- 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 |
- Daytime performance |
- TV features |
- Apps |
- Playing files from USB |
- Sound |
- Panel details
IFFALCON U85X Review
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Panel type: LCD VA Refresh rate: 144Hz Brand: TCL Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Google TV Model year: 2026
Today we take an in-depth look at a product that is extremely unconventional, especially in our market. The brand iFFALCON may be a complete mystery for many of you. These TVs are practically elusive here, and when they do appear in a store, it's usually in short, limited batches. What exactly is this "exotic"? It's a brand that comes directly from the Chinese giant that we all know well: we are of course talking about TCL. In the model U85X that we tested, we found plenty of shared features, and at times even identical solutions, as in the "original" products from the parent company. Is this interesting newcomer a hidden gem for the clever, or just a poorer version of well-known models? We checked it out for you in our review!
TCL IFFALCON U85X - Our verdict
6.9
Overall rating
The iFFALCON U85X is a device that draws heavily from the technological solutions of its parent brand, TCL. It is hard not to get the impression that in terms of pure technical parameters, we are dealing with nearly a faithful copy of the successful C6K series (C69K/Q6C), although visually, the designers opted for references to the more budget-friendly P line. This specific combination makes the television do exactly what we expect from a solid Mini-LED at an even lower price. It provides very good contrast and a vivid HDR effect, which is directly due to the impressive number of local dimming zones. It is worth noting that, just like the models from the C series, the iFFALCON U85X turns out to be exceptionally tailored to the needs of gamers. You will find almost every function necessary for comfortable gaming, from full support for HDMI 2.1 ports, through ALLM and VRR technologies for console owners, to excellent compatibility with PCs. As a monitor, the device performs superbly not only due to its refresh rate support up to 240Hz but also because of its very sharp and legible font, which is not always a given in the world of televisions. Of course, it is not an ideal model, as it shares the same set of advantages and disadvantages as its counterpart under the TCL brand – mainly referring to issues like noticeable motion blur and aggressive brightness management in HDR. However, it all creates an extremely interesting mix that makes us seriously contemplate the sense of the existence of the iFFALCON brand as a separate entity, since the same product could successfully debut with a full-fledged TCL logo on the casing. Nevertheless, we have no major reservations about the device itself; it is truly a model worth attention as long as you manage to purchase it, as it is very difficult to obtain at the moment.
Advantages
Good contrast and black: VA panel with MINI-LED local dimming zones
High HDR brightness: sturdy 650 nits
Decent colors: thanks to the PFS filter (according to the manufacturer QLED)
Amazing for gamers: full HDMI 2.1, 144Hz, very low input lag, and VRR/ALLM features
Great as a monitor: 240Hz mode, support for G-SYNC/FreeSync
Powerful sound – dedicated subwoofer provides a realistically felt bass
Versatile Smart TV – advanced Google TV system with full AirPlay support
Disadvantages
Visible smearing
Backlight management could be better
Poor viewing angles – typical color degradation of VA panels when viewed from the side
Software errors – inaccurate menu translations and occasional drops in system fluidity
Movies and series in UHD quality6.2
Classic TV, YouTube6.3
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)6.1
Gaming on console8.4
TV as a computer monitor8.6
Watching in bright light5.6
Utility functions7.6
Apps9.6
Sound quality6.9
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TCL IFFALCON U85X - Competing TVs in this price range
TCL IFFALCON U85X - TV appearance
HDMI inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality: Average
Stand type: Legs
Bezel color: Graphite
Stand: Fixed
Flat design: No
Accessories: Stand
Looking at the iFFALCON U85X, it’s hard not to feel a strong déjà vu. This model at times seems like a faithful copy of the TCL design, which is especially evident in the identical finish of the lower bezel and the characteristic two feet placed on the sides of the device. In a simplified way, visually the U85X is a kind of mix of the C and P series from TCL. An interesting accent is the back of the casing, where we find a subwoofer with the proud inscription “Ultra-Bass”. We have already seen almost identical solutions in TCL models, with the difference being that there the audio systems were usually branded with the name Onkyo. Here we have a “no-name” version, although visually similar. The device itself is made correctly and aesthetically, but it certainly cannot be said to belong to the premium category. It’s just an ordinary-looking television that does not stand out and does not try to distinguish itself in any special way.
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TCL IFFALCON U85X - Contrast and black detail
7.3/10
Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 224 (14 x 16)
Result
113,850:1
Result
24,800:1
Result
10,950:1
Result
7,000:1
Result
6,050:1
Visibility of details in the lights:
In terms of black levels and contrast, the 65-inch iFFALCON U85X is almost an exact replica of the solutions known from TCL's C6K and C69K models, offering the same number of 224 local dimming zones in a 14x16 arrangement. Thanks to the use of a VA panel and such a solid number of zones, the device can generate an image with impressive depth, where our measurements in real movie scenes indicated a contrast exceeding 100,000:1. Of course, at this level of hardware, local dimming does not always exhibit perfect precision, so in more challenging scenes with bright details on a dark background, we have to reckon with the occurrence of halo effects, which are subtle glows around objects. Nevertheless, the overall quality of black levels is very high and will certainly satisfy the majority of users seeking cinematic experiences. The image certainly appears to have greater depth than in solutions without any local dimming technology.
TCL IFFALCON U85X - HDR effect quality
4.7/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 93.7%, Bt.2020: 72.5%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
627 nit
Result
165 nit
Result
390 nit
Result
124 nit
Result
528 nit
iFFALCON U85 handles HDR in a rather dual manner – on one hand, it can surprise with a solid peak brightness of around 650 nits, which places it well above average in this price segment. This is particularly evident in full-screen, bright scenes. Examples from movies like Life of Pi or the final test sequences from The Meg prove that the TV can maintain the strength and essence of the HDR effect when the entire panel has to "light up," delivering truly satisfying experiences. However, problems begin in high-contrast scenes, where smaller, bright details appear on the screen; the dimming algorithms prioritize deep blacks to such an extent that they can suppress the brightness of small highlights to just 100 nits, drastically reducing the dynamism of the image and depriving us of the true "punch" we expect from HDR standards. However, the question of colors remains a sweetener; thanks to the use of the PFS phosphor filter (marketed as QLED by the manufacturer), they look very good, achieving nearly 94% coverage of the DCI-P3 color palette, allowing for a rich and vibrant image in most content.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
Further analyzing the HDR effect and specifically the performance of the iFFALCON U85X in comparison with the market leaders, we must admit that it performs surprisingly well and has nothing to be ashamed of compared to more popular brands. In HDR content mastered to 1000 nits, such as in the film Billy Lynn, the picture is consistent and clear, although the television has a tendency to slightly boost midtones while losing small details in the brightest whites. However, we were even more impressed by the mapping of 4000 nit materials – here the U85X effectively ensures the visibility of details in the bright areas of the image (such as the sunset in the film Mr.), allowing for only a slight brightening of the shadows, which, while maintaining decent colors, creates a truly attractive effect. Such efficient signal processing is largely thanks to the dynamic tone mapping function, specifically the mode called “detailed priority description,” which we definitely recommend activating to extract the maximum accuracy from this panel.
HDR luminance chart:
In terms of HDR standard support, the iFFALCON U85X is a real front-runner, covering all major market formats. On board, we find not only the basic HDR10 and HLG but also advanced solutions with dynamic metadata, namely Dolby Vision and HDR10+. While our comparative tests show a certain advantage of the image in Dolby Vision format over static HDR10, this difference isn't overwhelming. This is mainly due to the fact that the "Detail Description Priority" feature can effectively "extract" the quality of a regular signal, making additional support for dynamic formats a nice complement rather than a necessity. An interesting feature is the presence of Dolby Vision IQ, which is theoretically supposed to adjust display parameters to the room's lighting. Unfortunately, in practice, this feature works quite controversially as it tends to interfere with elements of the image that it shouldn't touch, rather than simply smartly brightening scenes. Therefore, even though the U85 has a full package of certifications, it's best to stick to the classic Dolby Vision settings, which you can find today in almost every popular VOD production.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: Dolby Vision
Factory color reproduction
4.8/10
We tested the factory colors in the iFFALCON U85X model in “Film” mode, which is definitely the most reliable among all available settings, although it is still far from perfect. The main problem that stands out in both SDR and HDR content is improper white balance - an excess of blue and red components gives the image a slight purple tint, which undermines the naturalness of film scenes. However, an even greater challenge is the way the television manages its brightness. Analyzing the gamma curve for the SDR signal, we noticed significant instability: instead of sticking to the reference value of 2.4, the device oscillates around 2.2, only to suddenly experience an unnatural jump to around 3.0. In practice, this leads to confusing effects - large bright areas on the screen appear too dark, while smaller elements are unnecessarily brightened. A similar feature can be found in the EOTF curve, which makes the image unpredictable and loses its cinematic authenticity.
Color reproduction after calibration
7.5/10
After professional calibration of the movie mode, we must admit that the effect is more than satisfactory – the iFFALCON U85X undergoes a true transformation. Color errors in SDR content dropped to a level below 2, making them practically imperceptible to the human eye. We managed to set the white balance almost perfectly, and brightness management (gamma) became nearly exemplary. As a result, with standard quality materials, the television looks simply perfect, and it's hard to find any faults with it.
In the case of HDR signal, the situation has also improved significantly, although here the nature of the device is a bit more pronounced. Color errors have been reduced to around 3, which is an outstanding result in this price range. However, it is worth taking a look at the EOTF chart (available on the right side of the screen in the filters: 4K HDR, gamma / EOTF) to see what is not immediately visible regarding brightness management by the U85. Although the reference line looks decent, in actual film scenes, the television still interprets the signal "in its own way" due to very aggressive local dimming algorithms. Does this disqualify this model for watching HDR content? Absolutely not. It's simply a typical ailment of almost every Mini-LED that has to reconcile high brightness with an attempt to maintain deep black. One just has to be aware of these technical limitations, which are unavoidable in this segment.
TCL IFFALCON U85X - Smoothness of tonal transitions
7/10
When it comes to the smoothness of tonal transitions, the iFFALCON U85X performs quite decently. In most scenes, gradients are almost imperceptible, so the irritating "banding" of colors shouldn't be noticeable during everyday viewing, for example, on ChooseTV. However, it must be honestly admitted that in very dark frames, the image is not always perfectly smooth, and certain imperfections in transitions between shades can be observed. Nonetheless, this result is more than satisfactory and does not spoil the overall perception of the image.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
5/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
When it comes to scaling the image to 4K resolution, the iFFALCON U85X performs solidly. The device efficiently enhances low-quality signals, making even older materials look clean and clear on the 4K matrix. At extremely low resolutions, such as 480p, you can notice slightly jagged edges (especially on thin lines), but let's face it – this is a scenario you'll only encounter when watching very old footage, so it's not a real issue in everyday use.
However, the digital processing aimed at smoothing tonal transitions is significantly worse. Although the menu features a function called “Gradual Smoothing”, its effectiveness is at least debatable. In practice, it does not effectively reduce banding (color stepping), and worse, it can cause more harm than good. This filter can be too aggressive where it shouldn't be, artificially smoothing out details that should not be touched, such as the natural texture of the face or fine details of the skin's texture. Instead of improving quality, this feature can give the image an unnatural, “plastic” look, so it's best to use it with great caution or, better yet: leave it turned off.
TCL IFFALCON U85X - Blur and motion smoothness
6.8/10
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: 25%
In contrast to budget constructions, which in dynamic sports scenes may resemble a slideshow, the iFFALCON U85X is a heavyweight contender equipped with a panel featuring a native refresh rate of 144Hz. However, it is worth remembering that in the world of movies, series, or sports, we will mostly operate at 120Hz due to the specifics of image enhancement systems. Such a fast panel is excellent news for gamers and sports fans, as it opens the door to advanced motion settings that simply don't exist in cheaper 60-Hz models.
We manage everything from the "Motion Clarity" menu, where instead of using pre-set, often too aggressive modes, we definitely recommend a custom configuration based on two sliders. The most important of them, reduction of flicker, is responsible for smoothness in films – here, it's best to aim for a value around 4, which will maintain a natural, cinematic character of motion without falling into the artificial "soap opera effect." On the other hand, the first slider, reduction of blur, is the key to success in sports broadcasts. In this case, it's worth going all out and setting it to maximum, ensuring that the image during fast actions on the field remains sharp, and annoying trailing is eliminated.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Blur (BFI function enabled):
Blur (4K@144Hz):
However, we need to temper the enthusiasm resulting from the mere presence of a 144 Hz panel because the picture in the iFFALCON U85X model is not crystal clear like with OLED TVs. Unfortunately, the panel used here struggles with quite noticeable motion blur issues, which become particularly bothersome in dark scenes. In our UFO tests, it is clearly visible how an unwanted streak trails behind rapidly moving elements, which significantly reduces the sharpness of dynamic objects. One possible solution could be an attempt to mitigate this effect using the BFI function, but in practice, it is not effective enough to completely eliminate ghosting and reduce motion blur to zero.
TCL IFFALCON U85X - Console compatibility and gaming features
9.8/10
- ALLM:
Yes
- VRR:
Yes
- VRR range:
48 - 240Hz
- Dolby Vision Game Mode:
Yes
- Correct implementation of HGIG:
Yes
- 1080p@120Hz:
Yes
- 1440p@120Hz:
Yes
- 4K@120Hz:
Yes
- Game bar:
Yes
iFFALCON U85X is an exceptional device for gamers that has virtually everything you can expect from a modern screen for consoles or PCs. Here we find two fully-fledged HDMI 2.1 ports with full bandwidth of 48 Gbps, which opens the door to key technologies such as VRR and ALLM, ensuring smooth gameplay without tearing and with minimal latency. The TV handles high refresh rates at various resolutions without any problem, and a real curiosity is the mode that allows for up to 240Hz when dropping to Full HD quality. The entire system is managed by the Game Bar (a faithful copy from TCL), which allows for instant switching of picture modes, customization of the interface appearance, or even adding a virtual crosshair in the middle of the screen.
TCL IFFALCON U85X - Input lag
9.8/10
The completion of the gaming arsenal is the remarkable latency results that we measured in our tests. With a standard 60Hz signal, the input lag is only 17 ms, which is a completely safe value for comfortable gameplay, while switching to 120Hz reduces the latency to an impressive 9 ms. A nice fact is that these excellent parameters do not deteriorate even in Dolby Vision mode. In many televisions, activating this format still comes with additional processor overhead and increased lag, but here the engineers at TCL (or iFFALCON) did a great job.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 17 ms | 2160p60: 17 ms | 2160p60 DV: 17 ms |
| 1080p120: 9 ms | 2160p120: 9 ms | 2160p120 DV: 9 ms |
| 2160p60: 17 ms | ||
| 2160p120: 9 ms |
TCL IFFALCON U85X - Compatibility with PC
8.6/10
Chroma 444 (max. resolution and refresh rate): Yes
Font clarity: Good
Readability of dark text and shapes: Very Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, max. refresh rate): 9ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: BGR
Max refresh rate: 144Hz
G-Sync: Yes
iFFALCON U85X is also a great candidate for a powerful computer monitor, offering a work culture that is hard to find in typical televisions. The readability of the fonts is at almost an exemplary level – although due to the specifics of the VA panel, it is not as crystal clear as in IPS panels, the difference becomes practically undetectable to the human eye when maintaining a distance of over one meter. The device natively supports a resolution of 4K at 144Hz refresh rate, but the real ace up its sleeve is the 240Hz mode (available at lower resolutions), which makes this giant an excellent tool for fast-paced esports titles, where refresh rate takes priority over pixel count. What is almost most important for PC users, such high performance is fully supported by frame synchronization technologies such as NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, which effectively eliminates screen tearing and ensures perfect smoothness regardless of the graphic card in use.
TCL IFFALCON U85X - Viewing angles
3.1/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 68%
In terms of viewing angles, the iFFALCON U85X does not offer any surprises – it is simply poor, which is a typical characteristic of VA matrix screens. We must treat this as a natural and conscious compromise: when choosing a panel with high contrast and deep blacks, we almost always sacrifice wide viewing angles (only in top-end series do manufacturers use special coatings to improve this feature). The laws of physics in this price segment cannot be deceived, because while sitting directly in front of the television, the picture looks stunning, it only takes a slight lean to the side for the colors to start losing their saturation. If you plan on evening screenings with a larger group, it's a good idea to ensure that everyone sits as close to the central axis of the screen as possible.
TCL IFFALCON U85X - Daytime performance
5.6/10
Panel finish: Satin
Reflection suppression: Decent
Black levels during daytime: Good
In a bright room, the iFFALCON U85X performs reasonably well, thanks to the satin coating used on the panel. It adequately dampens direct light reflections, allowing us to avoid the irritating mirror effect, although under stronger lighting, one can notice the characteristic warm "spills" of light around the reflecting objects. While it is not on par with top-tier panels featuring the most advanced filters, the absence of high gloss makes daytime use much less burdensome. In terms of pure brightness in SDR standard, that is for television, the TV achieves an average brightness level of around 420 nits. This is not an outstanding result that would allow it to compete with direct sunlight hitting the screen, but it is perfectly sufficient for comfortable viewing in a moderately sunny living room.
Panel brightness
IFFALCON U85X: 419 cd/m2
TCL IFFALCON U85X - TV features
7.6/10
System: Google TV
System performance: Decent
- HDMI inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
- Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (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): RF
- Backlit remote control: No
- 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
Smart Features
Like products from TCL, the iFFALCON U85X benefits from the Google TV system. This means access to an almost unlimited library of applications, from the most popular VOD services to niche tools, as well as full integration with Google and Gemini voice assistants. Apple ecosystem users are also not left out – the television easily works with their devices thanks to the built-in AirPlay feature. The system itself operates quite smoothly, although it's undeniable that it inherits some issues known from TCL models. The interface can sometimes "catch its breath" and needs a moment to think, and Polish translations in the deeper corners of the menu can be quite strange and occasionally illogical.
Classic Features
In terms of traditional television functions, the iFFALCON U85X does not strive for any extravagance and offers the absolute minimum, which may be somewhat disappointing for more demanding users of traditional cable or satellite. It’s futile to look for features like recording programs to external USB memory or picture-in-picture (PiP) mode, which would allow following two sources simultaneously. From the more "modern" classics, we only get the ability to wirelessly connect headphones via Bluetooth and teletext support. The remote control also does not pretend to be a modern gadget from the future; it’s a classic design with a full numeric keypad that makes it easier to jump quickly between channels, but visually it strongly diverges from minimalist trends.
Sound connection options
HDMI audio:
Other audio outputs:
- Toslink: Yes
Wireless audio:
- Bluetooth: Yes
Supported audio formats (external HDMI eARC 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
Senior accessibility
- Numeric keyboard on TV: Yes
- Font size adjustment: No
- Audio description: Yes
TCL IFFALCON U85X - Apps
9.6/10
TCL IFFALCON U85X - 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 |
Playing files from a USB drive is no challenge for the iFFALCON U85X – the built-in player handles almost every audio and video format we threw at it during testing without a hitch. The only drawback we could point out is the support for external subtitles; while popular formats like .sub and .srt work flawlessly, the TV can be finicky with .txt files. Fortunately, with the presence of Google TV, this problem can be quickly resolved by installing an external VLC-type application. Still, for most users, the factory tool will probably be more than sufficient to enjoy their own multimedia library without unnecessary hassle.
TCL IFFALCON U85X - Sound
6.9/10
83dB
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
iFFALCON U85X proves that the absence of the Onkyo or Bang & Olufsen logo on the casing does not have to mean flat and shrill sound. The audio system in this model performs surprisingly well, largely due to the dedicated subwoofer located at the back of the device. Our acoustic measurements confirm that the lower frequencies begin to "respond." It is this discernible "bump" on the graph that accounts for the noticeable dose of bass, which typically provides weight and depth to films and music that are often lacking in televisions. The only criticism one might have is that such bass can overpower the high tones, making them seem a bit muted. Overall, it can deliver sound at a level of up to 83 dBC, which is more than sufficient for amplifying a larger living room.
Acoustic Measurements
83dBC (Max)
75dBC
TCL IFFALCON U85X - Panel details
Software version during testing: V8-0012T01-LF1V543.002503
Image processor: MT5896 2,5GB RAM
Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:
Backlight Type: Mini-LED PFS LED
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