The TCL X11L is the company’s most advanced TV so far, but with the rise of RGB LED TVs, is mini LED technology becoming obsolete?
Since I first encountered the TCL X11L SQD-Mini LED TV at a pre-CES event last December, I’ve been keen to try it out at home. It impressed me so much that I awarded it the title of best TV at CES 2026.
Once I set up the Google TV and started watching, the TCL X11L wowed me. It’s the brightest TV I’ve tested in my home, but more notably, its color vibrancy is remarkable. Common colors like skin tones, the sky, and greenery appear as close to real life as I’ve seen on a TV, with outstanding color vibrancy.
Unlike previous TCL models, this flagship TV boasts vibrant colors and exceptional blooming control, rivalling flagship models from major brands like Sony Bravia 9, LG G5, and Samsung S95F. It also surpasses them in brightness. However, it’s pricey: the 75-inch model is $7,000, while the 85- and 98-inch versions are $8,000 and $10,000, respectively. With upcoming RGB LED TVs likely to be similarly priced, it might be wise to hold off before investing in the X11L.
While the TV industry moves towards RGB LED—and TCL is no exception with other TVs—the X11L enhances mini-LED tech. It uses blue LEDs for its backlight, super quantum dots, and an advanced color filter for the widest gamut coverage seen from a mini-LED TV. Both RGB and mini-LED should offer similar light output and color performance. However, RGB LEDs might achieve more accurate colors, though they could suffer from visible color crosstalk issues. We will understand better once RGB LED TVs become more common. As it stands, mini-LED is a reliable technology, and TCL has greatly enhanced its capabilities in the X11L.
The design of the X11L is a step up from past TCL models, featuring a sleek metal frame and a consistent thickness of about an inch. It has a B&O audio system with front-facing speakers for clear dialogue and built-in subwoofers that provide deep bass. The system can be expanded with TCL’s Z100 FlexConnect speakers, which I plan to review soon.
Key Specs:
– Display Type: Mini LED with super quantum dots
– Backlight: Blue LEDs
– HDR Formats: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
– OS: Google TV
– HDMI Inputs: 4 x HDMI 2.1 (one with eARC/ARC)
– Audio Support: Dolby Atmos, DTS Virtual X
– Gaming Features: 4K/144Hz, VRR (up to 288Hz), ALLM, FreeSync Premium Pro
– Available Sizes: 75, 85, 98 inches
Filmmaker mode is the most accurate based on tests, delivering exceptional grayscale performance, although with slight black crushing. The TCL performs slightly under the EOTF curve but adjusts well with increased brightness settings, maintaining near-perfect grayscale accuracy apart from minor black issues.
In Filmmaker mode, the X11L peaks at 2,789 nits in a 10 percent window but can reach 8,800 nits. By comparison, the TCL QM9K reached 5,844 nits, and the OLED LG G5 reached 2,340 nits. Most viewers won’t require this level of brightness, so I usually set it at 70, with adjusted local contrast and peak brightness depending on the ambient light.
TCL has incorporated brightness and picture mode buttons on the remote side, simplifying adjustments for enthusiasts and reviewers. Other than that, it resembles last year’s remote, complete with an input select button, voice command mic, and backlighting.
Some reviewers mention Movie mode being more accurate than Filmmaker on their units, so I re-evaluated but found Filmmaker mode more accurate despite Movie mode’s higher brightness.
During extended use, I noted minor changes in red channel accuracy over several hours. Though this variation isn’t significant during normal viewing, it’s worth considering for potential buyers of such an expensive set.
My testing process involves placing the TV in my living room and streaming content from a variety of sources including discs from Magnetar and Kaleidescape players and gaming on Xbox and PlayStation consoles. The TVs are tested under different lighting conditions without calibration to reflect typical out-of-the-box performance, making minor menu tweaks as needed.
Throughout testing, the X11L delivered stellar visuals. Notable scenes, such as the desert chase in “Mad Max: Fury Road,” appeared stunningly bright, while landscapes like Rivendell in “The Lord of the Rings” looked vividly lifelike. Its blooming control outperforms any previous mini LED TV tested, offering excellent bright-dark separation, though