Maciej Koper
When most manufacturers at CES 2026 focused on promises and vague announcements, TCL was one of the few who laid their cards on the table. We went through their booth in Las Vegas to see if the promised revolution in MiniLED is just numbers in tables or an actual qualitative leap. And you know what? There’s a lot to write about, because the Chinese giant is playing on two fronts this year that could really shake things up in living rooms.
Flagship X11L: 0.8 inches thick and 20,000 dimming zones
The main highlight of the program was the successor to the top X11K – the X11L model. And here comes the first surprise, as TCL has gone against the grain. While the industry has become enamored with Micro RGB technology (or MiniLED RGB), they opted for something different in their flagship: SQD technology, which is a new approach to quantum dots. Why? The reason is simple but crucial for anyone who doesn’t want a TV that’s the thickness of a wardrobe on their wall. Micro RGB requires space for the light to disperse. By choosing TVs with SQD technology, TCL created a TV that is only 0.8 inches thick, yet contains a monstrous 20,000 dimming zones (in the 98-inch version). We stood in front of this screen for a good fifteen minutes, looking at it from extreme angles – the "halo" effect around bright objects is practically nonexistent. It seems that this TV can truly compete in terms of blacks and contrast against organic matrices. The only question is how the final product that will arrive in Europe will look? We will find out in March or April of this year.
X11L: A powerful display that requires... a powerful living room
Despite the admiration for the technology, the X11L has one key downside for many. Paradoxically, it’s not even about the price. The biggest barrier to owning this model will be its size. Everything indicates that, just like a year ago, our journey with the flagship series will only start from 85/98 inches. As of now, there is no indication that TCL plans to offer smaller diagonals for this specific model. Again, we will see the 98-inch version, and the lineup will be completed by an absolute giant – 115 inches. While the final price of these largest monsters is still unknown, one can safely assume it won't be cheap. This is uncompromising equipment, targeting a specific PREMIUM viewer. However, if you have wall space and are looking for the absolute peak of MiniLED technology in 2026, the X11L will be one of the strongest contenders for that title.
Wireless Spatial Audio
TCL X11L is also a return to the roots in terms of audio. Instead of hidden speakers "playing into the wall," we have an integrated soundbar with drivers directed straight at the viewer. This is a result of collaboration with Bang & Olufsen, and you can definitely hear it. But the real hit could be the support for Dolby Atmos Flex Connect. This technology allows you to wirelessly add a subwoofer or additional speakers to the TV anywhere in the room. The system will automatically detect their location and calibrate the sound so that you are always at the center of the action.
C9L: Completely different from its predecessor
However, if the slimness of the casing is not a priority for you, TCL has prepared the C9L model. This is where the Micro RGB technology has landed. The television is noticeably thicker than the flagship X11L, but in return offers a color palette that almost 100% covers the BT.2020 space. It is a proposal for those who seek "reference" color reproduction and are willing to sacrifice design for uncompromising color saturation. It's good to see that the manufacturer gives us a choice instead of locking us into one technology.
C8L and C7L: A Premiere Without Fireworks?
The situation with the C7L and C8L models at the fair was specific. While the manufacturer was throwing numbers around like confetti with the flagship X11L and C9L, suddenly TCL became a bit tight-lipped about these "for the people" series. Visually, both models closely resemble what we saw last year. The C8L still entices with its Zero Border design and slim bezel, while the C7L features a classic build with a visible black margin along the edge of the screen.
WHVA 2nd Generation Matrix
The most important information regarding the C7L and C8L series is the use of second generation WHVA matrices. And this is the move we have been waiting for. It is no secret that Mini-LED televisions – although very good in terms of contrast and brightness – typically suffered from poor viewing angles. It was enough to sit a little more to the side for the image to lose saturation and turn gray. From what we saw at the booth, WHVA 2.0 effectively eliminates this problem. The image remains stable, and the colors do not fade as quickly as in older models from before 2025.
Dolby Vision 2.0 TCL confirms its support
Important news for fans of the highest quality image. TCL officially confirms the implementation of Dolby Vision 2.0 in its televisions for 2026. Interestingly, it is said that the new format may also come to selected models from 2025 via an update, although this has not yet been officially confirmed. We have prepared a separate article for you about Dolby Vision 2.0, where we break down this format as well as the topic of HDR into its components. Be sure to catch up on it:
Printed OLEDs: The Chinese Can Do It Too
Finally, TCL showcased something that goes far beyond the home living room – printed OLEDs (IJP) straight from the CSOT factory. These are not just curiosities for smartphones or 27-inch monitors. The manufacturer clearly emphasizes that this technology, due to its precision and sharpness, could revolutionize the market for professional devices such as medical instruments. However, the real crowd-puller at the booth was a prototype of a future car cockpit. TCL demonstrated how their displays can be stretched and bent almost arbitrarily, adapting them to the curved shapes of a car's interior. Most importantly for us, the end users: these panels have a classic subpixel arrangement. This means that regardless of whether we're looking at research results or navigation in the car, the text is razor-sharp – without the annoying jagged fonts that some manufacturers still struggle with in the current OLED market.
TCL Takes No Prisoners
This year's TCL booth at CES 2026 showed that the time for calling this brand a "cheaper alternative" has definitively come to an end. The manufacturer confidently enters the ultra-premium segment, betting on gigantic screens and proprietary technologies like SQD, or showcasing its printed OLEDs as a future alternative to Korean panels. Of course, trade show promises of 10,000 nits or perfect black should always be taken with a grain of salt, but the progress regarding WHVA 2.0 panels, the use of new SQD quantum dots, or RGB Mini-LED/Micro LED backlighting are real changes that we will feel. The year 2026 is shaping up to be a year of great diagonals and the battle for Mini-LED to finally stop having any inferiority complexes compared to OLEDs.
