- Matching (Score)
- Our verdict
- Competing TVs
- 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
- TV efficiency during daytime
- TV features
- Apps
- Playing files from USB
- Sound
- Details about the matrix
TCL C7K / QM7K Review
C7K / Q7C / MQLED85K / C79K / C71K / QM7K
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Panel type: LCD VA Refresh rate: 144Hz Brand: TCL Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Google TV Model year: 2025
The TCL C7K is a new, mid-range QD-MiniLED television for 2025, which will likely replace the very popular MQLED85 (C765) model from last year in the manufacturer's offer. Right from the start, it stands out not only for its MiniLED backlighting technology and QD (quantum dot) screen but also for the newly established collaboration between TCL and the Bang & Olufsen brand, which aims to provide better sound experiences. Sounds good? We've checked how the C7K performs in everyday use – from movies and games to system functionality.
TCL C7K - Our verdict
7.1
Overall rating
There are televisions that come for testing, and you immediately think: “oh, just another average one, probably like many others.” And basically… that’s true. The TCL C7K doesn’t try to dethrone OLEDs, nor does it shout from the box “revolution!” Yet, after a few days of testing, it’s hard not to think: “wow, this is really good equipment.” And that’s exactly what the C7K is. The biggest asset of the C7K is its decent picture at a reasonable price – MiniLED and quantum dots do their job here. The colours are vibrant, the brightness satisfactory, the contrast impressive, and with the right settings, you can truly enjoy viewing in the best quality. The second strong point is the smoothness of motion – both in sports and games. Support for HDMI 2.1, variable refresh rates, 144 Hz, and a whole host of other features make gaming on this TV a pure joy. Then there’s Google TV, which – despite some minor shortcomings – provides access to nearly an endless library of applications. Voice control, quick access to YouTube, Netflix, AirPlay support – it has everything you need for everyday use. Are there downsides? Of course. The Google TV system can have moments of “hesitation,” and MiniLED – being MiniLED – can stumble on very complex film scenes. But these are details. After all, the C7K is a mid-range model – and in this class, it performs simply excellently. So if you are looking for a reasonably priced, modern television with Google TV that looks good, works well, and plays quite decently without ruining your budget – the TCL C7K definitely deserves your attention.
Advantages
Very good black - VA panel with a large number of Mini-LED zones
High brightness in HDR - over 1000 nits
Excellent for gamers - HDMI 2.1, low input lag, VRR, ALLM, etc.
Good motion smoothness - 144Hz panel
Supports multiple HDR formats: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Google TV operating system with access to a vast array of applications
Pleasant sound from built-in speakers
Disadvantages
Google TV can operate with minor stutters
No USB recording and PiP functionality
Movies and series in UHD quality6.7
Classic TV, YouTube6.5
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)6.4
Gaming on console8.5
TV as a computer monitor8.4
Watching in bright light6.1
Utility functions7.7
Apps9.6
Sound quality7.0
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TCL C7K - Competing TVs in this price range
TCL C7K - TV appearance
HDMI inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality: Good
Stand type: Central
Kolor ramki: Graphite
- Regulacja podstawy: stand-Fixed
- Montaż na płasko: Nie
- Akcesoria: accessories-Stand
TCL C7K is a television that makes a very good impression at first glance. The front of the device looks modern and elegant – with slim bezels, a central stand, and a subtle metallic accent in the form of a narrow overlay with the inscription "Premium QD-MiniLED". It's a small detail, but it helps create the impression that we are dealing with high-end equipment. And indeed – looking from the front, it's hard to disagree. The C7K looks neat, modern, and solid.
On the other hand – literally – the situation looks slightly worse. The back of the television is quite "chubby", which results from the MiniLED backlighting construction. This means that when hung on the wall, we won't achieve the effect of super-flat installation. Despite this minor flaw, the overall build quality is really decent. The materials do not creak, everything is well assembled, and the design – for this price segment – can pleasantly surprise and is likely to appeal to many.
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Select size:
TCL C7K - Contrast and black detail
7.1/10
Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 336 (14 x 24)
Result
161,000:1
Result
18,750:1
Result
13,150:1
Result
6,300:1
Result
4,200:1
Visibility of details in the lights:
The 50-inch TCL C7K that we tested surprised us right from the start – it’s the smallest model in the series, yet it comes equipped with a VA panel with MiniLED backlighting and – attention – as many as 336 dimming zones. For comparison: many significantly larger televisions from higher tiers would be eager to boast such a number. Here we have it in the 50-inch version. Sounds promising, doesn’t it? So how does this translate into real movie-watching experiences? In the vast majority of tested scenes – very well. The contrast was high enough that it reached even six-digit values in measurements, which practically means very deep blacks and well-separated highlights. In scenes from films like The Revenant or Oblivion, the effect was impressive, matching the best LCD screens in this class.
However, not everything went perfectly. Despite the impressive number of zones, managing them was not always exemplary. In more complex scenes, where small light sources or a high level of detail appeared, the television had issues with the so-called halo effect (a glowing halo around bright objects) or overly aggressive dimming of the image. In such situations, contrast could either collapse due to overexposure of certain zones or, conversely – details in bright areas disappeared because the zones suppressed the light too much. Nonetheless, it is worth noting that in the vast majority of scenes, the contrast was more than satisfactory. And taking into account the size of the television and the price, the final effect will satisfy not just average users.
Halo effect and black detail visibility:
TCL C7K - HDR effect quality
5.4/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 93.1%, Bt.2020: 72.9%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
1051 nit
Result
185 nit
Result
454 nit
Result
200 nit
Result
836 nit
TCL C7K is one of the brightest MiniLED televisions in its price range. Under the best testing conditions, the screen managed to achieve over 1200 nits, resulting in impressive, at times almost blindingly bright scenes. And most importantly – this is not just a theory based on measurements. In practice, the brightest parts of films can shine with true cinematic grandeur. Fans of home HDR cinema should be truly satisfied.
The impression is excellent, especially in scenes with large areas of brightness – a white sky, explosions, sun reflections, or magical sunsets can surprise with an intensity of light that is rarely seen in this price range.
However, it gets a bit worse when more challenging scenarios appear on the screen, as described when discussing contrast – that is, images full of details, with small, bright elements on a dark background. In such cases, the C7K often decides to preserve black levels at the expense of brightness. An example? Scenes from the films Sicario 2 or Life of Pi, where small light sources (like a distant lantern) can become less visible, and details in the lights are simply dimmed or blend into the background.
For many viewers, this may be an acceptable compromise – as we achieve deep black levels and a pleasing plasticity of the image. Nevertheless, it is worth being aware that the visibility of small details in bright areas is not this model's strongest suit. It is simply a technological limitation that still exists – even with over 300 zones.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
In bright film scenes, the TCL C7K can truly be surprisingly positive. In test sequences from films like Pan or Billy Lynn – where the screen has to deal with fireworks, explosions, or harsh sunlight – the television performed really well. The light effects looked dynamic and intense, and although they obviously don’t reach the level of reference screens capable of displaying 4000 nits, the experience was very satisfying. The colour accuracy sometimes slightly deviated from perfection – we noticed a subtle cooling of colours in some scenes – but overall, the picture presented itself pleasantly despite slight oversaturation. This is a result that will successfully satisfy most viewers, even those with slightly higher expectations. Darker parts of the image fare somewhat weaker, especially where characters or elements of the set design appear in the background. In such moments, it’s evident that TCL strongly prioritises deep blacks at the expense of details – and the screen can significantly dim those parts of the image. Was this the intention of TCL's engineers? It's hard to say, but generally, the visual effect will appeal to most users – as the blacks really can make an impression here.
HDR luminance chart:
Luminancja HDR
Luminance of RGB colors
TCL is a brand that does not engage in any format wars. With the C7K model, we simply get everything that matters today – HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. And that's really good news, because regardless of whether we are watching something from Netflix, Prime Video or a 4K disc, we can be sure that the television will display it as well as it can. The differences can truly be seen with the naked eye. In the comparative image we have prepared, it is perfectly visible how Dolby Vision can bring out more details – both in the bright and dark parts of the image – compared to standard HDR10. This is thanks to dynamic metadata that adjust contrast and brightness to each scene, rather than sticking to a single, rigid setting for the entire film. As a result, the image has more depth, and the HDR effects really "do the job". It is pleasing that TCL does not restrict the user and simply provides full support for all popular standards.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: Dolby Vision
Factory color reproduction
6/10
A new feature in TCL televisions for 2025 is the long-awaited Filmmaker mode, which until now has been found in most competing brands. This is great news, as this mode is considered to be the truest to the original vision of the creators and is often recommended by enthusiasts of good picture quality. Unfortunately, as is often the case, the mere presence of this mode does not guarantee perfection. The Filmmaker mode in the TCL C7K is not without its flaws. There can be criticism of the incorrect white balance, particularly a slight dominance of blue, which resulted in cool, somewhat greyish skin tones. But that was not the biggest issue. The main complaint was the excessive brightness exposure, which is clearly visible on the gamma and EOTF graphs. The image was simply too bright, at times even blown out, which affected not only the texture of scenes but also the overall viewing experience. Some details were simply lost, and the entire image looked as if someone had slightly overcooked the brightness slider. As always, we decided to check what could be extracted from this after calibration. And that’s where it started to get really interesting…
Color reproduction after calibration
7.5/10
After calibration, the TCL C7K showcased itself in a really good light, especially when it comes to SDR content. We managed to precisely tune the white balance, colour gamut, and brightness characteristics to the point that colour errors on the ColorChecker palette dropped below a value of 2. For the uninitiated – this is nearly a perfect result, which means that the image is very close to what the creators intended. Unfortunately, the situation was worse with 4K HDR content. Although we managed to gently stabilize the white balance and correct its previous errors, it was still evident that the television has certain "MiniLED traits," especially in brightness management. When we checked how the C7K handled the EOTF curve on actual film scenes, rather than just on synthetic test patterns, it turned out that the screen still tends to slightly brighten the entire image. This impacts the overall experience – blacks lose some depth, and the image becomes less contrasty than it should be. Despite these minor shortcomings in HDR content, the overall reception of materials – especially in SDR – is truly very good. After calibration, the C7K can display an image that can compete successfully with much more expensive models. Good colour tuning, natural skin tones, and pleasant brightness make movie sessions and everyday viewing of content more than satisfactory.
TCL C7K - Smoothness of tonal transitions
8.6/10
The TCL C7K handles colour gradation very well – in most of the tested scenes, tonal transitions were smooth, and colours blended together without visible outlines or the artificial "blot" effect. In everyday use, it's hard to find anything to criticise – the picture looks natural, without annoying transitions or digital artifacts. Certain limitations only arise in very dark tones – particularly in a heavily muted grey palette, where the television may struggle to reproduce the ideal gradation. But this is absolutely understandable, as even many significantly more expensive models in this regard simply falter. Fortunately, these situations are rare and do not significantly impact the overall impression.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
5.5/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
TCL C7K is equipped with a feature that, according to the manufacturer, is meant to smooth out unwanted colour transitions – a sort of rescue for less successful tonal shifts. It is called "Gradual Smoothing" and… well, it sounds ambitious, but in practice it works very poorly. Regardless of whether we set it to a low or high level, the difference is minimal. Worst of all, the feature can cut out elements from the picture that should be there. Fortunately, film grain remains untouched, so at least it doesn’t smooth everything indiscriminately, but still – it’s better to simply turn this option off.
When it comes to scaling lower resolution content, it is somewhat better. SD and HD materials look quite decent, although at times we had the impression that the image loses sharpness and becomes too soft – as if something took away its definition. Fortunately, with very low sources (e.g. 576p), there was no overscan effect, meaning the picture was not artificially cropped – everything fit on the screen as it should.
TCL C7K - Blur and motion smoothness
7.5/10
Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 144Hz
Film motion smoothing option: Yes
Blur reduction option: Yes
BFI function 60Hz: Yes, 120Hz (double contours)
BFI function 120Hz: Yes, 240Hz (double contours)
Brightness drop with BFI: 24%
The TCL C7K handles motion fluidity really very well. The matrix used in it offers a refresh rate of 144 Hz, which in itself suggests that this television is more than just a regular "60 Hz" panel. Furthermore – if we connect the C7K to a computer and set the resolution to Full HD. But we'll write more about this in the paragraph about gamers and PC collaboration. Returning to everyday use – both sports and films look very good here. Thanks to the fast panel and well-functioning motion smoothing, the C7K is great for watching matches, but also for movie screenings. In the menu, we find two sliders – motion blur reduction and flicker reduction – which allow us to adjust the fluidity effect to our own preferences. At lower settings, we get a more cinematic effect, with slight stuttering motion. At higher settings – the picture becomes more theatrical, fluid to the point of excess. Everyone has their own preferences – anyone can set it to their liking.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Blur (BFI function enabled):
Smużenie (4K 144Hz):
We have to say it bluntly – we are slightly shocked at how well the C7K has dealt with motion blur. Or rather... with its absence. For an LCD, this panel responds exceptionally quickly, which is a real rarity these days, even in more expensive models. Of course, those who are more critical will notice that in very dark scenes, there are still some slight traces of motion blur – but that is more of an exception than the rule. For those particularly sensitive to fluidity, TCL has prepared something else – the BFI feature, which inserts a black frame between images. Does it work? Yes. It clearly reduces motion blur, but unfortunately, it can cause "ghosting" of contours in dynamic scenes. Brightness does not drop as drastically as with many competitors – where enabling BFI can cause the screen to dim by half or more. Here, the drop is barely noticeable. Is it worth using? We would rather not recommend it – the panel performs very well without this option anyway. But if someone wants to – by all means, there is plenty to choose from.
TCL C7K - Console compatibility and gaming features
9.8/10
- ALLM:
Yes
- VRR:
Yes
- VRR range:
48 - 144Hz
- Dolby Vision Game Mode:
Yes
- Correct implementation of HGIG:
Yes
- 1080p@120Hz:
Yes
- 1440p@120Hz:
Yes
- 4K@120Hz:
Yes
- Game bar:
Yes
The TCL C7K is a television that on paper appears to be the dream equipment for gamers – and most importantly, it holds up in practice too. To start with good news: there are two full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports, so we can easily connect both a console and a computer, taking advantage of all their capabilities. The panel itself supports a refresh rate of 144 Hz, which gives a significant advantage in dynamic games. There is also a complete set of gaming features: VRR (variable refresh rate), ALLM (automatic low-latency mode), and support for Dolby Vision in games. There is also the HGiG mode, which allows for HDR effects consistent with the creators' intentions. GameBar, an information bar for gamers. It works quickly, looks clear (like a Nintendo console👌), and shows what matters most: the current frame rate, VRR status, and even HDR parameters.
TCL C7K - Input lag
9.7/10
When it comes to delays, the C7K gives no reason for complaints. In games at 120 Hz, input lag is around 10 ms, which means the television responds really quickly. And interestingly – even in Dolby Vision mode, the result is very similar, which is not always the standard. Good job, TCL. At 60 Hz, the lag does increase a bit, but that's completely normal and affects virtually every television with a refresh rate of 120Hz and above. The most important thing is that everything still runs smoothly and there’s no feeling that something is not responding to our actions.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 19 ms | 2160p60: 19 ms | 2160p60 DV: 19 ms |
| 1080p120: 11 ms | 2160p120: 10 ms | 2160p120 DV: 10 ms |
| 2160p60: 19 ms | ||
| 2160p120: 11 ms |
TCL C7K - Compatibility with PC
8.4/10
Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes
Font clarity: Good
Readability of dark text and shapes: Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 11ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: BGR
Max refresh rate: 144Hz
G-Sync: Yes
If we are going to connect the C7K to a computer – especially for gaming – there is definitely a lot to play for. We have 4K at 144 Hz, which already sounds great, but if we lower the resolution, the television can even display up to 280 Hz. In e-sports, where every fraction of a second counts, this really makes a difference. On top of that, there is support for G-Sync and FreeSync, so regardless of which graphics card we have – the image will be smooth, without any stuttering or tearing.
However, if we plan to place the C7K on a desk and use it like a monitor, it’s a bit less "rosy." Yes, it supports chroma 4:4:4, so fonts should be sharp, but with very dark letters, there is slight blurriness and dimming of the edges. This is not something that immediately stands out during gaming or watching, but when working with text – it can be distracting. In everyday use – it’s probably nothing to worry about, but if we plan to place a 50-inch screen a meter from our face, it’s worth keeping this in mind.
TCL C7K - Viewing angles
3/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 75%
There are no surprises here – the C7K has classic viewing angles for a VA panel. That is: sitting directly in front – it’s excellent. The colours look good, the contrast is strong, everything is in place. But just shifting slightly to the side and it starts to get worse – the image loses saturation, blacks turn grey, and the overall impression diminishes a bit. So, if we plan to watch together with a few people or have a sofa that takes up half the living room – it’s worth seating everyone a bit more centrally. You can watch from the side, but don’t expect miracles – it’s simply a characteristic of VA panels.
TCL C7K - TV efficiency during daytime
6.1/10
Matrix coating: Satin
Reflection suppression: Good
Black levels during daytime: Very Good
Fortunately, the TCL C7K performs quite well in bright rooms. The applied panel has a satin finish that effectively suppresses reflections, which means we don't have to worry about lamp or window reflections even on sunny days. Importantly, the colours maintain their intensity and do not wash out, as can happen with weaker matte panels. In terms of brightness, the average for content like YouTube or regular television is slightly below 500 nits. This is not a record-breaking result – for example, the MQLED85 (C765) performs better in this regard. However, for everyday viewing during the day, it should work without major issues, provided we do not plan to place it opposite a south-facing window without curtains.
Matrix brightness
Average luminance SDR
TCL C7K / QM7K: 475 cd/m2
TCL C7K - TV features
7.7/10
System: Google TV
System performance: Good
- HDMI inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
- Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
- Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
- TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
Classic features:
Recording to USB (terrestrial TV): No - Recording programming: No
- Picture in Picture (PiP): No
- RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen): RF
- Backlit remote control: No
- Teletext: Yes
- Audio only mode: Yes
- Possibility to connect Bluetooth headphones to the TV: Yes
- Possibility to simultaneously use Bluetooth headphones and the TV speaker: Yes
Smart features:
- AirPlay: Yes
- Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast): Yes
- Wyszukiwanie głosowe: Yes
- Voice search in native language: Yes
- Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse: Yes
SmartTV: GoogleTV
The greatest strength of the TCL C7K in everyday use is undoubtedly the Google TV system. Thanks to it, we have access to an almost endless library of applications, including some more niche ones that are often unavailable on other platforms. The built-in Google Assistant understands Polish, so we can easily ask what’s on TV, what the weather is like, and even issue a few voice commands to control the television. The presence of Chromecast and AirPlay, which work smoothly and make life easier, is also a plus.
User Functions
On the downside, the classic features are somewhat lacking. Of course, we have the basics – teletext, EPG, and the ability to connect headphones – but that’s about it. There is no USB recording feature or picture-in-picture (PiP) mode, which can still be found among competitors. It’s also worth remembering that Google TV in the TCL edition can sometimes have strangely translated parts of the menu or minor errors in the interface. These are not things that interfere with daily use, but those sensitive to details may notice them.
TCL C7K - Apps
9.6/10
TCL C7K - Playing files from USB
9.2/10
| Maximum photo resolution: | Supported photo formats: |
|---|---|
| 4 Mpix | JPEG |
| 6 Mpix | HEIC |
| 8 Mpix | PNG |
| 10 Mpix | GIF |
| 12 Mpix | WebP |
| 16 Mpix | TIFF |
| 20 Mpix | BMP |
| 24 Mpix | SVG |
| 28 Mpix | |
| 32 Mpix |
The built-in file player in the TCL C7K performs really very well. It supports most of the most popular audio and video formats, so if we want to quickly plug something in from a USB drive and play it – there should be no problem. Of course, as is usually the case, we can find some minor shortcomings – not every exotic codec will work (Apple's HEIC), not all subtitles will be perfectly synchronised (txt.). However, the biggest advantage of this television comes to the rescue, namely Google TV. Thanks to access to the Google Play store, we can easily install an alternative player, e.g. VLC, and then no files will be a concern for us.
TCL C7K - Sound
7/10
7/10
Subjective sound quality
Supported codecs
(TV speakers)
Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Dolby True HD 7.1
Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
DTS-HD Master Audio
Supported codecs
(external HDMI eARC audio)
Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Dolby True HD 7.1
Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
DTS-HD Master Audio
To be honest, we didn’t expect much from the sound of the 50-inch version of the C7K model. Typically, in such sizes, it’s hard to get anything more than thin, flat sound. But here – a pleasant surprise. The audio proved to be really enjoyable, with good clarity and even a slightly discernible bass. This is probably related to TCL's new collaboration with the Bang & Olufsen brand, which is a novelty for 2025. Whether the C7K actually uses the original transducers from the Danish premium brand – we cannot confirm. But the end result still deserves a thumbs up. For a television without a soundbar – it sounds quite pleasant.
TCL C7K - Details about the matrix
Software version during testing: V8.0012T01-LF1V531.002396
Image processor: MT5896 2,5GB RAM
Subpixel Structure:
Panel uniformity:
Backlight Type: PFS LED
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