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Stuff / Hot Stuff / This is one of the brightest TVs I’ve ever laid my eyes on

This is one of the brightest TVs I’ve ever laid my eyes on

TCL's X11L is the first TV in the brand's new SQD-Mini LED line-up – it's super bright and has no bezel at all.

TCL X11L SQD-Mini LED TV
Stuff at CES 2026 powered by Acer

If you asked me to pick one of the best 4K TVs, it would have to be an OLED. But TCL’s new flagship is out to make OLEDs sweat, or at least squint a bit. The X11L marks one of the brand’s first SQD-Mini LED TVs, which is the next generation of Mini LED displays.

SQD-Mini LED is built around something called the Deep Color System, which combines Super Quantum Crystals (basically a fancier QLED), an UltraColor Filter, and an Advanced Color Purity Algorithm. All of this comes together to widen the colour spectrum and make shades look a bit more like what you’d see outside, rather than a saturated filter.

Colour accuracy is one thing, but TCL claims this TV also knows when to hold back. Thanks to the Halo Control System, blooming – the annoying glow you get around bright objects on dark backgrounds – is kept in check. With up to 20000+ dimming zones and a frankly ridiculous 10000 nits of peak brightness, the X11L doesn’t so much handle HDR as it smacks you over the head with it. It’s one of the brightest TVs I’ve ever laid my eyes on.

All the while, it keeps contrast clean and controlled, even in broad daylight. TCL’s X11L supporting 100% of the cinema-grade BT.2020 colour standard. The evolved Super QLED layer gives the X11L up to a 33% boost in colour gamut and 69% more accurate colour dots.

The panel itself is no slouch either. WHVA 2.0 (Wide-angle High Viewing Angle) ensures the image doesn’t collapse into a mess of washed-out greys when you’re not dead-centre. Couple that with a 144Hz refresh rate and TCL’s TSR AI Processor, and the brand promises extra smooth motion across all types of content.

Design-wise, the X11L is a stunner. It’s got a ZeroBorder frame and is less than 0.8 inches thick – you’ll hardly even notice it on the wall. Bang & Olufsen handles the built-in audio, so this set should sound decent even if you don’t have a speaker set-up.

TCL revealed the new TV at CES 2026, but hasn’t yet dropped pricing. Expect this one to land in the flagship range, though. For those of us in the UK, the X11L will launch later in 2026 with wider European availability to follow. Retailers and specific model sizes are expected to be confirmed closer to the spring.

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About

Connor is a former Stuff contributor. He has attended the biggest tech expos, including CES, MWC, and IFA, and been interviewed as a technology expert on TV and radio by national news outlets including France24. Connor has experience with most major platforms, though does hold a place in his heart for macOS, iOS/iPadOS, electric vehicles, and smartphone tech. Connor is also involved in the startup and venture capital scene, which puts him at the front of new and exciting tech.

Areas of expertise

Mobile, macOS, EVs, smart home