TCL Disrupts TV Landscape with SQD-Mini LED technology at CES 2026
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TCL is challenging the prevailing RGB trend with its new flagship X11L SQD-Mini LED TV, unveiled at CES 2026.Despite diverging from the strategies of competitors like Samsung and LG, the X11L is poised to be among the brightest and most impressive televisions of the year, offering a unique approach to achieving both peak brightness and remarkable contrast.
A New Approach to mini-LED
this isn’t the mini-LED technology consumers have become accustomed to. First announced in China in September 2025,TCL’s SQD technology – standing for Super Quantum dot – utilizes a single-chip pure white light source. This differs significantly from the true red, green, and blue light sources employed in the Micro RGB TVs showcased by Samsung and LG at this year’s CES.
The underlying goal, though, remains consistent: to concurrently deliver the ultra-high peak brightness typically associated with QLED and mini-LED panels, and the pristine black levels and contrast traditionally found in OLED displays.
First Impressions: Intensely Luminous and Competitive
Mashable was granted an early preview of the TCL X11L ahead of CES 2026, and initial reports confirm its remarkable brightness. According to a TCL representative, the company believes this new model will directly compete with the recently announced flagship Micro RGB TVs from Samsung and LG. Adding to its appeal, the X11L features a distinctive speaker strip along the bottom bezel, engineered in collaboration with Bang & Olufsen.
X11L Specs: A Deep Dive
The TCL X11L achieves what the company calls “100 percent BT2020 color” through an impressive 20,000 discrete dimming zones – three times the number found in TCL’s premium QM9K model. Beyond its peak brightness of 10,000 nits, this extensive dimming zone array promises precise lighting control, notably crucial for enhancing dark scene performance, a common challenge for non-OLED televisions.
Here’s a breakdown of key features:
- Enhanced Halo Control System: Minimizes blooming and haloing with Micro OD, Shadowless Uniform light Supports, Shadow Detail Optimization, and a new 26-bit Backlight Controller.
- Peak Brightness: Up to 10,000 nits (HDR rendering maximum).
- Processor: new TSR AI Processor.
- Audio: Audio by Bang & olufsen, with an expandable home theater system supporting optional wireless subwoofers and Dolby FlexConnect 4.1.4 capability.
- Smart Features: Gemini for Google TV, Sleep Sounds Mode, and a backlit voice remote with hands-free voice control.
- Design: Elegant cabinet with a superthin depth of just 0.8 inches, featuring “zeroborder” bezels and an anti-reflective layer.
- Panel Technology: CSOT WHVA 2.0 Ultra Panel with a wide color viewing angle.
- Color System: TCL Deep Color System with Super Quantum Dots, CSOT UltraColor Filter, and Advanced Color Purity Algorithm.
Pricing and Availability
the TCL X11L SQD-Mini LED TV is available for pre-order in three sizes:
- 75-inch TCL X11L: $6,999.99
- 75-inch TCL X11L: $7,999.99
- 98-inch TCL X11L: $9,999.99
It remains unclear whether smaller models will be offered in the future.
For the latest news and live updates from CES 2026, visit the Mashable CES 2026 hub, where journalists are reporting live from the show floor.
