Our TCL TV reviews have shown that most models released by TCL over the past few years have offered great value, and they've become pretty established in the United States as a company that offers fully featured TVs for a reasonable price. In the past, they were known for their basic models with limited features, but some of their recent releases feature the latest technology, including Mini LED backlighting and variable refresh rate (VRR) support. They're often available at a lower cost than competitors, and most people will be pleased with their higher-end models. They mainly compete with Hisense but release models to compete with brands like Sony and Samsung.
Through our testing process, we've determined which TCL models are worth buying, and you can find our picks for the best TCL TVs below. You can also vote on which TCL TVs you want us to buy and test. To learn more about how TCL's 2025 lineup stacks up against other brands, check out our 2025 TV lineup page.
Updates
- 11/12/2025TCL QM5K reviewed
- 10/21/2025TCL QM9K reviewed
- 10/14/2025TCL Q77K reviewed
- 09/24/2025TCL S551G updated
- 07/31/2025TCL QM8K reviewed
Quick Look
We buy and test dozens of TVs yearly, taking an objective, data-driven approach to deliver results you can trust. Our testing process is complex, with hundreds of individual tests that take over a week to complete. Most of our tests are done with specially designed test patterns that mimic real content, but we also use the same sources you have at home to ensure our results match the real-world experience. We use two main tools for our testing: a Colorimetry Research CR-100 colorimeter and a CR-250 spectroradiometer.
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Best TCL TV
Mixed Usage8.4Home Theater8.6Bright Room8.4Sports8.3Gaming8.4Brightness9.1Black Level9.2Color8.0Processing (In Development)7.8Game Mode Responsiveness8.0Resolution4kNative Refresh Rate144HzScreen FinishGlossyTypeLEDSub-TypeVASee all our test resultsDolby VisionYesThe best TCL TV we've tested is the TCL QM8K. It's an impressive TV that delivers amazing picture quality with an impressive selection of extra features. It's one of the brightest TVs on the market, and it handles indirect reflections exceptionally well, making it easy for this TV to overcome glare in most bright rooms. However, mirror-like reflections are visible, so it's best to avoid placing the TV screen directly in front of a lamp or window. This model looks fantastic in a dark room due to its bold blacks, with very minimal haloing around subtitles and highlights. Colors on this model are bright, rich, and incredibly vibrant. Furthermore, highlights truly pop out in HDR content, so this TV provides excellent image quality whether you're watching SDR or HDR content. One minor downside is that its viewing angle is a bit narrow, so although it's suitable for seating at a slight angle, it's not ideal for wide seating arrangements.
Not only does this TV offer great image quality, but it's also equipped with a multitude of modern gaming features. It has two HDMI 2.1 ports capable of 4k @ 144Hz and 1080p @ 288Hz gaming, with VRR support, making it a great option for gamers. Pixel response times are pretty fast for a Mini LED model, so you don't have to deal with too much motion blur. For movie fans, it supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and every major audio format, so you're totally covered regardless of the content you're watching. Ultimately, it performs well in terms of overall processing, effectively displaying low-resolution and low-quality content. You could also opt for the more expensive TCL QM9K, which is even brighter than the QM8K. However, the QM8K actually performs better overall, and it's more affordable, so it's the better option for almost anyone.
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Best Mid-Range TCL TV
Mixed Usage7.8Home Theater7.9Bright Room8.0Sports7.9Gaming7.8Brightness7.8Black Level8.4Color7.5Processing (In Development)7.7Game Mode Responsiveness8.0Resolution4kNative Refresh Rate144HzScreen FinishGlossyTypeLEDSub-TypeVASee all our test resultsDolby VisionYesThe next best TV in TCL's lineup is the TCL QM7K. You obviously have to make some sacrifices by going with a model that's a step down, but you still end up with very good picture quality and the same set of features. While it's a bit dimmer than the TCL QM8K, it's still bright enough to handle glare in well-lit rooms, as long as you don't have direct light sources facing the screen. Black levels aren't quite as good, but blacks still look bold and impressive, especially in darker environments, though there's a bit more haloing around highlights and subtitles. The TV isn't as bright as the QM8K in HDR, but it still delivers bright highlights that stand out well enough for an impactful HDR experience, especially when paired with its vibrant colors. Its viewing angle is just as narrow, so it's best to sit directly in front of the screen for the best experience.
On top of its solid image quality, this model offers the same suite of modern gaming features. With two HDMI 2.1 ports, support for 4k @ 144Hz, 1080p @ 288Hz, and VRR, it's a great choice for both console and PC gamers. It also supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+, and it passes through every major audio format, so you're set if you have a physical media collection. You even get similar processing capabilities as the more expensive model, so low-resolution and low-quality content still looks pretty good.
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Best Budget TCL TV
Mixed Usage7.1Home Theater7.2Bright Room7.0Sports7.1Gaming7.2Brightness6.5Black Level7.6Color7.2Processing (In Development)7.0Game Mode Responsiveness7.9Resolution4kNative Refresh Rate144HzScreen FinishGlossyTypeLEDSub-TypeVASee all our test resultsDolby VisionYesNext up is the TCL QM6K, which is a budget model that punches well above its weight class. Even though it doesn't quite match the image quality of the higher-end models, it still delivers an impressive picture that's sure to impress most people. Colors are slightly muted compared to those on the more expensive TCL models, but they remain vibrant enough to avoid appearing washed out. Blacks aren't as bold, but since the TV has a solid local dimming solution, blacks are still deep enough to give solid depth to the image, especially for a budget-friendly option. It gets bright enough in SDR to handle glare in well-lit rooms. However, its lower HDR brightness means highlights don't stand out as much as they should in HDR content. That said, it still provides a decent HDR experience overall.
This TV has the same set of gaming features that are found in its more expensive counterparts, including two HDMI 2.1 ports, support for 4k @ 144Hz, 1080p @ 288Hz, and VRR. It also features Dolby Vision and HDR10+, and supports every major audio format, making it an excellent choice for movie fans who want the widest compatibility. As with other TCL models, the viewing angle is on the narrow side, so sitting directly in front of the screen will give you the best image quality. Image processing is decent overall, but low-resolution content looks a bit soft, and low-quality content is a bit noisy. Still, while the TV's image quality isn't at the same level as the TCL QM7K and TCL QM8K, the QM6K is one of, if not the best, budget TVs on the market.
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Best Cheap TCL TV
Mixed Usage7.0Home Theater7.1Bright Room7.3Sports7.3Gaming6.5Brightness6.7Black Level7.6Color6.5Processing (In Development)7.1Game Mode Responsiveness7.2Resolution4kNative Refresh Rate60HzScreen FinishGlossyTypeLEDSub-TypeVASee all our test resultsDolby VisionYesAlthough it's a bit more expensive than cheap models from other brands, the Best Buy exclusive TCL QM5K offers the best image quality out of any other low-cost models on the market. The TV has local dimming, so blacks are nearly as deep as they are on the TCL QM6K, albeit with a bit more haloing around highlights and subtitles. It has very similar brightness capabilities to the more expensive model in most picture modes, but it's very dim in HDR when using its dedicated gaming mode, which means you have to trade off a significant amount of brightness to achieve the best gaming performance. Colors aren't as accurate out-of-the-box, but they have similar vibrancy, so the image doesn't look muted. Its viewing angle is approximately the same, so it's best to stay seated directly in front of the screen for optimal image quality.
Even though it has similar image quality to the QM6K, it's lighter in terms of gaming features. It doesn't support 4k @ 120Hz or 1080p @ 288Hz like the higher-end TCL models. However, it still gives you the option to game in either 1080p or 1440p @ 144Hz, which is great for gamers who prefer high frame rates over resolution. It also supports VRR up to 144Hz, ensuring screen tearing is minimized. The TV supports HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and DTS audio passthrough, ensuring excellent compatibility. It even has similar processing as the QM6K, which is impressive for a model this affordable.
Compared To Other Brands
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Inexpensive.TCL is one of the more budget-friendly brands on the market, and their TVs offer great value for their cost. Their prices have been going up, however.
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Great smart OS.
TCL TVs mostly use the Google TV smart platform, which is user-friendly and has many apps you can download.
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Has a lot of extra features.
As of their 2021 lineup, TCL started to include extra gaming features like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and VRR support on their higher-end models. Even their mid-range models now support 4k @ 144Hz and 1080p @ 288Hz gaming, which is great for gamers. You also get Dolby Vision support on most of their models, and their mid-range and higher-tier TVs also support DTS audio formats.
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Not good for wide seating areas.
Except for a few entry-level models, their TVs usually have VA panels with narrow viewing angles, so they're not suitable if you have a wide seating arrangement.
TCL vs Hisense
Hisense and TCL are direct competitors in the budget TV market. Their TVs usually offer the same features and similar performance. In the past, Hisense and TCL TVs had similar flaws, like bugs and motion handling issues. However, TCL has gotten better with those things in the past couple of years, so you shouldn't encounter any annoying issues with most of their models.
TCL vs Vizio
Vizio and TCL aim to produce TVs in the budget market, although TCL has surpassed Vizio with their higher-end models. TCL TVs typically have better local dimming, are brighter, and have more advanced features like 144Hz support. Furthermore, TCL releases significantly more models per year in the US than Vizio, which gives consumers more options.
Overall, TCL TVs offer good picture quality and great features at a low price. Although some models aren't as feature-packed or as well-built as their more expensive options, our TCL TV reviews prove that they typically offer great value compared to similarly priced options from other manufacturers. If you need advanced features and a TV with a good smart system, you'll be happy with most of their offerings.
2025 TCL Lineup
TCL has released their 2025 lineup. The TCL QM7K and QM8K replace the popular TCL QM751G and TCL QM851G models from 2024, but TCL has also added a new budget model to their Quantum Dot Mini LED lineup. The TCL QM6K is a Mini LED display with up to 500 local dimming zones and quantum dot technology for a wide color gamut. It's one of the most affordable TVs on the market to support up to a 144Hz refresh rate for PC gamers, and when using TCL's resolution-halving Game Accelerator feature, you can up that to 288Hz for unprecedented motion clarity on an LED TV.
The QM7K exhibits a significant increase in contrast compared to the 2024 QM7, but our testing reveals that the TV isn't as bright as its predecessor. The QM7K has the same refresh rate options as the QM6K. There's also the popular TCL QM8K, which has a nice increase in contrast and better accuracy than its predecessor. Rounding out the TCL QD Mini LED lineup is the TCL QM9K, which is brighter than the QM8K, but our testing shows that it's actually a bit worse overall. All of these Mini LED models utilize the long-rumored WHVA panel, which is designed to offer similar contrast to existing conventional VA panels, but with a wider viewing angle, and without the downsides of the wide-angle filters some brands have used in the past. Unfortunately, our tests show that although this new panel does slightly widen the viewing angle compared to previous years, the difference isn't very significant, and this new panel technology falls short of the wide viewing angles offered by OLED models.
There's also the Best Buy exclusive TCL QM5K, which is a "cheap" 60Hz model. However, it has a full-array local dimming, which positions it as the most affordable TV on the market with that technology. At the higher end of the spectrum is the TCL X11K, an enthusiast-oriented model that TCL refers to as "The Pinnacle of Picture Quality." It advertises up to 6,500 nits of peak brightness and 14,000 dimming zones. We don't know how it performs since we haven't tested it, but if it's even partially as good as TCL advertises and outperforms the QM8K by a wide margin, it should be one of the best Mini LED models on the market.
TCL has only released one very cheap model in 2025, and that model is the F35. It's a very basic 60Hz TV without local dimming, but it is direct-lit, which is a plus since edge-lit models tend to fail faster. You can still easily find many of their 2024 models, like the NXTVISION, Q651G, and S5, in stock.
| Model | Sizes | Backlight Type | Advertised Zones | Resolution | Refresh Rate |
| X11K | 85", 98" | Mini LED | Up to 14,000 | 4k | 144Hz (288Hz with Game Accelerator) |
| QM9K | 65", 75", 85", 98" | Mini LED | Up to 6,000 | 4k | 144Hz (288Hz with Game Accelerator) |
| QM8K | 65", 75", 85", 98" | Mini LED | Up to 3,800 | 4k | 144Hz (288Hz with Game Accelerator) |
| QM7K | 55", 65", 75", 85", 98" | Mini LED | Up to 2,500 | 4k | 144Hz (288Hz with Game Accelerator) |
| QM6K | 50", 55", 65", 75", 85", 98" | Mini LED | Up to 500 | 4k | 144Hz (288Hz with Game Accelerator) |
| QM5K | 50", 55", 65", 75" | Mini LED | Up to 300 | 4k | 60Hz (144Hz with Game Accelerator) |
| F35 | 43", 55", 65", 75" | LED Direct Lit | N/A | 4k | 60Hz (No Game Accelerator) |
Recent Updates
Nov 14, 2025:
Replaced the TCL Q651G with the TCL QM5K in the 'Best Cheap TCL TV' category.
Aug 22, 2025:
Replaced the TCL QM851G with the TCL QM8K, the TCL QM751G with the TCL QM7K, the TCL Q651G with the TCL QM6K, and the TCL S551G with the TCL Q651G. We also updated the 2025 TCL Lineup section.
Jan 15, 2025:
We replaced the 2024 TCL Lineup with a new 2025 TCL Lineup section.
Nov 21, 2024:
We replaced the TCL Q5/Q550G QLED with the TCL Q6/Q651G QLED in the 'Best Budget TCL TV' category and replaced the TCL S4/S450G with the TCL S5/S551G in the 'Best Cheap TCL TV' category. We also refreshed some text throughout for clarity.
Aug 26, 2024: Replaced the TCL QM8/QM850G QLED with the TCL QM8/QM851G QLED in the 'Best TCL TV' category and replaced the TCL Q7/Q750G QLED with the TCL QM7/QM751G QLED in the 'Best Mid-Range TCL TV' category. We also refreshed the text throughout the article for conciseness and clarity.
Conclusion
In the past, TCL's lineup was primarily focused on budget-oriented models, but it has expanded in recent years. Our TCL TV reviews indicate that they continue to offer budget-friendly options with good picture quality. Their higher-end TVs are equipped with modern features, typically have excellent overall picture quality, and remain relatively affordable for the value they provide. TCL also manufactures some of the largest TVs on the market, with several models available in a massive 98-inch size. Their enormous 115-inch QM891G is one of the largest TVs on the market today. Whether you need a small and cheap TV for your bedroom or a massive TV for your home theater, TCL has options. For more detailed information on their models, a list of every TCL model we've reviewed is provided below. Keep in mind that our scores aren't comparable across different test benches, so most of the older models in the list below score higher than they would today.