I tested TCL’s $8,000 SQD Mini-LED TV — here's my verdict

The TCL X11L SQD Mini-LED TV is the brand’s most ambitious yet. It’s aimed squarely at premium competitors, bringing major color improvements to LED TVs without jumping to the RGB backlight approach that’s starting to take over the TV market.

SQD (Super Quantum Dot) Mini-LED is essentially TCL’s way of improving QD Mini-LED performance both in hardware and software. With SQD, you’re getting more local dimming zones, higher brightness potential and an improved color filter designed to maintain richer color even at high luminance levels — all controlled by a new “color purity algorithm.”

The SQD looks to solve one of Mini-LED’s long-standing challenges: keeping colors looking natural when brightness ramps up. Many of the best TVs can hit impressive peak brightness numbers, but colors often wash out in real scenes. Based on a combination of our lab benchmarking and my anecdotal testing for this TCL X11L SQD Mini-LED TV review, this one manages to stay vibrant even in full-screen bright content. No seriously, we’ve officially crowned it the new king of color.

And perhaps the best part is that TCL isn’t keeping SQD exclusive to this ultra-premium set. The company is bringing the technology to more affordable Google TV models, so buyers who aren’t in a rush might want to wait and compare options. This is a TV that starts at $6,999, after all. Still, my time with the X11L offered a look at what the future of flagship LED TVs is starting to look like.

TCL X11L 4K SQD Mini-LED TV: Price and sizes

The TCL X11L is among the priciest sets to ever hit the Tom’s Guide testing bench. It starts at $6,999 for the smallest 75-inch size. I tested the 85-inch size priced at $8,000, with the third option being 98 inches for $9,999.

• 98-inch TCL X11L SQD Mini-LED TV (98X11L): $9,999
• 85-inch TCL X11L SQD Mini-LED TV (85X11L): $7,999
• 75-inch TCL X11L SQD Mini-LED TV (75X11L): $6,999

TCL is no stranger to the large TV market, in fact it was the first brand to make the best 85-inch TVs and bigger, somewhat affordable. That said, if these options are not suitable for your budget or space (according to our guide on what size TV to buy) you may want to consider the upcoming TCL QM8L and QM7L from TCL’s 2026 offerings instead. Neither are available yet at the time of this writing, but these SQD Mini-LED configurations are set to offer TCL’s newest tech at lower prices and more sizes.

TCL X11L 4K SQD Mini-LED TV review: Ports and connectivity

The TCL X11L’s connectivity is as solid and future-proof as I’d hope for a TV of this caliber. Not only does it feature an ATSC 3.0 tuner for 4K over-the-air broadcasts, but you also get four HDMI 2.1 ports (4K @ 144Hz,) with one supporting eARC for connecting a soundbar or receiver. That gives you enough bandwidth for multiple next-gen consoles, gaming PCs and streaming devices without constant cable swapping.

For me, the only physical annoyance comes from the TV’s wide-set feet. They require a very large stand, so many buyers will likely opt for 600 x 400 VESA wall mounting instead. See our guide to the best TV wall mounts for recommendations.

TCL X11L 4K SQD Mini-LED TV review: Performance

In day-to-day viewing, the X11L made an immediate impression with brightness. Whether watching sports during the day or HDR movies at night, the TV punches through ambient light easily while still maintaining strong contrast.

What stood out most is how well the TV holds color in bright scenes. Reds and greens remain saturated rather than bleaching out, and HDR content looks punchy without feeling artificial. Watching animated films like “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” the punch of comic book-inspired colors were a visual treat.

Blooming, or the halo effect sometimes seen around bright objects, was another concern going in, but in real viewing it’s barely noticeable. Blacks also stay impressively clean for an LCD-based display. When the Excelsior launches to confront Galactus in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” I enjoy the complex, bright colors of the rocket’s flames without losing the darker details of the cityscape and ship itself.

The only area of performance that felt slightly weaker was motion. Fast action scenes occasionally showed some smearing. Simply put, I found motion handling doesn’t quite match how strong the rest of the picture looks. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s the one area where the X11L perhaps feels less dominant.

How we test TVs

We follow a standard testing protocol for every TV we review at Tom’s Guide. Our benchmarks include a series of technical and subject tests designed to rate the set’s performance.

For our technical tests, we use a Jeti Spectraval 1501-HiRes spectroradiometer, a Klein K10-A colorimeter, a Murideo 8K-SIX-G Metal pattern generator, and Portrait Displays’ Calman TV-calibration software to take measurements. We also use a Leo Bodnar 4K Input Lag Tester for determining whether it’s one of the best gaming TVs.

Read more about our TV testing process here.

TCL X11L 4K SQD Mini-LED TV: Test Results

TCL made some bold claims about the X11L’s color and brightness capabilities, and while our testing doesn’t quite meet those claims, it still paints a very positive picture about this TV’s performance.

For the most part, the X11L outperforms or at least keeps up with premium Mini-LED TVs from brands like Samsung and Sony. In fact, the X11L is on par with the Sony Bravia 9 in terms of HDR brightness in a 10% window, and beats Sony’s flagship on Rec. 2020 coverage with 91.77% vs. 78.02%.

TCL did claim 100% coverage of the HDR color guide, but that’s something essentially no consumer TV achieves. Most TVs struggle to exceed the high-70% to low-80% range, so this result shows the effectiveness of TCL’s new color approach even without newer RGB backlight systems. The only other TVs that join the X11L in the over-90% tier are the best OLED TVs, further demonstrating the gap closing between OLED vs. Mini-LED picture abilities.

TCL X11L 4K SQD Mini-LED TV review: Audio

With such a large chassis, TCL has room for powerful built-in speakers, and the result is better than typical TV audio. The Bang & Olufsen-tuned system delivers strong volume and decent clarity, and I rarely say this, but many buyers could easily live without adding one of the best soundbars to their setup.

Still, if you’re investing this much in a TV, adding external audio usually makes sense. TCL’s Dolby Atmos FlexConnect ecosystem offers a relatively easy path to building surround sound without complicated wiring, making it worth considering for larger room setups.

TCL X11L 4K SQD Mini-LED TV review: Interface

The X11L runs Google TV, which is one of the easiest smart TV platforms to live with for most people.

As long as you have a Google account — yes, the same as your Gmail — setup is quick and you can download the best streaming services through the app selection. Of course, YouTube is deeply integrated, making this a good choice if you subscribe to YouTube TV’s live TV streaming service.

Navigation feels responsive, and content recommendations are generally useful rather than intrusive. There’s even screensaver settings if you prefer to display photos and art on the TV when you’re not watching anything.

And because you have full HDMI 2.1 support, you can always connect devices like an Apple TV 4K or game consoles if you prefer a different interface.

TCL X11L 4K SQD Mini-LED TV review: Remote

TCL’s remote continues to be one of the better ones included with any TV. It feels premium, includes useful shortcut buttons, is rechargeable via USB-C and features a backlight for easier use in dark rooms.

The standout addition is a dedicated brightness rocker, allowing you to quickly dim or brighten the screen without diving into menus. It’s a small feature, but one that proved surprisingly useful to me for late-night viewing.

For comparison, Sony’s Bravia remote still sets a high bar with its compact layout and motion-activated backlighting, but TCL’s approach feels equally thoughtful.

TCL X11L 4K SQD Mini-LED TV review: Verdict

If you want one of the brightest, cleanest-looking Mini-LED TVs available right now, the TCL X11L SQD Mini-LED TV has a lot of appeal. So long you have the space and budget for it, that is.

Picture quality is outstanding, blooming is minimal, color is class-leading and features are thoroughly premium. This is the first time in my many years testing TCL TVs that it feels like the brand is pioneering in high-end territory rather than competing on value.

That said, I’ll be watching TCL’s plans to bring this same SQD technology to cheaper models later this year closely. If you’re after maximum value or don’t need a TV immediately, waiting could make sense. If you can’t wait, and you need a big-screen TV ASAP, TCL’s 98-inch QM8K from 2025 delivers high levels of brightness for half the price ($3,999).