings automatically. *5.7 ms at 4K 120Hz HDR, the latest generation gaming console with HDMI 2.1 or HDMI 2.1 gaming PC device is required.
Immersive sound moving around you. Sound has never sounded so good. Feel a deeper connection to the stories and music you love, with sound that moves around you with breathtaking realism. Dolby, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and the double D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.
Just for you. Discover new movies and shows from your subscriptions and available content. Suggestions based on what you’ve watched and what interests you make it easier to find a new favourite title.
A private art gallery for free and ‘Ai’ Art A huge collection of world-renowned paintings for free. Showcasing classic masters, contemporary innovators, and emerging artists across a variety of visual arts, painting, and photography. When the TV is not in use, it displays artistic screensavers, transforming an ordinary black screen into beautiful works of art. For free, in a very simple way, you can enjoy hundreds of famous paintings from a wide range of genres.
‘Ai’ Art:
With an exclusive artificial intelligence algorithm developed by TCL, in just a few simple steps, you can customise and create painting styles, tones, and various types of content. Enjoy the pleasure of creating your own works of art or drawings and expressing yourself.
*‘Ai’ Art images are generated in advance by AI technology, not created in real time.
*The content is for illustrative purposes only. The actual product (including, but not limited to appearance, colour, size) and display content on the screen may vary slightly. Please refer to the actual product.
Relax and enjoy a personal atmosphere at home! Choose from relaxing dynamic scenes and background sounds that help you unwind. Various scenes are available such as a crackling fire, raindrops falling on leaves, or waves crashing on the beach, making you feel as if you’re really there, enjoying your personal time. This exclusive content, available for free, featuring beautiful scenes from nature or everyday life, complemented by soothing background music, is sure to help you relax and unwind.
Sleek, thin, and neat wall element. Elegant minimalist design, flat against the wall and convenient. A masterpiece in your home decor.
Match or highlight your interior style with magnetic TV frames. The TCL NXTVISION TV comes with a magnetic frame in 'Dawn Birch' colour. Additional frame colours are available for separate purchase: 'Twilight Elm', 'Vernal Mint', and more…

TCL A300W NXTVision

Our verdict

Advantages

Disadvantages

Competing TVs in this price range

TV appearance

Buy in the best price

Contrast and black detail

HDR effect quality

Factory color reproduction

Color reproduction after calibration

Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

Blur and motion smoothness

Console compatibility and gaming features

Input lag

Compatibility with PC

Viewing angles

TV efficiency during daytime

Details about the matrix

TV features

Playing files from USB

Apps

Sound