Michał Stekla
At the end of May and the start of June, we had the opportunity to participate in a closed event Expert Meets Expert organised by TCL. The meeting had a practical format – no stage, no formal presentations, but access to equipment, detailed information, and discussions with the people responsible for product development. TCL, as every year, showcased a very wide portfolio of models for the upcoming season.
TCL: Europe increasingly focuses on picture quality
One of the main messages of the whole meeting? Europe is distancing itself from the rest of the world when it comes to choosing a television. Instead of just focusing on price or size, we are increasingly considering the PQ ratio, that is simply the quality of the picture to the price. And ChooseTV is noticing this.
The producer announces that in 2025 it will further penetrate the segment of cheaper, yet good-looking televisions Mini-LED – as this technology is meant to be within reach of a significantly wider audience than ever before. And since TCL's portfolio will, as always, be vast, let's start with the creme de la creme – the three most important models.
Flagship trio: X11K, C9K and C8K
X11K – that is X955 for the masses (almost)
TCL announces that the model X11K will be a cheaper alternative to last year’s X955, but without compromising on performance. In every version – 85, and even nearly 100 inches – the television is said to have over 10,000 dimming zones and achieve brightness levels of 6500 nits (though this is likely in dynamic mode rather than film mode). Top-notch parameters, only the price is supposed to be lower. Sounds like a plan for sales success.
C9K – new player on the field
C9K didn't have a predecessor, but it's already known that it will be referred to as a more powerful version of C8K. Lots of zones (even twice as many as in C8K), large sizes (over 65 inches) and parameters similar to the "eight". Theoretically: better blacks, higher brightness. Will this be the case in practice? We'll see.
C8K – continuation of C855
If I had to point out the most serious contender for TCL's flagship sales hit of 2025, it would be the C8K. Compared to its predecessor, it is expected to have more dimming zones, a new generation of Mini-LED, and a completely refreshed design – a screen without black borders that reaches right to the edge. But the biggest upgrade is the new WHVA panel, which is VA with wide viewing angles. Finally! Until now, this was a serious issue for TCL models – now it seems to have been resolved.
Televisions for Everyone – the Mid-Range That Can Stir Things Up
During the presentation, TCL highlighted that the average spending on a television in Europe is around 500 euros. In this context, two models particularly stand out, both of which have a chance to compete for popularity in this price segment – C7K and C6K.
C7K – Successor to MQLED85 / C765
Here we may not have a revolution in the number of lighting zones compared to its predecessor, but the new Mini-LED 23-bit technology is set to provide a significant boost in brightness and better zone dimming (read: less halo around objects). The real kicker? Availability of the 115-inch version. Yes – the massive screen is entering the mid-range segment. This is a clear signal that TCL wants to seriously shake things up in the “big screen at a sensible price” category. Add to that the new CrystalGlow coating, which is designed to better absorb light reflections, and things are getting really interesting.
C6K / C69K / Q6C – potential bestseller 2025
His predecessor – C655 Pro – surprised us and in a very positive way in 2024: local dimming at this price is a rarity. But there was a lack of sizes and more freedom of choice. TCL has done its homework. The new C6K is set to be available in six sizes, have 2.5 times more dimming zones, and on top of that – attention – a 144 Hz panel in 4K! A full-fledged Mini-LED with good contrast, high smoothness and without a sky-high price. Sounds like a bestseller.
What else? QLEDs, classic LCDs and... finally Filmmaker Mode
In TCL's 2025 offering, we will also find classic QLED and LCD televisions – series P. But honestly? After what was showcased in Mini-LEDs, it's hard to get overly excited about them. However, it’s worth noting one important new feature: all new Mini-LED models (the exception here is the C6KS model - at least for now) are set to be equipped by default with Filmmaker Mode. Finally! The mode that eliminates unnatural colourisation of the image and brings us closer to what the filmmaker intended has been practically absent at TCL until now. Now it becomes standard.
Monitors and sound – also Mini-LED, also with ambitions
TCL didn't just showcase televisions. New monitors were also unveiled – and here the manufacturer also opted for Mini-LED technology. There are five models, all with high refresh rates (above 120 Hz) and a DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage of 98%.
When it comes to audio, although we don't delve into it as deeply, it must be admitted – it looks very promising. TCL has heavily invested in collaboration with Onkyo, and it's evident – both from the specifications and from the disassembled unit, where you could see powerful membranes and an audio system extended down the back of the cabinet. This could signal a noticeable improvement in sound compared to its predecessors. Of course, if that's not enough for someone, TCL also offers quite a few soundbars.
TCL strikes back
TCL consistently develops its strategy: Mini-LED technology is going lower, to more affordable models, while the flagships still impress with their specs. The company responds to user feedback – improving viewing angles, expanding size availability, adding reference modes and modernising design. On paper, it looks very promising. But how will it perform in practice? We’ll find out soon! In the meantime, we invite you to our review of the best TCL TVs of 2024. They’re now at really great prices!
