TCL has steadily become one of the top TV brands I recommend, especially if you’re after great picture quality at an affordable price. The best TCL TVs regularly undercut similar models from LG, Samsung, and Sony while still delivering impressive image performance. That value is most evident in TCL’s QD-Mini LED and SQD lineup, which deliver vibrant colors and strong contrast at hard-to-beat prices.

The QM8L earns my highest recommendation. In my tests, it delivered excellent brightness, impressive local dimming control, and an extra-wide color gamut, making it a great choice for all kinds of viewers. But if you’re looking to spend less, the QM6K is TCL’s top budget model. It’s not as bright, but it’s one of the most affordable Mini LEDs I’ve reviewed, and I love that it supports a fast 144Hz refresh rate for gamers.

The best TCL TVs are available in multiple screen sizes, and the company boasts one of the biggest collections of extra-large sets on the market, including massive 98- and 115-inch models. This makes its TVs particularly good options for viewers who want a big display for movie nights, and gameday watch parties during the NFL season.

Our top picks for the best TCL TVs

Best overall: TCL QM8L – See at Amazon

Best budget: TCL QM6K – See at Amazon

Best midrange: TCL QM7L – See at Amazon

Best high-end: TCL X11L – See at Amazon

Best overall: TCL QM8L

Who it’s for: Shoppers who want the best balance of brightness, color, contrast, and price in TCL’s lineup.

Skip this if: You prioritize the lowest price or are willing to pay considerably more for TCL’s absolute best picture quality.

The QM8L is the best TCL TV for most people. It rivals many flagship sets from Samsung, LG, and Sony, but thanks to frequent discounts, it often costs a lot less.

It replaces the 2025 QM8K, which is now sold out at most stores. The biggest upgrade is TCL’s new SQD technology, which stands for super quantum dots. SQD may sound like marketing fluff, but it offers a genuine step up in performance over standard QLED TVs. I measured 85% coverage of the demanding BT.2020 color space and nearly complete coverage of the more commonly used P3 range.

Its peak brightness also reached an impressive 3,600 nits in Filmmaker Mode. When actually watching movies and TV shows, this combination of wide color and high brightness leads to rich saturation and plenty of intensity in explosions, lightning, reflections, and other bold HDR highlights. TCL’s cheaper QM7L is already a strong HDR performer, but the QM8L’s higher brightness is ideal for viewers who want more impact or watch TV in a room with a lot of ambient light.

The QM8L’s Mini LED backlight also provides impressive contrast. Black levels are deep, and distracting halos around bright objects are kept to a minimum. I noticed some faint patchiness and flickering shadows in especially challenging scenes from movies like “The Green Knight” and “1917,” but these flaws were subtle and only really visible in a completely dark room.

Viewing angles are slightly wider than those of TCL’s cheaper models, but color and contrast still fade if you sit off-center. The QM8L is also well-suited for gaming, with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz and four HDMI 2.1 ports. However, the TV falls short of the 165Hz offered by some high-end competing sets from LG and Samsung. The QM8L also looks more upscale than lower-end TCL models thanks to its ZeroBorder panel, which reduces the black framing around the screen so you see more picture and less border.

Read our full TCL QM8L 4K TV review.

Best budget: TCL QM6K

Who it’s for: Shoppers who want Mini LED contrast and strong gaming features at the lowest possible price.

Skip this if: You want more impactful HDR brightness, richer colors, or better performance in a bright room.

The QM6K is TCL’s entry-level QD-Mini LED TV, but it retains the features that matter most. The 65-inch model is regularly available for around $600 to $700, making it one of the few TVs in this price range with quantum dots, local dimming, and a 144Hz refresh rate.

The main compromise is brightness. I measured around 557 nits on a 10% test pattern and 736 nits on a 50% pattern. Those results are respectable for an affordable QLED, but the step-up QM7L gets about four times brighter. As a result, HDR highlights don’t have the same punch on the QM6K, and its picture is less suited to rooms with lots of ambient light.

Still, the QM6K is bright and colorful enough to provide a worthwhile HDR experience for the money. Its local dimming also does a surprisingly good job of limiting halos around bright objects. Black levels are a little lighter than those of TCL’s more expensive TVs, but screen uniformity is excellent.

Viewing angles are decent by budget-TV standards and better than those of TCL’s older Q65, though the picture still looks washed out from far to the side. The QM6K also misses the broader color range of TCL’s newer SQD models.

But those limitations are all easily forgivable at this price. The QM6K is the TCL model to buy if you want entry-level home-theater performance without paying for brightness and color capabilities you may not need. It’s also the only pick here that starts at 50 inches, making it a suitable option for smaller rooms.

Read our full TCL QM6K 4K TV review.

Check out our guide to all the best budget TVs.

Best midrange: TCL QM7L

Who it’s for: Shoppers who want a substantial boost in brightness and color over an entry-level TV without moving into premium pricing.

Skip this if: You’re satisfied with more basic HDR performance or want even higher brightness and more refined contrast.

The QM7L is the best TCL TV for shoppers who want more than a budget set but don’t need the pricier QM8L’s full capabilities. It replaces the older QM7K, which is no longer widely available, and improves on it with higher brightness and a broader color range.

Most importantly, the QM7L is TCL’s least expensive TV with its new SQD display technology. Our reviewer measured 85% of the BT.2020 color gamut, matching the pricier QM8L. It also reached around 2,400 nits of peak brightness. That’s well below what the QM8L can produce but roughly four times brighter than the QM6K, giving colorful HDR movies and shows far more pop than you’ll get from TCL’s budget model.

Contrast is another strength. The Mini LED backlight produces solid black levels while keeping highlights bright, and halos are rarely distracting. Some faint light bleed can appear around objects in dark scenes, particularly if you’re watching with the lights off, but overall performance is excellent for this class.

The QM7L does make a few compromises to maintain its midrange pricing. Its glossy screen picks up reflections from windows and lamps, so placement matters in a bright room. Color and brightness also shift if you sit far to the side. Our reviewer encountered a few smaller quirks, including flickering on densely patterned fabrics, mild motion stutter, and one instance of clipped HDR highlights.

But those issues don’t outweigh the QM7L’s value, especially when it’s on sale. If the QM6K isn’t bright enough for your needs but the QM8L costs more than you want to spend, this is the most sensible middle ground.

Read our full TCL QM7L 4K TV review.

Check out our guide to all of the best TVs.

Best high-end: TCL X11L

Who it’s for: Enthusiasts who want TCL’s widest color range, most powerful brightness, and best black-level performance.

Skip this if: Value matters more than getting the best possible picture, since TCL’s less expensive options deliver much of the same core experience.

The TCL X11L is the brand’s no-compromise option. It pushes TCL’s SQD and Mini LED technologies further than the QM Series, resulting in the brightest, most colorful, and most precise picture in the company’s lineup.

I measured around 88% coverage of the BT.2020 color space, the second-widest range I’ve recorded on a TV. Most current movies and shows don’t use all those extra colors, but the expanded range allows the X11L to produce exceptionally rich saturation when content calls for it.

The X11L also has more local-dimming zones than TCL’s already impressive QM models, giving its backlight finer control over bright and dark areas. The result is some of the best black-level performance I’ve seen outside an OLED. Halos around bright objects are virtually nonexistent, and dark portions of the image look deep and inky even in a pitch-black room. I spotted some faint vertical streaks against black backgrounds, but they were difficult to notice without actively looking for them.

Brightness is just as impressive. The TV reached around 2,600 nits in its default Filmmaker Mode and a consistent 4,000 nits after some adjustments, with a brief burst to about 6,000 nits. Maxing out every brightness-boosting control produced short bursts of up to 9,300 nits in small test patterns — the highest measurement I’ve recorded —though I wouldn’t recommend using those settings for regular viewing.

Together, the X11L’s high brightness and near-OLED quality black levels give HDR images exceptional depth and impact. The main picture-quality limitation is off-center viewing: the X11L holds up well for a backlit TV and slightly better than cheaper TCL models, but an OLED still preserves color and contrast much better from the side.

Its design is suitably premium, with a bronze-tinged finish and the same ZeroBorder framing as the QM8L. Ultimately, price is the real sticking point. The 85-inch X11L currently costs around $6,500 to $8,000, which is actually more than flagship OLEDs like the 83-inch Samsung S95H and LG G6. Discounts could improve its value, but for now, the X11L is best suited to enthusiasts who want TCL’s absolute best picture and are willing to pay for it.

Read our full TCL X11L 4K TV review.

Check out our guide to the best TVs for picture quality.

How we test TCL TVs

To evaluate the best TCL TVs, our reviewers got hands-on with the brand’s top SQD and QD-Mini LED models and put them through our extensive testing process. We’ve been covering home entertainment products for over a decade, and used that experience to inform our methodology.

Brightness and color are measured using test patterns and calibration software. Though this process offers a good sense of a TV’s technical capabilities, it’s even more important to evaluate how a display looks when watching real-world content. To accomplish this, we use each TCL TV we review the same way we use any TV in our home: by watching a variety of shows and movies in both bright and dark environments.

We also use a curated selection of scenes from various titles to showcase different aspects of image quality, including black levels, contrast, HDR highlights, color gradients, viewing angles, upscaling, and local dimming.

In addition to image quality, we test smart TV features and assess overall usability and responsiveness during menu navigation, streaming, and voice searches. We also consider overall build quality and general value for the money.

For more details on our testing process, check out our breakdown on how we review tech products.

Meet the expert behind this guide:

Steven Cohen, senior tech editor: I’ve been reviewing home entertainment gear for over a decade, and my team and I test TVs year-round. We regularly get hands-on with the latest TCL models, and I also stay plugged into the industry by attending product briefings and events to see new display tech before it hits shelves. My goal is simple: cut through the specs and marketing hype to help you find the best TCL TV for your setup.

Learn more about the Reviews team at Business Insider.

TCL TV FAQs

Is TCL a good TV brand?

TCL has cemented itself as one of the top value-forward brands in the TV market. The company offers a wide range of affordable display models, as well as several midrange and high-end offerings that rival more expensive TVs from Samsung, Sony, and LG. For instance, TCL’s QM8L SQD TV compares favorably to Samsung’s flagship QLED and Micro RGB TVs (and even bests them in certain areas) while costing less. That said, the brand isn’t perfect.

In the past, we’ve encountered minor software glitches when reviewing TCL TVs, typically related to certain settings not working properly or adjusting when they shouldn’t. However, we didn’t experience any notable bugs while reviewing the company’s latest 2025 and 2026 models, suggesting TCL has made big improvements in this regard.

Build quality is another area where TCL has traditionally lagged behind pricier brands, so its TVs tend to be a bit cheaper in construction and lack some of the flashier design perks you might find in pricier options. This is most evident in its entry-level and midrange offerings rather than its premium models.

However, these small quirks have never been significant enough to prevent us from recommending the brand. As it stands, the best TCL TVs are among the best values on the market, and our overall experience with the company’s products has been positive.

For those interested in browsing options from other companies, check out our other brand-specific TV buying guides:

Is TCL taking over Sony’s TV business?

In March 2026, TCL entered a definitive agreement to partner with Sony on its home entertainment business, including TVs. The new partnership will take the form of a subsidiary, Bravia Inc., which will start operations in April 2027. TCL will hold a 51% stake in Bravia Inc., while Sony will retain the remaining 49%. The new joint venture will be headquartered at Sony’s Osaki office in Tokyo, Japan. You can learn more at the Sony website.

Speaking on the joint venture, a Sony representative said, “Bravia Inc. brings together Sony’s high-quality picture and sound technology, premium brand value, and operational expertise, alongside TCL’s advanced display technology, global scale, manufacturing footprint, end-to-end cost efficiency, and vertically integrated supply-chain capabilities.”

Though it’s too early to know exactly how this partnership will affect Sony and TCL’s TV lineup, in theory, it could result in more affordable Sony Bravia models that benefit from TCL’s budget-friendly approach without abandoning Sony’s highly rated picture processing.

What kinds of TVs does TCL make?

TCL offers a range of LED, QLED, SQD, and RGB Mini LED TV models to suit various budgets and performance levels.

The company’s standard LED TVs include 4K and HD models geared toward budget buyers seeking an entry-level TV for casual use. These models include the company’s S55-Series TVs. Though fine for basic smart TV needs, they offer limited contrast, brightness, and color capabilities.

Meanwhile, the brand’s QLED, Mini LED, and QLED Mini LED models offer better picture quality, with improved color and contrast. Some examples include the Q6, F7, F8, M8L, and QM6 Series TVs. These sets are all considered upper entry-level or lower midrange.

In 2026, TCL’s flagship midrange and high-end TVs fall under two types: SQD TVs and RGB Mini LED TVs. The QM7L, QM8L, and X11L are all SQD TVs with super quantum dots and advanced local-dimming backlights, delivering a significant jump in contrast, brightness, and color compared to the brand’s cheaper TV series. Meanwhile, the new RM9L is TCL’s first RGB Mini LED TV, which uses red, green, and blue diodes in its backlight to provide an extra-wide color range.

TCL does not sell any OLED TV models in its current lineup. For OLED recommendations from other brands, check out our guide to the best OLED TVs.

When it comes to screen sizes, TCL offers displays ranging from 32 to a whopping 115 inches. For size-specific recommendations, check out our TV buying guides focused on different screen sizes:

What smart TV platform does TCL use?

TCL primarily uses the Google TV operating system on its flagship smart TV models, including all of the picks in this guide. While testing the X11L, QM8L, QM7L, and QM6K, Google TV navigation and general operation were smooth and responsive with no notable glitches.

The X11L, QM8L, and QM7L also support Gemini AI, which we found to be smart and helpful for conversational queries. The QM6K only supported standard Google Assistant search during our testing, and it’s unclear whether it’s been updated to support Gemini.

Instead of Google TV, many of TCL’s cheaper entry-level offerings use the Fire TV or Roku TV interface. Some sets are also available in multiple configurations, allowing buyers to choose their preferred interface. For instance, the QM6 series is also available as the QM64L, which uses Fire TV instead of Google.

For more details on different smart TV platforms, check out our guide to the best smart TVs.

Do TCL TVs have good sound quality?

Generally speaking, most TVs, including TCL models, offer mediocre sound quality. To keep panels slim and costs down, manufacturers use small speaker drivers that lack depth and bass. However, some of TCL’s high-end models, such as the QM7K, QM8K, QM9K, and X11L, use more advanced speaker arrays developed in partnership with Bang & Olufsen. These models sound better than cheaper options, but they still can’t match the performance of a typical soundbar or dedicated set of speakers.

For optimal audio quality, we recommend using a separate soundbar or surround sound system. Check out our audio buying guides for top recommendations: