TCL Lawsuit Investigation for “Fake” Refresh Rates
October 11, 2019
At A Glance
- This Alert Affects:
- Anyone who purchased a TCL television advertised as having 120Hz CMI or “Natural Motion 240.”
- What’s Going On?
- Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are looking into whether TCL is misleading consumers about the true refresh rates of its televisions. They’re looking to hear from people who own these televisions to help determine whether a class action lawsuit can be filed.
- What You Can Do
- Share your story with us by filling out the form on this page. One of the attorneys we work with may then reach out to you to explain more about this investigation and why you could be owed money back.
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org would like to speak to anyone who owns a TCL television advertised as having 120Hz CMI or “Natural Motion 240.”
They're looking into whether the company made misleading claims about the refresh rates of its televisions and, if so, whether a class action lawsuit can be filed. But first, they need to hear from people who own these televisions and suspect their refresh rates are much less than what's being advertised.
If you bought a TCL television that claimed to have 120Hz CMI or “Natural Motion 240,” fill out the form on this page. You may be able to get a class action lawsuit started to help yourself and other TCL customers get their money back.
Refresh Rates: What Are They and Why Do They Matter?
It is important to first explain that what we’re seeing on television is simply a series of still photographs that are being displayed in rapid succession. A television’s “refresh” rate refers to the number of times per second a unique image is displayed on the screen and is usually presented in “Hertz” (Hz). If a television has a refresh rate of 60Hz, the screen will display sixty unique images per second. The higher the refresh rate, the better the picture quality – and, in general, the higher the price tag.
Fake Refresh Rates & TCL Televisions?
It’s possible that TCL is deliberately concealing the true refresh rates of its televisions and using meaningless metrics to mislead consumers into thinking they’re getting a better product than they actually are.
TCL is advertising some of its televisions alongside claims of a 120Hz CMI – that is, “clear motion index” – and “Natural Motion 240.” Reports have surfaced that phrases like “clear motion index” and “natural motion” are fake marketing terms used to inflate true refresh rates.
The problem is that some manufacturers are failing to list the actual refresh rates of their televisions in the specifications.
In this case, it’s suspected that despite marketing claims, TCL’s televisions can only actually deliver a refresh rate of 60Hz – something that’s not being disclosed to consumers. In fact, one report claims that “all TCL TVs currently available have 60Hz panels…it doesn’t really matter what marketing terms they use.”
Both LG and Vizio have been sued over fake refresh rates and now attorneys think TCL has engaged in similar dishonest marketing practices.
Signs of Low Refresh Rates
Signs that your television has a lower refresh rate than it claims include:
- Juddering, jerking or jittery motion
- News scrolls that can’t keep up with the text being displayed
- Movement/motion in movies or sports that isn’t as fluid or smooth as it should be
How a Class Action Can Help
If successful, a class action lawsuit could help TCL customers get back some of the money they spent on their televisions. It could also require the manufacturer to change the way it advertises the refresh rates of its televisions.
If you purchased one of these televisions, you may be able to help get a class action lawsuit started against TCL. For more information, fill out the form on this page.
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