TCL C7L vs LG OLED B6

Direct comparison

B65 / B6E / B6G

Available screen sizes: 55”65”75”85”98”

Available screen sizes: 48”55”65”77”83”

Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: Google TV

Model year: 2026

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Panel type: WRGB OLED

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: WebOS

Model year: 2026

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Overall rating

7.8

7.8

  • Movies and series in UHD quality

    7.2

    8.0

  • Classic TV, YouTube

    6.8

    8.8

  • Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

    6.7

    8.6

  • Gaming on console

    8.8

    9.2

  • TV as a computer monitor

    8.4

    7.6

  • Watching in bright light

    8.8

    4.8

  • Utility functions

    7.8

    8.0

  • Apps

    9.6

    9.1

  • Sound quality

    7.7

    6.7

Advantages

  • Very high brightness

  • Good black levels and contrast (VA panel + mini-LED)

  • Excellent colour-gamut coverage thanks to the new "Super QLED" filter

  • Full support for HDR formats including Dolby Vision and HDR10+

  • Top specs for gamers (HDMI 2.1, low input lag)

  • High refresh-rate performance with low motion blur (up to 288 Hz)

  • Google TV operating system (many apps, Gemini voice assistant)

  • Perfect black levels and contrast, OLED panel

  • Very good HDR performance with Dolby Vision

  • Natural and accurate colours after calibration

  • Excellent motion clarity with no smearing (120 Hz)

  • 4 HDMI 2.1 ports with full 48 Gb/s bandwidth

  • Very low input lag

  • VRR, G-Sync, FreeSync and proper HGiG support, offering a rich feature set for gamers

  • Feature-rich webOS with the Magic Remote

  • Wide viewing angles

Disadvantages

No like
  • Poor digital image processing due to the use of the older MediaTek Pentonic 700 processor

  • Only two HDMI 2.1 ports, one of which is shared with the eARC audio channel, e.g. a soundbar

  • Sound loses dynamics above 40–50% volume

  • Inferior reflection suppression compared with its predecessor, a characteristic of the OLED SE panel

  • Average brightness, best suited to a room with controlled lighting

  • No DTS:X support, primarily a drawback for Blu-ray disc owners

  • The webOS system isn't the fastest here

Our verdict

The 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 truly extensive. 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 saturated. The best part is that the screen achieves this regardless of the scene displayed, which is often not the case with all TVs featuring RGB backlighting. The C7L is also a brilliant piece of equipment for gamers; it could even be said that it is a true "multimedia powerhouse." We get full support for consoles and PCs, refresh rates of up to 288 Hz, G-Sync, and low input lag, which doesn’t increase even when activating the demanding Dolby Vision Gaming mode. Everything is tied together by a well-optimised Google TV system, which in this generation of TCL devices operates noticeably smoother and more efficiently (at least that's the impression we got during our testing). Of course, the C7L is not a perfect device, and the manufacturer had to make certain compromises in this model. The biggest drawback of the C7L is the use of a less powerful image processor. Unfortunately, this translates to rather average digital processing and other design limitations, such as only two HDMI 2.1 ports. A more powerful chip has been reserved this year for the higher series, such as the C8L. From a business point of view, this is entirely understandable. Why? Because if TCL had included a better processor here, most people would probably not see any point in paying extra for a higher model. So even if certain compromises exist, the C7L series is once again shaping up to be one of the most cost-effective Mini-LED televisions this year. If you are looking for a versatile, extremely bright screen for movies, series, television, or gaming – literally for everything – and at the same time do not want to overpay for top series, then yes... the C7L is a brilliant choice that we can definitely recommend to you.

The LG OLED B6 is a very successful continuation of the B series and a TV that makes a lot of sense as a first step into OLED. It doesn't try to compete with the most expensive models in every respect, but in the most important areas it still manages to deliver exactly what many people choose this technology for: perfect blacks, very high contrast and a picture that can simply look spectacular in films. Much of this is thanks to the new budget WOLED panel, the OLED SE. Thanks to it, LG's cheapest OLED is now noticeably brighter than a few years ago, and around 800 nits in HDR is a figure you can genuinely notice when watching. Highlights have more punch, the picture copes better with more demanding scenes, and combined with OLED blacks the whole thing can look really impressive. Films and series from streaming platforms look particularly good, especially those available in Dolby Vision. That's when the B6 makes the most of its capabilities and can deliver an image that will be a big step up for someone switching from a typical LCD TV.

However, this is not a model without compromises. Our biggest reservation concerns how the screen handles reflections. The lack of a classic polariser means the TV fares much worse when placed opposite a large window or a strong light source. Reflections are more noticeable than on other WOLED panels, and the blacks themselves lose some of their character in a bright room. In controlled conditions this won't be a problem, but for a very bright living room it's worth approaching this purchase a little more cautiously. The operation of webOS also leaves something to be desired. The system itself is still very good, with a rich app library, the convenient Magic Remote and essentially everything you would expect from a modern Smart TV. The problem is that on the B6 it does not always run as smoothly as it should. At times you can feel the new version of the system is more demanding and somewhat 'heavier' than before.

Despite these remarks the LG B6 still performs very well. It's a TV that delivers all the key advantages of OLED while not costing as much as the higher-end models. It makes the most sense when it's on a good deal, because then it can be one of the most interesting choices for people who want to enter the world of OLEDs without overpaying.

TV appearance

HDMI inputs
2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps)
0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps)
Other inputs
Outputs
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
Network Interfaces
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality
Good
Premium
Stand type
Central
Legs
Bezel color
Graphite
Graphite
Stand
Height adjustment
Fixed
Accessories
Stand
Stand

Contrast and black detail

7.7/10

10/10

Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 1152 (24 x 48)

Contrast:

Review TCL C7L Contrast and black detail

Result

174,100:1

Review TCL C7L Contrast and black detail

Result

25,700:1

Review TCL C7L Contrast and black detail

Result

13,950:1

Review TCL C7L Contrast and black detail

Result

10,900:1

Review TCL C7L Contrast and black detail

Result

9,900:1

Review LG OLED B6 Contrast and black detail

Result

:1

Review LG OLED B6 Contrast and black detail

Result

:1

Review LG OLED B6 Contrast and black detail

Result

:1

Review LG OLED B6 Contrast and black detail

Result

:1

Review LG OLED B6 Contrast and black detail

Result

:1

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

Check the visibility of bright lights on a dark background. Mini-LEDs often struggle with this. The photo does not compare black levels – that’s what the video below is for.

The video accurately shows differences in contrast and black levels between TVs, as well as potential issues: halo around bright objects or Mini-LED zone operation visible as brightness jumps.

The TCL C7L is a Mini LED TV which, in the 65-inch model we tested, is equipped with over 1,000 local dimming zones. Combined with a proprietary VA panel (referred to by TCL CSOT as HVA 2.0), this delivers very respectable results for black levels and contrast. In most of the scenes we measured, black levels and contrast looked very good, and in the easiest shots the blacks were deep enough to even resemble those seen on OLED screens. This, of course, refers to the least demanding shots with large areas of black on screen. When more bright elements appear on screen and black no longer dominates, you can see that the TCL C7L, like most Mini LED TVs, has issues handling its local dimming zones.

This is particularly obvious on the black bars in films shot in the 2.35:1 widescreen format. A distinct halo effect, a bright glow, can appear on the black bars or around small bright objects. Contrast can then drop drastically, from lab-measured 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 should not be treated as a flaw of the TV but rather as a characteristic of Mini LED technology. Of course the effect becomes much less intrusive if you turn on even a small amount of diffuse light in the room, which I strongly recommend doing when watching any LCD TV.

The blacks on the LG OLED B6 are perfect. That's no surprise, since we're dealing with an OLED (WOLED), but this is precisely where you can see why this technology still has so many fans. Each pixel can switch off individually, so in dark scenes there is no grey halo or blooming around bright elements. As a result, the image has excellent depth and can genuinely look three-dimensional. Shadow detail also performs well. Nothing melts into one dark blotch, and small elements remain visible even in more challenging scenes. In that respect the B6 simply demonstrates everything we love about OLED TVs.

HDR effect quality

6.6/10

6.2/10

Supported formats
HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG
HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
Color gamut coverage
DCI P3: 97.3%, Bt.2020: 90.5%
DCI P3: 97.0%, Bt.2020: 72.0%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review TCL C7L Brightness measurement

Result

1236 nit

Review TCL C7L Brightness measurement

Result

401 nit

Review TCL C7L Brightness measurement

Result

831 nit

Review TCL C7L Brightness measurement

Result

352 nit

Review TCL C7L Brightness measurement

Result

1204 nit

Review LG OLED B6 Brightness measurement

Result

734 nit

Review LG OLED B6 Brightness measurement

Result

734 nit

Review LG OLED B6 Brightness measurement

Result

804 nit

Review LG OLED B6 Brightness measurement

Result

757 nit

Review LG OLED B6 Brightness measurement

Result

355 nit

Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)

Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)

The photos show two HDR10 movies. 'Pan' is one of the brightest productions ever made, while 'Billy Lynn' (soldier) has brightness typical of streaming (Netflix, Prime, HBO MAX). Notice the intensity of effects and detail in whites.

Static HDR10

The photos present the visibility of white details in various HDR formats. They do not show brightness differences between TVs (these can be compared in the previous gallery).

Dynamic: Dolby Vision

Dynamic: Dolby Vision

The photos present the visibility of white details in various HDR formats. They do not show brightness differences between TVs (these can be compared in the previous gallery).

HDR luminance chart:

LG OLED B6

TCL C7L

Luminance of RGB colors

The TCL C7L is, without doubt, an extremely bright TV. In synthetic tests using static test patterns it can reach peak brightness of around 2800 nits. That's a truly phenomenal result, given the price bracket it occupies. Unfortunately, measurements with real film scenes are not as spectacular as the white-square tests. Brightness in real HDR footage on the C7L falls to around 1200 nits. That's still very good, because the vast majority of modern films are graded to that level. However, when small, pinpoint elements appear on screen, the brightness of those details drops dramatically, even to around 400 nits, which reduces the HDR impact. The TV does this deliberately to preserve black levels and avoid excessive blooming. This is somewhat understandable, but it also shows that Mini LED technology is not completely without compromises in this respect. As for the HDR effect itself, alongside brightness the key factor is, of course, colour. Thanks to the use of new 'super' quantum dots, the colours are simply superb and among the best on the market. The TV is able to achieve very wide coverage of the BT.2020 and DCI-P3 colour gamuts, matching the best RGB Mini-LED screens with ease. Best of all, the C7L can maintain such high colour saturation regardless of the scene being displayed, which is often problematic in competing RGB Mini-LED TVs.

The LG B6 is a moderately bright OLED. After calibration it reaches around 800 nits, roughly 200 nits more than last year’s B5. That’s down to the new, budget OLED SE panel from LG Display. In practice it simply gives a bit more headroom and makes HDR look fuller in many scenes than on last year’s lower‑end OLEDs. That does not mean the B6 has no limitations. In very bright shots, when a large part of the screen is strongly lit, brightness can fall below 400 nits. This behaviour is typical for OLED TVs, especially in this segment, and that’s where you see the biggest difference compared with more expensive models. Even so, we judge the B6’s results as genuinely solid. It’s still not a TV for breaking brightness records, but the HDR effect is strong enough that films truly feel like a step up from ordinary SDR. Colour gamut Using the OLED SE panel has had a slight impact on wide colour gamut coverage. Compared with last year’s model the results have fallen by a few percentage points. It covers roughly 96% of DCI‑P3 and about 71% of BT.2020. That doesn’t mean the colours on the LG B6 are weak. In most films and series they look lively, well saturated and simply pleasing to the eye. You only notice the difference in very bright, highly colourful scenes. Then colours lose some intensity compared with QD‑OLED panels. This stems from the WOLED panel structure. Besides red, green and blue subpixels it also uses a white subpixel, which helps to boost brightness. However, this comes at a price. At very high luminance some colour is effectively 'diluted' by the white light, so the saturation of certain colours can be slightly lower. In everyday use this isn’t a major issue, but in the most demanding scenes you can notice it.

Factory color reproduction

5.6/10

7.2/10

This gallery shows how colors change after professional TV calibration. If you notice the difference, we recommend ordering this service at SkalibrujTV.com.

Factory Mode

After calibration

This gallery shows how colors change after professional TV calibration. If you notice the difference, we recommend ordering this service at SkalibrujTV.com.

Factory Mode

After calibration

When it comes to out-of-the-box colours, what's new in TCL TVs, including the C7L model, is the addition of a picture mode called Filmmaker Mode. This is significant because such a mode was not previously available from this manufacturer. As the name suggests, this setting is meant to present the picture with the filmmaker's full intent. After our tests we can confirm that it is, without doubt, the best built-in mode on this TV if you want faithful colour reproduction straight out of the box. However, we certainly wouldn't say it's perfect. Like most devices on the market, this C7L also had some factory calibration errors. The white balance in Filmmaker mode drifted towards a slightly greenish-yellow tint, caused mainly by an excess of the green component and a noticeable shortfall in blue. Of course, this won't be a major drawback for the average viewer, but if you care about perfect whites, natural skin tones and getting the full potential out of the structure of those new "super" quantum dots, the TV really needs professional calibration.

We tested the LG B6 in Filmmaker Mode, the best picture setting available straight out of the box. ISF modes produce very similar results, but in our tests we always stick to Filmmaker Mode for better comparison with other TVs. Each of them is, in any case, a much better starting point than Vivid or Eco mode, where the picture is heavily boosted and noticeably less natural. On SDR material the factory settings perform really well. Colour errors are small, the gamma response is correct, and the picture during normal viewing looks natural and does not feel overly "pumped up". It's a bit worse with HDR. When such content is played you quickly see that the white balance hasn't been set perfectly. Too much blue and red gives the image a slightly pink tint. This is also confirmed by colour gamut measurements and the ColorChecker, where samples clearly shift in that direction. It's not a flaw that completely spoils the picture, but it is noticeable with HDR films. Therefore anyone who wants the most faithful image should consider calibration, which we cover further on in the review.

Color reproduction after calibration

7.5/10

9.2/10

The photos show how movies look on the TV. Pay attention to black detail visibility, colors, and shadow tint.

The photos show how movies look on the TV. Pay attention to black detail visibility, colors, and shadow tint.

After professional calibration we managed to greatly improve the situation in the factory Filmmaker Mode. After our corrections, the errors in the ColorChecker test and across the wide colour gamut fell below the threshold of human perception, that is below a value of 3, which is a very good result. The TCL C7L definitely benefits from such a procedure in terms of colour fidelity, and it's hard to deny. Brightness management for HDR content looks a little worse after calibration, though. As I described earlier, even though we set this model up correctly, when you play real film scenes the TV can handle its brightness in a rather peculiar way. It often brightens some elements on screen contrary to the creator's intent, which is clearly visible in the EOTF traces measured from specific films. Despite this defect, or rather a specific characteristic of the television, one thing you can't fault is that after calibration the C7L was able to reproduce colours accurately.

During calibration, we concentrated mainly on HDR content, because that's where the factory settings needed the most correction. We did not, however, neglect SDR mode, which after adjustment was brought almost to perfection. Colours are very accurate, and brightness is controlled as it should be. The biggest improvement in HDR came from fixing the white balance. Removing the excess red and blue eliminated the pinkish tint, and the image became much more natural. Skin tones, whites and all colours that had previously shifted towards pink improved. After calibration most errors fell below a Delta E of 2–3, the threshold at which the average viewer stops noticing differences with the naked eye. So the LG B6 can deliver a very accurate picture, particularly for the manufacturer's entry-level OLED model.

Smoothness of tonal transitions

8.6/10

7.3/10

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

Another aspect worth discussing is the smoothness of tonal transitions. Here it must be honestly admitted that on the TCL C7L it simply looks good. In most scenes, and especially in the brighter shots, there are absolutely no banding issues. In native 4K HDR content the image is clean and the transitions between shades are very smooth. It looks just as good in Dolby Vision, where during our tests we did not notice any digital artefacts or ugly colour posterisation. You could, if you wanted to be picky, point to very dark scenes where a heavily compressed signal is being displayed on screen. Under those conditions the C7L can sometimes reveal minor imperfections, but in this model that is not something that really catches the eye, especially during everyday film viewing.

Tonal transitions on the LG B6 are quite good, although some limitations typical of WOLED panels are still evident. In most scenes colours move between shades smoothly, without noticeable banding or unwanted digital artefacts. However, it is not always perfect. Most issues appear in the dark parts of the image, where WOLED panels have struggled for years. This is partly due to the greater difficulty of controlling the panel at very low brightness and the specific design that uses a white subpixel. Compared with last year’s model there is a slight improvement, but it still does not match the level of the best QD-OLED TVs or more advanced LCD models.

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

5.5/10

8/10

Image without overscan on the SD signal
OK
OK
Smooth transition function
OK
OK

Smooth transition function

The match photo shows how the TV smooths weak tonal transitions in low-quality video.

Image scaling SD (576i)

The model photo shows how it handles upscaling of SD material.

This can be seen as, to some extent, the Achilles' heel of the C7L. Unfortunately, this TV uses the older MediaTek Pentonic 700 chip, which has never been famed for outstanding digital image processing. You can clearly see that in the behaviour of the progressive smoothing function, the feature responsible for reducing jagged edges and removing digital noise. It simply performs very poorly. When set to low, its effectiveness is almost non-existent. The only small plus is that the algorithm does not further spoil the picture or blur details unnecessarily. Upscaling, that is scaling lower-resolution content to 4K, performs slightly better. It is simply adequate and does not stand out against the competition. There is no denying that the C7L would benefit greatly in this regard if the manufacturer opted for the newer Pentonic 800 processor, which is now appearing in an increasing number of rival models.

The LG B6 handles lower-quality material very well. This is largely thanks to effective digital image processing, which can mask some of the source’s imperfections without overly smoothing the whole scene. The "Smooth Gradation" function proves particularly useful. It noticeably reduces posterisation, especially in dark parts of the image. The safest choice remains the Low or Medium setting. The function still effectively smooths out unsightly tonal banding, but does not yet interfere too much with fine details. Purists can of course leave it switched off. Upscaling to 4K also performs very well. Full HD and 720p material retain a good amount of detail, and the image is neither overly sharpened nor heavily blurred. Some limitations only become apparent with very poor sources below 720p, where the smallest text and fine elements are not always perfectly sharp, but this applies to almost every other TV on the market.

Blur and motion smoothness

7.8/10

8.5/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel
144Hz
120Hz
Film motion smoothing option
OK
OK
Blur reduction option
OK
OK
BFI function 60Hz
Yes, 120Hz (double contours)
Yes, 60Hz (image flickers)
BFI function 120Hz
Yes, 240Hz (double contours)
Yes, 120Hz
Brightness drop with BFI
52%
50%

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Blur (BFI function enabled):

Blur (4K@144Hz):

Blur ():

The TCL C7L uses a native 4K panel with a 144 Hz refresh rate, which at lower resolutions when connected to a PC can even reach up to 288 Hz. These are, of course, very high figures and impressive on paper, but bear in mind that almost all the dynamic content you’ll watch on this TV will still run at around a maximum of 120 Hz. To rein in that motion, the TV’s menu includes a motion-smoothing system called "Motion Clarity". It offers several preset modes, including a user mode that we strongly recommend you set manually using our tried-and-tested guides on our YouTube channel. There are two key sliders available. The first, "Blur Reduction", is responsible for cutting motion blur and improving sharpness in dynamic 60-fps material, such as sports broadcasts. The second slider, "Flicker Reduction", lets you add artificial frames to films and series shot in cinematic 24 or 30 frames per second. This, of course, can completely eliminate the irritating judder that appears during camera movement.

One of the biggest advantages of OLED panels is the very fast pixel response time. This keeps the picture sharp and free of the visible smearing often seen on LCD TVs. However, there is a downside. During slow camera pans motion can look choppier than on LCD screens, where some of that effect is naturally masked by the slower panel. Fortunately, on the LG B6 this can be easily mitigated using the TruMotion system. With the motion smoothing set correctly you can achieve smoother motion without giving the picture an exaggerated soap opera effect.

Console compatibility and gaming features

9.8/10

10/10

  • ALLM
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR range
    48 - 288Hz
    40 - 120Hz
  • Dolby Vision Game Mode
    Yes
    Yes
  • Correct implementation of HGIG
    Yes
    Yes
  • 1080p@120Hz
    Yes
    Yes
  • 1440p@120Hz
    Yes
    Yes
  • 4K@120Hz
    Yes
    Yes
  • Game bar
    Yes
    Yes

When it comes to gaming, the TCL C7L is simply an outstanding TV for players. Thanks to two HDMI 2.1 ports with full 48 Gbps bandwidth, you get access to all the key features required by console owners and powerful PC rigs. There’s a well-working ALLM mode with very low input lag and VRR frame synchronisation that operates over an impressive range from 48 to 288 Hz. Importantly, unlike some rivals, TCL has properly implemented the console HDR10 HGIG profile and supports Dolby Vision in games. The package is completed by a very well designed gamer panel, the Game Bar, which even lets you edit its appearance and change the theme so it perfectly matches the style of your console.

The only thing you can, and even should, criticise is that the TV offers only two full-spec HDMI 2.1 ports, while the other two are older HDMI 2.0. That creates quite a logistical problem. Why? Because one of the fast ports also handles the return audio channel eARC. In practice this means that if you connect a soundbar or home cinema system to the TV, you’ll be left with just one free HDMI 2.1 socket. If you have two consoles at home, or a console and a powerful PC, unfortunately you’ll have to give something up or keep juggling cables at the back of the case while trying to maintain convenient control of the audio system.

LG OLED B6 has plenty to offer gamers; it’s simply a complete base for PS5, Xbox Series X/S or a capable PC. It has four full-size HDMI 2.1 ports with 48 Gbps bandwidth, so you can avoid irritating cable swapping when connecting several newer devices at once. It offers a full suite of synchronization technologies, from standard VRR to G-Sync and FreeSync. The screen synchronises the refresh rate seamlessly with the frame output from the console or graphics card. Of course it includes ALLM: the B6 automatically recognises when a game is running and immediately reduces latency to a minimum. HDR support is also excellent. The TV supports Dolby Vision, and a correctly implemented HGiG standard means that, after initial calibration in the console settings, the image won’t suffer from blown-out highlights or lost detail in bright areas. The cherry on the cake is the Game Bar. Instead of digging through the full menu during gameplay, a single click is enough to adjust shadow visibility, tweak selected parameters or simply check the current display mode. All of this makes the LG B6 an excellent choice for gamers.

Input lag

10/10

9.8/10

SDR

1080p60
11 ms
15 ms
1080p120
7 ms
5 ms
2160p60
11 ms
14 ms
2160p120
7 ms
5 ms

HDR

2160p60
11 ms
14 ms
2160p120
7 ms
5 ms
4320p60

Dolby Vision

2160p60 DV
11 ms
25 ms
2160p120 DV
7 ms
13 ms

It's worth taking a look at the raw numbers here, because in terms of signal latency the TCL C7L is right at the top of the market. Our measurements showed that the input lag is extremely low and for a 60 Hz signal it is only about 10 ms. When we step up and run a game at 120 Hz, the delay drops to an almost imperceptible 6 to 7 ms. More importantly, the TV maintains these figures even after enabling Dolby Vision in games.

Input lag in the LG B6 is very low. At 120 Hz it is about 5 ms, and at 60 Hz it rises to roughly 15 ms. Both results are good enough that most gamers won't notice any delay between their inputs and what happens on screen. Dolby Vision performs slightly worse, with input lag rising to around 25 ms. That's still not a bad result, but the most demanding Xbox gamers may already notice a difference compared with standard HDR.

Compatibility with PC

8.4/10

7.6/10

Chroma 444 (max. resolution and refresh rate)
Yes
Yes
Font clarity
Good
Good
Readability of dark text and shapes
Good
Very Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, max. refresh rate)
6ms
5ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement
RGB
RGWB
Max refresh rate
144Hz
120Hz
G-Sync
Yes
Yes

The photo shows the legibility of small fonts. Ideally, lines should be the same thickness on both light and dark text, with minimal pixel gaps.

As for gaming on PC, as I mentioned earlier, it's genuinely hassle-free. The TV handles high refresh rates without a hitch: full 4K at 144 Hz, and in Full HD it can even reach 288 Hz. On top of that, G-Sync and FreeSync work without any issues. For PC gamers, the C7L can therefore serve as an excellent, gigantic monitor.

Typical office work involving text fares a bit worse, because the panel behaves rather oddly in those circumstances. When the highest refresh modes are enabled, namely 144 Hz and 288 Hz, the readability and sharpness of dark text on a light background are rather mediocre, with fonts becoming slightly blurred and jagged. Fortunately, this can be fixed very easily by changing the display refresh rate in your graphics card settings to a steady 120 Hz. Then the text becomes perfectly sharp again, which is definitely worth remembering if you plan to use the C7L as a work screen.

The LG B6 also works very well as a computer monitor. Low input lag, support for VRR, G-Sync and FreeSync, and a high refresh rate mean there's little to criticise about it for gaming. Compared with more expensive models it only lacks additional modes with even higher refresh rates. In the best OLEDs and some LCD TVs you can now find even 240 or 330 Hz at lower resolutions. The B6 doesn't have that, but for most people it won't be a big loss.

The subpixel structure of the WOLED panel may be more significant. Because it uses four subpixels, small fonts in Windows are not perfectly sharp and you can sometimes see subtle coloured fringes around them. For occasional web browsing or general computer work this is unlikely to be a problem. However, anyone planning to buy a smaller variant, for example a 48-inch model, and use it as their primary monitor at their desk should bear that in mind.

Viewing angles

3.7/10

7.5/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees
78%
29%

Unfortunately, the strong native contrast of the HVA 2.0 panel comes at a price. It's the viewing angles, which on the C7L model are simply poor. That's all, of course, due to the use of the mentioned VA-type panel. It's an inherent characteristic of that technology and something you have to bear in mind when buying. If you sit directly in front of the screen, the picture will delight you with its depth, but just shift a few dozen degrees to the side on the sofa and the colours will immediately start to fade. By choosing this model, you accept a classic market compromise: you get deep blacks and superb contrast, but you sacrifice viewing angles.

Viewing angles on the LG B6 are very good, which is typical for almost all OLED TVs. Even when viewed from a wide angle the image retains high colour saturation and does not noticeably lose brightness. In this respect, only models with QD-OLED panels really perform better. However, there is one thing worth mentioning. Some WOLED panels may show a slight greenish tint at very wide angles. This is not a rule. Some units exhibit this effect more, others hardly at all. It depends on the individual unit.

Daytime performance

8.8/10

4.8/10

Panel finish
Glare
Satin
Reflection suppression
Poor
Average
Black levels during daytime
Very Good
Good

Panel brightness

LG OLED B6: 313 cd/m2

TCL C7L: 1327 cd/m2

It’s also worth mentioning how the TCL C7L performs during everyday viewing in a sunlit living room. As we’ve already established, it’s an extremely bright TV, and it’s precisely thanks to such a huge luminance headroom (up to 2400 nits in SDR!) that it can perform brilliantly in very bright rooms, the picture simply cuts through the light entering the room without any problems. The only thing to watch out for are direct reflections on the screen. The coating used on the panel this year is noticeably glossier than the one we saw on last year’s C7K. The screen suppresses point reflections much less effectively, which, in unfavourable conditions, for example when a window is directly opposite the TV, may be fairly irritating for some users. Even so, in terms of raw brightness the C7L is simply a beast for bright living rooms.

In the case of the LG B6, one of the biggest changes comes from the new OLED SE panel. The TV is slightly brighter than its predecessor, but at the same time it is worse at dealing with direct reflections. The reason is a less effective polariser, so reflections from windows or lamps are less well suppressed and blacks in a bright room can look slightly lifted. LG tried to partially mask this effect with a satin screen coating. It does help to gently diffuse reflections, but it does not eliminate them as effectively as the solutions used previously. And in this respect the B series falls furthest behind the previous generation. By day the screen no longer looks as clean, and strong light sources can be clearly reflected on the panel. That does not, of course, mean the B6 is unsuitable for a bright living room. The higher screen brightness helps to cut through ambient light and during normal viewing the picture remains readable. The problem starts when there is a large window or a bright lamp opposite the TV. In those conditions the B6 does not perform at its best. It is therefore best suited to a room where you can at least partially control the light falling directly on the screen.

Panel details

Backlight Type
Mini-LED Super QLED (SQD)
WRGB OLED
Software version during testing
v8-0012T01-LF1V626.003089
43.11.79
Image processor
MT5896 2,5GB RAM

Subpixel Structure:

Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:

Review TCL C7L TV Panel details
Review LG OLED B6 TV Panel details

TCL C7L

LG OLED B6

TV features

7.8/10

8/10

  • System
    Google TV
    WebOS
  • System performance
    Very good
    Decent
  • HDMI inputs
    2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
    0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
  • Outputs
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
  • Network Interfaces
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
  • TV reception
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C

Classic features:

  • Recording to USB (terrestrial TV)
    No
    Yes
  • Recording programming
    No
    Yes
  • Picture in Picture (PiP)
    No
    No
  • RF remote control (no need to aim)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Backlit remote control
    No
    No
  • Teletext
    Yes
    No
  • Audio only mode
    Yes
    Yes
  • Bluetooth headphones support
    Yes
    Yes
  • Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio
    Yes
    Yes

Smart features:

  • AirPlay
    Yes
    Yes
  • Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Voice search
    Yes
    Yes
  • Voice search in native language
    Yes
    Yes
  • Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse
    Yes
    Yes
Review TCL C7L TV features
Review TCL C7L TV features
Review TCL C7L TV features
Review TCL C7L TV features
Review LG OLED B6 TV features
Review LG OLED B6 TV features
Review LG OLED B6 TV features
Review LG OLED B6 TV features

Sound connection options

  • HDMI audio
    eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
    eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
  • Other audio outputs
    Toslink (Optical audio)
    Toslink (Optical audio)
  • Wireless audio
    Bluetooth
    Bluetooth

Supported audio formats (external HDMI eARC audio):

  • Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby True HD 7.1
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
    Yes
    Yes
  • DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
    Yes
    No
  • DTS-HD Master Audio
    Yes
    No

Senior accessibility

  • Numeric keyboard on TV
    Yes
    No
  • Font size adjustment
    Yes
    No
  • Audio description
    Yes
    Yes

Google TV i Smart TV

The multimedia heart of the TCL C7L is, of course, the Google TV operating system, which provides access to a vast app library and all the most popular streaming platforms on the market. The Smart TV in this model runs smoothly, offering full support for useful network features such as Apple AirPlay and Chromecast. A huge and very pleasant surprise, however, is the software's overall polish. We noticed that Google's system on the new C7L runs considerably smoother and faster than on last year's TCL models. This is largely thanks to better optimisation for the launch. Unnecessary pauses and minor interface stutters known from older models seem to be a thing of the past.

Funkcje telewizyjne

As far as traditional over-the-air or cable TV is concerned, the TCL C7L does not offer many additional advanced features. It's simply a basic receiver. The manufacturer has not attempted any revolutionary solutions here, so apart from the traditional programme guide you won't find anything special. A big nod to traditional viewers is the classic remote control. Contrary to the prevailing trend for minimalism, it still features a full numeric keypad, which makes switching channels much quicker.

Smart TV: webOS

LG B6 uses webOS, LG’s proprietary platform. Its biggest advantage remains the way you control it. The supplied Magic Remote works much like a mouse; simply move your wrist to shift the cursor across the screen and point at the items you want. At first it may feel unusual, but it quickly proves very convenient, especially when typing text, selecting apps or navigating a complex menu. The remote itself is fairly minimalist and does not offer many traditional buttons, but cursor control largely makes up for that. On the other hand, if you do not want to wave your hand to enter letters, you can always speak the desired phrase into the remote and the AI voice assistant will suggest appropriate recommendations.

In terms of available apps it is hard to fault webOS. You will find virtually all the major streaming services here, as well as additional features such as AirPlay, screen mirroring and Chromecast. The TV therefore works well with both iPhones and Android devices. It is a shame, however, that the system does not run on the B6 as smoothly as on higher-end models. At times it can respond with a slight delay, and the home screen is heavily cluttered with recommendations, tiles and ads. That does not make webOS unusable, but it could certainly be more organised.

Classic features

By contrast, the traditional TV features perform very well, features many manufacturers seem to be gradually forgetting. The LG B6 allows, among other things, recording programmes to a connected drive or USB storage. The PVR function also works with a scheduler, so a recording can be planned in advance from the TV guide. This comes in handy when you want to save an episode, a match or another event broadcast during your absence. There is also a clear channel guide and efficient handling of terrestrial, cable and satellite TV. For people who still regularly use traditional television, the B6 is therefore a relatively complete device, provided the lack of teletext does not bother you.

Apps

9.6/10

9.1/10

OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
OK
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
OK
Spotify
OK
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
OK
Kodi
No
Apple_music
OK
Eleven_sports
No
Xbox Game Pass
OK
GeForce NOW
No
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
OK
Steam Link
OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
OK
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
OK
Spotify
OK
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
No
Kodi
OK
Apple_music
No
Eleven_sports
OK
Xbox Game Pass
OK
GeForce NOW
OK
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
No
Steam Link

Playing files from USB

9.4/10

9.1/10

Supported photo formats:

JPEG
Yes
Yes
HEIC
Yes
No
PNG
Yes
Yes
GIF
Yes
No
WebP
Yes
No
TIFF
No
No
BMP
Yes
Yes
SVG
No
No

Maximum photo resolution:

4 Mpix
Yes
Yes
6 Mpix
Yes
Yes
8 Mpix
Yes
Yes
10 Mpix
Yes
Yes
12 Mpix
Yes
Yes
16 Mpix
Yes
Yes
20 Mpix
Yes
Yes
24 Mpix
Yes
Yes
28 Mpix
Yes
Yes
32 Mpix
Yes
Yes

Finally, in the multimedia section it is worth mentioning playback from external USB drives. During our tests we did not encounter any unpleasant surprises; the built-in player handles all common video and audio formats exactly as it should. Interestingly, the TCL C7L also had no problem playing photos saved in Apple's native HEIC format. This is an extremely rare feature in manufacturers' built-in TV apps. And although Google TV of course lets you install external media player apps, in the case of the C7L the built-in tool is so well polished that installing additional software is unlikely to be necessary.

The LG B6's built-in player handles most common video files played from USB without much trouble. The TV also correctly supports subtitles and the most common audio formats, although it lacks DTS support. The situation is slightly worse for photos. The list of supported formats is rather limited and does not include, among others, HEIC, the format in which photos taken with an iPhone are saved by default. Such files therefore need to be converted to JPG beforehand, or you can simply use the AirPlay function.

Sound

7.7/10

6.7/10

  • Maximum volume
    77dB
    87dB
  • Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby True HD 7.1
    No
    No
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
    No
    No
  • DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
    Yes
    No
  • DTS-HD Master Audio
    Yes
    No

The TCL C7L simply sounds fairly good and does the job competently. In terms of sound quality itself, practically nothing has changed compared with last year's C7K model. The manufacturer still uses a Bang & Olufsen-branded speaker system in a 2.2 configuration. The only thing that can be quite irritating during viewing is that when you raise the volume to higher levels, roughly above 50% on the scale, the volume no longer corresponds to the on-screen indicator. The B&O audio system works well for everyday viewing of current affairs or series at moderate volume, but if you're looking for better sound it's worth buying at least a basic soundbar for the C7L.

In terms of sound, the LG B6 performs very similarly to last year's model. It still uses a 2.0 speaker setup delivering 20 W, which is perfectly adequate for everyday viewing. Dialogue is clear and the sound isn't bad, but there is no soundstage, dynamics or bass you'd expect from higher-end models. The TV supports the Dolby Atmos spatial audio format, but lacks DTS:X. The main problem, however, isn't the speakers themselves but the settings. Compared with its predecessor, many of the options for tailoring the sound to your own preferences have disappeared. A few presets remain, including AI and Standard, but the ability to fine-tune the sound is much reduced compared with a year ago.

Sound Quality Test

Acoustic Measurements

77dBC (Max)

75dBC

87dBC (Max)

75dBC

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