- 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
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Panel type: LCD VA Refresh rate: 144Hz Brand: TCL Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Google TV Model year: 2025
TCL in 2025 is focusing on Mini-LEDs like never before, and C9K is the flagship of this line – the highest model in the entire portfolio. If you recognise C8K, you can think of it as the stronger brother – we get here an upgraded version with an even greater number of backlight zones. On board, there is also a WHVA panel and an audio system developed in collaboration with Bang & Olufsen. On paper, it appears to be a complete television – with strong visuals and premium-class sound. But has TCL really managed to create the king of Mini-LEDs… for a fraction of the amount that competitors demand? The answer can be found in this review.
TCL C9K - Our verdict
7.7
Overall rating
TCL C9K is a television that on paper looks like a showcase of the manufacturer's strength – thousands of Mini-LED zones, a WHVA panel, audio system from Bang & Olufsen, full support for HDR formats, gaming at 144 Hz, and even 288 Hz at lower resolutions. It is clear that TCL wanted to include absolutely everything it had best. And indeed – in many aspects, the C9K is capable of impressing. The brightness is enormous, HDR in large scenes can be stunning, motion fluidity and capabilities for gamers are at a top level, and the sound – considering it is built into the television – sounds really good. This is a device that can easily be regarded as a home entertainment hub. But there is also a downside. Managing brightness simply falters despite the incredible technical specifications – finer details often get lost in shadows or are blown out. And although synthetic tests of contrast and brightness perform excellently, the effect during everyday viewing of films and series is no longer so impressive.
In short: the C9K is a television full of contrasts – literally and metaphorically. It can deliver experiences similar to top screens, but it is still evident that TCL needs to work on software and optimisation. If someone is looking for a screen for gaming, sports, or spectacular blockbusters – they will be delighted. However, if they expect perfect representation of the director's vision and think they have managed to purchase an absolutely top model at half the price of the competition, they will unfortunately be disappointed. It's a shame, because the technological potential here is truly enormous – it just lacked a bit of common sense in its utilisation.
Advantages
Very good contrast and black levels
Very high brightness
Support for all HDR formats including Dolby Vision
Fast 144Hz panel - for gaming and sports enthusiasts
Many features for gamers: VRR, ALLM, low input lag, etc.
GoogleTV operating system with a wide range of applications
Excellent sound branded by Bang & Olufsen
Improved viewing angles thanks to WHVA panel
Disadvantages
Local dimming needs improvement
Only 2 HDMI 2.1 ports
No recording function from built-in tuners and PiP
No smaller variants, e.g. 55"
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 light7.0
Utility functions7.7
Apps9.6
Sound quality7.9
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TCL C9K - Competing TVs in this price range
TCL C9K - 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
Kolor ramki: Silver
- Regulacja podstawy: stand-Fixed
- Montaż na płasko: Yes
- Akcesoria: accessories-Stand
At first glance, the TCL C9K closely resembles its cousin from the same line – the C8K. The design is almost identical: fairly robust, yet contemporary. The difference is noticeable in the details – the frame colour on the C9K leans more towards silver, while the C8K features graphite. Just like in the cheaper model, we also get Zero Border technology here, which means the screen is not surrounded by a classic black bezel. The effect from the front is impressive – the image appears as if it simply "grows" out of the television's surface. The back of the design remains sturdy, but it has been designed so that the television can be easily mounted flat against the wall. The included central stand is also a plus – solid, stable, and made with the same level of care as the TV itself. This is definitely not an "afterthought" addition, but rather an element that fits the overall design.
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TCL C9K - Contrast and black detail
8.1/10
Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 3024 (42 x 72)
Result
459,000:1
Result
72,750:1
Result
30,350:1
Result
9,800:1
Result
12,200:1
Visibility of details in the lights:
What immediately distinguishes the C9K from the C8K model is the number of backlight zones. In the 65-inch version, we counted… over 3000! One has to admit – it's a true display of TCL's strength, cramming literally everything they had at hand into this television. On paper, it makes a huge impression and indeed – in less demanding movie scenes, the blacks look fantastic. The level is absolutely top-notch, and the separation of lights from dark parts of the image can be impressive. The problem is that this impressive specification does not always translate into practice. In our tests, we noticed situations where the C9K, despite having a greater number of zones, could fall into contrast traps and performed… worse than the C8K. For instance, it struggles to perfectly dim the true black bars in 21:9 format films (those with black bars at the top and bottom). Sounds strange? Unfortunately, it's the result of a lack of optimisation – the hardware is 'packed' with technology, but the algorithms do not always keep up with making use of that potential.
Don't get us wrong – black levels are a strong point of the C9K and in many scenes, it looks simply fantastic. In synthetic measurements, the contrast performs remarkably well, coming close to the levels of the best televisions on the market. But in real cinematic usage, these numbers do not always correlate with a better experience than with its cheaper cousin. And that is perhaps the greatest disappointment – because the potential was huge.
TCL C9K - HDR effect quality
6.9/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 96.5%, Bt.2020: 80.5%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
1425 nit
Result
531 nit
Result
1277 nit
Result
331 nit
Result
1424 nit
As we mentioned with black and contrast – the C9K makes a huge impression in synthetic tests. Our measurements showed that on a screen 10% filled with white, the television is capable of squeezing out... 4000 nits of brightness! It sounds cosmic, but – and here unfortunately the pattern repeats – the numbers say one thing, and practice another. In real film scenes, the situation looks different. In the best case, when the light effects occupy a large part of the image and the local dimming algorithm doesn't have to think too hard about what to do with thousands of zones – the result is really quite good. At that point, the C9K can reach about 1500 nits, which provides a pleasant, intense flash and can indeed make a positive impression.
The problem begins with smaller elements – such as stars in the sky, the moon, or individual reflections. That's when the proverbial cat comes out of the bag: the algorithms are not yet refined, and brightness drops even to 400–500 nits. This is a huge difference compared to the potential of 4000 nits that we saw in laboratory tests. Why does this happen? Most likely, the television tries to protect the black and minimise the halo effect around bright objects. Unfortunately, this comes at the cost of details – some of the intricate details simply disappear, and the scene loses its nature.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
So how does the TCL C9K perform in a true cinematic battle when compared to top-of-the-line televisions, such as OLEDs? Exactly as our earlier tests indicated. In scenes flooded with light and colour – as seen in the film 'The Man,' which you can see in our pictures – the C9K can truly shine. The brightness is so impressive that it’s difficult to distinguish it from the absolutely top screens available on the market. Minor colour discrepancies can occasionally slightly diminish the effect, but the display of intensity can almost be blinding. We had a similar impression during the fireworks sequence in 'Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.' Here, both the strong lighting effects and the face of the lead character were rendered exceptionally well.
Unfortunately, when we shift our gaze to the darker parts of the frame – the faces of supporting actors or shadows in the background – it becomes apparent that the television dims them too aggressively. The effect? The contrast appears deeper, but some details simply vanish. For many people, this might be an advantage as the black seems more 'cinematic.' However, there are also situations where something significant slips by because of this. And then… well, in a horror film, you might get an extra scare because a dark figure lurking in the shadows appears on screen too late 😉.
HDR luminance chart:
Luminancja HDR
Luminance of RGB colors
Here, the TCL C9K deserves a big plus – it supports all HDR formats available on the market: HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision. This means that regardless of the source – whether you are watching Netflix, UHD Blu-ray, or television broadcasts – you can always count on compatibility and the absence of unpleasant surprises. The television itself is bright enough that even without the support of dynamic metadata, it can make a great impression. However, importantly – since we already have HDR10+ and Dolby Vision on board, it’s worth using them. In scenes where detail in the bright and dark areas of the image matters, dynamic metadata can indeed bring out more details and make the viewing experience appear fuller. It’s just a pity that the dynamic tone mapping feature in TCL's implementation is rather unfortunate – instead of improving the effect, it simply brightens the entire screen. In practice, it does more harm than good, so we definitely do not recommend using it. Perhaps if it were refined, static HDR10 material would perform better, but in its current form, it’s best to just turn it off.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: Dolby Vision
Factory color reproduction
4.5/10
For colour tests, we once again reached for the Filmmaker mode – a new feature in TCL televisions for 2025. And although the direction itself is a step in the right direction, the execution leaves much to be desired. The white balance in SDR content turned out to be too warm – there was an excess of red. Conversely, in HDR, it swung in the opposite direction: the image became excessively blue. The Colour Checker test revealed quite a few colour inaccuracies that were noticeable to the naked eye. An even bigger problem turned out to be what we mentioned above – managing brightness. Regardless of whether we were watching SDR or HDR content, the image had a tendency to blow out the entire scene, giving it an unnatural, almost grotesque character. Therefore, it is hard to call this a 'director’s mode' – because the director surely has never seen such an image.
Color reproduction after calibration
7/10
After calibration, we finally managed to tame the white balance – and it immediately translated into a more natural image. Colours finally started to look as they should, and the overall presentation was incomparably better than with the factory settings. In other words – it’s worth taking a moment to improve this, as the gain is really significant. The gamma responsible for managing brightness was also brought under control in SDR content, and the effect was more than satisfactory. Unfortunately, when we switched on the HDR material, the situation quickly became complicated. No matter how we set the local dimming, the television had a tendency to do what it pleased with the image – either overexposing the whole picture or dimming the darkest parts too much. Just like we saw in the scene from the film Billy Lynn. Colour-wise, the improvement after calibration makes a great impression, but managing brightness in HDR remains the Achilles' heel of the C9K and constitutes a technological limitation.
TCL C9K - Smoothness of tonal transitions
8.7/10
In terms of the fluidity of tonal transitions, TCL C9K performs really well. In more challenging movie scenes, there is no typical banding of colours that can break immersion, even in more expensive televisions. Perhaps slight issues can be noticed in the brightest parts – for instance, in scenes from the film Kingstone – but these are nuances. For the vast majority of viewers, especially with 4K content, the colour gradation will appear smooth and practically unnoticeable.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
5.5/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
The digital image processing in TCL C9K is rather mediocre. The tone transition smoothing feature is supposedly present, but activating it hardly makes any difference – colour banding is still visible, and it can inadvertently highlight elements we would prefer to hide, such as textures of objects. Fortunately, it does not remove film grain, but that's scant consolation considering the effects are still poor. Thus, it's hard to recommend using this option.
On the other hand, image scaling performs significantly better. Lower quality materials look quite decent – characters and backgrounds are represented clearly, although of course, with sources like 576p, the limitations of the physics cannot be disguised. Sometimes, there's characteristic aliasing of objects, but that's due to the source itself, not the algorithm. A plus for the fact that there are no overscan issues – the image is neither artificially cropped nor enlarged.
TCL C9K - 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%
Similar to the C8K, the C9K is also a really fast television – both figuratively and literally. On board, we have a 4K panel with a refresh rate of 144 Hz, and at lower resolutions, the panel can even ramp up to 288 Hz. Such speed translates into practice – while watching sports or playing games, the picture looks very smooth and clear. Additionally, in films, we get an extra motion smoothing feature called Motion Clarity, which allows you to adjust the smoothness to your own preferences – from the cinematic "stuttering" of frames to nearly theatrical smoothness.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Blur (BFI function enabled):
Smużenie (1080p@288Hz):
When it comes to the smearing itself, the C9K performs rather mediocrely. The typical for LCD VA panels 'lunar' effect is evident here, especially on darker backgrounds – and this is true regardless of whether we are talking about 144, 120, or even 288 Hz. This effect will be most noticeable to those sensitive to motion fluidity, but in everyday viewing, it should not be bothersome and does not detract from the overall good impression.
TCL C9K - 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
For gaming, the TCL C9K is a complete tool. Here we have two (out of four) HDMI 2.1 ports with full bandwidth of 48 Gbps, so all the key technologies work: VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode). Additionally, the manufacturer has included a really intuitive Game Bar, which allows you to quickly check the most important parameters and adjust settings without rummaging through the menu. Also worth noting is TCL's policy – the television does not shy away from any HDR formats, even in game mode. Whether it's HGiG or Dolby Vision for the Xbox Series S/X console – everything works as it should, giving the player a wide range of freedom.
TCL C9K - Input lag
9.8/10
In terms of input lag, the TCL C9K performs exceptionally well. With 120 Hz content, the delay reaches only 7 ms, placing it among the very best televisions available on the market. Naturally, with 60 Hz materials, the input lag increases to around 15–16 ms, but in practice, this has little impact on the final responsiveness of the screen to our actions on the pad.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 16 ms | 2160p60: 16 ms | 2160p60 DV: 16 ms |
| 1080p120: 7 ms | 2160p120: 7 ms | 2160p120 DV: 7 ms |
| 2160p60: 16 ms | ||
| 2160p120: 7 ms |
TCL C9K - 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): 7ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: RGB
Max refresh rate: 144Hz
G-Sync: Yes
When it comes to office work, the TCL C9K does not disappoint – thanks to its 4:4:4 chroma support, the readability of fonts is at a good level, so writing or working with documents should not be a problem. One might notice slight issues with dimming horizontal lines, but in everyday use, it's hard to call this a real flaw. However, the greatest potential of the C9K reveals itself in PC gaming. Here, the television showcases its full capabilities – it can switch to lower resolutions, such as Full HD, and display images at up to 288 Hz. Additionally, it supports both G-Sync and FreeSync, so image synchronisation with the graphics card works flawlessly. It's difficult to have any major reservations about this set – it's truly a top-tier screen for computer gaming.
TCL C9K - Viewing angles
4.5/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 75%
A new feature in TCL televisions for 2025 is the WHVA panel, which is designed to provide better viewing angles than standard VA panels. And indeed – progress is visible. Looking at the screen from the side, the image is clearer and colours do not degrade as quickly as in previous models. However, this does not mean that we are dealing with the level of top-end coatings or solutions known from IPS panels, and certainly not from OLEDs. The picture remains readable, but brightness clearly decreases. This is definitely a step forward compared to earlier TCL models, but not yet a complete revolution.
TCL C9K - TV efficiency during daytime
7/10
Matrix coating: Glare
Reflection suppression: Decent
Black levels during daytime: Very Good
The new WHVA matrix coating has its strengths and weaknesses. On one hand, it handles smaller reflections quite well, while on the other hand, with stronger light sources, it is evident that the suppression of reflections is not at the highest level. Fortunately, the coating does not ruin what is most important: the blacks and colour saturation. This is a definite plus because in many competing models, compromises in this area are more painful. Additionally, there is very high brightness – in SDR content, the C9K can achieve an average of 650 nits in SDR materials. This is a result that is more than sufficient for watching television or films in more challenging lighting conditions, even on a sunny day.
Matrix brightness
Average luminance SDR
TCL C9K: 642 cd/m2
TCL C9K - 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
- 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
Classic TV Features
In terms of basic TV functions, the TCL C9K does not disappoint – it has everything that most users expect. The EPG guide operates smoothly, teletext is available, and pairing Bluetooth headphones, a mouse or a keyboard is trouble-free. However, it should be noted that in the Google TV system – as in other TCL models – there is a lack of more advanced options, such as recording programmes or picture-in-picture (PiP) mode. Some might find this insufficient, especially if they have used such features on competitors' devices. It is also worth mentioning that we only have one USB port available – sufficient to connect a drive with films or a USB stick, but if someone plans to use multiple drives, they might find this lacking.
Smart Features
While in terms of classic solutions the TCL C9K does not stand out, it showcases its full potential in the realm of smart features. The Google TV system is currently the most popular platform, and it is easy to see why – the app library is huge. Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video – all are readily available. Only those who are very attached to more closed ecosystems, such as Apple Music, will feel the absence. A significant advantage is the built-in voice assistant – it works quickly, understands natural commands, and allows convenient control of the television: from changing channels to opening applications, searching for content, or checking the weather. This is precisely where the TCL C9K demonstrates that a smart TV is more than just an "internet-enabled television" – it is a tool that genuinely enhances everyday use of the equipment.
TCL C9K - Apps
9.6/10
TCL C9K - 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 C9K handled most of the materials we put on the pendrive without any issues – from films in MKV format, through older AVI files, to audio tracks in DTS and FLAC. The only drawback remains the lack of support for photos in HEIC format from Apple devices, but this is a common issue among all manufacturers. However, the most important thing is that if someone is missing support for some exotic format, they can always turn to an alternative player available in the Google Play store. And this is where the advantage of the Google TV system becomes apparent – the ease with which one can expand the functionality of the television with additional applications.
TCL C9K - 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
The sound in the TCL C9K is handled by the same set as in the C8K model – prepared in cooperation with Bang & Olufsen. It is a 4.2.2 configuration with a total power of 90 W, consisting of eight speakers positioned to create a fuller sense of space. And it must be admitted – the effect is impressive. Dialogues are clear, the highs and mids sound clean, and the bass does not get lost even during louder sessions. Of course, this will not replace a dedicated soundbar or home cinema system, but for built-in speakers – there is truly something to listen to.
*During tests of maximum volume, we noticed an unusual behaviour of the audio system. When the slider is set to 100%, the television reaches about 76–78 dB, but it can be heard that it is trying to generate greater power, after which the sound level is immediately corrected 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 while it slowly rises back to the same level of 76 dB. This effect gives the impression of an aggressive limiter at work, which, regardless of the slider position, always brings the volume down to one level. We checked this behaviour several times, and in every case the result was identical – no additional “smart” volume adjustment or AI functions were active during this.
Acoustic Measurements:
77dBC (Max)
75dBC
TCL C9K - Details about the matrix
Software version during testing: V8-0012T01-LF1V538.002459
Image processor: MT5896 2,5 GB RAM
Panel uniformity:
Backlight Type: Mini-LED QLED
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5/13/2025
