TCL has been killing it in the TV market lately. In 2023, the company ranked second in overall TV market share with 12.5% of the overall TV units sold globally. This put the company just ahead of LG with 11.6% of units sold, but still well behind the global leader Samsung, with around 30% of total TV units sold. For 2024, TCL is hoping to chip away at that #1 spot by doubling down on their “high performance, high value” mantra with new models that may rival the top dogs — LG, Sony and Samsung — in overall picture performance. Meanwhile the company is still maintaining their aggressive price points throughout the line.
We got a chance to preview the new models at a press event in New York City last week and saw some pretty impressive demonstrations of the new sets. Their 98-inch QM8 offered excellent black levels, bright whites and faithful color reproduction while their new 115-inch model filled an entire wall with high quality moving images. The company will offer TVs at for every budget, with screen sizes from 32 inches to 115 inches in 2024.
TCL’s new QM8 series QD-MiniLED TV offers peak brightness over 5,000 nits which allows the set to reproduce even the most challenging high dynamic range content like sunsets and snowscapes with nice detail and specular highlights. Meanwhile the company’s unique MiniLED lens design, thousands of MiniLED lighting zones and improvements in local dimming processing allow the set to rival self-lit pixel technologies like OLED in black level reproduction, image uniformity and contrast.
We saw an 85-inch QM8 side by side with Samsung’s S90D MiniLED/LCD TV and LG’s C4 and G4 OLED TVs and the QM8’s exceptional brightness and fine control over local dimming zones produced an image that held its own in black level and shadow detail and exceeded the competition in peak brightness. To be fair, the demonstration had all four of the sets in their non-ideal “Vivid” modes, but even so, the QM8 looked promising.
Even the company’s S Class models, which lack local dimming but do include full array LED backlights, have seen significant picture quality improvements. This year’s S551 LED/LCD TV offers about a 25% increase in peak brightness over last year’s S450 model. And, even though the S class uses a 60 Hz native panel, the sets include a 120VRR mode for gaming in sets 55 inches and above. This should improve the motion clarity for gamers who enjoy gaming on larger sized displays. TCL’s current S2 and S3 series TVs will carry over from 2023 to 2024. The new S5 series will be available in screen sizes from 43 inches to 85 inches starting at $349.99 list.
All TVs in the Q Class use Quantum Dot color technology for accurate and vivid color reproduction. TCL refers to their 2024 MiniLED TVs as “QD MiniLED” (Quantum Dot Mini LED) to differentiate their sets from other company’s more basic MiniLED models.
In addition to advancements in picture quality, the company is continuing its “bigger is better” strategy by offering multiple 98-inch models and a brand new 115-inch screen size suitable for all but the largest home theaters. TCL’s Executive VP of Sales and Marketing in North America, Chris Hamdorf, told us that TCL sold over 10,000 98-inch TVs in the U.S. in 2023 and their goal is to sell over 100,000 98-inch (or larger) sets in 2024. That may seem like an aggressive goal (and it is) but the company is confident they can pull it off.
In Hamdorf’s words, “In 2023, there was nowhere for a consumer to see our 98-inch TVs. But in 2024, there will be at least 500 North American locations, in big box stores like Best Buy, warehouse stores like Sam’s Club and regional electronics retailers like PC Richard and Sons, where consumers can see our extra large TVs on display. And this will give them a much better idea of what a 98-inch TCL TV might look like in their own living room. If they are considering an 85-inch TV, a 98-inch model only takes up about five and a half more inches on each side, but offers over 30% more viewing area.”
Last year, the company offered three 98-inch models in the United States, with one of them selling for $2,999 and even dropping as low as $1,999.99 delivered from online retailers such as Amazon during sales. At prices like this, it becomes a bit more difficult to see the value of UST (Ultra Short Throw) projectors, unless consumers want to go for even larger screen sizes of 120 inches or above. TCL’s new 115-inch model will sell for much more than the 98-inch models with a list price of $26,999.99. TCL is hoping to work with more custom install (CI) firms in order to get the 115-inch model into consideration for high-end custom home theater installations.
TCL has enhanced its AiPQ processing engine in 2024 and is bringing that processor to the budget-priced S Class models for the first time. In 2024, TCL offers three levels of AiPQ Processing, all featuring AI Color, AI Contrast, AI Clarity, and AI Motion. The S Class Models include the TCL AiPQ Processor, the Q6 and QM7 models includes the TCL AiPQ PRO Processor, and the QM8 series TVs include the TCL AiPQ ULTRA Processor. Company reps told us that the top of the line 115-inch QM89 features QD-Mini LED ULTIMATE, which incorporates 20,000 dimming zones for precise lighting control and advanced local dimming performance.
“TCL continues to offer the best possible combination of quality, technology, and value, but for 2024, we are truly raising the bar in TV,” said Scott Ramirez, Vice President of Product Marketing & Development, TCL. “With three levels of advanced TCL AiPQ Processing, including a unique position in S Class, new industry leading QD-Mini LED technology that is a must-see, the world’s largest 115-inch QD-Mini LED TV, and a long list of other 2024 technology firsts, TCL is clearly the one to watch in 2024.”
TCL 2024 Q Series Models and Pricing (with Amazon/Best Buy links):
*Tip: one link is provided for each model, from there you can select any screen size on Amazon.com
TCL’s Q Class Q65:
- 43″ model (43Q651G) – $349.99 MSRP
- 50″ model (50Q651G) – $399.99 MSRP
- 55″ model (55Q651G) – $449.99 MSRP
- 65″ model (65Q651G) – $549.99 MSRP
- 75″ model (75Q651G) – $749.99 MSRP
- 85″ model (85Q651G) – $1199.99 MSRP
- 98″ model (98Q651G) – $2999.99 MSRP <– Note: Amazon had this for $1899.99 on June 21, 2024
TCL’s Q Class Q68:
- 55″ model (55Q681G) – $499.99 MSRP
- 65″ model (65Q681G) – $649.99 MSRP
- 75″ model (75Q681G) – $836.50 MSRP
- 85″ model (85Q681G) – $1499.99 MSRP
TCL Q Class QM7 (Quantum Dot Mini LED):
- 55″ model (55QM751G) – $799.99 MSRP
- 65″ model (65QM751G) – $1099.99 MSRP
- 75″ model (75QM751G) – $1499.99 MSRP
- 85″ model (85QM751G) – $1999.99 MSRP
- 98″ model (98QM751G) – $4999.99 MSRP – Amazon – BestBuy ($3,499 as of June 21)
TCL Q Class QM8 (Quantum Dot Mini LED):
- 65″ model (65QM851G) – $1499.99 MSRP
- 75″ model (75QM851G) – $1999.99 MSRP
- 85″ model (85QM851G) – $2999.99 MSRP
- 98″ model (98QM851G) – $5999.99 MSRP – Amazon – BestBuy ($4,999 as of June 21)
The TCL QM89 will be available in a 115″ model (115QM891G) in June at a list price of $26,999, and is listed on both the Amazon and Best Buy web sites but cannot be ordered yet from Amazon. U.S. deliveries are expected to begin in mid-June.
Update (June 21): Best Buy now has the TV listed for $19,999.99 with free delivery and installation:
115-inch TCL QM89 QD-Mini LED TV on Amazon
115-inch TCL QM89 QD-Mini LED TV on Best Buy (Currently $19,999.99)
Related Reading:
TCL’s New 2024 TV Lineup at CES is Definitely Worth Checking Out
TCL 2024 Soundbar Lineup – What We Know So Far
Check out TCL’s First 7.1.4-Channel Premium Soundbar: the Q85H
