TCL X11L Review: The Best Mini LED In Early 2026
RTINGS' video review, positioning the X11L as the best Mini LED TV of early 2026 in its title.
TCL · 2026 · Mini LED
TCL X11L SQD-Mini LED
TCL's 2026 flagship Mini LED: class-leading color for an LCD TV, very bright, and priced for a small audience.
Splurge
Choose a size
Exact model · United States
75X11L
The smallest size. TCL's page shows a sale price for this size, and the page's size selector labels sizes sold out or unavailable, so stock is uncertain.
Where to buy the 75″
List $6,999
Also check
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The verdict
A showpiece for people with big rooms and a big budget, with the best color of the TCL sets reviewed here. Most buyers get much of the look from the QM8L for far less, and the X11L's 10,000-nit headline only appears in special modes, not in Filmmaker Mode.
The X11L is TCL's top 2026 TV, in 75, 85 and 98-inch sizes, and the first to use its Super Quantum Dot (SQD) Mini LED design. TCL claims up to 10,000 nits and 20,000 dimming zones. Tom's Guide measured 2,679 nits in a 10% window and 91.77% Rec. 2020 coverage on the 85-inch in Filmmaker Mode, which is high for an LCD TV but below TCL's claims. It has four HDMI 2.1 inputs, an ATSC 3.0 tuner and Bang & Olufsen-branded audio.
Strengths
- Tom's Guide measured 91.77% Rec. 2020 and 97.74% DCI-P3 coverage on the 85-inch, with TechRadar reporting 91.8% and 97.7%, among the widest gamuts for a non-OLED TV.
- Tom's Guide measured 2,679 nits in a 10% HDR window, on par with the Sony Bravia 9 it compared against.
- Delta-E of 1.9 in Filmmaker Mode and very little blooming.
- Four HDMI 2.1 inputs at 4K 144Hz, an ATSC 3.0 tuner and Bang & Olufsen-branded speakers that Tom's Guide called surprisingly strong.
- Only 0.8 inches thick without the stand, according to TCL.
Weak spots
- Tom's Guide calls it extremely expensive, far above the QM8L and most rivals.
- No size below 75 inches, and Tom's Guide notes the large sizes limit where it can be placed.
- Motion handling was not class-leading for Tom's Guide.
- Lab brightness in the normal modes is far below TCL's 10,000-nit headline; TechRadar saw about 9,394 nits only in Vivid mode with a 5% window.
- Tom's Guide measured 11.7ms of input lag, slower than several rivals.
Great for
- Large-room home theaters with a big budget
- Buyers who want the widest color gamut available in an LCD TV
Skip if
- Budget shoppers
- Anyone who needs a screen under 75 inches
- Buyers who expect the 10,000-nit claim in everyday modes
How it fits
Calculated from published specs and independent tests. How this works
Tap a score to see what went into it. These are calculations, not lab results.
Claimed vs. measured
Independent test figures are kept apart from what the manufacturer says. Results vary by tester, test size and firmware.
Measured Claimed
Brightness
HDR peak brightness (10% window)The most-quoted HDR brightness figure. A 10% window is about the size of a bright object in a scene.
- 2,679 nitsTom's Guide85″ tested · Filmmaker Mode, 10% window · Feb 20, 2026
- 10,000 nitsTCLManufacturer claim · TCL's 'up to' peak brightness claim, window size not stated
SDR peak brightness (10% window)How bright regular, non-HDR content gets, which matters most in a sunny room.
- 283 nitsTom's Guide85″ tested · Filmmaker Mode, 10% window · Feb 20, 2026
Color
DCI-P3 color coverageHow much of the color range used by modern movies the TV can show.
- 97.7%TechRadarDCI-P3 coverage, Filmmaker Mode · Feb 19, 2026
- 97.74%Tom's Guide85″ tested · UHDA-P3 coverage, Filmmaker Mode · Feb 20, 2026
Rec. 2020 color coverageA wider color target than DCI-P3. No consumer TV covers it fully.
- 91.8%TechRadarRec. 2020 coverage, Filmmaker Mode · Feb 19, 2026
- 91.77%Tom's Guide85″ tested · Rec. 2020 coverage, Filmmaker Mode · Feb 20, 2026
Color accuracy out of the box (ΔE)Lower is better. Under about 3 is hard to distinguish from perfect by eye.
- ΔE 1.9Tom's Guide85″ tested · Filmmaker Mode · Feb 20, 2026
Gaming
Input lag, 4K 60 Hz (game mode)The delay between pressing a button and seeing it on screen.
- 11.7 msTom's Guide85″ tested · Game mode · Feb 20, 2026
What changes by size
The same name doesn’t always mean the same TV. Here is every size we’ve confirmed.
| 75″ | 85″ | 98″ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model number | 75X11L | 85X11L | 98X11L |
| Lowest price | $3,000 | — | — |
| Width | 65.2″ | 74.0″ | 85.3″ |
| Weight | 86.0 lb | 112.9 lb | 145.5 lb |
| VESA | 600×400 | 600×400 | 600×400 |
Will it fit?
From your seat
Viewing distance8′0″
A good fit. At this distance a 75″ screen fills 38° of your view. Most people like 59″–80″ from here.
Seen from above
Dimensions and mounting
- Without stand
- 65.2 × 38.5 × 0.9″
- With stand
- 65.2 × 40.3 × 15.0″
- Stand footprint
- Not published
- Weight
- 86.0 lb (89.3 lb with stand)
- VESA pattern
- 600 × 400 mm
- Power use
- Not published
Full specifications
From the manufacturer unless noted. Shown for the 75″ model.
Picture
- Display technologyHow the screen makes its picture. OLED types light each pixel on their own for perfect black. Mini LED and QLED are LCDs with a backlight, and tend to get brighter.
- Mini LED
- Panel typeFor LCD TVs: VA panels have deeper black but narrower viewing angles; IPS/ADS panels hold up better from the side but look grayer in the dark.
- VA
- Panel notes
- TCL lists a WHVA 2.0 Ultra panel with its Super Quantum Dot (SQD) color layer. TCL's table labels the technology as QLED and SQD-Mini LED.
- BacklightFull-array backlights sit behind the whole screen and allow local dimming. Edge-lit TVs are thinner but dim far less precisely.
- Mini LED full-array
- Resolution
- 4K
- Picture processor
- TSR AI Processor
HDR & color
- HDR formatsHDR formats describe how a TV should show bright highlights and rich color. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ adjust the picture scene by scene; a source and TV must both support a format to use it.
- HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG, IMAX Enhanced
- Wide color technology
- TCL claims 100% BT.2020 coverage; Tom's Guide measured 91.77%
Refresh & motion
- Native refresh rateHow many new images per second the panel can really show. Marketing “motion rates” are often double this number, so check the native figure.
- 144 Hz
- Maximum refresh rateThe highest refresh the TV accepts over HDMI. Sometimes only available at reduced resolution or from a PC.
- 144 Hz
Smart platform
- Smart TV platformThe software your TV runs. It decides your home screen, app selection and how often you’ll see ads.
- Google TV
- Voice assistants
- Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit
- Apple AirPlay
- Yes
- Google Cast
- Yes
- Broadcast tunerNeeded to watch free over-the-air TV with an antenna. ATSC 3.0 is the newer US standard; a few TVs have dropped tuners entirely.
- ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV), ATSC 1.0, ClearQAM
HDMI & connections
- HDMI ports
- 4
- HDMI 2.1 portsPorts with enough bandwidth for 4K at 120 Hz and beyond. If you have more than one current console or a gaming PC, count these carefully.
- 4
- HDMI notes
- TCL lists four HDMI 2.1 inputs at 4K 144Hz with eARC on HDMI 1.
- eARCEnhanced Audio Return Channel sends high-quality audio from your TV’s apps and inputs back to a soundbar or receiver over one HDMI cable.
- Yes
- USB ports
- 3
- Optical audio out
- Yes
- Ethernet
- 1 x Ethernet
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 6
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 5.4
Gaming
- Variable refresh rateLets the TV match its refresh to a game’s frame rate, which removes tearing and most stutter.
- FreeSync Premium Pro
- Auto Low Latency ModeSwitches the TV into game mode automatically when a console starts a game.
- Yes
- Highest 4K gaming refresh
- 144 Hz
- Highest 1080p gaming refresh
- 288 Hz
- Game menu
- Game Bar
Built-in audio
- Dolby Atmos
- Yes
- DTS supportMany TVs no longer decode DTS. If you play discs or a media server with DTS soundtracks, check here and on your soundbar or receiver.
- DTS:X processing; no DTS Virtual:X
- eARC passthrough
- Dolby Digital Plus Atmos, Multichannel PCM, DTS:X
Accessibility
- Remote
- Backlit Voice Remote (RC933B)
Warranty
- Warranty
- 1 years
- Warranty notes
- 1-year limited warranty, per TCL's US spec table.
Primary source: us.tcl.com
Setup notes
- eARC is on HDMI 1.
- All four HDMI inputs are listed at 4K 144Hz.
- One USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports; an optical digital audio output is included.
- The tuner list includes ATSC 3.0, ATSC 1.0 and Clear QAM.
- TCL lists Dolby Atmos FlexConnect support for up to four Z100 speakers and one Z100-SW subwoofer.
- No headphone output is listed.
Video reviews
Each video was checked to exist and to be about the TCL X11L SQD-Mini LED.
I Tested the First SQD Mini-LED TV | TCL X11L Full Review
Tom's Guide's video look at the first SQD Mini LED TV, the X11L.
TCL X11L Review: TCL Is Coming for Everyone
A long independent review of the X11L, framed around TCL challenging premium rivals.
Should You Buy a TCL Instead of a Flagship OLED? | X11L SQD-MiniLED Review
HDTVTest compares the X11L with flagship OLEDs, according to its title.
What reviewers found
Summaries in our own words. Follow the link to read each review in full.
Editor's Choice review of the 85-inch. Praised its class-leading brightness and color, minimal blooming and strong built-in audio; the downsides were the price, the physical size of the larger sets and motion handling that is not best in class.
Read the originalLab-tested the X11L and found its gamut very wide for a mini-LED set but short of TCL's 100% claims, with brightness nowhere near 10,000 nits outside special modes. Questions whether SQD is a leap over existing mini-LED tech.
Read the original
What owners are saying
From Reddit and forums, paraphrased with a link to the original discussion. Community reports are anecdotal.
An owner who moved from a Sony X900H to the X11L reports no worries about motion processing or upscaling and sees only a minor difference between the two.
Read the originalOwns an X11L, a QM9K and three OLEDs and says TCL motion is good, not OLED-level but far from unwatchable, adding that opinions on motion vary widely.
Read the original
Questions
What are the exact US model numbers?
75X11L, 85X11L and 98X11L, as printed in TCL's US spec tables.
Does the X11L really reach 10,000 nits?
Not in normal modes. TechRadar measured about 9,394 nits only in Vivid mode with a 5% window, and Tom's Guide measured 2,679 nits at 10% in Filmmaker Mode.
How many dimming zones does it have?
TCL advertises up to 20,000 (listed as LD20000). Tom's Guide's QM8L review notes that TCL declined to give an exact zone count for the 75-inch X11L.
Is the X11L better than the QM8L?
It has wider measured color and a thinner body, but Tom's Guide measured the QM8L brighter in a 10% HDR window than the X11L it reviewed at 85 inches, at a much lower price.
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Sources for this page
Last reviewed Nov 9, 2026. Released February 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us.