Watch out OLED, TCL's mini-LED 8-Series TVs are now available - TechRadar, TechRadar

(Image credit: TCL)

Over the last few years TCL has really built a reputation here in the US, first with its low-cost screens that dominatedBlack FridayandCyber Mondaysales, and then with its award-winning6-Seriesmid-range screen. For years, however, TCL didn’t have a high-end screen to compete with LG, Samsung and Sony… until now.

That said, the range-topping TCL 8-Series is now available to order at Best Buy in two screen sizes – the 65 – inch 65 Q 825 and new 75 – inch (Q) – Both of which use TCL’s mini-LED technology to close the gap between LED-LCD and OLED.

As its name implies, mini-LED panels pack in more LEDs into each inch of the 8-Series screens than traditional TVs and, according to TCL there are more than 25, 000 in the 75 – inch version that should ensure even light distribution, uniform color reproduction and wider viewing angles.

The only problem is that with better performance, comes higher prices as well: The 65 – inch (Q) costs $ 2, 000 while the 75 – inch (Q) goes for a cool $ 3, 000.

Tiny LEDs but big price tag

For a company that built its reputation on low-cost screens, the higher-end 8-Series is a real departure for the company – the 65 – inch model is twice as expensive as a similar sized 6-Series, and the 75 – inch model is three times the cost.

The point TCL would drive home here is that these are some of the first TVs to use the mini-LED technology that got a lot of air time during CES this year, and cost substantially less than the microLED TVs that Samsung unveiled around the same time .

Where it stands in contrast to Samsung’s new microLED TVs like The 292 – inch screen it calls The Wall are unclear but, from the information given to us by the two companies, TCL’s mini-LED seems to offer similar benefits.

Already sold on mini-LED? Both theTCL 65 – inch (Q)and (TCL) – inch (Q) are available onBest Buynow.