- 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
TCL C6KS / C69KS / Q6CS Review
C6KS / C69KS / Q6CS
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Panel type: LCD VA Refresh rate: 60Hz Brand: TCL Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Google TV Model year: 2025
Who, if not TCL, is the absolute master in mixing up the naming of their televisions, and the model C6KS tested today is a perfect example of that. You can find it in stores also as C69KS or Q6CS, which only adds to the confusion. But let's set the symbols aside. How does this television differ from its "full-fledged" and slightly more expensive brother C6K? The biggest difference lies in the refresh rate: instead of a gaming 144 Hz, we have a 60 Hz panel here. However, on paper, it's still powerful equipment, as we are dealing with Mini-LED technology with local dimming. And here comes the most important question of this test: Is the cheaper C6KS "almost the same" in terms of image quality, or is the difference significant enough that it's worth paying a little more?
TCL C6KS - Our verdict
6.4
Overall rating
TCL C6KS (also known as C69KS and Q6CS) is a television that on paper promised to be a hit in the "value for money" category. And indeed, in many ways it's a successful piece of equipment: thanks to Mini-LED backlighting, we get good black levels and brightness that rivals more expensive models. In fact, it's identical to the slightly more expensive C6K model, which we've already tested for you. Additionally, it features the same excellent Google TV system and surprisingly rich gaming features, making it enjoyable to play even with a 60 Hz panel. Unfortunately, the positive impression is marred by the performance of the panel used. The television suffers from noticeable motion blur, and aggressive dithering (digital grain) makes the image often appear unnatural and artificial—as if it were being forced to be sharper. Ultimately, the biggest problem with the C6KS isn’t its flaws, but rather its sibling, the C6K. At its current price, this model finds itself in a strange "middle ground." It costs almost the same (or just slightly less) as the full-fledged TCL C6K, which offers a significantly better 120 Hz panel and is simply a complete design without those annoying flaws. The C6KS is a compromise model that will only become attractive under one condition—if its price drops drastically. For now, opting for the (often symbolic) additional cost to the C6K model remains a much safer and better choice. One could mischievously state that the letter "S" in the name actually stands for "Slim." It's just that it's not about an exceptionally slim case, but about how much this model has been "slimmed down" in terms of capabilities compared to the full-fledged C6K.
Advantages
Very good contrast and black: VA panel and MINI-LED backlighting
Pretty high (around 600 nits)
Many features for gamers: VRR, ALLM, HGiG
Additional mode for gamers: 120Hz and 144Hz
Google TV system with a wide range of applications
Support for multiple HDR formats including Dolby Vision
Support for Dolby Atmos and DTS
Quite pleasant sound from the built-in speakers
Disadvantages
The matrix is heavily smudged
Strong visible dithering (looks like artificial 4K)
Very poor compatibility with PC
Minor system errors
Significant chaos in naming (many derivative models that differ in no way)
Movies and series in UHD quality5.9
Classic TV, YouTube6.1
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)5.3
Gaming on console7.7
TV as a computer monitor1.7
Watching in bright light6.6
Utility functions7.0
Apps9.6
Sound quality6.5
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TCL C6KS - Competing TVs in this price range
TCL C6KS - TV appearance
HDMI inputs: 3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1 Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality: Good
Stand type: Legs
Bezel color: Graphite
Stand: Fixed
Flat design: Yes
Accessories: Stand
In terms of appearance, the TCL C6KS looks almost like a twin brother of the more expensive C6K model. The manufacturer did not cut corners here and used literally the same casing along with the identical foot layout. If you placed these two TVs side by side, you really wouldn’t be able to point out the difference. The only way to be sure which model you are dealing with? You need to look at the back of the casing and read the product code label.
The design itself, for such a relatively inexpensive TV, is generally very elegant. The bezels are narrow, and the overall look is modern. You will even find visual “treats” associated with premium class, such as a tasteful brand emblem placed in the upper right corner of the screen. In short: this is truly a well-crafted device that looks more expensive in the living room than it actually is.
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TCL C6KS - Contrast and black detail
7.5/10
Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 180 (10 x 18)
Result
129,650:1
Result
26,650:1
Result
12,900:1
Result
12,600:1
Result
6,250:1
Visibility of details in the lights:
Let's move on to what tigers like best, which is black and contrast. If you were worried that the lower price of the C6KS model (C69KS/Q6CS) was due to drastic cuts in image quality, I have great news for you regarding black levels and contrast. In direct comparison with the more expensive C6K, the tested model hardly falls short at all. Just like in the higher series, we find a VA panel supported by a local dimming system. What’s most interesting – and here’s a big surprise – during the tests, we counted exactly the same number of dimming zones in the C6KS (of the same size) as in the tested more expensive counterpart! The black levels are very good. The contrast measurement results speak for themselves – for such a relatively inexpensive television, the black is deep and free from major issues that often plague budget models without local dimming. Of course, we can't cheat physics. We must expect that in very demanding scenes (e.g., bright text on a black background), we will sometimes notice undesirable effects such as blooming (halo effect around bright objects). However, this is not something that disqualifies this television – overall, the black levels are at a very decent, satisfying level.
Halo effect and black detail visibility:
TCL C6KS - HDR effect quality
4.9/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 92.0%, Bt.2020: 71.0%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
602 nit
Result
204 nit
Result
421 nit
Result
152 nit
Result
590 nit
And how does the issue of HDR look? Here the C6KS performs quite well and – as is becoming a recurring theme in this review – identically to the C6K model. The maximum brightness generated by this television is around 600 nits. In bright scenes, this translates to a really solid, cinematic effect, and generally, the video materials look good here. However, one must remember the specifics of the dimming algorithm in this model. When very small, bright points (e.g., stars) appear against a dark background, the television can dim them quite significantly. The goal is simple: to eliminate blooming and maintain the best possible black levels. It’s a reasonable compromise. Most viewers will definitely appreciate deep, “true black” more than additional micro-details that could cause grayness on the screen. Such is the nature of local dimming technology in this price range, and one must be aware of it. It’s also worth noting that the TCL C69KS (C6KS) has an additional PFS coating, which is marketed under the tagline of QLED technology. Thanks to this, the colors are saturated and vibrant – our measurements showed that the coverage of a wide color gamut reaches 92% here.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
History repeats itself in the case of detail reproduction. Looking at dry numbers and measurement results, we didn't expect fireworks from the cheaper C6KS. In the meantime, the final effect turned out to be definitely better than one might expect – exactly as it was with the more expensive C6K. In streaming film scenes – such as the demanding segments of the movie "Billy Lynn" – and even in productions mastered to very high brightness (around 4000 nits), the image looked surprisingly good. Yes, the peak brightness was naturally dimmed compared to the reference screen, but the whole scene was rendered with great precision. The TV handles tone mapping very well. We did not notice unwanted detail blending in difficult, bright segments (e.g., the aforementioned fireworks). Everything is clear and sharp, which deserves praise in this price range.
HDR luminance chart:
HDR luminance
During testing, we noticed that with a static HDR10 signal, the TCL C6KS – similar to the C6K – does not always perform perfectly. This is most noticeable in scenes washed out in white, such as our test pattern with horses. In such moments, the limited brightness of the panel makes its presence felt, leading to a loss of some details in the whites and a slight flattening of the image. Fortunately, the manufacturer has ensured support for practically all major HDR formats, including the extremely popular Dolby Vision. And that changes everything! In this mode, thanks to the use of dynamic metadata, the image gains a completely new quality.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: Dolby Vision
Factory color reproduction
5/10
Unlike the more expensive C6K model, the tested C6KS does not have an option labeled Filmmaker Mode in the menu. Is this a reason to cry? Absolutely not. Our tests have shown that in practice, in terms of color reproduction, the absence of this specific label makes virtually no difference. The best available Film/Cinema mode here offers nearly identical picture characteristics to the aforementioned Filmmaker mode in the more expensive model. So we get a very similar image, just under a different name. So if you were wondering whether paying extra for the C6K gives you better colors – the answer is: no, in both cases the base is the same and requires slight adjustments.
Color reproduction after calibration
7.5/10
Thanks to the white balance adjustment, the tendency of the C69KS to distort colors has been effectively reduced, leading to a very good final effect. After calibration, we won't see excessive warmth in SDR scenes or overly cool tones in HDR. However, it's worth noting the brightness characteristic. In SDR content, there are hardly any objections – the image looks very good, especially in older films, television programs, or materials from YouTube. It is much more difficult to evaluate the performance of the television in HDR. Analysis of the EOTF curve suggests correct behavior, but its practical variant shows certain limitations. The C69KS can overly brighten the smallest elements of the frame, while at other times it can dim the entire scene. Calibration has therefore brought clear benefits in terms of color reproduction, but certain limitations arising from the operation of local dimming and the way it is controlled by the C69KS cannot be avoided, as we also saw in the C6K test.
TCL C6KS - Smoothness of tonal transitions
4.8/10
Looking solely at the smoothness of tonal transitions, the C69KS gives no real reason for complaints. The gradation of colors proceeds correctly, and more challenging sequences do not reveal significant problems. Therefore, you might be surprised by the low score in this category. This is due to very strong dithering and artificially boosted "resolution," leading to a grainy and unnatural character of the image. For this reason, the final score is significantly lower, despite the correct gradation of the tonal transitions themselves.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
5/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
C69KS handles upscaling quite well. The tested 576p material looks surprisingly decent – a significant amount of detail is preserved, and the algorithm adds a subtle "rounding" effect to sharp edges, making the image appear more cohesive. However, the smoothing of tonal transitions is lacking. The television practically cannot improve them, leaving the image in a somewhat raw state. With older materials, this can be simply exhausting, as the lack of additional processing highlights all imperfections.
TCL C6KS - Blur and motion smoothness
4.9/10
Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 60Hz
Film motion smoothing option: Yes
Blur reduction option: No
BFI function 60Hz: No
BFI function 120Hz: No
C69KS offers a simplified motion improvement panel in movies, allowing you to adjust the intensity of the effect using a slider. This makes it easy to match the smoothness to your own preferences. The possibility of using higher refresh rates is also a plus – even though the panel operates natively at 4K at 60 Hz, lowering the resolution to 1440p allows you to enable 120 and 144 Hz modes, both on consoles and PC. This sounds like great news, but in practice, the image at these settings suffers from significant motion blur. The effect is noticeable enough that the overall experience feels simply mediocre and loses its appeal in everyday use.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Blur (4K@144Hz):
TCL C6KS - Console compatibility and gaming features
8/10
- ALLM:
Yes
- VRR:
Yes
- VRR range:
48 - 144Hz
- Dolby Vision Game Mode:
Yes
- Correct implementation of HGIG:
Yes
- 1080p@120Hz:
Yes
- 1440p@120Hz:
Yes
- 4K@120Hz:
No
- Game bar:
Yes
If we overlook the smearing and lack of native 4K at 120 Hz, the C69KS impresses with how well it performs during gaming. We get everything you can expect from a gaming television: variable refresh rate (VRR), automatic switching to game mode (ALLM), Dolby Vision Gaming mode, and a reasonably functioning HGiG. The TV can also operate at 120 and even 144 Hz at lower resolutions, allowing for smoother gameplay on console or PC. Additionally, there is a clear Game Bar that lets you quickly glance at key settings during gaming. As a result — despite a few limitations — the C69KS can be a truly successful screen for gamers.
TCL C6KS - Input lag
10/10
TCL C6KS performs very well here — the latency drops below 10 ms, which makes reactions in games instantaneous. This is an excellent result in this class and definitely good news for those playing dynamic titles.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 9 ms | 2160p60: 9 ms | 2160p60 DV: 9 ms |
| 2160p60: 9 ms |
TCL C6KS - Compatibility with PC
1.7/10
Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): No
Font clarity: Poor
Readability of dark text and shapes: Poor
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 9ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: BGR
Max refresh rate: 60Hz
G-Sync: Yes
Besides the previously mentioned option of operating at 144 Hz at lower resolutions, the C6KS offers nothing that would encourage its use as a monitor. The fonts look really poor—the darkest ones have a distinct rainbow glow, and standard text is surrounded by strange artifacts. The effect is noticeable enough that extended work at the computer can be simply exhausting.
TCL C6KS - Viewing angles
2.7/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 80%
The viewing angles in C6KS are very poor, typical of VA panels. This is a compromise we pay for by choosing high contrast — the image looks good head-on, but any significant deviation quickly results in drops in brightness and saturation.
TCL C6KS - Daytime performance
6.6/10
Panel finish: Satin
Reflection suppression: Good
Black levels during daytime: Very Good
C6KS performs really well as a TV viewing screen during the day. Its brightness of around 500–600 nits easily cuts through challenging lighting conditions. In addition, there is a satin finish that effectively reduces reflections. As a result, the television surprisingly holds up well during daytime viewing, even in brighter rooms.
Panel brightness
Average luminance SDR
TCL C6KS / C69KS / Q6CS: 527 cd/m2
TCL C6KS - TV features
7/10
System: Google TV
System performance: Decent
- HDMI inputs: 3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
- 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: 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
The biggest advantage of the C6KS is the Google TV system. It is an environment that offers a lot—ideal for those who prioritize a wide selection of applications and convenient use of streaming services. AirPlay, screen sharing, and voice assistant features work very well here, making everyday use of the television simply convenient.
The support for traditional television is somewhat lacking. Users who expect extensive "TV" features may feel overlooked. Besides the efficiently working Bluetooth remote with a numeric keypad, we won't find conveniences like USB recording or PiP functionality here.
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 C6KS - Apps
9.6/10
TCL C6KS - Playing files from USB
8.9/10
| 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 system player really delivers and smoothly handles popular formats. The only hiccup occurs with files from the Apple ecosystem (e.g., HEIC) – here, TCL simply gives up. Fortunately, a huge plus of Google TV is that you can install your own application, such as VLC. This way, you can quickly address the shortcomings of the factory player, allowing you to play practically any material, customizing the TV to your preferences.
TCL C6KS - Sound
6.5/10
-
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
TCL C6KS performs almost identically to the C6K model, as it uses the same set of speakers branded by Onkyo. For a television of this class, the sound is quite good — you can even sense a slightly defined bass, which is not often found in budget segments. However, it is worth remembering the proper perspective. This bass performs decently against other televisions, but a home theater setup or even a basic soundbar will still offer a much fuller, more dynamic sound. Therefore, the C6KS is suitable for regular television watching, but if someone is keen on a stronger sound, additional audio equipment will be a natural choice.
Acoustic Measurements
No acoustic data
TCL C6KS - Panel details
Image processor: MT5896 2,5GB RAM
Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:
Backlight Type: PFS LED
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