Our verdict
The P8L packs features you rarely see at £849 for 65 inches. Its QD-Mini LED backlight uses thousands of tiny LEDs, split into zones that dim separately, for better contrast than an ordinary LCD, while quantum dots widen the range of colours; TCL lists 93% DCI-P3 coverage. The screen refreshes at 144Hz natively, and TCL's Game Accelerator raises this to 288Hz through HDMI 1 and 2. It runs Google TV and has an Onkyo 2.1 speaker system. Paper specifications do not guarantee a good picture, though. Dimming-zone control, over-bright presets and clean-up of older or poor-quality programmes decide the result, What Hi-Fi? has tested this exact model and its findings are cited in this review; we have not tested it ourselves, so treat it as one to shortlist.
Buy it if
- Your budget is below £900
- Sport and gaming matter to you
- You want an HDR-capable, bright TV with a fast screen
Skip it if
- You need proven contrast and dimming performance
- Most of your viewing is poor-quality broadcast television
- You prefer a simpler smart TV interface
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How it would fit your home
A budget gaming room
A 144Hz screen, HDMI 1 and 2 for the 288Hz Game Accelerator and a Game Bar (TCL's on-screen game settings) are unusual at this price.
Daytime streaming
The backlight and quantum-dot colour suit bright, lively content. What Hi-Fi found the screen not especially bright, so a very bright room may be a problem.
Fussy film buyers
Check What Hi-Fi's exact-model test of black level, colour and motion before choosing this for dark-room film watching.
The details, in plain English
Picture quality
TCL lists an HVA panel with a QD-Mini LED backlight. Mini LED uses many small LEDs grouped in zones that brighten or dim separately, which should give better contrast than a basic LCD. Quantum dots widen the colour range, and TCL lists 93% DCI-P3 coverage. The 65-inch model has 16-bit backlight control. TCL's page did not give a peak brightness or a zone count for this size. What Hi-Fi? tested this exact model, and its findings on black levels, halo and colour are the ones cited here; we have not tested them ourselves. A Movie or Filmmaker-style preset is a sensible starting point.
Gaming
The screen is 144Hz native, meaning it refreshes 144 times a second, which suits a gaming PC. TCL's 288 VRR Game Accelerator is available through HDMI 1 and 2 and pushes this to 288Hz using picture detail trade-offs, so it should not be confused with full-detail native 288Hz. VRR (variable refresh rate) keeps motion tidy when frame rates dip. PS5 and Xbox Series X play at up to 120Hz, so console owners gain most from stable 120Hz and low input lag, which we could not confirm.
Sound
TCL lists an Onkyo 2.1 Hi-Fi System on the 65-inch model. What Hi-Fi? tested this exact model and describes a rear subwoofer and two 10W speakers built into the underside of the TV. Its reviewer found voices clear and reasonably emotive for an affordable TV, the bass useful but a little lacking in lower midrange, and the sound good by general TV standards, scoring it 4/5. They advise budgeting for a dedicated audio system if possible. We have not tested the sound ourselves.
Software
The P8L runs Google TV, which brings streaming apps, search and casting to one home screen. The catalogue of apps is broad, though the home screen can feel busy. TCL's page did not list the exact HDR formats or number of HDMI ports we could quote, so check these on the retailer page if they matter to you.
Strengths and drawbacks
What it does well
- QD-Mini LED backlight with quantum dots: better contrast and colour than a basic LCD, at a low price
- 144Hz native screen, and HDMI 1 and 2 support TCL's 288Hz Game Accelerator, for smooth games
- 93% DCI-P3 colour coverage, according to TCL
- Onkyo 2.1 speakers, with a dedicated bass channel
- Google TV with a wide app catalogue and casting
What to watch out for
- Our own testing of this model has not been done; findings cited here are What Hi-Fi's, and brightness is modest
- The 288Hz Game Accelerator trades picture detail for speed, so it is not native full-detail 288Hz
- Budget processing may expose poor-quality broadcasts
- Google TV's home screen can look busy, and factory presets may be over-bright
LG's QNED86 costs more but offers four advanced inputs, and TCL's C8K has stronger independent evidence. Basic LCD TVs are cheaper. What Hi-Fi? has independently tested this exact 65-inch UK model, and that test is cited here. We have not tested the P8L ourselves.
Alternatives we have reviewed
| Product | Our verdict | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 TCL P8L (65-inch) (this one) | A strong-value 65-inch screen for £849 RRP. What Hi-Fi's test of this exact UK model supports it for the money, though it is not especially bright. | £849RRP · 65 inches, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026Shop price £749 at AO via Amazon UK, Free delivery to RH10 3AU, checked 15 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 |
 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 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 |
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Where our findings come from
We have not tested this model ourselves. This review uses TCL's exact UK listed features and 65-inch price, and cites What Hi-Fi's independent test of the exact 65P8L-UK model, published 12 October 2026 and updated 14 October 2026. Findings are attributed to What Hi-Fi.