Compare TCL P7K / P79K vs TCL P89K / TCL P8K

The time has come to gather all observations. The TCL P7K / P79K is a television that cleverly juggles compromises, offering significantly more than we could expect in its price range. Its undeniable advantage is the VA panel, guaranteeing deep blacks and high contrast, and a surprisingly rich package for gamers (with VRR and 120 Hz support at lower resolutions) makes it a phenomenal choice for console owners. The whole package is tied together by the functional Google TV system. Of course, low peak brightness means that HDR content lacks spectacular highlights, and the TV's performance in sunlit rooms is limited. And while at its relatively low price, the P7K / P79K is quite a decent option, its biggest competitor turns out to be… its more refined sibling, the P8K. Often FOR a small extra charge, we get a device a class higher – with a native 4K 144 Hz panel, significantly better audio system, and generally higher build quality, which is reflected in its much higher rating on our portal. Therefore, the final verdict must be as follows: if your budget is absolutely non-negotiable, the P7K / P79K will be a good and cost-effective choice. However, if you can afford to add a small amount, the P8K model will offer significantly more and will ultimately be a more satisfying investment.

TCL P8K is a television that immediately wins you over. It seems cheap, supposedly of lower quality, yet it can surprise you. This device shows that at this price, you can still get equipment with character – and it's specifically aimed at a certain group of users. Because let's be honest, the P8K is a television created with gamers in mind. Two HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR support, 4K at 120 Hz, HGiG, and even Dolby Vision in games – it sounds like something that just recently could only be found in much more expensive models. And on top of that, a 144 Hz panel and the possibility to reach even 240 Hz on PC. At this price? It's really hard not to smile. Added to this is Google TV, the system that breathed life into this screen. Everything works intuitively here, with access to a vast library of apps and an efficient Google Assistant that actually understands what you're saying – even when you say it in your own way. Of course, it's not a perfect television. Brightness in the range of 250–300 nits is unimpressive and probably won't impress in a sunny living room. But just an evening, a movie, and a little darker environment will reveal that this screen can do quite a bit. Thanks to dynamic tone mapping, the P8K handles HDR surprisingly well, and colors can look natural. In cinematic scenes, there’s no sign of a plastic, overexposed image – it’s just pleasant. Let’s not pretend that it competes with Mini LEDs or OLEDs – that's not the point. The P8K / P89K is meant to be a television that is simply enjoyable to use. And that’s where its strength lies. For someone who wants to play games, watch Netflix, fire up YouTube, and have all of that in one simple device – it hits the mark. The TCL P8K shows that “cheap” doesn’t have to mean “bad.” It's a television with character that doesn’t pretend to be premium equipment but delivers a lot. And maybe that's why it’s so easy to like it.

In the discussion about image quality, the conversation almost always starts with the issue of black depth and contrast, which are parameters defining the plasticity and realism of the observed world. And here, the TCL P7k/P79k immediately lays its strongest asset on the table – a VA-type panel. It is its construction that makes the native relationship between the brightest and darkest parts of the image more than satisfactory, especially in the context of the price segment that this model represents. In the majority of scenes, the achieved black has a noble depth, which allows for building an engaging viewer experience. To illustrate the scale, it is worth mentioning that competitive constructions based on IPS panels often offer results that are even four or sometimes five times lower, which constitutes a chasm in direct comparison. Of course, entering the territory of models oriented towards affordability, we must be aware of certain compromises. In the discussed television, we will not find an advanced local dimming system that could further enhance the impression of contrast. However, the absence of this feature is fully understandable and constitutes a logical consequence of positioning the product in the market – this technology in TCL's portfolio for 2025 has been reserved for higher-positioned, more prestigious series marked with the letter "C".

TCL P8K is an example of a television that shows that even in the lower price range, you can still find solid contrast. The VA panel does a really good job here – a measurement around 6000:1 might not sound impressive, but in real scenes, it creates an effect that simply pleases the eye. In the darkness of the forest in "The Revenant" or in the futuristic shots of "Oblivion," you can see the depth and separation of lights that is hard to expect from a device in this price range. The P8K can render darkness without the feeling that everything is drowning in gray. The Direct LED backlighting also works in its favor. Of course, there’s no local dimming here, but the system can dim the entire screen when a scene requires it or slightly brighten it to bring out details in bright areas. It’s a bit of an analog approach to contrast – simple but effective. This was clearly visible in the test pattern of the legendary Pioneer Kuro: the television prioritized bright spots, and the background lost some depth, but it still maintained a decent appearance. Of course, there’s no perfectly pitch-black black here. In a dark room, you can see that the black leans towards blue, but despite that, the overall presentation is just good. In normal home conditions, the contrast is more than enough to feel the cinematic atmosphere.

When evaluating the HDR effect, we must make it clear and without marketing embellishment: the P7K/P79K is not and was never meant to be a master in this field. The maximum peak brightness that this panel can generate is only around 300 nits. This is a borderline value, a sort of thin red line between what can be considered a barely satisfactory HDR signal and what is really not much different from standard dynamic range (SDR), unfortunately leaning towards the latter. Synthetic tests found brutal confirmation in reality – our measurements taken during movie screenings showed that luminance in key bright parts of the content rarely exceeded the threshold of 200-250 nits. Therefore, this is not a television that would allow content produced in a wide tonal range to truly shine, and we must openly acknowledge that.

Unfortunately, the issue of color reproduction is presented equally restrained. Although the manufacturer positions this model in the "QLED" family, thanks to the use of a PFS LED filter, the results do not match the heightened expectations. The coverage of the wide DCI-P3 color gamut is only 86%. Compared to the market, this is at best an average result, as most devices that employ additional layers to expand the color spectrum easily achieve values at a minimum level of 90-92%.

The maximum brightness of the TCL P8K is around 300 nits, although in actual movie scenes, the TV maintains more around 250 nits. These values cannot be considered sufficient for achieving a full HDR effect – they are more akin to a solid base for SDR content. Therefore, we won’t see spectacular flashes, bursts of light, or moments when the screen truly “blinds” you, as is the case with more expensive models. The image is somewhat flattened, and the differences between light and shadow are more symbolic than realistic. Fortunately, TCL has a few aces up its sleeve that save the overall impression. One of them is the coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut at around 93–94%. Thanks to an additional QLED layer (PFS LED), colors gain depth and intensity, clearly surpassing standard LCD panels. As a result, although the typical “wow effect” associated with HDR brightness is lacking here, the image can still impress with its saturation and vibrant tones, making movie scenes pulse with colors and avoiding a heavily faded appearance.

Every reliable image quality assessment must begin by selecting the most optimal factory mode. In the case of the tested model P7K/P79K, the choice was confidently made for the "Film" mode. It is this mode that presents an image closest to the creators' intentions, avoiding both the exaggerated brightness of dynamic mode and the excessive dimming known from eco settings. And it must be admitted that, for a device in this price range, the factory calibration is surprisingly decent, although it is not free from a few stumbles. The most noticeable flaw turned out to be an imperfectly adjusted white balance. A slight dominance of the blue component gives the image a subtly cool, chilly character, thus deviating from the exemplary neutrality that the director wanted to show us. The television performs much better in reproducing the grayscale in a standard dynamic range – the gamma curve is executed almost perfectly. A minor reservation can only be made for the darkest parts of the image, where a slight deviation from the norm causes a loss of some detail in the shadows. The most serious challenge for TCL's software, however, was the interpretation of the HDR signal, which is illustrated by the EOTF curve. The television follows its own, rather free path here – the darkest details are disproportionately brightened, followed by a noticeable slowdown in brightness increase for midtones. Fortunately, most of these imperfections are software-related issues that can be eliminated. With this thought in mind, we proceeded to the professional calibration process.

In Filmmaker mode, the TCL P8K revealed certain imperfections in image reproduction from the start. We noticed that the television tends to slightly brighten scenes – its gamma was somewhat lowered, which made the image appear slightly "washed out," lacking depth, as if the contrast had slipped out of control. This was most evident in HDR content, where the EOTF brightness curve clearly deviated from the reference values. As a result, the darker parts of the image looked too gloomy, while the brighter sections didn't always reach the proper level of luminance. A second noticeable issue was a slight oversaturation of blue – the television stubbornly boosted this color, which caused some parts of the image, especially skin tones and reds, to have a slight purple tint. This is not a major flaw, but to a discerning eye – noticeable. Fortunately, most of these errors could be corrected during calibration. You can see the results of this adjustment in the graphs and photos below.

The calibration process turned out to be a home run, especially in the context of standard dynamic range (SDR) content. We successfully managed to eliminate the TV's tendency to emphasize cool tones, restoring the whites to their natural neutrality. Furthermore, precise adjustments allowed us to correct a slight error in the gamma curve, so the darkest areas of the image regained their proper depth, without a trace of unnatural brightening. The effects are measurable and impressive – in the ColorChecker test, the vast majority of color reproduction errors fell below the perceptual threshold, achieving a deltaE value below 2. This is a result that would not shame much more expensive constructions. Unfortunately, in the case of HDR content, we hit a wall in the form of the inherent limitations of the panel itself. And although we managed to bring the colors in line, the software's specifics mean that the TV still adapts brightness in its own way, as evidenced by the persistent, non-standard EOTF curve. In summary, calibration brings tremendous added value, but one must be aware that it cannot overcome certain physical barriers. A slight boost in black levels, resulting from the lack of local dimming, and limited peak brightness mean that HDR content will not always be able to showcase its full potential. This is simply not the main task of this display; its true strength, especially after professional tuning, lies in the viewing of SDR materials.

After calibration, the TCL P8K showed a completely different face. It managed to achieve nearly perfect, even reference-level color reproduction in both SDR and HDR content. The screen no longer had a tendency towards a cool tint, and the white balance was perfectly balanced. The gamma values for SDR material also finally look as they should – the image has the proper depth and no longer appears washed out. The only remark that can still be made about the P8K concerns its "Chinese" traits, known from most TCL models. The TV still likes to manipulate saturation in HDR content in its own way – sometimes slightly boosting it, sometimes smoothing it out, which means the effect is not always fully predictable. Nevertheless, after calibration, the colors look stunning, and their accuracy is truly surprising. In most cases, measurement errors dropped below values of 1-2, which is a result that significantly more expensive models would not be ashamed of.

The issue of fluidity in tonal transitions, or popular grading, is another area where the P7K / P79K evokes mixed feelings and surprises with its dual nature. If we were to evaluate solely its ability to render smooth color gradients, we would undoubtedly give it a solid score of 8/10. Unfortunately, this positive image is marred by the use of very aggressive and unsightly dithering. This artifact is particularly noticeable on demanding test patterns – such as the one depicting an actor submerged in red water – where a rough, unnatural texture appears on uniform color surfaces, revealing the digital nature of the image. This is particularly disappointing as it is not a new issue. It seems to be a sort of legacy from previous generations of budget TCL models, which is a shame because it constitutes a flaw on what is essentially a quite competent image and is a mistake that could have been avoided.

The television handles color blending exceptionally well – gradients are smooth, free of visible bands or unpleasant jumps. This is best seen in classic test scenes, such as shots from the movie Kingsman or The Martian, where most televisions reveal their weaknesses. The P8K maintains consistency and subtlety in colors, creating an image that is pleasant and natural to perceive.

Minor imperfections only appear in extremely dark shades or on gray palettes – that’s the moment when even significantly more expensive models start to struggle. However, in everyday viewing, this is of no importance. In the overall assessment, the TCL P8K really excels at color blending, offering a smooth, harmonious image free from artifacts.

After a series of harsh evaluations, fortunately, the time comes for praise, and this is due to the TCL AiPQ image processor for its work in digital processing and content scaling. It should be noted right away that we are not talking about the level known from flagship designs; nevertheless, in the price segment represented by the P7K/P79K, the results achieved are more than solid. The feature that smooths tonal transitions performs particularly well, effectively eliminating posterization, which are the characteristic bands often visible in materials with higher compression, such as from the YouTube service. The algorithm can elegantly remove unwanted gradients, which ultimately looks really good. The television also competently handles upscaling, which is the task of raising low-resolution materials to 4K standard. The output image, although it may seem a bit too sharp out of the box, fortunately, is not a problem. The software allows for easy adjustment of this parameter using a sharpness slider, so the final appearance can be easily tailored to personal preferences.

The TCL P8K performs somewhat worse when it comes to the fluidity of tonal transitions in lower quality materials. The television does offer a feature to smooth out unwanted bands, but its effectiveness leaves much to be desired. Even at the highest setting, it’s hard to say there’s a real improvement – at times the effect is even the opposite of what was intended, as the feature can introduce small artifacts and unnatural blurriness on the screen.

On the other hand, upscaling, or scaling the image to 4K resolution, looks significantly better. The P8K handles this task surprisingly well – HD content, and even SD, is enhanced in an aesthetically pleasing manner without excessive loss of sharpness. There are indeed slight "hard" edges typical of this class of equipment, but this can easily be adjusted with the sharpness slider according to personal preferences. The final effect is more than satisfactory, especially considering the price range in which this model is located.

The issue of fluidity and sharpness of the image in motion is inextricably linked to the fundamental parameter of the panel, and in the case of the TCL P7K/P79K, we are dealing with a panel that has a native refresh rate of 60 Hz. This specification already defines its capabilities and makes it difficult to unequivocally recommend it to enthusiasts of dynamic sports broadcasts. During rapid camera movements, the image loses sharpness, and the panel itself also shows a slight tendency to blur, which may be noticeable to more sensitive viewers. Fortunately, not everything in this aspect has been left to chance. The manufacturer has implemented a simple motion smoothing system, which is primarily used in film materials recorded at 24 or 30 frames per second. Thanks to a dedicated slider, the user can independently decide on the final character of the motion – from a fully cinematic, slightly juddery image to achieving a very smooth, almost theatrical effect. It is a simple yet effective tool that allows users to tailor the viewing experience to their own preferences.

TCL P8K is one of the cheapest televisions offering a 144 Hz refresh rate, which in itself is already a significant advantage in this price segment. Thanks to the fast panel, this model can confidently be recommended to both sports fans and video gamers – the image is smooth, and movements of the ball or dynamic actions look natural. However, this does not mean that the P8K is only suitable for sports. On the contrary – it can maintain the right dynamics in movies as well, without introducing an artificial effect of "theatricality," as long as we set the parameters wisely. The television is equipped with a motion smoother called "Motion Clarity," which features two sliders: blur reduction and flicker reduction. The first is responsible for smoothing the image by generating additional frames, which increases fluidity but may cause a slight soap opera effect. The second, on the other hand, limits flicker and improves sharpness in motion, although it may slightly darken the screen. Appropriately adjusting these two parameters allows for a really good balance between natural movement and fluidity. The 60 Hz panel is good for dynamic content, although more demanding users will notice that it is not a top-tier display in terms of motion clarity.

Although on paper the native 4K@60Hz matrix might suggest that the TCL P7K/P79K is not a TV tailored for gamers, the reality turns out to be surprisingly different. On the contrary, the manufacturer has ensured a rich package of features that make it a very friendly companion for next-generation consoles. Onboard, we find key technologies such as ALLM, which provides automatic switching to low-latency mode, and VRR, or variable refresh rate, which eliminates screen tearing. The list is completed by support for Dolby Vision Gaming and a simple yet functional Game Bar. However, the real and extremely pleasant surprise is something else. It turns out that the TV easily supports high refresh rate signals of 120 Hz, but at lower resolutions – 1080p and 1440p. This is fantastic news for console owners who know full well how rarely games run in native 4K at a full 120 frames per second. The ability to choose between higher resolution and doubled smoothness is therefore an extremely sensible compromise.

In summary, although the P7K/P79K may not be the target screen for the most avid tournament gamers, it offers a package of options for the casual or occasional console user that is hard to find among many competitors at this price point.

Although the TCL P8K is a budget TV, it certainly can’t be said that it’s not suitable for gaming. On the contrary – this is a screen that can pleasantly surprise any gamer. It features two HDMI 2.1 ports, allowing us to easily output 4K at 120 Hz. For those gaming on PC, they will also appreciate the fact that the TV can even operate at 240 Hz refresh rate in lower resolution – a small thing, but it’s nice. In addition, there’s a full set of gaming-specific features: automatic game mode, Game Bar for quick parameter previews, VRR, HGiG, and support for Dolby Vision in games. All of this makes gaming on the P8K a truly enjoyable experience – the picture is smooth, the response is quick, and the TV communicates well with next-gen consoles. The TCL P8K shows that a cheap screen doesn’t have to mean giving up fun. Definitely not when it comes to gaming.

Complementing this rich package for gamers is a parameter that has a direct impact on comfort and performance in gameplay – input lag. Even in native 60 Hz mode, the television boasts an excellent result of just 15 ms. However, the real magic happens when switching to 120 Hz mode, when the lag drops nearly in half, reaching values below 10 ms. Such responsiveness means that every command from the controller is transferred to the screen in the blink of an eye, something not only professionals will appreciate, but anyone who values smooth and immediate interaction with the game.

In terms of delays, the TCL P8K performs quite well. In game mode at 4K and 60 Hz, the input lag is around 22 ms, and at 4K and 120 Hz, it drops to 13 ms. These are values that make the TV respond quickly, and there’s no noticeable “lag” between the controller and the screen.

We finally come to an area that can undoubtedly be described as the biggest Achilles' heel of the TCL P7K/P79K – its cooperation with a PC. This is paradoxical because on paper, everything looks promising. The presence of G-Sync and support for high refresh rates at lower resolutions might suggest that it would also be a great monitor. Unfortunately, practice brutally verifies these assumptions. The key issue is the lack of support for full 4:4:4 chroma sampling. In everyday use, this translates to terrible font rendering quality – they, especially colorful ones, become jagged, surrounded by artifacts, and simply hard to read. This is not the end, as in PC mode, a significant issue with aggressive dithering also becomes evident, giving the entire image an artificial, overly digital appearance. The only consolation in this situation is the fact that in games, we can take advantage of additional hertz and G-Sync technology, but these are not benefits that could compensate for the fundamental shortcomings in displaying a static interface. The verdict is therefore clear: while it can still hold up as a screen solely for gaming on PC, in the role of a monitor for work or internet browsing, the P7K/P79K simply performs poorly.

The TCL P8K works great as a computer monitor as well. The readability of fonts is at a very good level, and working with documents or browsing the web is simply comfortable. The only slight drawback occurs at 144 Hz refresh rate in 4K – dark text on a light background can slightly lose sharpness. The problem disappears when switched to 120 Hz, so it's worth keeping this in mind for daily use. Besides that, it's not just a screen for work, but also a great monitor for gamers. The 144 Hz refresh rate (and even 280 Hz at a lower resolution) combined with G-Sync type synchronization guarantees very smooth gameplay. Of course, we will truly appreciate its full capabilities only with a sufficiently powerful computer, but the potential of the P8K in this role is really significant.

When it comes to viewing angles, we enter a territory where VA matrix technology dictates inevitable conditions. As expected, this is the weak point of this model. It is enough to move away from the screen's axis to observe a gradual degradation of the image: colors begin to fade, contrast noticeably drops, and black loses its depth. In direct competition with IPS panels, which are renowned for their generosity in this aspect, the VA matrix must concede superiority to its competitor. Is there a plus side to this? Paradoxically, yes. Poor viewing angles are, in fact, the price we consciously pay for the fundamental advantage of this technology – a significantly higher native contrast and deeper blacks when viewed head-on. So, one could say that this is a television that favors the viewer sitting in the "ideal" spot, offering them a maximally vibrant image at the cost of universality.

The Achilles' heel of the TCL P8K is undoubtedly its viewing angles. The VA panel used has its advantages in terms of solid contrast, but unfortunately loses a lot when looking at the screen from the side. Colors clearly fade, saturation drops, and the overall image takes on a cooler, faded hue. In practice, this means that the best picture is achieved when sitting directly in front – any significant deviation results in a noticeable loss of quality.

The last practical test for any television is its daily performance in daylight conditions when it must compete with ambient light. In this competition, the TCL P7K / P79K has a slight advantage thanks to its satin screen coating. Its structure manages to quite effectively dampen direct reflections, dispersing them and protecting the image from excessive color fading or black brightness. However, passive combat with reflections is one side of the coin. The other is the active ability to "break through" bright surroundings, and here one of the key limitations of this model becomes apparent. The previously mentioned peak brightness of around 300 nits is simply too low to provide a fully comfortable and dynamic viewing experience in a brightly lit living room. In such conditions, the image may lack punch, and lower brightness scenes may lose clarity.

TCL P8K doesn't quite like bright sunlight. With a brightness level of around 300 cd/m², it's hard to expect it to perform well in a living room with large windows and no curtains. In such conditions, the image loses some sharpness, and darker scenes can fade into reflections of light. Fortunately, the screen has a satin coating that handles reflections well and saves the situation in typical home conditions. In the evening or in a slightly dimmed room, the television looks very good. It's just not a device that prefers to sit across from a south-facing window.

Smart Features – the Power of Google TV

The heart and brain of the TCL P7K / P79K is the Google TV system, which in itself is a huge advantage. This platform provides access to an almost endless library of applications from the Play Store, ensuring that we won't be missing any key streaming service. Integration with other devices is exemplary – Apple device owners will appreciate the seamless cooperation via AirPlay, while Windows and Android users will easily take advantage of the screen mirroring feature. It is also worth highlighting the Google Assistant, which performs fantastically with voice searches in Polish, remaining one of the most effective and convenient solutions of its kind on the market. The operation of the system on the tested model can be described as "average plus." The interface is mostly smooth, but during testing, it experienced occasional slowdowns and even sporadic "freezes" requiring a moment of patience. Minor hiccups are also visible in the translation of some system messages, which can be awkward – however, these are just small oversights on TCL's part, not affecting overall functionality.

Classic Features

In the age of smart systems, traditional television functions often take a back seat, and this is also the case here. A significant advantage is the inclusion of a classic remote control with a numeric keypad, which does not require precise aiming at the screen for communication, greatly enhancing user comfort. The presence of Bluetooth technology for connecting external devices, like headphones or speakers, should also be noted positively. However, this is where the list of conveniences basically ends. It is evident that TCL has placed nearly everything on the Google TV card, treating classic functions as an absolute minimum. Therefore, we will not find the option to record programs from built-in tuners to a USB drive or the once-popular PiP (Picture-in-Picture) feature. This is therefore a basic package that simply works, but does not offer anything beyond what is necessary.

SmartTV: Google TV

TCL P8K operates based on the Google TV system, which is the heart of the entire device. This is where you can see the biggest advantage of this model over many competitors in a similar price range. The system is clear and easy to use, and it is also very well optimized. We can easily use the screen mirroring feature or the built-in Chromecast, which allows quickly streaming images from the phone to the large screen. However, the biggest asset is the Google Assistant, which responds swiftly and truly understands commands—even those spoken imprecisely. Additionally, the library of apps on Google TV is a true treasure trove—you can install practically everything, from major VOD platforms to less-known music or sports apps.

Classic features

As for classic TV features, the P8K doesn’t have much to boast about. The remote is simple and convenient, with a large number of buttons, and the presence of Bluetooth allows you to connect wireless headphones or a speaker. And that's basically where the list of conveniences ends. You won't find USB recording, PiP functions, or even working teletext here. TCL has clearly focused on modern content and internet features, rather than traditional solutions known from older receivers. This TV is meant to shine in the world of apps and streaming—and it does exactly that.

The built-in media player in the P7k/P79k model is at least a puzzling case, putting us in quite an unusual situation. On one hand, its engine handles decoding most popular video formats, which is obviously good news. On the other hand, we encountered a surprising and irritating issue – the default application has a fundamental problem displaying Polish diacritical characters in subtitle files correctly. Instead of letters like "ą", "ę", or "ż", empty squares or random, unreadable symbols appeared on the screen. Fortunately, thanks to the flexibility of the Google TV system, this problem can be easily circumvented. Installing an alternative, advanced player, such as the reliable VLC or KODI, completely resolves this inconvenience. The situation is peculiar because this flaw did not occur in other TCL models we tested previously. We are therefore dealing with a clear software oversight, which, hopefully, will be fixed in a future update.

Playback of files from USB on the TCL P8K is quite decent. The television handles most popular video formats without any problems, as well as subtitles and audio files. Issues may arise only with less common codecs or unusual file containers that the built-in player simply does not recognize. Fortunately, in the case of Google TV, this is no trouble at all – in just a few moments, you can download an external player such as VLC, MX Player, or Kodi, and the problem disappears.

In terms of the built-in audio system, the TCL P7k/P79k presents a level that can be described as functional and correct, but lacking audiophile ambitions. The speakers play quite loudly, and dialogues in movies and TV shows are conveyed clearly and without distortion, which is crucial in everyday use. However, the soundstage definitely lacks a foundation in the form of low tones. This is a direct consequence of the absence of a dedicated subwoofer – an element that in the higher P8K series, with a large Onkyo subwoofer at the back of the cabinet, defined the strength of its sound. Here, that element is simply missing, making the sound seem flatter and lacking the depth that creates a cinematic atmosphere. We also noticed a peculiar feature in the software – when trying to set the maximum volume, the TV automatically reduces it. It's hard to conclusively determine whether this is a form of protection against distortion or a minor software bug; nonetheless, it's a pity, as the power reserves seem to be somewhat greater.

For a television in this price range, the TCL P8K can really surprise with its sound. The 2.1 system branded by Onkyo, along with the subwoofer located at the back of the enclosure, offers surprisingly pleasant, deep bass and quite a wide soundstage. The sound is warm, and with the right material, it can even give the impression that the audio gains depth and character – something rarely expected from a television at this price. It performs quite well for music. However, it’s not perfect. The P8K is not one of the particularly loud televisions – during testing, we noticed a strange tendency to automatically lower the volume, even with the volume slider set to maximum. It seems to be the action of some internal limiter designed to protect the speakers (or our ears). It’s a shame because the potential in this setup is significant, and without this limitation, the sound could be even fuller.

TCL P7K / P79K vs TCL P89K / TCL P8K

Advantages

Disadvantages

Our verdict

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

Daytime performance

Panel details

TV features

Classic features:

Smart features:

Smart Features – the Power of Google TV

Classic Features

SmartTV: Google TV

Classic features

Playing files from USB

Apps

Sound

Acoustic Measurements