By: Dipin Sehdev

CES 2026 is shaping up to be dominated by RGB LED televisions, with nearly every major manufacturer showcasing its take on the technology. TCL, however, is telling a different story. Instead of joining the RGB LED arms race, TCL is positioning its new X11L SQD-Mini LED TV as an alternative approach to achieving extreme brightness, wide color, and precise control—without some of the tradeoffs associated with RGB backlighting.

The result is one of the most technically ambitious televisions TCL has ever announced, and arguably one of the most interesting flagship TVs heading into 2026.

SQD-Mini LED: TCL’s Answer to RGB LED

At a high level, the X11L still uses a blue LED mini-LED backlight, similar to conventional high-end LCD TVs. The difference lies in how TCL handles color.

Instead of switching to separate red, green, and blue LEDs, TCL has doubled down on its Deep Color System, built around three key components:

• Super Quantum Dots (SQD)

• UltraColor Filter (from TCL CSOT)

• Advanced Color Purity algorithms

According to TCL, this combination allows the X11L to achieve 100% coverage of BT.2020, DCI-P3, and Adobe RGB color gamuts—a claim usually associated with RGB LED displays.

The advantage of this approach is consistency. With RGB LED, manufacturers have to manage light from three different colored LEDs, which can introduce color crosstalk in real-world content as the LEDs bleed into one another. TCL’s SQD-Mini LED approach avoids this by generating color through quantum dots and filtering rather than separate colored backlights, helping maintain saturation and accuracy across typical video content.

Extreme Brightness and Dimming Control

TCL isn’t being subtle with the X11L’s performance targets.

• Peak brightness: up to 10,000 nits

• Local dimming zones: up to 20,000 discrete zones (on the 98-inch model)

That dimming zone count is roughly three times higher than TCL’s already-impressive QM9K, and places the X11L among the most finely controlled LCD TVs announced to date.

The panel itself is a WHVA high-contrast LCD with a native contrast ratio rated at 7,000:1, paired with an antireflective coating to preserve contrast in bright rooms. TCL’s Halo Control System, supported by a 26-bit backlight controller, is designed to reduce blooming and halo artifacts despite the extreme brightness levels.

Size, Design, and Build

The X11L is unapologetically large and premium. It will be available in:

• 75 inches

• 85 inches

• 98 inches

Despite its brightness and backlight complexity, the TV measures just 0.8 inches thick, reinforcing its flagship status.

This is clearly a statement product—both in size and intent—designed to compete at the very top of the LCD market rather than chase mass-market volume.

HDR, Processing, and Gaming Features

The X11L is powered by TCL’s TSR AI Processor, which handles upscaling, tone mapping, and local dimming control. HDR support is comprehensive:

• Dolby Vision (with Dolby Vision 2 Max coming via OTA update)

• HDR10+

• HDR10

• HLG

The inclusion of Dolby Vision 2 Max is notable, even though content availability remains limited. Its presence helps future-proof the display as HDR standards continue to evolve.

For gaming and connectivity, the X11L includes:

• Four HDMI 2.1 ports

• Support for next-gen consoles and PCs

• Planned Xbox Game Pass app support via OTA update

• Google TV with Gemini AI integration, including voice control for TV settings such as brightness

This makes the X11L one of the first TVs where Gemini can directly adjust display parameters rather than simply control playback.

Audio and Expansion

TCL continues its support for Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, allowing users to wirelessly expand their system with compatible TCL speakers and subwoofers. That said, TCL has partnered with Bang & Olufsen for the built-in speaker system, and early demos suggest it’s among the better integrated TV audio solutions currently available.

Availability and Pricing

The X11L is launching quickly for a flagship product.

• Available now for preorder via TCL’s website

• Shipping first:

  • 98-inch – $9,999.99

  • 85-inch – $7,999.99

• 75-inch model:

  • $6,999.99, arriving later in 2026 (no firm date yet)

Historically, TCL has been aggressive with price reductions over time. For context, last year’s X11K launched at $9,999 and later dropped to under $3,500—suggesting potential long-term value for early adopters willing to wait.

Why the X11L Matters

While RGB LED may dominate CES 2026 headlines, the X11L proves there’s more than one path to next-generation picture quality. By focusing on quantum dot advancement, color filtering precision, and extreme dimming control, TCL has created a TV that competes directly with RGB LED displays—without adopting their complexity.

The X11L isn’t subtle, affordable, or mass-market. It’s a statement piece—and one of the most technically impressive LCD TVs TCL has ever produced.