Michał Stekla
At the turn of May and June, we had the opportunity to participate in a closed event Expert Meets Expert organized by TCL. The meeting had a practical format - no stage, no formal presentations, but access to equipment, detailed information, and conversations with people responsible for product development. TCL, as every year, showcased a very wide portfolio of models for the upcoming season.
TCL: Europe is increasingly focusing on image quality
One of the main messages of the entire meeting? Europe is distancing itself from the rest of the world when it comes to choosing a television. Instead of only considering price or size, we are more frequently looking at the PQ ratio, which is simply the quality of the image to the price. And ChooseTV is noticing this.
The manufacturer announces that in 2025 it will further penetrate the segment of cheaper, yet good-looking Mini-LED televisions – because this technology is meant to be within reach of a much broader audience than before. And since TCL's portfolio will, as always, be enormous, let’s start with the crème de la crème – the three most important models.
Flagship trio: X11K, C9K and C8K
X11K – that is X955 for the masses (almost)
TCL announces that the model X11K will be a more affordable alternative to last year's X955, but without compromising performance. In every version – 85 and even nearly 100 inches – the TV is expected to have over 10,000 dimming zones and achieve brightness of 6500 nits (though it's likely referring to dynamic mode rather than movie mode). Top-tier specifications, with only the price being lower. Sounds like a plan for sales success.
C9K – new player on the field
The C9K had no predecessor, but it is already known that it will be referred to as a more powerful version of the C8K. Many zones (even twice as many as in the C8K), large sizes (over 65 inches), and parameters similar to the "eight." Theoretically: better blacks, higher brightness. Will it be like that in practice? We will see.
C8K – continuation of C855
If I had to point out the most serious candidate for TCL's flagship best seller of 2025, it would be C8K. Compared to its predecessor, it is expected to have more dimming zones, new generation Mini-LED, and a completely refreshed design – a screen without black borders, extending all the way to the edge. But the biggest upgrade is the new WHVA panel, which is VA with wide viewing angles. Finally! Until now, this has been a serious problem for TCL models – now it seems to have been solved.
Televisions for People – the Mid-Range Segment That Can Shake Things Up
During the presentation, TCL noted that the average expenditure on a television in Europe is around 500 euros. In this context, two models are particularly interesting and have a chance to compete for popularity in this price segment – C7K and C6K.
C7K – Successor to MQLED85 / C765
Here we may not have a revolution in the number of lighting zones compared to its predecessor, but the new 23-bit Mini-LED technology is supposed to provide a significant boost in brightness and better zone dimming (read: less glow around objects). The real bomb? Availability of the 115-inch version. Yes – the huge screen is entering the mid-range segment. This is a clear signal that TCL wants to seriously shake things up in the "large screen at a reasonable price" category. Adding to this is the new CrystalGlow coating, which is supposed to absorb light reflections more effectively, making things really interesting.
C6K / C69K / Q6C – potential bestseller 2025
Its predecessor – C655 Pro – surprised us and very positively in 2024: local dimming at this price is a rarity. But there was a lack of sizes and greater freedom of choice. TCL has learned its lesson. The new C6K is to be available in six sizes, have 2.5 times more dimming zones, and on top of that – attention – a 144 Hz panel in 4K! A fully-fledged Mini-LED with good contrast, high fluidity, and without a cosmic price. Sounds like a bestseller.
What else? QLEDs, classic LCDs, and... finally Filmmaker Mode
In TCL's offering for 2025, we will also find classic QLED and LCD televisions – the P series. But honestly? After what has been presented in Mini-LEDs, it's hard to get that excited about them. However, it's worth noting one important new feature: all new Mini-LED models (the exception is the C6KS model – at least for now) are to be equipped by default with Filmmaker Mode. Finally! A mode that eliminates unnatural color grading and brings us closer to what the filmmaker intended has been practically absent at TCL until now. It is now becoming the standard.
Monitors and sound – also Mini-LED, also with ambitions
TCL did not just showcase televisions. New monitors were also introduced – and here the manufacturer also opted for Mini-LED technology. There are as many as five models, all with high refresh rates (above 120 Hz) and DCI-P3 color gamut coverage at 98%.
When it comes to audio, although we don't delve into it too deeply, it must be admitted – it looks very promising. TCL has heavily invested in collaboration with Onkyo, and this is evident – both in terms of specifications and in the disassembled unit, where you could see powerful woofers and an audio system extended to the bottom of the casing. This could herald a noticeable improvement in sound compared to its predecessors. Of course, if someone finds that insufficient, TCL also offers quite a few soundbars.
TCL Strikes
TCL is consistently developing its strategy: Mini-LED technology is becoming more accessible, reaching more affordable models, while still delivering impressive specifications in flagship devices. The company is responding to user feedback – improving viewing angles, expanding size availability, adding reference modes, and modernizing design. On paper, it looks very good. But how will it perform in practice? We will find out soon! In the meantime, we invite you to our overview of the best TCL televisions of 2024. They are now at really great prices!
