- 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
- TV efficiency during daytime
- TV features
- Apps
- Playing files from USB
- Sound
- Details about the matrix
TCL P89K / TCL P8K Review
P8K / P89K
Available screen sizes:
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Panel type: LCD VA Refresh rate: 144Hz Brand: TCL Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Google TV Model year: 2025
There is no shortage of cheap, average, and predictable models in the television market. However, now and then a "gem" appears that tries to break the mold and offer something more than just a large screen at a low price. Such a case is the model tested by us from the Chinese giant – TCL P8K, also known as P89K. Despite its relatively attractive price, it features a 144 Hz refresh rate panel, QLED filters that enhance color saturation, and full integration with the Google TV system. Sounds promising – but how does this model perform in reality?
TCL P89K / P8K - Our verdict
6.6
Overall rating
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.
Advantages
Good contrast thanks to the VA panel
Google TV system with an enormous number of applications
Good motion smoothness. 144Hz panel
Great features for gamers: HDMI 2.1, VRR, 4K@120Hz, HGiG, Dolby Vision in games
Very good color gamut coverage thanks to the PFS filter (QLED)
Very good compatibility with PC. 240Hz mode
Low input lag – gaming is smooth and responsive
Well-implemented dynamic tone mapping HDR feature. Despite low brightness, HDR content looks surprisingly good.
2.1 sound from Onkyo with a subwoofer – surprisingly good bass
Very attractive price
Disadvantages
Low brightness – about 250–300 nits
Very poor viewing angles
Average digital image processing
Incorrectly implemented Dolby Vision mode
System errors and freezes occur
Not very loud sound, volume limiter is active
Movies and series in UHD quality6.1
Classic TV, YouTube6.0
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)6.1
Gaming on console8.1
TV as a computer monitor8.6
Watching in bright light4.6
Utility functions7.4
Apps9.6
Sound quality6.7
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TCL P89K / P8K - Competing TVs in this price range
TCL P89K / P8K - TV appearance
HDMI inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps, Ethernet (LAN) 1Gbit
Build quality: Average
Stand type: Legs
Bezel colour: Graphite
Stand: Fixed
Flat design: No
Accessories: Stand
In terms of appearance, the TCL P8K does not stand out particularly among its competitors – it is more of a typical representative of the affordable TV segment. It is not overly slim, and the design reveals some compromises that the manufacturer had to make to maintain an attractive price. Nevertheless, there are a few nice touches. The screen features a distinctive "borderless" design, which is very popular in current models, adding a bit of elegance to the device. An interesting detail is the small plate with the inscription "Premium QLED" located in the right corner – a minor stylistic touch intended to bring a hint of prestige. On the back, in addition to the rather massive plastic back, there is a large subwoofer branded with Onkyo, which is a pleasant surprise in this price range. Overall impression? The whole thing looks quite good, although it is hard not to notice that this is a lower-end model, still aspiring to a slightly higher class.
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TCL P89K / P8K - Contrast and black detail
5.5/10
Local dimming function: No
Result
5,650:1
Result
3,950:1
Result
5,700:1
Result
5,450:1
Result
2,600:1
Visibility of details in the lights:
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.
TCL P89K / P8K - HDR effect quality
4.5/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 93.6%, Bt.2020: 70.4%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
207 nit
Result
238 nit
Result
313 nit
Result
251 nit
Result
299 nit
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.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
We didn't expect miracles from the TCL P8K – after all, it's a TV from the budget range, not a premium segment device. Thus, our surprise was even greater when, after firing up a few demanding movie scenes, it turned out that this unassuming model can really do a lot. Although it clearly falls short of the top-tier designs in terms of brightness (which is completely understandable at this price), the image displayed on the screen looks mature and simply pleasant. We don't get the impression that bright effects merge into one white spot – on the contrary, the television retains details in bright areas, and the overall picture is cohesive and full of nuances that would be the envy of many devices costing twice as much as the P8K. Yes, it can be noticed that the blacks are not always perfect – in darker scenes, they can be slightly boosted because local dimming technology is missing – however, the overall impression remains very positive. The dynamic tone mapping function called "Detailed Priority Description" plays a huge role here. Thanks to it, the TV can maintain a wealth of details and depth in the image, even if it occasionally loses a bit of saturation. The final effect is truly impressive – the P8K can display a surprisingly cinematic image that we wouldn't expect from such an inexpensive model. So, in this part of the test, the television deserves applause, as some more expensive devices might blush in its presence.
HDR luminance chart:
HDR luminance
TCL P8K has a very interesting way of handling different HDR formats. As seen in the photos, the "Detail Priority" feature really does a great job here – the HDR10 image looks simply stunning. You can see depth, details in lights and shadows, and everything retains a natural balance without excessive brightening or loss of contrast. The effect? The image looks mature, at times surprisingly good for this price range. And now the most interesting part – HDR10 performs better here than Dolby Vision. Yes, it sounds strange, but during testing, the difference was clear. Usually, it's Dolby Vision that, thanks to dynamic metadata, can extract the maximum capabilities from the television, while HDR10 is treated as something more basic. In the case of the P8K, it's the opposite. Static HDR10, supported by tone mapping, presents a calm, detailed, and balanced image. Dolby Vision, on the other hand, can overdo brightness and lose subtleties, making the image look less natural. This is truly a rare case – a television that handles classic HDR10 better than Dolby Vision. So, it can be said that TCL has somewhat turned upside down what we have been accustomed to with other models.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: Dolby Vision
Factory color reproduction
5.4/10
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.
Color reproduction after calibration
7.5/10
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.
TCL P89K / P8K - Smoothness of tonal transitions
9.1/10
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.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
6/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
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.
TCL P89K / P8K - Blur and motion smoothness
7.1/10
Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 144Hz
Film motion smoothing option: Yes
Blur reduction option: Yes
BFI function 60Hz: No
BFI function 120Hz: No
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.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Smużenie (4K@144Hz):
When it comes to smearing – here the P8K performs rather averagely. In the UFO test, there were clear, trailing bands behind the object, indicating certain limitations of the panel. The image is of course much clearer than in 60 Hz panels, but it's hard to say that it’s a top-notch panel in terms of response speed. It will work well for dynamic content, although more demanding users will notice that this is not a high-end screen in terms of motion clarity.
TCL P89K / P8K - 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
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.
TCL P89K / P8K - Input lag
9.5/10
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.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 22 ms | 2160p60: 19 ms | 2160p60 DV: 20 ms |
| 1080p120: 13 ms | 2160p120: 10 ms | |
| 2160p60: 22 ms | ||
| 2160p120: 13 ms |
TCL P89K / P8K - Compatibility with PC
8.6/10
Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes
Font clarity: Very Good
Readability of dark text and shapes: Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 13ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: BGR
Max refresh rate: 144Hz
G-Sync: Yes
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.
TCL P89K / P8K - Viewing angles
2.8/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 86%
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.
TCL P89K / P8K - TV efficiency during daytime
4.6/10
Matrix coating: Satin
Reflection suppression: Decent
Black levels during daytime: Good
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.
Matrix brightness
Average luminance SDR
TCL P89K / TCL P8K: 299 cd/m2
TCL P89K / P8K - TV features
7.4/10
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), ARC (HDMI)
- Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps, Ethernet (LAN) 1Gbit
- 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: No
- 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
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.
Sound connection options
HDMI audio:
Other audio outputs:
- Toslink: Yes
Wireless audio:
- Bluetooth: Yes
Obsługiwane formaty 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
Ułatwienia dla seniorów
- Numeric keyboard on TV: Yes
- Font size adjustment: No
- Audio description: Yes
TCL P89K / P8K - Apps
9.6/10
TCL P89K / P8K - 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 |
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.
TCL P89K / P8K - Sound
6.7/10
80dB
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
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.
Acoustic Measurements
80dBC (Max)
75dBC
TCL P89K / P8K - Details about the matrix
Software version during testing: V8-0012T01-LF1V538.002459
Image processor: MT5896 2,5GB RAM
Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:
Backlight Type: PFS LED
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