Expert review of the TCL C731

The installation of the C731 was pretty easy. After I mounted the stand to the TV with 4 screws, the TV was ready for use. When I take a look at the C731, I notice the stand looks very stylish. I also see that the television includes 2 different remotes.

The C731 has a quantum dot layer on the 4K screen and a 10-bit panel. As a result, the TV displays images with more than 1 billion, rich colors and a high brightness. I notice this right away when I watch images of a stretched-out flower field. The color tones of the different flowers really pop on the screen. The C731 display images very smoothly thanks to the high refresh rate of 100Hz. I notice this when the camera flies across the field. Flowers and color tones remain clearly visible without a haze on the screen.

To test the contrast of the C731, I watch images or Paris by night. I see how the bright lights of the buildings stand out against the dark sky. Thanks to Full Array Local Dimming, there are hundreds of zones behind the screen that can dim individually. This makes the lights really stand out compared to the dark sky. I notice a light glow in the dark sky around the lights. That's because that part of the dark sky is part of one of the illuminated zones, which means it's not completely dark.

I test the viewing angle of the C731 by looking at the television from an angle. I notice that the colors of the mountains on the screen become duller, but are still properly visible. I do see some reflections of the lights in the room, which makes the image less visible. In a dark room, the C731 has a better viewing angle because you won't be bothered with these reflections.

The stand of the TV looks stylish and modern. The underframe of the stand is relatively large. Keep this in mind if you want to place the TV on a slim piece of furniture. It's not a swivel stand, so you can't turn the TV towards the desired viewing position. A disadvantage of the stand is that it's made of plastic. This makes it feel quite breakable during the installation.

I test the sound of the C731 by watching a concert of Coldplay. I quickly notice that the speakers can't provide an immersive sound experience. I miss the low bass that you want to hear during a concert. That's what makes the sound sufficient for watching talkshows or other TV programs. I do recommend an external sound bar, so you can enjoy an optimal listening experience.

The C731 uses the Google TV smart platform. I can easily navigate through apps like YouTube and Netflix in the clear main menu. The smart platform can even be controlled with the remote and with voice control. The buttons for apps like Spotify on the remote make it very easy to switch between apps.

The C731 includes 2 remotes. A remote has the usual buttons, specifically meant for watching television shows. The second remote is made for using the smart platform. With this remote, you can navigate through all the smart functions of the television the fastest. I don't understand that these functions aren't combined in one 1 remote. Both remotes feel comfortable in my hand, but feel a little cheap because they're made of plastic.