Compare: TCL P7K / P79K vs TCL C7L

It’s time to gather all observations. The TCL P7K / P79K is a television that smartly juggles compromises, offering significantly more in its price range than one might expect. Its undeniable advantage is the VA panel, which guarantees deep blacks and high contrast, while an impressively rich package for gamers (with VRR and support for 120 Hz at lower resolutions) makes it a phenomenal choice for console owners. The whole thing is tied together by a functional Google TV system. Of course, the low peak brightness means that HDR content lacks spectacular highlights, and the TV's performance in sunlit rooms is limited. And while, at its relatively low price, the P7K / P79K is quite a decent option, its biggest rival turns out to be… its more refined sibling, the P8K. Often FOR a small extra fee, we get a device that is a class above – with a native 4K 144 Hz panel, significantly better audio system, and generally higher operational quality, which is reflected in its much higher rating on our portal. Therefore, the final verdict must be as follows: if your budget is absolutely non-negotiable, the P7K / P79K will be a good and cost-effective choice. However, if you can afford to add a small amount, the P8K model will offer significantly more and will ultimately be a more satisfying investment.

TCL C7L is an incredibly successful Mini-LED television and a fully deserved successor to the hit model C7K. The list of advantages of this device is really long. At the top is the extremely high brightness of the panel. Thanks to this, the television handles brightly lit living rooms without any problems, offering a fantastic and dynamic image in HDR format. Huge applause is also due for the use of the new Super QLED coating – after professional calibration, the colours can be not only natural but also incredibly vibrant. The best part is that the screen does this regardless of what scene is displayed on the screen, which is often not the case for all TVs with RGB backlighting. C7L is also an excellent piece of hardware for gamers; you could even say it’s a true "multimedia powerhouse." It fully supports consoles and PCs, refresh rates up to 288 Hz, G-Sync, and low input lag that doesn’t increase even when enabling very demanding modes like Dolby Vision Gaming. The whole package is tied together by a well-optimised Google TV system, which in this generation of TCL devices runs noticeably smoother and more efficiently (at least that’s the impression we got during our tests). Of course, C7L is not a perfect device, and the manufacturer had to make certain compromises in this model. The biggest flaw of the C7L is the use of a less powerful image processor. Unfortunately, this translates to fairly mediocre digital processing and another construction limitation in the form of only two HDMI 2.1 ports. A more powerful setup has been reserved this year for the higher series, such as C8L. From a business perspective, this is fully understandable. Why? Because if TCL had put a better processor here, most people would probably see no sense in paying extra for the higher model. So even if some compromises exist here, the C7L series promises once again to be one of the most cost-effective Mini-LED televisions of the year. If you’re looking for a versatile, incredibly bright screen for movies, series, TV, or games – literally for everything – and at the same time don’t want to overpay for the top series, then yes... C7L is a brilliant choice that we can definitely recommend to you.

In discussions about image quality, the conversation almost always begins with the issue of black depth and contrast, which are parameters defining the plasticity and realism of the viewed world. And here, the TCL P7k/P79k immediately lays its strongest advantage on the table – a VA-type panel. It is its construction that ensures the native relationship between the brightest and darkest parts of the image is more than satisfactory, especially in the context of the price segment this model represents. In the majority of scenes, the achieved black has a noble depth, which allows for building an engaging spectacle for the viewer. To illustrate the scale, it's worth mentioning that competing constructions based on IPS panels often offer results that are even four or sometimes five times lower, which constitutes a chasm in direct comparison. Of course, as we venture into the territory of budget-oriented models, we must be aware of certain compromises. Thus, in the discussed television, we will not find an advanced local dimming system that could further enhance the impression of contrast. The absence of this feature is, however, fully understandable and constitutes a logical consequence of the product's positioning in the market – this technology in TCL's portfolio for 2025 has been reserved for higher-positioned, more prestigious series marked with the letter "C".

TCL C7L is a Mini LED TV, which in the 65-inch variant we tested, is equipped with over 1000 local dimming zones. This, combined with the proprietary VA panel (called HVA 2.0 by TCL CSOT), delivers really decent results in terms of black levels and contrast. In most of the scenes we measured, the blacks and contrast looked really good, and in the easiest shots, the black was deep enough to almost resemble that seen on OLED screens. This is of course referring to the least demanding shots with a lot of black on the screen. However, when more bright elements appear on the screen, and black stops dominating as much, it is evident that TCL C7L – like most Mini LED TVs – has its issues with local dimming zone management.

This can be clearly seen, for example, on the black bars in films shot in the 2.35:1 panoramic format. Then, on the black bars or around small, bright objects, a pronounced halo effect, or a bright light glow, can appear. The contrast then drastically dropped – from laboratory values of around 200,000:1 to about 10,000:1, which is quite noticeable in a completely dark room. It’s worth remembering that this shouldn’t be treated as a flaw of the TV but rather as a characteristic of mini-LED technology. Of course, this effect becomes much less bothersome when we turn on at least some light in the room… which I definitely recommend doing during screenings on any LCD TV.

When it comes to assessing HDR performance, we need to be clear and straightforward without any marketing fluff: the P7K/P79K is not and never was meant to be a champion in this area. The maximum peak brightness that this panel can generate hovers around just 300 nits. This represents a threshold, a sort of thin red line between what can be considered barely satisfactory HDR signal and what is, in reality, only slightly better than standard dynamic range (SDR), unfortunately leaning towards the latter. Synthetic tests confirmed this harsh reality – our measurements taken during movie sessions showed that the luminance in key bright scenes rarely exceeded 200-250 nits. Therefore, this is not a TV that would allow content created in a wide tonal range to truly shine, and that must be openly acknowledged.

Unfortunately, the issue of colour reproduction is presented just as conservatively. Although the manufacturer positions this model within the "QLED" family, owing to the use of a PFS LED filter, the results do not match the heightened expectations. The coverage of the wide DCI-P3 colour gamut reaches only 86%. Compared to the market, this is at best an average result, since most devices that utilise additional layers to expand the colour spectrum easily achieve values at a minimum of 90-92%.

TCL C7L is undoubtedly an extremely bright television. In synthetic tests on static patterns, it can achieve peak brightness of around 2800 nits. This is a phenomenal result, considering the price range it occupies. Unfortunately, tests with real movie scenes are not as spectacular as measurements of white squares. Brightness in real HDR footage drops in the C7L model to around 1200 nits. This is still a very good result, as this is the value at which the vast majority of contemporary films are mastered. However, when small, point-like elements appear on the screen, the brightness of these details drastically drops – even to around 400 nits – which somewhat diminishes the HDR effect. The television does this intentionally to maintain a better black level and to avoid a huge light bloom. This is somewhat explainable, but it also shows that Mini LED technology is not completely uncompromising in this regard. As for the HDR effect itself – alongside brightness, colours are of course key here. And these, thanks to the use of new, “super” quantum dots, are simply outstanding and among the best on the market. The television can achieve around 90% coverage of the ultra-wide colour gamut BT.2020 and 99% of the DCI-P3 gamut, easily matching the best RGB MINI-LED screens. Best of all, the C7L can maintain such high colour saturation regardless of the scene being displayed, which can often be problematic in competing RGB Mini-LED televisions.

Every reliable assessment of image quality must start with selecting the most optimal, factory preset mode. In the case of the tested P7K/P79K model, the choice was made without hesitation for the "Film" mode. It is the mode that presents an image closest to the intentions of its creators, avoiding both the exaggerated brightness of the dynamic mode and the excessive dimming known from eco settings. And it must be admitted that, for a device in this price range, the factory calibration is surprisingly decent, although it is not without a few stumbles. The most noticeable shortcoming turned out to be the not entirely correctly set white balance. A slight dominance of the blue component gives the image a subtly cool, frosty character, straying from the ideal neutrality that the director intended to show us. The television handles the reproduction of greyscale in the standard dynamic range much better – the gamma curve is almost exemplary. The only slight reservation can be made for the darkest parts of the image, where a delicate deviation from the norm causes a loss of some detail in the shadows. The most significant challenge, however, for the TCL software was interpreting the HDR signal, as illustrated by the EOTF curve. The television follows its own, rather free path here – the darkest details are disproportionately brightened, followed by a noticeable slowdown in brightness increase for mid-tones. Fortunately, most of these imperfections are of a software nature, which can be eliminated. With that thought in mind, we proceeded to the process of professional calibration.

When it comes to out-of-the-box colours, a new feature in TCL TVs – including the C7L model – is the presence of a new picture mode called Filmmaker Mode. This is significant news, as such a mode was not previously available from this manufacturer. By design, as the name suggests, the picture in this setting is intended to be delivered with the full intent of the film's creator. After our tests, we can confirm that it is undeniably the best built-in mode in this TV if you value true-to-life colour reproduction straight out of the box. However, we certainly wouldn’t say it is perfect. Like most devices on the market, this C7L also had its factory faults. The white balance in Filmmaker Mode leaned towards a slightly greenish-yellow hue, mainly due to an excess of green component and a noticeable lack of blue. Of course, for the average viewer, this won’t be a drastic flaw, but if you value perfect whites, natural skin tones, and harnessing the full potential of these new "super" quantum dots from the structure, then the TV is begging for professional calibration.

The calibration process turned out to be spot on, especially in the context of standard dynamic range (SDR) content. We successfully managed to eliminate the tendency of the television to showcase cool tones, restoring white to its natural neutrality. Moreover, the precise adjustment allowed us to correct a slight error in the gamma curve, enabling the darkest parts of the image to regain proper depth, without any signs of unnatural brightness. The results are measurable and impressive – in the ColorChecker test, the vast majority of colour reproduction errors fell below the perceptual threshold, achieving a deltaE value of below 2. This is a result that more expensive models would not be ashamed of. Unfortunately, in the case of HDR content, we encounter a wall in the form of the panel's structural limitations. And although we managed to bring the colours into line, the software's specifics mean that the television still adapts brightness in its own way, as evidenced by the persistent, non-standard EOTF curve. To summarise, calibration adds tremendous value, but it is important to be aware that it won't overcome certain physical barriers. The slightly elevated blacks, resulting from the lack of local dimming, and limited peak brightness mean that HDR content won't always be able to showcase its full potential. This is simply not the main task of this display; its true strength, especially after professional tuning, lies in viewing SDR material.

After conducting a professional calibration, we were able to greatly improve the situation in the factory Filmmaker Mode. Following our adjustments, the errors in the ColorChecker test and across the entire wide colour gamut dropped below the threshold of human perception – that is, below a value of 3, which is indeed a very good result. The TCL C7L definitely benefits from such a treatment in terms of colour fidelity, and it's hard to deny that. However, the management of brightness in HDR content after calibration appears to be a bit worse. As I described earlier – even though we set this model up properly, when we turn on real film scenes on the television, it can manage its brightness in quite a peculiar way. It often brightens certain elements on the screen in a manner inconsistent with the creator's intent, which is visibly apparent on the EOTF graphs measured in specific films. Despite this flaw – or rather, this specific characteristic of the television – one cannot take away from it: after calibration, the C7L was able to reproduce the colours flawlessly.

The issue of the fluidity of tonal transitions, or popular grading, is another area where the P7K / P79K evokes mixed feelings and surprises with its dual nature. If we were to assess solely its ability to render smooth colour gradients, we would undoubtedly award it a solid score of 8/10. Unfortunately, this entire positive image is disrupted by the use of very aggressive and visually unpleasant dithering. This artifact is particularly noticeable on demanding test screens – such as the one depicting an actor submerged in red water – where rough, unnatural textures appear on uniform colour planes, revealing the digital nature of the image. This is particularly disappointing as it is not a new problem. It seems to be a sort of hangover from previous generations of budget TCL models, which is a shame, as it marred what is fundamentally a quite competent image and is a mistake that could have been avoided.

The next element worth discussing is the fluidity of tonal transitions. Here, it must be honestly acknowledged that in the TCL C7L, it simply looks good. In most scenes – especially in those brighter shots – there are absolutely no issues with gradients. In native 4K HDR content, the image is clear, and the transitions between shades are very smooth. It looks just as good in Dolby Vision mode, where during testing we noticed no digital defects or ugly colour banding. One could nitpick about very dark shots where a heavily compressed signal is displayed on the screen. In such conditions, the C7L can sometimes show minor imperfections, but in this model, it's not something that stands out significantly. Especially during regular movie viewings.

After a series of harsh evaluations, thankfully, it’s time for some praise, and this is deserved by the TCL AiPQ image processor for its work in the field of digital processing and content scaling. It should be noted right away that we are not talking about the level known from flagship models; nonetheless, in the price segment represented by the P7K/P79K, the results achieved are more than solid. The function that smooths tonal transitions performs particularly well, effectively eliminating posterization, which are the characteristic bands often visible in materials with higher compression, for instance, from choose.tv. The algorithm can elegantly remove unwanted gradients, which ultimately looks really good. The television also handles upscaling competently, which means the task of raising low-resolution materials to 4K standard. The resulting image, although it may seem a bit too sharp out of the box, is fortunately not a problem. The software allows for free adjustment of this parameter using a sharpness slider, allowing the final appearance to be easily tailored to personal preferences.

This point could be called in a sense the Achilles' heel of the C7L model. Unfortunately, this television uses an older chipset from MediaTek – the Pentonic 700 – which has never been known for outstanding digital image processing. This is clearly visible in the functioning of the gradual smoothing feature, which is responsible for reducing jagged edges and removing digital noise. It simply works very poorly – when set to a low level, its effectiveness is practically none. The only small plus here is that the algorithm doesn't mess up anything else in the image and doesn't forcefully blur details. The upscaling, that is, the scaling of the image from lower resolutions to 4K, performs a bit better. It is simply adequate and does not stand out in any particular way against the competition. However, it cannot be denied that the C7L would greatly benefit in this aspect if the manufacturer decided to use the newer Pentonic 800 processor, which is now being found in an increasing number of competitive models.

The issue of fluidity and sharpness of motion image is inextricably linked to the fundamental parameter of the panel, and in the case of the TCL P7K/P79K, we are dealing with a panel that has a native refresh rate of 60 Hz. This specification at the outset defines its capabilities and makes it hard to unequivocally recommend it to enthusiasts of dynamic sports broadcasts. During quick camera movements, the image loses sharpness, and the panel also shows a slight tendency to smudge, which may be noticeable to more sensitive viewers. Fortunately, not everything in this aspect has been left to chance. The manufacturer has implemented a simple motion smoothing system, which is primarily used in film materials recorded at 24 or 30 frames per second. Thanks to a dedicated slider, the user can decide on the final nature of the motion – from maintaining a fully cinematic, slightly jerky image, to achieving a very smooth, almost theatrical effect. It is a simple yet effective tool that allows one to adjust the viewing experience to their own preferences.

TCL C7L features a native 4K panel with a refresh rate of 144 Hz, which can even ramp up to 288 Hz at lower resolutions when using a PC. These are certainly very high and commendable figures on paper, but in everyday life, it's worth remembering that almost all dynamic content you display on this television will still revolve around a maximum of 120 Hz. To tame this dynamism, the TV menu includes a motion smoothing system called "Motion Clarity." It offers several predefined modes, including a user mode, which we highly recommend setting manually using our tried-and-true guides on our YouTube channel. You’ll find two key sliders available. The first one, "Motion Blur Reduction," is responsible for reducing blurring and improving sharpness in 60fps dynamic content, such as sports broadcasts. The second slider, "Flicker Reduction," allows for the addition of artificial frames in movies and shows recorded at cinematic 24 or 30 frames per second. This naturally allows for the complete elimination of the annoying stutter effect during camera movement shots.

Although on paper the native 4K@60Hz matrix might suggest that the TCL P7K/P79K is not a TV tailored for gamers, the reality turns out to be surprisingly different. On the contrary, the manufacturer has ensured a rich set of features that make it a very friendly companion for next-generation consoles. Onboard, we find key technologies such as ALLM, which provides automatic switching to low-latency mode, and VRR, or variable refresh rate, which eliminates screen tearing. The list is rounded off with support for Dolby Vision Gaming and a simple yet functional Game Bar. However, the real and extremely pleasant surprise is something else. It turns out that the TV effortlessly supports a high refresh rate signal of 120Hz, but at lower resolutions – 1080p and 1440p. This is fantastic news for console owners, who know how rarely games run in native 4K at a full 120 frames per second. The option to choose between higher resolution and doubled smoothness is therefore an incredibly sensible compromise.

In summary, while the P7K/P79K may not be the target screen for the most passionate, tournament gamers, it offers a package of options for casual or occasional console users that is hard to find among many competitors at this price point.

When it comes to gaming, the TCL C7L is simply an outstanding television for gamers. With the presence of two full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports at 48 Gbps, it provides access to all the key features that console and high-end PC owners require. We have a well-functioning ALLM mode with very low input lag and VRR frame synchronization, which operates within an impressive range from 48 to 288 Hz. Importantly, unlike some competitors, TCL has ensured a proper implementation of the console HDR10 HGIG profile and support for Dolby Vision in games. This is complemented by a very well-designed gamer panel, known as Game Bar, which even allows for editing its appearance and changing the theme to perfectly match the style of your console.

The only thing that can – and should – be critiqued here is the fact that the television only offers two full HDMI 2.1 ports, while the other two are older HDMI 2.0. This creates quite a significant logistical problem. Why? Because one of those fast ports also supports the eARC audio return channel. In practice, this means that if you connect a soundbar or home theatre system to the television, you’ll only have one available HDMI 2.1 port left. If you have two consoles or a console and a powerful computer at home, unfortunately, you’ll have to give something up or constantly juggle cables at the back of the unit while maintaining comfortable audio system control.

Completing this rich package for gamers is a parameter that has a direct impact on comfort and performance in gameplay – input lag. Already in native 60 Hz mode, the television can boast an excellent result of just 15 ms. However, the real magic happens when switching to 120 Hz mode, where the lag drops almost by half, reaching values below 10 ms. Such responsiveness ensures that every command from the controller is transmitted to the screen in the blink of an eye, which will be appreciated not only by professionals but by anyone who values smooth and direct interaction with the game.

It’s worth taking a look at the dry numbers here, because in terms of signal delay, the TCL C7L is absolutely top of the market. Our measurements showed that the input lag is extremely low, and for a 60 Hz signal, it’s only around 10 ms. When we step it up and fire up a game at 120 Hz, the lag drops to an almost imperceptible 6 to 7 ms. However, what’s even more important is that these values are maintained even after activating the Dolby Vision format in games.

We finally arrive at the area that can undoubtedly be described as the biggest achilles heel of the TCL P7K/P79K – its compatibility with a PC. This is paradoxical because on paper, everything looks promising. The presence of G-Sync and support for high refresh rates at lower resolutions could suggest that it will also be a great monitor. Unfortunately, practice brutally verifies these assumptions. The key problem is the lack of support for full 4:4:4 chroma sampling. In everyday use, this translates to terrible font rendering quality – they, especially coloured ones, become jagged, surrounded by artifacts, and simply poorly readable. And that’s not all, as in PC mode, the problem of aggressive dithering also becomes apparent, giving the whole image an artificial, overly digital look. The only consolation in this situation is the fact that in games we can take advantage of the extra hertz and G-Sync technology, but these are not advantages that could compensate for the fundamental shortcomings in displaying a static interface. The verdict is therefore clear: while it may still hold up as a screen solely for gaming with a PC, in the role of a monitor for work or browsing the internet, the P7K/P79K simply performs poorly.

When it comes to playing on PC, as I mentioned earlier, it's really seamless. The TV handles high refresh rates with ease: full 4K at 144 Hz, and at Full HD resolution, it can even ramp up to 288 Hz. Synchronisation systems like G-Sync and FreeSync work flawlessly here as well. So, for PC gamers, the C7L can serve as a great, massive monitor.

However, typical office work with text is a bit less impressive, all due to the panel behaving rather strangely in these conditions. When the highest refresh modes are activated, namely 144 Hz and 288 Hz, the clarity and sharpness of dark text on a light background are fairly average – the fonts become slightly blurred and jagged. Fortunately, this can be easily remedied by changing the screen refresh rate to a stable 120 Hz in the graphics card settings. Then, the text becomes perfectly sharp again, which is definitely worth remembering if you plan to use the C7L as a work screen.

Moving on to the issue of viewing angles, we enter a realm where VA matrix technology dictates unavoidable conditions. As expected, this is the weak point of this model. It is enough to step away from the screen axis to observe a gradual degradation of the image: colours begin to fade, contrast noticeably drops, and blacks lose their depth. In direct confrontation with IPS panels, which are renowned for their generosity in this aspect, the VA matrix must concede superiority to its competitor. Is there a silver lining? Paradoxically, yes. Weak viewing angles are indeed the price we consciously pay for the fundamental advantage of this technology – a significantly higher native contrast and deeper blacks viewed head-on. Thus, we can say that this is a television that favours the viewer sitting in the “ideal” spot, offering them a maximally vivid image at the cost of universality.

Unfortunately, the powerful native contrast of the HVA 2.0 panel comes at a cost. We're talking about viewing angles, which in the C7L model are simply poor. This is, of course, due to the use of the aforementioned VA panel. It is a completely natural characteristic of this technology and something to consider when making a purchase. If you sit directly in front of the screen, the picture will impress you with its depth, but just shifting a few dozen degrees to the side on the couch will cause the colours to immediately begin to fade. By choosing this model, you're opting for a classic market compromise: you get brilliant blacks and fantastic contrast, but you lose out on viewing angles.

The last practical test for any television is its daily performance in daylight conditions when it must compete with ambient light. In this competition, the TCL P7K / P79K starts with a certain advantage due to its satin screen coating. Its structure does quite well at suppressing direct reflections, dispersing them and protecting the image from excessive colour fading or brightening of blacks. However, passive combat against reflections is one side of the coin. The other is the active ability to "punch through" bright surroundings, and here one of the key limitations of this model comes to light. The previously mentioned peak brightness of around 300 nits is simply too low to ensure a fully comfortable and dynamic viewing experience in a heavily sunlit lounge. In such conditions, the image may lack punch, and scenes with lower brightness may lose readability.

It's also worth mentioning how the TCL C7L performs during everyday viewing in a sunny lounge. As we've established, it's an extremely bright television, and it's this powerful luminance reserve (up to 2400 nits in SDR!) that allows it to perform brilliantly in very bright rooms – the picture simply cuts through the incoming light effortlessly. The only thing to be cautious about here is the direct reflections on the screen. The coating used this year on the panel is definitely more glossy than what we saw in last year's C7K model. The screen does a significantly poorer job of reducing point light reflections, which in unfavorable conditions – for example, when the window is directly opposite the television – can be quite annoying for some users. Nonetheless, in terms of raw brightness, the C7L is simply a powerhouse for bright lounges.

Smart Features – the power of Google TV

The heart and operational brain of the TCL P7K / P79K is the Google TV system, which in itself is a huge advantage. This platform opens access to an almost endless library of applications from the Play Store, ensuring we won't miss any key streaming service. Integration with other devices is exemplary – Apple device owners will appreciate the seamless cooperation thanks to AirPlay, while users of Windows and Android systems can easily take advantage of screen mirroring features. The Google Assistant also deserves a mention, as it handles voice search in Polish exceptionally well, remaining one of the most effective and convenient solutions of its kind on the market. The operation of the system on the tested model can be described as "above average." The interface is mostly smooth, but during testing, it experienced occasional slowdowns and even sporadic "freezes" that required a moment of patience. Minor hiccups are also noticeable in the translation of some system messages, which can be clumsy – these are merely minor oversights on TCL's part that do not affect overall functionality.

Classic Features

In the age of smart systems, traditional television functions often take a back seat, and this case is no different. A significant advantage is the inclusion of a classic remote control with a numeric keypad, which does not require precise aiming at the screen for communication, significantly enhancing user comfort. The presence of Bluetooth technology for connecting external devices, such as headphones or speakers, also counts as a plus. However, this is essentially where the list of conveniences ends. It's evident that TCL has placed nearly everything on the Google TV card, treating classic features as an absolute minimum. Thus, we won’t find options for recording programs from built-in tuners to a USB drive or the once-popular PiP (Picture-in-Picture) feature. It is therefore a basic package that simply works but offers nothing beyond what is essential.

Google TV and Smart TV

The heart of the TCL C7L multimedia system is, of course, the Google TV operating system, which provides access to a gigantic library of apps and all the most popular streaming platforms on the market. The Smart TV in this model works flawlessly, offering full support for useful networking features such as Apple AirPlay and Chromecast. However, a huge and pleasant surprise is the overall performance of the software. We noticed that Google’s system on the new C7L operates much more smoothly, fluidly, and quickly than on TCL models from last year. A lot of this is thanks to better optimisation at launch. Unnecessary stalls and minor interface stutters, known from older models, seem to have been forgotten.

TV Features

When it comes to traditional antenna or cable television, the TCL C7L does not offer many additional advanced features. It is simply a basic receiver. The manufacturer did not attempt any revolutionary solutions here, so aside from the traditional program guide, you won't find anything special. A great nod to traditional viewers is the classic remote control, which defies the prevailing trend towards minimalism by still being equipped with a full numeric keypad, greatly facilitating quick channel switching.

The built-in media player in the P7k/P79k model is at least a curious case, putting us in quite an unusual situation. On one hand, its engine handles the decoding of most popular video formats, which is of course good news. On the other hand, we encountered a surprising and frustrating issue – the default application has a fundamental problem with correctly displaying Polish diacritic characters in subtitle files. Instead of letters like "ą", "ę" or "ż", empty squares or random, illegible symbols appeared on the screen. Fortunately, thanks to the flexibility of the Google TV system, this problem can be easily circumvented. Installing an alternative, advanced player, such as the tried-and-true VLC or KODI, fully resolves this inconvenience. The situation is strange in that this flaw did not occur in other TCL models we tested earlier. So we are dealing with a clear software oversight, which, hopefully, will be corrected in a future update.

At the very end of the multimedia section, it’s worth mentioning the playback of files from external USB drives. During our tests, we didn’t encounter any unpleasant surprises here – the factory player handles all popular video and audio formats just as it should. Interestingly, the TCL C7L had no trouble playing photos saved in Apple’s native format, HEIC. This is an extremely rare feature in the factory apps of television manufacturers. And while the Google TV system obviously gives you unlimited capability to install external media playback programs, in the case of the C7L, the built-in tool is refined enough that installing additional software will probably not be necessary for anyone.

In terms of the built-in audio system, the TCL P7k/P79k presents a level that can be described as functional and adequate, but lacking in audiophile ambitions. The speakers play quite loudly, and dialogues in films and TV shows are conveyed clearly and without distortion, which is crucial for everyday use. However, the audio scene definitely lacks the foundation of low frequencies. This is a direct consequence of the absence of a dedicated subwoofer – an element that in the higher P8K series, took the form of a large Onkyo subwoofer at the back of the cabinet, which contributed to its sound strength. Here, that element is simply missing, making the sound seem flatter and devoid of the depth that creates a cinematic atmosphere. We also noticed a peculiar issue with the software – when attempting to set the maximum volume, the TV automatically reduces it. It's hard to definitively say whether this is a form of protection against distortion or a minor software glitch, but it's a shame, as the power reserves seem to be a bit greater.

TCL C7L performs quite well and correctly. In terms of sound quality, there has been virtually no change compared to last year's model C7K. The manufacturer still uses a speaker system branded Bang & Olufsen in a 2.2 configuration. The only thing that can be quite annoying during viewing is the fact that after increasing the volume to higher levels – around above 50% on the scale – the volume no longer matches the scale visible on the screen. The audio system from B&O works great for daily watching of news or series at moderate volume, but if you're looking for good sound, it's worth getting at least a basic soundbar for the C7L.

TCL P7K / P79K vs TCL C7L

Advantages

Disadvantages

Our verdict

TV appearance

Where to buy

Contrast and black detail

HDR effect quality

Factory color reproduction

Color reproduction after calibration

Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

Blur and motion smoothness

Console compatibility and gaming features

Input lag

Compatibility with PC

Viewing angles

Daytime performance

Panel details

TV features

Classic features:

Smart features:

Sound connection options

Supported audio formats (external HDMI eARC audio):

Senior accessibility

Smart Features – the power of Google TV

Classic Features

Google TV and Smart TV

TV Features

Apps

Playing files from USB

Sound

Sound Quality Test

Acoustic Measurements