During the TCL press conference last night, as a preamble to the CES show in Las Vegas 2024, the manufacturer TCL mainly communicated on its 2024 TV series intended for the United States. Nothing on the European range or almost. Only a real parallel can be operated on the TCL X955 series, identical on both sides of the Atlantic. For the others, perhaps one of the series presented in Las Vegas corresponds to one coming to France under another name, but it is impossible to say for sure. During the CES 2023 show for example, only one of the series presented by the brand corresponded to one later marketed in France, the C845. We will therefore still have to wait to discover the French TCL 2024 TV range.
The QD Mini LED TV series still has three references, the TCL 85X955 (216 cm), TCL 98X955 (249 cm) and the monstrous TCL 115X955 (292 cm). Note, if until now the “X†prefix at TCL referred to the 8K definition, the TCL X955 series is Ultra HD 4K in nature. Of course, the design remains resolutely premium.
TCL X955, 5th generation OD5 Mini LED backlighting and new LED Ultra HD 4K LCD VA 144 Hz models, TCL screen. The panel is of course 10-bit native.
In terms of zones, the X955 televisions represent the brand's ultimate, they are much better equipped than all the other series: 5,184 very exactly (around 20,000 on the 115''), not one less, on all diagonals. Precision, the TCL degrees.
The lens makes it possible to control the diffusion of light to on the one hand significantly improve the uniformity of the panel (eliminate Clouding), by 60.63% says the brand, on the other hand reduce to almost nothing the phenomenon of halo (Blooming) on the white or shiny elements of the image on a black background.
Good news, we find on the backlighting system for fifth-generation TCL ). Firstly, diodes that are all strictly identical, particularly in terms of efficiency (electrical efficiency, wavelength, power) to ensure perfect homogeneity of the image, but also in colorimetric terms for total uniformity and to combat the effect Demura (also called Clouding) directly from the backlight system, and no longer just at the LCD panel. Likewise, these onboard LEDs are capable of changing state extremely quickly, a period of time less than that necessary to display an image, even with a 120 hertz signal. Called Direct Drive by TCL, this feature eliminates shadow problems on moving objects.
Likewise, the LEDs of TCL X955 TVs offer ultra-precise control of the brightness delivered according to a million of bearings, depending on the brand. Thus, the slightest variations in the image are taken into account and reproduced on the screen for increased realism. In addition to a reduced optical distance and an increased number of zones, the Mini LED backlighting system of the X955 screens counts another new feature. Called Dynamic Alpha Technology, it allows you to vary the brightness of each of the Mini LED zones over 16 levels. This fine setting allows for example to specifically manage the brightness of the areas adjacent to the subtitles of a film in the Cinemascope black band, by imperceptibly graying out the black with the aim of further eliminating the off-axis Blooming phenomenon. Likewise, the Dynamic Alpha Technology function also improves the uniformity of the panel. In total, the backlighting system of TCL X955 televisions includes multiple major technical developments for display quality announced as unprecedented by the brand.
TCL !!! In the technical characteristics menu, TCL X955 televisions display the Dual 5000 label, i.e. a light peak of 5,500 nits in addition to the 5,000 zones already mentioned. As usual, QLED (Quantum Dots or QD) technology allows 98% coverage of the DCI-P3 gamut. We of course find the new AiPQ 3.0 video processing (called AiPQ Ultra in the USA) with a PPI 5000 fluidity index and high-end anti-reflective treatment. A single remote control, made of metal and equipped with keys 0 to 9, accompanies the TCL X955 TVs.
TCL X955, connectivity and HDR The connectivity includes four HDCP 2.3 certified HDMI 2.1 connectors, with HFR 4K/120, eARC (HDMI 4), VRR (48 Hz to 144 Hz), FreeSync Premium Pro and ALLM compatibility. Also present are a Composite input, an optical output, three USB 2.0 ports, an Ethernet port, a headphone output plus a CI+ port.
Management of HDR10, HDR10+ and HDR Dolby Vision technologies, associated Dolby Vision IQ functionality (brightness sensor) is required. We can also mention MEMC 120 Hz motion compensation and an anti-blue light mode.
0 TCL X955, sound section 4.2.2 The 4.2.2 sound equipment (two subwoofers) delivers a total power of 160 watts. Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD and DTS Virtual:X compatibility are on the program. Precision, TCL X955 screens are equipped with a DVB-T2, DVB-S2 and DVB-C tuner.
1 TCL X955, Smart Google TV Of course, like their predecessors, the TCL X955 TVs feature the Smart Google TV function (Android 12). For connectivity, the Wi-Fi 6 function is required in addition to Bluetooth 5.0. We still notice the AirPlay 2/HomeKit and Works with Alexa certifications (requires an Amazon Echo type speaker). In addition to having an internet browser, Voice Search and Chromecast functions, offering access to the Google Play Store with several thousand free applications, we find multi-account management, PIP, the Cast function efficient on Ultra HD content, multitasking management to navigate between several applications, quick access to favorite content via an overlay side information bar, Google Assistant compatibility, the Google Meet application and the Hands free Voice Control function ( voice control of the TV) without the need for a remote control (miro integrated into the TV).
2 TCL X955, Game Master Pro 2.0 function with DLG 240 Hz TCL does not forget video game enthusiasts with the new Game Master Pro 2.0 functionality. In addition to managing the 144 Hz frequency, FreeSync and direct access to various TV parameters to optimize the video game experience, TCL X955 TVs feature minimal Input Lag, less than 6 ms in the presence of a 120 Hz signal. hertz. Finally, as on the TCL C645 TVs (see our TCL C645 news, QLED Ultra HD 4K HDR TV Dolby Vision/Dolby Atmos + VRR 120 Hz 1080p + Google TV), DLG (Dual Line Gate) technology. The latter, by halving the vertical resolution (therefore to 1080p and not 2160p), offers a 240 Hz display for a smoother and more pleasant video game experience.
3 Immediate availability for models TCL 85X955 and TCL 98X955, late March-early April 2024 for the TCL 115X955. Indicative prices: €4,599 for the TCL 85X955 and €7,999 for the TCL 98X955. Price still unknown for the TCL 115X955, but the expected range is between 15,000 and 20,000 euros.
Reminder of the key characteristics of the TCL X955 TVs:
• 10-bit panel
• VA LCD panel
• Ultra HD/4K panel
• 144 Hz panel
• Processor: Quad Core
• Mega Contrast contrast enhancement function
• Wide Color Gamut function
• UHD Color Extender function
• UPnP (DLNA) media gateway function
• DVR function
• eARC function
• VRR function
• ALLM function ( Auto Low Latency Mode)
• 4K HFR 120 function
• Quantum Dots function
• UHD Super Resolution function
• AiPQ 3.0 Engine function
• Game Master Pro 2.0 function
• DLG 240 Hz function
• HDR10 and HDR HLG compatibility
• HDR10+ compatibility
• Miracast compatibility
• HDR Dolby Vision compatibility
• HEVC compatibility
• Dolby Atmos compatibility
• HBBTV compatibility
• FreeSync compatibility
• CEC compatibility
• Channel Ready compatibility
• Bluetooth 5.0 compatibility
• Compatibility DTS Virtual: 4 HDMI 2.1 inputs, 1 Composite, 3 USB Host 3.0 ports, 1 Ethernet port, 1 CI+ port
• AirPlay 2 multimedia
• HomeKit multimedia
• Google Assistant multimedia
• Multimedia Works with Alexa
• Google TV multimedia
• Google Meet multimedia
• MEMC motion compensation
• Mini LED backlighting system Local Dimming
• Input Lag: < 6 ms
• Number of zone(s): 5,184 (20,000 on the 115'')
• Light peak: 5,000 nits
• DVB-T2 tuner
• Tuner DVB-C
• DVB-S2 tuner
• Sound section: 4.2.2
• Power: 160 W