- 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 C8K Review
C8K / QM8K
Available screen sizes:
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Panel type: LCD VA Refresh rate: 144Hz Brand: TCL Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Google TV Model year: 2025
The TCL C8K is the direct successor to the C855 model, which surprised last year with its excellent price-to-performance ratio. The new version introduces several key changes and improvements, and the manufacturer once again targets the higher-end Mini-LED segment with a VA panel. Does the C8K manage to enhance what was already good? Are we still dealing with a price revelation? We examine this in our test.
TCL C8K - Our verdict
7.7
Overall rating
The C8K is proof that premium Mini LED technology does not have to cost as much as a premium product. With a high number of dimming zones and a new WHVA panel, the television offers excellent contrast, deep blacks, and very high brightness – everything we expect from a good viewing experience in the living room. The improved viewing angles are also surprising, finally allowing us to enjoy watching even when sitting outside the centre of the frame. The C8K also excels in the gaming world – 144 Hz, support for 288 Hz in Full HD, a complete set of gaming features, very low input lag, and sensible compatibility with PCs make it hard to tear ourselves away from it with a controller or keyboard in hand. Onboard, we also have Google TV – currently the most advanced and versatile Smart TV platform. There is access to all key applications, excellent voice control, and an intuitive interface. It may lack some classic TV features like USB recording from built-in tuners or picture-in-picture (PiP), but most users won't even notice that. On top of all this, there is very decent sound – a new collaboration with Bang & Olufsen.
Of course, it is not a screen without flaws. HDR, although impressive, still carries some 'mini LED' traits – bright scenes can be overly bright or dimmed, and the system lacks a few classic features known from other brands. But when we look at its price compared to the competition, it’s hard not to ask ourselves – why pay more?
Advantages
Great contrast and black levels
Very high HDR brightness
Support for all popular HDR formats
Fast 4K@144 Hz panel
Many features for gamers (VRR, ALLM, Game Bar, Low input lag)
GoogleTV operating system with multiple apps
Improved viewing angles thanks to WHVA panel
Very good sound: Collaboration with Bang & Olufsen
Disadvantages
No smaller variants such as 55"
Very weak dimming algorithms
Colour reproduction out of the box needs improvement
Only 2 HDMI 2.1 ports and one USB.
No recording function from built-in tuners or PiP
Movies and series in UHD quality7.4
Classic TV, YouTube7.0
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)6.8
Gaming on console8.9
TV as a computer monitor8.6
Watching in bright light6.9
Utility functions7.7
Apps9.6
Sound quality7.9
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TCL C8K - Competing TVs in this price range
TCL C8K - 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: Premium
Stand type: Central
Bezel colour: Graphite
Stand: Fixed
Flat design: Yes
Accessories: Stand
The TCL C8K, right from the first contact, gives the impression of a high-end device. The bezels are extremely narrow and nearly merge with the screen – there is none of that characteristic black border, which often "frames" the picture. Instead, we have the effect as if the content simply spills over the edges. It looks great – especially in larger sizes. The entire frame is made of aluminium, with the lower part slightly thicker. Fortunately, this does not disrupt the proportions – the whole thing still looks elegant and modern. Importantly, the television is about 6 cm thick, but the construction is completely flat. This means it can be mounted very close to the wall without any strange gaps or curves at the back. So, if someone dreams of a home "wall panel", this is definitely a device that makes that possible. The package also includes a decent central stand. It's solid enough to easily support even the 85-inch version. And if you dream of a screen almost like in the cinema – that is, 98 inches – here the manufacturer has opted for two classic spaced-out legs. And rightly so, because with such dimensions stability is essential.
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TCL C8K - Contrast and black detail
8.2/10
Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 1680 (30 x 56)
Result
714,300:1
Result
68,100:1
Result
25,050:1
Result
17,800:1
Result
12,500:1
Visibility of details in the lights:
TCL C8K is a representative of Mini LED televisions and – importantly – uses a VA panel. This means high native contrast right from the start, but the true strength of this model reveals itself only when we combine it with an impressive number of dimming zones. In the 75-inch version we tested, we counted nearly 1700 independent zones – and you can feel it. In many scenes, the effect of black levels and contrast is nothing short of phenomenal. In less demanding scenes – where the dimming algorithms do not have to 'struggle' much – the screen can resemble OLEDs. The contrast can be almost infinite, and the separation of bright and dark elements leaves an excellent impression.
However – as is often the case with Mini LEDs – it is not an organic screen and some compromises must be accepted. Brightness is a significant advantage, but also a factor that can reveal the weaknesses of this solution – especially in dark scenes. In particularly challenging scenes to display – such as those famous ones with a starry sky or sequences from the iconic Pioneer Kuro – the so-called halo becomes noticeable, which is a glow around small bright details. Sometimes the entire screen also slightly brightens when the system tries to balance contrast with extreme luminance. However, this is a feature of the technology, not a flaw of the specific model. And although these types of compromises can slightly diminish the overall impression in certain scenes, TCL C8K is among the very best when it comes to contrast among Mini LED televisions.
Halo effect and black detail visibility:
TCL C8K - HDR effect quality
6.9/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 96.7%, Bt.2020: 80.8%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
1241 nit
Result
510 nit
Result
1180 nit
Result
375 nit
Result
1421 nit
The TCL C8K is a truly bright television. In synthetic conditions – that is, during brightness test patterns – it was able to achieve even 3500 nits of peak brightness in movie mode. This is an impressive result that brings the C8K close to the market leaders, at least in terms of panel brightness. More importantly – these are not just numbers on paper. In films with a lot of bright scenes, such as Life of Pi or The Meg, the brightness clearly exceeds 1000 nits, providing a real sense of HDR effect. The picture in such moments looks very dynamic, colours are vibrant thanks to excellent colour gamut coverage, and lights are spot-on and intense. Just as it should be.
However, this does not mean that everything is perfect. Similar to the contrast tests, compromises also arise here in more demanding scenes. In sequences with very fine light elements – such as stars in the night sky or reflections in dark rooms – the local dimming algorithm can… get confused. Instead of bringing those details up, the television sometimes decides to significantly dim them – to a level of around 300 nits – to maintain blacks. On one hand, this is quite a reasonable approach (better deep blacks than a grey/blue screen), but on the other hand – there may be moments when certain elements of the picture become hardly visible or even disappear into darkness.
TEST UPDATE (20/08/2025) : The brightness control algorithm in this model is quite problematic – an attempt to calibrate the picture so that it does not drastically overexpose the brightest scenes results in unnatural shifts: an improvement in one area of the picture leads to a deterioration in another. The television may achieve slightly higher brightness measurements, but in practice, this comes with a highly oversaturated image that looks very unnatural!
For the sake of order, we provide the brightness values without this adjustment:
1463 nits
640 nits
1368 nits
468 nits
1025 nits
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
In cinematic scenes, the TCL C8K can genuinely shine. Literally. Take, for example, the film "Pan" – the entire scenery bathed in sunlight looks very convincing, and the effect of the rising sun in the distance, against the sky, has been almost perfectly rendered. It also performed excellently in the scene with fireworks in "Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk" – the bright, dynamic elements appeared very realistic and made an impression. However… as mentioned earlier, mini-LED operates under its own rules. In the same scenes – where dark background characters appear – the dimming algorithms could quite "swallow" the details. Actors standing in the shadows turned into indistinct silhouettes without expression. Perhaps the effect would be better if the television had a better-optimised dynamic tone mapping feature. The current implementation indeed improves the visibility of details in blacks, but does so at the cost of overall contrast – boosting the overall brightness of the scene and flattening the image. Therefore, it is difficult to recommend its use.
Update (HDR – synthetic tests):
Brightness in synthetic measurements increased after the update; however, this has virtually no bearing on real film conditions. In everyday use, the image still appears overly bright and unnatural, so the improvement in the tables does not indicate a genuine improvement in quality.
For the sake of order, we provide results before the update:
Window 2% – 1832 nits
Window 5% – 1963 nits
Window 10% – 1881 nits
Window 15% – 1727 nits
Window 20% – 1604 nits
Window 25% – 1475 nits
Window 50% – 1067 nits
Window 75% – 818 nits
Window 100% – 675 nits
HDR luminance chart:
HDR luminance
The TCL C8K supports a truly wide range of HDR formats. Of course, we have the standard HDR10 – that is, static metadata, which can be found in practically every television on the market – but also a complete set of dynamic formats: HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. While it might seem that a bright television like the C8K does not need support for dynamic metadata, reality shows something different. In very bright, demanding scenes – such as summer landscapes, explosions or fireworks – Dolby Vision can significantly improve the clarity of the image. Details against a bright sky or explosions are simply more visible. The same television, the same scene, but the use of different metadata can yield a completely different final effect. Dolby Vision extracts more information from the dark parts of the image without simultaneously blowing out the bright sections, resulting in an effect closer to what the director intended to show. This shows that even with high panel brightness – dynamic tone mapping still makes sense.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: Dolby Vision
Factory color reproduction
4.8/10
In the C8K, a new picture mode has appeared: Filmmaker Mode. This is something we have known for years from televisions of other brands – a mode designed to deliver the director's vision as faithfully as possible, without unnecessary image enhancements. Unfortunately, with TCL, this still seems to be at a stage 'in need of improvement'. At first glance, the screen appears too warm – the image leans towards reds, which may not appeal to everyone. The white balance was significantly skewed – the screen looked distinctly warm, and the red colour dominated almost every scene. There was a lack of blue, which resulted in an unpleasant yellowing and distortion of the image. But that’s not all. Regardless of whether we were watching regular television, YouTube, or films in HDR – the television had a clear tendency to excessively brighten the image. In the gamma and EOTF graph tests, the lines, instead of sticking to the pattern, strayed, which in practice translates to an overly bright and less contrasty image. Additionally, in the colour reproduction tests, there were noticeable deviations – on the colour wheel, certain points were even 'off the mark'. It must be said plainly: Filmmaker Mode in the C8K in its current form is not very filmic.
Color reproduction after calibration
7/10
After professional calibration, the TCL C8K has made a huge step forward. In SDR content, we managed to almost perfectly set the white balance – the screen has finally stopped being too warm and has acquired a neutral character. The gamma curve, responsible for the way brightness is reproduced, also looks very good now – the image is more consistent and realistic. We also improved the white balance in HDR content – within the limits that the television itself allows. Unfortunately, the C8K still interprets brightness management somewhat "in its own way." When we look at the EOTF chart in films, it is clear that the television brightens entire scenes more than it should. Before calibration, this effect was really troublesome – now the situation looks much better, although it still falls a bit short of perfection. This, however, is a limitation of the device itself, which – despite our efforts – does not allow us to fully tame its nature.
TCL C8K - Smoothness of tonal transitions
8.7/10
In this respect, the TCL C8K performs really well. Transitions between colours look natural and coherent – there are no strange bands or significant banding that could disrupt the viewing experience. Especially in bright scenes, everything appears very smooth. In the darkest parts of the image, particularly in shades of grey, one can sometimes notice slight unevenness, but they are subtle enough not to be distracting to anyone.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
5.5/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
How does the TCL C8K perform with lower quality content? One could say: reasonably well, though without much enthusiasm. The television offers a tonal transition enhancement feature, which aims to smooth out unwanted gradients. In practice, there is a slight improvement, but it is not at a level that will eliminate all imperfections. The feature subtly softens harsh transitions, but does not perform miracles. Film grain is not completely suppressed, and gentle banding on grey backgrounds can still be noticeable. But perhaps that is for the best? – at least the image does not lose its texture or depth, as can happen with televisions that overdo digital processing. When it comes to upscaling, or enhancing the quality of images from lower resolutions, the C8K performs quite well. The picture is sharp, and details – although sometimes slightly softened – remain readable. However, it is not at the level of the best image processors from the competition. On the plus side, it is worth noting the lack of overscan issues, which is the artificial trimming of the image that can still surprise in some models from other brands.
TCL C8K - Blur and motion smoothness
7.8/10
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: 51%
If you are planning a weekend with the Champions League or a marathon of F1 races – the TCL C8K won't let you down. The television is equipped with a 144 Hz panel, which means it should handle fast motion well by definition. And indeed – it performs very well. The fluidity of motion is at a very good level here, and the "Motion Clarity" feature with two sliders (motion blur reduction and flicker reduction) makes it easy to adjust the effect to your own preferences. Want to smooth it out a bit – you can. Prefer a cinematic look – no problem.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Blur (BFI function enabled):
Smużenie (288HZ 1080p):
There are also positives when it comes to the motion blur. Of course, it's not OLED level, but... let's not kid ourselves – there’s hardly anything besides OLED. Nevertheless, the TCL C8K keeps the contours within the confines of our little alien. The image in motion remains sharp and clear, even during dynamic scenes. Gamers and sports fans should be pleased – whether you're watching sport or gaming on Xbox/PS5. And for those who want to squeeze the maximum out of the panel – we even have a 288 Hz mode in Full HD resolution for PC. Yes, it's a bit of a geeky curiosity, but it shows one thing: TCL really takes motion seriously. And that’s evident – quite literally.
TCL C8K - Console compatibility and gaming features
9.8/10
- ALLM:
Yes
- VRR:
Yes
- VRR range:
48 - 288Hz
- Dolby Vision Game Mode:
Yes
- Correct implementation of HGIG:
Yes
- 1080p@120Hz:
Yes
- 1440p@120Hz:
Yes
- 4K@120Hz:
Yes
- Game bar:
Yes
TCL C8K offers practically everything we could expect from a screen for gamers. It features variable refresh rate (VRR), automatic game mode (ALLM), Dolby Vision in games, and a correctly functioning implementation of HGiG, which helps preserve the creators' intentions in HDR titles. The television also supports 120 Hz at lower resolutions without any issues and can even display an astonishing 288 Hz in Full HD – a value that is sure to please fans of dynamic shooters and racing games on PC.
We also find the GameBar – a graphic interface reminiscent of an elongated Nintendo Switch console. It is thanks to this that we gain quick access to information about the current game mode, frame rate, HDR format, and other details that really make life easier for the gamer. Of course, we couldn't resist and launched a couple of races in Forza Horizon on the C8K – and we must admit, it looked and performed really well.
However, there is a slight drawback – in such a fast and evidently gaming device, it is somewhat disappointing that the manufacturer opted for the implementation of only two HDMI 2.1 ports. For some users who utilise several next-generation consoles and, for example, a soundbar with eARC, this might be a certain limitation that is hard to overlook.
TCL C8K - Input lag
9.9/10
In terms of delays, the TCL C8K pleasantly surprised us. Whether we were playing in 4K at 60 Hz, 120 Hz, or even in Full HD with Dolby Vision – the input lag remained at a very low level. This is a rare sight, as many televisions lose their advantage here, especially with the more demanding Dolby Vision GAMING picture settings.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 15 ms | 2160p60: 15 ms | 2160p60 DV: 15 ms |
| 1080p120: 7 ms | 2160p120: 7 ms | 2160p120 DV: 7 ms |
| 2160p60: 15 ms | ||
| 2160p120: 7 ms |
TCL C8K - Compatibility with PC
8.6/10
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): 6ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: RGB
Max refresh rate: 144Hz
G-Sync: Yes
As we mentioned earlier, the C8K is a television designed with gamers in mind – and not just for console gaming. Connecting a PC is pure pleasure. The low input lag is practically unnoticeable, and the 4K panel at 144 Hz (or even 288 Hz in Full HD) makes gameplay exceptionally smooth. This is the kind of equipment that is really hard to tear yourself away from once you plug in a keyboard and mouse.
Office work and everyday use of the computer are equally impressive. Fonts – regardless of size – are readable and sharp thanks to Chroma 444. However, we have a small note: with very thin horizontal lines, slight imperfections can be noticed. We assume, though, that few will notice this, as hardly anyone plans to place the smallest 65-inch monster 50 cm from their face and use it like a regular monitor.
TCL C8K - Viewing angles
4.5/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 80%
One of the novelties in this year's TCL series is the WHVA panel, which has finally made a significant advancement in viewing angles for the Chinese manufacturer. And although you can't completely cheat physics – brightness does indeed drop quite noticeably when viewed from the side – the image itself remains readable and does not drastically lose colours or contrast. This is a considerable change, as VA panels typically fall short compared to IPS panels in this category. Meanwhile, in the C8K, it is evident that TCL has made an effort to ensure that even viewers sitting slightly to the side can still enjoy the full depth of the image – something that will be appreciated by anyone who cannot sit 'in the perfect middle of the sofa'.
TCL C8K - TV efficiency during daytime
6.9/10
Matrix coating: Glare
Reflection suppression: Decent
Black levels during daytime: Very Good
C8K is truly a bright performer, and not just in theory. In SDR content, it can achieve an impressive 700 nits, which translates to very good image readability even in brightly sunlit rooms. So if you have a bright living room with large windows, this television won't have much trouble with that. However, it is worth mentioning one detail: the WHVA panel used here, with improved viewing angles, causes light reflections to be more diffused sideways. In practice, this means that, for example, wall sconces or floor lamps directly opposite the screen may reflect in a slightly more widespread manner than in typical glossy/satin panels.
Matrix brightness
Average luminance SDR
TCL C8K: 613 cd/m2
TCL C8K - 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: Yes
- Teletext: Yes
- Audio only mode: Yes
- Bluetooth headphones support: Yes
- Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio: Yes
Smart features:
- AirPlay: Yes
- Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast): Yes
- Voice search: Yes
- Voice search in native language: Yes
- Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse: Yes
Classic Television Features
The TCL C8K offers the vast majority of features that we consider essential today. It has a classic and clear electronic programme guide (EPG), and teletext features are included, while connecting a keyboard, mouse, or Bluetooth headphones posed no problems at all. It's somewhat unfortunate that the Google TV system – like in many other TCL models – lacks more advanced options, such as programme recording or picture-in-picture (PiP). This may be a drawback for some users, especially if they are accustomed to using these options with other manufacturers. One might also have some reservations about the number of USB ports – there is only one. However, in practice, most people will find it sufficient to connect a drive with movies or a USB stick.
Smart Features
While classic television functions are not the strong suit of the C8K, in terms of smart features, this television truly shines. The Google TV system implemented is the largest and most popular platform on the market – and you can feel it at every turn. The availability of applications is phenomenal. Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime – all of these can be found here without the slightest problem. Only truly niche or closed ecosystems (e.g. Apple Music) may not be available. The built-in voice assistant works very efficiently – you can ask it to change the channel, launch an application, search for a film, or check the weather. The system responds naturally and quickly, giving a genuine sense of convenience and modernity. It is precisely here that the C8K definitely outpaces a large portion of the competition – after all, that's why we have smart TVs, so that the television does more than just display images.
Sound connection options
HDMI audio:
Other audio outputs:
- Toslink: Yes
Wireless audio:
- Bluetooth: Yes
Obsługiwane formaty audio:
- Dolby Digital Plus 7.1: Yes
- Dolby True HD 7.1: No
- Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC): Yes
- Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD: No
- DTS:X in DTS-HD MA: Yes
- DTS-HD Master Audio: Yes
Ułatwienia dla seniorów
- Numeric keyboard on TV: No
- Font size adjustment: No
- Audio description: Yes
TCL C8K - Apps
9.6/10
TCL C8K - 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 |
We did not expect miracles, but... we got more than we anticipated. The TCL C8K handled most of the files we put on the USB stick without any issues. Movies in MKV, older AVI, audio tracks in DTS or AC3 – everything worked without a hitch. If we were to nitpick, it would be the usual lack of support for the HEIC format from Apple devices, but that is a standard shortcoming one can live with. The most important thing, however, is that if someone lacks anything, they can simply... install a better player. And this is where the advantage of Google TV is felt.
TCL C8K - Sound
7.9/10
77dB
Maximum volume
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
In the case of sound, we typically don't have high expectations. After all, a television is not a Hi-Fi system. But... the C8K pleasantly surprised us. A new feature in the latest top models from TCL is the collaboration with Bang & Olufsen and – most importantly – you can really hear that this isn't just a marketing gimmick. After just a few minutes with the TV, it was clear that it sounds different from a typical "flat screen." The sound is full with a slight but noticeable bass. Of course, we are still talking about sound from a television, so it won't compete with the cheapest soundbar with a subwoofer, but considering the standards of built-in speakers – it is very good.
*During testing at maximum volume, we noticed unusual behaviour in the audio system. With the slider set to 100%, the television reaches around 76–78 dB, but you can hear it trying to generate more power, after which the sound level is immediately adjusted back to the mentioned value. On the other hand, when we lower the volume to, for example, 70%, it initially drops as expected, but after a moment, it slowly rises back to the same level of 76 dB. This effect gives the impression of an aggressive limiter that always brings the volume down to a single level, regardless of the position of the slider. We checked this behaviour multiple times and in each case, the result was identical – no additional functions of "intelligent" volume adjustment or AI were active.
Acoustic Measurements
77dBC (Max)
75dBC
TCL C8K - Details about the matrix
Software version during testing: V8-0012T01-LF1V531.002396
Image processor: 4x ARM Cortex-A73 @1390MHz
Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:
Backlight Type: Mini-LED QLED
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