The new Google-enhanced TCL 5-Series TV is finally available to pre-order—here's where to shop

One of our favorite Roku TVs, the TCL 5-Series, is getting a refresh this year: the TV's built-in Roku smart platform is being replaced with Google TV, the same software found in the newest Google Chromecast device. The Roku version of the 5-Series is one of our favorite affordable TVs, so you can color us excited for the Google TV variant.

The Roku-powered TCL 5-Series we know and love isn’t going away anytime soon, and TCL will be the first to tell you that its Google TV models do not represent a shift away from Roku. Instead, the company’s Roku TVs will live alongside those equipped with Google’s smart platform, giving folks a choice between the two.

Right now, all four sizes of the TCL 5-Series with Google TV are available for pre-order via Best Buy. Here’s how the pricing shakes out:

• 50-inch (TCL 50S546), MSRP $599.99
• 55-inch (TCL 55S546), MSRP $649.99
• 65-inch (TCL 65S546), MSRP $899.99
• 75-inch (TCL 75S546), MSRP $1,299.99

Like the Roku version of the 5-Series, the Google TV variant comes equipped with quantum dot technology, which makes for brighter, more-saturated colors compared to traditional LCD/LED displays. Similar to its predecessor, the 5-Series with Google TV also supports the Dolby Vision standard for HDR content—an important feature for folks who want to enjoy some of the best-looking content streaming platforms have to offer.

Additionally, if you own (or plan on owning) an Xbox Series X or a PlayStation 5, the all-new 5-Series is shaping up to be a good companion; it offers both Variable Refresh Rate (an enhancement that prevents screen tearing during gameplay) and Auto Low Latency Mode, which automatically optimizes the 5-Series for gaming whenever a console is detected.

We’ll hold off on making any claims about TCL’s Google TV experience until we’ve actually had a chance to take the 5-Series for a test drive in our lab, but we were impressed with the platform while reviewing the newest Google Chromecast and, most recently, the Sony X80J. The software—which is relatively low on ads—is quick to load, navigation is intuitive, and the interface is easy on the eyes.

Of course, some folks might feel a bit uneasy about the 5-Series’ built-in microphone, the linchpin of Google TV’s hands-free voice recognition functionality. According to TCL, users concerned about their privacy will have the option of switching the microphone off via a switch that lives alongside the TV’s power button.

We’re anxious to get our hands on the TCL 5-Series with Google TV, and once we do, we’ll ready a full review that breaks down the TV’s performance and assesses the integration of Google TV. If you can't wait for our review, you can pre-order the 5-Series at Best Buy right now.

Pre-order the 50-inch TCL 5-Series with Google TV at Best Buy Pre-order the 55-inch TCL 5-Series with Google TV at Best Buy Pre-order the 65-inch TCL 5-Series with Google TV at Best Buy Pre-order the 75-inch TCL 5-Series with Google TV at Best Buy