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TCL made a splash with new Super Quantum Dot technology at its CES booth, with TVs boasting insane brightness, groundbreaking numbers of dimming zones and 100% coverage of the BT.2020 colour gamut.
I’ve since had the opportunity to spend a bit more time with the SQD TVs that the brand is bringing to market in the UK this year, and a couple of them are probably my most anticipated sets of 2026.
The TVs in question are the TCL C7L and TCL C8L. They’re the successors to two of our favourite televisions from last year, the Google TV-powered TCL C7K and TCL C8K, both of which received top honours when tested.
It’s this pedigree, alongside the potentially huge benefits of super quantum dots, that make them so exciting. That, and how ruthlessly competitive the pricing of the C-series Mini LED TVs was last year. This year’s pricing is TBC, but if it’s in the same ballpark, I can’t see many TVs matching the C7L or C8L for performance per pound spent.
TCL X11L: The Super Quantum Dot range-topper
Before breaking down the specifications of both TVs, I should note that they’re not the pinnacle of the brand’s SQD offering. That position belongs to the X11L, which I got my eyes on at CES, and will be released in three sizes: 75in, 85in, and 98in.
TCL says the largest of those can hit brightness peaks of up to 10,000 nits and has over 20,000 independent dimming zones. It’s the flagship TV for the brand this year and looks fantastic. But for me, the models just below it hold more appeal.
TCL C8L: A Super QLED crowd pleaser
By adding 55in and 65in screen size options to the three super-large options the X11L is available in, the TCL C8L immediately becomes a much more accessible proposition. Yet, it doesn’t look to cede much to its more advanced stablemate in the way of specifications. The 55in and 65in models can put out 3,000 and 5,000 nits of peak brightness, respectively, which is more than enough for bright living spaces, and they can do so while covering the entirety of the BT.2020 wide colour gamut.
In addition to these headline-grabbing specs, you’ve also got 4K/144Hz support across all four of the HDMI 2.1 ports and support for up to 288Hz with lower-resolution sources, making this a great TV for gaming. There’s also Dolby Vision 2 Max compatibility (when it eventually arrives), and Dolby Atmos audio from a sound system co-designed with Bang & Olufsen. Couple this with thousands of dimming zones controlling a very bright backlight, and you’ve got a real force to be reckoned with.
Like the range-topping X11L, the C8L uses TCL’s WHVA (Wide High Vertical Alignment) 2.0 Ultra panel, which combines ultra-wide viewing angles, a ZeroBorder, bezel-less design, and ultra-low reflectivity finish. Watching demo content on the C8L was a joy. I was even taken aback by how good some of the Google TV screensavers looked when the TV had been idle for a little while.
Though undoubtedly not particularly accurate where colour and grayscale Delta E are concerned, the images in Standard mode were gloriously vivid. The wave below looks like no sea I’ve ever swam in, but my goodness, does it look impactful (and potentially fatal).
The screen also dazzled while displaying highlights that push the panel to the limits of its peak brightness. The specks of white light danced around the image below and practically jumped off the screen, and the darker elements of the picture demonstrated engrossing levels of shadow detail. You may notice, however, that the anti-reflection finish on the TCL C8L doesn’t completely remove pesky glare.
As mentioned earlier, we don’t know what the new C8L series TVs will cost, but I’m hoping they will be in the same ballpark as the C8K’s launch price: £1,599 (65in), £1,999 (75in), £2,799 (85in) and £4,799 (98in).
If you don’t want to wait for this year’s models, the TCL C8K can currently be picked up for the bargain price of £1,199 in 65in, while the 75in model will set you back £2,715.
TCL C7L: The best-value Mini LED TV of 2026?
When I tested the C7K, I couldn’t quite believe how well it measured – and performed subjectively – given its price. The 55in model hit peak brightness of 2,820cd/m2 in Standard mode, reproduced colours and greyscale very accurately in Filmmaker Mode (Delta Es were recorded under the visible threshold of three), and it covered 78% of the BT.2020 colour gamut.
All things bright and beautiful
Brightness is said to be similar on the 55in model this time around (and slightly higher on the 65in, 75in, 85in and 98in variants), but the new super QLED panel elevates that BT.2020 gamut coverage up to 100%. The number of dimming zones has also crept up across the range, meaning the new C7L should deliver more precise light control and improved contrast, alongside brighter, richer and purer colours.
Based on a brief viewing session at TCL NXTHOME in Paris last month, it looks set to live up to the hype. It doesn’t have the gorgeous ZeroBorder design of the C8L, which is a shame, nor does it have quite as wide viewing angles. However, I was very impressed by how the C7L rendered colours, particularly primaries. In the shot below, you can see just how deep the blue sea looks, and how subtly the different shades of the water are handled across the panel.
The dimming capabilities of the SQD panel really helped bring contrasty images to life on screen. The lush green field below juxtaposes with the dark, foreboding sky excellently, while the gradation of the lighter clouds is nuanced and natural.
This final image demonstrates the level of detail the C7L can draw out and how well it handles specular highlights. There’s more than enough brightness to capture how the light catches and reflects off the water droplets, but this brightness remains in keeping with the rest of the image, with colours remaining punchy and vibrant.
Let’s hope that the Super QD upgrade to the C7 series doesn’t result in TCL slapping a hefty premium on it. The C7K is the TV I currently recommend to most people right now, and the C7L is a direct upgrade from what I’ve seen, so I’ve got my fingers crossed that it costs a similar price.
Cuthroat pricing on last year’s C7K
To give you an idea of what the C7L might cost, and also point you in the direction of available options if you can’t wait for it to be released, here is what the C7K currently costs in its various sizes:
TCL’s TV range runs deep and wide
The Super QLED TVs discussed above are a small but crucial part of the brand’s extensive television lineup this year.
It’s also got the premium RM9L and RM7L RGB Mini LED TVs, and P8L and C6K non-Super Quantum Dot Mini LED ranges. The latter is actually a continuation of last year’s entry-level Mini LED offering.
Below those models, you’ve got basic QLED options offering different operating systems in the form of the P7L and V6D ranges. UK pricing for the cheaper products in the range can be found below.
TCL P8L: Mini LED without the suped-up quantum dots
Panel type: QD-Mini LED; Operating system: Google TV; Refresh rate: 144Hz
- 55in P8L: £649
- 65in P8L: £849
- 75in P8L: £1,049
- 85in P8L: £1,399
TCL P7L: No-fuss, affordable QLED
Panel type: QLED; Operating system: Google TV; Refresh rate: 60Hz
- 43in P7L: £399
- 50in P7L: £449
- 55in P8L: £499
- 65in P8L: £699
- 75in P8L: £899
- 85in P8L: £1,299
TCL V6D: The Fire TV option
Panel type: QLED; Operating system: Fire TV; Refresh rate: 60Hz
- 43in V6D: £379
- 50in V6D: £399
- 55in V6D: £449
- 65in V6D: £599
- 75in V6D: £699
