Following the release of the QM6K and QM7K, TCL has added another entry to their QD-MiniLED TV lineup for 2025, the X11K, which takes things further as the new flagship TCL TV series.
The X11K comes in 85 and 98-inch screen sizes and builds on the technologies implemented in the QM6K and QM7K. Although the X11K shares a lot of features with those two model series, the big jump is that the X11K can display 6,500 nits of peak brightness supported by 14,000 dimming zones.
Combined with TCL’s Halo Control Technology Suite, images are not only bright, but effects such as halos around bright objects against black backgrounds are minimized.
This is accomplished by the following elements:
- CrystGlow HVA Panel: This LCD panel blocks reflections so that desired details remain visible.
- Enhanced Quantum Dot Technology: This enables the display of over one billion colors (up to 98%+ of DCI-P3 color gamut). A new Color Optimization Algorithm is also used and implemented to put TV color display capabilities further.
- Zero Delay Transient Response: This reduces lag substantially between the input signal and backlight response. This feature supports higher peak brightness without any afterimage.
- Bi-directional 16-bit Backlight Controller: This allows precise granular control of over 65,000 levels of brightness for each LED in the Mini LED backlight panel.
- Dynamic Light Algorithm: This intelligently optimizes the incoming video signal so that SDR signals render at near HDR level for consistently great picture quality, regardless of the content metadata.
Additional Video and Audio support for the X11K includes
- Video Processing: TCL AiPQ Pro Processor
- HDR: Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision Filmmaker Mode
- Audio and Surround Sound: Built-in 120-watt Bang & Olufsen design audio system with support for Dolby Atmos, DTS Virtual:X, and IMAX Enhanced Audio.
- Gaming Support: 144Hz Native Refresh Rate, ALLM, VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro Certified.
- Smart OS: Google TV – This provides access to thousands of streaming apps.
- Control: Hands-Free Voice Control, Sleep Sounds Mode
- Cabinet Design: Slim FullView 360 Bezel-Less Design
Comparison
| Model Series | X11K | QM7K | QM6K |
| Screen Sizes (diagonal inches) | 85, 98 | 55, 65, 75, 85, 98, 115 | 55, 65, 75, 85, 98 |
| LCD Display Technology | QD-MiniLED | QD-MiniLED | QD-MiniLED |
| LCD Panel Type | CrystGlow HVA Panel | CrystGlow HVA Panel | High Contrast HVA Panel |
| Panel Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 144Hz | 120Hz |
| Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) | Up to 144Hz | Up to 144Hz | Up to 144Hz |
| Panel Resolution | 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) | 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) | 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) |
| Display Colors | 1.07 billion | 1.07 billion | 1.07 billion |
| Precise Local Dimming Zones | 14,000 | 2,800 | 500 |
| High Dynamic Range Format Support | HDR10, HDR 10+, HLG, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision gaming, Dolby Vision IQ | HDR10, HDR 10+, HLG, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision gaming, Dolby Vision IQ | HDR10, HDR 10+, HLG, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision gaming, Dolby Vision IQ |
| Display Brightness | High HDR Brightness – Up to 6,500 Nis | High HDR Brightness Up to 3,000 Nits | High HDR Brightness Up to 2,600 Nits |
| Audio System | Audio by Bang & Olufsen | Audio by Bang & Olufsen | ONKYO 2.1 Speaker System |
| Total Audio Power Output | 120W | 60W | 40W |
| Audio Format Pass-Through | Dolby Atmos / Dolby Digital+ / Dolby Digital / PCM | Dolby Atmos / Dolby Digital+ / Dolby Digital / PCM | Dolby Atmos / Dolby Digital+ / Dolby Digital / PCM |
| Dolby Decoding/Processing | Dolby Atmos / Dolby Digital+ / Dolby Digital | Dolby Atmos / Dolby Digital+ / Dolby Digital | Dolby Atmos / Dolby Digital+ / Dolby Digital |
| Control Buttons | One Button | One Button | One Button |
| Multilingual On-Screen-Display | English / Spanish / French | English / Spanish / French | English / Spanish / French |
| Closed Caption | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Parental Control (V-Chip) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Accessible Menu System (CVAA) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep Timer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| JPEG / MP3 for USB | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Smart Platform | Google TV | Google TV | Google TV |
| Screen Casting / Screen Mirroring | Chromecast / Apple AirPlay 2 | Chromecast / Apple AirPlay 2 | Chromecast / Apple AirPlay 2 |
| Works With Amazon Alexa / Google Assistant / Apple HomeKit | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) |
| Connections | RF Input (NTSC, ATSC) 1 Ethernet 1 USB 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0 HDMI 4 HDMI (1 eARC) SPDIF Digital Audio Optical 1 | RF Input (NTSC, ATSC) 1 Ethernet 1 USB 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0 HDMI 4 HDMI (1 eARC) SPDIF Digital Audio Optical 1 | RF Input (NTSC, ATSC) 1 Ethernet 1 USB 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0 HDMI 4 HDMI (1 eARC) SPDIF Digital Audio Optical 1 |
The Bottom Line
Just when you thought buying a TV was easy, 2025 is turning into a year of accelerated TV innovation. Examples include LG’s Primary RGB Tandem OLED panel, Samsung’s Glare Free panels, and Sony’s unveiling of its planned forthcoming RGB LED backlight system. Also forthcoming is NANO LED (aka QDEL), which is being spearheaded by Samsung and TCL’s IJP OLED technology.
TCL and Hisense also continue to step it up with 98-inch and larger screen sizes, along with going head-to-head in the brightness wars with models that reportedly can output as much as 6,500 nits. This rivalry not only puts pressure on the rest of the TV competition, which has also bought into larger screen sizes and elevated brightness, but makes us wonder how much longer video projectors (especially USTs) will be a good choice for both movie viewing and gaming.
Although projectors provide a cinematic look that attracts many videophiles, they are unable to produce the light output levels and render HDR with as much impact as most TVs can. Probably the best bellwether will be to watch what Hisense does in the next couple of years as they are heavily invested in both the TV and UST space. However, at the 98-inch screen size, TCL is currently shipping more models than any other manufacturer, and the X11K for 2025 seems to be their best one yet.
Price & Availability
The 2025 TCL X11K Premium QD-MiniLED 4K TVs are only available in 85-inch or 98-inch screen sizes.
- TCL X11K (85 inches): $6,999 at Amazon
- TCL X11K (98 inches): $8,999 at Amazon
Also available (actual price may be less than stated):
TCL QM7K Series
- 55-inch: $1,299 at Amazon
- 65-inch: $1,499 at Amazon
- 75-inch: $1,999 at Amazon
- 85-inch: $2,499 at Amazon
- 98-inch: $3,999 at Amazon
- 115-inch: $19,999 (Coming Soon)
TCL QM6K Series:
- 50-inch: $749 (Coming Soon)
- 55-inch: $799 at Amazon
- 65-inch: $999 at Amazon
- 75-inch: $1,299 at Amazon
- 85-inch: $1,999 at Amazon
- 98-inch: $2,299 at Amazon
Related Reading
- TCL Just Bought LG’s LED/LCD TV Plant in China for $1.5 Billion
- TCL Takes On Hisense and Samsung with NXTFRAME TVs That Incorporate Audio by Bang & Olufsen
- Bang & Olufsen Partners with TCL for Premium Sound on TCL TVs
- Check Out the TCL Q85H Premium Soundbar: 7.1.4 Channels of Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Goodness
Anton
April 1, 2025 at 9:41 pm
Now that is an enormous TV at a not insane price. Especially if it can deliver better long-term performance than a high quality projector.
The kicker for many of us will be that it can work in a room with a lot of ambient lighting and not look washed out.
I’ll never buy any UST projector because it can’t produce an image with that level of color accuracy or black levels.
Impressive.