Our verdict
The TCL C8L is TCL's push into the premium end of the market. It uses an SQD-Mini LED backlight, which TCL says gives wider, purer colour, and the 65-inch model has more than two thousand dimming zones. Those are separate areas of the backlight that can dim or brighten independently, so dark parts of a scene stay darker next to bright ones. The screen refreshes 144 times a second (144Hz) and it has four HDMI 2.1 ports, so several consoles can connect at once. The speakers carry Bang & Olufsen branding. The catch is price: at £1,899 you can fairly expect accurate colour and clean processing, and limited independent testing of the final model means we cannot yet confirm either.
Buy it if
- You want a bright, colourful picture for a well-lit room and can pay premium money
- You have several consoles or devices and want four HDMI 2.1 inputs
- You would like better built-in sound before adding a soundbar
Skip it if
- You want Dolby Vision 2.0 from day one, as TCL lists it only as a future update
- You want measured accuracy from the final model before you spend
- Deep, perfect blacks matter more to you than daytime brightness, in which case look at OLED
How it would fit your home
A bright living room
High brightness and wide colour are what the C8L is built to show off, and they help when daylight competes with the screen.
Several gaming devices
Four HDMI 2.1 ports mean a console, a PC and a soundbar can stay plugged in together.
Comparing before you buy
Check proven rivals such as the Hisense UR9S and discounted OLED sets side by side; at £1,899 the C8L has a lot to prove.
The details, in plain English
Picture quality
TCL's page names an SQD-Mini LED backlight, a mini LED design with many small lights behind the screen, and an Ultra Colour Filter aimed at wider colour. The 65-inch model has 2,040 dimming zones. More zones can mean less glow around bright objects on a dark background, but the result depends on how well the TV's software controls them. Colour accuracy and how well it cleans up older or poor-quality programmes still need independent measurement on the final model.
Gaming and motion
The screen has a 144Hz native refresh rate, so a gaming PC can draw up to 144 frames a second. TCL also lists a '288 VRR Game Accelerator' for compatible sources. VRR, variable refresh rate, keeps the picture from tearing when a game's frame rate dips. Consoles run at up to 120Hz, so they do not need the full 144Hz. The four HDMI 2.1 ports matter more day to day: many TVs only give you two fast inputs.
Sound
TCL markets the audio as 'by Bang & Olufsen' with speakers designed to spread sound around the room. The page we checked does not give wattage or channel counts, so we cannot compare it with rivals by numbers. It is described as more substantial than the thin speakers on many TVs. Room layout decides whether that replaces a soundbar, so treat it as a useful extra and not a promise.
Living with it
The C8L runs Google TV, which offers a wide choice of apps and voice search, though its home screen leans on recommendations. The stand sits towards the middle of the TV, so it should fit on narrower furniture than sets with feet at each corner. TCL says Dolby Vision 2.0 will arrive in a future update; check whether it has by the time you buy.
Strengths and drawbacks
What it does well
- SQD-Mini LED backlight: TCL aims for wide, pure colour and high brightness
- Four HDMI 2.1 ports: room for a PS5, an Xbox and a PC without swapping cables
- 144Hz native refresh rate: up to 144 frames a second for smoother fast games on a gaming PC
- Bang & Olufsen-branded speakers: more ambitious built-in sound than most TVs
- More than 2,000 dimming zones on the 65-inch model for better control of bright and dark areas
What to watch out for
- Independent testing of the final retail model is still limited
- Google TV can push recommendations, so the home screen may feel busy
- A high zone count does not guarantee smooth, accurate dimming; that depends on TCL's processing
- TCL's page lists Dolby Vision 2.0 as coming in a future update, so do not assume it at purchase
The Hisense UR9S also uses a bright mini LED design and has been tested independently, and OLED TVs offer perfect black. The C8L needs its processing and sound to justify its £1,899 price.
Alternatives we have reviewed
| Product | Our verdict | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 TCL C8L (65-inch) (this one) | An ambitious premium TV with strong ingredients, but at £1,899 it still has to prove its picture processing against established rivals | £1,899RRP · 65 inches, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 TCL C8K (65-inch) | One of the strongest 65-inch Mini LED values while verified stock remains, as long as you are comfortable buying an outgoing model. | £1,599RRP · 65 inches, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 TCL C7K Mini LED (65-inch) | The brightest big-screen picture for the money, for buyers prepared to adjust a couple of picture settings. | £1,399RRP · 65 inches, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 TCL C6K | Worth comparing if you want Mini LED and 144Hz gaming support. Its RRP is £999, and a dated shop observation on 15 October 2026 found it at £649 from AO via Amazon UK. | £999RRP · 65-inch model, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026Shop price £649 at AO via Amazon UK, Free delivery to RH10 3AU, checked 15 Oct 2026 | Check price |
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Where our findings come from
This research-based review combines TCL's UK listed features with available hands-on technology coverage, but not a complete laboratory review of the final retail model. It remains outside automated winners until exact-model evidence matures.