Michał Stekla
We had the opportunity to play around with the new TCL television for a short while, and we can already share our first, original measurements with you. And they look really promising. The TCL C8K is this year's representative of the "premium for everyone" segment – a Mini LED television designed to compete with much more expensive competitor models. On paper, you get almost everything: a 120 Hz (144Hz) panel, local dimming, Dolby Vision, HDMI 2.1 ports, gaming mode and great brightness. But how does it perform in practice? For now, we will share what we've managed to measure and observe in the first minutes of contact with this model. And we warn you – it's going to be really bright!
Look of the TCL C8K: a big change, bold decisions and a silver frame
C8K or QM8K? Don't worry, it's the same television. Across the ocean, TCL went with the name QM8K, but in Europe, the manufacturer sticks to the well-known convention – the letter "C" is reserved for models with QD-MiniLED backlighting. But let's leave those names behind – let's focus on what really impresses at first glance. And that is… a completely new design.
TCL has opted for a silver, aluminium bezel – it's a bold decision, especially since most manufacturers still aim for classic dark finishes. However, this is just the beginning. The biggest surprise (in a good way!) is the fact that the television is devoid of a black border around the panel – yes, you read that right. This solution, which we've only seen in high-end constructions like the Samsung QN900 (or currently QN990F), is now making its way into a model priced at nearly four times less. That's a huge improvement!
There are also subtle design details that highlight the C8K model's aspirations towards the premium segment. One of them is the visible Bang & Olufsen logo – this company has replaced Onkyo this year as the partner responsible for delivering the audio system in this model. Will this bring a real improvement in sound? We hope to find out in the full test very soon.
Another basis depending on size
It’s also worth noting that the base of the television differs depending on the diagonal size. The C8K model is available in sizes ranging from 65 to 98 inches. The "smaller" versions, 65", 75", and 85", are equipped with a central stand. However, for the largest 98-inch giant, the manufacturer has used two extremly spaced legs to ensure stability for a structure weighing nearly 61 kg!
Black, contrast and HDR brightness – does almost 4000 zones make a difference?
TCL C8K, the European twin brother of the QM8K, looks on paper like a piece of equipment that has something to prove. The 98-inch version is equipped – hold on – with as many as 3840 zones of backlighting. Yes, you heard that right. Nearly four thousand independent dimming areas is a result that embarrasses most of the competition, and for some – as it turns out – it downright crushes them. But paper is one thing. What about practicality? We decided to check it out, because numbers are one thing, and the picture is another.
We haven't measured the contrast itself yet, but already during short live tests, it was clear that scenes with a starry sky look significantly better than in last year's C855. Details in the shadows were more pronounced, and the halo effect was much less visible.
Synthetic Brightness Tests
However, the greatest impression was made by the brightness. In movie mode, on the 10% HDR panel, TCL C8K achieved an incredible 3500 nits. Yes, you read that right – over three thousand nits in a television that still fits within a reasonable budget. As a reminder – the best MiniLED of 2024, Sony Bravia 9, achieves a very similar result. And it costs twice as much!
Brightness Tests in Movies
We wouldn't be ourselves if we didn't check the C8K in real film scenarios as well, not just on test patterns – and here the picture still makes a very good impression, although not quite as spectacular. In the most demanding conditions, such as full-screen with high brightness, the TV holds a level of around 1700–1800 nits, and in the most challenging scenes – like the night sequence from Sicario 2 – brightness drops to around 620 nits. This is still a significant improvement compared to the C855, which looked noticeably weaker in such scenes.
Improved viewing angles! Finally!
* In the short above, where Maciej talks about his first impressions of using the television, the difference between a classic VA panel and a WHVA panel is clearly visible.
In this year's C8K model, TCL really surprised us positively – they moved away from the classic VA panel, which has been the Achilles' heel of the Chinese manufacturer for years. Instead, they used a WHVA (Wide View VA) panel, which is a VA variant with noticeably wider viewing angles. What is the effect of this? The image retains good brightness and colour saturation even when viewed from a slight angle. This is a huge change compared to previous models, where it was enough to shift slightly on the couch for blacks to start resembling grey. Such a level of viewing angles in a VA panel has previously been reserved mainly for top models like the Sony Bravia 9 or Samsung's QN90/QN900 series. Now TCL joins this group – and at a much lower price!
GoogleTV – first impressions surprisingly... positive?
During the first moments spent with the new TCL C8K, we didn't notice any annoying stutters or slowdowns, which unfortunately had often been associated with GoogleTV's vision from this manufacturer. Switching between apps, navigating the menu, and launching content all worked smoothly and without a hitch.
Of course, we had the TV in our hands for too short a time to make a final verdict (that will appear soon on our site) – only extended use will show how the system performs under greater load, with installed apps or after several updates. Nevertheless, we quietly hope that TCL has truly taken to heart the numerous feedback from users and improved those minor but annoying bugs that previously detracted from the enjoyment of using GoogleTV. If that’s the case – it will be another big step forward.
C8K could be a hit for gamers – 144 Hz, accelerates to 288 Hz and as many as four HDMI 2.1!
We haven't had the chance to test the TV in gaming mode yet, but we can already say that the TCL C8K looks very promising for gamers. First of all – a 144 Hz panel is already something, but the manufacturer has added what’s called a “booster” up to 288 Hz. How does it work in practice? We don’t know – it’s probably about classic frame interpolation (that is, a smoother), but if they managed to achieve an effect similar to Game Motion Plus known from Samsung TVs, it could be a huge step up!
An even bigger plus? Four HDMI 2.1 ports!
Until now, only two inputs supported full HDMI 2.1, and one of them had to serve as eARC, which limited the possibilities of connecting two consoles and a soundbar. Thanks to the new Mediatek chip, the C8K offers four full HDMI 2.1 ports, which will be great news for anyone with more than one console or an audio set with eARC. J
If TCL hasn't messed up the input lag and everything works as it should, this could be one of the most cost-effective MINI-LED TVs for gaming in 2025. We'll find out soon!
TCL C8K: Will this be a hit in 2025?
First impressions? The TCL C8K may not just shake up the market – it could seriously reshape it. The new design with an aluminium frame and the absence of a black bezel makes a great impression. Brightness? Over 3000 nits in film mode and nearly 4000 dimming zones in the largest variant. These are not just impressive specs on paper, but real noticeable changes in cinematic scenarios. Plus, better viewing angles thanks to the WHVA panel, four HDMI 2.1 ports, a fast Google TV system (we hope with no stutters this time), and a promise of strong features for gamers. Right now, the price of the C8K model looks very attractive, especially as TCL has been positioning its TVs at prices that will apply all year round. So if you really want to quickly purchase a good Mini LED, all signs point to the C8K being one of the better options in this category.
Is it an OLED killer? Probably not. Certainly, it’s too early for such claims, but TCL is finally showing a premium-class product that not only looks but also performs like something high-end, all without the six-figure price tag.
