TCL Debuts RGB Mini-LED TV with 6,000-Nit Peak Brightness

The updated range is led by the new QM8L and QM7L series, which bring TCL’s SQD Mini-LED technology (previously seen in higher-end models such as the X11L), into more accessible tiers. SQD combines Mini-LED backlighting with a quantum dot layer to enhance colour performance and brightness, forming the backbone of TCL’s current LCD strategy.

The QM8L is positioned as the upper-tier model within this range, while the QM7L sits below it as a more accessible option, with both series spanning multiple screen sizes. The naming also reflects a continuation of TCL’s existing lineup, we reported on the QM8K last year as the brand’s flagship Mini-LED platform, with features such as its Precise Dimming system, WHVA panel design and ZeroBorder construction setting the direction for what now appears to be filtering further into the 2026 range.

TCL continues to emphasise local dimming performance across these models, with high-zone-count backlight control, multi-thousand-nit peak brightness, and support for major HDR formats, including Dolby Vision.

Alongside these models, TCL has also introduced the RM9L series, marking the company’s first commercial RGB Mini-LED television. Unlike conventional Mini-LED designs that use a white backlight filtered through colour layers, RGB Mini-LED employs separate red, green and blue light sources at the backlight level.

In the RM9L, that architecture is paired with TCL’s CSOT WHVA 2.0 panel, designed to deliver high native contrast and wider viewing angles, alongside a ZeroBorder design and anti-reflection layer. The backlight system uses narrow-band RGB LEDs, an UltraColor filter, and what TCL describes as Super RGB colour control with precise calibration.

Local dimming is handled by an enhanced halo control system, with the RM9L featuring more than 3,800 discrete dimming zones, expanding to over 11,000 colour zones, and peak brightness claimed at up to 6,000 nits. This places it at the upper end of current Mini-LED performance. As with all high-brightness displays, the effectiveness of that output will ultimately depend on how precisely it is controlled across the backlight, particularly in high-contrast scenes. A new 30-bit backlight controller is also employed to improve gradation and reduce visible artefacts.

Processing is handled by TCL’s TSR AI Pro engine, covering colour, contrast, clarity, and motion, as well as upscaling. The panel supports a native 144Hz refresh rate, with Game Accelerator 288 VRR, and includes four HDMI 2.1 inputs. Dolby Vision support is expected to extend to Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Vision 2 Max via an over-the-air update.

Audio is tuned in collaboration with Bang & Olufsen, with support for an expandable wireless home theatre system including optional subwoofer integration and Dolby FlexConnect up to a 4.1.4 configuration. The platform runs Google TV with Gemini integration.

Framing the broader strategy, TCL North America EVP Chris Hamdorf said the company is pursuing parallel advances in display performance:

TCL, like our consumers, is increasingly prioritising colour accuracy, contrast, and realism when choosing a premium TV. We are banking on two new display technologies to deliver that picture quality and maintain our status as the top-selling Mini-LED brand. Whether you pick SQD or RGB, the truth is, you can't miss with TCL.

While full technical specifications across the broader lineup are still being detailed, the introduction of RGB Mini-LED sits alongside a continued expansion of TCL’s Mini-LED portfolio, with features and performance characteristics filtering across multiple price points.

Pricing for the QM8L series is expected to start at approximately US$2,499 for the 65-inch model, rising to around $5,999 for the 98-inch version. The QM7L range is positioned lower, with the 55-inch model expected to begin at around US$1,200 and larger sizes reaching approximately US$4,000.

At the top end, the new RM9L RGB Mini-LED series enters a higher pricing tier, with the 85-inch model expected to retail from around $5,999 in the US, the 98-inch version closer to $8,999, and a 115-inch variant reportedly reaching approximately US$24,999.

Regional availability and pricing for Australia, the UK, and Europe have yet to be confirmed, with rollout expected to vary by market throughout 2026.

For more information visit TCL