TCL’s main focus at the Consumer Electronics Show last month was on its cutting edge Mini-LED TVs that feature its latest HVA Pro panel technology. At the same time, the company also spoke about its growing partnership with Google, and it’s now building on those announcements with the launch of a quartet of new Google TVs.
The new 4K TVs are heading directly to the shops in the U.K., with the lineup including the TCL P8K, P7K, T8C and V6VC models that range in sizes from 43-inches to 75-inches at the max. Later this year, some of the models will also launch in 85-inch sizes.
They’re not going to set the world alight as these models are meant to compete in the midrange and budget TV segments. Nonetheless, the two higher end models feature the advanced Mini-LED displays that the company showcased earlier. Given their competitive prices, the TVs may well have some appeal to anyone looking to buy a new telly on a budget.
Sitting at the top of the new range is the TCL T8C television (above), which boasts a QD-MinLED display that combines with QLED to deliver “precise brightness and vibrant colour accuracy”. It offers 4K resolution and 120Hz refresh rates, and comes with an AIPQ processor that supports 144Hz motion clarity and HDR Pro pictures, along with Dolby Vision and HDR10, upgraded to Dolby Vision IQ on the future 85-inch model.
The TCL P8K (below) features almost identical specifications, with the exception that it has a regular QD-MiniLED display that drops the QLED. However, it’s notable that both the T8C’s and P8K’s displays integrate the latest HVA technology, which means they boast impressive 178-degree viewing angles.
Both of the models feature a 2.1-channel Onkyo sound system that supports Dolby Atmos, and there are HDMI 2.1 ports on the back to support gamers. There’s also the latest Game Master picture mode and TCL Game Bar menu onboard, with VRR and ALLM and a special feature that enables games to be accelerated up to 288Hz when viewed in Full HD resolution. They’re being made available in 55-inch, 65-inch and 75-inch sizes to begin with, and prices for the smallest version start at £799.00, the company said.
Moving down the range, the TCL P7K is a more affordable alternative to the P8K, with 4K resolution, the new HVA screen and the AIPQ processor. However, the screen itself is only a QD Direct LED display with a refresh rate just 60Hz, which may rule it out as a choice for gamers.
Even so, it does sport the Game Master setup, with VRR, ALLM and a 120Hz Game Accelerator that’s limited to Full HD only. The lesser display tech makes it more affordable, with prices starting at just £319.00 for the smallest 43-inch model. Like the T8C (but not the P8K), there will be an even bigger, 85-inch model launching later this year.
Last but not least, there’s the TCL V6C (below), which is pretty similar to the P7K, but it lacks the quantum dots found in that model, and comes with a somewhat less potent sound system. On the other hand, it is even cheaper still, with prices starting at just £299.00 for the 43-inch size options.
Being Google TVs, all four of the new models support Google Assistant for voice-activated controls, and Amazon Alexa is onboard too. They’re available in the shops now, and can be found at retailers like Argos, AO, Marks Electrical and Reliant.
